Bringing Liquor Onboard:

[jangirlct]

Can I? My RC booklet says I can't, and that they will confiscate it. Do they really do that? I want to bring wine w me (which I did w Carnival). Thanks, Jan (sailing Explorer to Bermuda, 10/29)

[blueliner]

Originally Posted by jangirlct

Can I? My RC booklet says I can't, and that they will confiscate it. Do they really do that?

Yes they will if they find it.

[Cassandra]

Yes, they will confiscate it & give it back to you at the end of the cruise. Don't bother trying to smuggle it either, they have scanners similiar to those at the airport.

Just bring an extra $100-$200 for drinks. This topic is beaten to death all the time on here. If you review past posts on this board, you'll see the debates.

[Kuki]

No hard liquor is allowed in your carry on. However I don't believe you'll have any problem with wine.

If you want it served in the dining room they'll charge you a corkage fee.

[Roland]

Thanks Cassie

Originally Posted by Cassandra

This topic is beaten to death all the time on here. If you review past posts on this board, you'll see the debates.

[ScottnHeidis]

is because it's the question that many people ask. Don't feel bad for asking. Yes, as you know you are not supposed to do it, and if you do you could even be rejected passage. However, many people do do it successfully, but it's a gamble that I don't want to take.

My only thing is, I will follow the rules but I think we should be able to buy alcohol by the bottle on board in the comfort of our own rooms. But that has been done away with as well.

So as the OP said, you might as well bring along more $$.

Heidi

[jstud28]

Hi Jan

If you want to take alcohol even if wine, put it in your case or hand luggage, we have done both and never any trouble, we have never had any alcohol taken from us even when we have docked and bought on the islands, only when buying onboard they keep it until the night before you disembark. Generally with the wine if you want to bring it aboard to drink with dinner you will generally pay a corkage fee.

Hope this helps.


Jamie (London UK)

[jangirlct]

Thanks everyone for the various replies:

And, apparently the reason this is discussed ad nausium, is because there are no definitive answers. What I am gathering, from these and past replies, is that people continue to successfully bring wine (openly) and hard liquor (covertly), but nobody has ever been denied access to the ship because they were caught attempting to bring it onboard. The new cruise document, stressing a change of policy after July cruising is threatening to say the least. It makes me wonder if this is a policy change primarily for RC, or if the same strong verbage is used currently by other lines.

I have a friend cruising 2 weeks before, on Explorer, and I eagerly await an account of her experience. She told me that last time she cruised RC, her friend had his water bottle opened and smelled by the boarding patrol (it was just water).

[Dave the Wave]

Once again for those who haven't seen this pic. I have never had a problem. I spend plenty at the bar but like to have some in my cabin for getting ready for dinner, breaks from the pool, ect... This coming cruise, I am a few doors from and will have access to the Concierge Lounge so I will report back on the availbility of alcohol in there.

[surferdude2109]

Im not sayin its right...and im not sayin its wrong (unless you dont buy any drinks at the bar as well),but ive takin liquor onboard before and had no problem at all!Just do the old mouthwash bottle switcheroo!!

[rsumrow79]

My wife and I just got off of the Enchantment this morning. We traveled with 2 other couples. All 6 of us got everything onboard in our checked luggage. I didnt meet 1 person who tried and had it taken. So pack what you need in your bags and have a great time.

[Chargap]

Does anyone have any experience boarding with wine or liquor in Europe? Chargap

[Jack Quick]

Jan,

I do it all the time...

like Dave the Wave mentioned... it's nice having it in your cabin. Last RC cruise I packed (2) 30 packs of beer in my luggage without any problems. Buy booze at the pool and drink yours when at the room.

Have fun !!

Jack

[DreadLockCruiser]

I pack hard liquor in my bags all the time. I never carry it on, I check the bags and make sure to wrap it up in a pair of jeans or something.

[mlschef]

Another good excuse to bring your own............it opens up space in your luggage for all the "stuff" you buy in port and on board to take home. Imagine how many T-Shirts Jack can put in his luggage where he had his two 30-packs!!

[Dave the Wave]

Here is from Sovereign of the Seas....

[Dave the Wave]

I am getting thirsty right now!

