Wait for a soda, using BB card or bring soda onboard?

[bubblemama007]

This will be our second cruise with 4 children. The last cruise we took with them, we bought the BB package. it felt like we were spending an inordinate amount of time just waiting to get our soda card verified, scanned, signed, and soda received. For the amount of money we spent, it did not seem worth it.

 

So, what do y'all suggest?

Do we buy the BB package and continue to wait for our drinks?

Or, do we tote our own soda onboard?

Along with the diaper bag, two strollers, and carry luggage...

[Lottacruises]

Hmmmm. Carrying it on is temporary, the wait will last the whole cruise.

[Trishlo73]

We also have kids, although older. It is a pain in the butt carrying soda on the ship and we never seem to drink it all. When we want a drink we have to go back to the room. Yes, the wait can sometimes be long at bars, but we always try to find a quiet area to order ours.

 

Get Bubbles, less hassle, particularly with small kids.

[nyo1011]

Definitely carry on soda...it's nice to have cold cans waiting in your room when ever the kids or you want one....even at three in the morning when you wake up thirsty for no apparent reason. our kids brought insulated cups that they would fill with soda or half tea/half lemonade from the lido.

 

Also I think the only place to get soda is at a bar and they don't even give you the can

[Nic6318]

Hi

 

I can imagine the juggling act you go through to get onboard. :)

 

Don't forget, you can also purchase pop and bring it into the ship at your port of calls.

 

You will save a bit bringing your own onboard (if it matters), and everyone can get their favorite.

 

have a great cruise

[It's a Ship!!!]

I would rather have the package. Yes you do have to wait a bit, but if you brought your own on board, you would have to go to the room whenever you want a drink. I would rather just wait a couple minutes at a bar each time instead of having to lug it on board and then have go back to the room every time you want another soda.

[Purvis1231]

On our last cruise on the Dream in June, there was minimal waiting for soda most of the time at the bars. Roving waiters were not johnny on the spot once they knew we had the Bubbles program. Over-all we were happy with the program.

[lennythenose]

We to both but never cruised with diaper bags and strollers. Just slightly older though. We bring cans to have specific drinks we like in the cabin but even with the insulated cups our boys rarely drink those even now as teens. They love the Bubbles package because they drink the fruit punch from the bars (yummy!). Even order it with dinner most nights.

[pacruise804]

Bring your own:

Pro-have they brand/flavor you want

Pro-less expensive

Pro-it's in your room (and likely chilled) if you want while in the room

Con-have to bring it on

not really a Con-going back to the room: if you carry a bag with you on the ship (for sunscreen at the pool, or diaper bag) just add a few cans to the bag for while you are out (will need to get your own ice)

 

Bubbles:

pro-nothing to carry on

pro-included virgin drinks that are juice & soft drink combos (sprite & cranberry, ginger ale & pineapple, etc)

con-limited to their brands

con-likely only a partial can

con-potentially flat partial can

con-likely warm poured over ice

con-wait times for service

[Pellaz]

Another "pro" for Bottomless Bubbles: if you go to dinner in the MDR, it's easy to get sodas from the wait-staff without waiting at a bar, and they do not do time-consuming paper receipts there.

 

When I go to a bar and use Bottomless Bubbles, if the bartender gives good service and doesn't appear to be annoyed at a "non-rev" transaction, I'll add a small tip (50 cents usually) to the paper receipt. It really makes their day, and you get fast service from them thereafter, too. :)

[loxley]

Have everyone give up soda for the week.

 

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[riclop]

This will be our second cruise with 4 children. The last cruise we took with them, we bought the BB package. it felt like we were spending an inordinate amount of time just waiting to get our soda card verified, scanned, signed, and soda received. For the amount of money we spent, it did not seem worth it.

 

So, what do y'all suggest?

Do we buy the BB package and continue to wait for our drinks?

Or, do we tote our own soda onboard?

Along with the diaper bag, two strollers, and carry luggage...

You have got to be kidding ?

[Hopep84]

We cruise with our four children too! I, personally, felt the same as you during our first cruise and we definitely did not get our money's worth out of BB. For our last few cruises, we have just charged each one to our account and basically only done soda at dinner (and we are mean and don't buy it for the kids). I am not sure how old yours are but chocolate milk at dinner is always a nice treat and I think included with the price (I never saw a charge for it on our final bill). I also did buy a few bottles of Coke at port to keep in our room.

[xDisconnections]

Once the bartenders peg you as a soda drinker, expect the wait times to increase... especially if the package holder is younger.

[Moviela]

I tried both. Carry on is the only way for me. The BB program is full of gotcha's. Pineapple juice was NOT included. The wait at any bar was way too long. MDR service was faster, but a refill was not really a reality. The soda was served from an open can and was as flat and diluted from the amount of ice used.

