Fun Post - What's Your Cruise Day Like Drinkwise

[WannaCruise]

I'm sure like a lot of you, I love talking about cruise stuff.  Most of the posts these days are depressing with the current situation.  So I thought I'd start a fun post.

There is the common question "Are drink packages worth it?".  We mostly cruise with our kids so don't purchase it, but DH and I have gone on a couple cruises on our own. On our last cruise we purchased the package for the first time.  We have also purchased it for our summer cruise...if it goes as it was a good price (comparing to the standard rate).  It's not generally worth it for me price-wise, especially if our kids are on the cruise, but I do enjoy the freedom of grabbing drink and if the price is right, that alone is worth it.  DH can break even or make it worth it financially.

So I thought for fun...I'd start a post of "what is your day like on a cruise in terms of drinks"?  Royal has such fun ones, plus the usual wines, beers, hard liquor.

I'll go first (based on the one time we had the package)

• morning coffee with baileys - grab after breakfast and walk viewing the ocean with it
• afternoon fun drink by pool or schooner's bar with trivia - mai tai or blue lagoon or some cocktail
• afternoon ice coffee (maybe)
• bottled water
• dinner drink - try a new wine or mojito
• evening fun drink (usually after the show so I'm not running to the washroom lol) - try something new from menu, or Kraken colada, etc.

How about others?  Can be with or without the drink package...with our without the suite/diamond lounge (not us).

[USFFrank]

With the Refreshment Package, I always got the fresh squeezed orange juice at Windjammer at breakfast time. On Freedom of the Seas, I enjoyed watching them put the oranges into the that big juicer machine and getting the freshest tastiest orange juice ever. Never saw the juicers in action on the other cruises though, but I could tell the juice was freshly squeezed recently.

[RWDW1204]

To always have one in my hand. LOL

[WannaCruise]

37 minutes ago, USFFrank said:

With the Refreshment Package, I always got the fresh squeezed orange juice at Windjammer at breakfast time. On Freedom of the Seas, I enjoyed actually watching them put the oranges into the that big juicer machine and getting the freshest tastiest orange juice ever. Never saw the juicers in action on the other cruises though, but I could tell the juice was freshly squeezed recently.

The fun drinks that I get tend to have a lot of sugar so wouldn't typically add freshly squeezed OJ, but our next ship if Freedom (where we got the package), so maybe I'll give it a try. 

[teddy]

We will probably seem lame.   

We drink coffee, water, and whatever lemonade-type drink is available.   

It's boring but keeps our costs down.

[WannaCruise]

5 minutes ago, teddy said:

We will probably seem lame.   

We drink coffee, water, and whatever lemonade-type drink is available.   

It's boring but keeps our costs down.

Nothing wrong or boring with that at all. That's us more often (with the excepting of the one time we got the drink package)...and will carry our own wine onboard.

[FionaMG]

3 hours ago, teddy said:

We will probably seem lame.   

We drink coffee, water, and whatever lemonade-type drink is available.   

It's boring but keeps our costs down.

That's us too. At most we would maybe buy a soda or a beer at dinner time but as new diamonds on our last cruise we were able to eliminate that added expense. 

[HeWhoWaits]

Typical day for me:

8-10 bottles of water (or equivalent amount of Vitamin Water from Freestyle machines)

2-3 soda package cups filled with Powerade Zero

2-3 soda package cups filled with diet soda of some sort

5-6 glasses of iced tea at lunch/dinner (it's not great iced tea, but it meets the need)

1-2 cups of coffee (might be more if the coffee on a particular trip is unusually good)

1-2 glasses of juice at breakfast

A glass of scotch in either the Suite Lounge or Diamond Lounge

A couple glasses of wine with dinner

Whatever freebies or near freebies are offered at a liquor tasting, art auction, or Mimosa special in the casino on a sea day

[tonyfsu21]

No drink package necessary for me. I grab red stripes from either the Suite lounge, Diamond Lounge or casino bar for 7 straight days. By day 7 I swear off alcohol until the next voyage & I replace beer with the Peloton at home. 

[Leroyr55]

Excuse the legs.   

 

 

 

 

 

[KathyC]

Hmmm had to think about this, if we have a pattern or not. 

On a sea day on a Royal ship when NOT sailing with friends:  (water bottles throughout the day)

My hubby will get a specialty coffee for breakfast - sometimes I will just cause I have the package, not that I want it.  He may spike his, I don't.

Later in the morning we'll have something refreshing by the pool/hot tub/solarium/on balcony.

After lunch, there will be something frozen in the hot tub.

