Best Wines? - Premium Drink Package

[D C]

9 hours ago, Janet524 said:

No.  Sadly, X has given into the craft beer craze.

I enjoy both, and the decision to rebrand cellar masters makes no sense to me. 

 

Before X started the 'suite guests can't mingle with the commoners' thing, Michael's club was essentially the craft brew equivalent to cellar masters. That was great! 

[zitsky]

Thank you for posting that.  Surprising how many of my favorite beers sold out to larger companies.

 

@D C what is stopping you from mixing with the commoners, at the pool, in the buffet, at the theater, etc???

Edited October 1, 2021 by zitsky

[D C]

25 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Thank you for posting that.  Surprising how many of my favorite beers sold out to larger companies.

 

@D C what is stopping you from mixing with the commoners, at the pool, in the buffet, at the theater, etc???

It's more that I want to get into Michael's club for the beer list, but they won't let me in 😢

[zitsky]

8 minutes ago, D C said:

It's more that I want to get into Michael's club for the beer list, but they won't let me in 😢

 

Happy when I see it's on the Infinity.

Not sure when I see it's for the Retreat.

 

Maybe they would let you in if your name was Michael?

[canderson]

4 minutes ago, zitsky said:

 

Happy when I see it's on the Infinity.

Not sure when I see it's for the Retreat.

 

Maybe they would let you in if your name was Michael?

Or Perry.

[MNSails]

Bumping this for more recent recommendations for my two upcoming cruises on Reflection and Beyond in the next 6 weeks. 

 

I enjoy malbec and pinot noir, and usually do a pre-dinner prosecco or champagne.  I also liked the decoy cab on our last cruise, which occurred after conundrum-gate.  Let me know if you have suggestions!

 

 

[zitsky]

2 hours ago, MNSails said:

Bumping this for more recent recommendations for my two upcoming cruises on Reflection and Beyond in the next 6 weeks. 

 

I enjoy malbec and pinot noir, and usually do a pre-dinner prosecco or champagne.  I also liked the decoy cab on our last cruise, which occurred after conundrum-gate.  Let me know if you have suggestions!

 

 

By the glass or the bottle?

[Stem to Stern]

3 hours ago, MNSails said:

recent recommendations for my two upcoming cruises on Reflection and Beyond in the next 6 weeks. 

 

I enjoy malbec and pinot noir, and usually do a pre-dinner prosecco or champagne.  I also liked the decoy cab on our last cruise, which occurred after conundrum-gate.  Let me know if you have suggestions!

Assuming you have the premium alcoholic drink package here.

Just off Beyond, but I did not uncover any new wine discoveries.  

Decoy and Whispering Angel were widely available around the ship.

Conundrum is still a $2.40 upcharge.

My first Martini Bar martini I had on board was horrible.

Also, had a horrible cosmo at another venue.

Decided to stick with my Chopin martinis which were readily available and covered on the premium package.

[zitsky]

Should I be able to see the Tuscan wine menu either before or during the cruise on the Celebrity app?   Because I don’t see it.

[canderson]

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

Should I be able to see the Tuscan wine menu either before or during the cruise on the Celebrity app?   Because I don’t see it.

No, for some reason, it's never published with the menu when we check, either.

[canderson]

5 hours ago, MNSails said:

Bumping this for more recent recommendations for my two upcoming cruises on Reflection and Beyond in the next 6 weeks.

A recommendation for those with a drink package who are considering the Elevated wines ... buying any of these by the bottle is likely to wind up leaving money on the table.

 

My daughter, not a regular cruiser, and not really familiar with either the Classic or Premium drink packages, was struggling a little with understanding why 'elevated' wines being offered by the glass were a mistake to purchase by the bottle.  So I made her up a quick little Excel chart (she's got the Premium package) and added Classic to it while I was at it.

 

So what you see here is why in most cases, you do NOT want to buy bottles of any of these wines.  Rather, you're better off buying by the glass.

