Disappointed

There might have been a little exaggeration but I did see Tisdales in the $3.99-$4.19 price range and that is one of their current 'house wines'. I would assume that RC, buying in bulk, is probably paying less than that.

 

As another poster noted, the $44 is the drink package price per day.

 

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Feel free to order 11 glasses and you will break even. It's entirely up to the buyer if he wants to be rip off.

And at the same time, no one needs to come here to trash another line either. ;)

Correct. It's unfortunate that some lack tact. :rolleyes:

Tisdale wine you can buy for as low as 3.49 a bottle. We happened to live close to Modesto where the winery is located. Wine is about taste, Tisdale is not my taste so for me its not worth the price.

Here's a list of the reds available on the Select Package:

 

 

 

724 Peter Lehman, South Australia, Shiraz

 

133 Blackstone, California, Syrah

 

536 Castle Rock, California, Pinot Noir

 

709 Estancia, California, Pinot Noir

 

275 Reserve St Martin, France, Merlot

 

668 Clos du Bois, California, Merlot

 

503 Terras de los Andes, Argentina, Malbec

 

675 Trumpeter by Rutini, Argenitina, Malbec

 

636 Clos du Bois, California, Cabernet Sauvignon

 

671 Castle Rock, Cloumbia Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon

 

687 Aussieres Rouge, France, Cabernet Sauvignon

 

405 Kendall Jackson, California, Cabernet Sauvignon

I am concerned that the wine the OP was served was not one of the ones listed on the package. (Unless of course the OP was drinking a white varietal and they only have the Tilsdale whites in the package). Surely if they list certain wines as being covered by the package then you should be able to choose from those wines (until they run out). Or have I missed something?

The beer and wine package specifies house wines up to $8 a glass so I am guessing that most of those wines are not included. LaTerre and Tisdale are the house wines I have seen for around $7 per glass.

We recently sailed with the top beverage package. We are wine drinkers and found Oberon which retails for $17.99 a bottle at Costco and Mer Di Soeil which retails for $35 at Total wines. We had no problem finding good wines and did not hesitate to ask for top shelf tequila and rum or vodka in our drinks. They will give you the lesser if you let them. At b no time did we find the wines to be inferior.

I had the Premium package on Oasis and drank Estancia Pinot Noir nightly. I consider that well above a "two buck chuck". It typically goes for about $15/bottle in the grocery stores here in ATL and $45/bottle in restaurants.

I totally agree about Estancia; it's a pretty good choice and I also like it. The problem with the sailing that I was on is that most bars, including the Centrum, never had it in stock. So you were stuck with Chart House, or chart something, I don't recall. But for me, it was undrinkable.

Another good choice for sauvignon blanc is Kim Crawford, but once again, availability was the problem.

Remember with wine "only the first bottle has to be good "........:D

Completely agree. Same on the Adventure. Before I got the package I was getting a very nice wine but then I purchased the package after the first day and was getting some nasty wine. I would actually ask them to NOT give me the cheap Tinsdale and give me the Kindall Jackson or Clos De Bois. They had to keep opening a new bottle but the only time a bartender gave me a hard time was in the ice rink place. He said no but another bartender tapped him and told him to do it. Both wines were included in the package but they want to give you the cheapest one.

I think this may be the most "disappointing" post in the thread. Even before the packages, I occasionally ordered a higher priced glass of wine in the MDR (not wanting the lower "house" wines) and was disappointed in the taste and suspecting that, as opposed to the bottle being off, they just poured some other available red.

When we could bring our own wine onboard (and I'm not THAT picky), I found it best to bring a glass to the dining room and just buy mixed drinks from the bar.

Now your post makes me wonder if even if you buy the premium package and expect name brands in liquor drink (and I know it's about the price, not brand, envoking $12 limit), maybe they will sub lower level booze instead. Even harder to tell in a drink with mixers what you are getting. Until maybe the headache which even then is hard to place.

You just don't want to feel like you've been a victim of bait and switch. In a way, beer and the select package could be best way to go. You can't mess up beer and you can bring good wine onboard with you.

By the way, does anyone have the list of liquors RCCL uses? I saw it somewhere but couldn't find it in a search.

I think this may be the most "disappointing" post in the thread. Even before the packages, I occasionally ordered a higher priced glass of wine in the MDR (not wanting the lower "house" wines) and was disappointed in the taste and suspecting that, as opposed to the bottle being off, they just poured some other available red.

 

When we could bring our own wine onboard (and I'm not THAT picky), I found it best to bring a glass to the dining room and just buy mixed drinks from the bar.

 

Now your post makes me wonder if even if you buy the premium package and expect name brands in liquor drink (and I know it's about the price, not brand, envoking $12 limit), maybe they will sub lower level booze instead. Even harder to tell in a drink with mixers what you are getting. Until maybe the headache which even then is hard to place.

 

You just don't want to feel like you've been a victim of bait and switch. In a way, beer and the select package could be best way to go. You can't mess up beer and you can bring good wine onboard with you.

