Which Drink Bookings to Keep?

[Geomom]

We are wondering about the same thing. And looking at the prices for these tastings now, I keep coming up with the idea of just cancel them all and do my own private tasting (i.e. increase my alcohol budget).

I have done the Martini tasting and the Mojito tasting in the past and while they were interesting, I thought it was too much alcohol in a short time, I rather enjoy my drinks more spread out.

I feel like those tastings are part of the cruise ritual, but I keep wondering if they are really worth the money (for me - others obviously have other feelings towards them!). So, just wanted to add that perspective.

I agree. I'm glad I did the 3 tastings last cruise when they were cheaper. I also did the mojito one in 2018 when it was $25 and took the last drink to go (after adding more club soda). I did really enjoy the mojito one on the Magic though as we made our own drinks at our seats, nice to learn the correct muddling method.

At the current prices, I probably won't book any and just enjoy cocktails during the cruise. Well, maybe I'd try a wine one since I haven't done it yet... The hard liquor ones are too much for me in a short time at my age.

 

[randumb0]

1. Chocolate
2. Mixology and can be hit or miss depending on the bartender and what they make
3. Champagne

 

[AquaDame]

My vote would be Mixology as it is quite fun (we've done it 3 times and are done, it is kind of been there done that with these, the third was with my parents), followed closely by liquor & chocolate... but we don't like champagne so....

 

[JWelch62]

I know this might be hard to answer depending on your tolerance and palate, but were the martinis really strong? I'm only asking because I'd like my BF and I to give this one a try and I'm wondering if I should invite my mom to join us as well. She likes a good Cosmo and tends to lean more the sweeter side of drinks.

I like to consider myself an "accomplished" drinker. I will walk out ot the martini tasting feeling pretty happy. My 5' 4" wife will be feeling a little more happy than I.

That being said, plenty of people will just not drink the whole thing. And, you should know that you aren't getting a full sized drink. It's probably a 3 oz martini glass.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Champagne-because I love champagne.

Stem to Stern- one of the best tastings we have ever done. But the bartender/CM running it was amazing. And at that time, we got little pins that were stamped Stem to Stern with a little bunch of grapes on it to put on our lanyards.

Martinis were fun-one and done for us due to cost

Mixology depends on bartender. Fun, lots of drinks to try

Tequila- fun, but once again, a one and done

These tastings are really expensive now to the point where I haven't booked any for my upcoming eastern. But if I was to book one it would be champagne.

 

[bigAWL]

Stem to Stern- one of the best tastings we have ever done. But the bartender/CM running it was amazing. And at that time, we got little pins that were stamped Stem to Stern with a little bunch of grapes on it to put on our lanyards.

We also got the pins a couple weeks ago on the Dream. I think we have a bunch in drawer somewhere.

 

[cmph]

IMO, having done all of those plus some more - I'd go with the tastings that include things you most commonly drink/like, if cost is an issue. Otherwise you'll probably waste some money trying things you already know you aren't a fan of. I enjoy wine, champagne, and most cocktails but don't love straight liquor. The chocolate aspect wasn't enough to get me to enjoy the whiskey in that tasting, which was not a big deal since it was just one of the drinks on that menu. But if I had picked that one over mojitos, mixology, champagne - where I DID like all of the drinks - that would have been value lost.

I also did the cognac tasting once - thinking "hey, I might LOVE this, b/c I really don't know much about it!" And nope LOL. It was still fun b/c we had a good group of people, but I walked out of Cove Cafe with my last drink and added it to coke from the soda fountain.

 

[SnowWhite2]

We did mixology recently and it is just not as fun now with the limited audience participation. The drinks were also nothing special, all were super sweet. With the new higher prices I don’t see the value of this versus ordering cocktails you actually enjoy.

I sail mostly on the classic ships and we rarely got to participate in the Mixology drink making. It was a good value when it was $25 but now at the higher prices, it isn't worth it. The drinks are all "tasting" size and there were 5 of them. We signed up for our last tasting days before the price increased. Most people paid the higher price. I was glad I didn't because I'd prefer to take that money and buy the drinks I like.

My kids (mid 20's) did the morning drink class for $38 and thought it was a total money grab. It was one small alcoholic drink and a few small smoothies.

 

[Louise97]

We've got a champagne tasting booked on our next cruise, but I'm debating dropping it and spending the money in the bar instead.

Some reviews show the drinks already poured so they'll be going flat during the session, and it seems the term "champagne" is used fairly loosely so sometimes they just use sparkling wine. Other reviews said drinks were poured freshly for each round and they were all actually champagne. Our tasting is on a port day when we're docked in France so I'd hope they'd take it seriously but I also don't want to waste $50/person on flat non-champagne!

 

[Flossbolna]

We've got a champagne tasting booked on our next cruise, but I'm debating dropping it and spending the money in the bar instead.

Some reviews show the drinks already poured so they'll be going flat during the session, and it seems the term "champagne" is used fairly loosely so sometimes they just use sparkling wine. Other reviews said drinks were poured freshly for each round and they were all actually champagne. Our tasting is on a port day when we're docked in France so I'd hope they'd take it seriously but I also don't want to waste $50/person on flat non-champagne!

