Soda card

[loviegirl26]

How much is the soda card for adults versus the price to buy sodas individually?

[brandymleahy]

i don't have an answer for your question, but i would like to ask if the price is the same for a 7 day as it is for a 5 day cruise??? Just curiosity as DH and I are going on a 5 day and all the prices I have seen are 35-40$ not noting how long the cruise was, Sry if I am hijacking your question. Oh and the sodas are between 1.75 and 2$ per.

[loviegirl26]

For your information I am going on a 7 day cruise on the valor.

[chandom]

Adult soda card is $5.50 per day (I think) + 15%.

 

Sodas are; Glass: $1.25, Can: $1.75 (Plus 15%)

[sjohnson529]

If you drink more than 3 sodas a day the soda card will pay for itself. I drink a lot of soda so it's well worth the money for me.

[The_Edge]

Do you have to "buy" a soda if you have it with a meal? or is it "free" during meals?

[sjohnson529]

Soda is NEVER free. I belive children can get soda at no cost during a meal, but not adults.

[sns101]

The soda card is charged by the day, so the 5-day price would be lower than the 7-day price. Last week on the Sensation (3 day itinerary) we paid $16 + 15% gratuity for an adult card and $12 + gratuity for the kids' cards.

 

Soda is $1.25 for a glass (looks about 8 oz to me) or $1.75 for a 12-oz can, plus gratuity of course!

 

Soda is not free in the dining room for anybody, even kids, anymore. Also, you can't use your soda card in the dining room, so if you want soda with dinner and you want to use the card, you must bring it in with you. I think that's ridiculous, but that's the rule.

[skiorcruise]

When did the soda card in the dining room change? We used DW's card in the dining room last September on the Conquest. After the second night, the waiter brought her Coke to the table right after we sat down.

 

I'll see what the situation is on the Pride in about a month, and report back.

[sns101]

When did the soda card in the dining room change? We used DW's card in the dining room last September on the Conquest. After the second night, the waiter brought her Coke to the table right after we sat down.

 

I'll see what the situation is on the Pride in about a month, and report back.

 

Not sure, all I know is there was a note on the menu about it. Also, on the Carnival website it says:

 

We will offer to all guests the option to purchase a "Fountain Fun Card" which will allow them unlimited soft drinks for the duration of the cruise at a one time purchase price (including gratuities). The "Fountain Fun Card" can be purchased at the casino, lobby and pool bar onboard the ship. In all locations where beverage service is offered, guests may receive a glass of the soft drink of their choice - one glass will be served at a time and only to the guest whose name appears on the card. The card cannot be used through room service. NOTE: A 15% gratuity will automatically be added on at the time of purchase of the Fountain Fun Card.

 

I guess the dining room is not a "location where beverage service is offered." :confused: Sounds like you had a great waiter. I loved the Pride when I sailed on her.

[crusinmama06]

Not sure, all I know is there was a note on the menu about it. Also, on the Carnival website it says:

 

We will offer to all guests the option to purchase a "Fountain Fun Card" which will allow them unlimited soft drinks for the duration of the cruise at a one time purchase price (including gratuities). The "Fountain Fun Card" can be purchased at the casino, lobby and pool bar onboard the ship. In all locations where beverage service is offered, guests may receive a glass of the soft drink of their choice - one glass will be served at a time and only to the guest whose name appears on the card. The card cannot be used through room service. NOTE: A 15% gratuity will automatically be added on at the time of purchase of the Fountain Fun Card.

 

I guess the dining room is not a "location where beverage service is offered." :confused: Sounds like you had a great waiter. I loved the Pride when I sailed on her.

 

Now you are confusing even me. ;)

 

You can use your soda card IN the dining room. You *may* have to present it, but you can still use it. The card is good to use ANYWHERE soda is being served and that includes the dining room. The only place it says you can't use it is in Room Service. But where does it say you can't use it in the dining room?

