Have you ever been ignored at a bar because they know you have bottomless bubbles?

[frayedend]

In a post on social media I was talking about bottomless bubbles. A few people mentioned getting poor service once the bartenders know you have that and are just there to get free soda.

 

It was funny because it reminded me of one incident on Dream last year. We were in the main theater waiting for the show and my kids wanted soda. No waiters were in view so my kids went out to the atrium bar. They were taking a long time so I went out and looked for them. I saw them at the bar with their cards out. The bartenders were at the other end of the bar helping someone. So I stood there and watched from a distance. The bartenders (2 of them) were talking with the customer, smiling and such. Then another 2 people came up and they helped both people. They continued to ignore the kids. Then another person walked up and they asked him for his order. I had gotten to the bar by this time and told them that the kids were first. I was pretty angry and let them know that I watched them ignore the kids. They were very apologetic.

 

But it was the only time I noticed this. I wondered if it happened to the kids more. So anyone have problems with this? I'm guessing this was isolated but wouldn't mind hearing from others.

[hftmrock]

nope

[cherbear4000]

I have never had poor service with the bottomless bubbles.

[tbaker767]

I don't have this problem as an adult but I distinctively remember this problem when I was a young teenager with my parents.

[pungo3]

I never have had bottomless bubbles, but my tablemates did. They were never ignored and received great bar service at dinner in MDR. They also told me they got great service during the day as well. For those who enjoy drinking every day, I think it's a very good deal.

[Disconnections]

I have had this same issue on every single Carnival cruise I have ever taken. The same thing happened during shows, etc. whenever showing my card to a waiter. It would take 30 minutes occasionally and usually ignored or forgotten. On my most recent couple of Carnival cruises, I ended up asking every beverage server that was visible. I have found that this issue is nonexistent on Princess and waiters (even in the Lido buffet) have always returned with a drink within two minutes.

 

Edit: In the dining room, tipping the bar waiter on the first night has solved getting a drink during dinner on most cruises, but not all. On Princess, the waitstaff handles drinks and not a bar waiter.

Edited March 5, 2014 by Disconnections

[frayedend]

I never have had bottomless bubbles, but my tablemates did. They were never ignored and received great bar service at dinner in MDR. They also told me they got great service during the day as well. For those who enjoy drinking every day, I think it's a very good deal.

 

I would imagine it's more of a problem (if it is a problem at all) at bars, not so much in MDR where majority is probably getting soda.

[jmcancruise]

We always wondered if this would be a problem, but have never experienced it.

[winddawn]

In a post on social media I was talking about bottomless bubbles. A few people mentioned getting poor service once the bartenders know you have that and are just there to get free soda.

 

It was funny because it reminded me of one incident on Dream last year. We were in the main theater waiting for the show and my kids wanted soda. No waiters were in view so my kids went out to the atrium bar. They were taking a long time so I went out and looked for them. I saw them at the bar with their cards out. The bartenders were at the other end of the bar helping someone. So I stood there and watched from a distance. The bartenders (2 of them) were talking with the customer, smiling and such. Then another 2 people came up and they helped both people. They continued to ignore the kids. Then another person walked up and they asked him for his order. I had gotten to the bar by this time and told them that the kids were first. I was pretty angry and let them know that I watched them ignore the kids. They were very apologetic.

 

But it was the only time I noticed this. I wondered if it happened to the kids more. So anyone have problems with this? I'm guessing this was isolated but wouldn't mind hearing from others.

I purchased the Cheers package on each of my last 2 cruises. On Sunshine, I got great bar service. But on Fascination this past weekend, I was ignored each day at the casino bar. I can only speculate that I was ignored because I had the Cheers package.

 

And BTW, I submitted my Fascination post-cruise survey today. :D

[mousey]

I've not been ignored ever but I have gotten a little bad attitude a couple of times, but once they see that I'll tip $.50 or $1; I get the big smile and no problems the next time. Since this has happened only a couple of times it could just be that the person is having a bad day and it's not about my bubbles package at all. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.:)

[Fla Mike]

I was only ever ignored one time, and it was not Carnival.

[Crusin Hogs]

Never a problem , makes the bartender no difference what he is pouring

[golfb4cruzing]

I always throw a dollar their way and things go well. But I usually walk to the bar myself and not someone running around.

[asalligo]

Yes, I saw this just last week on the Pride. I noticed my daughter appeared to be being ignored while standing at the bar waiting to order a coke with her bottomless bubbles. I walked over and just said hey she would like to get a coke and he clearly realized that I felt she was being ignored and he got right to it then.

 

I kind of understand it to some extent though, I am not sure that they get any tip from a soda card purchase compared to a 15 percent of every nine dollar cocktail. So I allow some extra time. I do not think anyone waited more than a few minutes to get a drink. It also seemed worse for the kids, my wife did not appear to have the problem.

