Has anyone ever snuck alcohol onto a cruise?

Question

were thinking of doing the water/ soda bottle method....anyone have any ideas where to hide it?

Answer 1

This is a great little trick... Fill an empty listerine bottle with your clear liquor of choice, add a few drops green food color and voila!! Hello hangover! They won't check your mouthwash...

Answer 2

i went on a cruise with three friends and one of them did the mouthwash thing. it was kinda pointless tho, it was warm and gros.s

Answer 3

on the carry on

Answer 4

Hi. Personal smuggler of alcohol onto a cruise ship. The best method is to buy a product called a Platypus. It's a bag meant to hold alcohol that's thick and tear-proof. They hold about a liter of liquid. You can get them at a place like d**k's Sporting Goods and they last for many cruises to come. You simply fill them up, secure the cap, and then put them inside a folded shirt where they lay flat. They are super discrete. We brought like 2 or 3 so we had a mini Platypus liquor cabinet in our cabin. Happy sailing!

Answer 5

I do it all the time.  Water bottles & listerine bottles.  Getting on a cruise is kind of a zoo and although they may be searching some people, I've never been searched.  They are more concerned with getting people on the boat.  The cruise line made a killing off of me with the diet coke I used to mix it with, so they will still make money off your drinking.

Answer 6

That's the oldest trick in the book and security personel is on to it.  It's possible to sneak alcohol on a cruise, but not recommended.  They will confiscate your liquor at the very least and they do have the right to deny you from boarding.

I would check out rum runner flasks.

Answer 7

I recently went on a cruise.  The cruise information had a caution regarding sneaking alcohol aboard.  They stated in the information, they are looking for water bottles, etc. with alcohol substiuted.  It further stated if this was found, you may be denied passage with no refund.

Answer 8

Before the liquid rule on airplanes a person snuck rum in a water bottle. (it was obviously clear) and yes, to actually answer the question, i know someone who has snuck a couple bottles onto a cruise, i assume you could just put it in a big souvenir bag with a bathing suit and towel and whatnot. I don't condone it, though.

Answer 9

I was just on a cruise and was appalled by the fact that security saw that I had not one but two water bottles that were full and did NOT do anything about it and yet I read many of these posts and forums that said that security would definitly search you. I say appalled because I read a lot about how strict it was. Maybe it's different in other ports beside Port Canaveral though. We did sneak on vodka in a bottle of spray on sun screen (which if you've ever smelled that stuff I think it smells like alcohol anyway) and it was easy to carry around...although it took many washings to make the bottle ready. We cruised RC.

Honestly, I think you roll the dice with sneaking alcohol on, I've read of people getting caught and equal amount of people saying they do it all the time. My advice to you, put it in your checked bag because if security catches when you are boarding there is a chance (albeit probably small chance) you can be denied boarding. I think cruise ship people scan the bags but really only check a random sample.

As per my experience, we barely used what we brought on. The drinks were cheap enough, between $4-7 a pop and were very tasty and they usually aren't light on the alcohol either. I don't know if other ships are this way but we only had Lemonade, Iced Tea, Orange, and Apple juice available as a mixer and even then we prefered to get the bar drinks. Many times unless you are aiming to do nothing but drinking on the cruise and just sitting around, you probably won't have that much time anyway. Depending on the ports, you can easily get drunk (if that's your goal) on shore before you get back on the ship.

Oh, and if you are underage, I believe a lot of ships will hand you a card at the beginning of the ship and it's scanned anytime you make a purchase on the ship...it has your age on it so you won't be able to get around that unless someone buys it for you. Many times now a days if you are under 21 a parent can sign for you to be able to drink but I'm not positive on that.

Bottom line, if you are just looking to have a good time, I wouldn't bother, it's more hassle and stress than it's worth, but if you just want to drink, well then I'd suggest checking it in your bag and hoping for the best (and probably 75% of the time you'll succeed.

Answer 10

I've never seen a cruise line check luggage.  I didn't bother to play games with it.  I put a 5th of vodka in its original bottle in my luggage.  They don't check it, nor like the airlines they are not asking you "is there anything you need to tell us".  Honestly they don't care.  You will still have to mix it which will end up being difficult.  Going up to the pool, getting a small glass of lemonade--coming back down to mix it.  Or carrying around a warm water/vodka bottle all day.  Anything you buy in ports they give you back for the last night for partying anyway.  

IMO, the prices on alcohol are so cheap there wasn't really a point (once I turned 21 that is).  And many cruise lines (despite their policy) serve 18+ in international waters.  I remember when I cruised NCL, both my cousin and I had smuggled 5ths in and I don't think we ever opened them.  We drank the whole time.  The night before we were at the bar ordering a drink and then when we went back, we were refused.  That bartender knew INSTANTLY when we crossed back into US waters.

I mean I've heard people suggest putting it in Listerine bottles, contact lens solution--but have you ever smelled an empty Listerine or saline bottle?  It still smells like the product and your liquor will too.

Answer 11

I always take bottled flavored water with me on a cruise.  Put it in the suitcase.  Since we board ship out of Galveston (TX), there is no flight security to worry over.  Another thing we do is carry empty plastic bottles (2) and a box of single packet flavored beverage mixes with us--in the suitcase.  Fill the bottle at the cafe onboard or from the melted ice in your room ice bucket.  Alcohol is handled easily when no flight security is involved; simply wrap it safely and place in the suitcase.  As to soda bottles on a flight in your suitcase, as long as the cap seal is unbroken, they will not confiscate it.