Soda Cards...worth the $$ or not

[wesail4fun]

Still the question remains........will they fill your large insulated mug you bring from home or only give you one small plastic cup at a time?

[Rowan555]

Still the question remains........will they fill your large insulated mug you bring from home or only give you one small plastic cup at a time?

 

I've found it depends on the bartender. Best bet is to find a nice one and stick with him/her!

[jetskier]

Still the question remains........will they fill your large insulated mug you bring from home or only give you one small plastic cup at a time?

 

 

I answered it on post #26. My wife usually has her own mug and we have no problems getting it filled. But then again we know most of the bartenders on the ships we go on from multiple sailings on the same ships.

Dave

[MustardMan]

I bought one on the cruise I was on and it was well worth it. Using an average of $2.00 each (including tip) per Diet Coke, I would guess I had about 5 (or more) a day since I don't drink much in the way of alcoholic drinks. So at about $10 a day for a 7 day cruise - I saved about $30 when I went.

 

It depends how many you drink.

[wesail4fun]

I answered it on post #26. My wife usually has her own mug and we have no problems getting it filled. But then again we know most of the bartenders on the ships we go on from multiple sailings on the same ships.

Dave

 

Thanks for the response

[dallas52]

my wife always buys one because she drinks soft drinks instead of water, and usually the bar waiter in dining room will come back and refill her glass a few times after first night. she drinks enough of them to get her moneys worth and then brings a few for the room so that she has one in there and doesnt have to run out and get one.

[LizzieTrowbridge]

To me they arent worth the $$$. You would have to drink at least 3 sodas a day to pay for them. Thats a whole lot of soda!!!

 

 

We buy soda cards for our children because they do not have charging privileges on their sail and sign cards so soda cards allow them to get drinks if they want if they are are their own. I am sure they didn't drink enough soda to actually make it worth it in terms of price per soda, but we see it as paying for the convenience.

[oncruisecontrol]

We bought one early in our cruising career, but no longer will buy one. Here's why:

 

• DW likes a Diet Coke first thing in the morning (like I do with coffee) - bar service is hard to come by early in the AM
  
• At meals, a soda would be nice, but the bar service person does not always come by the table in a timely manner
  
• You can get soda at any bar, but I found the glasses to be too small at all but the poolside bars (they use larger plastic glasses there.)
  
• Bar staff does not get excited about the card because they know there is no extra tip coming for filling a glass with soda.
  
• It is easy to bring soda onboard with you, and less expensive.
  

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Boy, I'm glad I don't drink soda; have never liked it since I was a kid.

[hill6]

I drink gingerale on a regular basis and I also drink quite a bit on a cruise to ward off motion sickness. I can make my monies worth between dinner, casino and the show eah night.

 

I also bring some soda/water onboard to take on tours

[lennythenose]

We bought one for each son (ages 6 and 10) and 1 between the 2 of us. We also brought some for the room but brining enough for all 4 of us just wasn't feasible! My 10 yo definitely got his money's worth. Thanks to this board, I introduced him to the fruit punch that they will mix at any of the bars. It is delicious...had a couple myself! It is orange juice, pineapple juice and grenadine I think. My 6 yo may not have had enough to pay for itself, but as mentioned above, he loved having his own card and being able to get his own drinks anytime. DH and I may have gotten our money between the 2 of us, but the convenience was definitely worth it. We drank a lot of lemonade and tea and never used ours at meals so we really didn't "stick it to them" by only getting 1 ;)

[wesail4fun]

Thanks to this board, I introduced him to the fruit punch that they will mix at any of the bars. It is delicious...had a couple myself! It is orange juice, pineapple juice and grenadine I think.quote]

 

Thanks for the feedback on the fruit punch mixed at the bars, Will have to try

[twinklen01]

Thanks to this board, I introduced him to the fruit punch that they will mix at any of the bars. It is delicious...had a couple myself! It is orange juice, pineapple juice and grenadine I think.quote]

 

Thanks for the feedback on the fruit punch mixed at the bars, Will have to try

 

the mix sounds yummy! I'm thinking about getting one for just dd(10) but shes to lil to go into a bar for it so will they let me or dh take her card in? We arent getting one for us so i wonder how hard it will be to get her drinks throughout the ship if she needs to be present? Are the kids stickers a different color? she also likes shirley temples and i will have her try the mix you mentioned . Is there a list of other mixes?

