Wine service by the glass in the MDR with the CHEERS package

[Fighterone]

We have been considering getting the Cheers package but are concerned that the service might be slow by the bar waiter and that we might have to be happy with just 1 or 2 glasses throughout the entire meal.

 

What has your experience been at ordering wine by the glass for those of you who have purchased the Cheers package?

 

Also not impressed with the limited selection so how easy is it to ask for a different type of wine or is this just not a possibility?

 

Thank you for your replies!

[funinthesun1964]

We have been considering getting the Cheers package but are concerned that the service might be slow by the bar waiter and that we might have to be happy with just 1 or 2 glasses throughout the entire meal.

 

What has your experience been at ordering wine by the glass for those of you who have purchased the Cheers package?

 

Also not impressed with the limited selection so how easy is it to ask for a different type of wine or is this just not a possibility?

 

Thank you for your replies!

 

Consider yourself lucky to get one glass of wine in the MDR. Bar service in the MDR has been declining over the last several years.

 

What I do is go to the casino or atrium bar before dinner and carry in my own glass of wine. If you are lucky enough to see a bar server, you can then order your second one. Maybe you can carry in two glasses of wine if you find the service is really bad :eek:

[Beach710]

Bar service in the MDR was really bad on my last cruise. I don't think Cheers had anything to do the service since no one came by to ask if we wanted a drink so they didn't know if we had cheers or not. We stopped on the way to dinner and picked up a drink to take with us.

[Wanna_Cruize]

We've purchased Cheers for the last couple of cruises and here's what worked for us. First, we stop at a bar on our way to dinner to get our first glass of wine, and carry it in with us. Once we are seated, we mention to the waiter that we will want to order more wine, so they know, and can mention it to their bar staff. Then, when we order our wine, and give up our cards, we always include $1-2 dollars in cash along with the card. That seems to get their attention, and we never really seem to have to wait. We do anytime dining, but once we find a crew we like, we ask to sit in their section, even if we have to wait. Yes, yes, I know that the gratuity is already included, but I find that a small amount of cash, especially in advance, gets me much stronger drinks, much faster. Well work it, in my book.

[Wanna_Cruize]

Also, the list of Wines by the Glass in the dining room is a much larger list than in the regular bars. Also, there is no restriction anymore on the price, as before there were some wines listed for 12-15 dollars per glass that are now covered by the expanded Cheers. I hear that even better wine & liquor are in the bar up at the steakhouse, and can be ordered there even if you aren't having dinner.

[Purvis1231]

We meet some folks who purchased Cheers and the bar waiter was Johnny on the Spot with the wine and drinks in the MDR. During dinner they had at least 4 or 5 rounds.

[nicole9s]

Sorry to hijack, but do you order soda from the bar waiter or your regular wait staff in the MDR?

 

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[jenng1976]

We also brought in a glass of wine from another bar to start with, then ordered a second when we sat down which arrived mid-meal, then sometime had a 3rd around dessert!

 

 

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[bigdawgmatty]

Maybe we have just been lucky but if we ever needed a drink in the MDR we just let the head waiter know and rarely had to wait more than say 5 minutes.

 

 

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[RHilla619]

Unfortunately I've always found the bar-service in the MDR to be HORRIFIC, to say the least. I've gotten in the habit of stopping at a bar on my own to bring a glass of wine with me to dinner, and always order another upon sitting down so it makes it's way there by the time I'm ready for it.

[Wanna_Cruize]

Sorry to hijack, but do you order soda from the bar waiter or your regular wait staff in the MDR?

 

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I believe the waiters can take care of it at the table, instead of having to wait for the bar staff. However, I'm not sure, because I don't drink soda.

[mindymariexxo]

Bar service in the MDR is hit or miss for us, and I haven't noticed it being better or worse when we started doing Cheers. I've had the best service when I have let both the head waiter and the bar server know that I like to have at least 2 glasses of wine with dinner and I always have Baileys and coffee with dessert. I even let them know I prefer a glass shortly after being seated while I make my selections and talk with the table, and I want a second glass with my main course. Then I make sure I give the bar server a couple bucks tip every night. They cover so many tables, and I'm sure a lot of them of them either say no to a drink or hesitate while trying to decide. They know I know exactly what I want, and they know when I want it. Some nights I don't get the service I want, but generally I don't have a complaint. Just be nice and patient, no one rushes to help someone who is going to give them attitude about being busy. And if you're the type that has a schedule for when you want your drinks, let them know.

