Took the $$ plunge on the Unlimited Beverage Package, so....What’s your favorite drink?

[Amygs1]

Wasn’t planning on it, but splurged on the Unlimited Beverage Package for my Mom and I, so now.....what drinks are your must haves (alcoholic or not).  I love coffees, juices/smoothies, wine (but mostly Sauvignon Blanc which I don’t see much available on the menu) and for cocktails - rum, whiskey/bourbon or gin.  Not a big vodka or tequila fan.  TIA!

[JLMoran]

Hi @Amygs1, welcome to the forums (if you weren't already welcomed)!

You definitely have to try a Kraken Lava Flow if you're a rum person, it's way better than the regular kind (which is probably made with Captain Morgan's). If you're also into gin, you may want to check out the Collins menu in the Schooner bar; they offer a variety of Collins drinks there as specialties of that bar. Can't comment on those as I'm not into gin, but other specialty drinks I've gotten on board have all been great.

[firebuck]

Agree with @JLMoran +1 to the Kraken Lava Flow... it's amazing!  Another one of my favorite rum drinks is the Painkiller - It's made with Pusser's rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, coconut cream and a bit of grated nutmeg on top for good measure.

[sk8erguy1978]

Any with alcohol. A good rum punch gets my afternoon moving along quickly.

This will be a fun thread to follow ... Starting a Google Doc now to jot down stuff to try 

Edited September 9, 2019 by sk8erguy1978
Add more.

[JLMoran]

Oh! If you want a rum drink, try a Dark & Stormy. Official drink of Bermuda but made everywhere nowadays. Just make sure it's made with Black Seal spiced rum and (if at all possible) ginger beer rather than ginger ale.

[Al Horner]

I'm not a big rum drinker but on a cruise I enjoy quite a few rum punches. Another drink I like is the frozen mudslide. It seems most cruise ship bars don't make frozen drinks but the bar in the casino always does. They help to ease the pain of losing in the casino!

[PatsFanBrian]

We always try the Drink of the Day.

I'm a beer drinker, my wife is vodka and tonic.  We always get the fresh squeezed orange juice and upgraded coffee at breakfast.

[sk8erguy1978]

9 hours ago, JLMoran said:

Oh! If you want a rum drink, try a Dark & Stormy. Official drink of Bermuda but made everywhere nowadays. Just make sure it's made with Black Seal spiced rum and (if at all possible) ginger beer rather than ginger ale.

I tried to make a Dark & Stormy after a friend raved about it; didn't turn out well. I'll give it a second chance later this month on Anthem!

Also, the Rum Swizzle! I had that at the Swizzle Inn one visit to the island! Totally recommend both (drink and restaurant).

[devbak150]

Yum!  This is a great thread to follow!  Thanks for sharing everyone.  I am definitely up for the lava flow with kraken, dark & stormi and painkiller also sound great! Anything that is fruity or not too "alcohol" tasting is up my alley.  Also, can you get Mimosa for breakfast in the WJ?  My mom loves Collins (thanks for the infor on where those are) she also likes Guinness?  any idea if they have those on tap in Playmakers?  I have to watch for a sale on CP again as our cruise is now rebooked for December after Hurricane Dorian reared her ugly head.  Current price is way high...hoping for a upcoming sale.

[KLA]

For a much lighter poolside option (and a little less sweet), my go to is Absolut Mandarin vodka with club soda and a slice of orange. Super refreshing and with a bit less sugar! That, or Patron tequila and pineapple juice. 

 

15 minutes ago, devbak150 said:

 Also, can you get Mimosa for breakfast in the WJ?  My mom loves Collins (thanks for the infor on where those are) she also likes Guinness?  any idea if they have those on tap in Playmakers?  

Yes, there's usually a mimosa station in the Windjammer! I think usually when I see Guinness on board it's canned, but generally readily available. 

[DublinFC]

I am a beer drinker on land.  But, when I am at sea I like to try new stuff since I have a drink package.  I am planning to try out some of the drinks I have heard about on here and other places to expand my alcohol horizons.

[Katrack]

New to the blog.  We just returned from Alaska on Radiance, where I was introduced to the Lavender Daquiri. Made with rum and lavender syrup. It may be the best drink ever!

[WAAAYTOOO]

7 minutes ago, Katrack said:

New to the blog.  We just returned from Alaska on Radiance, where I was introduced to the Lavender Daquiri. Made with rum and lavender syrup. It may be the best drink ever!

Welcome to the Blog, Katrack !

