Soft Drink Cards

[Vanisle]

Does anyone know if these are good all over the ship ?
Also do they add the 15 % grat to your final bill for every soft drink
Thanks
Volendam July 28-04

[RevNeal]

That's a good question.
The cards are good most areas of the ship, though I never was able to use it in the dining room, and it wasn't easy in the Lido unless I went out to the bar and got it filled there. In the end, it was more convenient to purchase a card and use it for times other than dinner, when -- if I wanted a coke -- I just ordered it by the can. I suppose it saves one money. I KNOW it did on my 15 day circle Hawaii Cruise, but I didn't buy one for Alaska last year. I cut back on the cokes and drank more tea and coffee to get my nominal caffeine fix. :)

With the new gratuity charge I'm not sure how the cards are handled. I'm almost certain the 15% is added even on soft drinks (1.75 x .15 = 2.01 per can of soda). I'm kinda leery as to how the staff will treat soda card users, though. Some bar staff were not too pleased with filling a glass of soda fountain coke for me. Other bar people WERE happy to oblige. Now that there wouldn't be a gratuity charge with the service, I'm worried that those of us who have and use the cards will be even further sneered at. Perhaps not ... it was only a rare few who sneered. :)

[sail7seas]

I think it may be possible they would tack the 15% gratuity onto the original purchase price of the card.
We don't drink much soda and have never gotten one of the cards.

[iluvcruzin]

I actually called HAL today inquiring on soft drink cards. Current prices are $27.50 for a 7-day and $37.50 for a 10-day cruise. I was told gratuites are only added on alcoholic beverages. So there is no 15% added on the purchase of the card.

As far as using them in the dining room.. I was told that you can use them there. I'm not sure of the circumstance on RevNeal's experience on that. I do know that on my last cruise which was on the Granduer of the Seas our wait staff did not like going for softdrinks. Most often they would take their time delivering until 1/2 way through the meal.

[Jemima]

We've never asked for soft drinks in the dining room or lido buffet, but have had no problem getting them elsewhere on the ship. I used to buy the soft drink cards, but have found we do the same or better without them. I average about 2 cans per day, while DD has 1 or 2. That's about $61.25 for a 10 day cruise. Two 10 day soft drink cards $37.50 x 2 = $75.
If you do want soft drinks in the dining room, simply arrange that the first night.

[CockyGoffin]

I've never cruised before and am learning a lot from reading these boards. But am confused. Do you really have to pay for soft drinks?

I knew you paid for alcohol but assumed that soft drinks and such would be free. :confused:

Thanks

[farmgirl63]

Yes, they really do charge for soda on cruise ships! I don't know why they don't just add $20 on for soda and call it good. We've used the soda cards on Princess and NCL and the staff does grumble a bit at times, but if I run into a problem I definitely note it on my evaluation card at the end of the cruise! If the staff is unhappy about bringing soda then they should have self-service fountain stations for pop. I don't drink coffee or tea and feel it is unfair to have to pay extra for what soda but that is how it is. After paying the price for the soda card, I always get my money's worth (and a terrible caffeine withdrawl after the cruise!) tammy

[sail7seas]

I don't recall ever going to any restaurant anywhere and not paying for a soft drink if that was what we chose to drink.


I would not like for them to charge everyone $20 for soft drinks. I rarely drink more than 2 diet cokes in a month. I would not want to be paying for something I don't want and won't be drinking. That is why they offer soft drink cards for pax who wish to drink a lot of soda/pop/tonic or whatever it is called where you are from. :)

[CockyGoffin]

I guess I could understand paying for soft drinks if I was in a bar. But when I'm in the restaurant having dinner and the dinners already paid for. Just strikes me as odd...:eek:

We will survive as long as coffee is free... Thanks for the quick response...

[farmgirl63]

I'm sure the soda card program will always be debated-just depends on what side of the drink card you plan to be on! I feel like in a small way I'm paying for coffee and tea which I don't drink-but I love cruising too much to not go just because of another fee for something!

