To Soda Card, or not to Soda Card

[Mrs.Toaster]

We are new cruisers and are a little confused about the soda card. If I am doing my math correctly, it seems like we would each need to drink about 5 sodas a day to make the card worth it. Am I understanding this correctly? I drink a fair amount of water each day. Am I just going to be paying out of pocket for bottled water, or are there any alternatives?

 

Thank you in advance for the help!

[2sunny]

I do believe your math is correct. Also remember that your soda card includes the small size of bottled water. We always get some before going ashore also.

 

My advice, if you are interested, is remember when you purchase the soda card and the refillable cup you must also pay a 15% gratuity. But IF you purchase this as soon as you board they will also charge you an ADDITIONAL percentage tax for whatever port you are in. In Miami, I believe we paid an additional 15%. As soon as I realized this I went to the Pursers desk and got a refund on both of ours. We felt that they were expensive enough without that additional 15% of the total! IF YOU CAN WAIT until the ship has entered international waters and then purchase your soda card you will avoid the additional tax. When the ship opens its casinos and its shops you will know it is OK to purchase your soda card. The water pitcher in your stateroom with be kept full of ice water if you ask your room steward to do so. You can fix yourself a glass of ice water at the beverage center in the buffet almost 24 hours a day. All water on the ship is good to drink.

 

Now, if that additional amount of sales tax does not bother you then I am sorry that I bothered you with this information. Believe me, we are not penny pincher's, I just happen to think the government get enough of our money and that particular tax felt like adding insult to injury;)

[Denny01]

Ithink your Math is off. The Soda Card costs about $5.75/day ($5 + 15%) and a single glass w/o card costs $2.50+15%. So that means a soda card breaks even at 2 glasses/day. Assume most who drink sodas will order at least 2/day.

 

Denny

[GRBlizz]

Glad to know about the international waters thing. On the last cruise, I didn't decide I wanted the soda card until Day 2, so it didn't come up, but I probably would have just gotten at at the start had you not posted this.

[Veronica13]

For some of us, I could care less how much the soda costs, or whether I'm being charged 15% gratuity.

 

What I do care about is "tap soda" from the bars (the only kind you can get with the card) are usually flat and the taste is "off".

 

I only want canned sodas, so I pay for them indiviudally.

 

For some who understand what I mean about flat/funny tasting sodas out of a tap, that is what you get with the soda card. Some people think they can get individual bottles or cans. Just want to clear that up;)

[SusieV]

I do believe your math is correct. Also remember that your soda card includes the small size of bottled water.

 

As far as I know, soda cards do not include bottled water but they do offer a water package.

 

The ship's water is fine to drink.

[Mrs.Toaster]

Thank you all for the info! I drink mostly tap water at home, so the ship's water is fine for me! As far as my math goes, I was basing the soda prices off of what they have listed on Celebrity's website under the FAQ section. That puts you at about 5 a day. 2 a day would certainly be more reasonable.

 

Thanks again!

[2sunny]

For some of us, I could care less how much the soda costs, or whether I'm being charged 15% gratuity.

 

What I do care about is "tap soda" from the bars (the only kind you can get with the card) are usually flat and the taste is "off".

 

I only want canned sodas, so I pay for them individually.

 

For some who understand what I mean about flat/funny tasting sodas out of a tap, that is what you get with the soda card. Some people think they can get individual bottles or cans. Just want to clear that up;)

 

We ask for a can and sometimes we get it.... I suppose it depends on the bartender. We get a can about 35-40% of the time, but we purposely go to the busiest bars.

[2sunny]

As far as I know, soda cards do not include bottled water but they do offer a water package.

 

The ship's water is fine to drink.

 

We do drink the ship's water, all of the time, but I am SURE that we got small bottles of water on our soda cards before going a shore. Unless they have changed it, the soda card covered all non-alcoholic drinks at the bar. I even got an orange juice mixed with ginger ale one day.

[Project_gal]

The ship's water is fine to drink.

 

Only in that it is perfectly safe to drink it. [i sat next to the Chief Engineer at a special dinner on Azamara Quest and now feel I know a great deal about water purification!] I find that I do not like the taste of ship's water. Some cruises it is better than others but, as someone who virtually only drinks water [not tea or coffee - I do drink wine and other alcohol], I want to drink water I think tastes good. Those who complain about bad coffee on Celebrity should understand.

 

Sue