Jump to content

Main Dining Room and Drink Packages


Recommended Posts

Unlike some of the other lines (e.g., MSC), the drink packages work throughout the ship at all venues. Thus, if your package covers wine, it will cover wine throughout the ship, including the main dining room and any of the specialty restaurants.  Note, however, there is a price cap.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes! I always order a glass of wine with dinner in the MDR. As DocLC mentioned, there is a price cap on wines which I believe is $12-13 per glass. I recommend asking to see a wine menu so you can make sure you pick one you want at the price point you want. 

It's worth mentioning that say if the price cap is $13 a glass and the wine you want is $15, they'll only charge you the $2 surcharge. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Floski said:

One thing to remember is that the MDR wait staff, while glad and eager to get your adult beverages, aren't super fast, so you might want to grab one in a bar before you head to dinner.

bingo! nail on the head! tail on the donkey! (insert cliche here)! :10_wink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

56 minutes ago, rjac said:

Those all look really good. Of course, they're lower proof than what @KLAconQueso is referring to and they don't come in the collectible shot glass, but I'd be game. 

I've never had a dessert shot myself on Royal; however, my table mate on Disney was quite annoyed that Disney didn't have the dessert shots after coming over from Royal. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, Kansas Cruiser said:

Thanks for all of the information!  We head out on  Liberty of the Seas on August 20  -  first one in MANY years and WITHOUT KIDS, hence the drink package!

Excellent! Cheers! :) 

Liberty was my first cruise about two and a half years ago and the ship that made me fall in love with cruising. You're going to have a fantastic time!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We've cruised Liberty several times.  Our experience is that your table area in the MDR will have a bar steward to take your drink orders. You certainly can order wine by the glass and they do a good job coming around asking if you would like another.  Also don't forget that the drink package gives you a discount on a bottle of wine.  So if your table mate doesn't have a drink package it might be cheaper to just order them a botttle.  The MDR staff will save any unfinished bottles for you so you can enjoy them another night.  As other mentioned it's fun to meet at one of the bars prior to going to dinner and you can carry a drink into dinner.  Same goes for after dinner don't for get to order one to go.  It saves standing in line at the show venues.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, Floski said:

One thing to remember is that the MDR wait staff, while glad and eager to get your adult beverages, aren't super fast, so you might want to grab one in a bar before you head to dinner.

This for sure.  They are not fast with serving drinks in the MDR.  In my experiences, it seems like one drink server covers half of the room.  I grab a glass of wine on my way to the MDR, and then order another one at some point during dinner. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

bring one with you!!!!....I have often waited till the meal was almost done before they asked/showed up with my drink.

 

IF you want a coffee with bailey's with your dessert for example, make sure you order it at the beginning of your meal to insure you get it in time to enjoy with your dessert.

 

I have actually left the table and walked out to a bar and come back with a drink quicker than ordering in the MDR......so yes, they serve you there but.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Speaking as one in the industry.... NEVER USE A COCKTAIL SERVER!!! Granted, that is an overgeneralization, but for the most part, it is true. (That includes the MDR.)

First, they are slower. Three reasons for that:

  1. they are not the ones making your drink
    • the bartender making the cocktail servers' drinks will always prioritize the guest sitting directly in front of him or her over the guest he or she cannot see at the cocktail server's table;
  2. the cocktail server has to walk around the lounge, pool deck, etc. while the bartender has everything he or she needs at his or her immediate disposal;
  3. the cocktail server can only visit one table at a time, whereas the bartender can make several guests' drinks at one time, especially if the guests order the same cocktails.

Second, cocktail servers are almost always less capable, which is why they are still servers and not yet bartenders. Sometimes, that is not their fault. They may be new or young or just have not been trained yet. However, I like the pros! Bartenders are usually the pros! And again, that, too, is a generalization. I have met my share of crappy bartenders. However, on the whole, servers work their way UP to become bartenders. Thus, by the nature of that merit-based system, bartenders will typically be better than cocktail servers.

