Drinks at Meal Times

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cruisingnewbie

Guest
Can anyone tell me whether non-alcoholic drinks are charged for at meal times? I am very confused, I have read all about the fountain card and am concerned that beverages are charged for. Thanks for any information.
 
B

BlueChef

Guest
Soft drinks are not complimentary anywhere on the ship, including the dining rooms.

However, lemonade, fruit punch, juices, coffee, tea, milk, etc. are available at no charge on Lido Deck, in the dining rooms, and from room service. You can also get complimentary cappuccino and espresso in the dining room, but not at Lido buffet area.

You can purchase the 'soda card', and use it anywhere on the ship. You can also take your own soft drinks on board at embarkation. Carnival allows a reasonable amount to be brought onto the ship.
 
C

cruisingnewbie

Guest
This is really not making me happy. We cruised on Disney's Wonder once and all soda's, etc was free. So, it is so hard to believe that as much money the cruises cost, the food is included but not the sodas?
 
C

Cruizer

Guest
cruisingnewbie Wrote:
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> This is really not making me happy. We cruised on
> Disney's Wonder once and all soda's, etc was free.
> So, it is so hard to believe that as much money
> the cruises cost, the food is included but not the
> sodas?


Cruisingnewbie -

That issue has been discussed SEVERAL times in various forums. Everyone (except the cruise line CEOs and CFOs) chimed in with their opinion on the subject.
 
S

serene56

Guest
Comparing Disney to Carnival-- you paid a lot more for cruising on Disney then you would on Carnival or Royal. I'd rather take a cheaper price and pay as i go for a soda now and then.

When did you sail on Disney and do they still offer free soda? If so why do they have a soda card for a purchase?
 
B

BlueChef

Guest
Yep, if you compare the cost of the two lines - Disney's is 'way more. Also, I thought I recently saw a thread that Disney now charges for soft drinks?

In the dining rooms on Carnival (not Lido buffet area), children under 12 can get Cokes, etc. at no charge.

Otherwise, it's really a very small amount to pay - considering the HUGE difference in fares. And, as I said, you can take your own soft drinks on board with you....from your homeport or from the ports you visit.
 
I

imlulu

Guest
I am not a big soda drinker. I have cruised Carnival 3 times. 2x with kids. Kids soda in dining room is free. Coffee, tea, cappacino, and expresso are also free in dining room. I am so jealous that you all are curising. We are taking year off from cruising. Cruising to me is still cheaper for a family of 4 than going on a land vacation where a 20 oz bottle of soda costs $3+.
 
C

cruisingnewbie

Guest
serene56 Wrote:
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> Comparing Disney to Carnival-- you paid a lot
> more for cruising on Disney then you would on
> Carnival or Royal. I'd rather take a cheaper
> price and pay as i go for a soda now and then.
>
> When did you sail on Disney and do they still
> offer free soda? If so why do they have a soda
> card for a purchase?


They no longer have the soda card. We cruised last March. They have a drink station on Deck 9 and all non-alcholic drinks are free at meal times.
 
B

BlueChef

Guest
jimlinalf Wrote:
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> $3.00 a 20 oz drink, where the heck you pay those
> prices. My gosh.
>
> Jim
>
>
>LOL - Jim, have you been to Disney World or Six Flags lately? Most of thef theme parks/resorts charge that much. Ridiculous, huh?
 
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cruizin2paradise

Guest
imlulu Wrote:
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> I am not a big soda drinker. I have cruised
> Carnival 3 times. 2x with kids. Kids soda in
> dining room is free. Coffee, tea, cappacino, and
> expresso are also free in dining room. I am so
> jealous that you all are curising. We are taking
> year off from cruising. Cruising to me is still
> cheaper for a family of 4 than going on a land
> vacation where a 20 oz bottle of soda costs $3+.


I feel for you -- we aren't planning to cruise again until 2007! Oh boy! I didn't realize that the cappucino and expresso were free in the dining room . . . on our last cruise on a different line we were on a Voyage(r), and the cappucino and expresso were certainly not free in the dining room - and we've cruised twice on Carnival - so thanks - Good to know.

Happy Cruzin'!
 
B

BlueChef

Guest
cruizin2paradise Wrote:
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I didn't realize that
> the cappucino and expresso were free in the dining
> room . . . on our last cruise on a different line
> we were on a Voyage(r), and the cappucino and
> expresso were certainly not free in the dining
> room - and we've cruised twice on Carnival - so
> thanks - Good to know.

................
Yep, as I said in my first post, espresso and cappuccino are complimentary in the dining room, during or after meals. I have all three meals every day in the dining room...and I always have espresso with breakfast, a cappuccino after lunch, and a double espresso with dessert every evening.
 
F

flamingokidz

Guest
There is no charge at meal times for iced tea which is also free on lido deck along with lemonade, punch, coffee and tea and juices. You also can pack several 2 liter bottles of soda in your checked luggage or bring on a couple of six packs. Lots of people bring drinks and you can also bring on bottles of water instead of paying three dollars for a bottle. Some folks bring kool aid on board in packs and a plastic pitcher in their luggage and kep kool aid for the kids. Where there is a will there is a way. Besides, it is nothing to be upset about. Make the best of a situation and enjoy yourselves.
Lynne
 
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