[CockyGoffin]

Not really concerned about the pay for the drinks thing. But, without coffee I have no discernable personality in the morning. :)

Were so bad that we actually bought our house because its down wind of a coffee roasting plant.... :p

[GayleArc]

My husband purchased a soft drink card on our May 17th cruise. The price was
$37.50 plus 15% tip (10 day cruise). He never had any problem getting drink
or with the service.

[CockyGoffin]

Is the soft drink card something we should purchase prior to the cruise. Or is it something that we can pickup once we get there. Just wondering which is easier...

[temple10]

Ok I am learning, I will be cruising in December for the first time. Now all I drink is Diet coke, Infact to get moving in the morning I need one as if it were coffee. I will be on the statendam for 15 days and if I have my usual 6 cans a day Where to I go to get a soda card?? Can I pack a 12 pack in my luggage to have some in my cabin?? With meals I cannot believe soda is not included. that really blows me out of the water. Is coffee and Tea your only choice?? or is there Juices? Thank you for any help.. ( No diet Coke- I feel a Panic attack coming on) lol lol:eek:

[jayjo]

We just returned from the Maasdam. My son had a coke card.... Important to note that the soda card is good for fountain sodas not cans. We have always had them as the kids, 14 year old then can have a drink on his own when he likes with out having to charge. Gratuity WAS charged when we purchased the card. This was one area that I would say HAL does a poor job at. The first 4 days my son could not get the waitstaff to bring a soda. If he wanted one he had to go to the bar himself. I spoke to the customer advocate woman on board. They refunded the coat of the sticker, and spoke to the waitstaff and it was amazing how much better the service got. I think the staff of the Maasdam is not used to as many younger people that were on board and really didn't understand how to deal with them. As I always say, don't complain unless the person listening has the authority to do something about the problem.

Coffee and tea, iced and hot as well as milk are available, although the milk was UHT and defintely tasted strange. Juice is available in the morning. Sodas are not included in meals.

[sail7seas]

You can buy a soda card at every bar on the ship. When you board, pick any bar you like and ask them "for a soda card".

[Jemima]

Soda cards can also be ordered ahead of time in the same way as wine. That way you should be able to use them right away. When we've bought them, we've usually found that it's difficult to get them right away on embarkation day.

[RevNeal]

As far as using them in the dining room.. I was told that you can use them there. I'm not sure of the circumstance on RevNeal's experience on that.

It's quite possible that the rules have changed, however all I know is that, on the Statendam in November/December 2002, the sommelier told me that the Soda Card was only good for bars and that I couldn't use it in the dining room. I just shrugged and forgot about it; We normally drank wine and water with our dinner anyway, with coffee at dessert. At lunch (if I ate in the dining room) I would usually order a can of coke; in the Lido there's usually a bar staffer pushing a cart with cans of soft drinks and other libations and I usually ordered a can of coke from them for lunch.

Looking at my final bill, for 15 days on the Statendam having a soda card kept my canned coke purchases down to about 2 cans a day. Adding up what I would have normally ordered in the form of canned cokes and comparing it to the price of the soda card (the card, as quoted, is a little more expensive now then 2 years ago), I saved at least $20 or $25. I don't know how much I used the card, exactly, but I must have used it at least 3 times a day ... sometimes more (particularly during sea-days). And, each time I used it, the bar staffer usually refilled by glass once or twice during the visit.

Some people don't understand how critical our concern is, but for those of us who are addicted to caffeine and carbonated soda this is a real issue. I drink way too much coke; for me to feed my habit at my normal consumption-rate, at $1.75 a can, would cost a serious chunk of change. I once figured it or a 10-day cruise: 6 cans a day (minimal) comes to $105. Indeed, it can come to much more than that -- once, on a 7 day cruise on which I didn't buy a soda card -- I spent over $150 just on canned coke! Frankly, I find that ridiculous.

