Bringing liquor on board?

[getfuzzyfan]

I read someplace (I don't remember where) that you are able to bring your own liquor/wine onto the Regatta for consumption in your room. Is that correct? Or do they confiscate any liquor and hold it until disembarkation like other cruises?

Not that I sit and drink in my room throughout a cruise, but it is nice to have something there as a nightcap or before dinner drink on the balcony.

Yes, it is true. You can bring your alcoholic beverages on board as long as you consume them in your room or on your veranda. Don't throw the empties overboard or you are looking at a mega-fine. The steward remove the containers from your room and keep your ice bucket stocked. Looking forward to our third cruise in November to the Amazon!

[katsuey]

That's funny, bring your own liquor but you can't even smoke in a room or on the veranda of a room you are paying $12,000 for! However, this no smoking policy (except two designated areas on the entire ship) is hidden in the fine print until it's too late to cancel. I don't go on vacation to be treated like a second class citizen and told that as a smoker I can't even smoke in my own room. Won't make the casino much fun either!

That and all the other things that have gone wrong dealing with this company leaves me with a sour taste before I even get on a cruise. My husband and I see the hand writing on the wall - this is not the cruise line for us and we want OUT. Oceania wants to charge us a 50% cancellation fee even though they hid their policies from us and have given us grief all along the way.

When I asked Oceania about this no smoking policy that was just revealed to me today (40 days from sailing), they point me to the fine print on the back of their brochure. However, the fact that their brochures advertise that they take Discover card - well they don't any more even though they did at the time of our making our reservation and they refuse to honor that. They refused to take our Discover for the final payment - too bad for us who were looking for cash back from our Discover.

40 days from sailing we also get notification for the first time that we need special visas for Brazil and a yellow fever innoculation. More MONEY! Anyone think of exposing these things in a timely manner?

Next we find out for the first time that we will automatically be giving gratuities. Excuse me, but I give gratuties of my own free will for service given to me - it's not a gratuity if you are forced to give it and it certainly prevents the staff from an incentive to actually earn it.

Next, we aren't even entitled to know the time excursions start! Well I don't want to go snorkeling or bike riding at 7:00 am, but would find it very enjoyable at 10am! Once again, I'm real protective of my vacation. I don't want someone telling me I have to roust out of bed at 6:00am so I can make a 7am excursion.

[kitty2]

Originally Posted by katsuey

That's funny, bring your own liquor but you can't even smoke in a room or on the veranda of a room you are paying $12,000 for! However, this no smoking policy (except two designated areas on the entire ship) is hidden in the fine print until it's too late to cancel. I don't go on vacation to be treated like a second class citizen and told that as a smoker I can't even smoke in my own room.

Did your TA not tell you about VISAS for Brasil and Yellow fever shots.
You can check the entry requirements of countries at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1765.html

I for one am glad of the smoking policies on Oceania ....

As for tips you can have them removed from your account and tip as you please.

I didn't find any of these things hidden they are in the brochure under general conditions on the last page just like every other cruise/tour company.

I think the only time you will be rousted out of bed is when you disembark in Miami if you make the trip at all.

[salt1]

you can bring your own liquor on board Regatta and the other Oceania ships as well and consume it in your own room. If you choose to bring your own wine to the dining room there is a $20 corkage fee.

[katsuey]

Not only did our TA not tell us about the yellow fever shots OR the visa requirements, our TA and I had a discussion last vacation about NOT booking us into non-smoking hotel rooms.

I can understand someone not wanting me to smoke in their face. I understand all types of preferences, but I didn't book a penthouse suite so I could spend my cruise in the smokers corner!

The no smoking policy includes your own room AND your own deck. Unless I am blowing smoke directly at you, my smoke should now bother a non-smoker outside. Besides, I'm highly sensitive to perfumes. Is there a policy that you can only wear perfume if you stay out of the elevator?

Our TA has contacted Oceania and both the TA and Oceania refuse to do anything for us - Oceania wants a 50% cancellation fee.

[kitty2]

Originally Posted by katsuey

The no smoking policy includes your own room AND your own deck. Unless I am blowing smoke directly at you, my smoke should now bother a non-smoker outside. .

Well it is not really YOUR OWN room ...you are renting the space from the cruiseline so they have the right to make the rules.
I would not want to have to replace the bedding and drapes each cruise for cabins with smokers in them.

IMHO it is a fire hazzard anyway!

[suekingbhs]

Perhaps you should use the cruise as an opportune time to quit smoking

[Moethetoe]

Good thinking Sue!!

[saratojo]

Katsuey,

You have one BAD travel agent. Any minimal research would have informed one that Oceania is basically smoke free in rooms and balconies and almost all public spaces.

Fire your travel agent.

And "HOORAY" for Oceanea and there smoking policy.

