Cruise Talk: cabin fridges ?

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Topic: cabin fridges ?

Laura
First Class Passenger
Member # 924

posted 02-11-2001 06:30 PM

We leave this week for the Enchantment of the Seas and are going to be in an interior cabin that doesn't have a mini fridge. Since we like to bring our own drinks along to have in the cabin and also to take ashore, I'd really like to have something in the room to keep the drinks cold. My TA said that we could ask our cabin steward if they could bring a mini fridge in to our room. Has anyone ever done this or heard that this is even possible????

I guess if not, we could always just ask for more ice buckets!

TAs...what do you think? Or could I even call RCCL ahead of time and ask them?

Posts: 114 | From: Ohio | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

jean elmore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1192

posted 02-11-2001 07:46 PM

you can purchase folding plastic "coolers", they come in all sizes from 6 pack size up to case size. They fold flat in your luggage and the steward will keep it stocked with ice for you, I have used one and they really work, they do not take up much room,you can get them at Wal Mart type stores, they are in the sports equip. area, jean

Posts: 68 | From: obetz oh. usa | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Alan H. Miller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1733

posted 02-11-2001 08:42 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jean elmore:
you can purchase folding plastic "coolers", they come in all sizes from 6 pack size up to case size. They fold flat in your luggage and the steward will keep it stocked with ice for you, I have used one and they really work, they do not take up much room,you can get them at Wal Mart type stores, they are in the sports equip. area, jean

A good idea, I carry medicines that need to be refrigerated or cooled. I always carry a smaller folding cooler, it even makes a great carring bag for cameras or fragile gifts to take home as carry offs. I did sail on the QE2 and my cabin had a refrig. Some people can,t get enough food, is that possible on a cruise?, can always store a snack. People also have insulin or a snack to store. Alan H. Miller

Posts: 29 | From: Miami, Florida U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 02-11-2001 10:50 PM

I thought only the upper grade cabins had fridges. - a word with our cabin steward has always kept our ice bucket filled.
What I'd like to see is in-cabin coffee/tea making facilities - anybody else feel the same way?
Room service is great but having requested breakfast at 8.30 or whatever, I almost feel obliged to at least be awake to open the door.
Wouldn't it be so much more relaxing to have that first coffee/tea at your convenience? At worst, you miss breakfast - lunch will be available more or less within the hour. I'm on vacation and that, to me, means only dinner is at a set time.
What do others feel?

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

jwine
First Class Passenger
Member # 634

posted 02-12-2001 08:32 AM

First off I don't believe they have portable refrigerators, in the cabins that have them they are part of the cabin. Secondly, RCI doesn't allow you to bring drinks on board so I'm sure they are not going to accomodate you with a frig to do so. If a frig is that important try Princess, they have them in all cabins.
Green - I am opposed to coffee makers, just like the water and soft drinks they leave in the cabins. If you don't use them then they are a nusiance and with so little space for my own things I am constantly moving them around trying to make room for my own things. The last thing I would want is a coffee maker!

Posts: 223 | From: Cincinnati, OH USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 02-12-2001 08:46 AM

Green - you said "What I'd like to see is in-cabin coffee/tea making facilities -
anybody else feel the same way?"
Where would they put a coffee maker?- there is enough crap/junk on the dressing table as it is now.
I am definitely against any more stuff being put in the cabin. As it is now, I have the cabin steward remove just about everything that is there - pop, water, magazines, etc.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 02-12-2001 08:59 AM

It would be nice not to have to face a room service person first thing in the morning. A little coffee maker would be nice. I would bring my OWN brand of coffee! We used a small colapsable cooler on our Vision of the Seas, inside cabin. It worked great. Just make sure you get one that doesn't leak when the ice melts

[This message has been edited by Mercy (edited 02-12-2001).]

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 02-12-2001 09:17 AM

Try an 8-12 oz thermos flask.

I take one aboard and fill it up before retiring at the 24 hour coffee machine. It works well.

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 02-12-2001 09:46 AM

Laura: It never hurts to ask. and it is amazing what staff will do for a tip. If not take Jean's suggestion and get a folding ice chest. I am sure at times a ship in the RCI line might keep you from taking drinks onboard and Jwine was probabally on one of these. Their policy is to reserve the right to restrict booze carried on. I am sure that they will stop you if you show up at the gangway with a hand truck full of beer but we took 4-5 bottles of wine onboard even saw people carring on a case of beer with no problem. Have a great time and let us know just how much fun and sun you are getting.
Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 02-12-2001 11:32 AM

Hi folks - I wasn't thinking kitchen size coffee maker - agree there's insuficient space.
What I had in mind was a small appliance - no bigger than topguns's thermos. I've used them in several hotels - makes 2 cups of coffee or you can just boil water for tea or instant coffee - to me the latter is preferable to any ships coffee I've ever tasted.
To each his own - I'd never consider taking a water cooler.

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 02-12-2001 11:38 AM

On our last cruise, we used our little colapsable cooler for taking to the beach. We filled it with pop and beer and ice .It is not much wider than a loaf of bread and has a strap. Love it! We purchased the beer and pop on shore. We also bought a couple of 5ths of Rum to take home and carried them in our bag onto the ship (Millennium).

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

jwine
First Class Passenger
Member # 634

posted 02-12-2001 05:07 PM

K&K - Sorry you're wrong, I have not been stopped trying to bring drinks onboard, just going by what their brochure says, it just makes sense if they don't want you bringing your own drinks onboard why would they be willing to put a frig in your cabin? If you want to bring drinks on board, carry a small fold-up cooler. Personally I'm strictly a water drinker, tap, not even bottled!