Rather than let my concern over how to feed my addition ruin my cruise, last year I decided to engage in a little behavior modification. About 30 days before I cruised I began cutting back on my coke-consumption; I start drinking more coffee and tea, and less coke, so that I'm used to getting my caffeine from those sources than from carbonated soda. By the time I'm on the ship I'm usually fine with about 2 - 4 cans a day, supplemented by coffee and tea (iced and hot). In this way, on my Alaska Cruise, I kept my soft-drink expense down to a reasonable amount (about 3 cans a day).

[montgomeryfamily]

We've also always bought a soda card every time we have sailed on Holland America. The gratuity is added at the time the card is purchased. We generally haven't had any problems getting sodas from the waitstaff, although sometimes the service is slow and it is faster to get it from the bar directly. However, we are adults and I am not surprised that teens/children may not get the same consideration.

We have always used the soda card in the dining room on the ships we were on, but I had heard other people say that on a couple of ships they were told that it couldn't be used. Before I purchased the card, I always checked at the pursers desk to make sure that it could be used in the dining room. We have never sailed on the Statendam, so I don't know. But we sailed on the Zandam during the same time frame as RevNeal's Statendam cruise and didn't have any problem with using the soda card in the dining room then. On the Zuiderdam last November 03, the wine steward/bar steward was responsible for getting the sodas--on all of our past sailings, it was the responsibility of the Asst. Waiter, just like the ice tea. I think the Asst. Waiter is more prompt, but we didn't have that much problem with the Bar Steward. In fact, on the third day of our cruise, our sodas were waiting at the table for us, just like they had been on previous cruises when served by the Asst. Waiter. We did tip the Bar Steward at the end of the cruise, even though we didn't get any alcoholic beverages, because he was so good about bringing our sodas.

In the past, I had either bought the soda cards in the bar or in the dining room. However, on the Zuiderdam, I could not buy the soda card in the dining room and had to go to a nearby bar to buy it. I had inquired about purchasing the soda card in advance from ship services when I purchased some other gifts, but was told that I couldn't do that. So I would be interested in knowing how to do this.

[staufj22]

I don't recall ever going to any restaurant anywhere and not paying for a soft drink if that was what we chose to drink.


I would not like for them to charge everyone $20 for soft drinks. I rarely drink more than 2 diet cokes in a month. I would not want to be paying for something I don't want and won't be drinking. That is why they offer soft drink cards for pax who wish to drink a lot of soda/pop/tonic or whatever it is called where you are from. :)

I guess you've never been to buffets... or other all inclusive restaurants.
Actually, when we book all inclusive vacations, to places like Mexico, all restaurants in the resort provide drinks at no additional cost.

[sail7seas]

You are correct. We never go to all you can eat buffet places.

We also have not gone to All Inclusive Mexican Resorts.

Nothing wrong with either; just not places we go.

[jayjo]

One quick tip, on other ships we learned that if you purchase soda cards before you set sail, depending on the port, you may be subject to taxes you would not be if you waited until sailing!

[RevNeal]

But we sailed on the Zandam during the same time frame as RevNeal's Statendam cruise and didn't have any problem with using the soda card in the dining room then. On the Zuiderdam last November 03, the wine steward/bar steward was responsible for getting the sodas--on all of our past sailings, it was the responsibility of the Asst. Waiter, just like the ice tea.

Ah ... ok ... perhaps I was asking the wrong fellow, then? I'll have to try it on the Zaandam in September/October. :)

Thanks for the idea.

[Vanisle]

Thanks for all your responses.
I personally dont drink pop but my dad does and I thought it may be a good idea for him to have one.
I will wait to get it when on board so I can ask directly.

[darnapar]

Just received our docs for the Zuiderdam 8/21. A preordered soda card from the gift list is $26.25 (7 days). I was told by my TA who called HAL that you can use them in the dining room.

[seattleadjuster]

This May on the Statendam I got the soda card, both on a 7 day northbound and a 7 day southbound. The 15% is added as a graduity. Never had any problems getting softdrinks. I loved going to the Crow's Nest and watching the views for hours, and having my drink refreshed.

