Re: Soda cards again

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Suzi777

Guest
Hello,
Can anyone tell me if they consider "Seltzer" or "Club Soda" Soda or water?? Also does anyone know how much an actual glass /cup of soda cost?? and do they sell bottled water??
Thanks !
3/20--6 days and counting!!
Suzi
 
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idssms

Guest
If you go to the bar and get soda water from the bar tender,, it may not cost anything but a tip is expected since there is no tab or bill that automatically calculates a tip.

When I get soda water in a real glass at the bar and if they dont charge me,, I normally give the bartender a buck.

If you order a "water drink" and dont tip,, its not being very cooth.

So, the answer is,, it's probably free but a gratuity would be in order since the server has to go through the same motions as if you are getting a $1.50 pop/soda,, he is just pressing another button on the spicket.

If you get a "free" water drink and dont tip,, I guaranty you it WILL not be forgotten,, so follow common courtesy rules and things will work out fine.
 
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tll

Guest
I've been reading that on a lot of the ships that once a server sees that you have a soda card, they won't wait on you. Is that true on the Celebrity ships also?
 
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randy

Guest
Only cruise I experienced the "oh, a soda card...see you later" was my most recent experience on Princess, where after the first glass on the card, the waitress never came back, working the ("paying") crowd on all sides instead. Seems that the bar service people are all universally friendly and don't shun the card program. Now, mine is a single data point, so I don't know if you can draw global conclusions...
 
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idssms

Guest
What you are all saying reiterates my above posting....

If you use your card for soda or get free soda water or water at a bar or from a drink steward,,, he doesnt make that 15% gratutity he would make on a purchased individual soda.

My point: Anytime you use the soda cards, ie, at the lounge or at the pool or at the bar,, leave a tip. If you tip the person $.50 a glass they will stay flocked around you. If you dont tip and assume it is part of the $40 you paid for the card,,, it will be rough getting soda's unless you go up to a bar and wait. And they will make you wait if they know you dont tip.

I have been through this experience years ago and learned the hard way. Now, I carry dollar bills with me on cruises which I use for tips.

Even when getting soda water at the bar, give 50 cents.

Just like we have to work to make a living so do the bar and drink people and unfortunately when you have a soda card they basically work for free. Be generous to them and it will come back to you in spades,, they will make it up to you 10 fold.

Happy Cruising
 
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BP

Guest
Now that sounds like great service. Tip me or else even though you already tipped .They add a 15 % gratuaty to the soda card.
 
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tll

Guest
It sounds to me that you would need to drink a lot of soda to make the card worth it if you are paying a 15% tip on the card and then tipping again every time you order one. I think I will forget the card.
 
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randy

Guest
I think that the break-even would have to be about 4 sodas a day. While I personally like that challenge (I try and get my lift ticket down to less than a dollar a ride on the slopes!), for some people it may not be a good deal. I typically drink three sodas at dinner alone, so it doesn't take long! However, I will have to reiterate, after many cruises on all the cruise lines that offer "soda cards" (I have not yet been on HAL or Cunard), I have never had anyone shy away from bringing me the "free" soda because I didn't add an additional tip (save the experience 4 posts above). The 15% that goes on the bar tab on ANY drink is spilt up between the servers and barkeeps anyway, so the gratuity passed on thru the card is more of the same. Do you tip for great service above this? Of course! At the end of any cruise, I seek out my favorite bartenders or servers and slip them a ten or twenty for their attention. This, like "real," as opposed to "automatic," tipping is what forging a relationship between service people and clients is all about. It's a recognition for good service, not a bribe to just keep on keepin' on.
That's my 2 cents (plus 15%!).
 
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daysatsea

Guest
We have always had good service with the soda sticker on Celebrity ships.
We tend to spend our evenings in the Rendez-vous lounge - enjoy dancing to the duo there - and tend to always sit in the same spot. We always have soda and a glass of regular water. After the first night, the waiter brings us our drinks as soon as we sit down and tends to keep us with full glasses all evening. We do not tip extra as we paid the gratuity on the original purchase of the sticker. However, we do consider this type of service above and beyond. At the end of the cruise, we always get extra envelopes and tip those waiters that do this.
 
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Suzi777

Guest
Well I have returned from my Wonderful cruise!! AND I did purchase a "Soda Card"($40.00) and you also get a Coca Cola thermos drink thingy...you could refill on your own or go to any of the bars. The bartenders were not very nice when you handed them your little thermos. If fact one was downright nasty. I felt he didn't deserve a tip not matter what...after that experience I decided to used the "do it yourself " soda machines and filled up with iced tea-- since I am a Pepsi lover and hate Coke. To me the card was a waste of money. I could have easily brought my own container or cup with and filled it with water from my room or Tea at the machine...I doubt any one would have kicked me off the ship...Anyway, I had a wonderful wonderful time....I am already planning my next cruise....Yes, I am addicted!!!!! :)
 
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egee

Guest
I just got off the Infinity today.I understand the point about tipping for each soda card drink, but on Celebrity tips are charged automatically and put in a pool for all bar staff. When you buy your soda card you pay a 15% service charge on the card, so actually your tip is prepaid. However, most of the time, i pulled a dollar out of my wallet if a waiter brought me a drink on the soda card; I agree it seems like the right thing to do, although to consider it absolutely necessary to follow proper etiquette seems a little strong.
 
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TerriD

Guest
I am one of the one's who had a HORRIBLE time getting service after the first soda when they realized I had the soda card. I didn't think about tipping extra, since I paid the 15% when I bought the card, but would have if it got me better service. You wouldn't believe the waiters going out of their way not to serve us. The worst place was the Hemisphere Lounge, but even at dinner it wasn't much better. We didn't have any problems with going up to the bar and getting drinks. Never had a bartender get an attitude about it, I guess we were lucky with that. I don't know if I'll bother with it the next time, it just wasn't worth the trouble to get drinks. This was one of the very few things I did not like on the Century.

Terri
 
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