 

In my own cans I had greater variety, and it was cold, cold, cold out of the fridge or on ice in my room. A cold can at Guy's, or a Mountain Dew at dinner in the dining room completes my meal.

[Purvis1231]

I tried both. Carry on is the only way for me. The BB program is full of gotcha's. Pineapple juice was NOT included. The wait at any bar was way too long. MDR service was faster, but a refill was not really a reality. The soda was served from an open can and was as flat and diluted from the amount of ice used.

 

In my own cans I had greater variety, and it was cold, cold, cold out of the fridge or on ice in my room. A cold can at Guy's, or a Mountain Dew at dinner in the dining room completes my meal.

 

Pineapple juice is included. On my last cruise on the Dream, I was always served the entire can that was always unopened and sometime chilled. Sometimes the waiter brought me the can unopened.

Edited July 27, 2018 by Purvis1231
typo

[nyo1011]

Definitely a "your mileage may vary" scenario depending on the bar and bartender. For me I will continue to carry on. BB would cost me $110 for my 2 sons on our 8 day cruise. they would rather have that to spend on their fancy coffees. The worst part is carry it on and waiting with it till your room is ready with 4000 people on the lido deck all trying to get a funship. This year we have FTTF so the soda can go straight to the rooms. Then the only thing I will have in my hands is a tasty adult beverage with a cherry a pineapple and an umbrella!

 

.....oh and finding a store to buy it the day before you board can also be an adventure.

[Fourkids4us]

When my four were younger, we put the cases in our carry on roller bag. Along with juice boxes. I assume your two stroller kids are not drinking soda. We mostly drank them in the room and off the ship packed. Also if we were in the room before heading to Lido.

 

The last two cruises the got BB. It’s the only week they can have soda outside of birthdays/special occasions. The two in the circle c and o2 use it the most.

 

 

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[xDisconnections]

Tote you own. Massively cheaper.

 

Convenience can be worth the cost.

[Purvis1231]

If people have money to burn then that's true.

 

Is this true for Faster to the Fun (can't you wait in line), Cheers (really you don't need all that booze), casino (only the house really wins), and tipping porters (aren't they really rich union guys)?

[momof3cruisers]

Once the bartenders peg you as a soda drinker, expect the wait times to increase... especially if the package holder is younger.

This comment always surprises me because we haven't had this experience ever. Our first cruise with BB, my youngest was ten. By the third day, I swear every bar tender/waiter on the ship knew him by name. The servers in the show lounge would catch his eye, give him a raised eyebrow, he would give them a thumbs up and they would go get him a Fanta. The kid drank his weight in Fanta that week. The bar tender at the pool bar knew his entire life story and would greet DH and I as "Joe's" mom and dad. LOL The next cruise, the older two set a goal to out drink the younger one. None of them ever had trouble getting service. (However, they lost that bet. :')) Third cruise, still no trouble getting service but not quite as much soda was consumed. ;)

[queenkathryn]

Definitely carry on soda...it's nice to have cold cans waiting in your room when ever the kids or you want one....even at three in the morning when you wake up thirsty for no apparent reason. our kids brought insulated cups that they would fill with soda or half tea/half lemonade from the lido.

 

Also I think the only place to get soda is at a bar and they don't even give you the can

 

 

I completely agree. And, I think you can bring more soda on with you at one of your ports of call. Would have to dbl check on that though.

[Seagull7]

This will be our second cruise with 4 children. The last cruise we took with them, we bought the BB package. it felt like we were spending an inordinate amount of time just waiting to get our soda card verified, scanned, signed, and soda received. For the amount of money we spent, it did not seem worth it.

 

So, what do y'all suggest?

Do we buy the BB package and continue to wait for our drinks?

Or, do we tote our own soda onboard?

Along with the diaper bag, two strollers, and carry luggage...

 

Bringing kids that require a "diaper bag" and "two strollers?" Leave these small children at home...they won't remember where they are or what they're doing there anyway, so save yourselves and everyone else the trouble!

[queenkathryn]

Have everyone give up soda for the week.

 

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Best idea yet!!! I haven't had soda/pop in years. My hubby drinks it, but I have talked him into cutting back. We bring ours on because he prefers Pepsi products to Coke products. I don't understand why ships can't offer both.

[queenkathryn]

Bringing kids that require a "diaper bag" and "two strollers?" Leave these small children at home...they won't remember where they are or what they're doing there anyway, so save yourselves and everyone else the trouble!

 

 

I love little ones in the right setting. But, a cruise? Never would I bring my little ones on a cruise. What a hassle to haul all you need for them. How crowded that cabin must be. And, trying to keep them out of the hot sun. The mom or dad would be stuck in a corner somewhere while the little one took a nap in the stroller, or stuck back in the cabin while napping. Unless they are able to hire the babysitting service on board. Then, the mom and dad can have some free time. I can see that working.