Pre-dinner martini

Hubby will have a whisky with dinner

After dinner, we'll get beers in the pub or mixed drinks for the show.  If we're hanging out in Schooner will be a mixed drink.

Last of the evening is a Toasted Almond to settle the stomach before bedtime.

On a Celebrity ship sea day: (water bottles throughout the day)

Specialty coffee in the morning

Martini Bar the rest of the day.  (Maybe a specialty herbal tea in the afternoon.)  

[Pooch]

So glad I’m not the only one starting my day with a little Baileys in my coffee!!

[JasonL]

This has definitely changed over the years. Started out with free drip coffee and whatever flavored water,tea,lemonade was offered. Then I started adding in a couple special occasion evening drinks. The last couple cruises I pre-purchased a coffee card so we could get specialty coffees every morning and started getting whatever I wanted to drink in moderation. My next cruise(God willing) to Alaska I made my first DBP purchase and I'm excited to get loose 

[JoAnn Detor]

Afternoon drink by the pool.

[Ogilthorpe]

We start the day with a cocktail at lunch (or two ...) including specialty coffees at dessert. I didn't mention breakfast since it has been many years since we have been up for breakfast on a cruise!We take full advantage throughout the day with drinks at various venues and plenty of seltzer to go. More cocktails and wine at dinner and drinks at the clubs and the casino until the early morning, often with a nightcap at casino bar at closing. 

 

[RickinSTL]

Wake up-- I need my Diet Dr. Pepper..  They had it on Harmony in the Freestyle Machines.. If not ill drink a few glasses of coke

Mid morning (1000ish)  I gotta have a few Tito's Bloody Marys.. 

Around twoish.. I guess its Bud Light time until Dinner.. 

After dinner... Tito's Dirty Martinis or Tito's and Cranberry..  Depending on the night.. Maybe a few shots of Patron mixed in

Last year I made the bright decision after a nap to start the Afternoon with Tito's and Red Bull.. Drank those up until dinnertime.. Around 11pm i lost my wings and crashed hard.. Couldn't  find our cabin (should have listened to my wife).. lol

[JLMoran]

For me, my days are pretty consistent:

• Breakfast - Fresh-squeezed OJ and a grande cappuccino from the cafe
• One or two days of the trip I'll follow that up with a jalapeño bacon Bloody Mary
• Another cappuccino around mid-day
• On embarkation day and port days I always get a reposado or añejo margarita for sail-away
• On sea days I might get one beer around lunch time, if the ship has a decent import option; if not, I'll get a lighter drink like "She's a Geisha" (sold only at Izumi)
• On port days I always get two bottles of water when I leave the ship
• At dinner - 2 glasses of wine (either bottles I brought with me, or if I bought the DBP then slightly more-expensive options that are mostly covered it)
• After dinner - A glass of Bailey's on the rocks with a shot of espresso mixed in; kind of a reverse Irish coffee

And then I'll be drinking bottled or ship's tap water around all of that through the day.

[WannaCruise]

12 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

• One or two days of the trip I'll follow that up with a jalapeño bacon Bloody Mary

Can't say I've ever heard of that...sounds um...interesting....and really different!  Sounds like a neat twist on a Bloody Mary.

[vanelli56]

• Bloody Mary for 1st breakfast
• Irish Coffee for 2nd breakfast
• VRB (vodka redbull) for the lull 
• Long island iced tea for 1st lunch
• pina colada for 2nd lunch
• (water... lots of water)
• Coconut mojito 
• lava flow for the down time
• Wine with first dinner
• beer with 2nd dinner
• ask bartender to surprise me before entertainment
• (water.... lots of water.... and more water)
• old fashioned 
• gatorade
• sleep.... shower... repeat. 
• CHEERS!

[JLMoran]

1 hour ago, WannaCruise said:

Can't say I've ever heard of that...sounds um...interesting....and really different!  Sounds like a neat twist on a Bloody Mary.

When the ship has the Bloody Mary bar set up in the atrium, they have a half-dozen or so ingredient options besides the choice of vodka. Jalapeños, bacon, possibly Old Bay, I forget what else. I saw the bacon and jalapeños that was just

[melmar02]

We always get the DBP, and I like to think we take advantage of it. Mostly we like not having the big bill at the end of the cruise. Sea days look like this:

• DH gets me coffee from the suite lounge in the morning, and I usually only have one cup a day, so no benefit there.
• Fresh squeezed OJ at breakfast (sometimes)
• Bottle of water
• Bloody Marys in the casino mid morning
• Bottle of water
• Water, soda, or lemonade at lunch
• A Lava Flow (or two) by the pool
• Bottle of water
• Jalapeno Grapefruit Daiquiri at the Schooner Bar with trivia 
• Bottle of water
• Lemon drop in the suite lounge (no benefit again)
• Glass of wine at dinner
• Bottle of water

 

[Ditchdoc]

Hummm .....

