Beverages and Drinks on-board...what's included? What's not included?

[littlemamma]

My family and I are planning our first Disney Cruise for next spring, and even though I've been to WDW multiple times + know TONS about Disney....I have to admit, I know nothing about DCL. Also, if there is a thread that describes this please direct me....I searched but came back with an insane amount of posts!

One of my biggest questions is the beverage situation on-board. I've heard multiple answers, and I'm hoping to clear it up once and for all...

What's included on-board beverage wise? And is there only specific areas that drinks are included (ex dining rooms)? I've heard that at meals sodas and all are included, but poolside, rooms, etc, you have to pay? Is that true? Or is it included wherever you are on the ship?

Also, what's the deal with alcohol? I've gathered that you can pay per drink...but are there any alcohol plans available? Is it wine or beer only? Or is there something similar to like an all-inclusive resort where any alcohol is included?

 

[solfan68]

My family and I are planning our first Disney Cruise for next spring, and even though I've been to WDW multiple times + know TONS about Disney....I have to admit, I know nothing about DCL. Also, if there is a thread that describes this please direct me....I searched but came back with an insane amount of posts!

One of my biggest questions is the beverage situation on-board. I've heard multiple answers, and I'm hoping to clear it up once and for all...

What's included on-board beverage wise? And is there only specific areas that drinks are included (ex dining rooms)? I've heard that at meals sodas and all are included, but poolside, rooms, etc, you have to pay? Is that true? Or is it included wherever you are on the ship?

Also, what's the deal with alcohol? I've gathered that you can pay per drink...but are there any alcohol plans available? Is it wine or beer only? Or is there something similar to like an all-inclusive resort where any alcohol is included?

Some info for ya, as we were just on the Dream last week. Free drinks from the stations poolside... Coke products, Pink Lemonade, Iced Tea. This mix is also available for free while on Castaway Cay at Cookies. Most non-alcoholic beverages are also free in the dining room.

As far as alcohol goes... poolside, there is beer and mixed drinks which get charged to your KTTW card/room. Didn't do a whole lot of this, but one afternoon the wife and I got a drink late in the afternoon once they had gone to 2 for the price of 1. $12 for one seemed a bit much, but not so bad for a pair. And you do get to keep the DCL glass. You could also get the poolside mix of alcohol and beer while eating at the Cabanas buffet.

Some of our party did share the cost of a 'wine package' that they bought into the first meal and stretched out over our other meals. Don't know what that set them back. There were also mixed drinks featured (at cost) in each MDR menu for dinner. HTH.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My family and I are planning our first Disney Cruise for next spring, and even though I've been to WDW multiple times + know TONS about Disney....I have to admit, I know nothing about DCL. Also, if there is a thread that describes this please direct me....I searched but came back with an insane amount of posts!

One of my biggest questions is the beverage situation on-board. I've heard multiple answers, and I'm hoping to clear it up once and for all...

What's included on-board beverage wise? And is there only specific areas that drinks are included (ex dining rooms)? I've heard that at meals sodas and all are included, but poolside, rooms, etc, you have to pay? Is that true? Or is it included wherever you are on the ship?

Also, what's the deal with alcohol? I've gathered that you can pay per drink...but are there any alcohol plans available? Is it wine or beer only? Or is there something similar to like an all-inclusive resort where any alcohol is included?

Onboard, sodas, water, tea, coffee, milk are included in your cruisefare at the 24/7 drink station as well as at meals.

Drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) that you get from bars/lounges, poolside servers, and outside the theatres have a fee, plus 15% gratutity included.

Sodas, and packaged snacks from room service also have a fee.

 

[tupperware509]

You can look at the drink packages on the dcl site, under planning then online gifts. also you can bring liquids on board in your carry ons, including beer, wine etc. there is a fee for uncorking at dinner, not sure thought it was $20.

 

[mmouse37]

Drink Station is 24/7 and includes coke products, coffee, tea, milk, cream, hot cocoa, sugar/sugar substitute, hot and cold cups, lids, stirrers, ice

Dining Rooms have sodas (again coke products), iced tea, coffee, tea, milk, choc. milk included. Smoothies, specialty coffee like lattes would be extra. Any alcohol you order is extra.

All bars/lounges inside and on the pool deck will charge you for soda and any alcohol drinks you want.

Cove Cafe has specialty coffees and teas plus a full service bars....all drinks here have a fee. (Same with Vista Cafe on the Dream and Fantasy).

Room Service sodas, packaged snacks and alcohol have a fee. Coffee, tea, juices, milk are complimentary.

There are wine packages, bottled water packages, you can get a refillable beer mug and they also have a drink of the day special which is less expensive than the other alcohol drinks that day.

You can bring onboard as much soda, water or alcohol you want but it MUST be in your carryon luggage and NOT in your checked luggage. It is for consumption in your cabin. If you bring a bottle of wine into the dining room that you did not purchase from DCL, whether or not it is already opened, there will be a corking fee plus gratuity added. It is basically a service charge for bringing in non DCL purchased alcohol into the dining room and has nothing to do with the actual opening of the bottle.

