No alcohol on cruises?

Question

I booked a cruise a while ago but just noticed in the fine print that you can't bring alcohol on board, whether from home or any port you visit.

This combined with all the other above average restrictions is starting to make me second guess booking a cruise vacation.

These strict cruise time lines and alcohol restrictions are starting to make me feel like I'm going on a trip with some overbearing parents.

Anyone know if it is easy to bring a bottle in your checked baggage?

Or how to get it on board?

What's the scoop?

Answer 1

THEY WANT YOU TO BUY THEIR PRODUCTS. CHECK TO SEE IF YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BUY "GIFTS" AT THEIR DUTY FREE SHOPS. YOU JUST CAN'T GO ON BOARD SWIGGING FROM A OPEN BOTTLE

Answer 2

Now you know why going on a cruise isn't real travel, too many restrictions. It's fun, but it's not travel.

It's pretty easy to sneak a bottle on board, in fact you can a couple. The cruise doesn't want you to so they can charge you up the you know what for drinks.

Next time fly to some wonderful country, meet the people and explore the world.

Answer 3

I've taken liquor on board everytime I go.  I packed small bottles of wine and Baileys in my carry on.  When Security asked what was in the bottles, I rattled off everything i could thing of.  He asked if I had liquor.  I just smiled at him and told him of course not, that would be breaking the rules.  He laughed and let me go.

Carnival will allow you to bring wine if you tell them it's a special occasion.  Same with RCL.  NCL are real stinkers.  I only got away with it because I was their Operations Manager

Answer 4

When you go a cruise ship from any American controlled port, you will need to go through security somewhat, though not quite as intense, as security at an airport.  They do scan all baggage brought on board whether you walk it on or not so they will see it.  If you carry the bag on, they may ask you to turn it over to them.  If you put it in your checked luggage, which will be delivered to your room, the chances of getting it on are better (particularly if it is not kept in its original packaging (Vodka > Sprite).  

The real rule isn't that you can't bring it on board, it's that you can't consume it on board (or keep it in your possession for consumtion).  If you buy a bottle in port somewhere, you can bring it back with you, but then [ship] security will take it from you and hold it until the end of the cruise where they will return it at disembarking.

I understand that you want to do what you want and as cheaply as possible, but there is going to be no end to the opportunities to drink on board, and most larger ships even sell liquor in their shipboard stores (by the bottle).

There are a few annoying problems you'll run into while cruising, but there are many benefits of it, and most everyone you'll talk to will love cruising in general.  Don't allow something like this to affect your enjoyment of the cruise.

Answer 5

You can try to sneak it on board, but if they find it, they will confiscate it.  And I know RCCL states in their ticket contract that they reserve the right to refuse embarkation for this.  And this is withour a refund.  Any alcohol you purchase on the ship or at a port will be held until the last evening of the cruise.

Answer 6

They will obviously be SELLING alcohol on board, but you just can't bring your own, it's really not a big deal.

Answer 7

First of all, why do you need to bring alcohol to have fun? You can easily buy it on the ship. I think if you get into the sightseeing and the fun, you wont need alcohol. If you do try to get alcohol through the airport, you in BIG trouble. If you buy alcohol on port, they will conphenscate it and you will get it back at the end of the cruise.Trust me, my mom and her friend tried it and thats exactly what happened.

Answer 8

YES, IT IS VERY EASY TO BRING YOUR OWN BOTTLE. I HAVE BEEN ON MANY CRUISES, AND ALWAYS TAKE MY OWN. JUST PUT IT IN YOUR BAGGAGE, THEY WILL NEVER KNOW. YOU'LL SAVE SOME MONEY THAT WAY TOO. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO DRINK ON A SHIP. IF YOU DECIDE TO BUY A BOTTLE ON  A PORT JUST PUT IT IN A BIG BAG WITH OTHER STUFF. YOUR NOT SUPPOSE TO, BUT WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW WON'T HURT THEM. IT'S HARMLESS!

Answer 9

... not to reinforce 'bad' behavior but, I've brought beer and pop as well as alcohol in water bottles. Make sure it's in your checked luggage (NOT the one you bring while boarding the ship). there's a chance you 'get caught' but it's really small. The room stewards (that clean your room) won't tell on you. If no refrigerator provided (possible on older ships or inside cabins), bring a small cooler and ask your steward to keep it stocked with ice - I usually give him/her $10 at the beginning of the cruise and trip again at the end.

Have a great time!

Answer 10

yes u can sneak it in, they dont look for alcohol on checked luggage they look for guns,, to be honest u can bring wine on rcl and carnival bring a corck opener or they will charge to open it. we even gave our room stewart a bottle of wine as an extra tip...  the duty free on the ship will give you your alcohol on the last night of the ship.. so you will be able to drink it on the ship they dont give it to you as you leave. same as the ports... they will let you bring wine into your cabin but other then that you can attempt to sneak it or they will tag it andyou can drink it the last night....so both parties win this way.. if u bring ur own alcohol bring cups or just buy their souvineer cups ( with the daily special) and buy a fountain card if u want to mix it with pop otherwise its fruit punch or lemonadie... which lemonade and vodka is good... oh if you do carnival you can buy alcohol drinks in advance its 19.50 for 4 drinks ... thats what we do and u do save money