David Kriso
Cruisers, whether first-time or multi-time, you are probably looking back on your most recent trip or looking forward to your upcoming cruise. Cruising is full of many great experiences regardless of what type of trip you’re going on. Whether it’s clothing-optional, a Trans-Atlantic crossing, or a short five day trip to just get away from the stresses of home, you all share one thing in common. It’s not how often you played bingo or how many art auctions you attended.
No matter how many cruises you have been on, or any cruises you’re looking forward to going on, you can never get enough of the specialty alcoholic drinks. Regardless of what bar you go to on board ship, the bar tending staff always introduces you to something new and exciting. It could be the drink of the day, or just something that catches your attention. Having been a cruise traveler for many years, I wish to share with you some of my personal favorites. Hopefully, they will be among yours, too.
I have sailed on a handful of cruise lines in the years past. I have sailed on Royal Caribbean six times, Norwegian twice, Cunard twice, and once on Princess. No matter which lines I have sailed on, the specialty drinks are absolutely fabulous. I have tasted drinks that have taken my taste buds into La-La Land. Some of them were just so good and so tempting, I just wanted to have one every other hour of the day.
There are three favorite drinks I enjoy while on any cruise. My #3 favorite cruise drink is called the Mai Tai. The Mai Tai is lightly sweet and absolutely tempting. The ingredients include light rum, Orgeat syrup, a splash of Triple Sec, sweet and sour mix, and a cherry. There is also a second version of the Mai Tai known as the Ultimate Mai Tai. The Ultimate Mai Tai consists of lime juice, lemon juice, dark and light rum, orange liqueur, orange juice, and sugar. Both the Mai Tai and Ultimate Mai Tai are served in a Collins glass with a cherry. Original or Ultimate, it is one yummy specialty drink to wet your alcoholic appetite.
With or without the alcohol talking, my #2 favorite cruise drink has a name which will leave you chuckling. I tried this drink on board Royal Caribbean and I wound up ordering it time and time again. It is called the Fuzzy Navel. Oh, did I enjoy this one! You would, too! The original Fuzzy Navel is made of just two ingredients; peach schnapps and orange juice. Sound like something tasty to wet your whistle? There is also a second version of the Fuzzy Navel. Aside from orange juice and peach schnapps, a splash of vodka is added. Like the Mai Tai, the Fuzzy Navel is served in a Collins glass. Now, that’s tempting! Next time you are enjoying the company of your fellow guests in the Jacuzzi on the pool deck, be sure to order a Fuzzy Navel yourself and everybody else. The Fuzzy Navel is truly a drink to write home about.
On any cruise vacation, there is always that one drink that everyone on board clamors about. There is always that one drink which everyone says is the best. The guests in the cabin next door to you say it’s the Screwdriver. The group of young ladies you met on pool deck told you it’s Sex On The Beach. Later, another guest you met in the fitness center said it’s the Mango Passion. Lookout, here is the best alcoholic drink on board any cruise vacation. Make way for the B-52. The B-52 is not just a great drink, it’s an awesome drink. You ought to know why. Besides the original version, there are five other versions. The original B-52 is made up of three simple ingredients; Kahlua, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and Grand Marnier. The five other versions feature various substitutions. In the second version, Amaretto is used instead of Grand Marnier. Instead of Grand Marnier or Amaretto, the third version includes Cointreau.
The fourth version is a bit more enticing. The ingredients are Bailey’s Irish Cream, Tia Maria, and Absinthe. The fifth version is made of Bailey’s Irish Cream, Grand Marnier, and Tia Maria. Try that one out while racking up your winnings in the casino! The sixth and final version of the B-52 is made of Amaretto, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and any type of rum available at the bar. All six versions are served in a cocktail glass, straight up or on the rocks. The B-52 is a drink I tried for the very first time on board the Queen Mary 2. Since then, I never looked back. It’s a drink to chug down on any occasion on board with your fellow guests. It is the drink with a kick, which goes down well with the good times rolling.
Cruising can’t be a more exciting way to see the world and get away from the stresses of the real world. You get to be pampered day in and day out. Further, cruising offers you the opportunity to experience new things, including alcoholic drinks. From my cruising experience, I have shared my three personal favorite drinks; the Mai Tai, Fuzzy Navel, and B-52. They’re not too sweet or too tart. They are tasty, tempting, and even wet your appetite to try other popular drinks featured on board. Once you have adapted a taste for these three drinks, you will never go back to those same old run-of-the-mill drinks again. A cruise is not just the vacation you paid good money for. Cruising is an opportunity to let loose, blow off steam, visit new places, and best of all…the opportunity to shatter your alcoholic comfort zone. Ultimately speaking, cruising gives you the golden opportunity to master the art of “mixology”. Cruise responsibly everyone!