We were allowed the soft drinks at dinner. The first night (of 14 nights) the bar waiter never did return with my drink. The next night he apologized, and for the rest of the cruise I had one or two cans waiting for me every night.

[reggielew]

Hi!

We will be going on the Maasdam in 3 weeks, and I am debating whether or not to purchase a soda card. Is lemonade or fruit punch available in the lido during lunch hours? If it is, I probably will only drink soda once a day in the dining room at dinner and will not need the soda card. If only water and iced tea are available, the soda card is probably my best bet. Thanks!

Reggie

[sail7seas]

Ice Water and Ice Tea, coffee and tea are complimentary beverages at lunch.

There might be some small glasses of juice available in the Lido buffet line but I don't think so.

[Isis]

Just got off the Zuiderdam. Myy children and I had soda cards. They sell them as you are getting on the ship. They cost $35 plus 15% gratuity. This includes soda at Half Moon Cay. You can get it for less without the half moon cay but they don't tell you that unless you ask. We had no problem using our cards anywhere on the ship. The bars that don't have fountain soda just poured it from a can. We had no problem getting it in the Vista. Antonio our wine Steward made sure we we always had full glasses of soda. In the Lido, there is a little cart set up where you can get soda. The cups were a decent size and the card was well worth it for soda drinkers. The only time you can't get it is in the morning in the Lido. I brought some from home for this and had no trouble carrying it on.

[kootz]

Can you ask for a can not opened to be drunk later in your cabin? I like to have it at night before I go to bed.

[sail7seas]

Yes, you can.

[montgomeryfamily]

kootz, just to clarify, the soda card only entitles you to fountain sodas. Sometimes you get soda from a can with the soda card when it is more convenient for the cruise line staff, such as when the particular bar doesn't have the fountain soda.

You can get a canned soda which is not opened, but you ordinarily will be charged for the canned soda, even with your soda card. Sometimes a waiter/server will be gracious enough to give you a can instead of a fountain soda, but you technically aren't entitled to a canned soda with the card.

The reason I know about this is my sister-in-law only drinks caffeine-free sodas. The fountain Coke comes only in regular and diet. But they do have Caffeine-free Coke in cans. So with the fountain soda, she was limited to Sprite, Ginger-ale and tonic water as her caffeine-free choices. Sometimes she would go ahead and get the Caffeine-free Cokes and almost always she had to pay. (Only once did the server go ahead and give it to her since she had the card.)

[gizmo]

Actually, when we book all inclusive vacations, to places like Mexico, all restaurants in the resort provide drinks at no additional cost.
Most cruise lines are not all inclusive. There is an upscale line that does include everything including booze and soda but the majority do not.

The majority of cruises are not sold as all inclusive. A good TA should tell you what is included and what is not.

[ore-ee-gun]

My husband bought a soda card for our trip this past week, and it was a complete waste of money. It was difficult to get sodas in the dining room, and we got the feeling that the bartenders disliked serving them. At lunch one day, he ordered one that never came at all. Canned soft drinks cost $1.75 plus 15% service charge. I am a soda addict, and didn't have one the entire week. The iced tea is quite good.

[dam1050]

With the new gratuity charge I'm not sure how the cards are handled. I'm almost certain the 15% is added even on soft drinks (1.75 x .15 = 2.01 per can of soda).

On the Volendam in May it was indeed $2.01 per can of pop. I don't particularly like the soda fountain kind of pop, so I never get a card and buy it by the can myself. I did see a couple of people who showed the bartender a card to have him get them a glass of pop, and he did look a little sad .... but brought the drink regardless.

You will find that the bartenders on HAL have a new "energy" about them since this new system ... almost as if they are om commission in a clothing store, where the clerk "jumps" you as soon as you enter........LOL

Dave

[a1moty]

Does anyone know if Hot Chocolate is available on the Zaandam--
and if it is--is it complimentary-(Gee, you look nice today!)?:cool:

[sail7seas]

I don't drimk hot chocolate but it seems to me there are packets of it available at the coffee station in Lido near the tea bags at breakfast. I'm not positive though and don't know if it is there at lunch time.