[Vacation Crazy]

4 hours ago, Katrack said:

New to the blog.  We just returned from Alaska on Radiance, where I was introduced to the Lavender Daquiri. Made with rum and lavender syrup. It may be the best drink ever!

I second the vote for the Lavender daiquiri.   I found the drink on the menu at  Schooner bar a few weeks ago.  I do not like sweet drinks but with the drink package I decided to give it a try.  It is my new favorite RC drink!   I would love a Lavender daiquiri from Schooner's right now!!!

[ThyriC]

I'm a big fan of pretty much any "tiki drink".  So your Painkillers, Zombies, Scorpions, Mai Tais etc.  They just scream "vacation!" to me.  

One of the fun things you can try with the DDP is, try a new beverage!  You say you're not a fan of vodka, but dont let that limit you.  Maybe there's a cocktail with vodka but its a secondary ingredient or its made with a combination of juices that overpower the peppery vodka taste.  Give it a go!  I'm not a big whiskey fan, but I use the DDP to try whiskey or gin cocktails that I wouldnt normally try at a bar only to not like them.  And dont be afraid to try something you've never heard of before.  Never tried a Dark and Stormy?  What better time to try one than with your DDP!  Use it to sample cocktails, and you can ask for them in a smaller glass if you're concerned about wasting.  

Another thing you can do with your cocktails that you DO know you like is amp them up with your favourite spirit.  So you say you like gin.  Ok so maybe have that tom collins made with bombay sapphire or other fave gin.  Like the lava flow with Kraken rum (its a game changer I swear there's something magical about Kraken rum)

Afraid of getting a little too buzzed?  Dont feel the alcohol pressure all the time and ask for a non alcoholic version of your favourite poolside frozen drinks.  Virgin daiquiri, pina colada, lava flow, etc.  

Dont forget the water!  A good strategy to prevent hangovers and getting too intoxicated with the DDP is make a rule for yourself.  1 bottle of water per drink.  It will slow you down and will keep you hydrated while drinking.  It also tends to fill you up as well so you dont overindulge in the alcohol.  Helps prevent DDP fatigue as well.  

[Amygs1]

Great advice ThyriC!  I still won’t be trying any vodka concoctions - like the taste, but the stuff makes me into an angry Russian!  But, maybe I’ll do tequila - not my fave but a good place to explore.  Your post actually got me thinking of another question- what sparkling water is available on board? I’m addicted to the stuff and much more likely to stay hydrated that way.  Course I could always just get a club soda and call it the same...

[JLMoran]

56 minutes ago, Amygs1 said:

But, maybe I’ll do tequila - not my fave but a good place to explore.

If you haven't yet tried a drink made with a reposado or Añejo tequila, I'd recommend that instead of one made with "basic" tequila like Cuervo Gold. As a specific example, Boleros has a specialty margarita called the Melon and Mango Rita that is made with an Añejo tequila (apologies as I don't recall which). It's very tasty and the tequila is not a super-dominant flavor, just blends really nicely with the rest of the beverage. Boleros is definitely the place to go if you want to try out the tequila-based cocktail options, they seem to have the best selection and also the best menu.

[ThyriC]

5 hours ago, Amygs1 said:

Great advice ThyriC!  I still won’t be trying any vodka concoctions - like the taste, but the stuff makes me into an angry Russian!  But, maybe I’ll do tequila - not my fave but a good place to explore.  Your post actually got me thinking of another question- what sparkling water is available on board? I’m addicted to the stuff and much more likely to stay hydrated that way.  Course I could always just get a club soda and call it the same...

I think the sparkling water onboard isnt of the flavored variety, but they do have "enhanced water" that's flavored.  I think its san pelegrino and perrier but I could be mistaken, I'm not a huge sparkling water fan (I think it all tastes salty for some reason).  If you must have something like la croix or bubly or other similar flavored sparkling waters, remember you are allowed to bring onboard up to a 12 pack of non alcoholic beverage like soda, sparkling water, milk, etc.  

[Morganno]

On 9/9/2019 at 11:01 AM, kontraxed said:

I'm not a big rum drinker but on a cruise I enjoy quite a few rum punches. Another drink I like is the frozen mudslide. It seems most cruise ship bars don't make frozen drinks but the bar in the casino always does. They help to ease the pain of losing in the casino!

Schooner bar on Harmony and the Spanish dancing bar (forget what it's called) does also.  

As do nearly all pool bars.  

 

[Yo2slick]

Lava flow with Kraken, the Kraken colada, Long Pirate iced tea, Mudslide, chocolate martini, and you can request any brand alcohol you want.  Just tell the bartender which brand you want in your drink and its all covered.  I don't even drink at home but I broke even and got ahead some nights on the ship!

