Survey Wine: what brands/types do you like to bring on board?

[George C]

I like most cabernets from Alexander valley in californa, l under stand Hal making a profit but if wine sells for 20 or 25 in wine store Hal should not be asking a hundred, would pay 60 or so. Getting ready to book a RCCL cruise since I think I have had enough of Hal, like a few other people have said, this was the straw that broke the camels back for me.

[OlsSalt]

I like most cabernets from Alexander valley in californa, l under stand Hal making a profit but if wine sells for 20 or 25 in wine store Hal should not be asking a hundred, would pay 60 or so. Getting ready to book a RCCL cruise since I think I have had enough of Hal, like a few other people have said, this was the straw that broke the camels back for me.

 

If it was the "last straw", then there obviously have been a lot of other problems you have not liked about HAL building for a long time so it is time for a change.

[YubaSutter]

If I'm sailing from FLL I go to Total Wine and buy:

 

Educated Guess 2010 or 2011 - a CA cab (if they had it on the ship I would pay $33 for it.)

 

Vieuve Clicquot Brut - French champagne. HAL carries it on the ship but I refuse to pay 3 times the retain (not wholesale) cost.

 

Chalone Cabernet Monterey - I'd pay $25 for it on the ship.

 

Columbia Crest H3 Merlot - $9.47 retail. I'd pay $30 for it on the ship.

 

My son likes Rex Goliath Malbec. $5.99 retail. He would pay $18.00 for it on the ship. (this wine tastes as good as most wines 2/3 times the price)

 

While it's hard to find Educated Guess, all the others are readily available and would not be a problem for HAL to buy in large quantiies.

 

Re European ports. I do some research before the cruise and have a fairly good idea what I would like to buy and try. Don't have that list, tho.

 

I would hope the Malbec tastes better than most wines that are 1/3 less in price.

[tacrum43]

I like most cabernets from Alexander valley in californa

 

Excellent choice :)

 

In looking over the HAL wine lists, I'm also a bit disappointed. If they're going to mark up the wine ridiculously high, they could at least pick decent wine. You can get very tasty wine for $10-20 per bottle retail in the U.S.

[Tampa Girl]

How much impact do you think the numbers of 3-4 star Mariner discounts due to high numbers of repeat passengers have on HAL wine pricing? Should that change so there is more even pricing for all passengers?

 

 

It is my understanding that the 3-4 star discounts only apply to the wine packages and not to the individual bottles sold on ship. And even then, one is limited to the number of packages that can be purchased for delivery on the ship. So I don't think that the discounts we get are that great.

[jayjaycan]

When sailing from FLL, Miami & Tampa I go to Total Wines and buy some of the following.

 

Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio (Italian)

Kim Crawford & Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)

Gazela Vinho Verde (Portugal)

A good medium priced Carmenere from Chile

A good medium priced old vines Zinfandel from Calif.

A good Spanish Rioja

A good medium priced Amarone and/or Chianti from Italy

 

I rely upon the advice of the in -store expert for the reds as I can't always find the brands I purchase at home and I don't usually bring more then 4 onboard for a 7 day cruise.

[CowPrincess]

When we can find it, we bring Vina Chilcaya Cab (Chile) aboard. Am planning on bringing some Oyster Bay Brut Rose aboard next time (if I can find it). Oxford Landing Cab. Pepperwood Estate or Pepperwood Grove? (I think that is the name, am not 100% certain) would need to see the label ;) ) if we can find some that is aged a few years. (Scored 4 bottles of 5 year old in Tampa one time -- it was amazing!)

[YubaSutter]

Survey:

 

1. What are the brands/types of wine passengers brought on board as their unlimited carry-on that were not provided by the present HAL offerings?

 

2. What brands/types should HAL now include in their on-board offerings after the new carry-on restrictions go into place Jan 2014?

 

3. What wines from which port stops should also be considered?

 

Stag's Leap cab.

Klinker Brick zin.

Cakebread chard.

 

All about $60/bottle.

[OlsSalt]

Stag's Leap cab.

Klinker Brick zin.

Cakebread chard.

 

All about $60/bottle.

 

 

You can tell you are from California, Northern variety!

[Cindy]

When I choose wine to take on a ship, I usually select Cabernets and Pinot Noirs. I like to take some Pinot Noir because I've found the selection of Pinot on most lines to be quite limited. When I choose my Cabs, I pick those that we think of as "special occasion" wine -- usually between $75-$125 a bottle at Spec's (the Texas version of Total Wine). Those would be cost prohibitive to purchase on a ship, IF they carried them.

We've had better luck finding decent Zins, Merlots, and whites on ships than Cabernets and Pinots.