 

Another option is to not use your Cheers program individual drinks and buy a bottle at a discount. On Sea days when we know we will go over our 15 drinks we try to do a couple buckets of beer by the pool and a bottle of wine at dinner.

[jacmo24]

We have rarely had a problem getting drinks during dinner. In fact we are usually turning the bar waiter away and we like wine with our dinner! We've order bottles, glasses, done cheers, after dinner drinks... all of it. One cruise... The Breeze, it was slow but all the rest have been more than sufficient. We do tell the head waiter if we'd like another glass and don't wait for a bar waiter and that does help.

 

Bringing your first glass with you is a good idea as the first one can take some time. But we frequently have two glasses plus a dessert drink for dinner without issue.

[springs741]

Just off the Breeze. Wait staff had a supply of soft drinks and brought the can with a glass of ice. We ordered our cocktails with the head waiter and few minutes later the bar waiter brought us our drinks. Bar waiter even circled around several times and made eye contact. I really appreciated his approach.

[Bookbug53]

We have been considering getting the Cheers package but are concerned that the service might be slow by the bar waiter and that we might have to be happy with just 1 or 2 glasses throughout the entire meal.

 

What has your experience been at ordering wine by the glass for those of you who have purchased the Cheers package?

 

Also not impressed with the limited selection so how easy is it to ask for a different type of wine or is this just not a possibility?

 

Thank you for your replies!

 

We have had some bar service in the MDR that was very slow and others where a glass was barely drank from before they offered another.

 

A good waiter will see that you receive your drinks in a timely manner.

 

You can peruse the MDR wine menu with no issues.

Edited December 6, 2016 by Bookbug53

[Fighterone]

Sorry to hijack, but do you order soda from the bar waiter or your regular wait staff in the MDR?

 

Nicole9s, it doesn't look like anyone knows the answer to your question here. It's certainly worth starting a thread though.

 

Thank you all for your replies.

 

We will not be purchasing the Cheers package since it seems as though the service is hit or miss. :eek:

 

I really don't care to carry a glass of wine along with the purse and the cane from a bar into the MDR and I don't want to tip anyone in advance. We tip on the last night.

 

All great suggestions but just not for me! Thanks again

[okgirl]

We purchase the wine package on embarkation day so we get 25% off for 5 bottles of wine. They don't count toward your 15 limit on Cheers.

 

As soon as we are seated we present the waiter or bar waiter with our coupon and it usually arrives within about 5 minutes.

 

Even though we do YTD, we usually sit in the same section every night and they know that we're going to have a bottle each evening.

[uncleg]

I used CHEERS for the first time on my 7 Day Sunshine Cruise. I have to say I had the best bar service ever in the MDR. My wine glass was refilled everytime I emptied it, sometimes to fast, the room got a little woobley :rolleyes:. It went a long way in making CHEERS worthwhile for me. Hated the ship loved the service.

[coevan]

Nicole9s, it doesn't look like anyone knows the answer to your question here. It's certainly worth starting a thread though.

 

Thank you all for your replies.

 

We will not be purchasing the Cheers package since it seems as though the service is hit or miss. :eek:

 

I really don't care to carry a glass of wine along with the purse and the cane from a bar into the MDR and I don't want to tip anyone in advance. We tip on the last night.

 

All great suggestions but just not for me! Thanks again

 

 

Why do you think service is hit or miss, unless you are talking about the MDR. Bar service is outstanding at most bars. Why would you carry a purse on a cruise ship, put it in your safe and forget it for a week.

[hapytobehr]

I believe the waiters can take care of it at the table, instead of having to wait for the bar staff. However, I'm not sure, because I don't drink soda.

 

I am pretty sure you can order it from your wait staff, however, it still comes from the bar.

[originalgeek]

Why do you think service is hit or miss, unless you are talking about the MDR. Bar service is outstanding at most bars. Why would you carry a purse on a cruise ship, put it in your safe and forget it for a week.