[VillainsGin]

On 9/8/2019 at 4:59 PM, Amygs1 said:

Wasn’t planning on it, but splurged on the Unlimited Beverage Package for my Mom and I, so now.....what drinks are your must haves (alcoholic or not).  I love coffees, juices/smoothies, wine (but mostly Sauvignon Blanc which I don’t see much available on the menu) and for cocktails - rum, whiskey/bourbon or gin.  Not a big vodka or tequila fan.  TIA!

I noticed no one mentioned miami vice.

I don't know why but in order to feel like a vacation I would always go for the "vacation-type" drinks to set the mood for me.

There's a lot of drinks mentioned on this thread I definitely added to my list for my cruise in Jan, 2020 now that I know more than miami vice haha.

Usually I drink beer or have most of my harder stuff neat, but for a cruise I like to get tropical or vacation-like vibe.

[leesam82]

I had the deluxe drink package and tried alot of different drinks at differnt bars onboard the AlotS in late august sailing. I really enjoyed the smoky sunrise at boleros. I pretty much got one whenever I passed by. I also got the Azul Margarita at the Sabor Bar. I also love the Japanese Strawberry from Izumi.

[karl_nj]

On 9/10/2019 at 5:39 PM, TJ! said:

I noticed no one mentioned miami vice.

I don't know why but in order to feel like a vacation I would always go for the "vacation-type" drinks to set the mood for me.

There's a lot of drinks mentioned on this thread I definitely added to my list for my cruise in Jan, 2020 now that I know more than miami vice haha.

Usually I drink beer or have most of my harder stuff neat, but for a cruise I like to get tropical or vacation-like vibe.

RCL generally refers to a miami vice as a lava flow, i don't think they actually will make a true lava flow.

Usually a miami vice is half frozen pina colada and half frozen strawberry daiquiri, whereas a lava flow is a pina colada with liquid strawberry swirled in.  

In the end it doesn't really matter, both are tasty and vacation-type drinks.

[karl_nj]

On 9/8/2019 at 7:59 PM, Amygs1 said:

Wasn’t planning on it, but splurged on the Unlimited Beverage Package for my Mom and I, so now.....what drinks are your must haves (alcoholic or not).  I love coffees, juices/smoothies, wine (but mostly Sauvignon Blanc which I don’t see much available on the menu) and for cocktails - rum, whiskey/bourbon or gin.  Not a big vodka or tequila fan.  TIA!

They usually have a few Sauvignon Blanc's available.  Kim Crawford is usually available, and there is usually a Robert Mondavi  from California.   Sometimes there is also a less expensive Chilean one.

But if you have the drink package you might as well go out of our comfort zone and try whatever is available.  If you hate it you can try something else.

[Pro24]

Thanks for the thread! Writing down all these suggestions. Wife and I don't drink much but let's face it, it's vacation.

 

My issue is I can't drink Pineapple Juice and very little Orange Juice. The acidity is my biggest foe.

What other Island drinks are out there that don't contain these juices????? I'm fine with coconut!

Looking forward to some answers...………. thks!

[Kerry]

The Rum Chata Colada!!! I overheard someone order it in front of me on Oasis last summer, and I was a goner.

[AshleyDillo]

1 hour ago, Pro24 said:

Thanks for the thread! Writing down all these suggestions. Wife and I don't drink much but let's face it, it's vacation.

 

My issue is I can't drink Pineapple Juice and very little Orange Juice. The acidity is my biggest foe.

What other Island drinks are out there that don't contain these juices????? I'm fine with coconut!

Looking forward to some answers...………. thks!

Frozen options:

  Frozen mojitos are good if you can handle lime..

  Strawberry/mango/banana daquiris...

  BBC/mudslides on the milk-based side of the spectrum.

Royal has a Tokyo Tea which is a long island iced tea they they replace the Coke with Midori, so it gives it a fun, green hue.

Rum swizzle uses grapefruit juice. 

Dark and stormy is rum and ginger beer.

[Pro24]

13 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

Frozen options:

  Frozen mojitos are good if you can handle lime..

  Strawberry/mango/banana daquiris...

  BBC/mudslides on the milk-based side of the spectrum.

Royal has a Tokyo Tea which is a long island iced tea they they replace the Coke with Midori, so it gives it a fun, green hue.

Rum swizzle uses grapefruit juice. 

Dark and stormy is rum and ginger beer.

