Budget question - bar bill

[kristieboyd]

How much are the beer mug refills? I'm assuming it's for tap beers....what do they normally have on tap (we're sailing on the Wonder)

 

[rentayenta]

ALL cruise workers are so thankful for treats , most cannot afford them nor do they get a chance very often to get off the ship to get treats ! I take gum , chocolate bars , life savers , peppermints & packaged candy like worthers & starburst candy . I add the cash to the tip envelope on the last night in the dining room when we have dinner . I add extra tips to the receipt that is charged to my account & sometimes when I get a drink from a sever I add a dollar bill or 2 in the folder that they hand you to sign .

Thank you. This is good info.

You an bring alcohol onboard in your carry-on. On our last cruise, we brought a few bottle of wine and my husband premixed some apple martinis.

I'll be bringing a bottle of rum. How can I not?

 

[markyhomer]

Now I'm not being tight but could I take my beer mug back on my next cruise and use it again?
Can't remember what beer was on board but from what I can remember they had 2 largers on draft.. And they wasn't bad.. :-D

 

[DVCNuts]

I believe you can bring your mug back for the next cruise. We did, but it was a long time ago. And yes, there is a good variety of draft beers at the different bars. Especially O'Gills Pub on the Fantasy.

 

[markyhomer]

Cheers DVCNuts....Cheers...get it...?

Even though I love the mug, i just don't fancy having two in my cupboard(They are pretty big).

Got the Med coming up in July, can't wait now, already did the Med in 2011..

 

[DVCNuts]

Cheers DVCNuts....Cheers...get it...?

Even though I love the mug, i just don't fancy having two in my cupboard(They are pretty big).

Got the Med coming up in July, can't wait now, already did the Med in 2011..

Cheers! ----->. (_)D

 

[Funky Chicken]

Here are a few more drink "things" to consider.

The wine packages are not unreasonably priced. Still, there is no enormous financial advantage to
buying a wine package over just ordering bottles or glasses as you go.
There area few different ways to save on drink prices.
Daily drink specials
Beer mug program
Bucket of beers (pay for 5, get a 6th free)
2 for 1 specials at certain times in certain locations-the last hour of service at the Serenity Bay
Beach bar is 2 for 1, so we got 2 Konk Coolers for less than $6 including the 15% (we added to the tip on the
receipt).
We are not big drinkers. Even if we were, I don't look at a Disney ship as the most appropriate place to get drunk for
many reasons. It is easy enough to feel sick on board-ships motion, overeating, lack of sleep. I see no reason to add to that
possibility during the most expensive week of my year. It is also easy to hurt yourself on board-wet surfaces, lots of stairs, activities that
you are not used to like Aquaduck. A drink here or there can add to the fun, but there is really nothing good that comes from pounding cocktails.
Last-I really don't want my child to see me behaving differently on vacation because I am drinking differently than I do at home. This is important to
me based on my family history. Not trying to be a party pooper, but I was the kid with the publicly drunk parent and it sucked.
There you go. Maybe too much information.

 

[TamaraH]

I completely agree. We are not huge drinkers either but we both enjoy wine with dinner (no more than 2 glasses each regularly) and DH may have a beer or two during the day. I can't see myself drinking anything really during the day but you never know and definitely not more than one (except for a tasting probably). So I think we will probably do the wine package and I'll just get him the beer mug and I think that'll be good. Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I would be really lost without everyone sharing their experiences and tips/tricks on these boards.

Now about the tipping conversation, that just makes me so shocked and sad.

 

[sandrakit]

I completely agree. We are not huge drinkers either but we both enjoy wine with dinner (no more than 2 glasses each regularly) and DH may have a beer or two during the day. I can't see myself drinking anything really during the day but you never know and definitely not more than one (except for a tasting probably). So I think we will probably do the wine package and I'll just get him the beer mug and I think that'll be good. Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I would be really lost without everyone sharing their experiences and tips/tricks on these boards.

Now about the tipping conversation, that just makes me so shocked and sad. dde27 I already have the recommended tips budgeted (plus a little padding) but should we plan on more? And as far as the cash tips for room outside of the regular tipping, what about Castaway Cay and excursions? Do we tip there too?

