Talk to me about your WINE / BEER package

[heather4Disney]

I am an average drinker the odd night I will enjoy my glass of wine when the kids are finally in bed. For vacations I'm willing to try a bit more and I am considering the wine paring for Remy despite the extra cost.

I'm looking for ANY and ALL advice when it comes to ordering a wine/ beer package. I am aware of the two bottle per adult carry-on. I've heard you can bring two more bottles at each port ? (Tortola, St. Thomas)

I've never been on a cruise before woo hoo !! So I have no idea how many bottles to order or which package... It says there is a 15 % tip... When you bring your own wine to dinner (the two I will bring on-board) there is a corking fee right ? Is there an additional 15 % tip on top of the corking fee ?

Feel free to answer any of my jumbled questions or just simply add your own experience -- would love to hear it all THANKS !

 

[Neptune's Fork]

What drink packages are you referring to? I wasn't aware DCL had any. Other than a reduced price on a case of beer purchase on embarkation day.

 

[Quellman]

What drink packages are you referring to? I wasn't aware DCL had any. Other than a reduced price on a case of beer purchase on embarkation day.

There is a wine package they will push the first night of the cruise in the main dining rooms. For a set price you get to pick like 3 -5 bottles from a list.

I had read an analysis of the bottles and their cost on the ship individually vs. the package vs. bringing those bottles onboard and paying corkage fee. Surprisingly, the disney costs weren't much higher than buying off the boat and paying corkage. The cost of the package vs. individual bottle purchase yielded some savings on the package.

The package wasn't a good fit for us due to the fact that my inlaws favorite bottle on board wasn't included.

 

[Quellman]

I am an average drinker the odd night I will enjoy my glass of wine when the kids are finally in bed. For vacations I'm willing to try a bit more and I am considering the wine paring for Remy despite the extra cost.

I'm looking for ANY and ALL advice when it comes to ordering a wine/ beer package. I am aware of the two bottle per adult carry-on. I've heard you can bring two more bottles at each port ? (Tortola, St. Thomas)

I've never been on a cruise before woo hoo !! So I have no idea how many bottles to order or which package... It says there is a 15 % tip... When you bring your own wine to dinner (the two I will bring on-board) there is a corking fee right ? Is there an additional 15 % tip on top of the corking fee ?

Feel free to answer any of my jumbled questions or just simply add your own experience -- would love to hear it all THANKS !

It is just a corkage fee. No tip beyond that. Sometimes you get lucky and if you bring multiple bottles, they will only charge you once. Just depends. Also, never ask if they will waive the fee, if it happens consider it pixie dust.

 

[sambycat]

If you are not a big drinker, I wouldn't do the whole bring stuff on board thing personally. I think the wine paring at Remy is a must do simply for the experience. If you mostly think you might enjoy some wine with dinner and don't drink a lot (I can drink a lot), I would consider buying say the 3 night wine package (or 5), then you would have the corresponding bottles to choose from (you don't have to buy 7 bottles in a 7 night). The wine would be available at sit down lunch and your rotational dining. You could also take a bottle back to your room to have and enjoy.

My first cruise I carried on some alcohol and honestly I never drank it because you have to go back to your room to get it. I also thought at first that if you bought the wine package you could get glasses of wine from your bottle poolside but that isn't how it works. Lots of people bring stuff on board, I just find that a huge hassle.

HTH!

 

[heather4Disney]

What drink packages are you referring to? I wasn't aware DCL had any. Other than a reduced price on a case of beer purchase on embarkation day.

It is under "gifts and amenities" where you can purchase a mickey cake, or room decorations or beer and wine packages. Under "mY disney cruise" then under BEFORE YOU GO Section: "gifts and amenities" ....

 

[undertheradar]

I am an average drinker the odd night I will enjoy my glass of wine when the kids are finally in bed. For vacations I'm willing to try a bit more and I am considering the wine paring for Remy despite the extra cost.

I'm looking for ANY and ALL advice when it comes to ordering a wine/ beer package. I am aware of the two bottle per adult carry-on. I've heard you can bring two more bottles at each port ? (Tortola, St. Thomas)

I've never been on a cruise before woo hoo !! So I have no idea how many bottles to order or which package... It says there is a 15 % tip... When you bring your own wine to dinner (the two I will bring on-board) there is a corking fee right ? Is there an additional 15 % tip on top of the corking fee ?

Feel free to answer any of my jumbled questions or just simply add your own experience -- would love to hear it all THANKS !

Seeing that you are a first time cruiser, I would advise waiting until you are onboard to do anything about alcohol. There are some who are bothered by the motion of the ship and alcohol will impact this. Drinks are not that expensive and there will be several times during your cruise where drinks are free.

 

[hubbard53]

. . . there will be several times during your cruise where drinks are free.

I'm on # 5 and have yet to find free drinks... what/where am I missing?

 

[professorandmom]

I'm on # 5 and have yet to find free drinks... what/where am I missing?