 

The charts each assume 5 glasses per bottle, which seems about typical for a Celebrity pour.  As is evident here, you always save by buying by the glass and deducting the Premium ($17) rather than buying bottles.  This holds true for in many cases for those with Classic packages ($10 deduction) as well.  There are four charts - one for each category of Captain's Club by-the-bottle discount:  0%, 10%, 15% and 20%.  As you would expect, the value of the by-the-glass approach diminishes as the Captain's Club bottle discount increases.

 

 

 

 

[MNSails]

5 hours ago, zitsky said:

By the glass or the bottle?

 

The glass. 

 

5 hours ago, Stem to Stern said:

Assuming you have the premium alcoholic drink package here.

 

Correct. 

[zitsky]

6 hours ago, canderson said:

A recommendation for those with a drink package who are considering the Elevated wines ... buying any of these by the bottle is likely to wind up leaving money on the table.

 

My daughter, not a regular cruiser, and not really familiar with either the Classic or Premium drink packages, was struggling a little with understanding why 'elevated' wines being offered by the glass were a mistake to purchase by the bottle.  So I made her up a quick little Excel chart (she's got the Premium package) and added Classic to it while I was at it.

 

So what you see here is why in most cases, you do NOT want to buy bottles of any of these wines.  Rather, you're better off buying by the glass.

 

The charts each assume 5 glasses per bottle, which seems about typical for a Celebrity pour.  As is evident here, you always save by buying by the glass and deducting the Premium ($17) rather than buying bottles.  This holds true for in many cases for those with Classic packages ($10 deduction) as well.  There are four charts - one for each category of Captain's Club by-the-bottle discount:  0%, 10%, 15% and 20%.  As you would expect, the value of the by-the-glass approach diminishes as the Captain's Club bottle discount increases.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for doing this!

I don’t recognize some of these.  For example, Emmolo Merlot, which I just bought at home.  Are these the entire “Elevated” wines and are all of them available in every restaurant?

 

 

[drakes2]

11 hours ago, Stem to Stern said:

Also, had a horrible cosmo at another venue

Do not order a Cosmo at the Casino bar. Worst ever and I told the bartender. Pretty sure the vodka came from a plastic bottle don't know the brand but it was awful went to Martini bar for a Cosmo where they used Absolut. It was during HH. 

[catspaw1]

On 9/29/2021 at 9:52 AM, Schmoe38 said:

No question in my mind….

 

Caymus Cabernet is one of our favourites. We thoroughly enjoy the full Caymus line. This one is on the wine list at $28 a glass. Now, a $13 up charge to your Premium Beverage Package may seem excessive, but when you consider the number of glasses that may be afforded from a bottle, the overall cost will be equal to or lower than what you might pay for that same bottle locally. It is definitely lower than what you would pay for a bottle outright on the ship. You will not pour this wine down the drain!

 

If you prefer to stay closer to what your Premium Beverage Package will cover, then you have already received some very nice recommendations.

 

Just something else to think about.

 

Randy

 

 

Costco sells Caymus wines for I think around $75 bottle. I've never tried it. Is it  worth the premiun price? I know it's always rated well by wine spectator. 

[drakes2]

4 minutes ago, catspaw1 said:

Costco sells Caymus wines for I think around $75 bottle. I've never tried it. Is it  worth the premiun price? I know it's always rated well by wine spectator. 

Its a good wine but there are others at lower price points as good or better. I love Austin Hope cab. Yesterday bought his new release Austin Paso Robles. 

[canderson]

14 minutes ago, catspaw1 said:

Costco sells Caymus wines for I think around $75 bottle. I've never tried it. Is it  worth the premiun price? I know it's always rated well by wine spectator. 

Some of the shine has come off Caymus.  More recent vintages aren't seeing the scores they once did.  The 2022 is available for as little as $55.  Honestly?  The 2021 Decoy gets better reviews, and sells for as little as $20 a bottle.

