New Alcohol Policy - How is it playing out at Embarkation?

[sweetpee_1993]

We didn't eat at Palo this summer, but the mention of the upcharge for the waygu beef sounded familiar to me. A quick Google search later, and yep - this is the thread http://www.disboards.com/threads/palo-what-do-i-need-to-know.3431410/ - see response # 4.

Yep. A Wagyu filet at an upcharge price. That's what I was remembering. The fixed menu with pairings was another upcharge option in addition to the Wagyu filet. So really, it's both that were being offered. I still need to ask all the other ladies (we had 16 total in Palo for dinner, 1 stayed in bed because whe wasn't feeling well) if anyone took pics of the menu.

 

[VFL]

FWIW, we were first time cruises on the Fantasy on September 19 and treated ourselves to dinner at Remy. There were two upcharge items that I recall as well - one was the Wagyu (I believe) and the second was a caviar offering. After the $170 original upcharge + paying for water and wine
+ gratuity we decided to pass. It was still an amazing meal that we will never forget.

 

[Quellman]

 

[sweetpee_1993]

True. My apologies.

 

[lillygator]

I would like to know about the upcharges.....

 

[steves100]

FWIW, we were first time cruises on the Fantasy on September 19 and treated ourselves to dinner at Remy. There were two upcharge items that I recall as well - one was the Wagyu (I believe) and the second was a caviar offering. After the $170 original upcharge + paying for water and wine
+ gratuity we decided to pass. It was still an amazing meal that we will never forget.

When we did Remy 2 years ago the only additional charge was alcohol

 

[Quellman]

True. My apologies.

I think the thread is derailed at this point. It happens.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Has there been any word from the first Fantasy sailing post liquor-pocolypse?

 

[Dawn Hart]

Exactly. That's what saddens me. I thought Disney made efforts to set themselves apart, even above, the industry standard.

I agree too. Makes me sad. And this is my first Disney cruise... But since I've signed up over a year ago, so many things I was looking forward to have changed. And not necessarily for the better.

 

[professorandmom]

Has there been any word from the first Fantasy sailing post liquor-pocolypse?

You know, I find it strange...with all the postings about the change, why so few reports from recent or current cruisers? I think we have had more information on the new Concierge lounge than the screening of passengers for booze...come to think of it, I've seen more details posted about the screening process on other cruise lines than DCL...

I'd rather just share facts about how things are happening than fall back into the debate...but perhaps current cruisers are afraid of the flames....(and probably enjoying their relaxing time aboard...)

 

[wcw57]

orrrrrr, as someone had suggested when this whole fracas began, there are waaaaay fewer DIS people on board than u would believe (if u r a member here)...there may not be many disers who have cruised under the new rules yet

 

[TestingH2O]

orrrrrr, as someone had suggested when this whole fracas began, there are waaaaay fewer DIS people on board than u would believe

I suspect this is true. Most cruise meets are 5-20 cabins. Out of how many rooms per ship? We are talking much less than 1% in most cases.

 

[Mark D.]

Just got off the Fantasy today. I can't really say too much about the embarkation process since we were some of the last people in the terminal due to travel delays, and didn't carry anything on with us. But, we did purchase liquor on the islands. The process went about as well as you would expect. They saw it, and directed us to a table to have it tagged and stored until the end of the cruise. We were given a receipt listing each item. At the end of the cruise, we picked it up the morning of debarkation, just like if we had purchased it onboard the ship.

Incidentally, as the CM was collecting our purchase, I politely said "I hope you haven't heard too many complaints about the new policy." Her response indicated that most of the complaints have come from the staff because of the extra work. A couple other passengers in line had no clue that the policy had even changed -- they were just checking in their liquor like they were told to do.

I also heard two CMs state how it was for the safety of the kids. One even mentioned the policy was partly because Guest Services had been receiving calls from kids saying "mom and dad had passed out on the floor" and he led me to believe that the cutoff policy has gotten a little stricter for bartenders as well. I'm not a big drinker, so I never got close to testing that. I'm not trying to revive the debate by mentioning this -- I'm just letting people know what's being said on the ship.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

@Mark D. , awesome to hear a first-hand report. Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

we did purchase liquor on the islands. The process went about as well as you would expect. They saw it, and directed us to a table to have it tagged and stored until the end of the cruise. We were given a receipt listing each item. At the end of the cruise, we picked it up the morning of debarkation, just like if we had purchased it onboard the ship.

Are you talking about hard liquor, or wine?

The question some of us have is the wine/beer allotment (2 bottles of wine, or 6 beers) being allowed to be brought onboard at port stops and taken to private rooms?

 

[Mark D.]

Are you talking about hard liquor, or wine?

Hard liquor. I'm not a wine drinker, so I didn't try to bring any of that on board. I didn't see anyone trying to bring wine or beer aboard either. At Castaway Cay, the server did mention if we didn't finish our bucket of beers, I could take them back to the ship. But we finished them.

Sorry I can't give any more information about that side of the policy.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hard liquor. I'm not a wine drinker, so I didn't try to bring any of that on board. I didn't see anyone trying to bring wine or beer aboard either. At Castaway Cay, the server did mention if we didn't finish our bucket of beers, I could take them back to the ship. But we finished them.

Sorry I can't give any more information about that side of the policy.

Thank you.

 

[cquick]

I for one am going to miss my vodka.

 

[Orukal]

I'll miss those few glasses in my cabin as well, but, I'm still going to have a blast in 2 weeks.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I'll still be bringing. No shame in playing the game. I won't hold anyone up in line at security to board. Promise.