gw2fll Posted December 19, 2014 #1 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Just completed a two week B2B on Navigator and noticed a change in how the soft drinks are served that was disappointing. I do not know if this is limited to just Navigator or if it is a change in process. When ordering soft drinks (Coke, Diet Coke, etc.) from the bars (Windjammer, MDR, Pool Bar, etc.) some of the bartenders would serve from 2 liter bottles instead of using the "beverage" gun to serve the beverage. At first I thought they were having trouble with the "guns" (they could be); however, over the course of the cruises I noticed it depended upon the bartender whether your selection was poured from a 2 liter bottle or prepared using the beverage "gun". My complaint / problem is the 2 liter bottles can quickly go "flat" resulting in a horrible tasting soda. I finally had enough one evening during the second week in the MDR and had the soda served from a can. I kept returning the soda - about 3 to 4 times before they finally brought me a can and glass of ice at which point we had success and things tasted right. (From that point forward, the head waiter instructed the team to only use a can, which worked and avoided the issue.) Has anyone else experienced this on other ships - is this the direction RCCL is going? I hope not. Thanks for your input and feedback. Perhaps this was just an isolated incident and not a new process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisingthesuitelife Posted December 19, 2014 #2 Share Posted December 19, 2014 On my recent Independence cruise it was very much hit and miss with the serving - sometimes 'gun' and sometimes can. I don't ever remember out of a bottle. I honestly never asked why there was a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delirious9876 Posted December 19, 2014 #3 Share Posted December 19, 2014 (edited) Just completed a two week B2B on Navigator and noticed a change in how the soft drinks are served that was disappointing. I do not know if this is limited to just Navigator or if it is a change in process. When ordering soft drinks (Coke, Diet Coke, etc.) from the bars (Windjammer, MDR, Pool Bar, etc.) some of the bartenders would serve from 2 liter bottles instead of using the "beverage" gun to serve the beverage. At first I thought they were having trouble with the "guns" (they could be); however, over the course of the cruises I noticed it depended upon the bartender whether your selection was poured from a 2 liter bottle or prepared using the beverage "gun". My complaint / problem is the 2 liter bottles can quickly go "flat" resulting in a horrible tasting soda. I finally had enough one evening during the second week in the MDR and had the soda served from a can. I kept returning the soda - about 3 to 4 times before they finally brought me a can and glass of ice at which point we had success and things tasted right. (From that point forward, the head waiter instructed the team to only use a can, which worked and avoided the issue.) Has anyone else experienced this on other ships - is this the direction RCCL is going? I hope not. Thanks for your input and feedback. Perhaps this was just an isolated incident and not a new process. I've seen this a number of times on several cruises and I agree - the bottles go flat and the soda is not nice. On most of the occasions I have noticed the gun is working and I agree, its like they just choose to give you the bottle soda instead. They need coke freestyle machines on every ship. (which before someone flames me, I know they won't because of cost and getting re-fill stock outside of the US area ! - one can dream though !!!! ) :):):) Edited December 19, 2014 by delirious9876 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted December 19, 2014 #4 Share Posted December 19, 2014 We're always given a can of soda when we purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
temple1 Posted December 19, 2014 #5 Share Posted December 19, 2014 On my last couple of cruises when served from the gun, it has been pretty awful. I would have welcomed from a bottle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
didicruiser Posted December 19, 2014 #6 Share Posted December 19, 2014 We're always given a can of soda when we purchase. Only very rarely given a can of soda with the soda package. I have only seen the 2 liter bottles at Labadee. I agree that that soda goes flat fast. I will see what the Jewel has next month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted December 19, 2014 #7 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Only very rarely given a can of soda with the soda package. ... Sorry, missed the soda package part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
didicruiser Posted December 19, 2014 #8 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Sorry, missed the soda package part. I "assumed" that the OP had a soda package. But, you know what can happen when you assume.....☺️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trev71 Posted December 19, 2014 #9 Share Posted December 19, 2014 (edited) My last two cruises had the free style machine on board. Now next cruise they wont have one and I wont be on the ship half as much since its mainly a port focused cruise and not the ship. almost makes me think i will not get the soda package this time. without the free style its not really worth $7 a day X2... There is nothing more that I hate then flat pop. Edited December 19, 2014 by trev71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lionesss Posted December 19, 2014 #10 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Have always seen the gun or machine in use with the soda package except when we were on Labadee, then it was the big plastic bottles..... Hmmmm Must be a sale somewhere??? Sea Ya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare orville99 Posted December 19, 2014 #11 Share Posted December 19, 2014 While I'm sure that what the OP described is true, in practice it doesn't make economic sense. The cost/serving out of a gun is a lot lower than out of a bottle, and a heck of a lot lower than handing out a can. The only logical explanations would be they either didn't get their shipment of syrup, were not stocked properly by the bar back, or had a plugged distribution line from the syrup canister. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkrislc Posted December 19, 2014 #12 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Celebrity charges the same price and gives you the can. Perhaps RCI should follow in the footsteps of its sister company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gw2fll Posted December 19, 2014 Author #13 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Thanks everyone for your feedback and insight. Quick follow-up on a couple of items, yes, we purchased the soda package for both cruises. Since our most recent cruise was on Celebrity, we had become accustomed to receiving a can, but quickly "adapted" to the RCCL approach although the 2 liter was a bit confusing. I agree, the use of the 2 liter surprised me given the cost per unit when compared to a beverage gun. I can still see the stack of blue crates along the back wall of the Pool Bar with all the 2 liters in it. It just does not make sense, but there must be a reason... Thanks again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matj2000 Posted December 19, 2014 #14 Share Posted December 19, 2014 When I was on the Navigator last year, all the fountain systems on the entire ship where broken. And from talking with the staff, it apparently had been down for a long time with no intention of repair in the near future. Maybe it they fixed it during the dry dock, not sure. But it was pretty "ghetto" to have warm 2 liter bottles everywhere... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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