MJ

 

[Freiden8]

Drink Station is 24/7 and includes coke products, coffee, tea, milk, cream, hot cocoa, sugar/sugar substitute, hot and cold cups, lids, stirrers, ice

Dining Rooms have sodas (again coke products), iced tea, coffee, tea, milk, choc. milk included. Smoothies, specialty coffee like lattes would be extra. Any alcohol you order is extra.

All bars/lounges inside and on the pool deck will charge you for soda and any alcohol drinks you want.

Cove Cafe has specialty coffees and teas plus a full service bars....all drinks here have a fee. (Same with Vista Cafe on the Dream and Fantasy).

Room Service sodas, packaged snacks and alcohol have a fee. Coffee, tea, juices, milk are complimentary.

There are wine packages, bottled water packages, you can get a refillable beer mug and they also have a drink of the day special which is less expensive than the other alcohol drinks that day.

You can bring onboard as much soda, water or alcohol you want but it MUST be in your carryon luggage and NOT in your checked luggage. It is for consumption in your cabin. If you bring a bottle of wine into the dining room that you did not purchase from DCL, whether or not it is already opened, there will be a corking fee plus gratuity added. It is basically a service charge for bringing in non DCL purchased alcohol into the dining room and has nothing to do with the actual opening of the bottle.

MJ

what if you pour your own glasses of wine in your room and bring the full glasses to dinner, leaving the open bottle in the room?

 

[TDC Nala]

If your soda has to come in a can, they will charge you for it.

There was one report of someone being charged when they ordered root beer in the dining room. They don't have root beer available in the fountains, so they have to get it from a can, hence the charge.

what if you pour your own glasses of wine in your room and bring the full glasses to dinner, leaving the open bottle in the room?

Disney's written policy states that if you bring your own alcohol it should be consumed in your stateroom and not in any lounge or public area. Debating it here doesn't usually turn out well...

 

[Freiden8]

Disney's written policy states that if you bring your own alcohol it should be consumed in your stateroom and not in any lounge or public area. Debating it here doesn't usually turn out well...

didn't realize there was an official written policy about this and certainly didn't realize the curiosity would start a debate... thanks for the reply.

 

[vleeth]

Where does juice fall in? I drink pineapple juice. Will they charge me for that? Can I only get it in the dining room?

 

[ImDMous]

Where does juice fall in? I drink pineapple juice. Will they charge me for that? Can I only get it in the dining room?

I never saw any pineapple juice at the drink station or buffet, only apple cranberry and orange. I know they must have some on-board for the mixed drinks but they may charge you for it depending on if they have a fountain or cans.

 

[Blueyedchanel]

I hear a lot about people bringing water on board. Is the water not drinkable? Or is because some people only drink it from a bottle?

 

[nancy drew]

Is wine available only at dinner (or in your room)? Or is it available at the bars as well?

 

[ImDMous]

I hear a lot about people bringing water on board. Is the water not drinkable? Or is because some people only drink it from a bottle?

The water on the ship from the taps is perfectly drinkable. It is filtered just like any other bottled water, I guess people just like to pay for it. We always just bring a sports bottle and keep filling it up.

Is wine available only at dinner (or in your room)? Or is it available at the bars as well?

There is wine at the bars.

 

[Flossbolna]

interesting topic and thanks for the informative replies so far. Does anyone know whether I can get a plain carbonated water? I don't need a fancy bottled water, but I like bubbles in my water (I guess it is a German thing, we drink that a lot).

 

[shadesgirl]

I thought I read somewhere that you can't bring corkscrews on board. Is this true? And if so, can you get one on board to open up your wine in your stateroom?

 

[MAAR0629]

Dont mean to hijack but can your being in your own water and pop?

 

[MiaSRN62]

Dont mean to hijack but can your being in your own water and pop?

Yes you can

 

[MiaSRN62]

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Dont mean to hijack but can your being in your own water and pop?

Yes, but it must be brought aboard in a carry-on and not your checked luggage.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Yes, but it must be brought aboard in a carry-on and not your checked luggage.

And not in an insulated bag/cooler ! I gave DCL a piece of my mind on that one.....
we had a small rolling insulated disney cooler (purchased at the Disney Store many years ago). We've brought it on 2 previous cruises and it was fine. This was our 5th cruise and they wanted to confiscate it. We had to remove our bottled water and soda and they gave us a very thin clear plastic bag to carry it on the ship with. The bag proceeded to break 5 min after the security people on the ship gave it to us......soda and water rolling all over the floor in all directions. We had to get out of line and take the cooler back to our car or risk having it taken away. Lost our place in the security line (had been there 10 min). Came back from garage and had to wait at the end of a much longer line---more like 20-25 min. Dh and I were not happy. We let DCL know how we felt. Funny thing is....DCL sells insulated coolers on the ship and on CC.