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Some countries may have limits on the amount of alcohol that can be brought in or additional customs fees that need to be paid. Make sure to do your research and understand the local laws before making any purchases. Keep in mind that any alcohol purchased during duty-free shopping will be held by the cruise ship’s staff until the end of your voyage or until your departure from the ship.
Hidden Flask Hairbrush
For whatever reason, we’ve had more success with beer cans being accepted, rather than bottles. If you’d like to sip on a complimentary glass of champagne, then head on over to the art gallery. Nearly all ships will have multiple art auctions during the cruise, which usually extends a free glass of sparkling wine. So just sit back, learn something about the art, and watch others fight for those limited-release prints. We always use and recommend Viator shore excursions since they tend to be nearly half the cost of the cruise line’s excursions.
How to sneak alcohol on a cruise + Success stories (and failures) :: cruise packing tips
Unsurprisingly, cruise lines make revenue by selling drinks to their passengers — and with a large markup. With that in mind, many newbie cruisers wonder if they can bring their own alcohol on board. The answer varies by cruise line, but in most cases, it's both yes and no.
Do Cruise Ships Search your Luggage?
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Oh, and it’s probably best to avoid a large bottle of, ahem, “water.” That trick’s played out. One of the easiest ways to ensure you have liquor on your cruise ship is to purchase it before you even embark on your journey. Many cruise lines allow passengers to bring a limited amount of alcohol in their checked luggage, and this is the perfect opportunity to stock up on your favorite beverages.
You can bring wine on a cruise ship from home
Attempts to conceal alcohol, such as using hidden compartments or disguising bottles, are likely to be discovered. When packing your own alcohol, it’s crucial to pack it securely in your checked luggage. Bottles should be well-padded and protected from any damage. It’s also recommended to double-check the cruise line’s guidelines on packing alcohol, as some may require it to be in its original, sealed packaging.
Umbrella Flask
Additionally, certain cruise lines implement minimum drinking ages and reserve the right to confiscate any alcohol they find during the embarkation process. Virgin Voyages passengers are allowed to bring two bottles of wine or Champagne (750 mL) per cabin in their carry-on luggage. Alcohol brought on board in checked luggage or not in accordance with the policy will be stored until the end of the sailing. Bottles purchased in port also will be held until the final night. You are allowed to bring beer on Disney cruises and wine or Champagne on embarkation day and in each port of call.
Disney cruise drink packages: How to save on beer, wine, cocktails and coffee - The Points Guy
Disney cruise drink packages: How to save on beer, wine, cocktails and coffee.
Posted: Sun, 29 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Convenient Port Canaveral “Park & Cruise” Hotels
While many official cruise alcohol policies limit cruisers to two bottles per stateroom, we’ve found it can be possible to slip in an extra bottle, particularly when using multiple bags. If you’re trying to drink cheap on a cruise, bringing these stronger wines will certainly help to stretch your alcohol a bit further. You may want to bring a corkscrew with you to open the wine. Stateroom attendants can usually track one down, but this has proven problematic for us on a few cruises. Otherwise, it may be a wise idea to pack a cheap corkscrew. Beer buckets may not be the best drink deal out on the high seas, but it still saves the $6-$7 cost of a bottle of beer.
In addition to the penalties imposed by the cruise line, attempting to sneak alcohol on board can also spoil your vacation experience. If you are caught, you may face consequences such as fines, the confiscation of your alcohol, or even being denied boarding. The old myth of adding food coloring to your vodka and making it look like Scope mouthwash doesn’t cut it anymore. The agents at the cruise terminal are onto it and will open the bottles to make sure it doesn’t smell like booze. If you do irrational things on land as a result of drinking too much, maybe you’ll just fall flat on your face and wake up on the ground the next day. Although to be fair, there are also stories of failures from cruise passengers with security officers being aware of the tricks to hide alcohol.
If you want to enjoy your preferred alcoholic beverages without the hassle of shopping on board or in advance, some cruise lines allow passengers to bring their own alcohol on board. However, there are usually restrictions and guidelines in place that you should be aware of. Before you start shopping, be sure to check the cruise line’s alcohol policy to know the exact limits and restrictions on bringing alcohol on board. Some cruise lines may specify the maximum number of bottles or the type of alcohol that is allowed. There’s nothing like a cold cocktail on a cruise, but $20+ drinks start to add up fast.
Meanwhile, you can enjoy your own wine from your cabin at no charge whatsoever. Your stateroom attendant will happily deliver wine glasses to your room and will even deliver an ice bucket to chill champagne or white wine. This is complimentary, with no corkage fee on most cruise lines. Many cruise lines have a specialty “drink of the day” which will usually save you $1-$3 off the regular price. Sure, it’s not as great of a deal as a Buy-One-Get-One happy hour, but the drink of the day deals last the entire day. Once you’re gifted a bottle of sparkling wine from the cruise director, you’re welcome to drink it anywhere on the ship without a corkage fee.
Most of these items are ideal for sneaking alcohol onto a cruise ship. Part of the fun of drinking on a cruise is the social element, hanging out at the numerous bars, lounges, and clubs on these awesome ships. Sometimes a cruise’s drink package extends its use to the cruise line’s private island. Having all your drinks included on the private island can be a huge incentive to get the drink package. Beverage package allows passengers to purchase drinks up to $20, you can actually break even just by simply drinking 3-4 higher-priced drinks each day.
Don’t worry, the bar staff will know when your card is swiped that you have the package. Nowhere in our research did we find a person be kicked off a cruise or not allowed to board due to bringing on alcohol. That’s not to say it doesn’t or can’t happen, but we have yet to hear stories of it taking place. We found a number of stories from passengers online with anecdotes about when they were caught. The central theme appears to be that those caught smuggling alcohol have it removed from their bags, and either returned at the end of the trip or poured out.
These 750 ml bottles of beer have always been permitted on wine-allowing cruise ships we’ve sailed on, even though beer is technically against their official alcohol policy. If cruise line security catches you sneaking alcohol on a cruise, they will confiscate the bottles. Cruise lines have the right to confiscate prohibited items, which may not be returned at the end of the cruise. You may be denied boarding if caught sneaking alcohol or other prohibited items on the cruise ship. Most cruise lines allow guests to bring a sealed bottle or two of wine or champagne in their carry-on during embarkation.
The most foolproof way of sneaking alcohol on a cruise would be using factory-sealed shampoo flasks. These are containers you naturally fill with liquid to avoid suspicion. Most cruise lines allow guests to bring wine on a cruise, typically just one bottle, but sometimes more. However, some women carry them around in their bags while in public areas of the ship and use them to add alcohol to soft drinks. Finally, it’s worth considering what happens if you get caught sneaking alcohol on a cruise, so you know what you are risking. Drinking alcohol is one of the most popular pastimes on a cruise vacation.
Click on the links for more info, and check out pictures of some of our favorite cruise ship bars. When it comes to gratis pours, cruise lines can be generous with their past passengers. Sail just once with Holland America and you can attend the complimentary Mariner Society Brunch, complete with sparkling wine.