Third, cocktail servers do not make your cocktails. That may seem obvious, but most people do not even consider that fact. Thus, they have no control as regards the final product's quality. As much as the company (in this case, Royal) wants there to be 100% consistency between every drink at every bar on every ship, we all know that is an impossible standard for many reasons. At the end of the day, all you care about is your own personal drink - it had better be the best it can be! (let other people get bad drinks :10_wink::6_smile: ) The way to ensure that you get a great drink is to bond with a bartender. DO NOT MISTAKE ME HERE. Tipping helps, but if you are a jerk, you will likely still get a bad drink. Remember, bartenders are people first, bartenders second - treat them as such. They are not slaves. They make a choice to be there. They can make a choice not to be. So treat them with respect. And then also tip them well! Just because you have the drink package, does not mean you will get the best drinks. Someone who tips well can make not having the drink package go a long way. Additionally, I do not merely want the best quality drinks; I also want the best service. I want to skip the line. I want them to remember my name. I want them bending over backward to make sure I am happy. And so on. There is only so much a cocktail server can do. A bartender, on the other hand, can have a significant impact on your cruise vacation - particularly if that bartender is also the lead bartender. (Pro Tip: learn who the lead bartender is very early on in your cruise. They know things!)

Fourth (and final for now), unless you are sitting far away from the bar and have a good reason not to get up (broken foot, etc.), get your lazy butt up! On every ship I have been on, the bar is never too far away. Hmm? It is like Royal planned it that way. :10_wink: The bar is a very social place - both with the bartenders and with your fellow guests. It is a cruise! Do not isolate and insulate yourself - mingle! Make it a party! Make memories! Make lifelong cruise friends! It is much harder to do that from your lounge chair, your MDR table, or your theater chair. The Europeans have the pub culture figured out. They got it right! So do as they do and mozy up to the bar - your cruise vacation will be better off for it in countless ways. And leave the MDR for dining!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Love bartenders and plant my a@@ there for hours each day whether it is the pool bar or the casino or....you get the drift.

 

So its not being lazy nor is it not wanting to be sociable..but sitting at a table with 7 other ppl for 2 hours or so enjoying a meal..it is a pain and even somewhat rude to be getting up to go to the bar to get drinks imho..that's all I was saying.....

 

I meet and make most of my friends on cruises around the bars...and the bartenders get to know me and me them. I have gone back a year later on a certain ship and the bartender remembered me and even my drink of choice. I have had bartenders that work different bars on the ship and they have brought my preferred mix(blueberry redbull) from one bar to another for me so I don't run out or have to go looking for it. Now that's service!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And that is why we love to cruise.  All of us on the same ship, having a great time, but approaching it from our own direction.  My wife and I both work customer service jobs.  So when we cruise we're that couple that sits at a table for 2 or off by ourselves in the deck chairs nowhere near the pool.  Time to unwind, be together and let someone bring the drinks to us.  Don't get me wrong we have our favorite bar on the ship and some of the bartenders are a show themselves.  At the same time no rush, no worries, and waiter can you bring me one of those tall drinks that those people over there just got served is our cruise order.

By the way thanks to Matt and the rest of you on this blog.  You convinced us to give this cruise thing a try a couple of years ago and we dont know why we waited so long.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, Floski said:

One thing to remember is that the MDR wait staff, while glad and eager to get your adult beverages, aren't super fast, so you might want to grab one in a bar before you head to dinner.

Does this go for all beverages, or just the alcoholic ones?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, DisneyBartenderScott said:

Speaking as one in the industry.... NEVER USE A COCKTAIL SERVER!!! Granted, that is an overgeneralization, but for the most part, it is true. (That includes the MDR.)

