If there’s one down side to traveling as a couple, it’s that we don’t have to go out of our way to meet people if we don’t want to. On trips, it’s all too easy to become insulated in our own traveling bubble, sharing the experience with one another while the world swirls around us. To ensure that this didn’t happen on our Carnival Caribbean cruise, we decided to create a fun assignment for ourselves, in which we would buy cocktails for 26 different people—each drink, though, would have to start with a different letter of the alphabet. Plus, we thought we could grab a tip or “best cruise moment” from each person to create a unique cruising guide.
The laughs started flowing right from the start and kept going until the very last cocktail, even as we struggled to fill in the final few letters—Q…X…Y…Z—on our final sea day. During the seven day cruise, we got to spend time at every bar on the ship for our A to Z drink assignment. And while we enjoyed each, our personal favorites were the poolside bars on the Lido deck. RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar both had a tiki bar feel, and the bartenders really knew their stuff when it came to mixing up island-style cocktails. So, without further ado, here’s our cruise guide—Beers and Beans style!
A. Adios MoFo
What you’ll need:
- ½ oz. vodka ½ oz. rum
- ½ oz. tequila
- ½ oz. gin
- ½ oz. Blue Curacao liqueur
- 2 oz. sweet and sour mix 2 oz.
- 7-Up soda
How to make it: Pour all ingredients except the 7-Up into a chilled glass filled with ice cubes. Top with 7-Up and stir gently.
Cruise Tip: Crystal H., of Ventura, California, says to bring a water camera for your underwater adventures.
B. Bloody Maria
What you’ll need:
- 2 oz. tequila
- 1 tsp. horseradish
- 3 dashes Tabasco sauce
- 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- Dash of lime juice
- 3 dashes celery salt
- 3 dashes pepper
- Tomato Juice
- Celery stalk/Lemon/Lime/Cocktail Shrimp for garnish
How to make it: Pour all ingredients except the tomato juice into a chilled glass filled with ice cubes. Top with tomato juice and mix well by rolling back and forth from one glass to another (or stir well). Garnish with the shrimp, lemon and/or lime wedge and celery stalk.
Cruise Tip: Randy K., of Plymouth, Massachusetts, recommends reading the daily itinerary each night to find the free liquor tastings onboard each day.” (Yep, that’s me! I had sworn off Bloody Mary’s years a go but figured I’d give a Bloody Maria ago at brunch, and I was blown away. Hats off to the bartender because this variation of the Bloody Mary was delicious and spicy.)
C. Colorado Bulldog
What you’ll need:
- 1 oz. vodka
- 1 oz. coffee liqueur
- Cream or milk
- Cola
How to make it: Pour the vodka and coffee liqueur in an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Fill with equal amounts of milk or cream and cola. Stir well.
Best Cruising Experience: Diane W., of Columbus, Nebraska, says, “It’s only Day One and I’ve been laughing the entire time!”
D. Daiquiri
What you’ll need:
- 6 cups ice
- ½ cup white sugar
- 4 oz. frozen strawberries
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¾ oz. rum
- ¼ cup lemon-lime soda
How to make it: In a blender, combine ice, sugar and strawberries. Pour in lime juice, lemon juice, rum and lemon-lime soda. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.
Cruise Tip: Annette J., of Troy, Alabama, says, tip your bartender well — it pays off.
E. Electric Lemonade
What you’ll need:
- 1 oz. vodka
- 1 oz. Blue Curacao liqueur
- 2 oz. sweet and sour mix
- 2 oz. 7-Up soda
How to make it: Mix with ice and shake. Glow cubes optional.
Cruise Tip: Tranisha S., of New Orleans, Louisiana, recommends eating at the buffet on the Lido deck for breakfast. She says it’s quick and you can go up as many times as you like.
F. Frogs Iced Tea–A Carnival Specialty Drink
What you’ll need:
- Malibu Coconut Rum
- Blue Curaçao Bombay
- Original Gin Skyy Vodka
- Pineapple juice
- Citrus
- Splash of Sprite
How to make it: The bartenders swore us to secrecy on this one, so I guess you’ll just have to take a Carnival cruise to taste one for yourself.
Cruise Tip: Jarred J., of Montgomery, Alabama, says to time your trip well. For example, if you are in your early twenties, you may want to book your cruise around spring break so that you’ll have more people your age on the cruise.
G. Gin & Tonic with Two Limes
What you’ll need:
- 2 oz. gin
- 5 oz. tonic water
- 2 lime wedges
How to make it: Pour the gin and the tonic water into a highball glass almost filled with ice cubes. Stir well. Garnish with the lime wedge.
