Alcoholic Drinks - Saving Money?

[poofersgrl]

Hey lo everyone,

 

Sailing this weekend on the Pearl. I was wondering how I can save on them? Ex: not having them use top shelf liquor etc. Would I tell them well drinks or whatever they call them? I also don't want the souvenier glasses....any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

[sparks1093]

Hey lo everyone,

 

Sailing this weekend on the Pearl. I was wondering how I can save on them? Ex: not having them use top shelf liquor etc. Would I tell them well drinks or whatever they call them? I also don't want the souvenier glasses....any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

 

Specify that you don't want a souvenier cup/glass. I never thought about it when I ordered rum and coke but you could probably save a little if they have a less expensive house liquor.

[roger001]

Yes. When ordering do specify no souvenir glass and you do want the house brand liquor. We always do that....mostly vodka or rum type drinks. That cuts a drink price down a buck or so.

[poofersgrl]

thanks everyone. If I can save a buck or 2, all the better. Can't get the drink package since DH doesn't drink.

[azgkrudi]

They really weren't pushing the souvenir glasses when we were on the Pearl a few weeks ago. It looked like you needed to ask for one if you wanted it. No worries!

[sparks1093]

thanks everyone. If I can save a buck or 2, all the better. Can't get the drink package since DH doesn't drink.

 

Sure you can, you just need to drink more to justify it;).

[Lena B]

Try going to the martini tasting (or wine tasting, beer tasting...)! It's a lot of fun and you'll make new friends. After a martini or 5, I'm not gonna order another drink for a while...

[Demonyte]

Try going to the martini tasting (or wine tasting, beer tasting...)! It's a lot of fun and you'll make new friends. After a martini or 5, I'm not gonna order another drink for a while...

 

Whaat.. :eek: :D That's when the party just gets started! :D

[xenagurl]

Try going to the martini tasting (or wine tasting, beer tasting...)! It's a lot of fun and you'll make new friends. After a martini or 5, I'm not gonna order another drink for a while...

 

I second the drink tastings. They're a really good value.

 

Also go to happy hour there are plenty of two-for-one deals there.

[jdvmd]

thanks everyone. If I can save a buck or 2, all the better. Can't get the drink package since DH doesn't drink.

 

Everyone on the same folio has to have the drink package, so no, you will not be able to get it and your husband not.

 

- No to souvenir glasses;

 

- Look for drink specials like two for one; buckets of beer. Read the Freestyle Daily for specials listed.

 

- Martini, wine, beer, margarita and mojito tastings are $15 and a good value.

 

- Definitely ask for well drinks instead of top-shelf brands.

[deschoolie]

THe Pearl had happy hour every day in the Star Bar (Deck 13) from 4-6 pm. Also on the sea days there was martini tastings, european beer tastings. There were also other specials on shots and during the white hot party. Happy hour is your best bet...

[AttilaTheFun]

I'll echo that Happy Hour 2-for-1 specials are pretty great. Looks like 4-6pm on Star and Epic, although Epic dailies look like they didn't start it until halfway through the cruise.

 

You can also score free (terrible, cheap) champagne at the art auction at various times in the cruise, sample liqueurs at the duty-free shop on certain nights, and enjoy free rum punch on embarkation night in the casino while they run gaming lessons - usually taking place shortly after sailaway. Good luck and happy boozing! :)

[criscruise]

Are they still offering the happy hour 2 for 1? When we were on Epic last March, they no longer offered happy hour. The year before they had 2 for 1 martini every evening from 4pm-7pm.

We really missed it. It was a fun part of our day.

[beachmonkey]

We always get the good stuff for the first drink or two...you never notice after that!

 

The drink tastings are a good deal and a lot of fun. We met so many people and had plenty of laughs.

[WaldosPepper]

Whaat.. :eek: :D That's when the party just gets started! :D

 

There's more than a little truth in that statement! :p

 

Last October on the Star DH and I attended two Martini Tastings and a Mojito Tasting with calmpets and her DH. Let's just say that after the first Martini Tasting they got to see a side of me not often seen. :o So much fun, and worth twice the price.

