Wine vs Mixed drink tasting

[Carol19]

I'm wanting to schedule one of these but wondering what would be better and what others have experienced.
I'm not a big drinker but I like a mixed drink with dinner and just around the ship but I'm curious to learn about different wines and choosing my favorites. What should I do?

 

[DIS_Ag]

We did both the mixology and the chocolate and wine tasting last time. I thought the mixology was just ok. I didn't love all the drinks the interaction fell a little flat. The chocolate and wine was really good. The cost is more $35 vs $20, but we'll definitely do it again.

 

[m3owbox]

I a wine tasting and a mixology on the Dream last year. They were both a lot of fun. But I will say the wine is my favorite. I learned a lot of new things about wine and they had so many different kinds to taste that it will definitely be helpful if you don't know what you like. I found a new favorite wine.

 

[PAGA2003]

We did the Champagne Cocktail class and really enjoyed it. We made 4 different cocktails (Elderbubble, Royal Bellini, Absolutely Fabulous and one more I can't remember). We were on the Dream so the class was held in Pink so it was a small more intimate environment. At the end we stayed after to chat and were given a bonus glass of the Taittinger Champagne we used to mix in the cocktails. I can't remember what we paid but with 5 glasses of bubbly it was quite a good deal and also quite a bit to drink since the cocktails were full size!

 

[mevelandry]

I'm wanting to schedule one of these but wondering what would be better and what others have experienced.
I'm not a big drinker but I like a mixed drink with dinner and just around the ship but I'm curious to learn about different wines and choosing my favorites. What should I do?

Tried the wine tasting class and the mixology class. I liked both for different reasons. The wine tasting is a bit more quiet, you listen to the class and you taste the wine. It's interesting. You'll learn a lot.

The mixology class is fun, you get to learn to mix some of the drinks (if there's too many people you'll only do one of the drinks but it's a lot of fun! And you get a small glass of each drink.

If I had to do it again, I'd pick the mixology class out of the two.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I've done both and enjoyed both, but for different reasons. My experience matches that of PPs, Mixology was a lot of fun. It's more interactive with the other guests and definitely a more lively class. I've enjoyed most of the drinks we've made. The wine tasting was more educational. It's a quieter atmosphere with little interaction between guests. I learned a lot about wines and learned to enjoy a couple varietals that I had never tried before the class. If you are on a 7 night cruise, try scheduling both. If you are on a 3 or 4 night cruise, just pick one.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I've done both and enjoyed both, but for different reasons. My experience matches that of PPs, Mixology was a lot of fun. It's more interactive with the other guests and definitely a more lively class. I've enjoyed most of the drinks we've made. The wine tasting was more educational. It's a quieter atmosphere with little interaction between guests. I learned a lot about wines and learned to enjoy a couple varietals that I had never tried before the class. If you are on a 7 night cruise, try scheduling both. If you are on a 3 or 4 night cruise, just pick one.

I echo all of this, particularly scheduling both if you are doing a longer cruise. I've done both each of the last wo years on the 11-night WBTA and had a different experience each time. Mixology is always lively and fun, especially as it moves along. The wine tasting choices vary each time, so it doesn't get boring. Also, I think the wine tastings without the chocolate tasting (never done that one) were $20. That's a good price for the quantity and quality of the wines served.

 

[Carol19]

Really appreciate everyone's input and experience.....I'm still torn and probably going to go with the mixology one, just cuz my sister is a bartender and my brother works at a fancy pizza and wine place and I think we would all have more fun making cocktails but on the other hand I really want to learn about wines and pairing......

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Really appreciate everyone's input and experience.....I'm still torn and probably going to go with the mixology one, just cuz my sister is a bartender and my brother works at a fancy pizza and wine place and I think we would all have more fun making cocktails but on the other hand I really want to learn about wines and pairing......

Is there a reason you can't do both?

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I just want to point out one more possibility. A lot of the tastings don't fill up completely. (Mixology might be the harder ticket). If you could book one of them for early in cruise, you might be able to add the second on later, once you experience the first one. When you go to sign up, they can tell you how many spaces are left in each class and how many separate classes are available on your voyage. That way, if there are a lot of spaces left for one of them later in the cruise, you can hold off booking it for a bit.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I just want to point out one more possibility. A lot of the tastings don't fill up completely. (Mixology might be the harder ticket). If you could book one of them for early in cruise, you might be able to add the second on later, once you experience the first one. When you go to sign up, they can tell you how many spaces are left in each class and how many separate classes are available on your voyage. That way, if there are a lot of spaces left for one of them later in the cruise, you can hold off booking it for a bit.

Or, go ahead and book two different ones, one early, one late in the cruise. Then, if you don't want to do the second one, cancel. I don't think you are charged for the tasting until you actually show up.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Or, go ahead and book two different ones, one early, one late in the cruise. Then, if you don't want to do the second one, cancel. I don't think you are charged for the tasting until you actually show up.

I thought it was 24 hours notice, but that could still work with what you suggested, depending on the times. And even if they say you HAVE to give notice, sometimes they are willing to drop the charge if you ask nicely.

 

[Quellman]

I think you learn MORE at the wine tastings than you do at mixology. You are comparing across a similar theme, where as a mixed drink can be about anything.

 

[Carol19]

We only have one sea day on my cruise and I believe it's the only time they schedule these? Idk if I'll do well with so much alcohol in my system plus I get motion sickness and take meds all day long so I want to schedule only one of these....now I'm leaning towards the wine one for the more intimate setting and education.

 

[PAGA2003]

They actually have tastings/classes scheduled each day so it will just be a matter of figuring out when what you want is offered. Our Champagne cocktail class was actually on the day we embarked at 9:30 pm.

 

[kiford]

I've done many different tastings: wine, tequila, beer, martini, mixology, chocolate & liquor, cognac, whiskey, champagne - some multiple times. The first time we did the tequila tasting, we had tried to sign up for the wine tasting (which we had done before) but it was booked up and the tequila one was the only one that fit our schedule. I hated tequila but we figured "what the heck - we're on vacation. Maybe we'll learn something". Now I am a tequila drinker. Definitely learned something new (i.e., what I drank in university was: (a) sometimes not tequila and; (b) high-end tequila is not the same as cheap tequila). The same has happened for cognac and whiskey and martinis. I never liked/drank any of these largely because I didn't know what was good and what wasn't and what to look for. So my suggestion is: pick what works with your schedule and have an open mind about trying something completely different. You might find that your two options won't be held when you are available or that they are filled up so rather than being disappointed, try something else. I will say that any of them are good and you will definitely learn something new.

 

[2-pointdoe]

I enjoyed the wine and the chocolate and liquor way better than the mixology. We probably would not do the mixology class ever again.

 

[disneydeva]

Can two people go if only one drinks? I would like to go with my DH but do not want to drink.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Can two people go if only one drinks? I would like to go with my DH but do not want to drink.

You are certainly welcome to go if you pay the fee for the tasting, but if you want to go and not pay since you aren't drinking, there have been mixed reports on this. Some cruisers have been allowed in without paying as "observers", and others have been told they have to pay even if they aren't drinking. It certainly can't hurt to ask.

 

[Mazz519]

Done both... both are very good... also did the tequila tasting and it was just great !!!