Food and Drink Question---First time cruiser!

[Hotrocker2011]

I have a few questions about the food on board and the drinks.

 

Is all the food on the ship free? I do know that you have to pay extra for some of the restaurants like the stake house, but what about everything else like room service?

 

Also I know you have to pay for all the drinks on broad but I was told about a drink card that's about $40-$60 bucks per person and and water, tea, soda will be free, all alcohol products is not. Is this correct? if not how do this work? Is that price range correct?

 

TIA

[firefly333]

The drink card is only for groups of at least 40?? everyone has to pay the $40 a day price to get it. Not for individual sale.

 

Pretty much all food except the speciality restaurants is free. There will be a coffee shop which has fancy cakes and desserts, like $2.50 for a HUGE piece of carrot cake, cheap compared to a regular bakery, and fancier ice creams and coffee at the shop isnt free.

 

soft serve and pizza (more than just pizza) is 24/7.

 

room service is free, but they expect $1, $2 etc for a tip depending on the size of the order.

 

All the venues on Lido deck are free, deli, if your ship has a mongolian BBQ, grill etc.

[Jennfor5]

Also, just to add to it, if you want a soda card for unlimited soda, you can buy that. It is around 25-30 dollars.

[firefly333]

Also, just to add to it, if you want a soda card for unlimited soda, you can buy that. It is around 25-30 dollars.

 

the soda card is $4.50 a day for children and $6 a day for adults, plus 15% tip. .. so it too varys by how long your cruise is.

 

OP this poster has a point soda is not free.

 

You can get lemonaide and iced tea all day in the buffet and tea for dinner or water by the glass (bottled water not free) free at dinner in the MDR and capachino and espresso is free in the MDR.

[shortyjoesmith]

The soda card is around $50-$60 for a 7-day cruise and worth it if you drink it like I do. Tipping the room service delivery person a dollar or two is not mandatory but it is a courteous thing to do(I cannot imagine not doing this), the food is free. The steakhouse is $30 per person,it is definitely worth it! Alcohol is not included and it is not cheap. There is a bakery with desserts and coffee drinks that is not included but it all looked wonderful.

The free food is in the main dining room, buffets, room service and the 24-hour pizza station.

Enjoy!!!

[Hotrocker2011]

Thanks for the responses....The cruise is 5 days and it would only be me and my FI....I just wanted to make sure we can get the soda cards to avoid having a large bill.....I think when i asked about it I was told about $40-$60 per person...I guess that's about right since its 5 days....

[firefly333]

Thanks for the responses....The cruise is 5 days and it would only be me and my FI....I just wanted to make sure we can get the soda cards to avoid having a large bill.....I think when i asked about it I was told about $40-$60 per person...I guess that's about right since its 5 days....

 

well do the math, $6 X 5 days = $30 plus 15% $4.50 = $34.50

 

I dont get when people say its "around" this much, why not just say how much it is, $6 a day plus 15%.

[Hotrocker2011]

well do the math, $6 X 5 days = $30 plus 15% $4.50 = $34.50

 

I dont get when people say its "around" this much, why not just say how much it is, $6 a day plus 15%.

 

Well I say that because I don't like saying that's the exact amount untill I'm told the exact amout since prices do change.....now I can't speak for anyone els but that's my reansoning

[GrandBistro]

In my experience, the capaccino and espresso in the MDR are only available at dinner. But they are included in the cruise price. Remember you can bring some soda and one bottle of wine (per adult) on board in your carry on luggage. If you poke around on the Carnival website, especially the FAQs, you will find all of the exact and current details.

 

Happy cruising!

[tassycatt]

Hotrocker, if it is soda you are after, you and your FI are allowed to carry one a 12 pk of soda a piece. I was on the Glory last week, on the way to the ship from the airport, I had our taxi stop at Walgreens and I got 2-8 packs of diet pepsi (the smaller bottles with the screw top lids) for $3 a 8 pack. Carried them onto the ship no problem and the room steward kept my ice bucket filled all week. If you run low, you ca always pick up some in ports.

