Your own soda- how does it work?

Who would notice, or who cares are different questions from is it tacky. ;)

But is it "super tacky"?:)

We've always brought our own soda in either a small rolling suitcase or, on our last trip, a gym bag that has a pull out handle and wheels (it came with the suitcase set my MIL gave us for Xmas--one large suitcase, the wheeled gym bag and a good sized messenger bag for carry on items). We've never had an issue bringing our sodas into the MDR, either.

When you go to a resturant you sometimes go to the bar to wait for your name to be called. When they call you you pick up your drink or soda and take it to the table with you. I think this is about the same thing.

But is it "super tacky"?:)

Depends on the beholder.

When you go to a resturant you sometimes go to the bar to wait for your name to be called. When they call you you pick up your drink or soda and take it to the table with you. I think this is about the same thing.

If you brought a drink from home to the bar and then the restaurant it would be close, but double tacky.

My mom brought her soda to the dining room each night. She drinks caffeine free, low sodium soda. As soon as our waiter saw the can he ran over with a glass and ice and poured her soda for her. Each night, as soon as we sat down, he brought her over the glass with ice. Why would that be tacky? People keep comparing it to a restaurant on land but it's not a restaurant on land. It's a cruise ship. The dining room is just one more public area that you have options to purchase drinks from the bar(s). It's no different than skipping the bar by the pool or in the casino and bringing your own soda while you relax. Part of your cruise fare allows you to bring on a set amount of soda. Enjoy it where you like.

Would those who consider it tacky think it is still tacky if you grabbed one at the bar on the way into the dining room to avoid waiting for the bar waiter?

As for the waiter, it wasn't any more trouble for the waiter than if she ordered iced tea, lemon-aid, or water. It's all part of the gratuities.

I would not consider it tacky to purchase a soda at one of the ship bars. They will even provide you with a glass of ice.

Or to bring one from the Platinum and Diamond party.

Thinking about this I realise I may have a problem with my wife (who hasn't??;) ) She does not like any form of fizzy drinks and usually has juice or water with dinner and wine when we are living it up.

So, is it possible to get orange juice or anything non-fizzy as an alternative to water in a cruise ship's dining room?

Thinking about this I realise I may have a problem with my wife (who hasn't??;) ) She does not like any form of fizzy drinks and usually has juice or water with dinner and wine when we are living it up.

 

So, is it possible to get orange juice or anything non-fizzy as an alternative to water in a cruise ship's dining room?

You can get lemon-aid or iced tea complimentary in the dining room. You can also purchase juice from the bar waiter.

sorry but bringng a can of soda from your room is not the same as bringing a can of soda from your home

My mom brought her soda to the dining room each night. She drinks caffeine free, low sodium soda. As soon as our waiter saw the can he ran over with a glass and ice and poured her soda for her. Each night, as soon as we sat down, he brought her over the glass with ice. Why would that be tacky? People keep comparing it to a restaurant on land but it's not a restaurant on land. It's a cruise ship. The dining room is just one more public area that you have options to purchase drinks from the bar(s). It's no different than skipping the bar by the pool or in the casino and bringing your own soda while you relax. Part of your cruise fare allows you to bring on a set amount of soda. Enjoy it where you like.

 

Would those who consider it tacky think it is still tacky if you grabbed one at the bar on the way into the dining room to avoid waiting for the bar waiter?

 

As for the waiter, it wasn't any more trouble for the waiter than if she ordered iced tea, lemon-aid, or water. It's all part of the gratuities.

Agree

Our family always cruise together. So I guess next time I should bring a 2 liter bottle, well let's bring a 3 liter bottle, to MDR so we can share.

Sounds like a good plan if you can get the larger bottles on board. We have brought bigger bottles on board at cruise ports but have not tried at embarkation. Carnival policy states 20 ounce maximum for the sizes of drinks brought onboard at embarkation.

I don't consider it tacky. On our last cruise, table guests brought Dr Pepper to the MDR. Not sure why I or anyone else would care.

I don't consider it tacky. On our last cruise, table guests brought Dr Pepper to the MDR. Not sure why I or anyone else would care.

Exactly. It is allowed by the rules, the waiters don't seem to mind and are even helpful, it doesn't cost them any time/money compared to bringing you a complimentary beverage, MANY others will be bringing their own beverage, almost no one will notice. Out of the very few that notice, the vast majority of them won't care. I was surprised that some thought it would be tacky. I guess it means that there are still a tiny number of people left that are more interested in watching others, than enjoying themselves. I wouldn't base my social practices on THOSE few. Last I knew, spying and eavesdropping on others while dining were social no-no's. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

As for the waiter, it wasn't any more trouble for the waiter than if she ordered iced tea, lemon-aid, or water. It's all part of the gratuities.