On the 7 night there will be a "Captain's Gala" on formal night...free drinks during the event which occurs before the first dinner (at 5:15) and again before second dinner (at 7:30). You can attend both events...I believe there is both an alcoholic and non-alcoholic selection

 

[AquaDame]

On the 7 night there will be a "Captain's Gala" on formal night...free drinks during the event which occurs before the first dinner (at 5:15) and again before second dinner (at 7:30). You can attend both events...I believe there is both an alcoholic and non-alcoholic selection

A couple of options I believe.. I think we had a choice of red or white wine and a couple of mixed drink options also. Each CM had one of those and a nonalcoholic drink on their trays - if you don't like what you see on one of them keep your eyes peeled for different trays.

You can go to one of the bars and ask for clean glasses if you think you would be happy with having a drink in the evening in your stateroom - there is no charge for doing that. You are not supposed to take glasses of wine outside of your stateroom into the public areas. If you take the bottle into the dining rooms then there will be a corkage fee when they open it for you.

We bought the beer mug and share a pint at a time so we can try more kinds (plus I am not a big drinker - usually I only want a little at a time) and carry on a couple of wine bottles to enjoy in the stateroom. In the various ports we might pop into a store and grab a bottle or two of local beer to bring back on the ship - for us it is plenty but we also can't finish a bottle of wine between us at home on any given evening. We polish it off the next day.

 

[kiford]

We always drink at least one glass of wine with dinner but never bother with the wine packages. DH and I don't always want the same wine at the same time especially if we're having different entrees. The wine packages are also limited to a list of wines, not everything that they have. The menu will generally list a recommended wine pairing with each entree. So we just order a glass or two of that particular wine. That way we each get what we want, it pairs nicely with our entree, we don't have to think (which is the best part of vacation), and we get a chance to try many different wines during the cruise. The prices aren't that bad per glass. We have occasionally brought on a bottle from different ports (usually in Europe, however) and that's usually just because it's something very different than what we can get at home or what's available on the ship. Usually we drink it in our room or bring it home. We don't bother to bring it to the dining rooms.

 

[spinnerblt]

Someone just got back from a cruise. They told me they could buy a bottle of wine which was more inexpensive then by the glass. Their waiter corked what they did not drink each night and brought it back out at the next meal. Is that an option on DCL? My Husband is red wine drinker and I am white so it is harder for us to share a bottle. Thanks

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Someone just got back from a cruise. They told me they could buy a bottle of wine which was more inexpensive then by the glass. Their waiter corked what they did not drink each night and brought it back out at the next meal. Is that an option on DCL? My Husband is red wine drinker and I am white so it is harder for us to share a bottle. Thanks

Yes. If you buy/bring a bottle on wine into the dining room, and do not finish it, the server will recork it and hold it to serve the next night in your next dining room.

 

[spinnerblt]

Just to make sure. I read this to mean If I buy in the dining room something from DCL they will use recork it? Or is that only if you bring on your own bottle of wine? Thanks for the quick respone. This will be a godsend if so.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

If you purchase a bottle in one of the dining rooms and do not finish it, your server will recork it and bring it to the dining room the next evening. I have even had a bottle purchased at Palo sent to my dining room for the next evening. My DW doesn't drink, so this works well for me since I usually drink only a half bottle at dinner.

Ralph

 

[Ralph&Pam]

If you purchase a bottle in one of the sining rooms and do not finish it, your server will recork it and bring it to the dining room the next evening. I have even had a bottle purchased at Palo sent to my dining room for the next evening. My DW doesn't drink, so this works well for me since I usually drink only a half bottle at dinner.

Ralph

Oops. DINING, not SINING. Boggles the mind.

 

[heather4Disney]

Are there different offerings of wines at Palo / Remy than in the rotational dining ??

 

[Quellman]

If you purchase a bottle in one of the sining rooms and do not finish it, your server will recork it and bring it to the dining room the next evening. I have even had a bottle purchased at Palo sent to my dining room for the next evening. My DW doesn't drink, so this works well for me since I usually drink only a half bottle at dinner.

Ralph

They will take any bottle of wine, one you purchased from them or one you brought onboard yourself, and store it for you at no additional charge until the next nights dinner. They will transfer wine from just about any venue on ship to your next dining location.

Are there different offerings of wines at Palo / Remy than in the rotational dining ??

Very much so. They have full lists and sommeliers available to make recommendations, explain tastes etc. I would suspect that you could order a wine from those dining locations in the main dining room if you knew what you were ordering, but I do not think they have the full list available in the three main dining rooms.

 

[spinnerblt]

Thanks. That is great to know.

 

[Flossbolna]

I'm on # 5 and have yet to find free drinks... what/where am I missing?

On the 7 night there will be a "Captain's Gala" on formal night...free drinks during the event which occurs before the first dinner (at 5:15) and again before second dinner (at 7:30). You can attend both events...I believe there is both an alcoholic and non-alcoholic selection

Besides the Captain's Reception (I think that is the name of it on the Navigators, it often is confused with the Captain's Gala menu in the dining room, which on the 7-night cruises is usually served on semi-formal night and does not come with free drinks), there are some more chances for free alcohol, however those might only open to some people:
DCV Member celebration (you need to have a DVC member in your party)
Gold and Platinum Castaway Club reception
DVC Presentation (that's the only one open for everyone and you "pay" for the free alcohol by attending a timeshare presentation)

Oops. DINING, not SINING. Boggles the mind.

Just wanted to point out that the DISboards have an edit function. You can always edit your post when you detect a typo after posting. Just hit "Edit" in the left bottom corner of your own post.