[OlsSalt]

Here are the wine choices in the "Indulgences" for our upcoming Prinsendam cruise (Sept) subject to change I am sure, but it is a start:

 

Navigator's package: $248 - choice of 7 bottles

 

Mondavi Private Selection J Riesling, Monkey Bay Chardonnay, Caliterra Chardonnay, Danzante Pinot Grigio, Blackstone Sauvignon Blanc, Sylvester Kiarra Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Three Blind Moose Cabernet Sauvignon, Laboure Roi Pinot Grigio, Veramonte Merlot, Ravenswood Zinfandel, Remole I Frescaboldi and Twin Fin Shiraz.

 

Admiral's package - choice of 7 bottles - $336

 

Four Emus Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer Columbia Winery, Silverado Sauvignon Blanc, Laboure Roi Macon Villages, Franciscan Chardonnay, I AM ROSE, Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon, The Jobe Pinot Noir, Niner Merlot, Chianti Castiglioni Frescaboldi, Blackstone Syrah and Icon Ravenswood.

[startwin]

I didn't notice any emphasis on gambling on RCI. In fact I neither saw, nor heard anything promoting gambling. They are much more family friendly oriented than HAL, as evidenced by the incredible number of young families on the ship. They have all kinds of stuff for kids all over the place. It's certainly not a gambling cruise line.

 

BTW, RCI (Royal Caribbean International) is the cruise line. RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.) is the parent company of RCI, Celebrity, Azamara, etc.

 

Agreed. And I've never once been to the casino on an RCI ship. Lots of other stuff to do.

[PirateShark]

Stag's Leap cab.

Klinker Brick zin.

Cakebread chard.

 

All about $60/bottle.

 

Luv the KB Old Ghost!

 

We take several Cliff Lede "Rock" series, deLoach Pinots and my beloved Chateau de Beaucastel. But if ever in Lodi stop at St. Jorge for fine Spanish and Portuguese varietals.

[Cristiano]

My first Campo Viejo was a 1985 Reserva. DW and I were hooked. To this day, those 3 particular bottles, are some of the very best we have ever tasted. We still buy it, but it has never approached that '85 for some reason. In any case, I love Tempranillo.

 

Good reviews and here in Sydney the 2010 costs $13.50 ... Must try some although more a Shiraz / Syrah fan and from our Barossa Valley.

 

Having said that one of my all time favorite wines bought at TWM in Boca Raton in 2009 was a Longboard Syrah from the Russian River Valley !!!

 

Came back in 2011 and bought some more but a long way to come for a bottle of wine :):)

 

Back in April 2014 and I know what 2 bottles I will be taking onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam !

 

Ciao

 

Cristiano

[arewethereyet]

Good reviews and here in Sydney the 2010 costs $13.50 ... Must try some although more a Shiraz / Syrah fan and from our Barossa Valley.

 

Having said that one of my all time favorite wines bought at TWM in Boca Raton in 2009 was a Longboard Syrah from the Russian River Valley !!!

 

Came back in 2011 and bought some more but a long way to come for a bottle of wine :):)

 

Back in April 2014 and I know what 2 bottles I will be taking onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam !

 

Ciao

 

Cristiano

I love them too.

[chloes nana]

Survey:

 

1. What are the brands/types of wine passengers brought on board as their unlimited carry-on that were not provided by the present HAL offerings?

 

2. What brands/types should HAL now include in their on-board offerings after the new carry-on restrictions go into place Jan 2014?

 

3. What wines from which port stops should also be considered?

 

Really? it sounds like the only reason people sail HAL is for the unlimited wine they could bring on.... do you all really need all this wine to have a wonderful cruise? Do you need to down a glass or two before dinner, followed by more with dinner?? I am just wondering why all the fuss and hoopla, people jumping ship and such because of the new policy, that would allow HAL to make some extra revenues??????

[Richie2pies]

I like Almaden Cabernet which costs $11.99 a 3lt. box here in Florida. Why should I pay HAL's outrageous prices for wine when all I like is the cheap stuff? To each his own.

[BumperII]

Survey:

 

1. What are the brands/types of wine passengers brought on board as their unlimited carry-on that were not provided by the present HAL offerings?

 

2. What brands/types should HAL now include in their on-board offerings after the new carry-on restrictions go into place Jan 2014?

 

3. What wines from which port stops should also be considered?

 

Chateau Thunderbird, vintage Wednesday, servi dans le sac.:D

 

 

 

servi dans le sac

[YubaSutter]

Luv the KB Old Ghost!

