Weak mixed drinks?

[MaraNyx]

I am just off of the Carnival Magic and I'm wondering if anyone else has found the mixed drinks to be light on alcohol lately. I cruised about a year ago on the same ship and had no issues, but this time the drinks seemed really weak.

 

Husband and I ordered painkillers from the red frog pub a few times, as it is one of our favorite drinks and we are convinced we paid $20+ on multiple occasions for two glasses of pineapple juice. We had a similar experience at the coffee bar with the "chocolate lovers" drink, which had neither vodka or chocolate and tasted like a straight latte.

 

They seemed to be pushing the $3 make it a double upgrade, which I'd never noticed on prior cruises.

 

has anyone else noticed weaker drinks? I might be a lunatic, but rum is a pretty strong flavor.

 

We did eventually find luck at the Tides bar on lido, and of course Alchemy, but I'm fairly irritated at the waste of money for the empty drinks.

[coevan]

no, never, were you sitting at the bar? The bartender is right in front of you. They usually use a shot glass. When you tip, your drinks might become a little stronger. We had Cheers so never got an upsell for an extra shot. You are over exaggerating, they do not sell "empty drinks"

[firemanbobswife]

The past few cruises we noticed that the frozen drinks had hardly any alcohol in them at all especially if we got it from a Bartender we didn’t know or normally go to. They were pretty much nothing but sugar so this last cruise I stuck to wine and shots. No chance of any funny stuff that way and saved a ton of calories.

[joepeka]

The past few cruises we noticed that the frozen drinks had hardly any alcohol in them at all especially if we got it from a Bartender we didn’t know or normally go to. They were pretty much nothing but sugar so this last cruise I stuck to wine and shots. No chance of any funny stuff that way and saved a ton of calories.

Shots FBW?? Holy cow, you're a better man.... er.... "person" than I am! ;)

 

FWIW, on Conquest two months ago I stuck with Dewars and soda and margaritas and they were just fine in terms of alcohol level.

[firedisney97]

We were just on the Glory in Feb and had Cheers so no upsell for extra but I watched them make almost every drink I ordered and they usually over poured (filled the shot glass over the drink glass and then dumped in a little extra alcohol) Never had a weak drink in the 2 weeks we were on ship

[MaraNyx]

no, never, were you sitting at the bar? The bartender is right in front of you. They usually use a shot glass. When you tip, your drinks might become a little stronger. We had Cheers so never got an upsell for an extra shot. You are over exaggerating, they do not sell "empty drinks"

 

Im not sure why you came back at me with such hostility... I am glad you've never had weaker drinks, it is not a practice I want to be widespread.

We were sitting in a booth as we were playing cards, so we did not watch the drinks being prepared. I was unaware I needed to be a watchdog on this matter as we've never experienced it before.

 

We do not buy the cheers package as it is not cost effective for us. We like the option of not drinking every day due to a prearranged purchase.

[MaraNyx]

We were just on the Glory in Feb and had Cheers so no upsell for extra but I watched them make almost every drink I ordered and they usually over poured (filled the shot glass over the drink glass and then dumped in a little extra alcohol) Never had a weak drink in the 2 weeks we were on ship

 

Late in the week we found a great/friendly bartender on lido who overpoured and tipped appropriately for his service and great attitude. I'm just bummed we didn't find him earlier.

[Nic6318]

Hi

 

I agree with coevan. It's very unlikely that they would do anything unless it was just an error. There is no advantage to anybody to cheat a customer.

 

As mentioned, you can watch them pour the drinks. You can also ask for a shot out of the same bottle.

 

Thousands of drinks poured each day. It would be impossible to select an individual to cheat and if they were doing it with everybody, it would be all over the news.

 

Possibly, as firemanbobswife mentioned, those slushy/icy drinks that are mixed in large batches, might not be homogenous. With those drinks it could certainly be possible that some pourings would have less or more alcohol than the next. That along with the fact that the ice in them will be melting all the time could result in a weak drink, but all the alcohol that was put in the blender would be served, and the alcohol is not watered down. Again, the same reasoning...nobody has anything to gain, and it would be too easy for them to get caught.

[firemanbobswife]

Shots FBW?? Holy cow, you're a better man.... er.... "person" than I am! ;)

 

FWIW, on Conquest two months ago I stuck with Dewars and soda and margaritas and they were just fine in terms of alcohol level.

 

Hahahahaha. Yeah I decided not to mess around this time! The Sparkling Wine on special for a few hours at the Casino Bar on boarding day was effective as well! [emoji39]

[joepeka]

Hahahahaha. Yeah I decided not to mess around this time! The Sparkling Wine on special for a few hours at the Casino Bar on boarding day was effective as well! [emoji39]

Well, in the event that you, me and Jimbo ever do go on that future cruise together, remind me not to try and keep up with you at the bar! :o

[cb at sea]

I've NEVER had a "weak" drink on any ship or cruise line...there have been times when I've said, "enough" to the bartenders pour! I think most drinks are quite strong...unless it's some frozen "foo-foo" drink....no bang for your buck.

[MaraNyx]

I've NEVER had a "weak" drink on any ship or cruise line...there have been times when I've said, "enough" to the bartenders pour! I think most drinks are quite strong...unless it's some frozen "foo-foo" drink....no bang for your buck.

