Cruise Critic's Q&A: Bob Dickinson & Wine

[LauraS]

Q&A: Bob Dickinson & Wine

[judyjbest]

Thanks for that interesting article and interview! I recently ordered the One.6 Chardonnay on our Conquest cruise and loved it enough to order a second bottle for later in the cruise. I love the wine choices, but I would like it even more to have a wine sommelier on board to give some excellent recommendations. The team waiters have their hands full with just the food!

[Nonesuch]

Thanks for that interesting article and interview! I recently ordered the One.6 Chardonnay on our Conquest cruise and loved it enough to order a second bottle for later in the cruise.

 

Definitely an interesting article, I aspire to someday have 20,000 bottles of wine, and hope to bequest only a tiny portion of my collection to my heirs... the rest will serve it's intended purpose, enhancing a delicious meal.

 

I love the wine choices, but I would like it even more to have a wine sommelier on board to give some excellent recommendations. The team waiters have their hands full with just the food!

 

One more reason to select a few bottles to bring along -- the only alcohol that Carnival encourages guests to bring their own :D (if, like Dickinson, you count champagne as a form of wine). Maybe four bottles of red, a couple of bottles of riesling, some champagne...

 

What's the limit on Carnival for wine? Two bottles per person, two bottles per stateroom, two bottles per day???:confused:

 

Wha

[karen11g]

Just curious - What is Carnival's corkage fee?

[stormcat]

We sailed on the Miracle in January and brought on 8 bottles of wine. My husband and I carried 4 bottles each in our carry on's.

 

The corkage fee was $10.00 per bottle in the dining room.

[AlwaysReady2Go]

As far as I know you can bring as many bottles onboard as you like for your own consumption. We have brought as many as we could carry (which is usually 2 in each carry on - due to weight sake). An excellent Merlot onboard is the McGuigan Brothers (not positive of spelling) - Bin 3000 - I purchased this from Carnivals winelist to be sent to our room it was about $28 - nice bottle of Austrailan Merlot. We ordered a second bottle at dinner one night we enjoyed the first so much.

[GoinCruisin]

Technically you are allowed one bottle... it really depends on WHO you get and what kind of mood they are in as to how much they actually let you carry on.

 

One bottle of fine wine or champagne, per stateroom, may be brought on board during embarkation only. If the wine and/or champagne is brought to the Dining room for consumption, a $10 corkage fee per bottle will be charged to the guest; otherwise, the guest may only drink the wine and/or champagne in the privacy of a stateroom. The wine and/or champagne may NOT be brought into any other public lounge or area.

 

Guests may bring a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages. Excessive quantities, to be determined at the discretion of security and/or the embarkation personnel, will be confiscated and retained by Carnival until the cruise is completed.

[zonemasconi]

yeah like one bottle is going to be enough!!!

 

also I think UB ought to have other clubs for drinkers too not just for wine (can you tell I dont usually drink wine).LOL

[Nonesuch]

I think UB ought to have other clubs for drinkers too not just for wine...

 

UB? :confused:

[NY Jean]

Hi again

 

 

I just read the "Welcome Aboard" pamphlet that was sent with my tickets last week ... the actual reading is:

 

"Guests are prohibited from bringing alchoholic beverages on board. Fine wine or champagne may be brought on board only during embarkation at the beginnng of the cruise...."

 

So there is no actual limit placed on the number of bottles of "fine wine or champagne".. don't know if I would want to argue this point at security but I guess if they were trying to pull my merlot I would have to get nasty....ha ha

[Nonesuch]

The Chicago Tribune Sunday travel section (April 3rd) was all about cruising, included an article on Wine on cruise ships, with several quotes from Bob Dickinson.

 

There was also a section with tips on wine and cruising:

Some tips about drinking on board

Published April 3, 2005

To find wine-themed cruises, surf the Web, contact a travel agent or contact the cruise line directly.

 

Some lines

won't permit you to bring wines on board

for consumption during your cruise. Some even may confiscate your bottles at embarkation. If, to save money, you've purchased wine during a port call to drink on board, you may be asked to surrender it and claim it at the conclusion of the cruise. However, some lines may let you bring aboard a wine that's not on its wine list. Check ahead with your cruise line about its specific policy.

