Which cruise line do you think has the worst coffee?

[Itsallaboutthebean]

Please feel free to post any comments or questions.

Kelsey

[CA Cruiser]

Great question. Everyone has a difference of opinions and tastes. For us it has been RCI. They served Seattle's Best. Just was too bitter on the Mariner. None of our tablemates liked it. On the Jewel it was a little better but still not as good as we like. The Crown Princess' coffee was real good last month. Hopefully by next year, RCI will be better.

[Mike M]

I threw my vote to Holland America because their Explorations Coffee bar is, in my opinion, the best of all the premium coffee bars, including the Cova Cafe.

They do a great job of grinding and use a real Cimballi to make the espresso and steam the milk and do not charge an arm and leg for an excellent coffee, espresso, latte or cappuccino.

In the general coffee area: I found Royal Caribbean to have generally bad coffee. It was Seattle's worst.

Then again, I have had good coffee one day on a ship and sludge the next. The consistently worst was the defunct Renaissance. It was like someone rinsed their socks in the urns.

Take care,
Mike

[Itsallaboutthebean]

Just to let everyone know, I am a roaster of specialty coffee, and in the process of doing market research, and I would like to find out what other cruiser's thoughts are on the coffee served aboard the ships. Also, I am not affiliated in any way with the owners of this forum. Any and all input will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Kelsey

[reefisher]

Princess has no brewed coffee, other than the costs extra place. It is all made from concentrate. And dispensed from taps.

[rosetattoo]

Royal Caribbean has the worst, very bitter, I had to add a ton of half & half to get it to where it was tolerable, yuck!

[roxye15]

As of last year, RCL's coffee had been much different (in a good way) than it had been in 2005. I just went on Carnival and that was the worst coffee I've ever drank.

[Kimbopolo]

I think the biggest surprise of my first crusie - Carnival - was how much I liked the coffee.

(I'm a real coffee snob and expected to be very unhappy, which is usually the case when I travel).

[jacdenv24]

We are basically Celebrity cruisers but I must say their coffee sucks. Fortunately, we are not huge coffee drinkers but I found the only way I could drink it was to pour 1/2 cup of decaf, 1/4 cup hot water, one creamer and a little milk. A bit of a production but drinkable.

[BetWes]

Laughed when I read the post results, as I was just thinking that CruiseMates is mostly a Carnival site.

[Truck Cruiser]

When drinking Princess coffee, bring a cup with a lid! Otherwise that strong coffee will jump out of the cup and beat you up! Worst I ever had for sure!

[katlady]

I like to mix the coffee with the hot chocolate it makes the coffee on cruise ships more drinkable.

[johnthed0g]

Another case of different cultures ....on a UK site some time ago I posted a question about how awful the coffee was on P&O (UK) especially in the places you actually pay extra for it (ie- Café Vivo on Arcadia). Now, there are people who would disagree with me if I posted a list of P&O's ships but I couldn't imagine anyone actually thinking the coffee on board was remotely acceptable, but some were quite upset that I dare question the quality of the stuff they serve...literally UN-drinkable, as in left on the table. Strangely the coffee form the "taps" wasn't too bad. Without being too precious about it I have had really good coffee in Jamaica (MAY have even been Blue Mountain), in France at a small hotel, & of course at specialist outlets in the UK. Generally been disappointed with coffee in the U.S. especially as I was expecting good fresh coffee everywhere but got stewed & weak. Sorry.

[katlady]

John I agree with you. I have to make my own coffee. Because coffee here is way to weak. I bet coffee is pretty good in New Orleans. My c-sis got me some coffee from Cafe Du Monde and I was hooked. So I buy a big case of it and have it delievered to California. For awhile I was hooked on Illy coffee, but it was to much money.

[luvmytigs]

Carnival has the WORST coffee. UGH! (But great food, topped of course by Celebrity).

[johnthed0g]

Katlady...on our recent cruise we had coffee & those do-nut things at Café Du Monde in ''Nola''...not bad!
The coffee on P&O Azura was fine & the stuff you pay for in "Java" the coffee bar was made by "Costa" an Italian based European chain & was very good too.

[Queen of Oakville]

I'm thinking of taking a French press on our next cruise. Of course if Tassimo made a travel version .... i'd take that instead.

I wish they Starbucks at Sea. I haven't tried VIA yet, but might give that a try.