 

We're looking forward to attending several of them on the Jewel in March. :D

[kh6275]

Bring a magnum of wine onboard. The corkage is $20 for a magnum and you can bring it anywhere.

[Valen9]

Usually if you buy 5 beers (in bottles) you get the 6th free. My friends typically get that and choose several different types of beer. They keep the bucket in their room and the steward usually will add fresh ice until the beer is gone.

 

We're also fond of the snack mix they only serve in the bars, so whenever we buy a drink we ask for one. We keep the special containers and get them refilled without buying more drinks... or sometimes we just send the cute kid up to the bar to ask for the munchy crunchy mix for us. :)

[hladygirl]

Went to the martini tasting once and they served you 5large Martina's in 1 hour. While it was a great deal, I got smashed and slept the next 14 hours. Wonder if you can take a sip of each and then bring them to your cabin fridge for later. If you could then I would do that again.

[AttilaTheFun]

Are they still offering the happy hour 2 for 1? When we were on Epic last March, they no longer offered happy hour. The year before they had 2 for 1 martini every evening from 4pm-7pm.

We really missed it. It was a fun part of our day.

 

Got off the Epic last weekend and they're still offering Happy Hour. It doesn't start until a few days into the cruise, but always 4-6pm at Maltings after that. It looked VERY popular when we passed by.

[JWinKC]

Here is my cheat sheet for drinking on the cheap, Epic Style. From recent fall 2012 daily schedule:

 

Sat

4:30PM - Free Rum Punch @ The Casino

6:00PM - Free Liquor Tasting @ Tradewinds

9:00PM - Free Liquor Raffle @ Tradewinds

 

Sunday

12:30PM - Champagne Art Auction @ LeBistro

2:00PM - NCL U Maragarita Tasting @ Maltings

3:00PM - NCL U Wine and Food Pairing @ Moderno

3:00PM - NCL U Martini Clinic @ Shakers

3:00PM - NCL U International Beer Tasting @ Maltings

 

Monday

 

 

Tuesday

4PM - 6PM - Happy Hour 2 for 1 @ Maltings

 

Wednesday

4PM - 6PM - Happy Hour 2 for 1 @ Maltings

 

Thursday

2:00PM - NCL U Maragarita Tasting @ Maltings

3:00PM - NCL U French Wine Tasting @ Moderno

3:00PM - NCL U Martini Clinic @ Shakers

3:00PM - NCL U International Beer Tasting @ Maltings

4PM - 6PM - Happy Hour 2 for 1 @ Maltings

 

Friday

4PM - 6PM - Happy Hour 2 for 1 @ Maltings

[blindrid]

Yes. When ordering do specify no souvenir glass and you do want the house brand liquor. We always do that....mostly vodka or rum type drinks. That cuts a drink price down a buck or so.

 

last month, if you ordered the DOD, they no longer used the souvenir glass. That is an additional few bucks ($2.95 ??). It's on the menu that way. First time I'd noticed that.

[criscruise]

Got off the Epic last weekend and they're still offering Happy Hour. It doesn't start until a few days into the cruise, but always 4-6pm at Maltings after that. It looked VERY popular when we passed by.

 

Thanks! We will be on the Dawn next weekend. I hope they have it, too.

[MsJ]

Hello, we will be on the Jewel in 2 weeks. When ordering drinks at the 2 for 1 Happy Hour do they have to be the same drink...ie: both beer or both Margaretas ?

Thanks

Marianne

[ancientcivteacher]

My son is a Chief and am sure that he would love one of these cruises more than his Navy ones!!

[leorira11]

play the game shows :)

 

We one a bottle of "champagne" (ie, sparkling Mexican wine) for playing the Newlywed/Not-So-Newlyewed Game as well as a game called "The Perfect Couple". We didn't win either, but we got free booze :)