a question re: corkage fees

[Rfujitani]

Not only am I new to cruising, I'm also relatively new to the world of wine. Now that I've seen some threads about bringing your own wine aboard a ship, I had a more general question regarding corkage fees.

This actually pretty much applies to all corkage fees in general:
For those of you more experienced afficionados, what exactly are you paying for when you pay such a fee?

Is it sort of a way for the restaurant/ship to say, "Hey, if you're not gonna drink our wine, then we're just gonna charge you to be able open and drink your own." ?

I've always wondered because corkage fees have always seemed ridiculously high to me.

[dina]

Hi there,

I think corkage fees are on all cruise lines. I know Carnival charges $15 corkage. OK.. I know thats high but when you see the prices per bottle.. you won't complain much. I would have a glass of wine with dinner and got charged $8 - $10 a glass depending on the wine. Two glasses and you've already hit the fee. At least with your own bottle, your saving yourself a couple of bucks. We ended up buying a bottle one night for dinner and it cost us $40. I buy the same stuff at home and I know I only pay $15 for it. Its like this at any decent dry land establishment you go to. They always jack up the price on wine.

[Rfujitani]

That's true. They do jack up the prices at restaurants, so it makes sense to bring your own if you're going to a nicer place.

But what exactly are you paying for when you pay a corkage fee? Is it just some arbitrary fee that the restaurant biz came up with? If you uncork a bottle of wine in the car, right before you come into the restaurant, would they still charge a corkage fee? or, wait, maybe uncorked (or bottles with loosely replaced corks) bottles aren't allowed in establishments like this?

I'm just a little bit curious what the restaurant industry says we're actually paying for when we pay what they call a "corkage fee."

[dina]

Originally Posted by Rfujitani

That's true. They do jack up the prices at restaurants, so it makes sense to bring your own if you're going to a nicer place.

But what exactly are you paying for when you pay a corkage fee? Is it just some arbitrary fee that the restaurant biz came up with? If you uncork a bottle of wine in the car, right before you come into the restaurant, would they still charge a corkage fee? or, wait, maybe uncorked (or bottles with loosely replaced corks) bottles aren't allowed in establishments like this?

I'm just a little bit curious what the restaurant industry says we're actually paying for when we pay what they call a "corkage fee."

If you are allowed to bring wine in a restaurant, then typically again you will pay a corkage fee. The price of the corkage just depends on the place. The corkage fee come from them popping the cork and giving you the proper wine glasses. In most states, its illegal to have an open container in your car. Some states are now amending that so that you can take unfinished wine home from a restaurant. Why they charge you?? because they can. lol It's as simple as that. It's another way for them to make money. They won't make as much in receipts if you provide your own beverage.

[Rfujitani]

Originally Posted by dina

Why they charge you?? because they can. lol It's as simple as that. It's another way for them to make money. They won't make as much in receipts if you provide your own beverage.

Haha that's what I figured. Thanks for the input.

[dina]

No problem. I'm going with a group in a couple of weeks. We all like a nice glass of wine with dinner. Since we're driving to port, we'll all carry at least one bottle of wine with us to drink at dinner. I'll pay the corkage fee but have them open up two bottles at dinner instead of just one. HAHAHA

[Rfujitani]

Originally Posted by dina

No problem. I'm going with a group in a couple of weeks. We all like a nice glass of wine with dinner. Since we're driving to port, we'll all carry at least one bottle of wine with us to drink at dinner. I'll pay the corkage fee but have them open up two bottles at dinner instead of just one. HAHAHA

Oooh, I didn't realize you could do that. Pay one corkage fee and have more than one bottle opened? I think that'll be the way to go. That way, we can all have our glass of wine at dinner and save the second bottle for later on, back in the cabins.

