The cruise line has embraced a new trend that generally doesn’t match the number of people who have had drinks on cruise ships.
Some people who purchase a cruise line beverage package strive to maximize that experience to extreme levels.
People traveling on Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) – Get a free reportroyal caribbean (RCL) – Get a free reportor other cruise lines that offer unlimited drink packages make lists, request other passengers’ favorite drinks on social media, and do their homework so they can try things they may never try at home.
Yes, some simply want to maximize their alcohol consumption to get the most out of their prepaid drink packages, but others simply want to try new things. In recent years, both Carnival and Royal Caribbean have tried to diversify their drink options.
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Royal Caribbean, for example, has implemented new bar concepts like the Mason Jar on Wonder of the Seas, updating its pool bars on many ships with the “Lime & Coconut” concept, and adjusting cocktail menus to differentiate its bars.
For Carnival, its efforts to expand its beverage options included partnering with local brewers to offer unique beers, adding a line of cruise line-exclusive carbonated beverages, and bringing a new tequila from Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar to the entire fleet.
Now, Carnival has made another major beverage move that leans heavily on a new trend.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Embraces a New Beverage Trend
Cruise ships have always offered so-called virgin drinks, traditional alcoholic drinks but without alcohol. That’s fine for fruity iced drinks, in which alcohol was never intended to be the main flavor, but it still results in people drinking a drink in a way it was never designed for.
Other than these, virgin drinks have generally been limited to drinks associated with children, such as Shirley Temples or the lesser-known Roy Rogers. Now, Carnival is changing that in response to a trend that’s been embraced by Millennials: cocktails designed to be served non-alcoholic.
Call it an extension of efforts to get people to cut down on their drinking after covid, or just see it as a new trend. Bars serving non-alcoholic drinks have become a rage, and Carnival wants to bring that thing to its cruise ships. So it’s reinventing some of its most popular spirits-based drinks to cut out the spirits.
These are not children’s drinks. They are non-alcoholic adult beverages.
Carnival Adds Mocktails (With a Twist)
Just as it embraced the craft beer and soda trends in a way that’s unique to Carnival, the cruise line is doing the same with the non-alcoholic trend.
The cruise line has reinvented some of its most beloved drinks from its signature bars so people can have a full bar/drink experience while opting to skip the alcohol.
The cruise line hasn’t simply eliminated alcohol from its cocktails. It’s making versions of fan favorites from its Alchemy mixology bar with non-alcoholic spirits produced by a leading industry distiller: Lyre’s, “making Carnival the first cruise line to offer a full range of non-alcoholic cocktails.” the cruise line said in a press release. .
“Our new partnership with Lyre’s gives guests who want mocktails the best options at sea,” said Carnival’s senior director of beverage operations Zachary Sulkes.
“We’ve seen the popularity of mocktails grow rapidly, so to keep up with that trend, our mixologists have been working to create alternative versions of our most popular mocktails but with full flavor.”
New mocktails include fresh takes on seven Alchemy Bar favorites:
- Martini Seduction: Red passion fruit nectar, fresh lime juice, and a hint of orange are mixed with Lyre’s White Cane instead of vodka to create this swoon-worthy drink.
- Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini: Lyre’s white agave replaces vodka to bring this spicy pineapple cocktail to its non-alcoholic form.
- The remedy: Orange juice, pineapple and fresh lime juice are mixed with Lyre’s White Cane and Spiced Cane instead of dark and coconut rum.
- Fire Hearts: This award-winning concoction with fresh thyme and raspberries is reinvented with Lyre’s Dry London instead of gin.
- Restorative Basil Drop: Lyre’s Dry London is blended with fresh basil and citrus to stimulate and restore the senses.
- The perfect Storm: This invigorating boost includes strawberry puree, fresh lime and a hint of rosemary and Lyre’s Dry London instead of vodka.
- Cucumber Sunrise: Another award-winning favorite among Carnival guests delivers the same light, delicious flavor with watermelon nectar, cucumber, lime juice, and a splash of orange juice mixed with Agave Blanco de Lyre instead of vodka.
Carnival’s main dining rooms will now also serve Lyre’s non-alcoholic prosecco.