[rolnickr]

The price of the soda "card" (actually a little Coca Cola sticker the stick on your ship card) on the Zaandam last week was $27.50 plus 15% gratuity (which was *not* mentioned until we got our final bill, but we'd suspected that there would be a gratuity so we weren't too surprised). In the Lido, they give you canned soda with the card, but all other dining rooms and bars provided fountain drinks. The card also does not apply to the canned sodas prestocked in the cabin minifridge.

I skipped the card as I knew I wasn't going to be drinking anything except water, but my wife sprang for the card and made good use of it.

-- Rob

[FoxyTerrier]

We just returned from the Maasdam. My son had a coke card.... Important to note that the soda card is good for fountain sodas not cans. We have always had them as the kids, 14 year old then can have a drink on his own when he likes with out having to charge. Gratuity WAS charged when we purchased the card. This was one area that I would say HAL does a poor job at. The first 4 days my son could not get the waitstaff to bring a soda. If he wanted one he had to go to the bar himself. I spoke to the customer advocate woman on board. They refunded the coat of the sticker, and spoke to the waitstaff and it was amazing how much better the service got. I think the staff of the Maasdam is not used to as many younger people that were on board and really didn't understand how to deal with them. As I always say, don't complain unless the person listening has the authority to do something about the problem.

Coffee and tea, iced and hot as well as milk are available, although the milk was UHT and defintely tasted strange. Juice is available in the morning. Sodas are not included in meals.

We were on the Maasdam April 2003, my son got his first soda card on that cruise on this trip. (We had never heard of them on Noordam 2001 or Ryndam 2002) He used it everywhere on the ship including the dining room. After the first night one was waiting for him every evening when we arrived. Talk about GREAT service. So I guess it just depends or maybe service really has downhill.

As far as the free drinks go - I'm not a soda, coffee or tea drinker, but do like sparkling water. Do you have to pay for sparkling water? Sometime I got George to get me one and I don't feel like I cheated HAL as sparkling water isn't really soda and they just gave it to him at the bar.

[Plut0]

Hi,
We just got off the Veendam on Sunday. Both my son and I had a soda card/stikcer. It was purchased for us as a gift for us through ship services (27.50 each). The stickers were in our room when we arrived and we immediately put them on our ship card. When we went to dinner the first evening, my son showed his to the wine steward and she got him his coke (and refills all throughout dinner). Each night she had a soda waiting for him and when I finished my two glasses of wine each night, she knew to bring me a diet Coke.

We also had no problems getting them at any bar, at the pool or in the Lido. Some of the places we went regularly, we did not have to show the card as the staff knew us and knew that we each had a card.

For us, they were well worth the cost.

Hope this helps.
Mary

[FoxyTerrier]

I heard there are no soda cards on the Noordam and Ryndam. Anyone know why?

[elmorejj]

If your cruise includes Half Moon Cay, be aware you cannot use a soda card there. They do not have fountain soda on HMC and that is what you get with a soda card....jean

[aussie jb]

Just for the sake of clarifying....
Will a 'soda card' get me coca cola or do I have to buy it in a can? Do the soda fountains dispense coke?
Seems we speak different languages sometimes :)
Debbie

[gammaf]

We just returned from the Zuiderdam in June. I purchased the soda card for 27.50. I was disappointed that when I wanted a soda, like at lunch that is was too hard to get one. You had to get a bar stewart to get it and they were not always around. I would have been better off just getting one when I wanted it. I do not think that they are worth the money. You can always take soda in a backpack and water like we did on the sip if you really want it.

[lindleyjulie]

reading this its going to cost a small fortune, I know us britts are known as being thrifty(saving money) but for our up and coming cruise Volendam 17/10/2004 3 children and I dont drink thats $150 for soda cards $50 a day tips $550 thats the price for one person, good job my mums paying dont I have the best mum:)

[susiep]

Thanks for the info............so are coffee, iced tea and bottled water available at all times? Is there a charge? Is it self service? If so where is it located on the Amsterdam? THANKS. Susan