drinks, refills and coupons - current info please

[mom2NnB]

Do they expire? We have a few from our November 07 cruise and just found 2 in a bag I used. Can I save them for my next (unknown when yet) cruise or should I just ditch them?

 

My next cruise is Feb 09 on RCCL, but we are thinking of doing a short one last next year with DS and DD.

[lucyddr]

Just like keeping up with the coupons can be a pain, so can remembering to bring the souvenier glass! After our first couple of cruises, we realized that we were always forgetting the glasses in the stateroom. I suspect we'd have a similar experience with the coupons.

 

While I think the coupons are great for budgetting and pre-purchases, I think they (as well as the glasses) are too much trouble for us. We'll just stick to several $4 DODs that we can toss! Just something to think about for those of us who can't keep up with things :)...

[partman57]

I have not much need for anything. My kids can not get me a vet...So I asked for drink coupons. I used them before and had no trouble. One thing to remember if you change table assignment when you board ship make sure you express that u are expecting coupons. They had to find me to give me mine.

[Kurbanfan]

I have not much need for anything. My kids can not get me a vet...So I asked for drink coupons.

 

Why do you need a animal doctor:confused: :p :D

 

Kidding aside the coupons make great gifts.......that's what they are intended for........

[UpstateCruizer]

My experience with them has been this~

 

Triumph Aug 2007 ~ had 4 drink coupons from a 45 day letter that were delivered to us at dinner. Each time I ordered a drink wether it was the DOD in the souvenier glass or a frozen specialty I was charged the difference in price.

 

Liberty 2008~ had 4 drink coupons from the 45 day letter again. It was hit or miss as to wether they charged me extra for the drinks.

 

Valor 2008~ had 4 drink coupons from the 45 day letter again. Only got charged the difference in price once. I was also given the frozen cocktails in my souvenier glass for the DOD price and never charged anything more than what the cost of the DOD was. I was surprised by that as I thought they would have charged more. I read recently that they are now charging more if you ask for a frozen specialty in the souvenier glass.

 

I have another 45 day (which is actually changed to a 30 days on my letter) letter to call in and will order the drink coupons as my first choice.

 

Since the extra amount being charged vs not charged varies from ship to ship and server to server I wouldn't purchase them in hopes of saving money. They are nice as a gift though :D

[UpstateCruizer]

Why do you need a animal doctor:confused: :p :D

 

Kidding aside the coupons make great gifts.......that's what they are intended for........

 

 

LOL I was thinking the same thing then realized what they actually meant lol:D

[serene56]

Okay, i have a question. I received some drink coupons as a gift from my TA. However i dont drink alcohol. I take pain medications daily and it really would not mix well. I do like the frozen drinks, etc. Will they make them for me alcohol free. It shouldnt be a problem should it?

 

 

Since the coupons were a gift then I would use them this way. IF buying them for the frozen virgin drinks you would lose a great deal of money. Virgin drinks are only 3.95 plus gratutity.

 

There is just too much thought going on for a coupon- theydont save you money. what they do is prepay your bar bill.

 

lesley-- what you are asking can not be done- they are for one drink and dont think you could get a martini with the coupons since that drink costs a little bit more then the coupon is worth. For you the coupons are not worth it.

 

Using them for refills-- you have to keep carrying the glass with you. Now that for us is a pain in the butt.

 

Coupons can be used for any cruise-- no ships name or expirtation date. If you expect the price of drinks to go higher and you expect to cruise again--- buy coupons in quantity. Thats what we did.

Our first cruise on the sensation we got tons of coupons-- didnt even use half of them- cost in 2000 was 4 for 15 bucks. Finished them up finally in 2004 so we got a bunch more cos the price was going up. at that time 4 coupons was 19.95. I still have a lot let over at that price and see that coupons are now over 20 bucks-- so I in realty DID save a ton of money

[CruisinCrow]

According to Carnival's website (http://www.carnival.com/BonVoyage/AddToCart.aspx?pid=BAR), the drink coupons cost $21.25 for 4 coupons, including the tip.

 

$21.25 / 4 = $5.31

 

Beers cost $5 + 15% tip = $5.75

 

So you save a little bit but not much if you use the coupons to buy beer.

 

I don't think I'd bother buying these for myself but they would make a great gift. In fact, I'm going to suggest them to my family for Christmas presents. :)

[eventfarm]

Not trying to hijack - but what's a 45 day letter?

[UpstateCruizer]

Not trying to hijack - but what's a 45 day letter?

 

A letter that Carnival sometimes sends out in response to a letter they have received in regards to a previously sailed cruise. :)

[tgray69]

I'm still trying to decide if buying or not too.

[falkcor]

I actually almost forgot I started this thread, while still debating the matter before my cruise late September. For the record, based on all of your feedback and further research - I did decide that it was just an added hassle, and even if it would save a little money - not much, and if you have to sign for the balance - what's the point.

