Free drinks aboard ship?

[MarkLem]

Non-alcoholic drinks are included during meals, right?

Outside of meals, what drinks(non-alcoholic) are free (i.e. included) on-board (besides water). We are not soda drinkers, and am wondering if there is free juice available (especially for kids).

Thanks in advance

[mmouse37]

I believe juice is available free of charge from room service, but up on Deck 9 (depending on what ship) in Topsiders/Beach Blanket Buffet during lunch there is fruit punch and either lemonade or ice tea, I forget which. Even if we don't do lunch in Topsiders, we go in a take a beverage and bring it back to the pool.

The water at the beverage station on deck 9 is very good, and I often bring powdered mixes with us and a 2 qt. container and make our own pink lemonade, kool-aide, etc.

Many people make fresh ice tea from the hot water and tea bags at the beverage station and then just add ice and sweetner. Same goes for ice coffee!!!

And of course there are many different kinds of juices, milks up in topsiders during the breakfast buffet.

I hope that helped a bit.

MJ

[Wonderwoman1982]

There is also free MILK on the deck 9 station...The people we went with have a son who drinks milk ALL day. That tip about bringing powdered mixes is a good one. I'll have to remember to bring some next year! I am an iced tea drinker so if you are too, here is a warning. The "tea" they served at dinner wasn't tea. It was that FAKE tea you get everywhere now, out of a fountain machine that tastes YUKKY.. So, the tea bag tea is a good tip, too if you're like me and need REAL tea.

[minniegidget]

Can someone tell me if the Milk on Deck 9 is Whole milk or 2%. My DM loves milk but it has to be Whole milk. I know she wont drink it if it is not the "real stuff" I also understand there is so much more free stuff to drink. Plus we are planning on buying the Drink mug. Thanks for your help.

[aseafish]

mmouse37,
Thanks for the great idea on powdered mixes. The fresh tea idea is a good one also. We, too, don't care for "fake" teas. Thanks to you both.

[mmouse37]

I did not realize the iced tea in the dining rooms was "fake" tea, I only noticed that the taste was off, but didn't know why.

I also like to bring the Crystal Light Pink Lemonade. Each container has about 5 or 6 individual packets (each packet makes 2 qts.) and is very light to carry in bag (I guess because of the lack of sugar!) It is a nice change from diet soda.

MJ

[akasleepingbeauty]

The iced tea in the dining rooms is definitely "fountain" brew. I confirmed this during the kitchen tour - it is dispensed out of a fountain machine like the sodas rather than from a brewing dispenser. It was not bad but certainly not good old Southern quality brewed iced tea.

We brought a few tea bags and a pitcher to make sun tea on our verandah but never got around to it. Maybe next time...

Happy cruising!

[grandmalinda]

Originally posted by mmouse37
I did not realize the iced tea in the dining rooms was "fake" tea, I only noticed that the taste was off, but didn't know why.

I also like to bring the Crystal Light Pink Lemonade. Each container has about 5 or 6 individual packets (each packet makes 2 qts.) and is very light to carry in bag (I guess because of the lack of sugar!) It is a nice change from diet soda.

MJ
Since you're a Disney expert, maybe you can share with us how you mix that lemonade. In addition to 101 other things we hear we're supposed to bring, do we add pitcher to the list, too?

[mmouse37]

It is certainly not a necessity to bring powdered mixes with you, but we do, and yes, we bring a 2 qt. pitcher that I picked up at the dollar store. We ususally just shake it up. It is one of the narrower types so it does not take up too much room in the suitcase. I even pack things inside of it so as not to waste space. We get tired of soda that's why we bring it.

MJ

[Otisp]

Oh, no! This thread is going to allow me to air one of my very few (and extremely petty) rants about the cruise:

Is anybody else bugged that you can't just walk up to the punch/lemonade/ice tea machine in Beach Blanker and get your own drink? I'm sure that having an attendent there dispensing the stuff was just a service thing, but I just had the impression that DCL was afraid that I was going to take more than my fair share of Hi-C.

Whew. Thanks, I feel better now.

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

mmouse37: Where do you store the pitcher after is is filled to keep it cool?

Thanks for posting on Crystal Light - I really don't like soda and this is just about the only thing I drink besides water.

[einswine]

If attendants hand out the Hi-C, then I will just ask for 2 or 3 just like food at dinnertime! ;)

[mmouse37]

RIDISNEYLOVERS......We usually just bring it with us to consume by the pool for the afternoon. Just keep adding ice to our cups!!!

Sometimes we will bring it down to the cabin and just use it throught the afternoon (ice in glasses). It never has "gone bad" or anything.

MJ

[peg2001]

I don't understand. I live in Tennessee and even the fast food places serve "real" brewed ice tea. Why wouldn't DCL?!? :(

Of course, in the South, ice tea (served already sweetened, of course) is not just a beverage, it's a way of life. ;)

I guess I'll be drinking Cokes with my meals. . .

Peg

["Ginger"]

There is an assortment of flavored tea bags at the deck 9 beverage station. I believe it is Twinings Teas. I also think they dispense whole milk. There is always some place on board that you can get Iced Tea of fruit punch without bringing your own stuff. Room service is 24 hours a day. Order it in the morning and place it in your cooling box.