Looking for details about the X1 drink package

[MaxCrusin]

Hi RNcruise! I was planning to write a review on how great our trip on the Med. was but your review was very through. My only addition is that we, your table mates, had a third bottle of wine on occassion as well! Your helpful comments to fellow travellers is why this board is so successful and somewhat addictive. If only they knew how beautiful you and your mother and sister are!

PS Don't forget to tip your casino staff - expert advice is always welcome

[ETBee]

When we embarked on the Magica 3/18, I thought the X1 package was going to be awesome. I went to the pool bar and ordered a Carlsburg draft and got it without hassle. It was downhill from there.

 

First of all, they will only give you a tiny little glass of draft beer. I'd say it takes at least 2 and maybe 3 of these glasses to constitute a "beer". Patrons without the X1 card got a glass twice as large.

 

Second, I gave a nice tip to the bartender right away, hoping to grease the skids for the remainder of the week. It was just my luck that I never saw that particular bartender again.

 

Third, starting with the second day of the cruise, the bartenders at the pool bar insisted I have a plate of food before they would pour me a beer. I don't recall reading anything that said beer would only be served with a plate of food, but whatever. That particular day I had already eaten lunch at the buffet before going out to get a beer. I went to the buffet, loaded up a plate with $10 worth of food, got my 75 cents worth of beer, and threw the plate of food away. The remainder of the cruise I remembered to make the trek out to get my beer before sitting down to eat.

 

Fourth, I ordered wine in the dining room with dinner. Neither the white nor the red was very good. Barely drinkable. After 3 nights of hoping it might get better I switched to Carlsburg draft at dinner, which was an improvement. At least they brought a full sized glass. Each evening I had to give my card to the assistant waiter before he would bring my first glass. Subsequent glasses did not require the card. I have no idea why I had to repeat the ritual every night.

 

I probably got my money's worth out of the X1, but it was not really a pleasurable experience.

[Jdleong]

We got our money's worth. The beer at the aft pool bar was Carlsburg and came in a giant tumbler. The wine came the first time in a small plastic tumbler, but I asked for it in a wine glass, and it came everytime just like that. Our waiters were great and the tips might have helped, they had our drinks waiting as we walked up to the bar every evening at 6:30. or at lunch. The waitstaff in the buffet brought us multiple cokes and beer and wine too.At dinner our waiter had a fresh bottle of Red and white on the table as we got there, and also a can of coke for DH. Also there were 3 bottles of mineral water awaiting us. I think it was a great deal, but I drank more than I usually do on a cruise with the package. We usually left the bar for the show with a glass of wine in tow. I took wine on board and never drank it...wish Carnival had this offer...

 

Jan

[fatcat04]

www.popvssoda.com/

 

hence why i say pop.

 

I sit firmly in Coke country... not uncommon to hear someone ask what KIND of Coke someone wants.

 

On the same topic... this NPR site links to a quiz that is purty cute. :D

[SW FLA CRUISER]

Just returned from the 4/8 cruise on the Mediterranea.

 

X1 was definitely worth it. I tipped $5 to our assistant waiter in the dining room, a couple of bartenders at the Apollo bar deck 9 and a bartender between the two other pools on deck 9. I came right out with "I have the X1 drink package and I understand that you don't receive tips on this package so here's a tip to assure that you're taken care of and I am too".

 

I instantly had made "best friends" with these members of the staff. They would bend the policy somewhat by extending the hours, giving me cans of soda to take to the room and put in the previously emtied minibar, and never asking to see my Costa card again. I was able to get large tumblers of draft beer several at a time and when I came back for more they simply said X1 and poured some new ones. They didn't ask to see who's drinking them or if the prior glasses were empty. We were able to take beers to our balcony and stockpile some in the fridge.

 

In case you're pondering the X1 think about the cost of a glass of wine: $10.00 plus $1.50 service charge + $11.50.

 

In the dining room we drank the white most of the time and after the first night the waiter brought it as soon as we were seated.

 

Except for in the casino I recommend that you always mention the X1 regardless of the time of day you might be surprised.

[cleophus12]

Is a glass of wine really $10? My husband only drinks sodas. Is it really worth it for him?

[fatcat04]

Is a glass of wine really $10? My husband only drinks sodas. Is it really worth it for him?

 

No, not unless you are buying champagne every time. ;)

 

Here are some pictures we took of the Wine Bar's menu. As you can see all wines range from $4.75 - $13 for champagne (there is a $4 one listed but I actually think that is a misprint) with most wines ranging in the $5.75 range which is abt $6.60 with tip.

 

From another site that offers "clues" for those that cruise (I don't know if I can mention the site here or not) the wine list has bottle from $18 for Italian roses all the way to $135 for a rare Italian red with most bottle firmly in the upper $20 - upper $30 range.

 

The house white wine which is the only white available on X1 package is $19 or $20 for a bottle (75cl) if I am not mistaken. With the X1 you get one white wine choice and 1 red wine choice and it is the house wine so if you don't like them, you are out of luck. We liked the white but not like the red.

 

The X1 if worked right can be a great program. especially if you drink wine with dinner and like one of the 2 wines offered. I would suggest from hearing other people's reviews that you keep some dollar bills on hand for extra tips if you want to get good X1 service from the bar and buffet waitstaff.

 

Cans of coke are approx $2.50 including tip.

 

If he drinks 5+ cans of coke a day (or if he also like mineral water which is also on the plan) and nothing else, then yes. Otherwise I wouldn't bother.

 

Hope this helps :)

[Fishfinder]

Read this about the X-1 package:

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=547061

 

Fishfinder

[SW FLA CRUISER]

The $10 wine came from the casino bar. I never saw a menu I just ordered a glass of red wine for someone I met in the casino. I was a little surprised when I saw the bill totaling $11.50.

[joetrizeo]

The $10 wine came from the casino bar. I never saw a menu I just ordered a glass of red wine for someone I met in the casino. I was a little surprised when I saw the bill totaling $11.50.

 

always specify what you want to order, if you order 'gimme a beer, any kind' the bartender will give you the most expensive!

[bettyboop16]

Hi, We will be on the Mediterranea 01/19/08. Is the draft beer cold? We like our beer very cold.:)

Thanks,

[fatcat04]

Hi, We will be on the Mediterranea 01/19/08. Is the draft beer cold? We like our beer very cold.:)

Thanks,

 

Our Carlsberg was good and cold... yummy too. They only had Bud and Carlsberg on tap for the X1. Don't know if they ever switch up. :)

[ianoozy]

The X1 package is excellent value. No strings attached as long as you are in the correct areas during the correct times. Read the T&C's if not sure

 

Not sure about the J2 package yet!!!

 

Ian

[Traveling D's]

Do anybody know how much is the cost for a beer, glass of wine and bottle of water etc?

[Goldryder]

Do anybody know how much is the cost for a beer' date=' glass of wine and bottle of water etc?[/quote']

 

Soft drinks are €2.60 + 15% grat, alcohol ranges from €4.50 thru €6.99 (ish) +15% grat on each...not sure about water but you can get packages of 13 x 1 litre bottles on MyCosta pre-boarding order online with a one-off 15% grat for the 13 bottles instead of paying it on each bottle if you so wish.

 

The drinks packages (X1/J2) include the 15% as a one-off charge for the whole package.