Your little extra padding is great if you think they gave you great service . My extra padding always gets spent on the workers as I've always felt they deserved more than the recommended amount ! I tip any extras in cash , the workers have told me that's what they use for themselves for a treat when they happen to get a few hrs off when they are at port . One told me he bought coffee / snacks & bought Internet minutes to keep in touch with his family . As far as excursions go you will need $$$ for those if your booking outside of Disney plus most of them get a tip . At Castaway Cay everything can be charged to your KTTW card & if you order a drink an automatic 15 % is added but there is a line if you wish to add more or you can put a dollar or 2 in the folder with the receipt ! Enjoy your cruise ...

 

[rentayenta]

Your little extra padding is great if you think they gave you great service . My extra padding always gets spent on the workers as I've always felt they deserved more than the recommended amount ! I tip any extras in cash , the workers have told me that's what they use for themselves for a treat when they happen to get a few hrs off when they are at port . One told me he bought coffee / snacks & bought Internet minutes to keep in touch with his family . As far as excursions go you will need $$$ for those if your booking outside of Disney plus most of them get a tip . At Castaway Cay everything can be charged to your KTTW card & if you order a drink an automatic 15 % is added but there is a line if you wish to add more or you can put a dollar or 2 in the folder with the receipt ! Enjoy your cruise ...

As someone who worked in the restaurant industry for over 15 years, I am a total cash tipper. Any extras will be cash.

 

[sandrakit]

As someone who worked in the restaurant industry for over 15 years, I am a total cash tipper. Any extras will be cash.

I've asked several workers if they mind getting cash & they all they love getting extra & get to keep it themselves & not have to pool tips ! You can also add extra to your account if you don't carry extra cash ...

 

[rentayenta]

I've asked several workers if they mind getting cash & they all they love getting extra & get to keep it themselves & not have to pool tips ! You can also add extra to your account if you don't carry extra cash ...

They pool their tips? Bleh. Cash for sure. And treats. I added bags of treats to my list.

 

[TamaraH]

Okay, I will plan on extra cash then for additional tips then. I think we will do one Non DCL excursion in St. Maarten so I will bring tip money for that but any other excursions will be through DCL (I believe). So with those DCL excursions, tips can be done through your account? If we go through the extra cash I bring, then, at least I will know there's a fall back.

 

[sandrakit]

I don't think the tip can be added but I may be wrong . We always tip in cash for excursions ! I always bring cash incase anyone wants to purchase anything along the way & bring extra tip $$$ ...

 

[TamaraH]

I don't think the tip can be added but I may be wrong . We always tip in cash for excursions ! I always bring cash incase anyone wants to purchase anything along the way & bring extra tip $$$ ...

Ohhhh, okay thanks for the clarification. I will just have to budget tips wisely.

 

[karl_nj]

Here are a few more drink "things" to consider.

The wine packages are not unreasonably priced. Still, there is no enormous financial advantage to
buying a wine package over just ordering bottles or glasses as you go.

I don't recommend the wine package. If you choose "poorly" it's possible to lose money on the package:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=45334885&postcount=17

 

[Meghatron]

I don't recommend the wine package. If you choose "poorly" it's possible to lose money on the package:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=45334885&postcount=17

And then there's people like me, who know that the Iron Horse can only be bought through Disney experiences... so I buy wine packages based on how many bottles of that I think I can drink over the course of the cruise. LOL.

 

[TamaraH]

I don't recommend the wine package. If you choose "poorly" it's possible to lose money on the package:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=45334885&postcount=17

Interesting you should post this link as I was just about to look to see if a comparison had been done. Thanks!

 

[Funky Chicken]

I don't recommend the wine package. If you choose "poorly" it's possible to lose money on the package:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=45334885&postcount=17

You are correct, and I noticed that onboard last month.
I am far from a wine genius. Our tablemates were very well versed in wine, and they guided us thru the list a little bit. He made a very good point early on-choosing the wine by price doesn't really help you if you don't like the choice or if it doesn't pair well with your dinner. He ended up "down" about $15 over the course of his package but didn't care because he was happy with his selections.

 

[teamadco]

Awesome info...we are sailing with our 3 yr old so dont plan on drinking much but nice to be prepared for sticker price of beverages. My husband is excited about that beer mug though.