It has just been announced that NCL are introducing a ban on almost all carry-on beverages effective for sailings from July 15th 2016 and onwards. The cruise line has insisted that all beverages are purchased on-board and not brought onto the ship in passenger’s bags.
The new beverage policy, stated on NCL’s website, reveals: ‘Guests are prohibited from bringing any beverages- including liquor, beer and non-alcoholic drinks such as water, soda and juices- on board either carry on or checked luggage. Open beverages of any kind must be consumed or discarded at the security check point, on embarkation day and at any port of call’.
NCL has stated that the new policy is to reduce the need for individual time consuming screening and package inspection of large volumes of beverages. Passengers that attempt to smuggle alcohol on board usually tend to use beverage containers meaning that every beverage needs to be individually screened, taking both time and dedicated personnel.
The new policy will mean security personnel can focus on other screening efforts and not the individual inspection of all beverages on-board, much like the rules that several cruise lines carry regarding bringing alcohol on-board, including Celebrity, Disney, Royal Caribbean and Princess. Although these cruise lines either permit guests to bring soft drinks and bottled water on board or don’t mention these items at all.
NCL have stated the exceptions to the new rules: ‘Passengers can bring two sealed bottles of wine on board but they will be checked prior to embarkation and a corkage fee will be applied at that time. If guests do not wish to pay the corkage fee, the wine will be held on-board and returned to them at the end of the cruise’.
‘Medically necessary liquid such as baby formula will be permitted if the guest has contacted the cruise line before setting sail. Guests who have special needs or medical requirements should contact the access desk and families with infants requiring water for formula or milk should advise the security team during embarkation and those items will be inspected at the checkpoint’.
Last year Carnival implemented a ban on bringing most bottled beverages on-board in an effort to keep passengers from smuggling alcohol disguised inside the bottles. In September, Disney changed its policy to limit the amount of alcohol passengers could bring on-board to two bottles of wine or a six-pack of beer.
So, what do you think of the new drinking ban? Is wine the first thing you usually pack? Do the on-board prices bother you? Leave us your thoughts below!