[GeeBee1022]

Not sure, all I know is there was a note on the menu about it. Also, on the Carnival website it says:

 

We will offer to all guests the option to purchase a "Fountain Fun Card" which will allow them unlimited soft drinks for the duration of the cruise at a one time purchase price (including gratuities). The "Fountain Fun Card" can be purchased at the casino, lobby and pool bar onboard the ship. In all locations where beverage service is offered, guests may receive a glass of the soft drink of their choice - one glass will be served at a time and only to the guest whose name appears on the card. The card cannot be used through room service. NOTE: A 15% gratuity will automatically be added on at the time of purchase of the Fountain Fun Card.

 

I guess the dining room is not a "location where beverage service is offered." :confused: Sounds like you had a great waiter. I loved the Pride when I sailed on her.

 

Since beverage service is offered in the dining room, the card can be used there. We had the same experience as another poster. Once my kids showed their cards in the dining room the first night, our wait staff knew exactly what they wanted for the rest of the cruise!

[GRRL]

I got this in an email this morning from a fellow board member...current as of 8/5/07.

Fountain Fun Card

We will offer to all guests the option to purchase a "Fountain Fun Card" which will allow the guest unlimited soft drinks and juices for the duration of the cruise at a one time purchase price (including 15% gratuities). The Fountain Fun Card can be purchased at any bar on board the ship.

In all locations where beverage service is offered, guests may receive a glass of the soft drink or juice of their choice - one glass will be served at a time and only to the guest whose name appears on the card. The card cannot be used through room service.

NOTE: A 15% gratuity will automatically be added on at the time of purchase of the Fountain Fun Card.

Cruise Duration Under 18 Adult

2-day cruise: $ 8.00 $11.00

3-day cruise: $12.00 $16.50

4-day cruise: $16.00 $22.00

5-day cruise: $20.00 $27.50

6-day cruise: $24.00 $33.00

7-day cruise: $28.00 $38.50

8-day cruise: $32.00 $44.00

12-day cruise: $48.00 $66.00

15-day cruise: $60.00 $82.50

[brandymleahy]

Okay now I am partial to canned sodas is the card good for just a glass of soda or do you have a choice for can or glass?

[GeeBee1022]

Okay now I am partial to canned sodas is the card good for just a glass of soda or do you have a choice for can or glass?

 

only by the glass.

 

I liked having the card for my kids, because their S&S wasn't activated, and the card allowed them to get drinks whenever and where ever they wanted. The convenience was worth the cost. Also, if you want to save a couple of bucks, wait until the morning after sailing, and it will be cheaper. You pay by the day, so if you can go without sodas the first afternoon/night, then you can save some money!

[lubyshell]

We just got off the Liberty on Saturday. You can use your soda card in the diningroom, but you need to present it when ordering. You can get a glass of soda at any bar with it, but bascially they pour it out of a can and into a glass, hopefully the can will not have been sitting there unopened for a while.

[Knights on the Beach]

Okay now I am partial to canned sodas is the card good for just a glass of soda or do you have a choice for can or glass?

Not sure if it depends on where the drink is ordered, but at the Triumph's atrium/lobby bar, the bartenders poured the soda from a can into a glass each time a FF card was presented.

 

We've been buying FF cards for our son(s) since Carnival started selling them a few years ago. They have never had a problem getting a soda with the card in the dining room, including on our last cruise on the Triumph in June.

[sorcamc]

I will buy soda cards for the family, but my Travel agent suggested that I bring my own sports bottles b/c the cups are so small.

 

If I bought a soda card for myself, would I be able to get a diet coke in my sports bottle if I have the card? For the most part, my kids will drink water, juice and milk, but at meals, they sometimes like a Shirley temple if we are out. Also, she suggested that we bring our own coffee travel mugs b/c the cups are really small. Maybe I should post this elsewhere?

[Knights on the Beach]

On the Triumph, the glass they poured the coke into held almost an entire can plus ice. I remember when they first started selling the Fountain Fun Cards, the glasses were a lot smaller which just created more work for the bartenders. ;) They also sell a "Coke" brand sports bottle for an additional charge that they will refill with your FF card, so I kind of doubt they will fill your own sports bottle all the way up for you.

