Are there any drinks we can get from bars for free if we don’t have drink packages?

[crlmyrm]

My husband and I will soon be on a Celebrity cruise. Neither of us consumes alcohol. He drinks Coke, and I mostly drink water, so we will be bringing one case of Coca-Cola with us on board. My question is, are there any drinks we can get from bars for free if we don’t have drink packages? Or do we need to go to the buffet area for complimentary drinks?

[cruisestitch]

I don’t believe that there is any drink that you can order at a bar if you don’t have a beverage package, Unless you are willing to pay for the drink, one at a time.
 

Complementary drinks in the buffet include coffee, tea, hot chocolate packet, lemonade, juice drinks, and iced tea.  At breakfast, you can probably also get oat milk and soy milk and maybe they have those at lunch too—I have not looked. Also, at breakfast, you might be able to get tomato juice and cranberry juice.  these will not be in dispensers, and you may have to ask for them.

 

The aqua spa Café will have some of these drinks as well during breakfast and lunch. And the MAST grill, poolside, will have SOME as well.

[pcur]

Any bar that has a soda gun will charge you.  Except ice water: you can always get that.

[clairebearinaus]

You might want to bring your own bottles and/or insulated mugs so you can fill up at the buffet then take your drink anywhere with you.

[chemmo]

You can ask your room attendant to deliver ice to your room twice daily which would give you chilled water in your room. I assume you could board with your favourite fruit concentrate and then mix yourself with free iced water from the bar?

 

Much as I know you aren’t a drinker some of the nonalcoholic cocktails are really nice, I particularly enjoyed an elderflower one. You may find that there are a few drinks you may want to enjoy in between….

[gold1953]

I think they may give you tap water

[PTC DAWG]

As others have said, ice water..

[crlmyrm]

7 hours ago, chemmo said:

You can ask your room attendant to deliver ice to your room twice daily which would give you chilled water in your room. I assume you could board with your favourite fruit concentrate and then mix yourself with free iced water from the bar?

 

Much as I know you aren’t a drinker some of the nonalcoholic cocktails are really nice, I particularly enjoyed an elderflower one. You may find that there are a few drinks you may want to enjoy in between….

Love the recommendation! I’ll definitely try it.

[crlmyrm]

It would be nice if they could give me water. Last year, during our first cruise trip on Royal Caribbean, I asked for water at a bar, but the bartender just told me to get it from the pizza place located at the end of the ship. We felt awkward. After that incident, we started avoiding "bars", even if they have a nice atmosphere and seating arrangements 😞

Edited June 26 by crlmyrm

[hcat]

You can bring on some water... we prefer it to ship's water.  Nothing terrible but we  prefer our usual brand 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

This is what you can get in the zero proof package , 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/pdf/drinks-flyer-11-06-2023.pdf

 

[c-leg5]

2 hours ago, crlmyrm said:

It would be nice if they could give me water. Last year, during our first cruise trip on Royal Caribbean, I asked for water at a bar, but the bartender just told me to get it from the pizza place located at the end of the ship. We felt awkward. After that incident, we started avoiding "bars", even if they have a nice atmosphere and seating arrangements 😞

I have never had a problem ordering a glass of water at a bar on Royal, or as others have said you can fill your own cup and carry it from place to place. 
 

 

 

[kwokpot]

6 hours ago, crlmyrm said:

It would be nice if they could give me water. Last year, during our first cruise trip on Royal Caribbean, I asked for water at a bar, but the bartender just told me to get it from the pizza place located at the end of the ship. We felt awkward. After that incident, we started avoiding "bars", even if they have a nice atmosphere and seating arrangements 😞

FYI that isn't how it's done and I would have raised holy hell. All cruiseline bars service tap water with or without ice. 

[chefchick]

Doesn’t Celebrity often give “free drinks” to those playing in the casino?  I know it’s technically not free but in case the OP also likes to gamble.  Remember when Celebrity used to hand you champagne when you first boarded?  That’s long gone right?

[kwokpot]

Just now, chefchick said:

Doesn’t Celebrity often give “free drinks” to those playing in the casino?  I know it’s technically not free but in case the OP also likes to gamble.  Remember when Celebrity used to hand you champagne when you first boarded?  That’s long gone right?

Yes, correct, there's free drinks while actively playing in casino on Celebrity. Actively playing means having your card in a slot machine with money in the machine and/or playing at a table game (BJ, poker, roulette}. Must be ordered from a roving server. 

 

With regard to the welcome champagne it is no longer offered as you enter the ship but from what people have said here on CC it's being offered at Cafe Al Bacio during embarkation.  I haven't sought it out myself so I can't vouch for this. 

[cruisestitch]

Yes, the casino would serve a drink while you are actively gambling.
 

Welcome glasses of bubbly were available at Café Al Bacio on solstice last week

[Dancing Shoes]

You can get water at the bar.  I understand the not wanting to drink, but when you run out of your soda you brought you might enjoy ordering there instead of picking up soda at the stations that sell canned soda, water, and other beverages.

[StellaTN]

I wouldn’t avoid all bars on all ships just because one bartender once told you to go somewhere else for water. Your silent boycott only impacts your own enjoyment. Go where you want and order what you want. I also wouldn’t obsess too much about saving $3 on a can of coke or bottle of water. Sometimes it’s nice to get a Pellegrino in a nice glass with a slice of lime! You’re on vacation - you’ve spent $3-6k on your vacation on a lovely higher end ship. Treat yourself to a Coke and a water 🙂

[crlmyrm]

7 minutes ago, StellaTN said:

I wouldn’t avoid all bars on all ships just because one bartender once told you to go somewhere else for water. Your silent boycott only impacts your own enjoyment. Go where you want and order what you want. I also wouldn’t obsess too much about saving $3 on a can of coke or bottle of water. Sometimes it’s nice to get a Pellegrino in a nice glass with a slice of lime! You’re on vacation - you’ve spent $3-6k on your vacation on a lovely higher end ship. Treat yourself to a Coke and a water 🙂

absolutely!

[pcur]

On 6/26/2024 at 4:58 AM, gold1953 said:

I think they may give you tap water

RCCL has desalination and purification systems on all it's ships.  The tap water is probably more pure than most people's home tap water.