[ragtiki2005]

Dave, what can you tell me about the Soverign of the Seas? I found a super rate for late November and was wondering what the ship is like. I have heard it was refurbished recently. How was the singles scene and what would you recommend for excursions? I just got back from the Adventurer of the Seas last month and have a week off in late November and do not want to take a 7 day cruise this time, just a short 5 day cruise. Any information would be helpfull. Thanks. BOB

[Russell in MD]

Originally Posted by Dave the Wave

Here is from Sovereign of the Seas....

"if found....."

Classic Dave.

If thats not a dead give away nothing is.

Seriously though if your smuggling liqour/glass bottles take the time to ensure that the bottles arrive unbroken and not leaking. Either transfer the necture of the Gods into an unbreakable container or liberally wrap them in cushioning material. No one wants to have booze soaked stuff even the the poor schmuck whos bag was beneath yours on the way on the ship.

R

[selctsys]

Originally Posted by Kuki

No hard liquor is allowed in your carry on. However I don't believe you'll have any problem with wine.

If you want it served in the dining room they'll charge you a corkage fee.

Is there any reference to this policy?

[Roland]

"Guests are not allowed to bring alcoholic beverages onboard for consumption or any other use. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports-of-call or from Shops On Board will be stored by the ship and delivered to guest staterooms on the last day of the sailing."

[Dave the Wave]

A few idiots drink too much, fall overboard and ruin it for the rest of us. Used to be you could buy a bottle in the shop onboard and take it to your cabin.

[Roland]

I agree DtW, was just citing RCI´s rules.

[hcat]

we will send some wine to our cabin ahead of time (hey it's only a triple mark up from what I can see but at least it will be there) Husb will pay the new price for the beer plus 15% & we will just tough it out--On longer trips they have the wine & dine package--.not worth the hassle I had V 8 juice on an air trip to Fla for my diabetes & almost got searched over that--not worth it!

[dacbiet]

Originally Posted by Dave the Wave

Used to be you could buy a bottle in the shop onboard and take it to your cabin.

The cruise lines all seem to have written policies, but they seem to be enforced differently on each ship...

One one cruise I paid corkage for every bottle of wine I brought to dinner, while on a recent Hawaii cruise I wasn't charged any corkage, (The Island Gods were good to me: there was a stop in Maui along the way with a Costco nearby for another 6 bottles of red!)

The Duty Free shop let you buy Johnny Walker Blue or Green label and allowed you to take your cabin right away. The cheaper Red or Black label for the common man (and all other "regular alcohol") got held until the last night.

One thing has worked for me; just politely ask a crew member walking near the duty free shops to buy your booze; crew are allowed to take it with them right away.

[Allande]

We´ve been looking over the wine packages and the wines from Spain that are offered (the wine we normally drink) are not that great but they are priced as if they were. How much do they normally charge for a corkage fee.

[sal7202]

the wines from Spain that are offered (the wine we normally drink) are not that great but they are priced as if they were.

We had purchased a bottle of wine in the dinning room one evening for a special occasion (our anniversary) and paid $56.00 for it. My wife liked it alot, so I went looking for it in our local liquor stores when we got home. After much searching I found a store that carried it, the cost, $16.00.

[Allande]

Can we or can we not take wine on board RCL for drinking in the dining room and paying a corkage fee?

[ready2gonow]

According to the RCCL website, the answer is no. It specifically says no liquor, beer, or wine.

[jangirlct]

Regarding bringing wine onboard, although the literature says no wine, the daily "to-do today" sheet ALWAYS said that patrons bringing their own wine to the dining room will be assessed a $12 corkage fee. I just got back from Explorer of the Sea, and decided against carrying wine with me, and purchased the 5 wine dine-and-wine package (for $145). However, I did bring in my main suitcase, one of those margarita-in-a-bag deals, filled with the appropriate amount of taquila, and filled it onboard with the correct amount of water. I brought my own canvas cooler, and filled it with ice. I had cold, not frozen, fancy drinks in my room all week. As far as I can tell, they could care less about the bringing onboard of liquor. It sounds like they cover their liability butts by making such sweeping admonishments.