 

DD also like

[dmdiver]

There are several bars that are not enclosed areas. The pool deck alone has 3 of them on Valor & Conquest. The lobby bar is out in the open as is the one by the casino. So, kids have no problem getting their own sodas.

 

Pricewise, when we sailed last month on Conquest, we waited until the next day to purchase our soda cards. So, we were charged $5.50 times 6 days plus the 15% gratuity = $37.95 total per card. I think children's cards are $4.50 plus gratuity. We didn't have any kids with us this time, so you can check me on that one.

 

When you order a soda, they fill up the glass, which usually is not a whole can. So, 3 glasses of soda is not as much as you may think it is. I do remember one bartender grabbed one of the small glasses & hubby asked if he would use the larger glass. He used those & it was probably closer to a full can in them. We saw them selling the mugs at additional cost, but decided against it only so we wouldn't have to carry it around. At least with a bar glass, when you're finished, you just set it down. We chose to bring on a 6pack of bottled water for workout & taking off the ship. We didn't bring any soda, as we knew we wouldn't want to go back to the cabin every time we wanted one. We typically got sodas when we went to the pool, at lunch, during the afternoon, dinner & the shows. Sometimes we would have a mix of tea/lemonade on Lido for a change, but even so, we still drank lots of sodas & got our money's worth. Now, can you buy them on land for less than $37.95 a week? Sure, if you're willing to carry them & trot back & forth to the cabin. You just have to think it through & see what works best for you.

[twinklen01]

There are several bars that are not enclosed areas. The pool deck alone has 3 of them on Valor & Conquest. The lobby bar is out in the open as is the one by the casino. So, kids have no problem getting their own sodas.

 

Pricewise, when we sailed last month on Conquest, we waited until the next day to purchase our soda cards. So, we were charged $5.50 times 6 days plus the 15% gratuity = $37.95 total per card. I think children's cards are $4.50 plus gratuity. We didn't have any kids with us this time, so you can check me on that one.

 

When you order a soda, they fill up the glass, which usually is not a whole can. So, 3 glasses of soda is not as much as you may think it is. I do remember one bartender grabbed one of the small glasses & hubby asked if he would use the larger glass. He used those & it was probably closer to a full can in them. We saw them selling the mugs at additional cost, but decided against it only so we wouldn't have to carry it around. At least with a bar glass, when you're finished, you just set it down. We chose to bring on a 6pack of bottled water for workout & taking off the ship. We didn't bring any soda, as we knew we wouldn't want to go back to the cabin every time we wanted one. We typically got sodas when we went to the pool, at lunch, during the afternoon, dinner & the shows. Sometimes we would have a mix of tea/lemonade on Lido for a change, but even so, we still drank lots of sodas & got our money's worth. Now, can you buy them on land for less than $37.95 a week? Sure, if you're willing to carry them & trot back & forth to the cabin. You just have to think it through & see what works best for you.

 

Thanls for the info. ANyone know how many open bars are on the paradise??? TIA!

[twinklen01]

sorry ment to start a new post "Soda card Drinks" but accidently post here

[skiorcruise]

Just off the Splendor last week. Soda cards are $6.00 (+ tip + tax if in port) per day. Ordering a soda by itself at any bar is $1.95 (+ tip + tax if in port), call it close enough to $2.00 each. That means you have to order at least 3 per day to make it pay for itself.

 

Ordering the soda, you get a glass and whatever is left in the can. Ordering with a card, you get a glass period. So lets call it 3 ordered alone = 4 ordered from the card.