Posts: 223 | From: Cincinnati, OH USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 02-12-2001 06:23 PM

I certainly know that I have been wrong before and could be now. However the 2001 cruise vacation planner from RCI that I have says under (What about alcoholic beverages) "Royal Caribbean reserves the right to limit or refuse to allow alcoholic beverages to be brought aboard the ship for consumption during the cruise vacation". I was just on RCI two weeks ago and saw no denial or restriction. As I said I am sure it happens but it is not their policy to just say no and take the alcohol like NCL and other lines. That is their written policy and my first hand experience with RCI so if I misled someone by being wrong I am sorry. Other wise have a great cruise. Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

jmfleser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1141

posted 02-13-2001 09:35 AM

I would love one of those little coffee makers in the cabin. They certainly make them small enough so they're not a big addition to the clutter and it would be so much more convienent. I usually get up before everyone else and then get dressed in the dark so I can go up and get a cup of tea. Room service is fine except you have to wait for it and I'm not going to order it the night before because I don't know what time I'm going to wake up and I have no plans for setting an alarm so I can be awake for the cabin steward to deliver my tea.

Posts: 183 | From: Esperance, NY USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 02-13-2001 05:20 PM

A good friend has come to my rescue - a plug-in coil heater (fits into a case no larger than for eye glasses - fill cup with water insert coil and plug in - in no time, boiling water. Made by FRANZUS-Worldwide Travel Products.
Tried it out last night and will take along some instant coffee. Tea bags you can get on board. I'm sure that somewhere on board we'll find suitable cups/mugs. We drink our beverages black so we're all set!!!!

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Cambodge
First Class Passenger
Member # 906

posted 02-14-2001 05:02 PM

This talk of "fridges" reminds me of an ammusing incident. We were sailing out of Bangkok in 1969 on - what turned out to be - the final voyage of the "Cambodge" under the MM Flag. (serious turbine trouble in Hong Kong necessitated a return voyage on one engine.}

We invited most of my office staff for a farewell bash in our somewhat small cabin. Having tried this on other voyages, my wife and I brought a large styrofoam cooler of ice, made in our Bankgok home-fridge aboard, so that we would have plenty of ice for drinks.

The Thai Customs officers at the head of the gangway viewed this large object with considerable suspicion, while the French ship's officers smiled knowingly, as they knew our objective exactly, namely the galley and bar would certainly not have had sufficient ice,in port, for a party.

(You Brits wouldn't understand!)

With great "puzzlement" the Customs types put their collective heads together and dipped cold hands into the interior of the cooler to try to determine what these "farangs" were up to, and what we were in the process of smuggling either in or out of Thailand.

They finally gave up, and after a consultation with the purser, they permitted us to bring the cooler to our cabin where the Tanqueray flowed freely, and there was even sufficient ice for gin-tonics for all.

We even offered them a drink, later!

[This message has been edited by Cambodge (edited 02-14-2001).]

Posts: 2149 | From: St. Michaels MD USA , the town that fooled the British! | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Jesse C
First Class Passenger
Member # 1678

posted 02-14-2001 05:32 PM

My aunt Tina and uncle Dale had a refrigerator in their stateroom, the Bird of Paradise Suite. This makes it easy to have a party in your stateroom. Just load your fridge with soda pop and other perishable goodies. You can then host a party onboard a ship. Just keep the noise down at night.

Posts: 244 | From: Houston, Texas, United States of America | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

howarde
First Class Passenger
Member # 1482

posted 02-15-2001 01:12 AM

Green, I agree with the idea of a small coffee maker. I too prefer the option of being able to make myself a beverage when I want, not to have to go the 24hr bar for it or wait for the room service guy. (Besides, I'm only try to do them a favour by not displaying my PJ's to others!)

And fridges would be nice too. Travel in Australia and NZ will always find a fridge in a motel/hotel room, so those of us from down under are very used to that idea. The idea of the coolers sounds great when you are travelling directly to and from a cruise. However, as we include cruising as part of a longer vacation, suitcase space is very limited so the less I have to pack and cart around the world the better.

(And before someone suggests I could always go to a Wal Mart and buy one before embarking, my experiences show that Murphy's Law will always mean I will never be able to buy just what I need, just before I go!!)

We have travelled with RCI a few times and never had problems with a small quantity of alcohol being carried aboard. One trip, some friends actually carried a small wooden suitcase-sized portable bar onboard without trouble! Very organised they were.

Elaine

Posts: 36 | From: Canberra, Australia | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 02-15-2001 09:55 AM

A fridge would be nice, but I don't want to sacrifice the space in my cabin for it. An ice bucket is good enough I'd say. A coffee maker? Naaaaa. I'm with Top Gun, take turns having someone run for the morning coffee and
bring a thermos.

Personally, I can wait for my coffee until breakfast.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

Laura
First Class Passenger
Member # 924

posted 02-27-2001 09:30 PM

Well, just got back from the Enchantment and we took your advice: bought a squashable cooler from WalMart and it worked just fine. We asked our cabin stewardess for a few extra ice buckets in our room too, and she kept them full of ice for us all week. We had no problem bringing our own drinks, by the way.

When we went ashore, I filled a couple ziplock sandwich bags with ice and packed it around our drinks, which kept them cold all day ashore on the beach, under the hot sun!!! I was amazed at how cold everything stayed!

Posts: 114 | From: Ohio | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

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