DETAILED Questions on Non-Alcoholic Refreshment Package - Oasis of the Sease

[KmomChicago]

Mocktails (same as alcohol, just no alcohol), gun soft drinks, water bottles available at any bar. Just present cruise card with the package on it. Tap water is in buffet if you want to fill a glass and pour into your own container. Freestyle machines operate only with the cup that will be in your room if you buy the package online. Make sure to print a copy of the purchase in case the sale gets lost. If you buy onboard they will hand you a cup. They also have water bottles available when you exit the ship in ports for sale or with the package.

 

If you want two bottles of water or two drinks at a bar, present both cruise cards.

 

Soft drink only package gets you gun soft drinks at any bar (glass or cup) and Freestyle waters and sodas with the cup at the machines. Freestyle machines near Sorrentos are 24 hour (until they run out of syrup), others generally are not.

 

Buffet also has a number of flavored waters (including "orange juice" at breakfast) by the glass for free when they are open.

 

Thank you LeeW. We like the punch and lemonade at the Carnival buffets so it's good to know Royal has something similar.

[KmomChicago]

Our girls loved getting virgin pins coladas, strawberry daquiries, and other frozen drinks with the refreshment package. They thought it was so much fun to try different mixes of them.

 

Yes, that sounds like fun for the whole family. I really overdo the eating onboard, though, and I am concerned about even more calories from mocktails when I am perfectly happy at home with nothing but a couple coffees with milk in the a.m. and then tap water thereafter until bedtime.

[KmomChicago]

My wife and I both had the refreshment package on Oasis last month. my experience:

1) most bars will give you mocktail/coffee and water bottle at same time BUT watch out because we got a charge for 2 drinks, as well as another charge for the bartender running both my wifes drink and mine on one card. both disputed with customer services and removed.

2) the fresh OJ was hit or miss. it was a struggle in the windjammer to find someone to actually pour us the OJ. some days it tasted REALLY watered down. and 2 days they just didnt have any and wouldnt make more. Probably MDR for breakfast is more consistent. Oh and the cafe promenade was out the one time i went to get some.

3) there was a bartender who rolled their eyes when I asked for a virgin version of a drink, mudslide.

for 99% of the cruise it was just fine and everything worked great

 

Thanks madmic. I appreciate hearing about your experience. I'm not too worried about one bartender as long as they actually give it to you. What do they care? Don't they get autograts for that?

[KmomChicago]

Some of the bars have a nonalcoholic listing on their menu. I would also ask for a mango/ pineapple smoothie or whatever fruit I wanted and they would make it. I do get some funny looks from bartenders sometimes, but I am a soon to be 50 yr old woman who has never cared for the taste of alcohol.

 

I'm a little surprised at the funny looks. With over 6,000 people aboard and new passengers every week you would think they have seen it all!

[KmomChicago]

If you drink ice water..it's totally free and everywhere. There is no need of a "package". The ship's water is better than what you get at home, or in bottles. You can buy anything without a package, if you want to get wild. Pay as you go.

 

Included in your fare is: ice water, coffee, tea (iced or hot), lemonade, milk, and juice at breakfast.

 

Thanks cb. I'm leaning toward the "already included free" package you describe. This is what I did on my two Carnival cruises and really I was fine, and I didn't buy any extra drinks either.

[KmomChicago]

Don't be concerned about taking your drinks with you. You can take any thing anywhere you go. As far as C&A goes they no longer care if you take your drinks out of the lounge. Just look at the elevators unloading at 8:30 for MDR and you will see most people coming from the Diamond lounge or bar carrying a drink inside. happy cruising

 

Thanks Tag. Good to know. It seemed ridiculous to order a latte and then be required to sit in the café until you're done with it.

[KmomChicago]

You actually can't take anything anywhere. You can't take any alcoholic drink into the arcade or any of the Adventure Ocean areas. I had a glass with club soda with a lime, no booze, and was asked to leave the arcade by security. We were only looking for our son, so it was not a big deal, but security would not listen to me when I told him it had no alcohol in it. He then went on to tell me where I wasn't allowed to take my drink.

 

Thanks, reallyitsmema. Good to know when I saunter around the vessel like I own the place, flaunting my mocktail like a real hard drinker!

[KmomChicago]

Just a note about the hot tea. The specialty tea included in the package is just another, more popular brand, but you can get generic hot tea at the Cafe promenade and the pizza place (as well as Windjammer) for free. The free tea comes in various flavors as well. Not sure if tea is of any interest to you, but just thought I would mention it.

 

Thanks mslaabs, and yes, that is relevant information for us as our 12 year old is going through a hot tea phase at the moment. We may be able to stay sufficiently hydrated without indulging in the add ons.

 

I am thinking just leave it for DH who can easily put away two fancy coffees each morning and a couple of sodas after that, plus he would enjoy a mocktail each night with the evening shows.