 

Of lines that do permit bringing your own wine,

a fee (usually around $10) will be levied

to uncork it in the dining room, although there's usually no restriction for enjoying it in your cabin.

 

If you don't empty your bottle at one sitting, the dining room waiter (or sommelier)

can store it

for you for subsequent sipping.

 

If you're a cost-conscious cruiser, try to arrange with your tablemates

to take turns

springing for the wine each evening at dinner. This rotation can save all of you money, as well as mitigate the social quandary of whether to offer your hard-earned wine to strangers.

 

[CoachTerry14]

Hi again

 

 

I just read the "Welcome Aboard" pamphlet that was sent with my tickets last week ... the actual reading is:

 

"Guests are prohibited from bringing alchoholic beverages on board. Fine wine or champagne may be brought on board only during embarkation at the beginnng of the cruise...."

 

So there is no actual limit placed on the number of bottles of "fine wine or champagne".. don't know if I would want to argue this point at security but I guess if they were trying to pull my merlot I would have to get nasty....ha ha

 

From the Carnival website:

 

Can I Bring Liquor On Board?

 

A liquor and beverage consumption policy was created in order for Carnival to be able to control the liquor consumption of minors and the quantities consumed that lead to the disruptive behavior of others on board.

 

Liquor and Beverage Policy

 

Bringing Alcohol On Board - Embarkation

 

Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages on board.

 

One bottle of fine wine or champagne, per stateroom, may be brought on board during embarkation only. If the wine and/or champagne is brought to the Dining room for consumption, a $10 corkage fee per bottle will be charged to the guest; otherwise, the guest may only drink the wine and/or champagne in the privacy of a stateroom. The wine and/or champagne may NOT be brought into any other public lounge or area.

 

Guests may bring a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages. Excessive quantities, to be determined at the discretion of security and/or the embarkation personnel, will be confiscated and discarded.

 

Ports-of-Call

 

Alcoholic beverages of any kind purchased in any Port-of-Call will be confiscated at the gangway, stored on board and retained by Carnival until the end of the voyage.

 

Ship Gift Shops

 

Alcoholic beverages of any kind purchased in the ship's gift shop will be stored on board and be retained by Carnival until the end of the voyage.

 

Drinking Alcohol On Board -

 

The minimum age for the purchase and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the bars, lounges and gift shops is 21 years of age. Carnival reserves the right to refuse the sale of alcoholic beverages to anyone. In the event that Bar/Restaurant/Gift Shop Staff are in question that a guest is less than 21 years old, they shall request picture identification, prior to serving the drink or selling the bottle of liquor.

[conwakr]

I just got off the Triumph this past weekend. Our first Carnival cruise. We enjoyed meeting the sommelier on our previous two cruises with other lines and picking out a different bottle of wine each night for dinner. I had read about Bob Dickinson and the wine club so I assumed that we might find some interesting bottles on the cruise. By the time I figured out I could order them off the internet site and have them delivered to our room for dinner I was inside the window and too late to make it happen. I asked the steward for a wine list our first dinner on the Triumph and his answer was "I don't have one" so we picked a wine-by-the-glass off the dinner menu the entire week which went right along with the dancing waiters anyway, but I really did miss picking some different wines. Each night after the steward was at our table pushing the same glass we'd had the first night before we'd even ordered dinner. There wasn't anything in our cabin either about it and we were in a suite. I thought it was pretty amusing in a sad sort of way. I thought why-the-heck isn't Bob Dickinson cross-marketing this though maybe it doesn't make economic sense on Carnival.

[brazilianbombshell]

I worked until recently for Carnival and we are told to advise guests that they are allowed 2 bottles per person. I also advised to stick a corkscrew in your check-in luggage...they will bring you down the glasses and a bucket of ice to enjoy in your cabin w/o paying the corkage fee!

[judyjbest]

Conwakr, I definitely agree with your comments. The one thing Carnival doesn't do that RCI does well is the services of the wine sommelier. The waiters try to help, but they really don't have knowledge of their wine list. The servers in the Supper Clubs are a little better informed, but I'd hope this would be an area that Carnival will see as a win-win for their guests and their company.