On a related topic, here's some of the pointers I recounted in my review of my cruise on the Destiny (link below if you're interested). :cool:

-----

So here’s a few tips that I picked up through the course of the cruise, having visited… Well, every establishment with the exception of the Onyx Bar (it was in an off-the-path location, and the idea of a cigar bar did not appeal to me)… Here’s my response to some of the most-asked questions about bar service on ship, and a few of my own observations.

 

1) Ask for the BIG GLASS. Mixed drinks / cocktails come in little (I’d say 8-10 ounce) glasses, and ordering multiple refills / drinks can get old pretty quickly, especially if you’re staying in the same place. Like I said, mine was the piano bar, and bar waitress service can be intermittent when they get busy. The ‘BIG GLASS’ is a glass tumbler / big glass that is exactly twice the size of the small cocktail glasses – nobody will serve it in that glass (do not ask me why, I don’t understand) – so order two cocktails and the BIG GLASS – they’ll know what you’re talking about. See my pic from the piano bar below – the screwdriver (orange) far left is in the big glass with a straw. Now that’s a drink.

 

 

2) Those hurricane glasses – don’t sweat it. From what I can tell, they do not in any manner distinguish hurricane glasses on a per cruise basis. I saw clear, pink and yellow glasses through the course of the cruise, and often two at any given establishment.

 

3) Those hurricane glasses are the same as the ‘distinctive 15oz glass’ that the drinks of the day are served in.

 

4) Shop around – All bartenders are not created equal, and some yield notably stronger drinks than others. If you’re into that kind of thing.

 

5) Pick a bartender / bar waiter/waitress and stick with them – tip a few dollars through the course of the night (I typically tip at least 1-2 dollars every round) and you’ll find they’ll be on top of your every whim and watch out for when you need them.

 

6) Tip your bartender! A few dollars can go a long way. Let ‘em know you appreciate what they’re doing, and you might expect some stronger drinks as the night goes on.

 

7) If the bar / lounge you’re at isn’t serving, the one across the hall might be! – the hours of the various establishments vary, but don’t forget that there’s always something across the hall. I would sometimes go from the piano bar late night, and pick up drinks at the disco.

 

8) The bar open the latest, according to the casino staff, was always the bar at the lido deck – it’s typically open until 4AM.

 

9) Room service can bring you beer with your order – for a charge of course, but sometimes it’s just plain convenient.

 

10) Those drink tickets – i didn’t bother with them. i did some research – MAYBE you’ll save some money, but that’s not even guaranteed. lots of people report having to pay the balance of the drink value + gratuity vs. ticket face value – so if you have to pay for it and sign the S&S receipt anyway, what’s the point?

 

11) Put your s&s on a credit card, and when you get the final bill before debarkation, don't look, pack it, and worry about it later - what a bad note to end a vacation on . A few friends i made on the boat & hung out with every night put it well - 'we don't like to talk about how much we spent'. My sentiment, exactly.

[serene56]

11) Put your s&s on a credit card, and when you get the final bill before debarkation, don't look, pack it, and worry about it later - what a bad note to end a vacation on .

 

Not a good idea-- coz once you do look it it and find mistakes you have no way of correcting that problem once you are home.

 

It has been reported too many times that you sometimes are charged two times for one transaction.

Some ships have the interactive tv so you can watch your spending. but others do not have this feature

[Thatmom]

I have always loved the tickets..bought them every cruise..But on the last cruuse April of 2008 I had bought lots. They never gave me 32 tickets. We were with a group and I had been buying them for all most two years. So to find them on my credit card was impossible. I had bought lots of other gifts such as toys and wine and decorations for the rooms. I had spent hundreds of dollars. I fought with Carinval for months..They won't take my order numbers that I have all of. The wanted me to fax them to them..So I did still nothing but a letter saying sorry we did not give you all your ticks here is a $25.00 dollar credit for your nexr cruise..

I'm had already planned a cruise for this coming Feb. So I will still travel Carnivel but I don't trust them like I use too.

I have a disease that I take many drugs for so fighting with them just became to hard..My brain gets foggy and sometimes my words don't come out right...So after many many calls and much anger I just plain gave up..

I won't buy any for this cruise or any other gifts either.I will go and enjoy my cruise and remember that I 'm here to have fun not to focus on how they ripped me off......

Funny I haven't given this a thought in quite a while..But seeing your question got me all riled up again..Sorry just needed to vent..

Have a wonderful cruise,

Carla

[falkcor]

Not a good idea-- coz once you do look it it and find mistakes you have no way of correcting that problem once you are home.

 

good point - i really meant it in a joking manner - subtle humour and sarcasm doesn't really come across readily in this format, maybe i should have added one of these :cool:

 

i did look, everything was fine - but at that moment at least, i kind of wished that i hadn't! ;)