Soda Cards ... what's the point???

[DivaG]

I'm new to cruising and keep hearing about the "soda card". Can someone please explain to me how they work and if they're more friend than foe. I'm sure it's been talked about before, but the "search" feature is not working.
My DH is a big soda drinker but I'm not really.
Any info would be appreciated. Thanks alot.
BTW - I'll be on the Dawn - 9/12 - 9/19

[natalunia]

Sodas onboard are 3.50 plus tax (if applicable) and gratuity. If you drink a lot of soda that adds up. The soda card is about $28-29, and you get unlimited soda by either showing your card, with a Coca-cola sticker on it, or bringing your Coke thermos to a bar to be refilled. It is not good for soda ordered from room service. You can use it at any bar and in the dining rooms.

Natalie

Superstar Leo to Alaska 5/22/04
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[DivaG]

WOW!! That's huge. Over a week's time, my DH would drink more than $30 of sode EASILY.

I'll have to look into this.

Does anyone know the soda selection? Diet???

[johnql]

On the Dawn, a 12-oz can of soda cost about $1.85 (including the automatic 15% gratuity). The soda card is not valid for cans of soda, only fountain-dispensed soda. I have often encountered poorly mixed fountain soda; so I choose to stick with cans. If taste is not a major priority, the card can be a good value if you're a big soda drinker.

[natalunia]

On the Star and the Spirit, they poured your soda directly from a can, no fountain soda, so I did not encounter any problems with taste. On the Star on the first night I had 9 refills on soda alone (I was eating sushi and got too much Wasabi- very hot). It paid for itself the first night. And I believe the sodas from a bar on the Spirit (last week) and Star (May 2003) were $3.50 a can.

Natalie

Superstar Leo to Alaska 5/22/04
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[DivaG]

oh?? Where would I get the soda card? Does it have to be purchased immediately or at any point during the cruise???

I read somewhere that you save money on drinks (alcoholic) when you have the soda card. How does that work? Sorry for all the questions, just trying to be an informed cruiser. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

G

[natalunia]

Oh, they had coke, diet coke, Mr. Pibb/Dr. Pepper, Sprite... there may have been others, I just don't recall.

Natalie

Superstar Leo to Alaska 5/22/04
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[natalunia]

The soda card can be purchased at any of the bars that are open when you get onboard. It can be bought at any time. And they were really pushing it on the Spirit. And I just thought my cruises were in Hawaii and to Alaska, so maybe shipping costs made the price per can higher. My husband said a coke from a vending machine in Juneau off the ship was $2-3.

Natalie

Superstar Leo to Alaska 5/22/04
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[natalunia]

And I have not heard about it saving $ on alcoholic beverages... but we don't drink much, except for wine.

Natalie

Superstar Leo to Alaska 5/22/04
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[DivaG]

OK cool. A nice selection.

Also, I think I read somewhere (yeah, I've been doing alot of reading LOL) that you cannot use someone else's soda card. But ... if I got one for my husband and used his every so often - I doubt there'd be a problem. What do you think???

G

[natalunia]

My husband was able to go get refills for both of us at the bars, but when I tried to walk up and do that, they said "we can fill yours, but not his too unless he is here." I don't think they really look, and they don't swipe the card. There would be problems with kids using it, as I noticed most kids cards were notched on the side, so if it were not notched, they would know.

Nat

Superstar Leo to Alaska 5/22/04
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[DivaG]

Thank you so much everyone for responded - and so quickly.

I think we'll get at least one card. I know I'm on vacation and will overindulge on most things - but I'm just not a huge fan of soda and figure we can get by using one card. If I had my own card, I'd just drink WAY too much soda LOL

The lemonade and iced tea will work for me.

If anyone has any other suggestions, comments or experiences - please feel free to share.

Thanks again.

G

[ute_fan]

We got one for my husband on our first cruise, and he got his money's worth. I didn't choose to get one, and significantly decreased the amount of soda I drank during the week (probably a good thing!).

When we go next week, we've told our kids they can choose, but if they want one they have to pay.

NCL Sun 06/04
NCL Sea 01/04

[Tobin]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DivaG:

The lemonade and iced tea will work for me.

G<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

We have only every noticed iced tea, no lemonade.

[zimmerjulie]

On our Sun cruise last year, the unlimited soda deal could only be purchased on the first day.

[jodon2]

WE brought our own Pepsi on board to drink....



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