New to Celebrity: how can soft drink be so confusing?? Anyone on board or recently disembarked please?

[lahore]

Hello all.  I’ve just booked our first Celebrity cruise, Australia to New Zealand.  Everything seems relatively straight forward so far, except the jolly drinks issue.  I have some questions but first some context.

 

I can’t drink alcohol.  I drink quite a bit of soft drink though.  I don’t need ‘mocktails’ or similar. I might stump up for the odd smoothy but wouldn’t pay for a package to get them. I drink tea, not coffee.  Tea bags are fine for 11 days.
My partner might have one or two alcoholic drinks per cruise.  He doesn’t drink soft drink, but does drink really good high end Melbourne style coffee.  He’s very likely to proclaim that the ship’s coffee is ‘crap’, that’s what usually happens.

So, I am not going to pay USD$30 per day for some coke or lemonade.  I couldn’t possibly drink enough to make it worthwhile and then everyone in the cabin has to pay for it so that’s USD$60 for one person to drink soft drink.  Out of the question.

Therefore I was riveted to read on here that ‘normal’ soft drinks might now be included. Can anyone say without any doubt whatsoever what the situation is?  I don’t want to phone some call center and have a call centre staffer have a guess.

Also, can you take your own soft drink onto Celebrity?  Recently on Cunard I took a slab of my favourite (100+; a Malaysian electrolyte drink which you definitely couldn’t get onboard anyway) and it was no problem.  What might be the situation on Celebrity?

To summarise this whole thread: how can I satisfy my soft drink addiction without paying nearly $100 AU per day for it.  I can deal with being overcharged a bit, but that’s just taking the Pi$$.

TIA

Edited January 16, 2023 by lahore

[lahore]

P.s.  Australia’s call tinned fizzy lemon flavoured drink (e.g., 7Up) lemonade.  I don’t mean lemon cordial from the machine in the buffet, such as Americans call lemonade.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

You can bring some soda on board at the start, and also at every port 

or just pay for each drink if you don’t want pay for a package 

[Random Cruizer]

Just pay for them individually--it will probably less than the package.  You can drink them without a package--you just have to pay for each one.

[kwokpot]

What's up with Australians and coffee? I've been to Melbourne and while a Flat white was good in the coffee shops there it was anything that special that you can't get anywhere around the world. Yet it does seem that Australians, particularly from Melbourne, are downright fanatical about coffee. It's unfortunate for them because you're not going to get to coffee exactly like they have it in Melbourne in other countries. It's just very strange. This is from personal experience. 

[Petie Mac]

Once onboard, we were able to buy a soda only package for about nine dollars a day. It was not good for use in the room but you could use it in all the bars, lounges and Oceanview cafe.  This was not available to purchase prior to the cruise.  This was in August, 2022.

 

Edited January 27, 2023 by Petie Mac
Error

[Petie Mac]

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Edited January 27, 2023 by Petie Mac
Error

[Ex-Airbalancer]

On 1/16/2023 at 11:16 AM, kwokpot said:

What's up with Australians and coffee? I've been to Melbourne and while a Flat white was good in the coffee shops there it was anything that special that you can't get anywhere around the world. Yet it does seem that Australians, particularly from Melbourne, are downright fanatical about coffee. It's unfortunate for them because you're not going to get to coffee exactly like they have it in Melbourne in other countries. It's just very strange. This is from personal experience. 

Your post has me confused ,

What is a Flat white ? 

[Mark_T]

10 minutes ago, Petie Mac said:

Once onboard, we were able to buy a soda only package for about nine dollars a day. It was not good for use in the room but you could use it in all the bars, lounges and Oceanview cafe.  This was not available to purchase prior to the cruise.  This was in August, 2022.

 

It has changed since then, the soda package no longer exists, only the 'Zero Proof' package which the OP does not want to buy.

