Are soft drinks usually free on most cruises?

Question

I'm going on a cruise soon and was wondering about the extras. How can I avoid extra cost? How do I handle tipping on a cruise? Thank for any advice.

Answer 1

Soft drinks are but none soft drink type like that u can get at a beach bar u gotta pay

Answer 2

I just got back from a 2 week cruise and the only drinks that were free were lemonade, ice tea, and water.  Also when you go to the buffet breakfast or lunch the juice and milk they served there was free and coffee was free.

Answer 3

no except for water nothing is free on a cruise.  at the beginning at of the cruise you can get a soft drink package where you can get all the drinks you want at all times.  in some places you are going to get a can in other places you get a glass.  in regards to tipping usually the cabin steward and main waiter get 3.50 per day per person, 2.50 for the helpers.  the drinks you get all include tips in them already with them at the time you order the drink.  i have no idea how to go cheap on a cruise.  when ever we have gone we usually spend about 600 per person this includes things we purchase on board, the tips, drinks, if we decide to go to eat at any other restuarant on board and any purchases made including excursions  and gifts.  you should know your limit and plan according

Answer 4

No, soft drinks are not free. I usually bring a 12 pack on board, not because of the price but because I prefer Pepsi product and the lines I have sailed only sell coke. You are allowed to bring a "reasonable" amount on board. The lines I usually sail have automatic tipping. That means it will be added to your bill. The staff works extremely hard and deserves the couple of dollars per day that they get in tips. They really do not get much of a salary. I did some research for my last cruise and the waitstaff gets about $70 PER MONTH from the cruiseline and work 10 to 11 hour days. We always tip an extra 20 to 30 dollars extra per week to everybody who does a great job. We don't gamble, drink a lot or spend money on souveniers that gather dust when we get home either.  Its all about being at sea and visiting new places. Bon Voyage

Answer 5

The only cruise line I know of where all the sodas are free is the Disney Cruise Lines.

Answer 6

Nope, they are not free.  You will be paying around $1.75 for a can of soda + 15% tip.  The tip is not optional.  It is added to the check you sign when your drink arrives.  You do not pay cash on a ship.  Everything - except for gambling - is on the key card that doubles as a credit card.  You have registered your credit card and all charges go to it automatically.

You can do the tips to the staff like your cabin attendant, waiter, and busboy with the automatic tipping or on some ships, you can tip them in cash at the end of the cruise.

You can bring sodas or bottles of water aboard with you to save money.  You can bring up to 2 bottles of wine but there is a "corkage" fee if you take them to the restaurant.  The fee is usually around $25.

Do not try to sneak alcohol aboard.  It will be confiscated if found and the security is also looking at mouthwash bottles, water bottles, etc.  You could be denied passage, too, with no refund.

Answer 7

Soft drinks are not free, unless you are sailing on a luxury line.  If you drink a lot of soda, you would probably want to get a "soda card".  Some people bring their own soft drinks on board.  You can avoid extra cost by drinking the "free" beverages - water, coffee, tea, lemonade/punch.  Not all lines offer all these.  

Not sure whether you are asking about saving money on other aspects of the cruise or not.  If so, go to CruiseCritic.com, click on "Boards", then "Money Saving Tips" for lots of ideas.

Tips are generally added automatically to your shipboard account, usually at the rate of $10/person/day.  You can adjust this if you wish.  This does not include tips for sodas/alcohol [15% is added to the bill], room service, or services in the spa.