[dina]

Originally Posted by Rfujitani

Oooh, I didn't realize you could do that. Pay one corkage fee and have more than one bottle opened? I think that'll be the way to go. That way, we can all have our glass of wine at dinner and save the second bottle for later on, back in the cabins.

you have to work the system

[reverendjeff]

Corkage fees cover the care of your wine, such as chilling and storage. They also cover the opening of the bottle, pouring in the proper glass, and if you want, they will re-cork it and bring the rest out the next night. If you have any left.
The funniest thing to me is they they will open the bottle, hand me the cork, pour a small amount in the glass, and then wait to see if it is acceptable. Hey, I brought the wine from home, whether it is good or not, I most likely will drink it.
Cheers!

[dina]

Originally Posted by reverendjeff

Corkage fees cover the care of your wine, such as chilling and storage. They also cover the opening of the bottle, pouring in the proper glass, and if you want, they will re-cork it and bring the rest out the next night. If you have any left.
The funniest thing to me is they they will open the bottle, hand me the cork, pour a small amount in the glass, and then wait to see if it is acceptable. Hey, I brought the wine from home, whether it is good or not, I most likely will drink it.
Cheers!

Hi Jeff..

Your right.. The problem may be that the bottle is "corked" or had gone bad before you opened it. Checking the cork at the time its opened for cracks and mildew definitely helps.

I just thought of something.. Since I'm driving to the pier.. I'm going to bring my own cork screw so I can open up a bottle in my own cabin. DUH! LMAO

Jeff - If you hand carry your own bottle into the dining room, which you can do.. would they put up a fuss if you pick it up and carry it back to your room if you didn't finish it at dinner? I haven't done it yet but I'm thinking of doing that.

[Rfujitani]

Jeff - If you hand carry your own bottle into the dining room, which you can do.. would they put up a fuss if you pick it up and carry it back to your room if you didn't finish it at dinner? I haven't done it yet but I'm thinking of doing that.

That's a great question. I'd also like to know.

Originally Posted by dina

I just thought of something.. Since I'm driving to the pier.. I'm going to bring my own cork screw so I can open up a bottle in my own cabin. DUH! LMAO

Wow... This didn't even occur to me at all either! And this brings up another semi-related question for me:

If I bring something like a Swiss army knife or a Leatherman, will they confiscate it from me? Or are they less strict on cruise lines about things like that than airlines are?

[gerif]

We pack a corkscrew in our checked luggage (along with the wine). Don't think a Swiss Army Knife would be a problem, though - after all, there are knives all over the ship (unlike an airplane).

In response to the other question, if you do not finish your bottle of wine in the dining room, you can either have them keep it for the next night or bring it back to your room.

In response to a question not asked - if you bring your own to enjoy in your room, your room steward will happily supply you with the proper glasses. If you happen to bring a full glass to the dining room, they have no way of knowing that you didn't just purchase it at the bar.

[dina]

Originally Posted by gerif

We pack a corkscrew in our checked luggage (along with the wine). Don't think a Swiss Army Knife would be a problem, though - after all, there are knives all over the ship (unlike an airplane).

In response to the other question, if you do not finish your bottle of wine in the dining room, you can either have them keep it for the next night or bring it back to your room.

In response to a question not asked - if you bring your own to enjoy in your room, your room steward will happily supply you with the proper glasses. If you happen to bring a full glass to the dining room, they have no way of knowing that you didn't just purchase it at the bar.

I guess the only time I would want them to keep it is if I know I won't be drinking it later and its a white wine that needs to keep chilled. Other then that.. its going back to the cabin with moi. Thanks for the answers.

[mehawk]

Want some chesse with that wine?

[portorstar]

[quote="mehawk"]Want some chesse with that wine? [/quote

Whats chesse??

[Rfujitani]

Originally Posted by portorstar

Whats chesse??

Hmm, by my understanding, "chesse" is a light pink fruit found in the dark depths of the Atlantic Ocean, as well as Montana and a small health food store in Park City, Utah. Discovered by Amerigo Vespucci in 1987, this fruit is composed of chocolate and love, and it makes an excellent companion during cold winters and long walks on the beach. Planting the seed of a "chesse" results in the sprouting of a magnificent hamburger tree, which may grow as tall as 4 feet! Run to your nearest Wal-Mart and pick up a chesse today!