[nmnita]

I have not problem with Oceaneas smoking policy even though I am a social smoker, but I do think it is up to a TA to let clients know the policy, especially if she/he knows this could be a problem. BTW, for someone to say, this is a good time to quit: maybe they have never smoked, to try and quit during a vacation could make for a very stressful vacation. NMNita

[valglen]

YES, "We normally allow 2 bottles per person if you want to bring on yourself."......this is the answer I received from Oceania's customer service on Oct.19, 2004, for our sailing on Insignia BCN~LIS May 2005.
I have also done so on the Nautica PEK~HKG in Mar. of this year. and, I plan on doing so this Sept. on Regatta. I(and several others) have purchased alcohol enroute and brought aboard, NO problemo!
nothing like having a martini while you're getting dressed for dinner!<g>

Bon Voyage.....Val

[Nutrioso]

Please, please, please give Katsuey his refund. I don't want to ever be on a cruise with him.

[lhp]

Having cruised Carnival all our "cruising" lives, we are looking to move up the cruising chain. I was thrilled to read Oceania's smoking (or nonsmoking) policy and you don't have to smuggle liquor into your cabin for your before dinner drinks. This must be heaven on earth!!!

Now if I could just convince them to have an open mic policy (for those who prove they can really sing), we would be in business!!

Thanks for all the helpful information.
Happy Cruising!!

[JudyA.]

I think the no-smoking policy is really to prevent fires (like what happened recently aboard a cruise ship. Was it Princess? Somebody smoking in their cabin fell asleep with one lit). A fire on board a ship puts everyone's life at risk.

Also, I think it is up to YOU to read the print at the back of the brochure, you have no one else to blame. It's certainly not the cruiseline's fault if you don't do your research.

[manlief]

Hi,
Going on Regatta on 5/17/2007. Husband smokes. We are in Ph3 cabin. Where would be the closet place on ship for him to have morn. butt and coffee. Is it only outdoor areas to smoke or will he be able to go in when it is cold or rainy. He is very self conscious about his smoking
Thanks, Laura

[JudyA.]

Laura - the Oceania brochure states that smoking is allowed on deck 9, the forward starboard corner of the pool deck. On deck 10, aft in the port corner of HORIZONS.

According to Oceania, these areas are "comfortably furnished and conveniently located near food & beverage areas". Go online to their website to look at the deck plan to see where those areas are in relation to your cabin.

Judy

[darmanad]

Is it still the policy that you may bring aboard at embarkation 2 bottles of wine /booze per person?

[rinker250]

I am the dreaded EX smoker (worse than a non smoker).
I can tell you that when I smoked the cancer twigs I was always able to find a place to smoke. I even went out of my way to not impose on non smokers.

I can now tell you that when you stink up a room you have stunk it up forever.

The next tenant does not deserve to have to smell your smoke.

BTW, quitting is easy, I've done it hundreds of times!!

[lulu48]

Originally Posted by darmanad

Is it still the policy that you may bring aboard at embarkation 2 bottles of wine /booze per person?

yes

[rinker250]

Is it still the policy that you may bring aboard at embarkation 2 bottles of wine /booze per person?


At DIS embarkation, yes. You cannot bring booze aboard the NCL Pearl

[hauby]

There is no problem bringing liquor on board. Drink up!

[rinker250]

hauby,
What line allows this?

[hauby]

I was replying to a question about Ocenia cruises.

[rinker250]

Thanks,
That alone makes them worth looking into.

[WKA]

I have never cruised with Oceana although was on the R5 (now Nautica with Oceana, I think), but it is my impression that all lines formally forbid consumption of alcholic beverages which you don't buy from them at their inflated prices. That being said, I have always taken along a fifth of Maker's (for myself) and one of Bailey's (for my wife) in our baggage and used it for a before-dinner libation. We lock it up in our luggage when we are not using it, but I can't imagine them doing a room search. The cabin stewart is trying to be as customer friendly as possible and is working in hope of a generous cruise-end tip. As far as I am concerned, a man's stateroom is his castle.

Of course if you go staggering down the companionway being generally obnoxious, you may attract attention.

[lulu48]

Originally Posted by WKA

I have never cruised with Oceana although was on the R5 (now Nautica with Oceana, I think), but it is my impression that all lines formally forbid consumption of alcholic beverages which you don't buy from them at their inflated prices.

Since you have not sailed OCEANIA you may not be aware that you can bring your own alcohol for in cabin use without a problem.
You can bring wine for you cabin but if you take it to the dining rooms you will be charged a corkage fee just like other cruise lines.

[rinker250]

I had two surpirises on our recent cruise on HAL's Ryndam:

We bought a bottle a tequilia from Cabo Wabo on shore and dutifully held it up for confiscation when we re-boarded. The guy just waved me by and said he had enough last night!

Then, I filled out the duty forms thinking we were` were allowed two bottles of booze per person. Not true, it is only one per person.
Rather than find a new form we just went with it and handed it to customs.
He just added it to a stack without reading it and wished us a happy new year.

[cruiztime]

This is our first Oceania cruise. My husband is a beer drinker and on other ships we usually get a six pack in port and bring it on the ship. We have never had a problem. Will Oceania allow the six pack to be brought on the ship?

Marion

[lulu48]

Originally Posted by cruiztime

This is our first Oceania cruise. My husband is a beer drinker and on other ships we usually get a six pack in port and bring it on the ship. We have never had a problem. Will Oceania allow the six pack to be brought on the ship?

Marion

If you drink it in your cabin it is fine.