soda cards on zuiderdam?

[melanie08742]

i was wondering if they sell soda on the zuiderdam? i know they do on carnival for about 30 dollars . they help save money!

[spcl4cs_gal]

They sell them for $27.50 if you order them before you cruise and for $35 at the pier/onboard. I had one last week and it was very convenient. :)

[Naninvan]

And how do you order them in advance?

:))

[spcl4cs_gal]

If you go to the HAL web site there is a section where you can order gifts and beverage packages....the soda card is the last item on the list I believe. :)

[CamilleandNick]

Order it ahead of time...because we did purchase ours onboard last week also and they added the tip to the fee also which adds up. FYI, my husband had no trouble using my card once or twice for a soda. They never checked. I am the big soda drinker. The fee sounded high. BUt it was worth it. I remember the good old days when they were free. How much does a coke cost anyways? Syrup....but actually now that they use cans only, the price per soda HAS gone up for them, too. Still they made plenty of money off of my soda card purchase compared to the amount I drink. But it still is better off than paying $3.00+ for each one.

[Jim Gallup]

CamilleandNick,

Your question, "How much does a coke cost anyway?" was a very good one.
You may be surprised at the answer.

The American Hotel and Motel Association recently estimated that the cost of serving a glass of icewater in a restaurant in America today is about $1.25.
They looked at the price of the glass, the water bill, the cost of the ice machine, the water and soap to wash the glass, the replacement cost when you or the waiter breaks it, the labor cost of serving it, insurance, cocktail napkins, electricity to pump the water and run the dishwashing machine, and a great many more issues that people rarely think about.

If you take that $1.25 and then add the cost of the can of coke, the transportation cost to get it to the ship, the import tax on the can, the very high re-cycling cost of that can, the slice of fruit in the glass, and a great many other factors that only ships face, it is amazing that a ship can turn any profit on a can of coke.

You can go to some discount joint like walmart and pay 40 cents for a can of coke. Cruise lines are not legally allowed to do that.

I was in Grand Cayman recently at a Holiday Inn. The vending machine on my floor sold a can of coke for US$3.00. That price did not include a glass, ice, napkin, slice of lime, straw, sun chair, or a waiter's service and smile.

What about the post-mix coca-cola that you get at McDonalds? Only sugar and water that costs a few pennies right? But then the dispensing machine costs about $50,000, and the ice machine costs $10,000. Mantaining and repairing that machine costs thousands. If it's so cheap, why does a post-mix coca-cola at McDonalds cost you over a dollar? Once again, that McDonalds coca-cola does not include a real glass, a napkin, a slice of fruit, a sunchair, and a waiter's service and smile.

[CamilleandNick]

Very true. Good points. However, we also pay our fare for the cruise. In that fare, I expect payment (and tips later) to include that sunchair use, waiter onboard, glasses, etc. So if you are considering all points do not forget that the actual fare paid ...which in our case was a suite...and the added tips do add to the cost of the sodas. I do understand the cost to the cruise lines has gone up...using canned cokes. However, I am not going to believe that they pay exhorbitant fees for them. I have cruised enough to know that the amount of sodas I personally drink is a better value using the soda card than purchasing them separately. Just the idea of unlimited drinks is a freeing thought. However, I am not believing that I am buying over $40 worth of drinks if purchased from a store. As for the waiter, I did get all of my drinks from the bar myself. However, that tip on the coke card was dispersed to the bar staff...therefore, coke card holders are equally entitled wait staff service. Yes, I understand the cost of canning, distribution...but never will I believe that they are losing money on soda cards.