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UBP - Must try cocktail/drink list!

Warm-Water Diver

By Warm-Water Diver,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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GUEST080219

GUEST080219

Posted
Posted

At least here on the Star the situation at the moment is pretty easy. They have to keep premade cocktails available and use it if not requested otherwise as it is a fleetwide order from Miami. At the moment if you ask for a freshly prepared one you get it without having to bribe someone. If that continues like that in a couple of months or during busier itineraries no one can say.

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gl339

gl339

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Posted
Reporting back from my Transatlantic on the NCL Jade - many bars had "premade" giant carafes for certain cocktails, and I was only rejected once on the cruise to a "please stick to the menu" request by a bartender at the martini bar when I asked for the "cagney's speakeasy martini" on a particularly busy night at the martini bar. I did not have a "prior relationship" with that bartender, though, so if I really really wanted to I could have taken the elevator up 6 floors or so to the "star bar" which is right next to cagney's and could have got one - or I could have found my "favorite waiter" Phillip in the upstairs lounge (who I made sure to grease with an extra dollar the first few days each time I ordered a drink) and I am sure he would have accommodated me.

 

Some of the premade stuff isn't bad - mostly in the frozen sweet drinks. But to avoid it elsewhere, I found no premade carafes in ..... the casino, of course. The bartenders there were knowledgeable and made stuff fresh when I was there. I am also sure that prior greasing of a specific bartender would (most likely) get you the drink you want.

 

Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app

 

mbruck... did you happen to check out if the Dark & Stormy was back on at under $15?? Thanks!

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Blondie008

Blondie008

Posted
Posted
Reporting back from my Transatlantic on the NCL Jade - many bars had "premade" giant carafes for certain cocktails, and I was only rejected once on the cruise to a "please stick to the menu" request by a bartender at the martini bar when I asked for the "cagney's speakeasy martini" on a particularly busy night at the martini bar. I did not have a "prior relationship" with that bartender, though, so if I really really wanted to I could have taken the elevator up 6 floors or so to the "star bar" which is right next to cagney's and could have got one - or I could have found my "favorite waiter" Phillip in the upstairs lounge (who I made sure to grease with an extra dollar the first few days each time I ordered a drink) and I am sure he would have accommodated me.

 

Some of the premade stuff isn't bad - mostly in the frozen sweet drinks. But to avoid it elsewhere, I found no premade carafes in ..... the casino, of course. The bartenders there were knowledgeable and made stuff fresh when I was there. I am also sure that prior greasing of a specific bartender would (most likely) get you the drink you want.

 

Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app

 

 

I agree - thought the offerings were pretty poor on Jade TA - if it wasn't on their menu - you couldn't get it - Also - despite paying extra for chocolate and espresso martinis - we doubted their alcohol content -

I requested TWO cubes of ice- and the main alcohol to be brought separate - otherwise we found a tumbler of iced up rubbish.

Wine was the best bet all round - at least you knew you were getting.

Cosmos weren't too bad - but it took greasing a few palms in the outdoor bars to be able to get one..

Staff told us they can no longer go off the menu - that their bars are stocked to provide for the menu - which in 12 months - has been reduced dramatically in every bar.

Stick to simple drinks like a spirit and a mixer and you are fine - the cocktails and martinis are pretty rubbish..

I went on to Jack Honey - asked for 2 x cubes of ice, and the lemonade on the side - that worked for me - the regular "Honey Lemonade" was a pile of iced fizz...

Still feel its great value for money - just need to get wise to the tricks of the trade ;)

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abbyar

abbyar

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Off the Jade Thanksgiving.

 

LOVED the Mr Worldwide. Had no problem substituting Titos Vodka. Also ordered off menu a few times, and generally didn't have problems except at restaurants (Dh tried to order the speakeasy at Cagney's and had no luck). The Mr WWs were highly addictive and rather potent.

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Blondie008

Blondie008

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Off the Jade Thanksgiving.

 

LOVED the Mr Worldwide. Had no problem substituting Titos Vodka. Also ordered off menu a few times, and generally didn't have problems except at restaurants (Dh tried to order the speakeasy at Cagney's and had no luck). The Mr WWs were highly addictive and rather potent.

 

I was excited about trying the Mr WW (the ingredients are perfect for me!) - ordered it once and was given a plastic tumbler full of red mushy ice basically - no taste - no hit -

needless to say I never tried it again :(

It was Stoli vodka on the menu which I was happy to go with.

