I am a soda and a coffee drinker. We have never have travelled on the Princess before. I am wondering at least for the soda card how much a day I would have to drink in order at least break even on the cost of the soda card. I know the card is $3.95 plus 15% gratuity a day. I think the coffee card is for 15 specialty coffee drinks but cost is unknown to me. Does this card represent a savings? We will be on a 14 day cruise. Thanks.
It really depends on how much you usually drink. I believe a can of coke may be still about 2.50/can plus tip. Personally, I prefer Pepsi products so I try to bring as much Pepsi and Mt. Dew with me.
I prefer Diet Pepsi too. Do you put it in a carry on box or suitcase? What's the most cans you have brought with you on a cruise?
On our last two cruises, we got one of those large plastic crates from Home Depot, and filled it with our supplies (2-liter bottles of Diet Pepsi/Mt. Dew, bottles of Propel/Vitamin Water, gallon bottle of water, box o'wine, Walmart water for the girl), sealed it with mailing tape and pasted a luggage tag from Princess on it. That was given to a porter with our other checked in luggage (and a tip, hubby gave it so I don't know how much). Got to our cabin that day. It fit under the beds too (not sure if it would for every ship).
I've heard of people carrying on a case of cans too. I imagine as long as you can lift it onto the security conveyor belt, you can take it on. I would first check your cruise docs just to make sure. I'm not into cans, as I can usually taste a metallic taste.
I also put a 20-oz bottle in my carryon for the meantime. You can usually find cans or bottles in just about any port to replenish your supply. I guess as long as it's not booze, the cruiselines usually will allow you to bring it on.
For a week long cruise, we each pack one twelve pack "case". In the "good 'ol days" when they were more square, we just double bagged them. Taking one bag from the one side, fold in, over lap, and then pack in one Tshirt, then bag from the other side. Tshirt is "just in case". As a family of six, we always then had 6 12 pack "cases", one in each suitcase. NEVER a leak or problem--- and we CHECKED them in the plane (no reason to stop pre-cruise). More recently, after "security" and "booze patrols", we noticed NTSA tags saying the bags were opened by the airport personnel, AND had RCI call us to the "naughty" room, making us open up to show it was not booze. Seems like that amount lasted us for one with lunch at the buffet, and one for the day (beach, shopping, etc.)....
I would just STILL double bag them (maybe kitchen garbage bags?) "just in case", and an extra bag to two is always handy on board. Then the removal of the sodas leaves room and weight allowance for homeward bound junk... lol
I'm a soda and coffee-holic, as well... On my last cruise, I purchased the soda option, and found that I actually drank more coffee, tea and juices than sodas... here's why... On our ship, the sodas were dispensed table-side from 2-litre bottles, and were quite warm and somewhat flat... not very pleasant at all... the only good sodas are from the bars, where they are dispensed from the wells. The problem for us was that we hardly ever spent any time in the bars, and it really proved to be more of an inconvenience than a value.
We also bought one of the tall soda tumblers, which have proven more useful at home than aboard ship... they were burdensome to carry around.
I would recommend drinking the free stuff as much as possible, and satisfy your soda cravings on a purchase-as-needed basis.
On our Baltic cruise with Princess we went in Sept and it was cooler. we bought a coffee card and every day when we returned from our tour we stopped for that latte, brougjt it to our room and relaxed and enjoyed. The warmth was good on those cool days. I don't remember what we paid but it was less than if we had paid for each cup. Also got another one in the evenings!
I'm not a big pop drinker so have never bought one of those cards.
i usually bring small bottles of soda with me through carryon. i fill a carryon with soda. although i drink coke it is the fountain kind when you buy the card and i don't like fountain soda and i think service with the card is terrible. so i bring my own. i have never packed it and put it on with luggage. don't they throw the luggage around? won't they explode? i'm curious to know from you who pack it and give it to the porter. thanks.
I bought soda cards for both my daughter and her boyfriend while on the Sun Princess. I definately found them value for money. I didn't even know you could buy coffee cards until I started reading these boards!
I'll be buying a coffee card this time around for sure.
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Soda or Coffee Cards Worthwhile?
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Soda or Coffee Cards Worthwhile?
when they were more square, we just double bagged them. Taking one bag from the one side, fold in, over lap, and then pack in one Tshirt, then bag from the other side. Tshirt is "just in case". As a family of six, we always then had 6 12 pack "cases", one in each suitcase. NEVER a leak or problem--- and we CHECKED them in the plane (no reason to stop pre-cruise). More recently, after "security" and "booze patrols", we noticed NTSA tags saying the bags were opened by the airport personnel, AND had RCI call us to the "naughty" room, making us open up to show it was not booze. Seems like that amount lasted us for one with lunch at the buffet, and one for the day (beach, shopping, etc.)....
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