What are your best drink tips for Princess?

[jasbo49]

Thank you all. Looking for money saving hints and tips beyond drinks packages.

 

My suggestion for saving money and still playing by the rules is to consider ordering a bottle or two through room service. Princess charges about half what most other cruise lines do.

 

You can get a 375 ml of Jim Beam, for example, for $17. That may be nearly twice what you'd pay at your local liquor store, but it's a lot less than per-drink prices at the bars. I believe on Carnival they hit you up for $80 for a 750 ml bottle.

 

Jim

[Nezmo]

My suggestion for saving money and still playing by the rules is to consider ordering a bottle or two through room service. Princess charges about half what most other cruise lines do.

 

You can get a 375 ml of Jim Beam, for example, for $17. That may be nearly twice what you'd pay at your local liquor store, but it's a lot less than per-drink prices at the bars. I believe on Carnival they hit you up for $80 for a 750 ml bottle.

 

Jim

This is great advice and I agree on the pricing.

[RetiredNTraveling]

Drink responsibly and with moderation and DO NOT ANNOY YOUR FELLOW PASSENGERS. Best tip I can give anyone.

 

Sound advice! Also, if the wait staff remembers you and what you like to drink, maybe it's because you gave them a extra $2 tip. After the second day, when they see us they always get there quickly and ask "Do you want your regular?" It's Nice to be Nice!

[Happy2cruise]

A tip from a bartender on one of our cruises after he served us wine by the glass.......buy a bottle and they will put your name on the bottle and keep it at the bar..cheaper then by the glass:D

[wizard-of-roz]

1. While sitting in the lounge area ask your server for the stuffed olives.

 

2. There's a drink on the menu, in the Piazza; non-alcoholic, with orange juice, banana and something else [i forget the name & the something else].....just ask your server to please give you less orange juice, add ice cubes, some strawberries, more banana and grind.......it turns into a smoothie and is so good and good for you. They should add this to the menu. I would give the server an extra 2 dollars each day that I ordered it and by the 3rd day they had it down pat and when they saw me coming, the drink would come with the server! Deelish!

Edited August 13, 2015 by wizard-of-roz

[NeonBud]

Not if you get caught. Don't you think Princess knows all the little tricks people use to try to sneak booze on board?

 

 

We also like to have cocktails in our cabin without waiting or paying for room service. Rum Runners have never let me down.

[NeonBud]

Oh, I'm sure they do. They just don't seem to be very diligent, or care little, about discovering them. In fact I'd bet dollars to donuts that 99 out of 100 are completely undisturbed in your luggage when you unpack. And even if you're that 100th person, they'll only remind you that they want you to buy their liquor (Al Capone would be proud) and then take yours -- no big deal. And it's not as if you then have to cruise "dry" -- they're still quite happy to sell all you want on board. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again tomorrow if I were cruising. I say live a little, but that's just me. Otherwise bless you if it's not your style, inclination, or (unlike me) you have money to burn. :)

 

 

[ChiefBoats]

I agree. Sneaking alcohol on is what has created the problem on Carnival restricting bring bottled water or bottled soda on board.

 

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[Grego]

Drink responsibly and with moderation and DO NOT ANNOY YOUR FELLOW PASSENGERS. Best tip I can give anyone.

 

I basically agree but it somehow results in "drink with your fellow passengers and responsibly annoy, in moderation, those that don't want to drink with you".

[shredie]

Sneaking alcohol on is what has created the problem on Carnival restricting bring bottled water or bottled soda on board.

 

 

We also like to have cocktails in our cabin without waiting or paying for room service. Rum Runners have never let me down.

 

Be careful what you wish for.

[rick160158]

Just from coming back from a Med cruise last month, my best drink tips would have to be:

 

1. Happy Hour - GREAT Bargain IF You Can Find a Seat (Here's How)! There are two happy hours daily, one in the late afternoon in the Wheelhouse, and one at the Skywalkers Club at 10pm (awfully loud). On a 14-day cruise I made it to a half dozen, five of which were in the earlier Wheelhouse bar. There at the Wheelhouse (only) IF you want to enjoy your beverage seated, get there NO LATER THAN 5-10 minutes after it starts (but no need to come more than 10 minutes early). Every time I went, 10 minutes after it officially started (3:30, 4 or 4:30), those who wandered were unable to find seats. Mostly then, after wandering around forlornly, they ultimately departed the bar empty (drink-)handed. I saw this every time I attended. But like I said, you don't have to come extra early, this regrettable state of affairs is easily avoided if you're simply reasonably prompt.

 

2. Bring the Recipe. If you have a favorite cocktail that has more than, say, two ingredients, bring the recipe. I like Old Fashions (whiskey, soda, bitters, orange slice, muddled cherry, sugar) and they very often forgot one ingredient. Swear! Happily I knew precisely what was in the drink to help them during the send-backs, but if you just can't put your finger on that missing ingredient and have it written down somewhere handy, you're golden! Easy-peasy.

 

3. Be Courteous (Actually, Bring it to the Next Level). I realize this is common sense anyway, but I'm mentioning it particularly re your interfacings with the bar staff. Every time I said "THANK you," or "I REALLY appreciate it," etc. with some emphasis and added a nice and genuine smile, good things continually happened such as extra fast and prompt service, the imparting of some inside ship tips, extra extra and even more extra raffle tickets, some mutual come-hither looks (I remember what these were because I was a young man once), free ("Oh, we had an extra...") drinks; just a whole boatload of good vibes and juju! Hell, sometimes I didn't even NEED the drink (but I know, that's crazy talk)!

 

4. Refrain from Paying High Prices or Obtaining an AIBP. If you'd like to regularly enjoy a before-dinner or sea-day cocktail or two in your cabin inexpensively, er, from my understanding, a rum-runner or cocktail caddy-like plastic bladder containing whiskey, rum, or your favorite spirit, makes an extremely wise addition to your luggage ifyouknowwhatimean.

 

You're welcome (I know you'll thank me later)!

:D:D Item #4...I'm with YA on THAT