[jazyjef]

What is the custom or is it ok to aproach matre'd and request a smaller table for a late sitting or is it best to take what you get.. My wife and i are going on our honnymoon and would like to request a window table for 4 not a huge table in the middle. please advise.

[smellywax]

I think bob's wine club is like putting fine wine on the menu at Chili's...it doesn't belong!! Yes, there are cruisers who go on Carnival and like fine wine but if I was going on Carnival for their wine, I wouldn't be sailing on Carnival! Sounds like a bored CEO just trying to find a way to profit off his hobby. I actually think bob needs to cut back on his wine...he has really aged in the last year and it SHOWS big time!

[GoinCruisin]

I think bob's wine club is like putting fine wine on the menu at Chili's...it doesn't belong!! Yes, there are cruisers who go on Carnival and like fine wine but if I was going on Carnival for their wine, I wouldn't be sailing on Carnival! Sounds like a bored CEO just trying to find a way to profit off his hobby. I actually think bob needs to cut back on his wine...he has really aged in the last year and it SHOWS big time!

 

There are plenty of us out there that cruise Carnival that DO ENJOY a fine bottle of wine. I don't think anyone goes on ANY cruiseship just for the wine :rolleyes: But it is very nice to go ANYWHERE and be able to have something other than Sutter Home.. Who's to say it doesn't belong? I guess the Supper Clubs don't belong either? I for one, as I'm sure many are, am glad they have expanded the selection...

[Flip2cruise]

http://www.presidentialwineclub.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category_detail&category_id_int=11627

 

 

Carnival Announces Date of the first Wine Club Cruise! Fares start at only $554*!

 

Carnival has announced the date of the first annual Presidential Wine Club Cruise! It will be aboard the brand-new Carnival Liberty, sailing from Fort Lauderdale on December 4, 2005. The six-day cruise sails to Freeport, Bahamas, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. While onboard, members will be invited to a number of exclusive events, including wine tastings, seminars by wine experts and members-only parties. Bob Dickinson, President of Carnival Cruise Lines, will host the cruise. It promises to be a "must attend" event for anyone interested in wine! More exciting details will be available soon.

 

 

About the Carnival Liberty

Just when you think nothing could be more fun than your sunny day aboard CARNIVAL LIBERTY, it is evening. Night brings with it a sense of celebration, a chance to catch a lavish Vegas-style show, take a stroll, or dance till dawn. With a choice of 22 clubs and lounges, you'll easily find your kind of music, your kind of fun. If you love to sing, join the basses, altos and sopranos at Piano Man. Would you rather dance? Then rock the night away at the Hot & Cool. Feeling lucky? You’ll find your favorite games of chance at Czar’s Palace, one of the largest and friendliest casinos at sea. But there’s so much more. Cheer for the international sports teams on the plasma TVs at Gloves. Catch hilarious comics at the Victoria Lounge late show. Have a cappuccino and fabulous dessert at the Jardin Café. Or just stroll on deck and discuss all the fun things you plan to do tomorrow.

 

How to Book the Cruise

To join us on this exciting voyage of discovery, call your travel agent or 1-800-Carnival. Be sure to mention the special wine club fare codes to be included in all of our exciting events. For individual bookings, the fare code is CPWC. For group bookings, the fare code is CSWC.

 

See you aboard!

 

*Rate is per guest, in US Dollars, category 4A and above, capacity controlled and cruise only. Prices are subject to change without prior notice. Government fees/taxes ($56.01) and optional air transportation are additional. Some restrictions apply.

[iowagirl411]

Am I understanding correctly that Carnival does not have a sommelier on board or a wine steward in the dining room of each ship?

[judyjbest]

Yep, that's true. The only person I found on any Carnival ship who had that level of wine knowledge was a person in a supper club. This is one of RCL's definite advantages if you are a wine lover.

[iowagirl411]

On Celebrity the wine steward helped us each evening with our choices. His services were greatly appreciated because of our limited knowledge of wine. He was gracious and helpful and seemed to enjoy helping us enhance our experience.

[Piano Man Ron]

AJ,

 

If I understand your message correctly, the piano bar on the Liberty will be called Piano Man? That's cool.

 

Ron