Ordering Drinks?

[NanoGirl21]

I’ll be on the Carnival Freedom soon for my first cruise. I’ve been reviewing some of the menus and there are so many drinks that I want to try. I will have the cheers package, so I want to take full advantage of that! I have a few questions that I am hoping someone would be able to answer for me.

 

1.        I’m a super early riser and would swing down and pick up some specialty coffees (and fun times while I’m out). Would I be able to grab a drink for my cruise-companion? If so, how would this work? Do I need to take their sign and sail card to “purchase” their drink? It would be non-alcoholic.

 

2.       I plan to dine in the MDR and at the Steakhouse. Am I able to order frozen alcoholic drinks from my table or do I need to swing by a bar before going to eat? I’ve only seen wine options, a few cocktails that are not exciting to me, and some liquid desserts.

 

3.       Bouncing off #2. What about ordering beverages like Starbucks Double Shot Espresso, Gatorade, and Pure Leaf Tea? Those are the 3 “other” drinks that I’m mainly interested in. Can they be ordered from my table, or do I have to go to a special location for them?

[Bostwick girl]

I’ve never personally had the Cheers, not worth it for us anymore) but from what I’ve read here and on Carnivals website about it, I can answer a couple of your questions. First, those Starbucks type coffees are only available at the coffee bar location, usually on Promenade deck, don’t think you could order from MDR. Theoretically you can get your coffee then go to one of the bars and order your other drink. Keep in mind there’s a 15 drink limit per day, per person.

 

our friends we travel with order drinks in the dining room. Sometimes the drinks are fast, sometimes not, you can get one on your way, no problem with that, whatever drink you want.  As to the steakhouse, you can do the same thing. Order at your table whatever you want from the bar (they have their own so doesn’t take long) or bring one with you.

 

Hope this helps, I’m sure others who are more familiar will chime in soon! Enjoy your cruise!

 

[funinthesun1964]

The 15 drinks per day applies to alcoholic drinks only. Unlimited Gatorade, Pure Leaf Tea (or whatever brand they have - I'm not a tea drinker) and non-alcoholic drinks such as coffees, bottled water and soda.  You have to wait 5 minutes between drinks to use your cheers, because not intended for sharing, unless you take your cabin mates card and use it - not sur that would be allowed either.

 

At dinner and steakhouse, order any drink you would like. They will get you anything that they have.  Some advice - in the past, MDR drink service has been hit or miss so I usually hit up a bar and take a drink to dinner with me.

 

I don't do double espresso or whatever, so can't answer that. sorry

 

Enjoy.

[Elaine5715]

No you can't take their card and use it

[Jamesatgsu]

#1 - They generally won't let you use someone else's sign and sail card. On the plus side, you generally can get 2 non-alcoholic drinks at the same time in my experience. The 5 minute limit has only come up when I've ordered alcohol.

 

#2 - Yes you can order drinks with Cheers package in any restaurant. They will generally just take your folio number down to process the order. 

 

#3 - I wouldn't count on getting the Starbucks drink, but rather whatever they might have at the restaurant. Tea & Gatorade should be no problem.

[ugagal07]

Yes, you can take their card and buy 2 drinks at once.  The bartenders will ask for 2 cards.  DH and I do it all the time.  One goes for drinks while the other keeps the chairs/stays with kids/etc. No biggie whatsoever. 

 

MDR can get bar service anywhere, but order early.  If you wait, you may be waiting. 

 

Bottle drinks like that are always at the Coffee Shop.  You may also find some at the Lobby Bar and the less popular Lido Bar.  They can be hit or miss based on fridge space, Powerade/Propel waters more likely to be in Bar fridges, Starbucks drinks won't be.  I grab something bottled from the Coffee Shop whenever I walk by and stick it in the fridge for later.  Note they are supposed to open all cans, so be ready to drink those then.

[sparks1093]

I certainly hope that I can go up to a bar with mine and DWs cards, I'm her primary waiter. One question that I have is can I buy an alcohol drink and a soft drink at the same time or do I have to wait 5 minutes?

[Luke gs Daddy]

On 10/27/2021 at 11:24 AM, Elaine5715 said:

No you can't take their card and use it

I have for morning coffee. I would take my wife's card and tell server that I was serving her and never had a problem at all.

 

[bamaone]

On the cheers note, how does tipping work? Do you usually tip for each drink you get, a particular person or not at all? 

[sparks1093]

49 minutes ago, bamaone said:

On the cheers note, how does tipping work? Do you usually tip for each drink you get, a particular person or not at all? 

That's handled differently by each person. Some feel that the 18% they paid with the package is sufficient. Some will add a tip to the slip that is signed. Some will even give cash to a server that has consistently served them during the cruise (or cash with each drink received).

[Elaine5715]

5 hours ago, Luke gs Daddy said:

I have for morning coffee. I would take my wife's card and tell server that I was serving her and never had a problem at all.

 

You were lucky.  Crew can be terminated for that.  Sure, once they "recognize" you, they may be willing but it is no different then you using a S&S you found on the floor.

[Elaine5715]

4 hours ago, bamaone said:

On the cheers note, how does tipping work? Do you usually tip for each drink you get, a particular person or not at all? 

Yes, you should tip extra since under CHEERS, the server does NOT get 18% of the drink cost like if charging to your S&S.  They get a small amount (about 75 cents) of the that $9 ish daily amount added to CHEERS.  That is why crew aren't always jumping when they see a CHEERS sticker.  