 

We take several Cliff Lede "Rock" series, deLoach Pinots and my beloved Chateau de Beaucastel. But if ever in Lodi stop at St. Jorge for fine Spanish and Portuguese varietals.

 

Old Ghost is one of our top 5 wines. We have a bottle from every year that it was produced in our collection.

[iancal]

More reds from Chile and Argentina-especially the higher end product.

 

More reds from Portugal Douro Valley area. More whites from New Zealand.

 

More of everything from Australia.

 

Price them right.

[serendipity1499]

My first Campo Viejo was a 1985 Reserva. DW and I were hooked. To this day, those 3 particular bottles, are some of the very best we have ever tasted. We still buy it, but it has never approached that '85 for some reason. In any case, I love Tempranillo.

 

I can't drink many reds (tannins I think) but that is one I can drink and we both enjoy it very much:D

 

Arewethereyet & Kazu...Have a question..

I don't like most white wines but enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner..I really like the sweeter wines such as sangria...As you can see I'm not a wine connoisseur..LOL

Even though I like the reds I find that my nose, face & neck turns red after only one glass & gets very itchy..

Assume I'm allergic to something in the reds..Do you think it's the tannens? Would I be able to drink this wine with dinner & not look like a total rummy? :eek:LOL

Thanks...:)Betty

[RuthC]

I am just wondering why all the fuss and hoopla, people jumping ship and such because of the new policy, that would allow HAL to make some extra revenues??????

If you read all the posts you would learn that there are four major reasons:

1.) HAL has others ways to increase revenue, including changing the current wine policy, that are more palatable to the passengers posting about this.

2.) HAL changed the policy unilaterally, arbitrarily, and without notice. This demonstrated a contempt for the feelings of passengers who had already booked, and especially those who had made final payment, with an understanding of the previous policy.

3.) There is no allowance of a sliding scale of the amount of wine that may be brought on board under the new policy. And overnight cruiser is allowed to bring on the same one bottle as someone sailing 35 days. That this is inequitable must be obvious.

4.) There is no allowance made to bring wine aboard post-embarkation, especially from ports in wine-producing regions.

I have read every post in every thread on this subject (whew!), and have not read where anyone objects to HAL increasing revenue. The objection is the method of raising that revenue, and the lack of notice so passengers can plan for it.

[arewethereyet]

Arewethereyet & Kazu...Have a question..

 

I don't like most white wines but enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner..I really like the sweeter wines such as sangria...As you can see I'm not a wine connoisseur..LOL

 

Even though I like the reds I find that my nose, face & neck turns red after only one glass & gets very itchy..

 

Assume I'm allergic to something in the reds..Do you think it's the tannens? Would I be able to drink this wine with dinner & not look like a total rummy? :eek:LOL

 

Thanks...:)Betty

I don't know if the tannins can cause what you describe, but this is a dry red wine, and the tannin is detectable. It's probably prudent to pass on this.

[2cruisecats]

Survey:

 

1. What are the brands/types of wine passengers brought on board as their unlimited carry-on that were not provided by the present HAL offerings?

 

2. What brands/types should HAL now include in their on-board offerings after the new carry-on restrictions go into place Jan 2014?

 

3. What wines from which port stops should also be considered?

 

For me, the question is "WHY DO YOU CARRY ON WINE?" as usually we do not. With dinner, we would select a bottle from the wine list to enhance our meal, cringe at the price, but enjoy. We occasionally purchased wine or beer in one of the bars. Our bar bill is basically a wine bill. We do not buy "wine packages".

 

There are 2 exceptions - both longer cruises. We had not "carried on" wine until our first HAL cruise and then we picked up wine at various South American ports. It allowed us to try great local wines and we happily paid the corkage fee.

 

For our B2B Med cruise 3 years ago (again HAL) we boarded the ship to find out their wine selection was low (very low) and not to be restocked for several days. We dashed off the ship in Venice (and other ports) and returned with selections of local wines :) Again, the wine accompanied us to the MDR and Pinnacle and we paid the corkage. Our wine steward often enjoyed a tasting. Several of the Italian wines are now among our regular Vintages purchases.

 

HAL could definitely improve their wine selection, including wines from the regions travelled. And yes, they are way overpriced even for we taxed Canadians. Their wine policy will not prevent me from sailing HAL for NA/Caribbean but, for Australia/NZ or South America or Europe there are other options. (Though I would miss that wrap around deck.)

[lovetocruise2020]

I like Almaden Cabernet which costs $11.99 a 3lt. box here in Florida. Why should I pay HAL's outrageous prices for wine when all I like is the cheap stuff? To each his own.

 

What we like s under $25 a bottle, but we like it.

The problem is HAL does not have anything remotely close.