Best Cruising Experience: Kacie S., of Lafayette, Louisiana, says her favorite thing is the outstanding customer service, and how all the waiters on the Carnival Dream remember your name every night.
H. Hurricane Wave
What you’ll need:
- 1 oz. Coconut Rum
- ½ oz. Peach Schnapps
- 3¼ oz. Pineapple Juice
- 3¼ oz. Orange Juice
- ½ oz. Grenadine
How to make it: Pour all ingredients over ice. Garnish with a citrus slice.
Cruise Tip: Jamie J., of Mobile, Alabama, says to research the destinations ahead of time. Then go ashore on your own to have your own adventure with plenty of time.
I. Ice pick
What you’ll need:
- 1½ oz. vodka
- 6 oz iced tea
- Lemon juice
How to make it: Put vodka in glass fill with iced tea. Stir in lemon to taste.
Cruise Tip: Candy B., of Birmingham, Alabama, says to let the stewards service your room for turn down service so that you get a different towel animal each night.
J. Jager Bomb
What you’ll need:
- ½ can Red Bull energy drink
- 1-2 oz. Jägermeister
How to make it: Pour energy drink into large tumbler, add shot of Jager.
Cruise Tip: Dave B., of Columbus, says to pack a fun personality.
K. Kiss On The Lips
What you’ll need:
- 1½ oz. peach schnapps
- 4-6 oz. frozen mango mix
- 1 tablespoon grenadine syrup
How to make it: The mango mix should be blended with crushed ice and schnapps. Pour the schnapps and mango mix into a cocktail glass with the grenadine already placed at the bottom.
Cruise Tip: Dan G., of Gulf Port, Mississippi, says, “Plan, Plan, Plan!” He recommends checking out the excursions and their reviews before boarding the ship, so you don’t have to waste any of your vacation time planning out your days.
L. Long Island Iced Tea
What you’ll need:
- 1 oz. vodka
- 1 oz. tequila
- 1 oz. rum
- 1 oz. gin
- 1 oz. triple sec
- 1½ oz. sweet and sour mix
- 1 splash Coca-Cola
How to make it: Mix ingredients over ice in a glass. Pour into a shaker and give it a shake. Pour back into the glass and make sure there is a touch of fizz at the top. Garnish with lemon.
Best Cruising Experience: Adloph W., of Columbus, Nebraska, says he’s really been enjoying the comedy shows and stiff cocktails.
M. Maker’s & Water
What you’ll need:
- 2 oz. Maker’s Mark
- 3 oz. water
- Ice
How to make it: Mix ingredients, sip and enjoy!
Cruise Tip: Cole G., of Lafayette, Louisiana, says drinks have a set price so be aware of how you order to save money. For example, a Stoli on the rocks a little dirty is more expensive than a Dirty Martini with Stoli, so order the latter to save several dollars per drink.
N. Nuclear Iced Tea
What you’ll need:
- ½ oz. vodka
- ½ oz. gin
- ½ oz. rum
- ½ oz. triple sec
- 1 oz. melon liqueur
- Sweet and sour mix
- 7-Up soda
How to make it: Pour all ingredients (except sour mix) into an ice-filled Collins glass, then add sour mix until the glass is almost full, and top with 7-Up.
Best Cruising Experience: Danielle L., of Ventura, California, says he enjoyed the catamaran and snorkel excursion in Jamaica, and highly recommends it.
O. Ocean Drive
What you’ll need:
- 1 1/4 oz. Malibu coconut rum
- 3/4 oz. Curacao orange liqueur
- 1 oz. orange juice
- 1 oz. pineapple juice
- 1 oz. cranberry juice
How to make it: Pour Malibu rum and Curacao into a cocktail glass. In order, add in the orange, pineapple, and cranberry juice.
Cruise Tip: Barbara A., of New Orleans, Louisiana, says if you are traveling with a group, then splurge on a bigger room.
P. Purple Rain
What you’ll need:
- 1½ oz. gin
- 3 oz. cranberry juice
- 1 splash Blue Curacao liqueur
- 1 splash sweet and sour mix
- 1 splash soda water
How to make it: Pour gin into an ice-filled highball glass, and fill with cranberry juice. Add blue curacao, sour mix and soda. Shake gently, add more curacao (until purple), and serve.
Cruise Tip: Ronnie H., of Ventura, California, says to make sure you bring enough clean clothes because there are so many activities, such as being on deck, excursions, formal nights, etc.
