Drink Prices

[EliseRN]

You can buy the soda card at anytime during the cruise the cost is $4.25 times the number of days left, plus 15% time. It is not a daily card you could purchase some days and not others.

 

Coffee, ice tea and hot tea are free. They are available from room service, at the buffet 24 hours a day and with meals in the dining room. Juice is available with breakfast and lemonade with lunch.

 

Specialty coffees are extra and that is a separate card.

Will definitely get that card .. but never heard anything about a coupon book from TA. Perhaps I should ask thank you!

[EliseRN]

You can buy the soda card at anytime during the cruise the cost is $4.25 times the number of days left, plus 15% time. It is not a daily card you could purchase some days and not others.

 

Coffee, ice tea and hot tea are free. They are available from room service, at the buffet 24 hours a day and with meals in the dining room. Juice is available with breakfast and lemonade with lunch.

 

Specialty coffees are extra and that is a separate card.

Maybe I can just get one soda card for both of us..that would make more sense than one each. thank you!

[Toto2Kansas]

You can buy the soda card at anytime during the cruise the cost is $4.25 times the number of days left, plus 15% time. It is not a daily card you could purchase some days and not others.

 

Coffee, ice tea and hot tea are free. They are available from room service, at the buffet 24 hours a day and with meals in the dining room. Juice is available with breakfast and lemonade with lunch.

 

Specialty coffees are extra and that is a separate card.

 

Paul, are you sure about purchasing the soda card for as many days that are left on the cruise (in other words if there are only three days left you pay only for those three days?). From what I was told, they don't pro-rate it, it is charged for the length of your voyage no matter when you make the purchase. I have never heard of paying for it just for the number of days left on your cruise, maybe something new?

[Toto2Kansas]

Maybe I can just get one soda card for both of us..that would make more sense than one each. thank you!

 

Remember, since there are no punches on the soda sticker, but they are used for unlimited fountain soda, you won't be able to walk up to a bar with one sticker and order more than one soda. Many do go through the 'visiting multiple bars with only one soda sticker to share the unlimited offer', but since it is supposed to be a 'per person' thing, they will not give you two at the same time. And if you drink soda with dinner, one will be supplied free while the other is charged from the waiter.

[LC_txcruiser]

Just my $.02 on the coffee. I seem to be in the minority here, but I think the free coffee on board is good. It's above average compared to most restaurant coffee. So anyone thinking of getting the card may want to give the free stuff a try first. Of course if you like daily specialty coffee then the card would be a good deal regardless.

[EliseRN]

Just my $.02 on the coffee. I seem to be in the minority here, but I think the free coffee on board is good. It's above average compared to most restaurant coffee. So anyone thinking of getting the card may want to give the free stuff a try first. Of course if you like daily specialty coffee then the card would be a good deal regardless.

Wow 1 day!! Hope you have a great trip...will want reports on the coffee...and the drinks or anything else :-)

What excursions, if any, are you taking?

[skidawg79]

just wanted to thank everyone for the great info! I think i got what i need, was just curious on what to budget for drinks...haha. Thanks again!

[TravelnAl]

Unless I missed it, I didn't see any mention of gratuities.

 

$11/day/person for mini-suites and suites, $10.50/day/person for all others.

[Rockymountainsparky]

Thank you all! We are going on a 15 day Alaska CruiseTour; 8 land and 7 day cruise. I have already arranged and paid all our tours while on the cruise, (Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway) and those are with outside vendors so I figured those in a separate budget.

 

I did a little Excel sheet (below) of possible charges (Outside of the auto tipping which I budgeted separately) and it looks like we will need around $650! :eek:

 

3 drinks a day for me incl tip 168

4 beers a dayfor David incl tip 115.5

One stone therapy in Spa incl tip 170

one bottle of wine 35

one dinner at specailty restaurant 40

2 soda/drink cards 14

Misc Food 100

TOTAL 642.5

 

 

Sorry, i had to fix the list because the formatting didn't carry through and it won't accept any html commands for list.

 

I am really glad I came to this thread! :) I may be on the high side, but rather that than too low and shocked. Can anyone think of some service I missed or that I have priced incorrectly?

 

Thank you all again for your input!

