Time for a Drink Plan

[foodcruiser]

I don't drink much, but I do like to try new things. I get the Cheers package because I can try some different and not worry abot the cost if I do not like it. First question, what drinks are done best on Carnival or differently on Carnival? Do different bars on the ship have the same drinks but do it differently? I will be on the Magic June 10th. What is your favorite bar on the Magic? What would you say I must try? I like Rum drinks, but wwill try anything once.

[rs45thompson]

I love the Caribbean Colada, that's my fav.  But I also like the mudslide and Miami vice.

[1kaper]

The different bars have different drinks. I think you can usually order most of them at other bars. 
I really liked the mixed cocktails at the Red Frog Rum Bar.  I also had the drink package and tried each of them. 
The pina coladas were good and Blue Hawaiians. 
My other favourite was the lemon drop martini but you have to ask for top shelf vodka.  The bartender in the casino on the Dream made the best one. 

I also liked the drinks at the Alchemy Bar.  I like old fashioneds and manhattens. They had the good cherries. 

[LatinaInTexas]

When I was on the Dream I tried a few new drinks I really liked but when I next cruised on the Panorama and ordered the same drinks I didn't care for them, they were indeed made differently. One on the Dream was a bright Caribbean blue and the same drink on the Panorama it was bright green lol.

Can't go wrong with anything from Alchemy. I don't drink a lot either but found the drinks here very unique and tasty. Only tried one I didn't care for. Favorites here were the cucumber sunrise, raspberry lemon drop and the basil drop. Also liked the banana daiquiri and the creamsicle at the Tides bar.

[ChuckF]

My wife always has to have at least one chocolate martini.

 

[Virga]

On a ship with a craft cocktail bar (most have Alchemy now, right?) I love being able to ask the bartender to make me every ginger drink in their repertoire.  The steakhouse bar should be similarly able to play around - this isn't something I expect them to be able to do at the pool bar.    If you have a favorite ingredient, and stop in when they aren't slammed, they will likely be happy to play around and find some new favorites for you. 

[skrufy]

6 hours ago, foodcruiser said:

I don't drink much, but I do like to try new things. I get the Cheers package because I can try some different and not worry abot the cost if I do not like it. First question, what drinks are done best on Carnival or differently on Carnival? Do different bars on the ship have the same drinks but do it differently? I will be on the Magic June 10th. What is your favorite bar on the Magic? What would you say I must try? I like Rum drinks, but wwill try anything once.

Go to the Alchemy Bar. The bartender can give you suggestions or mix up your own special drink. If you like martinis it's the place to go.

[Retiredmedic]

16 minutes ago, skrufy said:

Go to the Alchemy Bar. The bartender can give you suggestions or mix up your own special drink. If you like martinis it's the place to go.

Must vary ship to ship, in March on the Vista I went to the Alchemy bar and asked for a Martinez, he just pointed at the QR code to scan for the menu and told only what's on the menu. Many people walked away from the Alchemy bar because would not make any drinks to order, menu only.

[MisterOJ2]

10 minutes ago, Retiredmedic said:

Must vary ship to ship, in March on the Vista I went to the Alchemy bar and asked for a Martinez, he just pointed at the QR code to scan for the menu and told only what's on the menu. Many people walked away from the Alchemy bar because would not make any drinks to order, menu only.

 

I've never had that experience at any Alchemy bar on all the ships I've been on. Of course, I've never been on anything larger than Dream class. And if that's the way it is on the bigger ships, I probably never will.

[1kaper]

I also just ask people what they are drinking if it looks good.  That's how I ended up with a Blue Hawaiian and a Lemon Drop martini. 

[foodcruiser]

12 minutes ago, 1kaper said:

I also just ask people what they are drinking if it looks good.  That's how I ended up with a Blue Hawaiian and a Lemon Drop martini. 

I did that on our last cruise. I saw a women with a drink that looked good an asked her.  She did not know, she did the same and told the server "one of those".  She then found the server and finally got it  solved..Now I don't remember what it was, but it was good.

[oyme]

38 minutes ago, 1kaper said:

I also just ask people what they are drinking if it looks good.  That's how I ended up with a Blue Hawaiian and a Lemon Drop martini. 

Blue Hawaii is one of my favorites anywhere. So good! I tried my first one on NCL way back in the day they had a drink of the day that'd be only $4.75 and Blue Hawaii was Monday's I think. 

[oyme]

First off you okay with "girly" drinks (not sure if you're M/F/identify as either)? Like, my husband's down for anything that tastes good, but that matters, lol. I'd try like any of those signature sangrias at Serenity Bar or at RedFrog Rum Bar I'd probably like Red's Rum Treasure or the Rum Jumper as they look up my alley maybe try that? Based on the drinks I prefer I've gotten pretty good at knowing what sounds good to me personally. For reference I like a lot of frozen cocktails like Strawberry Daiquiris and Pina Coladas, Princess Cruise Line's BBC (Bailey's Banana & Coldad), White Russians, Sangria, Amaretto Sour, Mojitos... I don't prefer beer but I like Pacifico and Blue Moon.

Edited May 30, 2022 by oyme

[Virga]

1 hour ago, Retiredmedic said:

Must vary ship to ship, in March on the Vista I went to the Alchemy bar and asked for a Martinez, he just pointed at the QR code to scan for the menu and told only what's on the menu. Many people walked away from the Alchemy bar because would not make any drinks to order, menu only.

 

Wow, back when I first tried the first alchemy bar I'd seen onboard, they'd actually had little 'prescription' pads where you could list things you wanted (or didn't want) to end up with a totally customized drink just for you.  I didn't use the pads, just said, 'i love ginger and hate tequila, what would you like to make for me?'

