Soda Card

[C-LAD]

Do they have soda cards on HAL ships - specifically the Zaandam although I would assume it's throughout the line.

Cost for the card on a 7 day cruise?

Thanks.

C-Lad

[Typhoon1]

$27.50, I just pre ordered one from ships services for my Feb. 20 cruise.

[spcl4cs_gal]

Do you have to pre-order the card or can you purchase one onboard?

[Typhoon1]

You can do either, I just prefer to pre-order. The card is waiting when I get to the cabin.

[C-LAD]

Is the $27.50 for a 7 day cruise? Just got off the Coral Princess (10 day cruise) and a soda card was $27.50 with a Coke mug or $25 w/o the mug!

[spcl4cs_gal]

I would think it is $27.50 with one of HAL's "bubble glasses" included.

[spcl4cs_gal]

You can do either, I just prefer to pre-order. The card is waiting when I get to the cabin.

Where can you buy one onboard? Does anyone know if the rumor of replacing Coke products with Dr Pepper was anymore than just a rumor?

[Pudgesmom]

I think it is better to buy the soda card on board. It you pre-order, you will not get the large mug. Then, you will only be served soda in a 10 oz glass. If you buy the card on board, you can get the MUCH larger plastic glass.

I guess this is only important if you drink soda in the gigantic quantities that I do. Otherwise, pre-order.

By the way, the cards are for sale all over the ship in public areas the first few days of the cruise, often in conjunction with the wine pre-sales

Hope this helps.

Beth

[spcl4cs_gal]

Thanks Beth...I already have three of those large bubble glasses that HAL gives out so one more would make a complete set right? :D

[flamingogal]

My husband brings a couple of those really large cups (64 oz) from 7-11. Its a hoot to see the bartender's face the first time he sees that huge cup. After a couple of fill-ups the bartenders just laugh and hold up the soda nozzle when they see him coming. :)

[LynnObie]

Does anyone know if the rumor of replacing Coke products with Dr Pepper was anymore than just a rumor?

I'd bet this is just a rumor.... I understand that Dr Pepper is one of the Coca Cola brands. I sure hope they have Diet Coke when we sail the "O" on 4/9. :)

[RuthC]

I sure hope they have Diet Coke when we sail the "O" on 4/9. :)
I have always been able to find Diet Coke and Caffeine Free Diet Coke with no trouble when sailing.

But, there's no need to "hope". I had never seen (can't say I'd looked, either) Caffeine Free Diet. So the year I was interested in seeing it aboard I had my TA call and request that a supply be on-loaded. It was.
Other times---when it didn't appear there would be enough for the length of the cruise---a supply was obtained at a port enroute.

Remember---HAL is aiming to please.

[BCEagle78]

Just so all inquiring minds know:

Dr. Pepper is owned by Cadbury-Schweppes, not Coca-Cola. Technically it is part of the Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc., based in Plano, Texas.

Dr. Pepper is the oldest soft drink in America. You can read more about it at
http://www.drpepper.com/dp/html/index.html

I am not employed by this company... just had this information.

[LynnObie]

Dr. Pepper is owned by Cadbury-Schweppes, not Coca-Cola. Technically it is part of the Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc., based in Plano, Texas.

Cruisin' Eagle,

Thanks for the info. Not sure of "ownership" but Coke claims Dr Pepper is one of it's many "Brands" at their web site. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

There is a cute Dr Pepper commercial on the Coke web site here:
http://www2.coca-cola.com/presscenter/av_advertising_drpepper.html

Anyway, I just hope that HAL keeps the Diet Coke available for me & DW! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Lynn

[BCEagle78]

Lynn,

I stand corrected. You are right. I learned something today.

[LynnObie]

I learned something today.

Cruisin' Eagle,
I also learned something today. We both posted factual information. I'm just a little uncertain http://messages.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/confused.gif about how it fits together. My guess is that Coke may be licensed to bottle and sell Dr Pepper in certain regions?

RuthC,
Thanks for the advice. I'll make the request for Diet Coke through my TA. Maybe I can start a set of those glasses spcl4cs_gal mentioned http://messages.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif .

Lynn Obie

[peaches from georgia]

That same area of the Coca-Cola website where you saw the Dr. Pepper commercial goes on to explain that Coca-Cola bottles certain Cadbury-Schweppes brands, including DP, in Great Britain.

That kind of arrangement is common in the soft drink industry. Coca-Cola doesn't own Dr. Pepper, but acquired the bottling rights, in this case in Grt. Britain.

[Dutchman]

WOW, I learned something to day also! When we sailed on the Zuiderdam last April I purchased the Soda card on board but never got one of those "Bubble" glasses!!! what are they?

