Cruises go self-serve with wine, beer. What's your fav onboard drink?

[Jason]

At home, you want a beer or a glass of wine you help yourself. Cruise lines are increasingly adapting a similar style. Self-serve is becoming the rage.

Celebrity Cruises started the trend in a rather elegant way, with Italian-made "enomatic" wine dispensers installed in the Cellar Masters wine bar on CelebritySolstice (launched in 2008), featuring fine wines from around the world.

The idea was that cruise passengers can try a sampling whenever they want – just a 1-ounce taste in up to a 5-ounce glass – by swiping their shipboard spending card at the fancy dispensary machines. Only cards coded for those 21 and older will work on the self-serve machines. The machines can now be found on nearly every Celebrity ship.

Recently, Norwegian quietly added wine dispensers to its fleet, starting with the Norwegian Breakaway, which debuted in the spring. They will also be found on the Norwegian Getaway, which debuts from Miami in January.

On Breakaway, the self-serve machines are in the atrium, buffet area and Studio Lounge (for solo travelers in Studio accommodations). On Getaway, the dispensers will be in the buffet, The Haven suite complex and Studio Lounge.

Wes Court, director, Restaurant & Beverage Development and Operations at Norwegian, said passengers can pour themselves a taste (starting at about $2.75 for 1.5 ounces), a half glass or a full glass, choosing from several reds and whites at each machine.

Carnival has likewise added self-serve wine as an option in the Library Bar on its Carnival Breeze and on the newly revamped Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny).

Self-serve beer is also a new option on Carnival Sunshine.

From dispensers in the Sunshine's Pizzeria del Capitano and in the deli area of the Lido Marketplace buffet, passengers can pour themselves a cold one with a swipe of their shipboard card – up to a 14-ounce glass of either Bud Light (for 28 cents per ounce) or Carnival's own branded beer, ThirstyFrog Red (for 29 cents per ounce).

The trick here, though, is beer requires some experience to pour from a tap. If you don't know what you're doing you may get a glass of foam.

The line is evaluating feedback from guests to see if the offer will be expanded to other ships, a Carnival spokesman said.

Norwegian is also looking at possibly adding self-serve beer down the road.

"The whole philosophy behind this with wine is pretty cool and on the beer side too when you start talking about craft beers, the idea of trying a small sampling." Court said. "You could try two ounces of Opus One (the Bordeaux blend) and it's not $200 per bottle."

By Fran Golden, USA Today

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[WeCruiseToo]

We’ve tried the wine dispensers; it’s fun to sample different kinds but the price can add up to way more than the price of a bottle pretty quickly!

[Shari2]

Sounds like a good idea if you want to sample, but as Michael and Amy say the price could add up fast.

[Mach]

I'm of exactly the same opinion as Shari and Michael & Amy. The sampling idea is a great one... from the time I first heard of it that's what I thought. However, it's not a good substitute for a bartender AND you're paying MORE! A Thirsty Frog Red is $5.50 for a 20 ounce glass at the Red Frog Pub (or anywhere else you get it at a bar...) and from the self serve dispenser it's $5.80 for 20 ounces!!!

[DebbieandJerry]

Sounds like a great idea if you want to sample something. I can also see where this is a money making opportunity for the cruise lines!

[Huntm]

The added price is interesting... especially since you are not tipping anyone for service. (Price and upkeep of the station perhaps? I still don't think it should be more) That being said: I will certainly give it a try on the Sunshine... just to say I did :)

[Sarge6870]

I may give it a "shot"(pun intended :) ). I have found myself drinking less over the years on cruises. Might have a few DOD's but my dessert, or night cap if you will, is a Sambuca on the rocks. For me, it's the perfect ending to a perfect cruise day.

[jacketwatch]

On board I like a nice, cold beer. I make it a point to try a local brew in every port we go to. The best I've had IMHO are the local Guatamalen brew called Gallo, which is sold in the US as Famosa, and the local Santorini brew called Yellow Donkey. This is made in Santorini and I was told its not even exported to other parts of Greece. Its named after the well known dinkey rides up and down the mountain. There is another brew, a bit heavier called Red Donkey.

Ohterwise a nice, single malt Scotch dios it for me.

[WeCruiseToo]

On board I like a nice, cold beer. I make it a point to try a local brew in every port we go to. The best I've had IMHO are the local Guatamalen brew called Gallo, which is sold in the US as Famosa, and the local Santorini brew called Yellow Donkey. This is made in Santorini and I was told its not even exported to other parts of Greece. Its named after the well known dinkey rides up and down the mountain. There is another brew, a bit heavier called Red Donkey.

Now I’m thirsty!

[jacketwatch]

And now I'm sipping a nice Argentinian Cabernet Sauvignon. Pretty oaky and very nice.