New Cheers program = weaker drinks?

[cdnmr]

Just got off the Pride and our first time buying the Cheers Package.

 

I drink mixed drinks and enjoy the iced drinks as well (Miami Vices etc) and with the exception of the Casino bar and Beauties night club every drink I received had MAYBE an ounce of alcohol, not even a full 1.25 ounce shot.

 

When you fill a 6 ounce glass full of ice and then add 1.25 ounces of booze followed up with a splash of mix I would expect to taste alcohol. Nope.

 

My Step Mother normally sets a personal limit of 2 drinks yet she would have 3 and 4 on board and claims she didn't feel the least bit of a buzz.

 

Casino bar was strong and night club was just right.

 

I asked several bartenders and they confirmed new policies in place for bartenders and every one of them has been instructed to measure the drinks. (same measuring cup is used for everything so I guess some folks might taste the different flavours depending on what they order and the previous shot).

 

Felt like I had purchased the bottomless bubbles package drinking all that Coke and actually switched to beer for the rest of the week.

Edited September 29, 2014 by cdnmr

[Name Of The Game]

If they're going to do that they should lower the price.

[CutestLittleEvil]

 

I asked several bartenders and they confirmed new policies in place for bartenders and every one of them has been instructed to measure the drinks. (same measuring cup is used for everything so I guess some folks might taste the different flavours depending on what they order and the previous shot).

 

 

This just means more shots of tequila and glasses of wine:D

[thomarvin]

personally I dont like strong drinks. I would order a absolut and cranberry and ask for it in a big glass.

[SadieN]

They know exactly how many pours come from what size bottle, allowing for spillage. An onsite taxing agency bar audit is a fascinating thing to watch.

Edited September 30, 2014 by SadieN

[mweiss1998]

Maybe the trick is to just order the booze straight up and the coke a few minutes later and mix it yourself. They can't short you on the straight booze.

[gtaylor]

We were on the Breeze recently, and spent a good bit of time sitting at the Blue Iguana bar, chatting with the bartenders and watching them make drinks.

 

In my opinion, every drink that they made, Cheers or not, got a full pour of the shot glass (device) they were issued AND a bit more.

 

We certainly didn't have any complaints about OUR drinks.

 

gary

[goduckies05]

Order a long island or martini andvyou will be good to go. Can even do the Goose as that is covered under cheers. A grey Goose Lemon Drop? Yum!

 

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[okgirl]

We were on the Breeze recently, and spent a good bit of time sitting at the Blue Iguana bar, chatting with the bartenders and watching them make drinks.

 

In my opinion, every drink that they made, Cheers or not, got a full pour of the shot glass (device) they were issued AND a bit more.

 

We certainly didn't have any complaints about OUR drinks.

 

gary

 

I agree, I've never had them not over pour the jigger.

[edinboro cruiser]

My last cruise on the Breeze my friend and I took turns buying rounds and we always used the same bartender and tipped extra. By the third day of the cruise my wife was having a hard time with her drinks because they were so strong

 

 

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[Retired_to_Cruise]

Just got off the Pride and our first time buying the Cheers Package.

 

I drink mixed drinks and enjoy the iced drinks as well (Miami Vices etc) and with the exception of the Casino bar and Beauties night club every drink I received had MAYBE an ounce of alcohol, not even a full 1.25 ounce shot.

 

When you fill a 6 ounce glass full of ice and then add 1.25 ounces of booze followed up with a splash of mix I would expect to taste alcohol. Nope.

 

My Step Mother normally sets a personal limit of 2 drinks yet she would have 3 and 4 on board and claims she didn't feel the least bit of a buzz.

 

Casino bar was strong and night club was just right.

 

I asked several bartenders and they confirmed new policies in place for bartenders and every one of them has been instructed to measure the drinks. (same measuring cup is used for everything so I guess some folks might taste the different flavours depending on what they order and the previous shot).

 

Felt like I had purchased the bottomless bubbles package drinking all that Coke and actually switched to beer for the rest of the week.

 

I believe that a standard shot (jigger) is 1.5 oz.; I have never see a carnival bartender use other than the jigger end to serve the primary drink liquor; and I always doubt that it is a new policy that bartenders "have been instructed to measure the drinks". Are you implying that they are not following the "new policy"?

[iluvit!]

Weak drinks are not recent--inMay on the

 

 

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[iluvit!]

Magic the drinks were so weak that I actually examined a few bottles thinking that maybe they had some special low-proof cruise ship liquor. Bartenders measured, not a drop over. I would swear that's poolside piña colada was virgin!

 

 

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[winddawn]

Just got off the Pride and our first time buying the Cheers Package.

 

I drink mixed drinks and enjoy the iced drinks as well (Miami Vices etc) and with the exception of the Casino bar and Beauties night club every drink I received had MAYBE an ounce of alcohol, not even a full 1.25 ounce shot.

