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POLL: Are Soda Cards Fair?

ginacc

By ginacc,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

Are Soda Cards Fair?  

360 members have voted

  1. 1. Are Soda Cards Fair?


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ginacc

ginacc

Posted
Posted

With all the questions about Soda Cards, I want to see how other cruisers actually feel about them.

 

When my husband found out that we have to pay for soda on our cruise where food and entertainment are free, he was confused and disappointed.

 

We've committed ourselves to drinking water throughout the duration of the cruise. I'm not spending my excursion money on soda. In my opinion, charging for Soft Drinks is gouging.

 

What about you?

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Chigirlcruzin

Chigirlcruzin

Posted
Posted

I see your point, but I don't think they are unfair. I actually think they are a relatively recent development. I don't recall them even having them when I started cruising in 1995. Of course, just because I can't remember doesn't mean they didn't have them. I wish soda was included, too. However, in my 5 cruises too date, I've only purchased one soda on shore and one soda on board. Guess I'm too busy drinking other beverages;)

 

BTW, your son is adorable.

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Kempa

Kempa

Posted
Posted
With all the questions about Soda Cards, I want to see how other cruisers actually feel about them.

 

When my husband found out that we have to pay for soda on our cruise where food and entertainment are free, he was confused and disappointed.

 

We've committed ourselves to drinking water throughout the duration of the cruise. I'm not spending my excursion money on soda. In my opinion, charging for Soft Drinks is gouging.

 

What about you?

 

Excursion prices are gouging too. Soda cards and soda sales are a source of income to the cruise lines. If they included sodas in the cruise fare, fares would go up by roughly the same as the soda cards cost. And then you would have the people who don't drink soda screaming about it. And, you can bring reasonable quantities of soda with you if you wish. One or two 24-packs of your favorite soda can fit in a cooler.

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ginacc

ginacc

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I see your point, but I don't think they are unfair. I actually think they are a relatively recent development. I don't recall them even having them when I started cruising in 1995. Of course, just because I can't remember doesn't mean they didn't have them. I wish soda was included, too. However, in my 5 cruises too date, I've only purchased one soda on shore and one soda on board. Guess I'm too busy drinking other beverages;)

 

BTW, your son is adorable.

 

Thanks! He's the apple of my eye. We'll actually be trying for another one ON the cruise... so no "other beverages" for me! Water will be my new best friend.

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ginacc

ginacc

Posted
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Excursion prices are gouging too. Soda cards and soda sales are a source of income to the cruise lines. If they included sodas in the cruise fare, fares would go up by roughly the same as the soda cards cost. And then you would have the people who don't drink soda screaming about it. And, you can bring reasonable quantities of soda with you if you wish. One or two 24-packs of your favorite soda can fit in a cooler.

 

Well, one might argue that just because you don't use it, doesn't mean it should be eliminated from the cruise to save money, or you should be charged extra for it. Not everyone uses all the services on the entire ship. And Carnival could make money for charging for all shows/food/pool access, but I thought the idea was to have an All-Inclusive vacation.

 

I'm not going to gamble, so does that mean they should charge an entry fee to the Casino for people who do, or remove it from the ship all together? Entry fees, or charging for food would also be a source of income for the ship. If they're charging for simple soda now (which my years in the restaurant industry will tell you costs them absolutely nothing) then how long before they're charging extra for your steak?

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Flip2cruise

Flip2cruise

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I thought the idea was to have an All-Inclusive vacation.

 

....how long before they're charging extra for your steak?

 

Carnival has never claimed their cruises were All-Inclusive

 

If you go to the Supper Club you are charged extra for a meal.

 

Personally, I think its a good idea to keep the basic price of cruising at a minimum and charge people extra for what they want to consume...But then I drink maybe 3 soft drinks a year.:)

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ginacc

ginacc

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OP, you call your cute little kid "OUR LITTLE MONKEY"????

Poor choice of words, sweeheart!

 

Excuse me? Why do you care what nickname we gave our child? It's a term of endearment that we have called him since his first day on this earth. My husband calls me Monkey because I pick things up with my feet, and my son was born with my long fingers and toes.

 

Furthermore, he was a monkey for Halloween last year...

 

And even further than that, I recently got a Monkey tattoo to commemorate my son.

 

So yeah, what does my son's nickname have to do with Soda cards? Wow.

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happy cruzin

happy cruzin

Posted
Posted
With all the questions about Soda Cards, I want to see how other cruisers actually feel about them.

