Stashing the booze in your bag!

Its a question I get asked a fair bit from my customers, can I take my own alcohol onboard to drink in the cabin? Well in the most part, to a certain degree, yes you can take alcohol onboard. There are varying rules between each of the cruise lines when it comes to their leniency on the amounts of booze you can carry on to the ships and some are tighter than others.

P&O say “We will generally allow a small, reasonable amount to be taken on-board for you to enjoy in your cabin however, taking bottles of alcohol into restaurants or lounges will incur a corkage fee of £15 (prices are subject to change) per item (any size) per occasion.” 

Cunard say “You may bring wine or champagne on board (over the age of 21) to celebrate special occasions. However if it is consumed in any of the dining rooms, alternative restaurants or bars then each bottle will be subject to a  a corkage fee of $20 per bottle.”

Royal Caribbean say “Guests are not allowed to bring beer, spirits, fortified wines or non-alcoholic drinks onboard for consumption or any other use on boarding day or while in port. Alcoholic drinks seized on boarding day will not be returned.
Guests wishing to bring personal wine and champagne onboard may do so only on boarding day, limited to two 750 ml bottles per stateroom. Additional bottles of wine beyond two bottles that are brought onboard or any alcoholic drinks purchased in ports of call or from Shops On Board will be stored by the ship and delivered to your stateroom on the last day of the sailing.

Celebrity say “No beer or hard liquor may be brought onboard for consumption. If you wish to bring personal wine onboard with you on the day you board your cruise, you may do so, limited to two (2) 750ml bottles per stateroom. When enjoyed in any shipboard restaurant, bar or dining venue, each bottle shall be subject to a corkage fee of $25.”

NCL say “Effective for sailings July 15, 2016 and beyond, guests are prohibited from bringing any beverages including liquor, beer and non-alcoholic drinks such as water, soda and juices on board either as carry-on or checked luggage, with the exception of purified or distilled water in factory-sealed containers for use in conjunction with medical devices or for the reconstitution of infant formula; and fully sealed and/or corked wine bottles for personal consumption onboard that is subject to screening and a corkage fee; $15.00 USD for a 750 ml Bottle or $30.00 USD for a 1,500 ml Magnum bottle. Box wines are not allowed on board. If guests do not wish to pay the corkage fee, the wine will be held onboard and returned to the guests at the end of the cruise.”

(It is worth remembering that many of the cruise lines will offer a range of drinks packages that can be pre-purchased before you sail or arranged once you board, some even throw them in for free with some of their promotions)

So there you have it, the general rule of thumb is yes you can take your own alcohol, but don’t take the mickey and be prepared to pay a corkage charge to drink your own wine in the restaurants. Sound fair? Id love to hear your thoughts.