[NanaPam00]

Cafe Al Bacio can make your partner a quite decent flat white.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

So I google Flat White 

It just how my foam usually turns out when I make a cappuccino 🤣

Now back to your usually schedule program😁

[lahore]

On 1/17/2023 at 3:16 AM, kwokpot said:

What's up with Australians and coffee? I've been to Melbourne and while a Flat white was good in the coffee shops there it was anything that special that you can't get anywhere around the world. Yet it does seem that Australians, particularly from Melbourne, are downright fanatical about coffee. It's unfortunate for them because you're not going to get to coffee exactly like they have it in Melbourne in other countries. It's just very strange. This is from personal experience. 

Australia: proudly the only country in the world where Starbucks bombed big time. Melbourne in particular sent them running with their tail between their legs. 
Most Melbournians with any taste are, as you said, utterly fanatical about coffee. We like to know where it comes from, what side of the slope it was growing on, what batch it’s from, whether or not, it’s sustainable etc etc.  

 

It’s a case of if you know you know, and without wanting to be offensive,  if you couldn’t taste the difference, then you don’t know (or, you may have gone somewhere average anyway). Flat whites and not exactly the measure of gourmet coffee; they are coffee for the uninitiated. Really the only place in the world that does coffee better than Melbourne is Italy. 
 

it’s like this:https://www.australia.com/en/places/melbourne-and-surrounds/best-coffee-shops.html

Edited January 28, 2023 by lahore

[kwokpot]

40 minutes ago, lahore said:

Australia: proudly the only country in the world where Starbucks bombed big time. Melbourne in particular sent them running with their tail between their legs. 
Most Melbournians with any taste are, as you said, utterly fanatical about coffee. We like to know where it comes from, what side of the slope it was growing on, what batch it’s from, whether or not, it’s sustainable etc etc.  

 

It’s a case of if you know you know, and without wanting to be offensive,  if you couldn’t taste the difference, then you don’t know (or, you may have gone somewhere average anyway). Flat whites and not exactly the measure of gourmet coffee; they are coffee for the uninitiated. Really the only place in the world that does coffee better than Melbourne is Italy. 
 

it’s like this:https://www.australia.com/en/places/melbourne-and-surrounds/best-coffee-shops.html

I think my only issue is the veracity of Australians about the topic. We can talk about the same issue about a whole host of products, and actually here on CC people do. Look at the discussions about toiletries and the taste of all the foods in the ship. What I'm trying to say is with all things we come in contact with, whether that's food, drink, clothes, cruises, houses, music, cars, the list can go on, there's always a range of quality and from bad to sublime. Just because something isn't the gold standard doesn't mean that you can't consume, utilize, drive it etc. And constantly complaining about it NOT being up to a certain standard becomes tiresome and elitist. 

[the wandering two]

In the same way that some cruisers (mostly from USA, imho) are fixated on prime rib, lobster & pinot noir.

[kwokpot]

14 hours ago, kwokpot said:

I think my only issue is the veracity of Australians about the topic. We can talk about the same issue about a whole host of products, and actually here on CC people do. Look at the discussions about toiletries and the taste of all the foods in the ship. What I'm trying to say is with all things we come in contact with, whether that's food, drink, clothes, cruises, houses, music, cars, the list can go on, there's always a range of quality and from bad to sublime. Just because something isn't the gold standard doesn't mean that you can't consume, utilize, drive it etc. And constantly complaining about it NOT being up to a certain standard becomes tiresome and elitist. 

Responding to my own post. Did some googling and here you go. Very interesting!

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-28/best-australian-coffee-big-overseas/11747342

 

https://coffeehero.com.au/blogs/news/the-coffee-culture-in-australia

 

Having said that my original point still stands. As an example, let's take two food items from New York which is supposedly a worldwide standard; Pizza and bagels. Especially bagels, besides Montreal style which is very different, NYC has been designated the home to the best bagels. Yet as a native NY'er, I don't constantly complain about how all other bagels are so terrible that they are inedible. My husband, a Jew born in the Bronx, feels the same way. He LOVES his bagel and lox with a smear, BUT he can enjoy a bagel and lox even on a cruiseship, knowing that it's nothing like a true NYC bagel. It is what is is. Of the Australians that I've met and interacted on various cruiselines, the same cannot be said about their attitudes about coffee other than Australian style.  

