Taking Your Own Alcohol Restriction on Cruises

Katiehound

Fred. Olsen doesn't allow any drink to be taken aboard.
All the luggage is scanned and bottles show up. Not sure if plastic bottles show the same?

I have know folk on Caribbean cruises to take large plastic pop bottle ashore filled with water and returned as - well, not water! Looks like water so they are not challenged.

Even all-inclusive @£19 per day is expensive if you only drink say 1or 2 glasses of wine.

Just once we came aboard (Sicily) with limoncello which I declared. At that moment 3 excursion coaches returned so a huge swell of people going thro security- the chap said 'Lemonade?'- of course! and we went thro'. In all honesty checking bottles in is a lot of work, so just sometimes you get lucky. Otherwise it is returned at end of cruise.

Plastic bottles of spirit used to be available in Gibralter.

benjus

IvanOpinion wrote: »

I assume you are not thinking in putting bottles into your main luggage? That would be totally irresponsible, since if it broke, while being handled, then not only would your belongings be ruined but it could quite possibly ruin other peoples belongings as well.

This is quite normal when flying, since in Europe and many other countries liquids can't be taken as hand baggage. Just make sure bottles are well protected.

getmore4less

Bottles are fine in checked bags packed properly.

Not all cruise lines scan the luggage at embarkation.

Eg at Southampton and some EU ports it's the port authority and they don't care. No extra scanning on the ship.

BCN have a shop after the security to buy stuff.

USA you can find yourself in the naughty room with bottles, they don't spot wine/cider boxes.

NCL now exclude all liquids, including soft drink and water.
Depending where you bourd you can overcome the recommendations.

It's pretty easy to get booze on most lines in some ports.

badger09

Katiehound wrote: »

Fred. Olsen doesn't allow any drink to be taken aboard.
All the luggage is scanned and bottles show up. Not sure if plastic bottles show the same?

I have know folk on Caribbean cruises to take large plastic pop bottle ashore filled with water and returned as - well, not water! Looks like water so they are not challenged.

Even all-inclusive @£19 per day is expensive if you only drink say 1or 2 glasses of wine.

Just once we came aboard (Sicily) with limoncello which I declared. At that moment 3 excursion coaches returned so a huge swell of people going thro security- the chap said 'Lemonade?'- of course! and we went thro'. In all honesty checking bottles in is a lot of work, so just sometimes you get lucky. Otherwise it is returned at end of cruise.

Plastic bottles of spirit used to be available in Gibralter.

Obviously, at that level of consumption, Fred's drinks package would be a complete waste of money:cool:.

We don't consider ourselves to be heavy drinkers, and FOC doesn't charge rip off prices, but we reckon we break even on sea days and don't come too far short on some port days. We just prefer not to face a largeish bar bill at the end of the cruise.:beer:

I've never considered smuggling alcohol onboard and always surrender any local purchases. We met a couple on a recent cruise who smuggled 2 bottles of port in suitcases on embarkation & bought more in Portugal. No idea how they did it, but it was her way of controlling her partner's acknowledged 'problem' with alcohol consumption.

getmore4less

Not all drinks packages are equal.

It is worth checking what upgraded non alcoholic drinks get included.

Some will include fancy coffee/tea, bottles water, upgraded(can) soft drinks, fresh juice.....

Also worth checking if there are alternative cheaper packages that may fit your refreshment profile better.

Eg. Some ship have a cheaper with meals only option, handy for those that like a wine with meals but don't bother the rest of the time.

If you really can't get any value from a package then when it is included as a perk ask about the base no perk fare, there often is one just not always advertised.

TELLIT01

I've never been on a cruise so information is 3rd hand, but I have read reports of some US based cruise lines not even allowing bottles of water to be taken on board.

bradders1983

I find it odd that people are prepared to spend thousands of pounds on a cruise, including hefty amounts for cabins with windows and balconies in some cases, and are then grumbling about having to pay a few hundred for booze on board.

shaun_from_Africa

IvanOpinion wrote: »

I assume you are not thinking in putting bottles into your main luggage? That would be totally irresponsible, since if it broke, while being handled, then not only would your belongings be ruined but it could quite possibly ruin other peoples belongings as well.

It all depends on what type of suitcase is used and how well protected the bottles are.
I regularly fly into the UK with one or two bottles of rum in my case and I've done this on at least 20 occasions and never had a problem.

I have a hard case and the bottles each go inside a bit of plastic water pipe which is just the right size for a bottle then the ends are securely taped up.
It would need my case being driven over for there to be any possibility of a bottle breaking.

giraffe69

I find it odd that people are prepared to spend thousands of pounds on a cruise, including hefty amounts for cabins with windows and balconies in some cases, and are then grumbling about having to pay a few hundred for booze on board.

Probably the profiteering of the cruise companies offends them. It would me if I ever considered a cruise but this is one of the 44 reasons I wouldn't. It's not the money but the attitude and motive I object to

bradders1983

giraffe69 wrote: »

Probably the profiteering of the cruise companies offends them.

If people felt that strongly about it they wouldnt go on cruises to begin with.