Does RCI have an alcoholic beverage card???

[wework2play]

The following is a little piece of info I copied and pasted from another part of this site. So, this is saying there IS an alcohol card you can buy. What? I've seen questions asked on this forum where people respond saying you cannot buy one. If you CAN buy a card then it's not worth it to sneak anything. Does anyone know the truth?? :confused: :confused: :confused:

 

 

 

Royal Caribbean has introduced a somewhat complex drinks-package on board. Adults and children can buy an unlimited soda card for $33 and $21 respectively (plus 15 percent tip). Adults can buy, for $29.95, twelve 16 oz. non alcoholic drinks (works out to about $2.50 apiece) or $44.85 for 12 alcoholic drinks (about $3.75 per). You buy the cards (or, in the case of soda, stickers) at any ship's bar.

[sicsinohio]

The alcoholic beverage card you refer to used to be available...it was when we went on the Explorer in 2003. On the Voyager, a year later, only the soda package was available. To the best of my knowledge, the alcoholic drinks package is no longer available, but we'll find out next week and let you know:D

 

There is a wine package you can buy, and the soda packages are now priced per day...$ for kids, $6 for adults. Hope this helps.

[LuvMyVette]

Hi:

 

The only time the beverage card was available was when DH/I cruised on Nordic Empress in 2003. Since then we've been on a few cruises and no other ship has offered that package. It was fantastic and wish they would bring it back.

[Treven]

Hi:

 

The only time the beverage card was available was when DH/I cruised on Nordic Empress in 2003. Since then we've been on a few cruises and no other ship has offered that package. It was fantastic and wish they would bring it back.

The cruise line probably lost $ on that deal. Even if you only had one cocktail a day on a standard 7-8 night cruise the customer is going to come out on top. Bartender: two Bailey's over, please.

[trixie54]

Can anyone tell me the current cost of a soda onboard? Trying to figure if it's worth buying the card. Thanks!

[Nliedel]

I think we should all observe a moment of silence for the sad demise of the Booze Card. So horrible.

[gerif]

Can anyone tell me the current cost of a soda onboard? Trying to figure if it's worth buying the card. Thanks!

 

Adult card $6 per day + 15% gratuity; child card $4 per day + 15% gratuity. If purchased prior to leaving port, you also pay the local tax (e.g. - from Bayonne, 6%)

 

Canned soda, I believe, is $1.75 - fountain is probably close. I think someone figured you would have to drink at least 4+ sodas per day to break even (remember, if you are out on a lot of excursions, you won't be on the ship drinking soda).

[lusyrsgirl]

My cousin went on the Serenade in December and brought me back the itineraries and the booklet that was given them. In the booklet, there is a description for a wine package that you can purchase for 25% off their normal prices, but is subject to the wines they have stocked. You have to register for the package the first day. We're going in April with two other couples and plan on having wine with dinner, so we will be taking advantage of this.

[Nliedel]

My cousin went on the Serenade in December and brought me back the itineraries and the booklet that was given them. In the booklet, there is a description for a wine package that you can purchase for 25% off their normal prices, but is subject to the wines they have stocked. You have to register for the package the first day. We're going in April with two other couples and plan on having wine with dinner, so we will be taking advantage of this.

 

We did the wine package on the Mariner last cruise and loved it. The only caveat I have is to read the lists CAREFULLY and DO NOT buy above what you are going to use. We purchased the top level package (I am having brain frost about the name now) and had "champagne" (read sparkling wine) from the second level package instead of wines from the top tier. We could have saved about $20.00 or so if we had known what we preffered ahead of time.

 

If I had been thinking we would have secured some of the wines before the cruise and tried them out at home. This was in another post a few months back. I am not sure it is still accurate but it was as of last October.

 

It is called the Wine and Dine Package. You can get it your first day (They are positioned near the specialty restaurants on the ships that have them. Near the dining room on the ships that do not). You can take any unused bottles home with you at the end of the cruise. We saved two and used them for our table at Chops one night. It was a nice treat there.

 

I cut and pasted this from another post but it's good information:

 

Royal Caribbean’s Diamond, Platinum or Gold "Wine & Dine" packages enable you to purchase a pre-determined number of wines from our special selection and save up to 25% from normal wine list pricing. For example, if you choose a 5-bottle package you will receive 5 bottles of wine that you can consume at any time. "Wine & Dine" packages are available for sale onboard each ship for a limited time during the day of departure. Please ask a staff member to direct you once onboard.