 

Edited January 28, 2023 by kwokpot

[mayleeman]

7 hours ago, kwokpot said:

 

as a native NY'er, I don't constantly complain about how all other bagels are so terrible that they are inedible..  

 

 

Years in the DC area and in SC have brought me into contact with many ex-NYers. I assure you if you don't complain about bagels you are almost unique.

Edited January 29, 2023 by mayleeman

[I_Like_Cruising]

12 hours ago, kwokpot said:

Responding to my own post. Did some googling and here you go. Very interesting!

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-28/best-australian-coffee-big-overseas/11747342

 

https://coffeehero.com.au/blogs/news/the-coffee-culture-in-australia

 

Having said that my original point still stands. As an example, let's take two food items from New York which is supposedly a worldwide standard; Pizza and bagels. Especially bagels, besides Montreal style which is very different, NYC has been designated the home to the best bagels. Yet as a native NY'er, I don't constantly complain about how all other bagels are so terrible that they are inedible. My husband, a Jew born in the Bronx, feels the same way. He LOVES his bagel and lox with a smear, BUT he can enjoy a bagel and lox even on a cruiseship, knowing that it's nothing like a true NYC bagel. It is what is is. Of the Australians that I've met and interacted on various cruiselines, the same cannot be said about their attitudes about coffee other than Australian style.  

 

The coffee issue Australians have with coffee from other countries is usually the strength of the coffee, we drink our coffee strong. Most Australians find that American coffee is too weak and while you say it doesn't matter if the quality is a bit different it does matter if you are used to strong coffee to get weak coffee. For example I usually ask for double or triple shots when on cruises or in the US. Not all countries make weak coffee, however, the US and cruises seem to.

[lahore]

On 1/28/2023 at 2:08 PM, kwokpot said:

I think my only issue is the veracity of Australians about the topic. We can talk about the same issue about a whole host of products, and actually here on CC people do. Look at the discussions about toiletries and the taste of all the foods in the ship. What I'm trying to say is with all things we come in contact with, whether that's food, drink, clothes, cruises, houses, music, cars, the list can go on, there's always a range of quality and from bad to sublime. Just because something isn't the gold standard doesn't mean that you can't consume, utilize, drive it etc. And constantly complaining about it NOT being up to a certain standard becomes tiresome and elitist. 

 Veracity? Really? You read those two articles but you insinuate that we are somehow insincere about our preferences? I invite you to watch the face of a Melbourne coffee officianado taking a sip of a typical American coffee. Step back I would suggest, further than spitting distance 🤣.  Of course we’re elitist about it, that’s the point. My hubby more than me, would certainly prefer to go without rather than drink sub-par coffee. That’s slightly different to your bagel preferences argument.  

[jean87510]

On 1/28/2023 at 1:20 PM, kwokpot said:

Responding to my own post. Did some googling and here you go. Very interesting!

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-28/best-australian-coffee-big-overseas/11747342

 

https://coffeehero.com.au/blogs/news/the-coffee-culture-in-australia

 

Having said that my original point still stands. As an example, let's take two food items from New York which is supposedly a worldwide standard; Pizza and bagels. Especially bagels, besides Montreal style which is very different, NYC has been designated the home to the best bagels. Yet as a native NY'er, I don't constantly complain about how all other bagels are so terrible that they are inedible. My husband, a Jew born in the Bronx, feels the same way. He LOVES his bagel and lox with a smear, BUT he can enjoy a bagel and lox even on a cruiseship, knowing that it's nothing like a true NYC bagel. It is what is is. Of the Australians that I've met and interacted on various cruiselines, the same cannot be said about their attitudes about coffee other than Australian style.  

 

I'm from South Jersey outside Philadelphia and I may challenge you on the pizza although NYC is close, I concur on the bagels.  Plus our rolls and loaves.  I never get pizza or bagels from outside this area.  I talk to people who think Domino's and Papa John's is good!  So yep, get the Australian attitude about coffee completely.

[Georgia_Peaches]

On 1/29/2023 at 1:44 AM, I_Like_Cruising said:

Most Australians find that American coffee is too weak  

Could be because we started out as tea drinkers all those centuries ago. But I agree, a strong cup of coffee in the USA is not so easily found. I have a feeling I would enjoy Australian coffee very much. 