Are bar waiters part of the daily gratuities? The ones you would order Coke or an alcoholic drink are different from the table waiters (who would give you icetea, lemonaide or water)

/Not that this makes a difference to whether I brink my own drink, just curious.

Are bar waiters part of the daily gratuities? The ones you would order Coke or an alcoholic drink are different from the table waiters (who would give you icetea, lemonaide or water)

 

 

/Not that this makes a difference to whether I brink my own drink, just curious.

My point was that the same person that brought her the glass of ice was the same person that would have brought her an iced tea - the dining room waiter. It wasn't any more trouble to give her a glass with ice as it was to pour me a glass of iced tea. That person is included in the gratuities - but we did appreciate his attentiveness so much that we gave him a thank you note and tipped him extra on the last night. I'm not sure if it is the same on all ships, but the three I have been on have your regular waiters bring you complimentary beverages. The bar waiters just bring you the paid beverages.

It's my understanding that the bar waiters are not part of the auto gratuities. There is a tip added to every drink you order.

9 times out of 10 I carry in a drink from alchemy or the atrium. I don't see a difference. Happy cruising!

Wow- thank you for all your responses! I really appreciate you guys taking time to chime in!

I think the advice that I am going to take away from this is that this is our cruise and to make the most of it as long as it doesn't put the wait staff out or take away from someone else ability to enjoy themselves on their cruise.

Exactly. It is allowed by the rules, the waiters don't seem to mind and are even helpful, it doesn't cost them any time/money compared to bringing you a complimentary beverage, MANY others will be bringing their own beverage, almost no one will notice. Out of the very few that notice, the vast majority of them won't care. I was surprised that some thought it would be tacky. I guess it means that there are still a tiny number of people left that are more interested in watching others, than enjoying themselves. I wouldn't base my social practices on THOSE few. Last I knew, spying and eavesdropping on others while dining were social no-no's. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

When you have to look away and run into a table in the process to keep from seeing something, that is not spying. When you're sitting 20 feet from a table and can hear and understand that table's conversation clear as a bell, that's not eavesdropping. If someone sits a big green Diet Mountain Dew bottle in the middle of a table it's going to be noticed unless you're blind and most people I would think would believe that to be tacky. As stated previously, it's not against the rules and if someone wants to do that they should feel free to do so.

My husband brought a can of Code Red Mountain Dew every night in the MDR and we had no problem with getting a glass with ice. In fact, one of the waiters near us (not ours) was so interested in it (he had never seen it before) that we brought him some one night. He loved it and since we had some left over near the end of the cruise, we gave him the rest of the 12 pack.

First time cruiser on the Carnival Magic in July with all kinds of questions. So many I have been able to find answers to on these boards- thanks to everyone who chimes in and answers questions.

 

My question is about the soda you carry on. I read about people bringing their own wine into the MDR and having to pay an uncorking fee or something like that. If you bring your own soda- can you bring it with into the MDR and put it in one of their glasses with ice? Or is that super tacky? Sorry if that is a silly question, but I haven't been able to find out much about it in my searches.

I vote tacky. Last cruise I brought a can of soda in with (pocket) me. I asked for the glass of ice and never got it (service at that table on that night sucked to he-- anyway). I later got a glass of ice in the buffet and the soda squirted everywhere. Glad I did't open in the dinning room.

I like Mountain Dew and Ski, and I don't care if someone else thinks it's tacky. It's my vacation and I'm going to enjoy it. That said, I really enjoy ice water or tea with my dinner, so I wouldn't need to bring a soda with me for that.

I've brought a soda into both the MDR and the Steakhouse and it's never been an issue. The waiter has brought ice on both occasions and I didn't feel uncomfortable.

When you have to look away and run into a table in the process to keep from seeing something, that is not spying. When you're sitting 20 feet from a table and can hear and understand that table's conversation clear as a bell, that's not eavesdropping. If someone sits a big green Diet Mountain Dew bottle in the middle of a table it's going to be noticed unless you're blind and most people I would think would believe that to be tacky. As stated previously, it's not against the rules and if someone wants to do that they should feel free to do so.

My point exactly. somehow I've always managed to walk through the dining room without walking into anything and still not notice or pay attention to what people are drinking. Must be a skill! As I said, some people will notice and a few MAY care. I wouldn't worry about those few. Actually the truth is I probably wouldn't notice if anyone cared.

Tacky is what the cruise line is for having free icecream but not soda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bring your drink and drink it up!

We don't feel that it is tacky, enjoy your cruise.