 

Diamond Package:

Wine Value Package Price*

5 bottles $190 $137

7 bottles $266 $189

10 bottles $380 $274

12 bottles $456 $329

*An additional 15% percent gratuity charge will apply to the package price.

 

Platinum Package:

Wine Value Package Price*

5 bottles $185 $125

7 bottles $259 $173

10 bottles $370 $250

12 bottles $444 $299

*An additional 15% percent gratuity charge will apply to the package price.

 

Gold Package:

Wine Value Package Price

5 bottles $165 $113

7 bottles $231 $158

10 bottles $330 $226

12 bottles $396 $273

*An additional 15% percent gratuity charge will apply to the package price.

 

Terms and Conditions:

 

Selections are offered in the dining room and specialty restaurants, including the Windjammer Café. Your "Wine & Dine" package card/sticker must be presented to your server when ordering. Selections are limited and subject to availability and alternate selections of equal value may be substituted at the discretion of the Maitre d’. Royal Caribbean’s "Wine & Dine" package card/sticker has no cash value, is non-transferable and is only valid during the voyage on which it was purchased. A "Wine & Dine" package card/sticker cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional programs and cannot be credited toward any other purchases, including the wine list. Not all "Wine & Dine" packages are available for all voyages. Prices are subject to change without notice. An Additional 15% percent gratuity charge will apply to the package price at the time of purchase. Any unopened bottles of wine may be taken home.

 

The Champagnes and Wines listed below are subject to change without notice, as are the prices which range from $19.00 to $295.00 USD per bottle. Prices do not include the 15% gratuity.

 

Champagnes & Sparkling Wines

 

Champagnes:

 

Mumm Cordon Rouge, Reims

Moet & Chandon, Epernay, NV

Veuve Clicquot, Brut, Reims

Taittinger, Brut "La Francaise"

Perrier Jouet "Fleur de Champagne"

Tattinger, Blanc de Blancs, Comtes de Champagne, Reims, V

Dom Perignon, Epernay, V

 

Sparkling Wines:

Asti Spumanti, Martini & Rossi, Italy, NV

Korbel Brut, Methode Champenoise, California, NV

Domaine Chandon, Brut, Napa, California, NV

 

American White Wines

 

Sauvignon Blanc:

Wente Vineyards, San Francisco Bay

Sauvignon Blanc, Kenwood Vineyards, Sonoma

Fume Blanc, Ferrari-Carano, Sonoma

Fume Blanc, Robert Mondavi, Napa

 

Chardonnay:

La Terre, California

Woodbridge, Robert Mondavi, California

Meridian, Santa Barbara

Stone Cellars by Beringer, California

Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve, California

Robert Mondavi, Napa

Chateau St. Jean, Sonoma

Niebaum-Coppola, Diamond Series, California

 

Organic White:

Chardonnay, Fetzer Bonterra, Mendocino

 

Interesting White:

Johannisberg Riesling, Chateau St. Michelle, Columbia Valley Washington State

Pinot Grigio, La Famiglia de Robert Mondavi, California

Conundrum, Caymus, Napa

 

White Zinfandel:

La Terre, California

Woodbridge, Robert Modavi, California

Beringer, California

 

Kosher Wines:

Chardonnay, Fortant de France

Merlot, Fortant de France

 

Around the World Whites

 

Chardonnay:

Macon Villages, Bouchard & Fils

Chardonnay, Hardy's, Nottage Hill, Australia

Gran Vina Sol Chardonnay, Torres, Penedes, Spain

Semillon-Chardonnay, Bin 77, Lindemans, Australia

Chardonnay, Chateau La Joya Gran Reserva, Chile

Chardonnay, Penfold's, Koonunga Hill, Australia

Chablis Premier Cru, "Vaulignot", Domaine Louis Moreau, Bourgogne, France

Pouilly Fuisse, Louis Jadot, Bourgogne, France

 

Sauvignon Blanc:

Sauvignon Blanc, Caliterra, Chile

Sauvignon Blanc, Giesen, Marlborough, New Zealand

Pouilly Fume, Domaine Denis Gaudry, Loire, France

Sancerre, "Les Tuilieres," Michel Redde, Loire, France

 

Interesting White:

Piesporter Michelsberg, Riesling Spatlese, Kreusch

Marques de Caceres, Rioja, Spain

Soave Classico, Botter, Verona, Italy

Pinot Grigio, Danzante, Italy

Pinot Grigio, Santa Margherita, Italy

Gavi, Principessa Gavia, Piedmont, Italy

Vouvray, Rey Pannier, Loire, France

Gewurztraminer, Dopff & Irion, Alsace, France

 

American Red Wines

 

Pinot Noir:

Beringer, Founders Estate, California

La Creme, Sonoma Coast

Reserve, Willamette Valley, Oregon

 

Merlot:

La Terre, California

Round Hill, California

Robert Mondavi, Coastal

Meridian, Santa Barbara

Niebaum-Coppola, Diamond Series, California

 

Organic Red:

Merlot, Fetzer Bonterra, Mendocino, California

 

Cabernet Sauvignon:

Woodbridge, Robert Modavi, California

Beringer, Founders Estate, California

Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve, California

Raymond Estate, Napa

Robert Mondavi, Napa

Jordan, Sonoma

 

Interesting Red:

Syrah, Wente Vineyards, California

Meritage, Dry Creek Vineyards, Sonoma

Opus One, Mondavi - Rothschild, Napa

 

Zinfandel:

Ravenswood, Vintners Blend, California

Chateau Souverain, Dry Creek

 

Around the World Reds

 

Cabernet Sauvignon:

Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, Caliterra

Shiraz-Carbernet Sauvignon, Penfold's Koonunga Hill, Austria

Torres Gran Coronas Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserva, Spain

 

Merlot:

Merlot, Tarapaca, Chile

St. Emilion, Jean-Pierre Moueix, Boardeaux, France

Merlot, Chateau La Joya, Gran Reserva, Chile

 

Pinot Noir:

Pinot Noir Pathaway, Lindemans, Australia

 

Gamay:

Beaujolais Villages, Georges DuBoeuf, France

Fleurie, Georges DuBoeuf, Beaujolis, France

 

Grenache/Syrah/Shiraz:

Cotes du Rhone, "Belleruche" M. Chapoutier, Rhone, France

Shiraz, Rosemount Estate, Australia

Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Jean LaFitte, Rhone, France

Condesa de Leganza, Crianza, Spain

Rioja, Faustino VII, Spain

Valpolicella, Botter, Verona, Italy

Chianti Classico Riserva, Castello Di Gabbiano, Italy

La Vite Lucente, Mondavi-Frescbaldi, Tuscany, Italy

Chateau Villa Bel-Air, Graves, Bordeaux, France

 

Dessert Wines:

Sauternes, Nicholas, France

Moscato Bianco, La Famiglia di Robert Mondavi, California

 

Non-Alcoholic Wines:

Sparkling - Sutter Home, "Fre"

Chardonnay - Sutter Home, "Fre"

Premium Red - Sutter Home, "Fre"

White Zinfandel - Sutter Home, "Fre"

[cruisinsince99]

Stop it Nliedel, you are making me thirsty!! It's not even noon here yet!!!:D

[Nliedel]

Stop it Nliedel, you are making me thirsty!! It's not even noon here yet!!!:D

 

It's not noon here either and by golly I want a glass of wine! Of course my reasoning has more to do with the toddler that has figured out how to get nekkid at the drop of a hat and the fact the older two are home for a week from school :p (If someone knows how to get this kid dressed and keep him that way mail me, please for the love of God mail me)

[forthekids]

Oooh Oooh, I may be new here but even I know the answer to that....

 

 

 

 

duct tape!:D

[BaltiGator]

So...do you have to be a member of the A&C club to purchase the wine package?

[Nliedel]

Oooh Oooh, I may be new here but even I know the answer to that....

 

 

 

 

duct tape!:D

 

You weirdos and your duct tape fixation! I have been on numerous cruises, traveled all over the world and I have never needed duct tape. Having said that I had to go to the hospital this weekend (long story) and my husband brought me my overnight bag. He used it on our last cruise and you know what was in there and still unpacked? That's right, duct tape! :p

 

I contemplated handing it to my surgeon to use in surgery. She lacks a sense of humor tho.

[Nliedel]

So...do you have to be a member of the A&C club to purchase the wine package?

 

Anyone who is sailing on RCI and over the drinking age (21 or 18 depending on whether your parents signed the card) can purchase it.