 

Here's an interesting (and recent) review of the 2022 release:

 

Caymus cabernet has always been associated with Napa Valley, but those labels remain on another quality and price level. The decision to make a California wine with Caymus on the label seems unnecessary, but the wheels of business never stop, so cheaper fruit from outside of Napa has been called upon for this label. The style is reminiscent of the Napa labels: big and plush with upfront fruit and softness, but without that Napa gloss. It is a little more rustic and spicy with peppery, savoury notes and sweet milk chocolate. It is ready to drink, but I can’t help thinking the Caymus name will attract more notice in restaurants than this wine deserves, especially given it will likely sell on lists at $175. (Anthony Gismondi).

[drakes2]

5 minutes ago, canderson said:

Some of the shine has come off Caymus.  More recent vintages aren't seeing the scores they once did.  The 2022 is available for as little as $55.  Honestly?  The 2021 Decoy gets better reviews, and sells for as little as $20 a bottle.

 

Here's an interesting (and recent) review of the 2022 release:

 

Caymus cabernet has always been associated with Napa Valley, but those labels remain on another quality and price level. The decision to make a California wine with Caymus on the label seems unnecessary, but the wheels of business never stop, so cheaper fruit from outside of Napa has been called upon for this label. The style is reminiscent of the Napa labels: big and plush with upfront fruit and softness, but without that Napa gloss. It is a little more rustic and spicy with peppery, savoury notes and sweet milk chocolate. It is ready to drink, but I can’t help thinking the Caymus name will attract more notice in restaurants than this wine deserves, especially given it will likely sell on lists at $175. (Anthony Gismondi).

My LCBO in Ontario comes out with the half bottle of Caymus every xmas so a couple of years ago I bought one. Not that impressed as there's always been so much hype about it and I was expecting more.  As previously mentioned, I've found as good cabs for less. 

[zitsky]

47 minutes ago, catspaw1 said:

Costco sells Caymus wines for I think around $75 bottle. I've never tried it. Is it  worth the premiun price? I know it's always rated well by wine spectator. 

Absolutely not.  Look for Heitz or Grgich Cabernet.

[catspaw1]

Does costco have those? Not sure but I'll look. I use a wine app when in costco & buy wines rated 4 or better & haven't been let down yet.

[canderson]

I've spent some time scouting a few of what appear to be 'half decent' (not 'great' - there aren't any!) values in full bottles aboard.  By this, I mean wines that aren't marked up to some silly multiple of typical retail.  Here are a couple of my favorite selections, including 'home' retail and a typical range of ratings for any vintage likely to be onboard a Celebrity ship (since Celebrity doesn't like to publish vintages).  Red price is Celebrity's.  It takes some looking, but they're out there.  Don't always assume a bottle will be marked up 3X, or even 1.5X.

 

Michele Chiarlo Barolo, Cerequio $135/bottle ($110 home) 92 to 94

Penner-Ash Pinot Noir, Yamhill $100/bottle ($90 at home) 93 to 94

 

Back to the topic at hand, the current state of "Premium" package wines isn't terrible, but they do seem to be picking as many 'value' wines as they can with reasonably decent ratings (averaging around 90).  Then again, I guess that's what anyone in their business would do.  Shown with both 'home' bottle prices, and range of reviews for recent vintages.

 

Whites

Selbach Riesling Kabinett ($27 at home) 90-93

Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc ($18 at home) 91

Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc ($14 at home) 90-91

Avivo Vermentino 91?

 

Reds

Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon 88-90

Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon ($10) 88-90

Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Vintners Reserve ($18 at home) 90-92

Alta Vista Malbec ($18 at home) 89-90

Avivo Sangiovese ($20 at home) 91?

Torres Ibericos Tempranillo ($16 at home) 92

Jean Luc Colombo Les Abeilles ($17 at home) 90

Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon ($20 at home) 89-92