 

By the way, does anyone have the list of liquors RCCL uses? I saw it somewhere but couldn't find it in a search.

We requested top shelf you definately could tell the difference. We also watched them make our drinks most of the time and they never subbed the cheaper stuff.

I would agree with what you said, and would add,,,

A ball game, a visit to a theme park, etc., are one day affairs, a cruise is 3, 5, 7 days and longer.

We used to go to 4-6 ball games a year, grab a couple beers and hot dogs, but when everything went up crazy, we cut back, and no longer go.

 

My thinking is that RCL's drink pkge. prices = about 15 mixed drinks a day at a decent local pub, and I simply don't want to drink that much everyday to make it worthwhile, so I won't spend anything for drinks. (Luckily we got or casino club, and D+ benes. for a few free drinks.:D)

And when/if those free drinks go away, we'll do like we did with the ball games, walk away!:)

Mixed drinks will run you $12 each on RCI these days (although some have reported success getting house brand liquor in their drinks for less), so you're now talking about 4 cocktails a day to break even on the ship, not 15.:eek::D, not sure which emoticon is more appropriate.

And I'm not sure that losing free drinks would be enough to drive me away from something I love doing.

Want to know what is "disappointing"?

Posts with a lack a clear subject lines.

It might already have been posted here... ;) but could someone tell me what the limit is [per day] for the wine and beer pkg?

I know Carnival it is a limit of 12 drinks per day - but we are travelling on Royal Carib in Jan. and are trying to decide if we should get the beer and wine pkg???

It might already have been posted here... ;) but could someone tell me what the limit is [per day] for the wine and beer pkg?

I know Carnival it is a limit of 12 drinks per day - but we are travelling on Royal Carib in Jan. and are trying to decide if we should get the beer and wine pkg???

No "per day" limit on Royal ... yet.

The Select package has an allowance of $8 per glass of wine, and allows paying the difference for more expensive glasses. However, there is no allowance for beer or cocktails in the Select package.

When I look at the Select package it DOES include beer. Or did you mean that you can't pay the difference on beer above the set limit?

http://www.calibex.com/Tisdale-Wine-Review/shop-html?nxtg=185d0a500519-85C048250068E4E6

 

$4.99 a bottle for red $7.19 a bottle for white.

We aren't gourmet wine drinkers so we drink Tilsdale red all the time. We buy it at Sprouts Markets, $10 for three bottles. If you buy six, you get 10% off. Every few months they have it $9 for three bottles, and the same 10% off when buying six. This is when we normally buy it, when it's $2.70 per bottle. Needless to say, we don't buy it, or any other alcohol on the ship. We survive on the free drinks we get by being Diamond and what we can get in port.

Where do you think cruise lines (airlines, etc.) eke out a profit - not from the overall fare - from the extras. Those of you who purchase alcohol are helping their bottom line! If you elect to purchase the package (no one is forcing you), just chalk it up to profit - theirs.

We aren't gourmet wine drinkers so we drink Tilsdale red all the time. We buy it at Sprouts Markets, $10 for three bottles. If you buy six, you get 10% off. Every few months they have it $9 for three bottles, and the same 10% off when buying six. This is when we normally buy it, when it's $2.70 per bottle. Needless to say, we don't buy it, or any other alcohol on the ship. We survive on the free drinks we get by being Diamond and what we can get in port.

Does anyone know what RCL charges for this wine? Glass? Bottle?

Does anyone know what RCL charges for this wine? Glass? Bottle?

Here is an excellent wine list:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46082438&postcount=1

Is there a list of what Beers are include with the Beer and Wine Package, my husband was wondering?

Is there a list of what Beers are include with the Beer and Wine Package, my husband was wondering?

Here is a good example of the pub menu:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46668454&postcount=12

To my knowledge, only Chimay 750ml is excluded from beverage packages.

Here is a good example of the pub menu:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46668454&postcount=12

 

To my knowledge, only Chimay 750ml is excluded from beverage packages.

Thanks for Posting that about the Pub Menu - but I was wondering about the Beer and wine Package [ $35./day] which beers are included ... I like imported beers and my husband likes Bud ... just wanting to make sure before we buy the pkg that these are included in that Pkg?

Thanks for Posting that about the Pub Menu - but I was wondering about the Beer and wine Package [ $35./day] which beers are included ... I like imported beers and my husband likes Bud ... just wanting to make sure before we buy the pkg that these are included in that Pkg?

Virtually every beer on the menu is included in the Select, Premium, and Ultimate packages. To my knowledge, only the Chimay 750ml is excluded.

Virtually every beer on the menu is included in the Select, Premium, and Ultimate packages. To my knowledge, only the Chimay 750ml is excluded.

I think the Fosters Oilcan is also excluded, but may be wrong.

I think the Fosters Oilcan is also excluded, but may be wrong.

I've seen that mentioned as being excluded also, and then someone posted recently that it was included. Might be one of those Royal things that varies with the phase of the moon.

Thanks for all your responses.:)