Coral Princess - general beverage question

Sorry to be asking for such detailed info on beverages but this is the first non-inclusive cruise we have taken and it is hard to wrap my head around what is and is not provided.

At breakfast, lunch, dinner in non-specialty restaurants/buffet - what drinks are free with these meals (i.e. water, soda, coffee, juice, etc).

If we buy the bottle water package can we buy more than 1 per person (we have 3 people in our party and are thinking maybe 2 packages per person).

If I buy the coffee package can I brink a coffee with me to dinner - do they provide "go cups"

What kind of "mock" cocktails come with the soda and more package

I have found out the general coffee is a syrup mixture - what is your opinion of this...

We are so easy going when it comes to our food that the general restaurants and buffet will provide us with all we need - but just not sure about this beverage situation

We are so looking forward to our Alaska Cruisetour at the end of May 2017 with Princess but we do have to budget so we can enjoy some of the excursions we want to do.

Thanks for any help you can give us

Sorry to be asking for such detailed info on beverages but this is the first non-inclusive cruise we have taken and it is hard to wrap my head around what is and is not provided.

 

At breakfast, lunch, dinner in non-specialty restaurants/buffet - what drinks are free with these meals (i.e. water, soda, coffee, juice, etc).

 

If we buy the bottle water package can we buy more than 1 per person (we have 3 people in our party and are thinking maybe 2 packages per person).

 

If I buy the coffee package can I brink a coffee with me to dinner - do they provide "go cups"

 

What kind of "mock" cocktails come with the soda and more package

 

I have found out the general coffee is a syrup mixture - what is your opinion of this...

 

We are so easy going when it comes to our food that the general restaurants and buffet will provide us with all we need - but just not sure about this beverage situation

 

We are so looking forward to our Alaska Cruisetour at the end of May 2017 with Princess but we do have to budget so we can enjoy some of the excursions we want to do.

 

Thanks for any help you can give us

Free drinks, in buffet water, coffee (made on syrupy stuff I understand) tea, juice at breakfast (reconstituted stuff).

No free soda.

They don't sell the water package here so not sure, but can't see why they wouldn't sell you more than one.

There is a range of standard mocktails. But they'll make pretty much any cocktail as a virgin.

I know the standards include Piña Caloda, and Mojito, but can't think of other "standards" off the top of my head.

Never had an issue taking a drink from anywhere to anywhere you will struggle to find me without a Diet Coke in hand, they do go cups if you want.

I'm not much of a coffee drinker so my opinion on that issue won't help you much, Mrs Gut used to drink a lot of coffee and thought the stuff in the Horizon Court was ok.

Water, regular and decaf coffee, iced and hot tea, milk, lemonade available at breakfast lunch dinner in any dining room. Juices from concentrate are available for breakfast in dining room, buffet, room service...

You can buy as many water packages as you like. Or drink ships water - perfectly clean and fine and already paid for. Bring a reusable water bottle and cut waste, etc.

Yes, coffee can be had to go, or you can order in the dining room with your coffee card.

Any mocktails you can think of and that the have ingredients for are included in Soda and More package: Virgin pina colada, virgin daiquiri, shirley temple, Key West Cooler, and so on.. If you know what's in it and they have it, they'll make it. There's also several on the drink menu.

Yes, the basic included coffee is made from a concentrate syrup - some people like it, some don't mind just give then coffee and others don't like it at all. Try it yourself before passing judgement.

Enjoy!!

Just off the Coral so here are some answers:

With the coffee card they always have "to go" cups which one can take anywhere. Can be ordered at the IC but not available in the HC. We always took our cups to the HC as it was so much better than the coffee served there. Didn't take coffee to the MDR but assume you could...you already paid for it. People take wine glasses to the MDR with no questions.

Bottled water can be ordered on the princess web site...as many as your budget will permit.

Unlimited Soda and Moore package ordered through the Beverage Package page. We were able to get any "non-alcoholic" beverage as well as any soft drink offered.

Hope this helps. Enjoy the Coral and Alaska

Easiest way to think of it is that you are transitioning from a ship with all beverages included to a ship with essentially none. (And given the price difference between most AI lines and Princess worrying about beverages breaking your budget reads a tad disingenuous in my eyes :confused:).

In the MDR there is coffee, tea and iced tea. Plus milk and most common juices at breakfast (again made from concentrate). And that's all; unlike some other lines Princess does not have flavored sugar-water in the dispensers at the buffet. Sodas are never complimentary, but unless you anticipate drinking more than three per person per day it is a better value to pay as you go rather than buy the Soda and More Package (as the package only includes rather small glasses of gun sodas but when purchasing one at a time you will be given a full can).

In Specialty (pay) restaurants there is nothing but tap water other than coffee after dinner--not even the iced tea.

You may order any number of bottled water packages you anticipate you will use, there will be vouchers in your cabin when you board. Remember that this package can only be purchased in advance, bottled water is only sold singly on board.

If you order coffee (brewed or specialty) at the International Cafe they will serve it in a cup and saucer if your order from a table but usually in a to-go cup if ordered at the counter. Just specify which type of cup you want. And know that if you purchase a coffee card while the only place to get the unlimited brewed coffee is the International Cafe, all dining venues and most bars serve the specialty coffees which you redeem your 15 punches for. May save you the need to carry cups with you.

