by mtek on Tue Jun 23, 2009 14:19 pm
Hi everyone,
just returned today from 2 weeks on the Calypso. Will post a review as soon as I have unpacked. Alison - sorry but I didn't take the bar price list. However there were no complaints from fellow cruisers about the price. I don't think you need worry about being ripped off. There are drinks price lists in all of the bars. You will see that there are two prices for some of the drinks. The lower price is printed in blue - this is the supplement that applies to the "premium" drinks for those on AI and the price in black is the price paid for those not on AI. With each drink you get a receipt so you can check that you are not being charged for something in error. I have only seen this happen once and that was on changeover day when one couple moved to a different cabin for their second week and, for whatever reason, their drinks were charged to their previous cabin during that one day. But the matter was very quickly resolved.
On the AI all ******, most beer/lager, house wine by the glass, speciality coffee, most spirits (except premium whiskey/brandy), are included. Bottled water is about 1.35 per 1.5 litre bottle - the free stuff is desalinated and tastes of chemicals when anything other than ice cold. Where drinks incur a supplement it is still not excessive. For example a measure of Baileys is about 1.05. One night we had rough seas and I had an early night so I brought a drink (and what a drink) back to the cabin. I had 4 measures of Baileys and 2 measures of Remy Martin and I paid just over 6 pounds.
With the all inclusive package 2 glasses of house wine are served per person with dinner - however a tip to the wine waiter early in the cruise will ensure that number is increased as required. The house red wine is a Merlot and very drinkable. The house white was apparently a bit rough. AI stops between 2am and 8am. Between those hours all drinks are full price. Three thing I did notice this year - a result of cost cutting no doubt - the wine waiters were giving some cruisers their second glass of wine during dinner before the first glass was even half empty. Also the ****** were not full strength and the orange juice at breakfast (which is from concentrate) was diluted to a level which made it undrinkable.
Bal - only now seeing your post. Sorry no sky sports at all that I am aware of. The TV stations in the lounges appear to be the same as in the cabins - a view from the bridge, destination services station, two film stations, Discovery and a news station.
Hope this helps.
Regards MTEK