 

When my husband found out that we have to pay for soda on our cruise where food and entertainment are free, he was confused and disappointed.

 

We've committed ourselves to drinking water throughout the duration of the cruise. I'm not spending my excursion money on soda. In my opinion, charging for Soft Drinks is gouging.

 

What about you?

 

I have no complaints about the cost of the card. DH and DS get them - and I feel that it is a system that is fair and works pretty well - for them. Since they are both big soda drinkers we probably save money with the cards.

 

Just a reminder...although the water is quite good there are plenty of other free drinks too. Punch, tea, lemondade, etc. are available on the Lido - so you may want to give them a try.

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BrettH

BrettH

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Personally I think the soda cards are fair. If you don't want to spend the money on the card then don't. There are other options. You can drink the free beverages, bring some of your own soda on board, or pay per soda so as not to feel obligated to drink your money's worth.

 

I don't remember the cards being offered on my first cruise (in '97) and even if they were I wouldn't have bought one because I was 18 and the cruise was a highschool graduation present from my grandparents. I was able to function just fine drinking the free beverages and using the little money that I did have on trinkets to bring home.

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ginacc

ginacc

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Carnival has never claimed their cruises were All-Inclusive

 

If you go to the Supper Club you are charged extra for a meal.

 

 

Wait, they do?!?!? What else do they charge for that I don't know about?

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ginacc

ginacc

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I have no complaints about the cost of the card. DH and DS get them - and I feel that it is a system that is fair and works pretty well - for them. Since they are both big soda drinkers we probably save money with the cards.

 

Just a reminder...although the water is quite good there are plenty of other free drinks too. Punch, tea, lemondade, etc. are available on the Lido - so you may want to give them a try.

 

Thank YOU!!! That's great to know that Tea is free... I could drink tea all day long. Yay!

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Rowan555

Rowan555

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If they're charging for simple soda now (which my years in the restaurant industry will tell you costs them absolutely nothing) then how long before they're charging extra for your steak?

 

If it was fountain soda I would agree - but they use canned sodas, which do indeed cost quite a bit more than fountain soda.

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Sweetest Sin

Sweetest Sin

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I personally can't believe that soda isn't included...fountain soda is extremely cheap...they probably have a whole 10 cents invested in each cup. I personally don't drink soda, but hubby does...I wouldn't care if my fare went up by $50 and have soda included in the price of the trip. It's inconvenient to have to pay for a stupid soda. Plus they way over charge if you don't get the soda card.

 

How come you can bring aboard soda but not alcohol?? Isn't that a double standard?

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happy cruzin

happy cruzin

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Wait, they do?!?!? What else do they charge for that I don't know about?

 

Things that cost "extra":

 

**drinks from the bar - of course :rolleyes:

**speciality restaurant - if your ship has one

**coffee from the coffee bar

**desserts from the coffee bar

**bottled water

**soda - even in the dining room

**casino

**excursions

**photos

**tips

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Stircrzy

Stircrzy

Posted
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Excuse me? Why do you care what nickname we gave our child? It's a term of endearment that we have called him since his first day on this earth. My husband calls me Monkey because I pick things up with my feet, and my son was born with my long fingers and toes.

 

Furthermore, he was a monkey for Halloween last year...

 

And even further than that, I recently got a Monkey tattoo to commemorate my son.

 

So yeah, what does my son's nickname have to do with Soda cards? Wow.

 

Monkey is cute...

 

at least ya'll didn't call him "Booger" like my cousin did. She now has a 30+ year old "Booger" on her hands.

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ChefPeg

ChefPeg

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Posted
So this gal was waiting at the bus stop wit her little kid, the bus pulls up, she and her kid board.........

The bus driver was rude and arrogant towards her and her little kid..........

The gal was visible shaken and upset at the words the bus driver was hurling at her and at her kid.........

So, to cut along story short, she takes a seat and starts talking with the passenger next to her about how rude the bus driver was to her as she boarded the bus..............

"Oh really, what did he tell you?" asked the confused passenger...........

"He started insulting me and my kid, telling me how ugly my kid looks and how he has never seen such an ugly little kid before. I feel like going back upfront and give him a piece of my mind" says the irate mother.

"You do that" says the other passenger, adding "while I watch the LITTLE MONKEY for you"

 

:D :D :D :D :D

 

Cute!!

 

Nothing like starting the day off with a little humor!:)

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