[asalligo]

I always throw a dollar their way and things go well. But I usually walk to the bar myself and not someone running around.

 

I would go broke on that plan, my girls easily put away 30 sodas a day on a cruise.

[LSGDRG]

I have had problems in the past. It was on the Spirit & it happened randomly. I never experienced an issue in the dining room, but I sometimes got an attitude from bartenders & waitstaff in the main showroom.

[Sarah@Sea]

I was only ever ignored one time, and it was not Carnival.

 

When I cruise RCL in 2008 the bar staff were so nice about refills, the guy at the WJ bar would have the diet coke and lemon ready for me as he saw me approach, the pool staff would get me refills...it was usually crew to whom I had purchased an alcoholic beverage from at some point.

 

I posted about this before about other lines, the disappointment in MDR bar staff when I ordered "just a diet coke", I didn't have the beverage package...just ordered a diet coke at dinner or lunch and there was always this :( attitude that I wasn't ordering more...even so much as on HAL in Tarmarind the bar server who came around replied back to me "rum and coke?" I said "no JUST a reg DIET coke"...it took her so long to come back with it ...that at the end of the meal she came and said she wasn't going to charge us for our drinks. Thank you!

 

Now on CARNIVAL....no drink package...MDR bar staff AWESOME, even made straw art each night so my Diet Coke had a rose, or heart, or swan.

[christmas]

My son (14) is ignored at a bar every cruise when he has bottomless bubbles. He really gets upset about it when he has been sitting there longer and someone who just walked up gets served first. I complained to Guest Services and didn't even get an apology. He also gets an attitude from the bar staff in the show lounge.

Edited March 6, 2014 by christmas

[Disconnections]

My son (14) is ignored at a bar every cruise when he has bottomless bubbles. He really gets upset about it when he has been sitting there longer and someone who just walked up gets served first. I complained to Guest Services and didn't even get an apology.

 

It seems this occurs mostly when the guest sitting at the bar is much younger. All my cruises on Carnival have been when I was between 16 and 19 and have had this on each one, with the exception of the Carnival Magic Transatlantic. I feel the bartenders on the Magic TA were bored, due to the demographic of the guests onboard. Guest Services simply never cared and this was the one thing I hated most when I sailed on Carnival. It wasn't once every now and then, it was an ongoing annoyance.

Edited March 6, 2014 by Disconnections

[christmas]

It seems this occurs mostly when the guest sitting at the bar is much younger. All my cruises on Carnival have been when I was between 16 and 19 and have had this on each one, with the exception of the Carnival Magic Transatlantic. I feel the bartenders on the Magic TA were bored, due to the demographic of the guests onboard. Guest Services simply never cared and this was the one thing I hated most when I sailed on Carnival. It wasn't once every now and then, it was an ongoing annoyance.

 

I feel no matter if you have bottomless bubbles or if you are young you should still be served in a timely manner.

[littlered87]

I would go broke on that plan, my girls easily put away 30 sodas a day on a cruise.

 

 

30 sodas a DAY?:eek: holy batman thats alot of soda!

[Pellaz]

I've had Bottomless Bubbles on all of my CCL cruises so far.

 

Imagination: Lido Deck 'circulating' waiters were slow to get drinks and quit asking if I wanted anything. However, the MDR staff were excellent on that cruise for BB sodas and service in general.

 

Liberty: kinda the opposite. Worst MDR service I've ever experienced and that includes NO refills, wrong drinks brought and delays in getting the initial soft drinks for everyone at our table. (It was so bad the couple across from us, on their 50th Carnival cruise, said it would be their last.) BUT, the bar servers at the Red Frog and Blue Iguana bars were great. One remembered my name AND my preferred drink on the last day...after not serving me since the first day. I left him $20 extra at Guest Services before debarkation...hope he got it.

 

Victory: pretty good all around for Bottomless Bubbles service, although the MDR service was sluggish overall most nights.

[jackparts]

I always buy a soda card even though I do drink alcohol. In the MDR, usually have lousy service. Lido deck, I ask for a soda, usually have to fet it myself. Also find that if I expose my card, the bartenders peek at the card so I turn the card away. Good, fast service, I tip. Give me the whole can, tip more and find the same server all the time.

[cherbear4000]

People, including children, that feel they are being ignored need to speak up. A simple, polite 'excuse me' should work. Sometimes there are so many people at the bar that I am sure the bartenders have no idea who was there first.

 

As for the waiters taking forever in the lounge, on the Lido, in the MDR etc, I have had that happen ordering alcoholic beverages. They get busy. It takes time to make all those drinks. Just because one person just ordered a coke, doesn't mean that the waiters don't have to wait for the bartender to make a lot of other drinks first.

[asalligo]

30 sodas a DAY?:eek: holy batman thats alot of soda!

 

I should clarify, 30 between the three of them daily. It is still a lot of soda though.