Wine Packages

[K'Arthur]

DH and I messed up. Our cruise leaves Sunday and we did not order our "Navigator Wine Package." Can we still do so on board?

Thanks!

[garydm]

Yes.

[MightyQuinn]

Not to worry! Usually the bar & beverage staff will set up a table in the cruise terminal where they display wine lists & you can order the Navigator’s Package or any other selections before you board. Otherwise, your DR wine steward will be happy to take your order.

[Sleepladypalmdesert]

What is the Navigotors package?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Navigator's Circle: 3 bottles for $89; 5 bottles for $149 and 7 bottles for $199.

Admiral's Circle: 3 bottles for $118; 5 bottles for $199 and 7 bottles for $269.

Navigator's Choice of White Wine:
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Rirsling - CA
Monkey Bay Chardonnay - New Zealand
Caliterra Cgardonnay - Chile
Danzante Pignot Grigio - Italy
Blackstone Sauvignon Blanc - CA

Navigator's Choice of Red Wine:
Twin Fin Shiraz - CA
Three Blind Moose Cabernet Sauvignon - CA
Veramonte Merlot - Chile
Ravenswood Zinfandel - CA
Marchesi Di Frescobaldi Remole - Italy
Kiara Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - CA
Laboure-Roi Pinot Noir - France

Admiral's Choice of White Wines:
Four Emus Chardonnay - Australia
Columbia Winery Gewurztraminer - WA
Silverado Sauvignon Blanc - Napa, CA
Laboure-Roi, Macon Villages, France
Franciscan Chardonnay - Napa, CA
Estonia Pinot Grigio

Admiral's Choice of Red Wines:
Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon - CA
Tintara Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia
Mark West Pinot Noir - CA
Capolan Merlot - Sonoma, CA
Marchesi Di Frescobaldi Castiglioni Chanti - Italy
Blackstone Syrah - CA

[cccruzer3]

DH and I messed up. Our cruise leaves Sunday and we did not order our "Navigator Wine Package." Can we still do so on board?

Thanks!

You can also bring onboard as well much wine as you want and just pay the $15 corkage fee in the dining room, no fee to imbibe in your cabin!

[Wine Taster]

I ran a search on my Wine Spectator web site for the wines listed in the two packages. Unfortunately, none of them came out with even what I would call 'average' ratings.:mad::mad: Several I was unable to find. From a value standpoint, you are probably much better off to bring your own on board and pay the corkage.

I thought the Admiral's choice would have some higher rated wines given the price but most of them were in the mid-80s on a scale of 100 being the best.

Of course, not having the vintages made it impossible to be exact, but I checked all vintages (at least the ones Wine Spectator rated) and didn't find any outstanding or even very good ratings. Looks like I'm going to bring a load with me at Thanksgiving on the Eurodam.

[seafun]

I appreciate the "mini-review" on the selectable wines. Unfortuantely, my cruising budget cuts into my wine budget! :rolleyes: Your information helped me make a few decisions, so thanks for the input.

[Zyzygy]

Because of the bulk quantities that a cruise ship (and cruise line) must carry, especially for a wine that is a part of one their packages, almost by definition they can't offer a limited production boutique wine.

Still, from the Admiral's package we found the Franciscan chardonnay to be quite good on our cruise a couple of weeks ago and the Mark West pinot noir to be pleasant, if undistinguished. I would put the Franciscan at around 88, based on my experience with WS ratings, and the Mark West at around 86.

We tried the Australian cab, and it was quite tart with a bizarre finish. I would give it about an 80.

Once we found that we liked the Franciscan and the Mark West, we stuck with those.

My wife is from Napa and her two sisters work at wineries.

Although it's true that the ship's wines don't measure up to what is available on shore, one must consider the bulk stocking requirements that ships (and entire cruise lines) face. HAL's Navigator and Admiral packages are uniform on all ships across the fleet, so they have to select wines that will be available in large quantities and also make a profit.

I believe that cruise lines count on some winemakers to offer them a deep discount, to make their wines better known to the public. Selling a wine to thousands of upscale cruisers could be a very good marketing strategy.

For all of these reasons, it is unlikely that cruise lines will carry truly exceptional wines. The only exception that I've observed is in champagnes, where cruise lines seem willing to carry some good French bubblies and Dom Perignon because of pervasive demand.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Because of the bulk quantities that a cruise ship (and cruise line) must carry, especially for a wine that is a part of one their packages, almost by definition they can't offer a limited production boutique wine.

Still, from the Admiral's package we found the Franciscan chardonnay to be quite good on our cruise a couple of weeks ago and the Mark West pinot noir to be pleasant, if undistinguished. I would put the Franciscan at around 88, based on my experience with WS ratings, and the Mark West at around 86.

We tried the Australian cab, and it was quite tart with a bizarre finish. I would give it about an 80.

Once we found that we liked the Franciscan and the Mark West, we stuck with those.

My wife is from Napa and her two sisters work at wineries.

Although it's true that the ship's wines don't measure up to what is available on shore, one must consider the bulk stocking requirements that ships (and entire cruise lines) face. HAL's Navigator and Admiral packages are uniform on all ships across the fleet, so they have to select wines that will be available in large quantities and also make a profit.

I believe that cruise lines count on some winemakers to offer them a deep discount, to make their wines better known to the public. Selling a wine to thousands of upscale cruisers could be a very good marketing strategy.

For all of these reasons, it is unlikely that cruise lines will carry truly exceptional wines. The only exception that I've observed is in champagnes, where cruise lines seem willing to carry some good French bubblies and Dom Perignon because of pervasive demand.

I agree with you.

No cruise line could hope to stock a lot of the very best wines and champagnes.

Many times on our back-to-back cruises we have seen deliveries of food and liquor -- the volume that is brought onto a ship is fantastic.