On our last cruise on Serenade of the Seas, we challenged ourselves to have a drink at every bar on the ship. It was such a fun way to see the whole ship and to try new drinks that we decided to do it again on Millennium. With nine bars and only four days, this was not an easy challenge, but we were determined to succeed! :-) Fortunately, our booking included the Classic Drink Package, which covered beer, wine and cocktails up to $9 a serving. Many of the drinks I like cost more than $9, so I used some of our onboard credit to upgrade my beverage package to the Premium Package, which covered drinks up to $15. Since Ron usually sticks with Miller Lite, the Classic Package was fine with him.
Sunset Bar
We started our Bar Challenge at the Sunset Bar, where I ordered my traditional Welcome Aboard mojito. The bar was outdoors at the very back of the ship, a perfect place to watch the sail away or see the sunset. It was my favorite spot on the ship. I loved the look of the wavy wooden panels over the bar, although they didn't provide much shade.
Martini Bar
The Martini Bar was the most popular bar on the ship, thanks to the entertaining bartenders who could juggle liquor bottles and pour multiple martinis at one time. It was hard to get a seat, so we only had drinks there once, although we sometimes stopped on our way through the Grand Foyer just to watch the bartenders perform. All the martinis on the bar’s menu cost $13 and up, so my Premium Drink Package upgrade came in handy. I ordered the Fresca Martini, made with vodka, fresh watermelon juice, mint and lime.
Cellar Masters
Cellar Masters is Millennium’s wine bar. Ron and I don’t drink wine very often, but we stopped there for a glass before dinner on Chic Night. There’s something about being dressed up that makes me feel like I should be sipping wine. I had the Kiona Merlot and Ron ordered a carménère from Chile. I thought Ron’s wine had an odd taste, but I liked my merlot.
Rendezvous Lounge
At the Rendezvous Lounge, which had live music and dancing in the evenings, I chose a drink from the bar’s menu, the Cucumber Collins. It was made with gin and fresh cucumber and reminded me of the cucumber gimlet that I sometimes make at home. Light and refreshing.
Pool Bar/Mast Bar
I stuck with classic Bacardi and Coke at these busy outdoor bars – quick and simple.
Casino Bar
Since there was a shortage of dealers on our cruise due to COVID quarantines, I spent time at the Casino Bar while waiting for a spot at a Blackjack table. According to Celebrity’s app, the bar had a menu of drinks with casino-related names like “Double Down” and “High Roller”, but the bartenders didn’t seem to know how to make them. I ordered a gin fizz, a drink I discovered on our Serenade of the Seas Bar Challenge.
Café al Bacio
Café al Bacio is a more of a coffee shop than a bar, but it also offers espresso-based cocktails and adult coffees. There are complimentary snacks throughout the day - croissants, little sandwiches, cakes and cookies. We went to the café in the afternoons when we needed a caffeine boost. I tried the Caffé Shakerato (espresso shaken with ice and cream), and the French Kiss (espresso, cognac and Grand Marnier), both delicious. Normally we wouldn’t have paid for specialty coffees, but they were covered by our drink packages, a very nice “perk”.
Sky Lounge
The Sky Lounge is a large bar overlooking the bow of the ship where trivia games take place during the day and dance parties are held at night. We went there for the Totally 80s Gameshow, a hilarious Name That Tune-style game with 80s music. The drinks at the bar are named after the signs of the zodiac – Aries, Taurus, etc. My drink, the Gemini, was made with gin, rum, cognac, sherry, almond syrup, orange and lemon juice. Everything but the kitchen sink. :-) The result was that it was very strong and tasted like something I might have had at a party in college, fitting for the 80s-themed event. Gnarly but fun!
Although we don’t usually pay for drink packages, it was very nice having them included in our cruise fare this trip. I tried drinks that I might not ordinarily have ordered, like wine and specialty coffees. By the end of the cruise we had visited every bar on the ship except for the Retreat Lounge, which is exclusively for suite guests. I think we are going to make the Bar Challenge our new cruising tradition.
Travel tips:
- • DO get to the Martini Bar early to get a seat.
- • DO enjoy the snacks at Café al Bacio, which are complimentary even if you don’t buy a drink. The almond croissants are fantastic!
- • DON’T believe everything on the Celebrity app. The Casino Bar menu shown on the app sounded fun, but the bartenders weren’t familiar with the drinks.
- • DON’T worry if your drink costs more than the limit of your drink package. You'll only need to pay for the amount over the limit, not the full price of the drink.
- • DO the math. Before buying or upgrading a drink package, consider how many drinks and the types of drinks you are likely to order to determine if it’s worth it. It might cost less to pay as you go.
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