 

Morning

Coffee Coffee Coffee

 

Afternoon

Perhaps a beer or some frozen concoction

 

Evening

Before dinner drink

Wine with dinner

After dinner drink

 

Throughout the day

Water

 

Diamond perks usually cover the cost of drinks

 

 

[monctonguy]

I cant list all my drinks in a day.....it would clog up this thread...its a long  long list..........

 

But it averages around 20-25 per day, more on the first few days, less on the last few days...a couple of those are water or poweraede though.....lol........

[Andy & Sheryl Unwin]

Oh my, this could get interesting....  Thinking about our last time on Navigator

First thing is morning coffee, OJ and fruit delivered to the JS.  out to the balcony

More coffee with second breakfast in the MDR,

down to the R bar, for Bloody Mary then stroll around the walking track

Back to the R bar, jack and coke takes me through to lunch

Glass of wine with lunch in the MDR

Back to the R Bar to let lunch settle and wash down with another Jack and Coke

Mini Golf

Back to the R Bar - more jack and coke

Change for dinner

Dinner in the MDR- 2 glasses of wine

Showtime - Jack and coke

Back to the R bar - Jack and coke or two or three

Sleep time

 

Just to see how the drinks package worked out, we kept a real count on Navigator. Remember there were two of us contributing here not just me

Monday
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
14 × 13 = $182
Tuesday
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
16 x 13 = $208
Wednesday
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
20 x 13 = $260
Thursday
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
8 x 13 = $104

$754 Consumed

$432 Drinks package

$322 Balance in our favour

[PRebecca]

speciality coffee first thing in the AM, with a bottle of water.

then colada's by the pool, or whatever the drink is around the pool that day, several! I'll try anything

more specialty iced coffee, and water around lunch time

I like to go to a couple bars and ask them to make me whatever they like to make- whether it's their speciality drink or just some fun new drink they enjoy or whatever, it's a "surprise me" moment and they seem happy to comply.

more iced coffee and water

on the rocks drinks with dinner; again either specialty frozen or anything on the rocks

my drinks are all virgin, and i have a blast trying new things!

[JBC]

On 11/7/2020 at 10:32 AM, RWDW1204 said:

To always have one in my hand. LOL

This!

[Cruisegirl1976]

Well.. it's always 5 o'clock somewhere.. 

so.. morning it's either a mimosa, or what ever drink of the day is..

afternoon.. continue with drink of the day or mojito, lava flo..

night.. beer.. 

[MommaMcLovin]

It is fun to think back - 

2 Mimosas to start the day, coffee, water

then on to at least 2 drinks of the day by pool, more water, I usually get a water with each drink

2 wines at dinner

4 -5 drinks in evening down at the casino, love the casino bar and staff!!

but be sure and get pizza before it closes 

[MuttMutt]

Didn't buy the drink package on my first cruise.  Honestly I am not a big drinker to begin with and with the things that were happening in my life at that point I don't think it was a great idea.  I did carry my insulated drink container and the staff had no issue filling it up for me at meals.  Hopefully even with the new protocols they can do that for me on the next one.

[Floski]

On 11/7/2020 at 10:32 AM, RWDW1204 said:

To always have one in my hand. LOL

I love the reply and the gif....fabulous movie!

[Floski]

I love drinking.  Our first two cruises we were sans DBP; the last two with.

I looooove the fresh squeezed OJ and try to have it every morning.  The Solarium being my spot, 

I go there as much as I can, but I don't think they have the FSOJ, although I'm sure they'd go get me some if I asked.

 

I start drinking around 11:30-12, and until the evening I don't care what I have.  Of course, being ancient, I always 

forget the drinks that I hear everyone talk about (especially shots).  But I don't care, just bring it on.

 

I generally don't drink anything during dinner.    After dinner, it's pretty much straight, neat liquors.  I love trying 

high-end bevs, especially bourbons.  I'm hoping Harmony will have Blanton's when we sail in Feb (yes, we will, dammit!).

 

Oddly, I have never stepped foot in the wine bars in 4 cruises.  I like German whites, but don't know a bloody thing

about wine, so I'm a little intimidated by going in there.  Wife doesn't like wine at all, so it will be just me.

