POLL: Are Soda Cards Fair?

[Flip2cruise]

Do any cruiselines include soda in the basic cost of the cruise :confused: :confused:

 

 

Only the luxury lines like Crystal. As mentioned they have a captive audience. They know how addicted to Soft Drinks people are...so that use that to their advantage.

[happy cruzin]

Only the luxury lines like Crystal. As mentioned they have a captive audience. They know how addicted to Soft Drinks people are...so that use that to their advantage.

 

Very, very true. I have also always figured that it has something to do with making it more difficult for those who smuggle on the alcohol. If the soda was free - it makes the self made drink way too easy :rolleyes:

[Rowan555]

I personally can't believe that soda isn't included...fountain soda is extremely cheap...they probably have a whole 10 cents invested in each cup. I personally don't drink soda, but hubby does...I wouldn't care if my fare went up by $50 and have soda included in the price of the trip. It's inconvenient to have to pay for a stupid soda. Plus they way over charge if you don't get the soda card.

 

How come you can bring aboard soda but not alcohol?? Isn't that a double standard?

 

As I just posted, Carnival does not have fountain soda - they buy it by the can, which is MUCH more expensive.

 

You say you'd be willing to pay $50 more for your cruise to have soda included - then why not just buy the soda card, and let those of us who don't want soda not buy it? Makes a lot more sense to me.

 

Finally, the rules against smuggling alcohol are not merely to increase Carnival's bar sales (although that is a big part of it). I talked to my PVP about this when Carnival briefly changed their rules so that you couldn't even bring sodas on board. He said there were way too many cases of people getting extremely drunk on board and causing major problems (including jumping overboard, dying from alcohol poisoning, attacking other passengers, etc), and that while the bars can "cut off" a passenger, they can't stop him/her from drinking if they have a cabin full of booze they brought from home. He said people were bringing liquor on board in soda bottles, and that was the motivation for the policy change. Of course the backlash was so great that Carnival very quickly returned to their original policy of allowing passengers to bring sodas on board. I hadn't thought of it from that perspective - but it definitely makes sense.

[Rowan555]

Monkey is cute...

 

at least ya'll didn't call him "Booger" like my cousin did. She now has a 30+ year old "Booger" on her hands.

 

My dad called me Rigor Mortis when I was a kid - that was my nickname for about 12 years. Of course, I can't really complain, as I call my daughter Spawn of Satan a few times a week..... ;)

[ginacc]

So this gal was waiting at the bus stop wit her little kid, the bus pulls up, she and her kid board.........

The bus driver was rude and arrogant towards her and her little kid..........

The gal was visible shaken and upset at the words the bus driver was hurling at her and at her kid.........

So, to cut along story short, she takes a seat and starts talking with the passenger next to her about how rude the bus driver was to her as she boarded the bus..............

"Oh really, what did he tell you?" asked the confused passenger...........

"He started insulting me and my kid, telling me how ugly my kid looks and how he has never seen such an ugly little kid before. I feel like going back upfront and give him a piece of my mind" says the irate mother.

"You do that" says the other passenger, adding "while I watch the LITTLE MONKEY for you"

 

:D :D :D :D :D

 

Almost every parent we know affectionately calls their little ones "Monkey," which actually annoys me because I thought we were being original when we picked the nickname.

 

The nickname has nothing to do with the way my child looks. As you can see, he's beautiful. And I find the term Monkey to be completely adorable.

 

You've wasted enough time/space on this SODA CARD thread with your rudeness. Sounds to me like someone's jealous because they don't have their own adorable little Monkey!

[AlsGurl2004]

Almost every parent we know affectionately calls their little ones "Monkey," which actually annoys me because I thought we were being original when we picked the nickname.

 

The nickname has nothing to do with the way my child looks. As you can see, he's beautiful. And I find the term Monkey to be completely adorable.

 

You've wasted enough time/space on this SODA CARD thread with your rudeness. Sounds to me like someone's jealous because they don't have their own adorable little Monkey!

 

Yeah, that was really odd to throw that in.....some people are weird. LOL

 

I call my daughter "Pumpkin Noodle".....

 

:) And good thread about the soda cards....I'd never considered a lot of these things.

[LIFECOACH88]

I am going to stick to the topic. Of all the cruises that we have done in the past, we have only purchased the fountain card once for DH. We don't drink soda whether we are home or not. We mostly sticked with our basic ice-tea's, juice, coffee, and water during the day. All of which are free. Alcoholic goodies, pre-during-post, dinners are MUST's. My DS(15) rather indulges himself with one of those "virgin" drink once a day than getting a soda card with the same price. :D

[ginacc]

As I just posted, Carnival does not have fountain soda - they buy it by the can, which is MUCH more expensive.