The Mocktail menu is only limited by your imagination. There is a short menu of non-alcoholic cocktails at some of the bars but most bartenders will be up to whatever you challenge them with.

Just one thing to note....

...as a Diet Coke addict... :D

I have found that you can get the LARGE plastic cups of soda at the pool bars with the Soda & More package (instead of the small ones). They start to know me after awhile as I also ask for light ice.....:cool:

Check out this thread on coffee...

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2399362

Mocktails: Key west cooler..... love this one!

Chocolate Banana... love this one too!

Strawberry Daquiri

Tropical Blend

Pina Colada

Nojito

Plus some others, I just can't think of the names right now... :) hope that helps!

Thanks everyone for your replies - I think I now have enough information to make educated decisions -

Yes, coffee can be had to go, or you can order in the dining room with your coffee card.

 

Only the specialty coffees (which require a punch on the coffee card) can be ordered in the dining room. The fresh brewed that the coffee card gives you cannot be ordered in a dining room. However, the "normal" coffee is free in the dining room.

Sorry to be asking for such detailed info on beverages but this is the first non-inclusive cruise we have taken and it is hard to wrap my head around what is and is not provided.

If I buy the coffee package can I brink a coffee with me to dinner - do they provide "go cups"

The reason for the forum is to have questions answered. We have sailed on both the Coral Princess and Royal Princess, as well as other cruise lines, and yes, I am a coffee drinker and I enjoy the specialized coffee cards. I daily bring my skinny vanilla latte, no foam, 180 degrees in my streamline Starbucks thermos to breakfast and diner. Yes "go-cups" are provided. The best bartistas work in the bars where the espresso machines are located. A coffee ordered at the table in the DMR is made in the bar area and brought to you, and often does not arrive as hot as you might prefer, or it is made in the kitchen. A coffee made in the kitchen area does not have the flavor as those made from the bar area from ground beans. An extra perk is that on the Royal Princess the same coffee card may be used for gelato purchases in the International Café. We are looking forward to our December 2016 and May 2017 sailings.

Enjoy your cruise.

Some comments:

Ship's water is as pure or better than bottled water. Consider just bringing along a refillable water bottle.

If you are taking the cruise first carry as much water on board as you you think you need. You can attach a luggage tag on a case and it will be delivered to your cabin. This option may be more difficult if your cruise is after your tour.

Same with soda and other soft drinks. There is no limit on the amount of soft drinks that you can carry on board.

Above comments are for the ship only and do not relate to the land tour portion.

Some comments:

Ship's water is as pure or better than bottled water. Consider just bringing along a refillable water bottle.

If you are taking the cruise first carry as much water on board as you you think you need. You can attach a luggage tag on a case and it will be delivered to your cabin. This option may be more difficult if your cruise is after your tour.

Same with soda and other soft drinks. There is no limit on the amount of soft drinks that you can carry on board.

Above comments are for the ship only and do not relate to the land tour portion.

I agree with the water comments. As I understand it, the ship makes water continuously using a reverse osmosis process and sea water, like some municipalities do. I've found it to be excellent and we bring a refillable water bottle on board instead of buying bottled water or caring a case of it on board. Come to think of it, I don't remember taking our refillable bottle off the ship. I assume that would be ok but maybe others can chime in.

On the Coral, if you have the "soda and more" package, you can get milkshakes too. On the Lido deck, go to the "soft serve" ice cream stand, they have the milk shake blender there.

Milk shakes are not offered on all of the Princess ships, but you can get them on the Coral.

Also with the "soda and more" package, you can get hot chocolate at the counter that serves coffee by the International Cafe.

I agree with the water comments. As I understand it, the ship makes water continuously using a reverse osmosis process and sea water, like some municipalities do. I've found it to be excellent and we bring a refillable water bottle on board instead of buying bottled water or caring a case of it on board. Come to think of it, I don't remember taking our refillable bottle off the ship. I assume that would be ok but maybe others can chime in.

We take our refillable water bottles off the ship all the time. I have problems with dehydration and keep drinkable water with me at all times.

The place you need to budget for is the land part - drinks on the train are expensive and food more-so. Most of the Princess land tours do not include food. For example, the Denali Lodge bar had burgers for $24. That said, they were huge and had a huge amount of fries, so would easily feed 2.

You can bring two bottles of wine (assuming two adults) and as much water/soda as you can carry when you board. You don't have to buy a water package (and we just drink the free tap water). You can get water at any bar for free as well.

Princess is in the process of discontinuing their soda-only package - unlimited gun soda at any bar/restaurant for around $5/day. You may be able to ask for this if you don't want to drink enough mocktails to pay for the difference.

Thank you all for your replies - they have helped immensely - I like the idea of bringing my refillable water bottle with me - that will save greatly and I had not even thought of it.

I am not too worried about the land part with regard to food as we are on the connoisseur escorted land package and all but lunches are provided -but of course even with that we will have to pay for lunches and beverages and that could add up quickly -

Again, thank you all for your help