Cruising as a non-drinker

My I do not drink alcohol at all and my boyfriend hardly ever, he's planning on having only one alcoholic drink on the cruises. I know we will still have a ton of fun on our upcoming trip—his first ever and my first since I was 13, but I'd love to here from more teetotalers out there enjoy cruising. Do you find enough adult activities that don't revolve around alcohol to keep you entertained? Are you able to enjoy cruising without feeling pressured to purchase alcohol?

My I do not drink alcohol at all and my boyfriend hardly ever, he's planning on having only one alcoholic drink on the cruises. I know we will still have a ton of fun on our upcoming trip—his first ever and my first since I was 13, but I'd love to here from more teetotalers out there enjoy cruising. Do you find enough adult activities that don't revolve around alcohol to keep you entertained? Are you able to enjoy cruising without feeling pressured to purchase alcohol?

My daughter and I are Gold so we get a coupon for a free drink the last sea night. That is the extent of alcohol that we drink. Can't turn down free.

On the contrary, I am actually wondering what we are going to do with our free bottle of wine from making a reservation at the steakhouse on day 1...I kind of don't want to make a fuss by asking for something else (if that's even an option), but I'd also like to have something I will actually be able to use. Maybe I can give it as a gift?

I don't drink and have never felt left out. There are some of the frozen cocktails (I remember a mango one and the Miami Vice) that i got without the alcohol. Still came with the umbrellas' cherry, etc......and they were yummy. I also preordered a 6 pack of Coke from the Fun shop. It was in my room when I arrived and I popped it into the fridge...... You'll have a great time..... ( and check online for a Carnival bar menu......thats how I knew about the frozen drinks.......)

I don't drink and have never felt left out. There are some of the frozen cocktails (I remember a mango one and the Miami Vice) that i got without the alcohol. Still came with the umbrellas' cherry, etc......and they were yummy. I also preordered a 6 pack of Coke from the Fun shop. It was in my room when I arrived and I popped it into the fridge...... You'll have a great time..... ( and check online for a Carnival bar menu......thats how I knew about the frozen drinks.......)

Thanks for the tip! I was thinking of getting Bottomless Bubbles for myself but didn't know if they included virgin drinks like Shirley Temples. I remember drinking a million and a half Shirley Temples on my first Carnival cruise, but that was over 10 years ago and I'm sure it's not the exact same system in place today. I'd probably get the package if I could get virgin mixed drinks and skip it if it was only straight soda/juice.

We drink very little. A drink here and there, and have a great time cruising. Drinking does not make a great cruise for many many people. Theres enough to keep you busy on sea days as well as port days.

My I do not drink alcohol at all and my boyfriend hardly ever, he's planning on having only one alcoholic drink on the cruises. I know we will still have a ton of fun on our upcoming trip—his first ever and my first since I was 13, but I'd love to here from more teetotalers out there enjoy cruising. Do you find enough adult activities that don't revolve around alcohol to keep you entertained? Are you able to enjoy cruising without feeling pressured to purchase alcohol?

Haven't drank for over 30 years.

Wife has never drank.

Love cruising, never felt pressured to drink.

Not only will you have a great time without drinking, you will save a ton of money.

Thanks for the tip! I was thinking of getting Bottomless Bubbles for myself but didn't know if they included virgin drinks like Shirley Temples. I remember drinking a million and a half Shirley Temples on my first Carnival cruise, but that was over 10 years ago and I'm sure it's not the exact same system in place today. I'd probably get the package if I could get virgin mixed drinks and skip it if it was only straight soda/juice.

Love my soda package on pretty much every line I cruise on.

On the contrary, I am actually wondering what we are going to do with our free bottle of wine from making a reservation at the steakhouse on day 1...I kind of don't want to make a fuss by asking for something else (if that's even an option), but I'd also like to have something I will actually be able to use. Maybe I can give it as a gift?

We were given a complimentary bottle of wine....it was in our room when we arrived (from travel agent). At the end of the cruise i wrote a note stating something like "I (name) from room # ______ have given this bottle of wine to _________ , our room steward and signed the note. I figured that way he wouldnt get in trouble/they would know he hadn't taken it.

Not only will you have a great time without drinking, you will save a ton of money.

Haha, we're a little bit over-budget already, I can't imagine what our spending would look like with booze added on. My boyfriend is already balking a little bit at the idea of paying eight bucks for the one margarita he is planning to have, let alone multiple drinks. I am quite happy to funnel that money into shore excursions :)

Thanks for the tip! I was thinking of getting Bottomless Bubbles for myself but didn't know if they included virgin drinks like Shirley Temples. I remember drinking a million and a half Shirley Temples on my first Carnival cruise, but that was over 10 years ago and I'm sure it's not the exact same system in place today. I'd probably get the package if I could get virgin mixed drinks and skip it if it was only straight soda/juice.

No, Bottemless Bubbles does NOT include the virgin drinks.......would be nice if the had an in-between package. They weren't as expensive as the ones with the alcohol though.....I think they were $5.75-ish. I usually had one a day...... the Bottomless Bubbles I believe is fountain pop (not canned) and as with any fountain pop/soda... (sorry, Canadian wants me to say pop) I find it doesnt taste as good and with the heat the ice melts quickly making it more watered down...

I bought a Tervis (?) Tumbler from tge Red Frog pub and filled it the canned pop I had pre-ordered. Stayed cold for a long while, didnt lose it bubbles as quickly.....

Have a great cruise!!!!!!