I had that issue with the Martini tasting I did: by the middle of the tasting those pre-poured drinks were warm and that really made a difference to me.

I love the champagne bars on the Dream class ships and think going there for a nice drink is an event in itself. I had a fantastic server on the Fantasy once who was very knowledgeable about the champagnes and steered me towards trying something that I had not considered, but loved!

 

[bigAWL]

We've got a champagne tasting booked on our next cruise, but I'm debating dropping it and spending the money in the bar instead.

Some reviews show the drinks already poured so they'll be going flat during the session, and it seems the term "champagne" is used fairly loosely so sometimes they just use sparkling wine. Other reviews said drinks were poured freshly for each round and they were all actually champagne. Our tasting is on a port day when we're docked in France so I'd hope they'd take it seriously but I also don't want to waste $50/person on flat non-champagne!

We definitely had freshly poured champagne on the Dream in March. Though I wouldn’t turn my nose up at another region if it was quality bubbly.

 

[Mercenary]

For those saying the mixology class was not mix your own or interactive, we went in December and they said Mickey changed the policy and we could start mixing again. Are others that sailed after December not having the same experience?

That was our 1st time doing it and it was a blast.

 

[randumb0]

For those saying the mixology class was not mix your own or interactive, we went in December and they said Mickey changed the policy and we could start mixing again. Are others that sailed after December not having the same experience?

That was our 1st time doing it and it was a blast.

I sailed 2 weeks ago. They told us that guests are not allowed behind the bar. They did let us walk up to the bar and mix our own drink

 

[Mercenary]

I sailed 2 weeks ago. They told us that guests are not allowed behind the bar. They did let us walk up to the bar and mix our own drink

Oh wow so that was not our experience 4 if the 5 groups went behind the bar. The last group had to do it at the bar. Don't recall why... anyways we want to book this for our next cruise and would be sadly disappointed. Hope to hear more stories. So you couldn't get behind but did you still mix for the class in multiple groups?

 

[randumb0]

Oh wow so that was not our experience 4 if the 5 groups went behind the bar. The last group had to do it at the bar. Don't recall why... anyways we want to book this for our next cruise and would be sadly disappointed. Hope to hear more stories. So you couldn't get behind but did you still mix for the class in multiple groups?

The bartender told us he got in trouble the last time he had a class where guests came behind the bar to mix drinks. We went up in groups and mixed our own drink. We did not mix for anyone else

 

[AquaDame]

I had that issue with the Martini tasting I did: by the middle of the tasting those pre-poured drinks were warm and that really made a difference to me.

For what its worth on the Fantasy a couple weeks ago they made the martinis as we progressed. Even the first was being finished up after the last couple had arrived.

 

[Flossbolna]

For what its worth on the Fantasy a couple weeks ago they made the martinis as we progressed. Even the first was being finished up after the last couple had arrived.

That’s how it should be. I think the one thing this thread proves is that there is a lot inconsistency with how these are run.

 

[bigAWL]

The bartender told us he got in trouble the last time he had a class where guests came behind the bar to mix drinks. We went up in groups and mixed our own drink. We did not mix for anyone else

Interesting. Which ship was this on?

I posted on this thread a while back about my experience on the Dream in March when we did go up in groups to mix our own mojitos. I didn't specify at the time because I didn't think it was relevant, but we did all go behind the bar in Skyline for that. I think that policy makes sense, though.


I went and found some photos from previous mixology classes. On the Fantasy in 2015 we were in skyline behind the bar. We went in small groups and made several drinks at once to serve everyone there. Then the next group would go behind the bar and make the next drink for everyone. In my opinion, this was peak-mixology.


On the Magic in 2014, it was in Animator's Palate and we just set up on a couple tables. I can't actually remember if we made multiple drinks or just our own.

 

[randumb0]

Interesting. Which ship was this on?

I posted on this thread a while back about my experience on the Dream in March when we did go up in groups to mix our own mojitos. I didn't specify at the time because I didn't think it was relevant, but we did all go behind the bar in Skyline for that. I think that policy makes sense, though.
View attachment 757915

I went and found some photos from previous mixology classes. On the Fantasy in 2015 we were in skyline behind the bar. We went in small groups and made several drinks at once to serve everyone there. Then the next group would go behind the bar and make the next drink for everyone. In my opinion, this was peak-mixology.
View attachment 757913

On the Magic in 2014, it was in Animator's Palate and we just set up on a couple tables. I can't actually remember if we made multiple drinks or just our own.
View attachment 757916

It was on the Fantasy

 

[Dug720]

I've done Champagne (nice way to kick off the cruise), Mixology (it turned out to be a great session as a lot of people dropped so there were only 5 of us, and 1 was pregnant just sitting in - so we made our small ones, and then the bartender drew a ticket for each of the full-sized ones she had done), and Stem to Stern which ended up being a totally private tasting as everyone else had cancelled...the sommelier gave me the option to not do it and get a refund or do it privately. Great session!!