Carnival Mixed Drinks

[RobinKY]

We just went on our 3rd CCL cruise in less than 12 months (humblebrag) and I generally like CCL. My wife and I always do the Cheers program. We usually start with the frozen drinks poolside and I would have some other mixed drinks in the evening.

 

We would down 2 or 3 frozen drinks quickly as they are so delicious. Does CCL use low proof alcohol for their frozen drinks b/c we never felt anything? Do they use a cheaper lower proof of grey goose or other name brands? I had 5 grey goose drinks one evening and never really felt anything. Would they be diluting clear alcohols to save $?

[Bases5]

Maybe it's your body getting used to the liquor

It happens, what once took 5 drinks now takes 10

This is called something but it slips my mind at the moment

[Marcel.from.NL]

sometimes it is called alcoholism and sometimes habituation.

[theriac]

Maybe it's your body getting used to the liquor

It happens, what once took 5 drinks now takes 10

This is called something but it slips my mind at the moment

 

The word you're looking for is tolerance.

[Cruisegirl6]

No they don't trust me I watch when they make the drinks.

[LSUcajunmom]

You can add a floater for an additional fee, but I don't remember how that works with the Cheers program.

[theriac]

No they don't trust me I watch when they make the drinks.

 

They're obviously not going to add the water in front of you. Like most bars that have done this you do it in the back, out of the sight of the patron.

 

In college we would pour the cheapest vodka into a bottle of grey goose to try to impress girls. Most never knew, but guess what they saw us make their drinks too.

[NIATPAC29]

no they don't trust me i watch when they make the drinks.

spoken like a naive person who doesnt drink much !

[Pesh]

I think the frozen drinks on the ships are pretty weak in general (maybe by design). Mixed drinks ordered at the bar can depend on the bar tender, like anywhere else.

[Cruisegirl6]

I really don't drink frozen drinks so maybe your onto something but when I have a drink I like to sit at the bar and talk to my friends and family that are with us and we also enjoy speaking to the staff, they always are very friendly, and we always meet new people to talk to also.

[LuckyZ]

Funny you mentioned this as we just got off the Sunshine and I thought the same thing. I had 2 frozen drinks last week and my initial thought was there was absolutely no alcohol in the drink. And I am one that has maybe 2 drinks per week at home, and maybe 2-3 drinks per day on a cruise

[Cruisegirl6]

Wow, I have to believe what you all are saying here, shame on Carnival, its a good thing I don't drink frozen drinks otherwise I would go back to the bartender and say that I taste no alcohol....this girl won't tolerate being ripped off, but this isn't what I wanted to hear, surprised about Carnival.

 

Try going up to the bartender yourself and ask for a "good drink" maybe that help?

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Frozen drinks on the ship are extremely weak. We smuggle minis on just to spike the weak drinks. Pretty sad when you have to smuggle just to get alcohol in the ALCOHOLIC drinks you PAY for.

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Your really only guaranteed an alcoholic drink purchase with martinis beer and wine. The fruity drinks are pretty much virgin drinks

[WLHyatt]

We don't order from the waiters who roam the decks because we've found a few well placed tips to bartenders ensures even our frozen drinks are made good and stiff.

[knagl]

Try going up to the bartender yourself and ask for a "good drink" maybe that help?

As a bartender I can assure you that will only get you a weaker drink, not a stronger drink.

 

In general with frozen drinks, there is a lot of mixer and blended ice (which melts and makes the drink even more "watered down"), so you typically won't taste a lot of booze in them. Additionally, unless you've specified a brand and paid an upcharge for said brand, it's going to be the cheapest, bottom-of-the-barrel rail booze being put in a frozen drink -- be thankful you can't taste it.

[theriac]

I'm always satisfied with the alcohol content when I have an old fashioned.

 

Fortunately I mostly drink beer, and if I order a real drink now it's in the punchliner, alchemy or piano bar where I've found the drinks to be made the best. Probably because I order whiskey there and the lido bars are usually vodka, tequila, and rum oriented establishments.