 

Whatever you budget, you'll probably wish you brought more.:D

[Richie2pies]

Don't forget the casino. Even if you are not gamblers, who can resist playing a few slots?

[Pam in CA]

Maybe I can just get one soda card for both of us..that would make more sense than one each. thank you!

The soda "card" is actually a sticker that goes on your cruise card and is good for only that person's card, i.e., one person. For both of you, you would need to purchase two soda cards.

 

Just my $.02 on the coffee. I seem to be in the minority here, but I think the free coffee on board is good. It's above average compared to most restaurant coffee. So anyone thinking of getting the card may want to give the free stuff a try first. Of course if you like daily specialty coffee then the card would be a good deal regardless.

I agree. Only once did I ever think the coffee was like sludge; the rest of the time, I've also found it very drinkable. Try it, see if you like or can tolerate it before buying a coffee card. I've never bought one but I believe you can't use it, for instance, in the buffet since they don't serve specialty coffee there but I could be wrong.

[jackdiamond]

To place this in perspective, four hours ago I stopped at a little bar in Naples, Fl; and, the cost was $6.00, per bottle of beer plus tip. Makes the cost on the ship look fairly attractive.

[EliseRN]

Thank you!! This has been so helpful :)

 

In addition to the shipboard drinks etc, I budgeted the automatic tips on the ship separately, the tips for our excursions separately, all the lunches not incl in the land tour separately, and the museum entry fees, gas and etc for Fairbanks day on our own separately. ...got an Excel spreadsheet all done up for the whole trip ;) (not to schedule us too much because that is no fun...just so we don't spend more than we can pay back to the card :))

 

...but I will add a bit for slots too :D good idea ...maybe we will win enough to buy our drinks! lol

[sept10dsm]

Can you share the coffee card? Just wondering. I can't imagine having that much specialty coffees in 1 week. Thanks.

[paul929207]

Yes, you can get more than one specalty coffees at a time.

[VibeGuy]

Whatever you budget, you'll probably wish you brought more.:D

 

You know that old rule of thumb - "next time, bring twice the money and half the clothes"!

[sept10dsm]

Yes, you can get more than one specalty coffees at a time.

THanks. Do you know by chance how much the regular brewed coffee is per cup?

[paul929207]

The coffee in the dining rooms and at the buffet is free. I don't know the cost of the brewed coffee.

[Embracedbylife]

I was reading that a regular cup at the cafe is $1.00 and a cappacino is $2.00 each. not bad considering!

[NSWP]

You can always take some coffee from home, sachets of cappucino or instant coffee or coffee bags if they sell them in USA. Just take them up to breakfast with you and use the 'free hot water.

 

As reported..the coffee in the buffet is ordinary, some days drinkable other days, not good at all. We always get a coffee card too, my wife gets the cappucinos on it, whilst I get the complimentary brewed coffee you can get with it, only one punch on the card for the two.

[rdsqrl]

Don't forget the casino. Even if you are not gamblers, who can resist playing a few slots?

Me! If I'm going to throw money away, I'd rather do it on something that provides more fun than yanking a handle down!

Can you share the coffee card? Just wondering. I can't imagine having that much specialty coffees in 1 week. Thanks.

Yes, you can share. Also, keep in mind that if you don't use up all 15 punches on the card in that week, you can carry it along on your next voyage -- they don't "expire" -- in fact, I have two hanging around my house, at least one of which I'll hopefully remember to bring with me when I board in July . . . !

[Richie2pies]

To place this in perspective, four hours ago I stopped at a little bar in Naples, Fl; and, the cost was $6.00, per bottle of beer plus tip. Makes the cost on the ship look fairly attractive.

You need to try a different bar. Most bars in SW Florida are cheaper. Maybe you got a lap dance with the beer?

[sept10dsm]

Thanks for the info on the coffee card!

[TMJBR]

These prices are grossly outdated.

 

They seem outdated to me too.

 

Something else to keep in mind -- their mixed drink are very weak -- so you will be doubling up if you are looking for a buzz!

[nini]

We have cruised 3 times and each time, we have found the drinks to be very good and actually more for our money than at restaurants which we frequent. We are in the Northwest. We have found that the bartenders are very well trained with great personalities.