Q. Quickster’s Delight
What you’ll need:
- 1½ oz. Bacardi Limon
- 1½ oz. orange juice
- 1½ oz. pineapple juice
- ½ oz. grenadine
How to make it: Fill glass with ice and add Bacardi Limon rum. Then mix in the orange and pineapple juices, and top off with grenadine.
Cruise Tip: Lonnie B., of Birmingham, Alabama, jokes, “Never let your wife have control of the sail and sign card, or you will go broke!”
R. Rum & Coke
What you’ll need:
- 4 oz. white rum
- 1 oz. Coca-Cola
How to make it: Mix the ingredients in an old-fashioned glass and enjoy!
Cruise Tip: Virgil H., of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, says to be aware of your surroundings while at port, and always negotiate your taxi fare before you get in.
S. Sex On The Beach
What you’ll need:
- 1½ oz. vodka
- ½ oz. peach schnapps
- 2 oz. cranberry juice
- 2 oz. orange juice
How to make it: Add vodka and peach schnapps to a highball glass filled with ice. Fill with equal measures of cranberry juice and orange juice, and stir.
Cruise Tip: Evelyn B., of Columbus, Nebraska, says, “Bring a camera everywhere!”
T. Tequila Sunrise
What you’ll need:
- 2 oz. tequila
- Orange juice
- 2 dashes grenadine
- Maraschino cherry for garnish
How to make it: Pour tequila into a highball glass with ice, and then fill glass with orange juice and stir. Add grenadine by tilting glass and pouring grenadine down side by flipping the bottle vertically very quickly. The grenadine should go straight to the bottom and then rise up slowly through the drink. Garnish with your favorite fruit.
Cruise Tip: Duward M., of Little Rock, Arkansas, says be prepared to relax and do absolutely nothing.
U. Ultimate Blue Frozen Margarita
What you’ll need:
- 3 oz. tequila
- 1 oz. Blue Curacao liqueur
- 2 oz. lime juice
- 1 cup ice
How to make it: Pour ingredients into a blender, over the ice, in the order listed. Blend on “high” for a few seconds until the drink has a consistency of a slushie. Take lime wedge and run it over the edges of the margarita glass, then, upturned, place the wetted rims into course salt. Pour the frozen margarita into the salt-rimmed glass and serve.
Cruise Tip: Lakethia B., of New Orleans, Louisiana, recommends buying seasonings and spices from each port. This way you’ll be able to take a piece of each country home with you.
V. Vodka On The Rocks
What you’ll need:
- 2-4 oz. vodka
- Ice
How to make it: Pour a shot of vodka over ice. Stir and enjoy!
Cruise Tip: Willie J., of Troy, Alabama, says to splurge for a room with a view, as it can make a huge difference on your trip.
W. White Russian
What you’ll need:
- 2 oz. vodka
- 1 oz. coffee liqueur
- Light cream
How to make it: Pour vodka and coffee liqueur over ice cubes in an old-fashioned glass. Fill with light cream and serve.
Best Cruising Experience: Terri R., of Little Rock, Arkansas, says the best thing about cruising is being able to do as much or as little as you want.
X. XYZ
What you’ll need it:
- 1 oz. white rum
- ½ oz. triple sec
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
How to make it: Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
Cruise Tip: Casey B., of Forest City, Arkansas, recommends bringing a small cooler with you. She says you can use it to keep drinks cold in your room (the ice bucket is too small and the mini fridge isn’t very cold) and you can also use it to take drinks ashore with you.
Y. Yellow Bird
What you’ll need:
- 1 oz. Bacardi 151 rum
- ½ oz. Galliano herbal liqueur
- ½ oz. vodka
- 4 oz. sweet and sour mix
How to make it: Mix all of the ingredients in a highball glass. Then fill the glass with the sweet and sour mix and stir.
Best Cruising Experience: Milton B., of New Orleans, Louisiana, says he loves drinking Long Island Ice Teas on deck day after day.
Z. Zoot
What you’ll need:
- 1 oz. gin
- 6 oz. 7-Up soda
- 1 oz. bourbon whiskey
How to make it: Pour gin and 7-up over ice cubes in a glass, and slow pour in the bourbon whiskey so that it floats on top. Garnish with a lemon wedge and serve
Best Cruising Experience: LeighAnn B., of Forest City, Arkansas, says she’s been having a blast making new friends at sea.
This story was created as part of our collaboration with Carnival. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are our own.