[Tradestock]

I like the White Sangria mixed with seltzer, fruit and plenty of cherries.  It is typically found at the Serenity and Casino bars.  I also like the Aperol Spritz for after dinner and evening.  DH is very basic; beer, wine or good cognac.

[1kaper]

2 hours ago, oyme said:

Blue Hawaii is one of my favorites anywhere. So good! I tried my first one on NCL way back in the day they had a drink of the day that'd be only $4.75 and Blue Hawaii was Monday's I think. 

I had one on MSC and it was not great.  I’m not sure if it was the right drink. Lol. And it wasn’t quite blue. 

[1kaper]

2 hours ago, oyme said:

First off you okay with "girly" drinks (not sure if you're M/F/identify as either)? Like, my husband's down for anything that tastes good, but that matters, lol. I'd try like any of those signature sangrias at Serenity Bar or at RedFrog Rum Bar I'd probably like Red's Rum Treasure or the Rum Jumper as they look up my alley maybe try that? Based on the drinks I prefer I've gotten pretty good at knowing what sounds good to me personally. For reference I like a lot of frozen cocktails like Strawberry Daiquiris and Pina Coladas, Princess Cruise Line's BBC (Bailey's Banana & Coldad), White Russians, Sangria, Amaretto Sour, Mojitos... I don't prefer beer but I like Pacifico and Blue Moon.

Red Rum treasure and Rum jumper were two of my favs.  I tried each one in that section and kept going back to those two. 

[jerseyjjs]

4 hours ago, MisterOJ2 said:

 

I've never had that experience at any Alchemy bar on all the ships I've been on. Of course, I've never been on anything larger than Dream class. And if that's the way it is on the bigger ships, I probably never will.

Just need to put this out there.   You seem to be focused on the Dream to be a smallish sized ship.  It's pretty much the same size as the Vista class.  It just has different features.

[sailorfool57]

9 hours ago, ChuckF said:

My wife always has to have at least one chocolate martini.

 

This is so funny!  My younger sister left Saturday on a Carnival cruise to somewhere and I told her to have a chocolate martini for me and our other sister. She sent me a picture of her "first drink."   My other sister and I leave for Western Caribbean cruise on July 9, and we'll have one for her and take a picture.  We say we stay bonded this way! After that, it's either wine or old-fashions for me!

[jamminjen]

I was just on the Magic last week. The Red Frog Pub is outstanding on this particular ship. It wasn't too crowded and the service was TOP notch! I Made and Linda are just two of the fantastic bartenders there. There are lots of different kinds of rum to choose from. All of the bartenders are always willing to suggest a drink. If you've never had a drink mixed with Ting (Grapefruit soda from Jamaica), you have to try it! They have drinks that you can only get there and and the other Red Frog bar that is on the Lido deck. I also really enjoy the martini seduction from the Alchemy bar. That's actually right next to the RF Pub. Hope you have a great trip! 

Redfrog-Pub-Menu-MC-BR.pdf

[WKUTopperFan]

Cucumber Sunrise in the Alchemy... Best drink at sea (well I cruise Royal and Celebrity frequently as well).

 

If you want to save a few calories (or just make it a little lighter) have the mixologist sub some of the juice for club soda. By the end of 

Day 3 of my cruise, all the Alchemy Mixologists know my "Cucumber Sunrise Lite" and are making it that way without me having to ask. I'll always have at least one regular one though... I can taste it now. Hurry up August!

[crazy4themouse]

18 hours ago, Retiredmedic said:

Must vary ship to ship, in March on the Vista I went to the Alchemy bar and asked for a Martinez, he just pointed at the QR code to scan for the menu and told only what's on the menu. Many people walked away from the Alchemy bar because would not make any drinks to order, menu only.

 

That is the exact same experience my husband had on Vista a few years ago, and it took several cruises before I could get him to even give Alchemy another chance. I told him that experience had to be an anomaly and once he finally went back, he saw that it was and he was happy with what the alchemist was able to make for him. 

 

My favorite drink onboard is a Twilight Zone but made with Malibu instead of regular rum, from the Tides bar. Oh man, I can taste it just thinking about it. 🥰

 

[oyme]

Wow, I've definitely had CCL make drinks to order in the past but not necessarily at the Alchemy bar. They must have a limited selection of alcohol/mixers available there, possibly? I remember asking once if they could make Princess' BBC or at least try for me and they did, it turned out pretty good. The bartender had not heard of it I just told him it was Bailey's, Banana, and Colada and it turned out pretty close! But this was quite some time ago on Spirit, I believe. Also, whenever I've asked for regular favorites like Amaretto Sour or White Russians up until now they've never said no. So maybe this is a relatively new thing? IDK.

Edited May 31, 2022 by oyme
more detail added

[greenie082756]

I do not know (yet) if this is on the Carnival brand, however, I had (several times) :

 

Key Lime Pie Martini

 

OMG!! So good. Tasted like the pie but the alcohol was not noticeable at all. It was sweet and smooth ~ great drink for the mid afternoon.

[casinostreer]

We've had totally different experiences with the Alchemy Bar - both on Ecstasy, Mardi Gras and Sunshine. In fact, in January, we got shots of espresso from the Java Blue cafe and brought them to the Alchemy bar and they made the world's best martini we'd ever had! On Ecstasy, we told the bartender/s what we were in the mood for (sweet, herbal, spicy, dry, etc.) and they made some amazing drinks. I'm thinking it depends on the bartender and the crowd level. 

 

But - we (almost) always get the drink package.