 

I'm disappointed that it appears that we won't be allowed to venture into the ports, as I love going into downtown 

Charlotte-Amalie and buying lots of rum.  BTW, if you like a good, smooth rum, try Havensight when you're in St. Thomas.

 

With the DBP, I never drink beer while onboard (mostly because their craft menu is awful), but I'm hopeful that, when we

get to Coco Cay, they will still have the collaboration with Funky Buddha, which is a great brewery.

 

Lord, I hope I can remember to drink more water next time.

[FManke]

On 11/7/2020 at 2:07 PM, HeWhoWaits said:

Typical day for me:

8-10 bottles of water (or equivalent amount of Vitamin Water from Freestyle machines)

2-3 soda package cups filled with Powerade Zero

2-3 soda package cups filled with diet soda of some sort

5-6 glasses of iced tea at lunch/dinner (it's not great iced tea, but it meets the need)

1-2 cups of coffee (might be more if the coffee on a particular trip is unusually good)

1-2 glasses of juice at breakfast

A glass of scotch in either the Suite Lounge or Diamond Lounge

A couple glasses of wine with dinner

Whatever freebies or near freebies are offered at a liquor tasting, art auction, or Mimosa special in the casino on a sea day

Sounds like you know the ins  and outs of every bathroom on board. 

[krhardy]

Hmmm...it really depends on what I have planned for the day. If I want to do the "active" stuff like Sky Pad, Flow Rider, Zip Line, etc (I may be a grandma, but age is just a number!), then I don't have my first beverage until I'm done with those things (an injury would definitely put a damper on the vacation!). Typically, something like this:
8:00...escape the snoring log of a husband and stumble down to the Cafe Promenade for a specialty hot tea (life is tough for those of us who don't drink coffee). Get a bottle of water or 2 for good measure
8:30...first breakfast...maybe with a mimosa and another bottle of water
9:00...morning run (gotta burn off all the dessert and drinks!) followed by another bottle of water
10:00...second breakfast when my husband finally emerges. Definitely a mimosa here
The rest of the day depends on what I'm doing...if we're hitting up the trivia (don't challenge me at 80s music trivia...I'll win), then it's time to start looking at the specialty drink menus in whatever venue we're in. Fallback drink is a Dark & Stormy. On Mariner, we loved to camp out in the Bamboo Room and try the different rums!
12:30~ish...time for lunch and more water
After lunch...pool deck and whatever tiki drinks the very sweet cabana boy will bring me. Along with water. All the water
We do late seating dinner, and I usually have a glass or 2 of wine with that.
After dinner...time to hit whatever entertainment and a nightcap.

 

[Floski]

4 hours ago, krhardy said:

if we're hitting up the trivia (don't challenge me at 80s music trivia...I'll win)

 

[USFFrank]

5 hours ago, krhardy said:

The rest of the day depends on what I'm doing...if we're hitting up the trivia (don't challenge me at 80s music trivia...I'll win)

 

 

50 minutes ago, Floski said:

 Yes, please, I sooooo need to win more key chains 7 hi-liters. I'll be waiting at the Schooner Bar.

[RickinSTL]

On 11/10/2020 at 7:12 PM, Floski said:

Oddly, I have never stepped foot in the wine bars in 4 cruises.  I like German whites, but don't know a bloody thing

about wine, so I'm a little intimidated by going in there.  Wife doesn't like wine at all, so it will be just me.

 

I'm disappointed that it appears that we won't be allowed to venture into the ports, as I love going into downtown 

Charlotte-Amalie and buying lots of rum.  BTW, if you like a good, smooth rum, try Havensight when you're in St. Thomas

My wife cannot drink wine because its a trigger for migranes..  I love Havana club dark rum.. omg.. i wish i could find it somewhere in the Caribbean.

[Floski]

3 minutes ago, crisgold52 said:

One has to wonder how gathering to drink any of the aforementioned drinks will work I the nes normal. I would not expect to see huge maskless swathes of guests sipping things in large congregate settings. The new normal is here and it will change the way how such rinks are to be drunk and when. 

Thanks for ruining my good drunk.  

[Ogilthorpe]

Anyone else out there willing to join me in considering the term "new normal" to be profanity?

[Lovetocruise2002]

13 minutes ago, Ogilthorpe said:

Anyone else out there willing to join me in considering the term "new normal" to be profanity?

Yes! And let’s add the terms “mitigate” and “elephant in the room” to that list too!

[Floski]

2 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Yes! And let’s add the terms “mitigate” and “elephant in the room” to that list too!

"no sail order" and "socially distance" 

 

Two out of a gazillion