How much $ for drinks/tips HELP!

[Empire Day]

OK I have read and researched this but maybe someone can help me out.
DW,DS7,& I will be on a 4 night wonder...
we figure $150 for basic tips (dinner servers, head server, room steward) BUT... we are drinkers so... are the tips included in drinks (other than room service?)
I am thinking we will probably order room service a few times what is a reasonable tip? 15-20% as we normally tip much more for good service, but this trip was a bugdet buster on us
we plan on bringing some beer/liqour on with us to cut cost, but dose any one know cost of beer at the resorts/DD as we are using the transfers (would it still be cheaper than buying single drinks on the ship?) I just don't want to haul a case of beer on board too heavy!!!!
I figure we can stock up on some rum in Nassau can you open it on board?

CAN"T WAIT CAN"T WAIT

 

[PRaffen]

Check your bill after you order any drink - tips will be automatically included.

 

[floridaminnie]

You can buy and take the rum back on the ship, but customs will not allow you to take opened bottles off the ship. I personally didn't think the drinks were that expensive. On average my tropical drinks were 4.75. I have paid for more for drinks on land that weren't even half as good. I just looked at my bill last night (came home yesterday) and the tips, spa and soviegners were what killed me.

 

[katerkat]

Tips are included with drinks. I think my amaretto sours were $5.45 total. Beware, though, the drinks aren't very strong. I had three amaretto sours one night (in about an hour) and I could walk just fine. For little me, that's NOT typical -- I'm a total lightweight. I pondered buying some amaretto and adding it to my drinks, but I heard about not being able to take open bottles through customs. They didn't check our bottles at all -- in fact, they didn't check ANYTHING when we went through customs, but I didn't want to take the chance.

 

[Grumbo]

As PRaffen says it IS included on your bill.
What REALLY got me was that on our day trip to Nassau we bought a couple of water bottle holders by the gangway and a tip was added on to this. Sheesh. Sorry if that sounds cheap but I sure don't expect to have to pay a tip for something like that.
I agree though the alcoholic drinks were NOT out of whack price wise imho.
Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[LAMPSKIES]

I too am a big beer drinker. Get an "ESPN" mug. The mug was 9.95 on our Dec 02 Wonder excursion and 3.25 for 20oz refill. With tip it came to 3.75 per mug!! I called mine American Express, don't leave the cabin without it. DW likes "foofy" drinks but not much of a drinker(she the responsible one) and there was always a special. 4 days including a Bears game at the ESPN sports bar, tips for all (and I gave extra to all), DD12, DD10 and DW including 2 unlimited pop mugs kids at the arcade kids drinking "virgin strawberry daqueries"sp? a little at the stores on board I spent under 900.00. A little hint, I couldn't find any of my flavor in Nassau. Just coors light, colt 45 and some heinikin at the liquor stores. 9.00 a six. I brought none onboard. At Castaway Cay if you order a six from one of the people walking the beach they only charge for 5 and bring it in a bag of ice.

 

[kendall]

If I read you right, that means a 6 pack of 12oz cans of beer for $5 on castaway cay? What brands were available?

 

[LAMPSKIES]

I believe it was 3.75 or4.00 per can on Castaway Cay, that and dinner are the only time I didn't use my mug. I later found out that you can bring your mug to dinner. DW won't let that happen.

 

[LAMPSKIES]

I meant to say I paid for 5 and got the 6th free. That by far was the best of the 6.

 

[Padre Disney]

Just of the 3/15 and thought I would share.
My Father In Law bought a bottle of vodka in Cozumel. He had it about half gone and said he was bringing it home with him. (cause he liked the bottle plus he didn't want to waste it) We have cruised before but this was his first. I told him that I thought you were not allowed to take open bottles off the ship. He said okay and that was the end of that or so I thought. After we were off the ship and loading the truck he pulls the bottle of vodka out of his carry on bag and asked us to bring it home with us since we were driving and they were flying home. I was so surprised. I had left a 1/2 bottle of tequila in our room cause I didn't think we could take it off the ship. Did he just slip through or could I have brought my tequila home?

 

[LAMPSKIES]

We have been one two Disney Cruises and I can't remember the disembarkation rules saying anything about open bottles. I know there is no perishables off the ship and if you can't bring more than x amount of bottles of booze and x amount of other things......but I don't recall them saying it had to be sealed.....

 

[floridaminnie]

It does say it somewhere in the paperwork DCL gives you that you are not allowed to take off the ship opened containers. That is why the booze you buy onboard is not delivered until that night.

 

[tecdavidt]

It is US Customs that has the rule no open containers allowed. It is a risk if you get caught there would be some sort of penalty. Just like not being honest on your custom form. If they decide to double check and you get caught their is a penalty. We left an open bottle of Bombay Saphire Gin on the ship. I have read of others on this board that brought home open bottles but I just soon not risk it. Kathy

 

[Padre Disney]

Kathy
You saw my fil. I was shocked when I saw that he had brought the bottle off the ship with him. I'm glad I left my tequila on the ship. I wouldn't have wanted to get in trouble.
Bev

 

[Empire Day]

So from what i'm hearing is... the mug for beer is worth it? (I assumed this would be my route, just don't care for draft anything that much) and how are the liqour prices in nassau? I saw someone mentiond leaving a 1/2 bottle of Bombay Saphire!!!!!!!! oh what a shame my faviorte! do you remember the cost at port?
LAMPSKIES: I guess $1000 should cover the charges, being we won't be doing to much shoping then?
Thanks all for answering and for the fun replys

He said okay and that was the end of that or so I thought. After we were off the ship and loading the truck he pulls the bottle of vodka out of his carry on bag and asked us to bring it home with us

priceless!!!!!!

 

[Empire Day]

Oh one more thing can you use the ESPN mug at any of the lounges/bars ?

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Empire Day...

I used my mug at all the bars and lounges. I even brought it to a couple of the shows. I heard it's o.k. at dinner also. I didn't try that. Nassau is a good place to buy liquor. I think I paid 7.95 for a large bottle of absolute and the rum was even cheaper. Miller Lite is my flavor of choice and I couldn't find any in Nassau but in Freeport we went to the market and they had it. Even at Chicago suburban prices.

 

[Empire Day]

Very cool thanks for all the tips everyone!!!