No, Bottemless Bubbles does NOT include the virgin drinks.......would be nice if the had an in-between package. They weren't as expensive as the ones with the alcohol though.....I think they were $5.75-ish. I usually had one a day...... the Bottomless Bubbles I believe is fountain pop (not canned) and as with any fountain pop/soda... (sorry, Canadian wants me to say pop) I find it doesnt taste as good and with the heat the ice melts quickly making it more watered down...

 

I bought a Tervis (?) Tumbler from tge Red Frog pub and filled it the canned pop I had pre-ordered. Stayed cold for a long while, didnt lose it bubbles as quickly.....

 

Have a great cruise!!!!!!

Ah, that is a bummer. I don't drink much plain soda and I know I will be eating more than enough not to need the extra calories, so I guess I will skip the Bottomless Bubbles then. My boyfriend will definitely have it though...he is a Coke Zero addict :P

I order 1 once on board, kinda seems right. After that usually none except at the party for platinums (free!!). I can't get over what people have reported they spend on drinks.

The lemonaid on the Lido deck wasnt bad really either....it was free 24/7. I just added a little sugar.... of course in the morning and evenings I would sit out on deck with a coffee or tea when it was cooler, and watch the sea go by.......( its free too)

Are you able to enjoy cruising without feeling pressured to purchase alcohol?

Learn to say NO to people and you won't feel pressured. This applies to drink servers, pushy photographers, pesky shore vendors and everyone else you encounter on the cruise.

I am a huge coffee drinker. I order 2 pots from room service is the morning. I let them get cold, fill my insulated mug with ice and add hazelnut creamer that I bring on board and have iced coffee all day.

Not only will you have a great time without drinking, you will save a ton of money.

And no hangovers when you get up EARLY to get a lounger in the adults only area. They go fast!

My I do not drink alcohol at all and my boyfriend hardly ever, he's planning on having only one alcoholic drink on the cruises. I know we will still have a ton of fun on our upcoming trip—his first ever and my first since I was 13, but I'd love to here from more teetotalers out there enjoy cruising. Do you find enough adult activities that don't revolve around alcohol to keep you entertained? Are you able to enjoy cruising without feeling pressured to purchase alcohol?

I did a B2B in December and received a bottle of Champaign from Carnival, I was solo cruiser and I don't drink so I asked my Stewart if he was allowed to accept it as a gift, he and his buddies had a great time that night. I even won a drink in the casino from the pit boss and just ordered a diet Coke. I had a great time being sober and I am sure you will too.

I felt zero pressure, now my morning Ice Coffee that is a entire different story. lol the gal seen me coming she already had it started. I felt very pressured but YUMMMMMMM, worth every penny I paid.

My hubby doesn't drink at all. Never has and never will. I do drink on vacation, but not nearly as much as when we started cruising 8 years ago. We always have a blast and never feel like we have to buy alcohol or that activities revolve around alcohol. On the plus side, I've noticed that the less alcohol I drink, the better I feel. And I gain a lot less weight on vacation!

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Wife and I do not drink much at home, maybe a glass of dessert wine or a margarita at a popular local Mexican restaurant (hey, who can pass up $1 margaritas??). I don't think we've ever had an alcoholic beverage on our previous cruises? Never had any problem with it. So much to do unrelated to alcohol. It does provide some entertainment on deck for people watching though....

Welcome to Cruise Critic, Strophic!:) (cute screen name, BTW;))

On my first cruise in 2005, I was pregnant with my second daughter. I had a great time, even though I was the only adult in our large, extended family group who didn't drink at all, the whole cruise. I had a few fun "mocktails", and lots of decaf tea. And I had a great time and got totally hooked on cruising. I didn't feel like I was missing out on the fun of cruising by not drinking. Not at all.

Now, where I did feel deprived was in the tuna melt category. The deli onboard made great tuna melts back then and I was having such a craving for them all week long, but could only have one serving of tuna a week, per doctor's guidelines. It took a lot of willpower to be a "good girl" and eat only one of those tuna melts all week.:(:p

Have a great booze-free cruise!:)

Welcome to Cruise Critic, Strophic!:) (cute screen name, BTW;))

 

On my first cruise in 2005, I was pregnant with my second daughter. I had a great time, even though I was the only adult in our large, extended family group who didn't drink at all, the whole cruise. I had a few fun "mocktails", and lots of decaf tea. And I had a great time and got totally hooked on cruising. I didn't feel like I was missing out on the fun of cruising by not drinking. Not at all.

 

Now, where I did feel deprived was in the tuna melt category. The deli onboard made great tuna melts back then and I was having such a craving for them all week long, but could only have one serving of tuna a week, per doctor's guidelines. It took a lot of willpower to be a "good girl" and eat only one of those tuna melts all week.:(:p

 

Have a great booze-free cruise!:)

Haha, half of the reason I am not having kids is because there's no way I could give up on sushi for nine months :P I am glad to hear you had a good time!

I think I will be entertained by the people watching, from a safe distance of course.

Interesting thread as today I can proudly say I have not had alcohol in 27 years - one day at a time. The only one that ever put pressure on me to drink was myself.

Ask for something else when the free bottle comes with dinner -- may work, may not. The servers have heard the question so many times they don't bat an eye. Another option, just say no thank you to the bottle of wine.

One does not need alcohol to have fun -- no one will even notice you aren't drinking. When I first quit drinking, I thought everyone would care what I had in my glass -- much to my disappointment I was not the center of attention -- no one really cared if I drank alcohol or didn't.

Guess I'm wondering who on board would pressure you to drink? Do you have problems in your daily life with folks pressuring you to drink, such as when you go out to dinner or to other social engagements? Seems incomprehensible that someone would pressure someone else to drink! Does this actually happen?? :eek: