MDR Wine by the glass pricing

I am trying to decide if the SBP is a good choice for DH and myself. We are not big drinkers but we really enjoy wine, especially with a nice meal. Between the markup for a bottle of wine plus the CAD exchange I am having a wee bit of difficulty with the thought of paying on average of $30-40 USD for a mediocre bottle.

So I got to thinking, what's the price of wine by the glass in the MDR? If there are enough interesting selections that are under $9 then I can justify the SBP.

Is there anyone recently off an Alaskan cruise who ate in the MDR that can give me an idea if there are enough selections to make the SBP worthwhile?

On the Roger Jett website the only listing for wines by the glass fall under the individual bars or the PG. The PG has only 1 selection for each red and white at $7.49 (not sure I could gum that down) then the prices skyrocket from there.

Thank you in advance!

A waiter told us that four glasses of wine is equivalent to a bottle. They have some nice California wines in the $30 to $35 range. I we have found a nice red in that range.

I am trying to decide if the SBP is a good choice for DH and myself. We are not big drinkers but we really enjoy wine, especially with a nice meal. Between the markup for a bottle of wine plus the CAD exchange I am having a wee bit of difficulty with the thought of paying on average of $30-40 USD for a mediocre bottle.

 

So I got to thinking, what's the price of wine by the glass in the MDR? If there are enough interesting selections that are under $9 then I can justify the SBP.

 

Is there anyone recently off an Alaskan cruise who ate in the MDR that can give me an idea if there are enough selections to make the SBP worthwhile?

 

On the Roger Jett website the only listing for wines by the glass fall under the individual bars or the PG. The PG has only 1 selection for each red and white at $7.49 (not sure I could gum that down) then the prices skyrocket from there.

 

Thank you in advance!

I removed the MDR Wine List from my website because I did not get to confirm it last month.

Here is a list of the wines from my November 2016 list of wine under the $9.00 SBP limit:

Champagne and Sparkling Wine

Cantine Maschio Prosecco, Italy 6.25

POI Clement, France 5.95

White Wines

Zonin Pinot Grigio, Italy 6.25

La Terre White Zinfandel, California 6.25

Gruber Roe****z Riesling, Austria 8.50

Snoqualmie Select Riesling, Washington 7.25

Zonin Moscato, Italy 8.50

Caliterra Sauvignon Blanc, Chile 7.00

Goose Ridge Chardonnay, Washington 7.25

Santa Carolina Cellar Selection Chardonnay, Chile 6.25

Viöa Santa Carolina Chardonnay, Chile 6.50

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay, Australia 8.50

Red

Santa Carolina Cellar Selection Merlot, Chile 6.25

Santa Carolina Cellar Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile 6.25

Black Opal Shiraz, Australia 7.25

Pacific Bay Cabernet Sauvignon, California 7.25

Luigi Bosca La Linda Malbec, Argentina 8.50

Many people bring wine aboard. The corkage fee is $18 per bottle and then you can drink it anywhere; you can have your MDR wine steward open it, pour it and store it for you if you like. You can have it retrieved from wine storage to drink it anywhere on the ship.

There are folks here who can help you find a wine store near your ship's embarkation port. You can order it in advance, have your taxi stop there on the way, and then roller-bag it onboard. But you have to take it aboard yourself, not give it to the porters. The corkage fees will be charged to your onboard account, so if you have any On Board Credit it can be charged against that.

Or if you prefer you can order a wine package in batches of 3, 5 or 7 bottles, either from Navigator selections or Admiral selections. When ordered (and paid for) pre-cruise, the price includes the 15% service charge; when purchased onboard they will add the same service charge amount, it's all the same pricing but onboard you can use On Board Credit if you have any.

I can't imagine us buying 2 SBPs so we can have wine for dinner, but different things work for different people.

Cheers! m--

Cruise News...thank you that's exactly what I was after!!

RMLincoln...thank you for your information. I am aware of the corkage. I have basically priced out how many drinks per day we would have. Which includes a beer or two. Maybe special coffee or a tropical drink. But we'd still want wine at dinner and you can't get a bottle of wine under the SBP. Which is why I thought of wine by the glass. I've also priced out a majority of the wines offered on the Wine packages. I found that the majority were not worth the price. I'm not about to pay $30 USD for a $4 bottle from the liquor store. Just can't do it. The info, though, is awesome. Thanks for your effort!!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We had trouble finding wines we like with the SBP. First time the wines were literally undrinkable. Last time we had explore 4 which includes SBP and were able to pay 11.50 per day to upgrade to the Elite. That opened up the options for great wines in every venue.

We board on Thursday and don't have SBP. We will either purchase wine and pay the corkage or buy a bottle package on board. (we are 3 star so there is a 25% discount) We will hit happy hours for other drinks.

If you are wine drinkers, imho you should either go elite or skip a package.

Cruise News...thank you that's exactly what I was after!!

 

RMLincoln...thank you for your information. I am aware of the corkage. I have basically priced out how many drinks per day we would have. Which includes a beer or two. Maybe special coffee or a tropical drink. But we'd still want wine at dinner and you can't get a bottle of wine under the SBP. Which is why I thought of wine by the glass. I've also priced out a majority of the wines offered on the Wine packages. I found that the majority were not worth the price. I'm not about to pay $30 USD for a $4 bottle from the liquor store. Just can't do it. The info, though, is awesome. Thanks for your effort!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Recommend you take your wine aboard. I was just pricing a bottle we really like. Duckhorn Merlot. $45 at Costco. Corkage is $18. $72 plus 15% on board. $63 or $83. That's why we carry our own.

We had trouble finding wines we like with the SBP. First time the wines were literally undrinkable. Last time we had explore 4 which includes SBP and were able to pay 11.50 per day to upgrade to the Elite. That opened up the options for great wines in every venue.

 

We board on Thursday and don't have SBP. We will either purchase wine and pay the corkage or buy a bottle package on board. (we are 3 star so there is a 25% discount) We will hit happy hours for other drinks.

 

If you are wine drinkers, imho you should either go elite or skip a package.

There is a Total Wines very close to the port. Since the cruise markup is usually 3-4 times the price, you normally come out ahead to buy your own (even with the $18 corkage). Buy your favorites and you will enjoy drinking them!

There is a Total Wines very close to the port. Since the cruise markup is usually 3-4 times the price, you normally come out ahead to buy your own (even with the $18 corkage). Buy your favorites and you will enjoy drinking them!

100% agree with 81Zoomie ... buy your favorites, pay the corkage and you'll never be disappointed. :wine-glass::wine-glass:

Enjoy!

I have been told by the Cellar Masters on two different ships that any wine by the glass listed in any venue should be available by request in all bars and restaurants. If your request is refused, go directly to the Cellar Master. On the Rotterdam I routinely ordered a wine in the Crow's Nest that was only listed in the Canaletto.

I have been told by the Cellar Masters on two different ships that any wine by the glass listed in any venue should be available by request in all bars and restaurants. If your request is refused, go directly to the Cellar Master. On the Rotterdam I routinely ordered a wine in the Crow's Nest that was only listed in the Canaletto.

Wow, that's a tip to remember! Thanks!

Lets do the math. Happy hour pricing. House Wine by the glass 6.25 + 2.00=8.25 for two glasses or a half a bottle. A full bottle is $16.50 plus 15% gratuity =$18.00. The same as the corkage fee.

Lets do the math. Happy hour pricing. House Wine by the glass 6.25 + 2.00=8.25 for two glasses or a half a bottle. A full bottle is $16.50 plus 15% gratuity =$18.00. The same as the corkage fee.

Let's not forget though that at Happy Hour you are NOT limited to the wine that is under $8/$9. You can order any drink since the Happy Hour pricing went up. ;)

we bring wine on and pay corkage fee but, we also drink HAL's. ;)

Lets do the math. Happy hour pricing. House Wine by the glass 6.25 + 2.00=8.25 for two glasses or a half a bottle. A full bottle is $16.50 plus 15% gratuity =$18.00. The same as the corkage fee.

And what exactly is your point? What does this calculation lead to?

FWIW, it's considered bad form to bring a wine that's on a restaurant's list. I realize that this can't always be helped because you won't always know what is on the ship's list before you board. A large number of land based restaurants won't let you bring something they sell.

Here's the late December 2016 list from Eurodam. Bear in mind that will likely be some changes, however, the composition of the list remains pretty consistent. (In case it's not obvious, I really pay attention to this stuff. Probably too much. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it.)

Not only are the wines listed, but I also compiled all the ratings I could find from my wine magazine subscriptions and other reliable sources. (The ratings are by wine professionals. I'm just a really enthusiastic amateur.)

IMPORTANT: This list was compiled when the SBP limit was $8, so consider anything under $8 here to be SBP eligible. We upgraded our SBP to the Elite Beverage Package. On the EBP, the whole list is open except for the Veuve.

The ratings scale:

• 95-100 Classic: a great wine
  
• 90-94 Outstanding: a wine of superior character and style
  
• 85-89 Very good: a wine with special qualities
  
• 80-84 Good: a solid, well-made wine
  
• 75-79 Mediocre: a drinkable wine that may have minor flaws
  
• 50-74 Not recommended
  

Sparkling:

• Cantine Maschio Brut Prosecco Treviso, Italy - $6.25 - Crisp and stony, with floral, white peach and slivered almond notes riding the lively bead. 85 points WS
  
• Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne Réserve France - $12.50 - This balanced Champagne is ripe and juicy, with crème de cassis and Honeycrisp apple fruit flavors accented by details of honey, smoke and biscuit. A fresh and creamy aperitif. 90 points WS
  
• Domaine Chandon Brut California Classic - $13.00 - Lively and crisp, with user-friendly flavors of tart apple, lemon and spicy vanilla. 89 points WS
  
• Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne - $17.50 -Bright and lightly toasty, this elegant Champagne layers flavors of cassis, crushed hazelnut and lemon meringue pie on the creamy bead. 90 points WS
  

White Wine:

• Zonin Pinot Grigio Latisana del Friuli Albola - $6.25 - A simple white, with some apple and banana character. Medium-bodied, offering good acidity and a light finish. - 84 points WS
  
• La Terre White Zinfandel - $6.25 - No rating found.
  
• Ruffino Pinot Grigio - $11.00 - Intense, clean notes of meadow flowers, pears and pleasant hints of golden apple. The bouquet is fresh and fragrant, yet complex, showing refined notes of sage and mint, with a nice touch of minerality typical of Pinot Grigio - Mid 80s
  
• Gruber-Rosh!tz Riesling (Spelled wrong on list - Intentionally spelled wrong here because of the foul language filter.) - $8.50 - Subtle, fruitful Riesling which reveals its subtle charms rather slowly. The nose is shy but the palate shines with ripe, aromatic apricot fruit, accentuated by lemon freshness and centered around a concentrated core of fruit and zest. This is slender but generous, refreshing and lasting. - 88 points Winemag.com
  
• Snoqualmie Select Riesling - $7.25 - Moderately sweet, offering apricot and pear flavors that remain ripe as the finish lingers. - 85-87 points
  
• Zonin Moscato - $8.50 - Excellent as dessert wine it matches perfectly with jam tarts fruit salads and pastry. Low alcohol 7% - 84 point avg
  
• Domaine Laroche Chablis - $13.50 - Lovely balance and expressive flavors of apple, peach and lemon highlight this juicy white. Leaves a mouthwatering impression on the stony finish. - 89 poiints WS
  
• Formation Monterey Sauvignon Blanc - $9.75 - I can find nothing on this Formation's Sauv Blanc. It was fine though, probably 84-86 if I had to rate it.
  
• Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc - $12.25 - Lean, with grass, citrus zest and ruby grapefruit flavors that are juicy and vibrant. Toasted herb and floral details linger. - 87 points WS
  
• Santa Carolina Chardonnay - $6.25 - A fruity style, with Gala apple and pear tart flavors that are clean and direct. The spicy finish has some smoky notes. - 86 points WS
  
• Vina Santa Carolina Chardonnay - $6.50 - This was the Reserva di Familia. - Rich and well-crafted, with concentrated ripe pear, apple pastry and almond tart notes. The buttery finish is long and spicy, supported by fresh acidity. - 89 points WS
  
• Penfolds Chardonnay South Australia Koonunga Hill - $8.50 - Refreshing, with lime zest and tangerine flavors that have a spicy edge. Compact and intense. - 87 points WS
  
• Chateau Ste. Michelle, Mimi Chardonnay, Washington - $9.75 - A lightly oaked, elegant style, offering apple and pear fruit character with bright natural acidity. Refreshing yet complex.90 points, Wine Enthuisiast
  

Red Wine:

• Santa Carolina Merlot - $6.25 - There's plenty of freshness to the juicy red plum, dark cherry and black olive flavors, accented by appealing green herbal notes. Finishes with hints of dried mint and chocolate. - 88 points WS
  
• Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon - $6.25 - Zesty, with dried green herbal notes to the fresh red plum and berry flavors. Olive and mineral accents show on the finish. - 88 points WS
  
• Luigi Bosca La Linda Malbec - $8.50 - A zesty style, redolent of cherry and licorice flavors, with notes of pepper in the mix. The juicy finish has some paprika details. - 87 points WS
  
• Greystone Cellars Merlot - $9.25 - Jammy and soft, with simple cherry and cola flavors. - 84 points
  
• Batasiolo Barbera D'asti - $9.75 - High-toned boysenberry and raspberry flavors, with bright acidity and slightly chewy tannins. Moderate length. - WS 84 points
  
• Meridian Pinot Noir - $9.75 - Fresh, with snappy cranberry and wild berry flavors that are pleasant and easy-drinking. - 85 points
  
• Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon - $9.75 - A crunchy red, showing good cut to the dried berry and cherry flavors, with plenty of savory details. Dried green herb hints show on the finish. - 86 points WS
  
• Light Horse Jamieson Ranch Pinot Noir - $9.75 - Smoky, oaky aroma leads to meaty flavors with notes of rhubarb and red cherries. The texture is on the soft side and the body is medium. On the finish those oaky notes meld with the fruit for a soft finale. - 88 points Wine Enthusast
  
• Line 39 Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon - $9.75 - Big and brawny, this has bold, ripe fruit aromas and flavors that are shaded by thyme and dill, and backed by very firm tannins and good acidity. The mouthfeel is full and astringent, and the mouth-puckering tannins last on the finish. - 86 points Wine Enthusiast
  
• Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot - $12.25 - Broad and generous, with expressive cedar, blueberry and cream flavors that glide over polished tannins into the long, precise finish. - 87 points WS
  
• Niebaum Coppola Claret - $13.50 - Seriously tasty and full-bodied, this inky-colored wine is packed with ripe fruit, fine tannins and firm texture, and needs a juicy steak or tender roast as a table mate. A core of black cherry and black plum is shaded by spicy oak. - 88 points Wine Enthusiast
  
• Peter Lehmann Portrait Shiraz - $14.75 - Bursting with blueberry and plum flavors, this offers chocolate and Earl Grey tea accents. Velvety and smooth on the long finish - 88 points WS
  
• Penfolds Koonunga Hill Cabernet Sauvignon - $9.75 - There's a brambly fresh herb detail to the berry and plum flavors, with impressive minerality, chewy tannins and notes of fresh earth. 88 points WS.
  

One last thing: A glass of wine is typically 5 oz and a 750ml bottle holds 25.36oz or 5 glasses. If your wine steward is getting only 4 glasses from a bottle, it's a heavy pour. Champagne is typically poured at a little over 4oz per serving (6 servings per bottle) or 3oz for a toast (8 servings per bottle.)

Lets do the math. Happy hour pricing. House Wine by the glass 6.25 + 2.00=8.25 for two glasses or a half a bottle. A full bottle is $16.50 plus 15% gratuity =$18.00. The same as the corkage fee.

there are NO bottles of wine for purchase on the wine list @ $16.50. off ship yes!!

And what exactly is your point? What does this calculation lead to?

Walking around with warm glasses of wine to carry to dinner? ;)

FWIW, it's considered bad form to bring a wine that's on a restaurant's list. I realize that this can't always be helped because you won't always know what is on the ship's list before you board. A large number of land based restaurants won't let you bring something they sell.

Luckily, the ship doesn't care WHAT wine you bring.

Walking around with warm glasses of wine to carry to dinner? ;)

Might work in Alaska ... DIY mulled wine ;)

POA1--Thank you so very much for all the time and effort you went into replying to my post.

Between your's and Cruise News posts, you have given me more useful information than I could have asked for.

I wouldn't call my DH and myself wine snobs but we appreciate a nice wine but can't afford to break the bank either. I'm all about best value for money. Hence, trying to figure out what would be the best option for us.

I agree, it is in poor form to bring a wine that is already carried by the restaurant (no matter what restaurant it is). So I can't see bringing extra wine on board and paying corkage unless it was a wine that was very special and/or sentimental.

Anyways, you've really helped make my decision for our upcoming cruise!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

POA1--Thank you so very much for all the time and effort you went into replying to my post.

 

You're very welcome. We typically carry on our own wine since we live very close to Port Everglades. However, we had the SBP as part of Explore 4 in December, so took advantage of the by the glass list. We upgraded to the Elite Beverage Package because DW likes Pinot Noir and there weren't any SBP eligible ones.

As you can see from the ratings compilation, almost all the wines are solid, mid 80s scores. You'll always have have someone tell you that the less expensive wines are undrinkable, but the scores - by actual wine professionals - don't bear that out at all.

One last thing: A glass of wine is typically 5 oz and a 750ml bottle holds 25.36oz or 5 glasses. If your wine steward is getting only 4 glasses from a bottle, it's a heavy pour. Champagne is typically poured at a little over 4oz per serving (6 servings per bottle) or 3oz for a toast (8 servings per bottle.)

The thing is, there is no such thing as a "standard pour" when it comes to wine. There is no discernable difference when looking at a 5 oz/150ml pour and a 6oz/175ml pour in a glass but restaurants know - getting that fifth pour adds to their bottom line. Most people privately drinking tend to pour on the heavier side.

Recommend you take your wine aboard. I was just pricing a bottle we really like. Duckhorn Merlot. $45 at Costco. Corkage is $18. $72 plus 15% on board. $63 or $83. That's why we carry our own.

$45 or so is usually the break point - on cheaper wines, the flat corkage fee makes it pointless to bring your own. But, if you go for costlier varieties, the flat corkage comes to less than the excessive mark-up.