[Cruisegirl6]

No wonder why I not have problems...in am I order champagne and other times I am so addicted to those chipotle martini's and also drink apple and chocolate martini's. I do order tequila and orange juice and they always strong but we do get the Cheers program and we do use the same bar usually the casino bar and we do tip extra per drink so maybe if you take care of them they take care of you????

Edited January 5, 2016 by lyndamr

[okgirl]

I've watched them make all kind of drinks and they over pour the jigger. I've also seen them open new bottles of liquor and can hear the seal being broken. I really don't think they are watering down drinks.

 

What I do think happens on frozen drinks is that they put the correct amount of liquor in the blender but end up adding too much ice and mixer. So when they pour the drink there is still a considerable amount of the frozen cocktail left in the blender which makes your drink contain less alcohol than it should.

[RobinKY]

Funny you mentioned this as we just got off the Sunshine and I thought the same thing. I had 2 frozen drinks last week and my initial thought was there was absolutely no alcohol in the drink. And I am one that has maybe 2 drinks per week at home, and maybe 2-3 drinks per day on a cruise

 

Same here, I might have 3-6 beers on a Fri or Saturday but not usually both days so it is not that my "tolerance" is high or I am a alcoholic as people above alluded to. A cruise is my opportunity to chill out, relax and enjoy beverages I would not drink at home.

 

I have seen them make the frozen and other mixed drinks and in plain sight they pour the liquor into their measuring shot glass plus a little extra. I wonder if the ship's bar manager is evaluated on containing costs and is diluting the liquor with water, especially the clear liquor like the grey goose.

Edited January 5, 2016 by RobinKY

[Cruisegirl6]

Trust me, when I pay for a drink I want a drink, not halfway filled, not full of ice and I want a good pour....I honestly can say I never had a bad drink, but I never had a frozen drink, those can be different perhaps?

 

Okgirl- I also watch them measuring and remain to keep pouring extra alcohol/ overpour the jigger. Your correct about how they make the frozen drink and sometimes some left in the blender as it could not fit in the glass, plus these frozen drinks all have ice mixed in it so I would think its normal for it to taste watered down, a reason why I don't want frozen drinks, full of water/ice and too sweet too many excess calories and sugar.

 

kanji- If I am unhappy with my drink I would speak up such as it has too much ice, or too much juice/watered down or not filed to the rim. I let them know (speaking about the places I go at home) and once I do, my drinks are always made perfectly. I also tip usually 22% perhaps that is one of the reasons why I am treated very well here at home when I go out lol....I have a saying, "you treat them right they treat you right".

 

I also always specify the brand I want, mainly because cheap brands could give me a headache and I don't want that lol.

[uswcer55]

This is why when I travel my go to "mixed drink" is a Long Island Iced Tea. Its basically a glass of booze lol. One and done!

[Cruisegirl6]

Totally can relate to you uswcer55, I am the same way, martini's, cognac, LI Iced Teas are usually what I do drink most. lol

[Nic6318]

It's mystifying to think that someone could believe that somehow some??bartenders are diluting some?? drinks (right?? just the mixed drinks).

 

These aren't independent bars. There are no cash transactions. Who would be benefitting?? Or are you trying to suggest that Carnival has figured out a way to fleece their customers, fleet wide, out of a few extra dollars and also to get their employees not to tell anyone.

 

Not likely

[Pesh]

It's mystifying to think that someone could believe that somehow some??bartenders are diluting some?? drinks (right?? just the mixed drinks).

 

 

 

These aren't independent bars. There are no cash transactions. Who would be benefitting?? Or are you trying to suggest that Carnival has figured out a way to fleece their customers, fleet wide, out of a few extra dollars and also to get their employees not to tell anyone.

 

 

 

Not likely

 

 

No one said anything as serious as that. Just that some bartenders might make drinks stronger (or weaker) than others. That's true everywhere, not just on a ship. Also, Carnival wants to make sure people aren't getting falling-over drunk on board, so you can understand some not having as heavy a hand when pouring. No big deal.