 

The coffee cups are normal sized coffee cups -- they aren't that small. When is the last time your TA cruised? ;)

[Solo1959]

I got this in an email this morning from a fellow board member...current as of 8/5/07.

 

Fountain Fun Card.....In all locations where beverage service is offered, guests may receive a glass of the soft drink or juice of their choice.....

This DOES say that juice is included in the Soft Drink Card Plan. I have a question.... I really enjoy a glass of 50% Orange Juice, 50% Ginger Ale. One of my favorite drinks, I'm not too big on alcohol. Do you, or does anyone, know if the Soft Drink Card Plan would give me those to drink? Or is that some specialty thing that is not included in the plan?

[Hendricksavo]

This DOES say that juice is included in the Soft Drink Card Plan. I have a question.... I really enjoy a glass of 50% Orange Juice, 50% Ginger Ale. One of my favorite drinks, I'm not too big on alcohol. Do you, or does anyone, know if the Soft Drink Card Plan would give me those to drink? Or is that some specialty thing that is not included in the plan?

 

I read on another message board that with the FF card that they allowed them to order virgin bloody marys, so I would think that they would let you.

[Hendricksavo]

I read on another message board that with the FF card that they allowed them to order virgin bloody marys, so I would think that they would let you.

 

Here is what was said.....Hope it helps

 

and I'm not sure "soft drink" in that definition from the Carnival site only applies to soda. Actually, the defintion I found for it says "soft drink" means, "non alcoholic beverage; usually carbonated".

 

On both of my cruises, I could get pretty much anything that wasn't alcohol with my card...cranberry juice, pineapple juice, virgin Bloody Mary's, etc.

[Solo1959]

I read on another message board that with the FF card that they allowed them to order virgin bloody marys, so I would think that they would let you.

 

.....On both of my cruises, I could get pretty much anything that wasn't alcohol with my card...cranberry juice, pineapple juice, virgin Bloody Mary's, etc.

 

I'm thinking it might be a good idea to try getting the card this time. I'll probably have the best luck if I order from the bar or my dining room waiter vs from the waiter at a big show or something. Worse come to worst I'll at least be able to get soda. Thank you both for answering me.

[BallFour4]

We've purchased the soda cards since Carnival offered them, most recently on the Ecstasy in November.

 

Carnival gives the soda card, RCCL places a sticker on your personal card. Carnival usually writes the passenger name on the card.

 

We have no problems ordering sodas from any of the full service bars, from poolside waiters, in the dining room or lounges.

 

The sodas have been poured from a can and fountain. I chuckle when people describe the fountain sodas as "horrible, watered down, etc." I guess they have never had a soda at the movies, in fast food business or any other dining venue. Those are the same quality.

 

The dining room waiters want to see a card from each family member the first night and they have a soda waiting for you for the rest of the cruise.

 

The bars also have served all the fruit juices we want, and we get a glass or two of pineapple juice after we run in the mornings. No problems in the past getting fruit juices in the theater before the shows as well.

 

Some also comment about the cost being expensive, and the cruise lines only experiencing pennies a glass to serve the soda. Where do they study economics to come up with that number? The cost of delivery to the dock, the storage, fuel to move the weight of the product and the human labor cost to put the glass in our hands all add up to more than a few cents.

 

Geez, with the mentality that some express the photos also cost only pennies to print, so why not purchase one or two and then take a few more? No one would do this, but it does reflect a cost shift from the actual price of the cruise to the items of consumption; drinks, alcohol, photos, gambling, shore excursions, spa treatments, etc.

 

The price of a week long cruise today is less than my first trip aboard the Carnival Mardi Gras back in 1976. Look at what you'd spend per person on a cruise if you bought the soda card for each one in your party versus a vacation at a resort that charges $4 bucks a soda. Makes sense to do that, even if you don't always "break even..."

 

The above represents my experience and opinion. I am not calling out others and saying they are wrong, but we might agree/disagree on the value of the cards :)

 

Let's wear jeans to dinner and discuss this over a Coke :D

[Vellamint]

Do you think the kids can get Shirley Temples with the card?