 

Perhaps once the ship hit USA it resumed regular service - I did two Celebrity cruises in between my last NCL cruise 12 months ago - and 100% can say that the drinks on our Jade TA were absolutely nowhere like the offerings on the NCL cruise 12 months earlier (and nothing remotely like Celebrity!) - Total change from 12 months previous.

The menus have been cut short by a long chalk - and the availability of actual alcohol at each bar was limited.

 

The bars seem loaded with pre made frozen creamy drinks and cocktails - packed with sugar and/or fruit juices.

 

Was it because it was a TA cruise? Will see what others report back.

It wont stop me cruising NCL - still think its great value - and I love their ships - I am just careful now to order the right drink that wont go to waste.

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SNJCruisers

SNJCruisers

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Posted
I'm sure I saw it on the menu as $17.95 plus tip. I'm sure it was with High end vodka. I'm hoping they'll make it with grey goose. If not freshly made long islands it is.
The 17.95 on is made with Ciroc. It has been reported on the boards that YMMV regarding bartender's going off of the list and substituting to make it compliant with the UBP. Usually a tip will take care of things. A worse case scenario is to try a different bar to get what you want accomplished. Just remember that Grey Goose is covered under the UBP, while the flavored versions are not. Makes about as much sense as charging 17.95 for a Dark n Stormy, but it's been reported that the Bermuda authorities had a conniption about it and the price was reduced.
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  • 5 weeks later...
ChrisCJSU

ChrisCJSU

Posted
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i fell in love with the raspberry guava mojoto on escape and was wondering if the gem makes the variety of mojitos so i can really enjoy my booze package

 

 

 

I loved the mojitos on the Escape. I can't speak for the Gem but I was able to get those same mojitos on the Sky.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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CardFanDubG

CardFanDubG

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Posted
Can you get a Toro Toro on the the Epic. This sounds really good.

 

Not been on the Epic so not sure. I found last cruise, if the bartender had not heard of the drink they were willing to attempt it if they had the ingredients. I just showed them the report. This was especially true if it was a bartender that I had tipped earlier.

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  • 3 weeks later...
MissRabbit

MissRabbit

Posted
Posted (edited)
The 17.95 on is made with Ciroc. It has been reported on the boards that YMMV regarding bartender's going off of the list and substituting to make it compliant with the UBP. Usually a tip will take care of things. A worse case scenario is to try a different bar to get what you want accomplished. Just remember that Grey Goose is covered under the UBP, while the flavored versions are not. Makes about as much sense as charging 17.95 for a Dark n Stormy, but it's been reported that the Bermuda authorities had a conniption about it and the price was reduced.

 

On the Escape in aug/Sept, we put the UBP to good use. Here were the things we experienced:

 

- every bar we went to the bartenders were willing to go off menu and make whatever drink we wanted.

- we had flip cards for drinks. There were a couple drinks they couldn't make, only because they lacked the ingredients. Otherwise, they made them.

- several times, we gave them a tip and a challenge. Make something bkue, frozen, no pineapple nor coconut. A couple ladies in the atrium bar and cowboy in the 5 o'clock somewhere bar were Gung ho to do it.

- we tried ordering >$15 drinks substituting for a non top shelf liquor. No joy.

- ordering a vodka/cranberry gets you a Russian standard vodka, but if you say Grey Goose by name, that's what you get.

-word to the wise... never ever ever order a Grass Clippings from Tobacco Road! Ever. Lol

-lastly..there were 3 of us in the party. We had to show our ubp cards only once at each new bar. The rest of the cruise, they'd take 1 of our cards and ring all 3 drinks in. Also we would sometimes get drinks and shots at the same time. 1 card.

-Ok one more thing... if you keep ordering WooWoo shots from cowboy at 5 o'clock, he starts turning those shots into full size plastic glass size!

Edited by MissRabbit
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Luvmypups

Luvmypups

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Posted
On the Escape in aug/Sept, we put the UBP to good use. Here were the things we experienced:

 

-Ok one more thing... if you keep ordering WooWoo shots from cowboy at 5 o'clock, he starts turning those shots into full size plastic glass size!

 

Great info MissRabbit! What in the world is a WooWoo shot?

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