First, they are slower. Three reasons for that:

  1. they are not the ones making your drink
    • the bartender making the cocktail servers' drinks will always prioritize the guest sitting directly in front of him or her over the guest he or she cannot see at the cocktail server's table;
  2. the cocktail server has to walk around the lounge, pool deck, etc. while the bartender has everything he or she needs at his or her immediate disposal;
  3. the cocktail server can only visit one table at a time, whereas the bartender can make several guests' drinks at one time, especially if the guests order the same cocktails.

Second, cocktail servers are almost always less capable, which is why they are still servers and not yet bartenders. Sometimes, that is not their fault. They may be new or young or just have not been trained yet. However, I like the pros! Bartenders are usually the pros! And again, that, too, is a generalization. I have met my share of crappy bartenders. However, on the whole, servers work their way UP to become bartenders. Thus, by the nature of that merit-based system, bartenders will typically be better than cocktail servers.

Third, cocktail servers do not make your cocktails. That may seem obvious, but most people do not even consider that fact. Thus, they have no control as regards the final product's quality. As much as the company (in this case, Royal) wants there to be 100% consistency between every drink at every bar on every ship, we all know that is an impossible standard for many reasons. At the end of the day, all you care about is your own personal drink - it had better be the best it can be! (let other people get bad drinks :10_wink::6_smile: ) The way to ensure that you get a great drink is to bond with a bartender. DO NOT MISTAKE ME HERE. Tipping helps, but if you are a jerk, you will likely still get a bad drink. Remember, bartenders are people first, bartenders second - treat them as such. They are not slaves. They make a choice to be there. They can make a choice not to be. So treat them with respect. And then also tip them well! Just because you have the drink package, does not mean you will get the best drinks. Someone who tips well can make not having the drink package go a long way. Additionally, I do not merely want the best quality drinks; I also want the best service. I want to skip the line. I want them to remember my name. I want them bending over backward to make sure I am happy. And so on. There is only so much a cocktail server can do. A bartender, on the other hand, can have a significant impact on your cruise vacation - particularly if that bartender is also the lead bartender. (Pro Tip: learn who the lead bartender is very early on in your cruise. They know things!)

Fourth (and final for now), unless you are sitting far away from the bar and have a good reason not to get up (broken foot, etc.), get your lazy butt up! On every ship I have been on, the bar is never too far away. Hmm? It is like Royal planned it that way. :10_wink: The bar is a very social place - both with the bartenders and with your fellow guests. It is a cruise! Do not isolate and insulate yourself - mingle! Make it a party! Make memories! Make lifelong cruise friends! It is much harder to do that from your lounge chair, your MDR table, or your theater chair. The Europeans have the pub culture figured out. They got it right! So do as they do and mozy up to the bar - your cruise vacation will be better off for it in countless ways. And leave the MDR for dining!

I'm a big fan of a large tip right off the bat, instead of nickle and diming as I go along. What's your professional thoughts on this? And by the way, I don't drink alcohol. Does that make a difference?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

32 minutes ago, FManke said:

I'm a big fan of a large tip right off the bat, instead of nickle and diming as I go along. What's your professional thoughts on this? And by the way, I don't drink alcohol. Does that make a difference?

I also think for those of us using the C&A drink vouchers should tip as it's unlikely the crew is getting a tip on these "free" drinks. I carry a few dollar bills with me in the evening when I redeem my vouchers for this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Non-alcoholic drinks are usually topped off fairly regularly, I have also resorted to brining alcohol with me and heading out to the nearest bar though if I plan to drink alcohol with/during dinner.