Or am I thinking of something else...?

[dina]

For those who are interested.... I just got off Carnival Fascination. My friends and I took on board two bottles of wine per couple.(3 couples) no problem.. We took two bottles to dinner each night we ate in the dining room. No problem walking in with it what so ever. best part.... They did NOT charge us corkage fees NOR did they have a problem with us departing the dining room with the unfinished wine.

*takes one for the team with excellent news*

I now take you back to your regularly scheduled program. LMAO

[cruisingfrompa]

This is all good for us as we like to have wine with us at dinner time and since we are takign all 5 of us in our family i have to save some where. Can you take any size of a bottle as sionce that is what i will probab;y drink the whole cruise instead of there beer. Can you take 2 per person and try to hide more in oyur suitcase
just a thought.

[cruisingfrompa]

PS has anyone try to sneek beer on the ship just was wandering

[Rfujitani]

Thanks for the update, Dina; I didn't see it until today. This is good news indeed, and I'll make sure to keep it in mind!

[dina]

Originally Posted by cruisingfrompa

This is all good for us as we like to have wine with us at dinner time and since we are takign all 5 of us in our family i have to save some where. Can you take any size of a bottle as sionce that is what i will probab;y drink the whole cruise instead of there beer. Can you take 2 per person and try to hide more in oyur suitcase
just a thought.

You know.. We thought about taking the "big" bottles of wine instead of the standard size. Basically it breaks down about the same as two bottles. I suppose you could but they are pretty heavy. We were lucky enough to be driving to the port instead of flying in. Packing that much wine in a suitcase.. I'm guessing you could pack them. I saw one couple with a magnum of champagne. Bottles don't get any bigger then that.

[dina]

Originally Posted by Rfujitani

Thanks for the update, Dina; I didn't see it until today. This is good news indeed, and I'll make sure to keep it in mind!

My pleasure.

[cruisingfrompa]

Thanks dina we are driving to NY so I probably will pack my wine bottles any suggestions on how. There will be 5 suitcases in our family or less i fi can since there are 5 of us going. Boy it seems so far away we are getting really excited since it is our first cruise. My kids are even doing better in school becasue they know if they dont they dont go. It is really been making them respect what we have in this Vacation for them.

[reverendjeff]

I put my wine in a wheeled bag that I pull on the ship. Never have any trouble that way. I have had one time where at the x-ray they made me take it out. They labeled it and sent it to the dinning room.

[dina]

I agree with Jeff. Wine is not contraband. Carry it on and not packed in your stuff. If you've seen the way the bags get tossed around. *shudder*

[cruisingfrompa]

Originally Posted by dina

I agree with Jeff. Wine is not contraband. Carry it on and not packed in your stuff. If you've seen the way the bags get tossed around. *shudder*

Thus is true.

[KAWS]

We just sailed on Carnival Miracle. Our waiter told us that if he kept and stored OUR wine then he would have to charge a corkage fee (i.e., storage fee), but if we took our opened bottle back to our room, put it in our fridge and brought it back the next night - no fee. Worked just fine for us! Never got charged a cent all week.

Kim

[Rfujitani]

Another good thing to know! Thanks!

[reefisher]

I like to pack a 3liter box of wine in my checked baggage. No problem with breakage. I do however seal it in two plastic bags, probably overkill because these botta boxes have some great packaging tech. It is not that easy though to find a drinkable boxed wine. The brands we have liked the best are Stonehaven chard, Carmenere merlot and Banrock Station shiraz. We usually bring al least two bottles each of finer wines. So far on 2 sailing on the Oosterdam and one one Carnival Spirit, we have not been charged a corkage fee.

We will be sailing on the Golden Princess 5/19/07. At the time we booked ,their alcohol policy according to the website, was wine and champagne allowed. Now their policy states one bottle of wine per passenger. We are still going to bring the box and 4 more bottles. We will see what happens.

[kennedy]

what if you open your wine in your room and bring it in like that.
I have always been charged the fee to open it in the dinning room.
I also brought the big bottles before since it was 4 people.