 

 

I see.. that does make more sense. And actually, now that I know the sodas are canned, I won't miss them anyway! I absolutely HATE canned soda... I really only drink fountain soda if I drink soda at all.

 

I can't wait to see how the rest of this poll pans out... looks like we're hovering around 80/20 in favor of soda cards. Who knew!

[deborahjo]

First cruise was in 1978 on the Carnival Carnavale and the sodas were free. I also paid alot more then for my cruise then the one I am taking in October. Times change for the good or the bad. I will buy a soda card for my DH. I rarely drink soda but he does alot. I am happy with the tea and juice on board.

[Leo Jay]

Soda's not even healthy -- tea, lemonade, fruit punch and water seem like reasonable free beverage options to me.

[Rowan555]

I see.. that does make more sense. And actually, now that I know the sodas are canned, I won't miss them anyway! I absolutely HATE canned soda... I really only drink fountain soda if I drink soda at all.

 

I can't wait to see how the rest of this poll pans out... looks like we're hovering around 80/20 in favor of soda cards. Who knew!

 

I like canned drinks only if they are ice cold - I can't stand pouring a warm can of soda over ice. So I would never buy the soda card - I voted that they're fair, but I wouldn't say I'm "in favor of them" as it's not something my family would spend money on. We bring a 12 pack of Cokes on board for dh, and the kids and I drink the free beverages available on the ship.

[farler05]

OP, you call your cute little kid "OUR LITTLE MONKEY"????

Poor choice of words, sweeheart!

 

Dude...*****??? The post is about the soda card, not if you think her nickname for her son is cute or a poor choice of words. Why on earth would you feel compelled to post that???

 

I think it's ridiculous that you have to pay for soda on the ship. Soda really is not that expensive when you're talking about fountain soda. It costs pennies for a big gulp. It is one of the highest profit margin items in restaurants. But Carnival gouges you for soft drinks. I am fortunate that I don't drink soft drinks. It's rare that I have a coke or sprite. I'm pretty happy with water, tea & juices. Although the card would be cheaper than my bar bill!

[deborahjo]

Dude...*****??? The post is about the soda card, not if you think her nickname for her son is cute or a poor choice of words. Why on earth would you feel compelled to post that???

 

I think it's ridiculous that you have to pay for soda on the ship. Soda really is not that expensive when you're talking about fountain soda. It costs pennies for a big gulp. It is one of the highest profit margin items in restaurants. But Carnival gouges you for soft drinks. I am fortunate that I don't drink soft drinks. It's rare that I have a coke or sprite. I'm pretty happy with water, tea & juices. Although the card would be cheaper than my bar bill!

 

I guess you missed a few post back. Carnival does not sell fountain soda. It is by hte can. That is why it is more expensive.

[farler05]

My dad called me Rigor Mortis when I was a kid - that was my nickname for about 12 years. Of course, I can't really complain, as I call my daughter Spawn of Satan a few times a week..... ;)

 

My brother & his wife called their girls spawn & mini-spawn! :D

 

Amazing how nicknames stick. My 38 year old brother is still called Pooh by family. I get called Bird or Beebird by my family (skinny like a bird as a kid, no idea about the Bee part).

[happy cruzin]

If it was fountain soda I would agree - but they use canned sodas, which do indeed cost quite a bit more than fountain soda.

 

Great point! The ships are not equipped for fountain drinks - so those who drink soda have to make a choice to go without.....pay by the glass...or buy the soda card.

 

Fair or unfair does not really apply.....

[farler05]

I guess you missed a few post back. Carnival does not sell fountain soda. It is by hte can. That is why it is more expensive.

 

It would be cheaper all around if they sold fountain. Do they use cans for the mixed drinks or fountain?

 

Even if it is a can thing, buying in bulk they pay $.25 or $.30 a can (if that)???? You can't tell me that's not a huge profit margin.

[GayleR]

Monkey is cute...

 

at least ya'll didn't call him "Booger" like my cousin did. She now has a 30+ year old "Booger" on her hands.

 

:D I just spit coffee all over my computer screen....a 30+ booger...too funny!

 

You've wasted enough time/space on this SODA CARD thread with your rudeness.

 

Wasn't your topic soda cards????:confused:

 

 

Sounds to me like someone's jealous because they don't have their own adorable little Monkey!

 

I was thinking the exact same thing.