 

There is a slight service factor each way, one you make more trips to the bar, one you don't have to sign your slip each time. Bar tenders and waiters tend to work harder for the people who are tipping, so tend to be slower with the cards than the single drinks. Also, if you want a drink in your cabin with the card, you have to go get it. Without the card, just get it out of the mini-bar and pay the same price as at a bar.

 

Do you drink 3 cans + per day? How much is the service factor worth to you? Answer those two questions and you have your answer.

 

DW drinks 2-3 cokes per day when on ship, less on port days, as she buys one in town. For us, it is not worth it.

[Vitamin_Sea]

On the last cruise we drank the free ice tea/lemonade mixed. I could live without soda for a few days:p.

[teacherme]

If I purchase a soda card for my child, can I go to bar and get a drink for her or does she need to be present. Sometimes, I would bring them food for breakfast while they are still sleeping and I would like to get them something to drink also.

[lisajm]

Ont he Triumph in Feb. my dh and I purchased the soda cards. We also had to buy the insulated cups (they did not come with the card). Apparantly I am a caffiene addict :) so it was worth the money to me. Also we have to fly in so does not make sense for us to carry soda with us.

[Fourseventeen]

the fees are a bit high BUT the hassle of carrying on a 24 pack of soda and keeping those sodas cold and ready to drink is a huge hassle! Plus having to go back to the cabin anytime you want a drink. What a PITA. Ill pay the 50 bucks for the card and my wife and I can share (but you didnt hear that from me):eek:

[mr middy]

I thinking about getting it for my situation - we are sailing on the Carnival Victory out of San Juan, and there are liquor stores in the terminal.

 

Everyone buys liquor in the store and stuffs it in their carry ons ( I believe some of the rum was like 8-9 bucks a liter).

 

I'll have one of those bottles in my bag while on the boat, use my soda card to get my mixers, and have my own little bar.

[stefyo]

the fees are a bit high BUT the hassle of carrying on a 24 pack of soda and keeping those sodas cold and ready to drink is a huge hassle! Plus having to go back to the cabin anytime you want a drink. What a PITA. Ill pay the 50 bucks for the card and my wife and I can share (but you didnt hear that from me):eek:

 

 

 

I know that this isnt the correct way of doing it - but it can be done?? we have a party of 3 (2 adults and one child) and where thinking of getting one adult and one child soda card - how much of a hassle will it be? can the adult get 2 drinks at one time since it is unlimited?

[FamilyMiracle]

I know that this isnt the correct way of doing it - but it can be done?? we have a party of 3 (2 adults and one child) and where thinking of getting one adult and one child soda card - how much of a hassle will it be? can the adult get 2 drinks at one time since it is unlimited?

 

It is one cup at a time.

Here is what we do.

My 9 yr old gets a soda card.

He loves his juices and fruit punch.

He really loves going up to the bar and getting his own drinks :)

 

The 5 yr old has not discovered soda yet, so no soda card for him.

He is a water drinking child.

 

DH and myself, we both get soda cards as well.

For us, it is about convenience.

I love that they now use the sticker on your card.

One less thing for me to carry.

 

We go to the show, and order 2 sodas (without the kids with us)... then when they bring them, I order a mixed drink, and Dh orders a beer. Once they bring them, we are done with the sodas and order 2 more sodas.... once done with them, onto another foo-foo drink for me :)

[CalmCruiserNC]

I know that this isnt the correct way of doing it - but it can be done?? we have a party of 3 (2 adults and one child) and where thinking of getting one adult and one child soda card - how much of a hassle will it be? can the adult get 2 drinks at one time since it is unlimited?

 

The bartenders won't give you two drinks at once -- that would seem like an obvious attempt at beating the system -- so you just have to stop by different bars.

[chachi]

Definately not worth it to me. There price for pop is reasonable, about $2 a can. You can always find pop in port. I usually buy a few bottles to bring on board once in port and store it in the mini fridge.