 

This has been my experience as well, until the last week. I am glad to hear I probably had an isolated thing.

[SNJCruisers]

Well, in the event that you, me and Jimbo ever do go on that future cruise together, remind me not to try and keep up with you at the bar! :o

What did you expect? She stated in the other thread that she was Moe of your 3 Stooges alliance, so you could infer that she could handle her liquor and probably keep up with the big boys.;)

[fresnel468]

The batch made umbrella drinks (Pina Colada, Funship, etc.) have always been extremely weak in my estimate. Mixed drinks poured by a familiar, generously tipped bartender have never been weak.

[jimbo5544]

Well, in the event that you, me and Jimbo ever do go on that future cruise together, remind me not to try and keep up with you at the bar! :o

 

 

 

Sounds like words of wisdom to me.....

 

 

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[jimbo5544]

What did you expect? She stated in the other thread that she was Moe of your 3 Stooges alliance, so you could infer that she could handle her liquor and probably keep up with the big boys.;)

 

 

 

Guess I am Curly, you know who that leaves Joe.....

 

 

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[grandmarnnurse]

I am just off of the Carnival Magic and I'm wondering if anyone else has found the mixed drinks to be light on alcohol lately. I cruised about a year ago on the same ship and had no issues, but this time the drinks seemed really weak.

 

 

 

Husband and I ordered painkillers from the red frog pub a few times, as it is one of our favorite drinks and we are convinced we paid $20+ on multiple occasions for two glasses of pineapple juice. We had a similar experience at the coffee bar with the "chocolate lovers" drink, which had neither vodka or chocolate and tasted like a straight latte.

 

 

 

They seemed to be pushing the $3 make it a double upgrade, which I'd never noticed on prior cruises.

 

 

 

has anyone else noticed weaker drinks? I might be a lunatic, but rum is a pretty strong flavor.

 

 

 

We did eventually find luck at the Tides bar on lido, and of course Alchemy, but I'm fairly irritated at the waste of money for the empty drinks.

 

 

 

Not on a Carnival cruise, but I noticed the drinks on my last NCL cruise to be very weak. I associated it with most everyone having the beverage package as a free perk, so they just watered them down. They didn’t even put forth much effort in trying to make the drink pretty (frozen concoctions), often not even resembling what I had ordered in the past. And they no longer even bothered having roaming waiters come by to ask if you wanted a drink. If you wanted one, you had to wait in an action roped off que at the bar for a long wait to order anything. I would bet it is all related to giving their package as a free perk—-they didn’t want to lose too much money.

 

 

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[SNJCruisers]

Guess I am Curly, you know who that leaves Joe.....

 

 

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You do have multiple options as the third Stooge. Curly, Curly Joe, Shemp all come to mind.

[firemanbobswife]

You guys are hilarious! Once in my younger days I was made an “Honorary Shippie” (and no, not THAT meaning - anyone who has been in the Navy should be able to relate as in “Shipmate”) when I drank my husband’s friends under the table [emoji4] I promise it will be great fun my Stooges!

[crzndeb]

I never have issues with weak drinks. Martini, please.

[JohnSpo]

I was on Fascination last month and I always watched them make my drinks at the bars and I didn't have watered down drinks. On this cruise they offered doubles for an extra $3.00. I thought that was a good deal. Some of the bartenders turned the doubles into triples for the price of a double. Nice!

[coevan]

Im not sure why you came back at me with such hostility... I am glad you've never had weaker drinks, it is not a practice I want to be widespread.

We were sitting in a booth as we were playing cards, so we did not watch the drinks being prepared. I was unaware I needed to be a watchdog on this matter as we've never experienced it before.

 

We do not buy the cheers package as it is not cost effective for us. We like the option of not drinking every day due to a prearranged purchase.

 

 

 

Hostility? seriously, read it again. There is nothing hostile in my post.

 

FBW, there is no "funny stuff" going on, the bartenders have nothing to gain by short pouring.

[firemanbobswife]

Hostility? seriously, read it again. There is nothing hostile in my post.

 

FBW, there is no "funny stuff" going on, the bartenders have nothing to gain by short pouring.

Well since I wasn't the only one in my group that noticed that there was practically no alcohol - couldn't taste a drop of it - in our frozen drinks, I think there is. While they may not have "anything to gain" by doing so, maybe it saves them time or they don't know the proper amount to pour in the big blender? I have no idea but I can assure you they were not like before when sometimes they would be so strong you could barely drink it. I couldn't tell you how many times that happened with a Strawberry Daiquiri. Can't say I can even taste it as of late. Actually, didn't even catch a buzz. So that's my experience and you can believe it or not. I have nothing to gain by making it up.

[Tiger0613]

I had a peach daiquiri on the Fantasy in December 2016. It wasn't strong, but I could definitely taste the rum. I had a peach daiquiri on the Triumph and the Dream in January 2018, but I couldn't taste the rum. I watched the bartender make the drink each time. All three bartenders put about the same amount of rum in each drink.

[mzloolue]

This has been my experience as well, until the last week. I am glad to hear I probably had an isolated thing.

 

We have had it happen.

Somehow we had weak Long Island Tea.

Seriously.