Last couple of times we weren't even offered drinks on some nights and typically didn't see the drinks waiter/waitress until well into the meal if we did see them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The drink package is great if you know upfront that you will be spending that much money each day.  It really doesn"t take much to use your up  daily cost.  Especially on a sea day.  Like Disney Bartender said the number one thing we do is extend a nice gratuity to the head bartender on the start of the cruise and at the end.  The service you get is awesome unless your a piece of work. We have done that the past several cruises as well as with our room attendant and the service you get is worth the extra money.   Nine times out of ten after a couple of days of ordering the same drinks if the bartender spots you heading his or her  way they will have made your drinks by the time you reach the bar. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/10/2017 at 6:55 PM, FManke said:

I'm a big fan of a large tip right off the bat, instead of nickle and diming as I go along. What's your professional thoughts on this? And by the way, I don't drink alcohol. Does that make a difference?

Sorry for my delay. I had taken quite some time to write you a lengthy reply on 08/10, but it got deleted and I got pissed off about it, so I closed the browser and left the room! :37_disappointed: I apologize that I have not gotten back to you until today.

To make a long reply short, I am not a fan of the upfront, large tip. A little extra on Day 1, just to show them you're serious? Okay, I get that. But, not the whole week's worth in one shot. Besides, you need to shop around for the best bar and bartenders. It could take a little time to discover that. Just remember that, like branding, repetition is key. They may get all excited on Day 1 with a big tip, but the emotion wears off. Give them a medium tip and then continue to tip throughout, and you will get better service. You need to keep hope alive! Keep them guessing, "Will this be a small one or the big kahuna!?" It is the basic Pavlovian response!

If you do not drink alcohol, how does your generosity toward a bartender benefit you? What is your end game?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/10/2017 at 2:53 PM, monctonguy said:

So its not being lazy nor is it not wanting to be sociable..but sitting at a table with 7 other ppl for 2 hours or so enjoying a meal..it is a pain and even somewhat rude to be getting up to go to the bar to get drinks imho..that's all I was saying.....

1

I am sorry. I really was not aiming at anyone in particular or meaning to offend. I do understand that "rude" angle and I feel that is a problem with cocktail service in the MDR. You are 100% correct. Personally, I will not leave the table to get a drink. I will either bring one with me or wait until dinner is over. It is unfortunate, but that is the reality of cocktail service in the MDR. Again, I apologize if you thought I was calling you out specifically. :37_disappointed:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, DisneyBartenderScott said:

If you do not drink alcohol, how does your generosity toward a bartender benefit you? What is your end game?

I'm just looking for the same service level as a drinker purchasing alcohol would receive. I don't want to be discounted, because I'm not drinking alcohol. 

Also, when I talk about tipping up front, I'm talking about the tips for one "sitting" and is a starter. I usually will always finish with a tip as well if warranted. Of course, if the service level isn't what I deem acceptable, I will seek out a different bar or bartender.

Do you know if the tips are "pooled" on RC for a given shift?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, FManke said:

Do you know if the tips are "pooled" on RC for a given shift?

 

I remember once I was told by the R Bar lead bartender on Freedom about how the tip sharing worked on board. He said a few different bars all shared together. However, the last cruise I was on (Navigator), that R Bar lead bartender told me that was not the case for them. She said they only share with each other - not other bars. I have a message into one of my friends, who is a lead bartender on Anthem at 270, to gather more information for you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, DisneyBartenderScott said:

@FManke confirmed: they only share with each other - no longer do they share with other bars (as per the lead bartender at 270 on Anthem)

Thanks for the info, good to know. If you are going to work for tips, they should be yours. There is always going to be one person that doesn't pull their weight and will try and live off the hard work of others. I know that sounds cynical, but I've been there and seen that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, FManke said:

Thanks for the info, good to know. If you are going to work for tips, they should be yours. There is always going to be one person that doesn't pull their weight and will try and live off the hard work of others. I know that sounds cynical, but I've been there and seen that.

Could not agree more! And, it is absolutely not cynical. You are simply being objective and merely reflecting the unfortunate reality of a certain percentage of people. We see it every day, regrettably. :37_disappointed: On the flip side, we also have coworkers who are true teammates - people I tip share with willingly and enthusiastically. And, I have seen people like that working together on Royal. That is when you know you have found a great bar!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...