[spcl4cs_gal]

The glasses are made of a heavy plastic, stand tall like a beer glass, tapered at the bottom and wider at the top, have the HAL logo on them, and have bubbles in the plastic. They come in a variety of colors too. :)

[doone]

If these are the glasses I am thinking of, they have them at sailaway filled with a nice sailaway drink in them.

[Jackjenson]

You are afraid that you won't get a bubble glass because your best buddy (knowing what a soda-aholic you are) pre-orders and pays for your soft drink card before your cruise on the Westerdam that leaves in SIX DAYS!!!

Do you think if I ask nicely, the staff might give me a bubble glass even though my soft drink pass was pre-ordered?

[peaches from georgia]

The Bubble Glass has absolutely nothing to do with the Soda Card. They are just glasses that you can purchase your drink in at sailaway- drink costs a lot more in that glass than a regular one, but some people like to keep them as a memento.

They are as spcl4cs_gal describes and you will have no trouble finding the 'opportunity' to buy a drink in one, believe me. ;)

[spcl4cs_gal]

The Bubble Glass has absolutely nothing to do with the Soda Card. They are just glasses that you can purchase your drink in at sailaway- drink costs a lot more in that glass than a regular one, but some people like to keep them as a memento.

They are as spcl4cs_gal describes and you will have no trouble finding the 'opportunity' to buy a drink in one, believe me. ;)

They're the best glasses I have seen for sodas or fancy sailaway drinks...large and bottomless (or so they seem). :D

[pdcruiser2005]

I read somewhere on the web that the soda card is not vaild for the dining room. You have to buy the soda there.

Is that true?

If it is true, is there any way around that besides eating somewhere besides the dining room?

[Typhoon1]

Not true, I have never had a problem using my card in the main dining room or Pinnacle Grille.

[cjcjohio]

I have read that the soda card can NOT be used at HMC.
So, I am quessing that ice tea is available on the beach near the buffet line.
Do anyone know if that is correct?
How about the Lido restaurant, what soft drinks are offered.
Is there lemonade?
Thanks.Colleen

[Linda&Vern]

They are as spcl4cs_gal describes and you will have no trouble finding the 'opportunity' to buy a drink in one, believe me. ;)[/QUOTE]

I don't think I was on the ship more than 30 minutes when I bought mine. Same as described. Look for the wine display in the Lido pool area. That's where I got mine.

[Linda&Vern]

Not true, I have never had a problem using my card in the main dining room or Pinnacle Grille.
No one ever turned down my request for a diet coke. Wine Steward always had TWO ready for me at dinner!

[pdcruiser2005]

Okay. Thanks for the info. By the way, is there anything served in the Pinnacle Room to justify the expense--for a vegetarian?

Or is that a digression from this thread?

[Sierrachik]

No one ever turned down my request for a diet coke. Wine Steward always had TWO ready for me at dinner!

Once the wine steward on the Zuiderdam found out I had a soda card and preferred the diet coke from their choices, my glass of soda never even reached half empty before he had given me another glass. :)

[K&RCurt]

Just off the Westerdam.

We purchased the soda card on board. We didn't go to the sail away party as the Eagles game was on TV in the sports bar! So we totally missed the opportunity for a "bubble glass"...Oh well I guess we'll have to go on another cruise in order to get some.

After our first night in the main dinning room, the beverage steward had diet cokes with a wedge of lime at our seats as soon as we sat down. We also had a steward show up with diet cokes within minutes of sitting down in the lido resturaunt for lunch. At the lido pool the deck steward, Norman, had our diet cokes in our hands before we could get our towles unfolded on the chairs.

The cards were not for use on HMC but there was plenty of iced tea available (and maybe lemon-aide but the iced tea was first so i did not go any farther).

One odd thing (perhaps OT) on HMC. We went to one of the bars to get a couple of foo foo drinks and ordered from a drink menu on the bar. We were told by the bartender that we COULDN"T HAVE those drinks because the menu was a MAASDAM menu not a WESTERDAM menu! Why would they have two diferent drink menus based on which ship you were on??

[SharonN]

We also bought the Soda stickers on the Westerdam last week but never heard/saw anything about the Bubble Glass. I bought mine in the Lido during lunch just after boarding. I ordered a coke and he asked if I wanted to buy the sticker so I did. We decided the next day to get one for DH. The only place we had any problems with them was in the Crows Nest when they held Bingo there. One time the guy gave us a look and then never came back. The other time we finally asked a second person after not getting them for 10 minutes or so. We ended up with 2 each but that was ok. Everywhere else it was very easy. And nice not to have to sign for each drink!

[Arubalisa]

12/18 sailing on the Zaandam we purchased our cards after check-in prior to boarding. There was a little area set up with orange juice and you could purchase the card (actually the sticker for the card if you want to be that specific).

Our family had 7 soda cards and no one was ever offered a "bubble" glass.