 

But hey, call him a monkey if you prefer. And don't be so uptight sweetie, especially if you are trying for Moneky #2

 

The poll and topic of this thread is soda cards. Geez.....:cool:

[SouthernCaribbean]

It would be cheaper all around if they sold fountain. Do they use cans for the mixed drinks or fountain?

 

Even if it is a can thing, buying in bulk they pay $.25 or $.30 a can (if that)???? You can't tell me that's not a huge profit margin.

 

Carnival is in the business of making profits. As was mentioned cruising is much less expensive now than when I sailed back in the 80's.

[Rowan555]

It would be cheaper all around if they sold fountain. Do they use cans for the mixed drinks or fountain?

 

Even if it is a can thing, buying in bulk they pay $.25 or $.30 a can (if that)???? You can't tell me that's not a huge profit margin.

 

Sure it is. Of course you also have to consider there are labor costs on top of the 30 cents a can for the soda. The question, though, is what's wrong with Carnival using things like sodas and pictures to make a good profit? If Carnival wasn't making money, they'd have to raise cruise fares, or go out of business. If they choose non-essentials to sell at inflated prices, that's IMO preferable to raising the price of their cruises. All those sodas and 8x10 portraits and shore excursions allow them to maintain reasonable cruise fares. And if you want to spend extra money on those things, and at the casino, then great - if you don't have the money, don't spend it. I'd rather be given the choice than to have cruise fares across the board go up $50 pp so that more things can be included.

[ginacc]

It would be cheaper all around if they sold fountain. Do they use cans for the mixed drinks or fountain?

 

Even if it is a can thing, buying in bulk they pay $.25 or $.30 a can (if that)???? You can't tell me that's not a huge profit margin.

 

That's a great question! Do they use a Gun for the mixed drinks, or do they use canned sodas for those too?!? If so, yuck! As I stated earlier, there nothing I hate more than soda out of the can. And I definitely wouldn't want my expensive mixed drink made with it. The syrup/C02 mixture is different (and better IMO) in fountain drinks.

 

Now I guess I won't miss the Coke OR the Rum & Coke! I'm relieved!

[sjohnson529]

I don't understand the controversy? You don't HAVE to buy the soda card, it's a CHOICE! Of course they are making a profit. Duh. I guess I just don't get it.

[MamaParrotHead]

something I didn't learn until the end of our last cruise was that the "soda card" can be used for ANY soft drinks (not just soda), so I GREATLY enjoyed a glass of Bloody Mary mix, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, etc. ANYTHING non-alcoholic is covered under the "soda card", per the Carnival website and all the Capers I have, "Fountain Fun Card...enjoy unlimited soads and juices for the entire cruise...".

 

As for whether or not it should be included, although it would be "nice", I don't necessarily think it should be. I have MAYBE one alcoholic drink during the day and one or two at night, so our "bar bill" on our S&S at the end of the week is very reasonable, even with the soda card.

[happy cruzin]

That's a great question! Do they use a Gun for the mixed drinks, or do they use canned sodas for those too?!? If so, yuck! As I stated earlier, there nothing I hate more than soda out of the can. And I definitely wouldn't want my expensive mixed drink made with it. The syrup/C02 mixture is different (and better IMO) in fountain drinks.

 

Now I guess I won't miss the Coke OR the Rum & Coke! I'm relieved!

 

See......different strokes for different folks. I much prefer canned soda to fountain soda!! And just to clarify - canned soda is used for everything. All drinks made at the bar or for just a soda.

[happy cruzin]

something I didn't learn until the end of our last cruise was that the "soda card" can be used for ANY soft drinks (not just soda), so I GREATLY enjoyed a glass of Bloody Mary mix, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, etc. ANYTHING non-alcoholic is covered under the "soda card", per the Carnival website and all the Capers I have, "Fountain Fun Card...enjoy unlimited soads and juices for the entire cruise...".

 

As for whether or not it should be included, although it would be "nice", I don't necessarily think it should be. I have MAYBE one alcoholic drink during the day and one or two at night, so our "bar bill" on our S&S at the end of the week is very reasonable, even with the soda card.

 

I did not know that either until recently. It makes sense - I just never thought about it :rolleyes: . Hmmmm...pineapple juice out on the deck sounds devine :D !

[TravlGrl]

For me the soda card package is what it is. If I think it's unfair I don't purchase it, but it's not a surprise and it just is what it is.

 

"Our Little Monkey" is super cute, and who cares what you call your little guy. You shouldn't have to justify it! My husband LOVES the word "monkey" and calls EVERYTHING that, in a good way.

 

Keep on keepin' on!