Any bonus to booking Steakhouse on Embarkation night for dinner?

Last year when my BIL and SIL went on the Valor, they booked the Steakhouse on their Embarkation night because they got a wine bottle for half price that night. We are going to be on the Valor next month and I was wondering if this is a standard perk still? Hubby will turn 60 just a few days before our cruise and I thought it would be a nice surprise for him. A wine discount won't be a deal-breaker for me. I just wanted to know if it was just a special deal they got last year or if Carnival always does this to encourage people to book that first night. TIA.

As far as I know, the free bottle of basic house wine is still in effect as well as the 50% off any upgraded bottles. You can also buy multiple bottles at the 50% off rate and have them follow you to be drunk at dinner during the subsequent evenings of your cruise.

It's been standard practice in the steakhouse on the first night (sometimes 2 nights) to offer a free bottle of house wine or 50% off another bottle of your choice

 

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We just finished a cruise on the valor. We did the steakhouse on embarkation and received a free bottle of wine.

The only negative to this experience is the food experience is all downhill after eating there.

They still do a pretty good job considering how many people they are feeding

We did this once... not sure if it was on Carnival, but we booked the nicest restaurant on the ship for embarkation day. It was nearly empty! There were some cruise employees dining there... I suspect they use it as some sort of reward system.

 

Service was a little slow, I think because they were not expecting many guests that night.

 

If you like a quieter experience, the embarkation night may be a good choice!

As far as I know, the free bottle of basic house wine is still in effect as well as the 50% off any upgraded bottles. You can also buy multiple bottles at the 50% off rate and have them follow you to be drunk at dinner during the subsequent evenings of your cruise.

 

 

We took our wine bottle back to our cabin. We did not have to leave it with them

Do I need to do anything to get the free wine, other than making a reservation for Embarkation night?

Show up on time and enjoy!

They will have your reservation. My husband chose the free wine and loved it. He took the rest of the bottle back to the room to enjoy on the balcony along with our desserts! Try the cheesecake

Do I need to do anything to get the free wine, other than making a reservation for Embarkation night?

 

If they forget to serve it you should ask. BTW we found the free wine a Chardonnay to be undrinkable. Next time would do the 50% off offer.

Try the cheesecake

I think it's been removed from the new menu.

We took our wine bottle back to our cabin. We did not have to leave it with them

That of course is always an option if you just have one bottle. I was just passing on the possibility of purchasing additional 50% off bottles to enjoy during subsequent dinners during your cruise. I had read about it on another thread and wine drinkers might not know about the possibility, so I was just passing the information forward.

you take take multiple bottles back to your stateroom

We took our wine bottle back to our cabin. We did not have to leave it with them

 

 

 

Just wondering if you then brought the wine to the MDR on another night, would you be charged a corkage fee?

 

 

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Just wondering if you then brought the wine to the MDR on another night, would you be charged a corkage fee?

 

 

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No. In my experience they will happily store them and serve them. It is only wine you bring on board that will be subject to a corkage fee in the MDR.

No. In my experience they will happily store them and serve them. It is only wine you bring on board that will be subject to a corkage fee in the MDR.

 

 

 

I’m not asking about storing and serving. I’m asking about those who took the wine with them to their cabins. Are they allowed to bring the bottle to MDR on a subsequent evening without corkage fees.

 

 

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I’m not asking about storing and serving. I’m asking about those who took the wine with them to their cabins. Are they allowed to bring the bottle to MDR on a subsequent evening without corkage fees.

 

 

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Sorry, I misunderstood your question.

never been charged a corkage fee, however we always travel with a corkscrew

Edited February 24, 2018 by coevan
sp

On the Conquest we had ate in the Steak House on the 1st night. I had added the note that we were celebrating my sons college graduation. They made the table an awesome special dessert without my even requesting it. We are eating there again on our next cruise.

 

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For the first time on the Miracle in Andrew weeks we are doing the steakhouse on the first night. We figured we would start it off with a bang.

 

 

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We ordered two appetizers each while in the steakhouse. We also took the dessert (cheesecake) back to our room.

Honestly, the 50% off deal at the steakhouse on the first night is the best deal. We ordered a bottle of 2012 Far Niente cabernet on Liberty last fall for $75. That was an incredible deal! I’ve been looking everywhere for another bottle for a good price, and haven’t found a bottle for under $130. Once they brought the bottle to the table, I took one sip and promptly declared I’d be happy never drinking anything else. :D

We booked the steakhouse for the free wine one cruise, started booking each cruise because that's our cruise kick-off tradition now. :-)

We will be on the vista July 14 sailing and I booked a steakhouse for the first night. I got my letter of confirming my reservation and this was at the bottom— P. S. We are having a promotion in the Steakhouse on Embarkation and the first Cruise Elegant nights of the cruise! Guests booking a reservation on either night will receive a complimentary bottle of house wine or 50% off any bottle from our wine list!

 

 

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