Thanks! Yes I am going to try that Dark n Stormy everyone talks about. No grapefruit juice either. :-(

[VillainsGin]

17 hours ago, karl_nj said:

RCL generally refers to a miami vice as a lava flow, i don't think they actually will make a true lava flow.

Usually a miami vice is half frozen pina colada and half frozen strawberry daiquiri, whereas a lava flow is a pina colada with liquid strawberry swirled in.  

In the end it doesn't really matter, both are tasty and vacation-type drinks.

To be completely honest with you since 90% of the time I would never venture to fruity drinks, I had no idea they were the same thing haha!

I'm more of a IPA kind of guy with the occasional whiskey or bourbon.

That's definitely good to know in case they don't know what that is called I can always resort to the other alternative name then!

[marti314]

GO to the pub, ask for a pint of Cider (if it's on tap) or a bottle of strongbow.  Might have to wait a few minutes (some bartenders wont serve you a shot and a beer).  Get a shot of Fireball, proceed to dump the fireball into the cider.  You now have a cinnamon-y delicious and strong concoction.

[jce2]

1 hour ago, marti314 said:

GO to the pub, ask for a pint of Cider (if it's on tap) or a bottle of strongbow.  Might have to wait a few minutes (some bartenders wont serve you a shot and a beer).  Get a short of Fireball, proceed to dump the fireball into the cider.  You now have a cinnamon-y delicious and strong concoction.

OMG!! Someone introduced me to this mix at a socce game...... no idea who won....or if they even played

 

[USCG Teacher]

On 9/12/2019 at 4:20 PM, marti314 said:

GO to the pub, ask for a pint of Cider (if it's on tap) or a bottle of strongbow.  Might have to wait a few minutes (some bartenders wont serve you a shot and a beer).  Get a short of Fireball, proceed to dump the fireball into the cider.  You now have a cinnamon-y delicious and strong concoction.

This is a traditional Halloween drink around my house.  You can't go wrong with it!

[ChrisK2793]

 

Leaving on Symphony today and looking forward to trying a lot of these drinks I’ve never heard of before!!!

 

 

[Marlena]

On 9/12/2019 at 4:20 PM, marti314 said:

GO to the pub, ask for a pint of Cider (if it's on tap) or a bottle of strongbow.  Might have to wait a few minutes (some bartenders wont serve you a shot and a beer).  Get a short of Fireball, proceed to dump the fireball into the cider.  You now have a cinnamon-y delicious and strong concoction.

You had me at cider....my favorite....but lost me at cinnamon....I hate cinnamon! Lol. 

[JLMoran]

OH!!!! I just remembered another great drink, as long as your ship has an Izumi on board -- it's called "She's a Geisha", and is a mix of sake, hibiscus and other fruit juice, and I think one or two other things. It was really refreshing when I had it, and was nice to carry around with me and sip as I wandered the ship. This was on Anthem, but I'm pretty sure it's a standard Izumi bar specialty menu drink.

If you're not used to / don't especially like sake, don't worry; the flavor of it is pretty nicely masked by the other ingredients, and from what I understand they use a pretty good sake to begin with.

[ChessE4]

On 9/8/2019 at 7:59 PM, Amygs1 said:

Wasn’t planning on it, but splurged on the Unlimited Beverage Package for my Mom and I, so now.....what drinks are your must haves (alcoholic or not).  I love coffees, juices/smoothies, wine (but mostly Sauvignon Blanc which I don’t see much available on the menu) and for cocktails - rum, whiskey/bourbon or gin.  Not a big vodka or tequila fan.  TIA!

On our cruise last week, my wife discovered chocolate martinis, and she is not much of a drinker.  So I'd suggest trying one.

[Kerry]

Just because I'm a math nerd, I've discovered that by just trying everything recommended so far on this thread, I've paid for almost 1/2 of my drink package. And I haven't even added in my morning Bourbon Mint Mocha. This is going to be fun!!!  

[StephanieH]

If you like the sweeter drinks you can't go wrong with any of these!

Chocolate Martini

Toblerone Martini - tastes just like the candy bar 

White Russian

 

[DandA]

A couple drinks we like from the Schooner Bar  Sandy Collins (it's made with Scotch) and the DW likes the Brandy Alexander

[Marlena]

5 hours ago, StephanieH said:

If you like the sweeter drinks you can't go wrong with any of these!

Chocolate Martini

Toblerone Martini - tastes just like the candy bar 

White Russian

 

Where did you get the toblerone martini???? Too sweet for me but my husband would LOVE this!