 

With the soda card, you dont even get a full can, they fill a plastic cup with ice and pour maybe half a can in.

[serene56]

. There is a bakery with desserts and coffee drinks that is not included but it all looked wonderful. !!

 

 

located on the promanade deck and features slabs of cake with the2.50 cent fee. (carrot cake, strawberry short cake, Cheese cake -(its not new york style) 3 choc strawberries for 5.00

so you see the fee is very reasonable- I know you can get desserts for free in the dining room or the buffet but these cakes are dreamy

[Raylynn]

If something is NOT free will there be a sign or some other way of knowing it's not free before you get it?

[curlydog]

that the chocolate lava cake is free:D

 

 

Enjoy and Congratulations

[serene56]

If something is NOT free will there be a sign or some other way of knowing it's not free before you get it?

 

 

usually yes but sometimes no. THe first day the bar waiters will ask you if you would like a drink of the day in the fancy glass and offers you the tray. Sometimes there is a price on the tray-most times there is not and people (especially first timers) think its free. They are not- they cost 7.95 plus 15% grat.

 

in the cafe there are prices on the cakes- in the specialty cafe area there is a board with prices--

[flcruiser4]

The soda card is worth it but don't buy it until the ship leaves the home port. On our first cruise we did not realize we would have paid less in port charges/taxes if we waited a little while.

[Cavners5]

usually yes but sometimes no. THe first day the bar waiters will ask you if you would like a drink of the day in the fancy glass and offers you the tray. Sometimes there is a price on the tray-most times there is not and people (especially first timers) think its free. They are not- they cost 7.95 plus 15% grat.

 

:eek: That is $9.14 per drink...holy cow!

[CanWeGoYet?]

If you are getting a charge, you will be asked for your sail & sign card & have to sign a slip. The exception to that is room service, which is free but the person who delivers your tray still needs you to sign the receipt. There's no spot on the receipt to add a tip, that's why I keep dollar bills handy in the organizer by my door & that way I'm not scrambling to find a dollar or two.

[TeachersRock]

If you purchase the soda card, instead of having them pour only half of the can drink in a smaller cup, can you provide your own plastic, larger cup so that the entire contents of the can will be poured?

[CanWeGoYet?]

If you purchase the soda card, instead of having them pour only half of the can drink in a smaller cup, can you provide your own plastic, larger cup so that the entire contents of the can will be poured?

 

I think the soda card only covers fountain soda, if you want something in a can they will charge you for it.

[Hotrocker2011]

The soda card is worth it but don't buy it until the ship leaves the home port. On our first cruise we did not realize we would have paid less in port charges/taxes if we waited a little while.

 

Ok the home port is in miami so just wait to we board to buy the card? Would we do this as soon as we board or at the first dinner?

[cwr322]

You should be able buy the card up on the Lido deck they had some tables set where they were selling the cards and they were also sell a bottlle you could put you drink in, I had a string that loop around your neck.

[CanWeGoYet?]

Ok the home port is in miami so just wait to we board to buy the card? Would we do this as soon as we board or at the first dinner?

 

Wait until you are in international water before you buy the soda card, or else they'll add sales tax. You will know when that is when the casino opens.

[Hotrocker2011]

Wait until you are in international water before you buy the soda card, or else they'll add sales tax. You will know when that is when the casino opens.

 

Oh ok thanks:)

[Catrin]

I think the soda card only covers fountain soda, if you want something in a can they will charge you for it.

 

There is no fountain soda on the ships. All soda comes from cans.

 

Catrin

[megmno]

Wait until you are in international water before you buy the soda card, or else they'll add sales tax. You will know when that is when the casino opens.

 

Yes, but if you want to have a soda before the boat sails, like when you are sitting around waiting for your rooms to be ready, if you don't have the card already you'll have to pay for a soda. That may negate the sales tax savings.