Cruise Lines & Their Alcohol Policies

[Jason]

Navigating ships' alcohol policies

By Margaret Roth, The Washington Post

You're ready to cruise the Caribbean, soak up the rays and views ... and partake of that choice rum you'll buy at deliriously duty-free prices. But hold that thought. Many cruise lines won't let you touch any alcohol you've brought onboard at ports of call. Why not?

"We sell a ticket at a certain price, and we expect people will be spending some money onboard, and one of the things they'll spend on is alcohol," says Rick Sasso, president and chief executive of MSC Cruises USA.

Policies on what you can bring onboard -- initially and at ports of call -- and what you can do with it are all over the map. Here is a rundown on the top lines (by number of passengers) and their policies.

Carnival Cruise Lines

BYOB? Only fine wine or champagne (what's "fine" is left to the guest's discretion) -- one bottle per adult (21 or older) -- and only on the day of embarkation. Any other alcohol can be confiscated with no money back.

Corkage fee: It'll cost $10 per bottle to have that wine or champagne opened in the dining room, $14 in the Supper Club.

Alcohol shopping: Passengers may not bring any alcohol onboard from ports of call. The ship will hold any bottles you buy in an onboard gift shop until the end of the cruise.

Royal Caribbean

BYOB? No. Security reserves the right to inspect containers (water, soda, mouthwash bottles, etc.) and dispose of any carrying alcohol.

Corkage fee: Does not apply.

Alcohol shopping: Ship will hold until the last night of the cruise.

Princess Cruises

BYOB? Wine and champagne only (one bottle per person).

Corkage fee: $15

Alcohol shopping: Ship will hold.

Norwegian Cruise Line

BYOB? No.

Corkage fee: $15 per bottle of wine bought onshore during cruise.

Alcohol shopping: Ship will hold all alcoholic purchases except wine, which you can enjoy in the dining rooms.

Note: NCL's drinking age is 21. However, unlike most other cruise lines sailing from North America, it allows passengers 18 to 20 years old to buy wine or beer for themselves while the ship is in international waters (not Alaska or Hawaii) -- with a parent or guardian's written consent.

Costa Cruises

BYOB? Guests may prearrange to bring a limited amount of wine.

Corkage fee: $10 plus 15 percent gratuity.

Alcohol shopping: Ship will hold.

Note: The drinking age is 21 for cruises departing from U.S. ports and 18 for cruises departing from non-U.S. ports.

Holland America Line

BYOB? Wine and champagne only; no bottle limit.

Corkage fee: $15 per bottle.

Alcohol shopping: Ship will hold, except for wine and champagne.

Celebrity Cruises

BYOB? Wine only (two bottles per stateroom).

Corkage fee: $25.

Alcohol shopping: Ship will hold.

MSC Cruises

BYOB? No.

Corkage fee: Does not apply.

Alcohol shopping: Ship will hold.

Norwegian Coastal

BYOB? Yes to any alcohol that's legal, but only for consumption in the cabin.

Corkage fee: Does not apply; no bottles may be brought into public areas of the ship.

Alcohol shopping: No restrictions, other than the ones mentioned.

Note: The drinking age is 18, regardless of drink, reflecting Norway's laws.

Cunard Line

BYOB? Wine and champagne only.

Corkage fee: $15.

Alcohol shopping: Wine and champagne only; ship will hold other bottles.

Note: Drinking age is 18 (the minimum in Britain, Cunard's home waters), but 21 in U.S. ports and territorial waters.

[JoeyandDavid]

excellent post

[zebra]

Celebrity's corkage fee is outrageous!!!

[jaschem1]

I can see their point, tho. You surely wouldn't take a bottle into a restraunt or bar on land anywhere. And as far as hotels and resorts go, you can only have them in your rooms. You must sneak them in too, cause they have their mini bars with liquor. We always allow ourselves a couple drinks each during the evening. We allot for that in our budget. John also buys wine in the dining room. Any vacation will cost you for drinks, so I don't think the ships are out of line.

[JoeyandDavid]

but who pays the cork age anyway Jackie .. we sure didn't pay it in our stateroom..

Unless it is a rare Vintage that u bring aboard why would anyone pay that fee.. jmo

[elfed]

Oh Boy! A subject that 'gets my goat' so to speak!! Do the cruise lines really believe that the reason their bars are 3/4 empty each night is because guests are bringing their own liquor aboard? C'mon. It wouldn't be to do with the fact that the bar drinks are outrageously expensive would it? Many passengers hardly drink at home so why drink more than normal on a cruise? In my humble opinion, they should get rid of these bars and allow passengers to bring on their own booze. Folks, on your next cruise make a visual study of the bars and lounges on your ship pre dinner and after dinner and see how many people are drinking alcohol in relation to the size of the bar or lounge. I've been watching this for the past 5 cruises and sure many people were sitting in the lounges but few were drinking alcoholic beverages. This is a part of the "Mickey Mousing" of passengers that is absurd. One evening on the Carnival Valor close to 10p.m. there wasn't a soul in 3 of the main lounges. I realise this opinion may cause a few of you to vehemently disagree and that is your right but I stick to my opinion.

Regards,

James

[JoeyandDavid]

we typically have A (meaning one) pre dinner cocktail per evening...very rarely would we drink during the day.. except for wine and cheese in the stateroom..

PS James nice post

[jaschem1]

The drinks, shopping and casino is where they make their bucks. Just like a restraunt or bar. They have to charge for drinks. I don't think the drinks are higher than any hotel or resort where you would be taking your vacation. I think you would be shocked to find how much they made off the drinks. What did we figure?

Two drinks a day per person would pay for your days food allowance on the ship. If it costs your ship $10 a day to feed you and you drink two drinks; the ship is even. Also, tons of people buy duty free cigs and booze on the ship. They make a ton there. Our Costa ship was packed, all the entertainment too. All those people drinking at tables. All the ships I have been on, seems like people are drinking in the evenings. Everyone doesn't have to drink for the ships to make money off booze. If you can get about 26 shots out of a big bottle of booze, the ships and bars are making tons of money. As I see it, this is a vacation and I will pay for a drink in the evening or at a show. I would have to do it anywhere else. My husband will make his little drink in the cabin before bedtime.

I still think taking a cruise is a reasonable, cheap vacation compared to staying in a hotel for a week and eating out. You get a maximum of entertainment, food, etc. on these ships. You could never get all that for the price you pay for a cruise in a hotel for a week. Just my opinion.

[CanadianCruiser]

This is a great thread, I do bring wine onboard with me and have never been charged a corkage fee....

In our province we can bring wine into a restaurant for a corkage fee of $ 5.00 ~ $10.00

Personally I dont find the prices of Carnival's drinks all that expensive, Our provincial tax is 14% on everything we buy but groceries.... A case of beer here is nearly $ 40.00 the avergae per bottle of beer in a bar is $ 3.50 ~ $4.00 plus taxes, so it seems to average the same as Carnival.

[SmooCruise]

I also don't find the price to be that much more than a local bar. And I have never felt that the drinks were "watered down". I myself have never brought liqour aboard. But I don't feel that bringing a bottle or two aboard is going to affect the ship line noticeably.