[skridge]

On 10/27/2021 at 10:08 AM, NanoGirl21 said:

I’ll be on the Carnival Freedom soon for my first cruise. I’ve been reviewing some of the menus and there are so many drinks that I want to try. I will have the cheers package, so I want to take full advantage of that! I have a few questions that I am hoping someone would be able to answer for me.

 

1.        I’m a super early riser and would swing down and pick up some specialty coffees (and fun times while I’m out). Would I be able to grab a drink for my cruise-companion? If so, how would this work? Do I need to take their sign and sail card to “purchase” their drink? It would be non-alcoholic.

 

2.       I plan to dine in the MDR and at the Steakhouse. Am I able to order frozen alcoholic drinks from my table or do I need to swing by a bar before going to eat? I’ve only seen wine options, a few cocktails that are not exciting to me, and some liquid desserts.

 

3.       Bouncing off #2. What about ordering beverages like Starbucks Double Shot Espresso, Gatorade, and Pure Leaf Tea? Those are the 3 “other” drinks that I’m mainly interested in. Can they be ordered from my table, or do I have to go to a special location for them?

1.  Depends on the barista.  I have had pretty good success getting a coffee for my wife.

2.  You can order just about anything from the bar.  Minus specialty Alchemy drinks.

3.  They have espresso in the dining room.  Those other 2 things my guess is you would need to bring them in with you but I am not sure.

[ULCajunCruiser]

36 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

You were lucky.  Crew can be terminated for that.  Sure, once they "recognize" you, they may be willing but it is no different then you using a S&S you found on the floor.

You're being over dramatic.   My wife and I's S&S card are linked to the same account.   It's nowhere close "finding" one on the floor!!   And I've never had an issue using her card to get her a drink at the same time as I get mine (whether it's coffee in the morning, or wine at night)

[ULCajunCruiser]

35 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Yes, you should tip extra since under CHEERS, the server does NOT get 18% of the drink cost like if charging to your S&S.  They get a small amount (about 75 cents) of the that $9 ish daily amount added to CHEERS.  That is why crew aren't always jumping when they see a CHEERS sticker.  

Not to turn this into another tipping thread, but I've never seen crew act any differently because I have cheers.  It's demeaning to them, and ridiculous to think that I would be treated as a second class customer because I bought cheers.  Whether or not I chose to add $1 to my receipt is my choice, and the server would stand a better chance of being terminated if they were reported to treating non per drink tippers badly!!

[Elaine5715]

38 minutes ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

You're being over dramatic.   My wife and I's S&S card are linked to the same account.   It's nowhere close "finding" one on the floor!!   And I've never had an issue using her card to get her a drink at the same time as I get mine (whether it's coffee in the morning, or wine at night)

No, them's the rules.  

[Elaine5715]

30 minutes ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

Not to turn this into another tipping thread, but I've never seen crew act any differently because I have cheers.  It's demeaning to them, and ridiculous to think that I would be treated as a second class customer because I bought cheers.  Whether or not I chose to add $1 to my receipt is my choice, and the server would stand a better chance of being terminated if they were reported to treating non per drink tippers badly!!

Then you aren't paying attention.  There is a difference in crew doing their job professionally and those who enthusiastically call your name and start your order on sight.  Drink crew who seek you out and check on you from across the deck vs taking your order because you are there.

[Luke gs Daddy]

49 minutes ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

You're being over dramatic.   My wife and I's S&S card are linked to the same account.   It's nowhere close "finding" one on the floor!!   And I've never had an issue using her card to get her a drink at the same time as I get mine (whether it's coffee in the morning, or wine at night)

Yep. I have taken her card to the bar also and got her a drink.

Cards are linked and no problem at all.

 

[famof4togo]

I too have cruised many times and came up to the bar with both hubby and my S&S cards and received two drinks...in fact I can't think of a single time that they made an issue of it.  I have probably done it 100 times without incident.  You will not have a problem doing so.

[Thenagers]

8 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

I certainly hope that I can go up to a bar with mine and DWs cards, I'm her primary waiter. One question that I have is can I buy an alcohol drink and a soft drink at the same time or do I have to wait 5 minutes?

I always get an alchohol drink and a water at the same time.  They want you to hydrate!

[sparks1093]

42 minutes ago, Thenagers said:

I always get an alchohol drink and a water at the same time.  They want you to hydrate!

What about an alcohol drink and a soda? 

[dallasdan]

I have never had cheers, but I usually get drinks on us in the casino.  I tip $1 for every drink I receive.  Most of the time it is just a bottle of water.  It does seem like I get better service because I always tip.  I will have one or 2 servers seek me out to get my drink order even when they are not serving that particular area.  

[NanoGirl21]

2 hours ago, dallasdan said:

I have never had cheers, but I usually get drinks on us in the casino.  I tip $1 for every drink I receive.  Most of the time it is just a bottle of water.  It does seem like I get better service because I always tip.  I will have one or 2 servers seek me out to get my drink order even when they are not serving that particular area.  

 

I am also booked on a casino rate and have drinks on us while playing. How does this work? Is there a special card? I will also have cheers. Will the drinks on us count towards mt 15 drinks from cheers?

[south-carolinagirl]

Yes, 15 alcoholic drinks per day in total.  Doesn't matter if DOU or Cheers!  they keep track. 

[pinklucky61]

7 hours ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

You're being over dramatic.   My wife and I's S&S card are linked to the same account.   It's nowhere close "finding" one on the floor!!   And I've never had an issue using her card to get her a drink at the same time as I get mine (whether it's coffee in the morning, or wine at night)

I'm traveling with my sister(different last name), are they able to see we're sharing cabin?  Thinking mostly for coffees, I'm an early riser.