 

When you fill a 6 ounce glass full of ice and then add 1.25 ounces of booze followed up with a splash of mix I would expect to taste alcohol. Nope.

 

My Step Mother normally sets a personal limit of 2 drinks yet she would have 3 and 4 on board and claims she didn't feel the least bit of a buzz.

 

Casino bar was strong and night club was just right.

 

I asked several bartenders and they confirmed new policies in place for bartenders and every one of them has been instructed to measure the drinks. (same measuring cup is used for everything so I guess some folks might taste the different flavours depending on what they order and the previous shot).

 

Felt like I had purchased the bottomless bubbles package drinking all that Coke and actually switched to beer for the rest of the week.

I think Carnival's cocktails tend to be weak whether you buy Cheers or not.

[cv322]

Just got off the Pride and our first time buying the Cheers Package.

 

I drink mixed drinks and enjoy the iced drinks as well (Miami Vices etc) and with the exception of the Casino bar and Beauties night club every drink I received had MAYBE an ounce of alcohol, not even a full 1.25 ounce shot.

 

When you fill a 6 ounce glass full of ice and then add 1.25 ounces of booze followed up with a splash of mix I would expect to taste alcohol. Nope.

 

My Step Mother normally sets a personal limit of 2 drinks yet she would have 3 and 4 on board and claims she didn't feel the least bit of a buzz.

 

Casino bar was strong and night club was just right.

 

I asked several bartenders and they confirmed new policies in place for bartenders and every one of them has been instructed to measure the drinks. (same measuring cup is used for everything so I guess some folks might taste the different flavours depending on what they order and the previous shot).

 

Felt like I had purchased the bottomless bubbles package drinking all that Coke and actually switched to beer for the rest of the week.

 

Wow. :p:eek:;)...thanks Don. I was considering buying the Cheers pkg when I board this weekend, but maybe not, hmmm?

 

See you & Colleen in March :D...I hope this cruise was good otherwise...was it?

[bigdog1958]

I think Carnival's cocktails tend to be weak whether you buy Cheers or not.

 

I agree, I don't see what the cheers program has to do with this, as if the bartenders are instructed to measure out drinks, it is the same for everyone whether its the cheers program or purchase individual drinks.

[golfb4cruzing]

Smuggle and know the bartender.:D

[gtalum]

Tip a dollar for each drink and stick to a couple of favorite bartenders... You'll quickly figure out what they're doing with the "extra" from the short pours. :D

Edited September 30, 2014 by gtalum

[hdowney]

Agree re using the same bartender and tipping will probably increase the strength of your drinks as the cruise progresses but I don't see how being on cheers affects the alcohol ratio

 

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Edited September 30, 2014 by sofiasartees

[Ship's Wake]

Perhaps they are using a 1oz jigger instead of a 1.5oz jigger fleet wide?

 

If so, this could explain how they are able to fill the jigger (and then some at times) and the drink still being weak.

[mzloolue]

Perhaps they are using a 1oz jigger instead of a 1.5oz jigger fleet wide?

 

If so, this could explain how they are able to fill the jigger (and then some at times) and the drink still being weak.

 

This could be.

 

We had weak Long Island teas.

If those are weak, then something is not right.

[jcearth]

Disagree - The drinks were plenty strong on the Conquest 2 weeks ago - Cheers program or otherwise. Maybe the OP's frame of reference is a bit skewed. Think about it - you are on vacation, with nothing else to do, don't have to drive home, with no responsibilities - over the course of a full day you should be able to handle more alcohol than you would otherwise.

[cdnmr]

I believe that a standard shot (jigger) is 1.5 oz.; I have never see a carnival bartender use other than the jigger end to serve the primary drink liquor; and I always doubt that it is a new policy that bartenders "have been instructed to measure the drinks". Are you implying that they are not following the "new policy"?

 

 

No, not at all.

 

We ordered drinks showing our cheers sticker and we ordered without showing our card first and drinks were consistent both ways.

 

I was wondering if the drop in the cheers program pricing coincided with stricter pours. Not implying that cheers passengers received weaker drinks.

 

Again, at least 3 bartenders told me flat out that they were instructed to use the jiggers and pour more accurate shots. I know they used the jiggers in the past but pours seemed to be measured in seconds (time).

 

In addition to beer I found ordering 'Dark and Stormys' and asking them to use less ginger beer resulted in a nice, just-right drink with an inch of empty space at top of glass.

[bumbleklutz]

Just did the "Cheers" package on the Valor, and weak drinks were never a problem. In fact, I found I drank more soda or water because the opposite was true. :D

[rocketship]

I typically tip $1 dollar per drink and having done Cheers a few times, I definitely recognize a difference in both service and drinks. Once the bartender/server knows you are going to tip them, even with Cheers, I feel it goes a long way. And some people may not feel that is right, but to me, if that is my livelihood and I know that Im going to get a little extra money, taking more risks is worth the payoff to keep them coming back to you.