Soft Drinks, water, coffee

[defenderswife]

We sail on Insignia August 17. My husband drinks lots of diet soda and coffee. I drink diet soda and water. What should we budget for these. I read that some cruise lines have a soft drink card that allows unlimited soft drinks for a set price. I assume Oceania doesn't do that. After reading the hullabaloo about the corkage fee and drink prices I'm almost afraid to ask this one. Joyce :rolleyes:

[eknightley]

Hi,

I have some, but not all of the information you need.

Coffee, including some specialty coffees such as cappucinos, is always free. It's available 24 hours per day in the Terrace Cafe from a clever machine that seems to make the coffee--one or two cups at a time--when you push a button. As early as 6 a.m. in Horizons you can also get fresh coffee from an urn. The early breakfast in Horizons (the beautiful glass-enclosed lounge on top deck 10 with fabulous views) includes coffee, decaf coffee, a great selection of teas, juice, and pastries.

At the same coffee location in the Terrace cafe--again accessible for 24 hours--you can find cocoa in packets, iced tea, lemonade, water, and a juice selection, usually grapefruit. A savvy crew member shared a secret with me--combine the iced tea and lemonade for a very refreshing drink. It improves the strong, but real iced tea (it doesn't taste much like the phony Nestea stuff). The lemonade is excellent on its own--not too sweet, not too tart. Actually, it's near perfect lemonade!

Like you and your husband, I usually drink diet soda, and while it was available--I heard others order diet Coke--I just skipped it during the trip though I occasionally bought one during a port stop. I found substituting the iced tea kept the caffeine level up and the thirst level down. But I'm sure someone else could tell you how much each soda cost.

(And if any readers get to try Oceania hot chocolate/cocoa--go for it! They brought it ashore in urns to serve in the tender ports. It was fabulous, real European chocolate and just right for the cooler climes on our trip).

The Insignia is beautiful. You are likely to love it and have a fabulous time. Enjoy your trip!

And don't hesitate to ask if you have other questions.

Emma
Recently returned from Insignia's July 10 to Scandanavia, Ireland, Britain

[eknightley]

Hi again,

Sorry--forgot to say much about water. You will hear about and then see the (in)famous bottle of Evian in your cabin. I forget the price--someone else will remember and comment. It's high though I've seen almost as high at U.S. Intercontinentals and luxury Sheratons. Also, it's the big size bottle.

The cabin stewards are fabulous about keeping the ice bucket filled at all times, and the "melt" makes for good drinking water on ice. Regular water is available in all the dining areas, of course. Smaller bottles of Evian (and soda) are available for purchase in the fitness center/spa--didn't price them. Once after an intensive day of touring I asked a surprised but pleasant bartender at Martinis for a glass of iced water as I hurried into a trivia game--my team was counting on me! Btw, he obliged very nicely with the usual fabulous Oceania service.

Finally, we often bought bottled water while touring in ports. We kept any extras on the same tray with the ice bucket and the ship's Evian, and no one ever bothered them.

Hope that helps some,
Emma

[meow!]

We were on the Regatta in April. I don't exactly remember now, a large bottle of water cost some $3.50. The two of us typically ordered between one and two bottles a day in our cabin. I hope this helps.

[defenderswife]

Emma, Thank you for your reply. I'm personally hoping for some cool weather so they can whip out some of that hot chocolate.
I guess we willl pick up diet soda and some bottled water in port. And perhaps some red wine and Limoncella. Joyce

[twine]

Defenderswife.
As far as the water goes. My wife and I always drink the ships water. We have found it to be some of the best tasting water we can find. If you try a blind taste test I would bet you will pick the ships water every time. I am sure that Oceanias ships water is made from the sea by using desalination and reverse osomisis. Most lines use this method. This water made daily has to be a much higher quality than any water you can get from a plastic bottle that has been setting for "who knows how long" at room temp absorbing those nice plastic gases that come from the bottle the water is stored in. Give it a try I will bet you will be very happy with quality and taste and of course THE PRICE. We sailed on Regatta last Jan and the water was wonderful. We probably saved at least $100.00 on our cruise by using the ships water over the pay bottled water. Bring your bottle on when you board when it is empty fill it up with the ships water whenever you need to.
Let me know what you think.
Tom and Mary