[SLOTheta]

On 1/16/2023 at 2:08 AM, lahore said:

Therefore I was riveted to read on here that ‘normal’ soft drinks might now be included. Can anyone say without any doubt whatsoever what the situation is?  I don’t want to phone some call center and have a call centre staffer have a guess.

Also, can you take your own soft drink onto Celebrity?  Recently on Cunard I took a slab of my favourite (100+; a Malaysian electrolyte drink which you definitely couldn’t get onboard anyway) and it was no problem.  What might be the situation on Celebrity?

To summarise this whole thread: how can I satisfy my soft drink addiction without paying nearly $100 AU per day for it.  I can deal with being overcharged a bit, but that’s just taking the Pi$$.

TIA

I left the ship today and there wasn’t an issue bringing soft drinks on when we on onboarded and in port stops. I would bring a 6 pack for each of you to start. If you gamble in the casino, you can get free soft drinks there. Every port, pick up some more soft drinks. The drink packages are way over priced. If your likes to have a couple of drinks, they can bring 2 bottles of wine to consume in your room without charge. I would buy a drink here and there at dinner and then bring the glass back to the room to use it for wine, you can walk around the ship with your wine glass without issue. 

[LB_NJ]

Australia may be different. Just off a Constellation cruise, cruise ended Feb 3.  As we had the non-classic alcohol package (purchased it before they changed everything) didn't have to pay for sodas and espresso-based coffees.  As far as I can tell they charge for soda and espresso-based coffees for those pax without a package.  Espresso based coffees were around $5 each and were made well. 

 

Personally, I think the regular coffee on Celebrity is the worst at sea.  For all the time I was onboard I only tasted the regular brewed coffee once just to be sure it was as bad as I remembered from a previous cruise.

 

I did not see 7-up anywhere.

 

[D. B.]

On 1/16/2023 at 2:08 AM, lahore said:

Hello all.  I’ve just booked our first Celebrity cruise, Australia to New Zealand.  Everything seems relatively straight forward so far, except the jolly drinks issue.  I have some questions but first some context.

 

I can’t drink alcohol.  I drink quite a bit of soft drink though.  I don’t need ‘mocktails’ or similar. I might stump up for the odd smoothy but wouldn’t pay for a package to get them. I drink tea, not coffee.  Tea bags are fine for 11 days.
My partner might have one or two alcoholic drinks per cruise.  He doesn’t drink soft drink, but does drink really good high end Melbourne style coffee.  He’s very likely to proclaim that the ship’s coffee is ‘crap’, that’s what usually happens.

So, I am not going to pay USD$30 per day for some coke or lemonade.  I couldn’t possibly drink enough to make it worthwhile and then everyone in the cabin has to pay for it so that’s USD$60 for one person to drink soft drink.  Out of the question.

Therefore I was riveted to read on here that ‘normal’ soft drinks might now be included. Can anyone say without any doubt whatsoever what the situation is?  I don’t want to phone some call center and have a call centre staffer have a guess.

Also, can you take your own soft drink onto Celebrity?  Recently on Cunard I took a slab of my favourite (100+; a Malaysian electrolyte drink which you definitely couldn’t get onboard anyway) and it was no problem.  What might be the situation on Celebrity?

To summarise this whole thread: how can I satisfy my soft drink addiction without paying nearly $100 AU per day for it.  I can deal with being overcharged a bit, but that’s just taking the Pi$$.

TIA

 

[D. B.]

I was on Eclipse out of Sydney 2 months ago and had no problem bringing my own soft drinks with me.

 I like Rootbeer and seldom find it on X ships but wouldn't you Know after bringing my own every Bar onboard had A&W Rootbeer!

 If you don't want to carry enough for the entire cruise you could probably restock at Port days?

[alfiemom]

As Elite+, we used to (notice how I put that) got 3 drinks during happy hour every evening expect the first night.  We don’t drink, so one of use would go up to the OV bar and get six cans of soft drinks….3 each.  That held up nicely.  Leaving March 27 on Silly and hope that hasn’t changed.