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[2008] Smuggling alcohol on cruise ship

billymach4

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I thought I remember on Royal Caribbean they sold duty free liquor on the ship?

Hell I remember buying a bottle of Barcardi from the factory in Cunuado across the bay in San Juan. I took that bottle on board and had me a good time.
 

markel

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24 posts and nobody mentioned that there is a typo in the thread title and poor grammar...perhaps they were inebriated.

Smuggling alcohal on cruise ship

It should read "Smuggling alcohol on a cruise ship"

As the OP, I tried to correct the spelling of ALCOHOL and since it was in the title, I couldn't.

admin edit - please abide by the be courteous rule
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Jaybee

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When it comes to paying $8 a drink, plus tax, plus a 15% service charge, my high moral ground switches into self-defense mode. Sorry... We feel we spend enough on wine at dinner, and after dinner drinks at the shows.

And I thought all TUGGERS took the high moral road.
 

Jaybee

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I think all of the cruise ships sell duty free liquor on board. You can buy it, and it will be delivered to your stateroom the night before debarkation. One time, on one ship, the clerk let me take my purchase with me. I was SO excited! LOL!

We've never had a problem bringing alcohol back on board at a port stop, but it could happen at any time.


I thought I remember on Royal Caribbean they sold duty free liquor on the ship?

Hell I remember buying a bottle of Barcardi from the factory in Cunuado across the bay in San Juan. I took that bottle on board and had me a good time.
 

Jbart74

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Total Cruise Novice...

Full disclosure, I have never cruised, except for the Scotia Prince to Nova Scotia from Maine which does not count. But I was always under the impression that most cruises were AI, or All Inclusive, liquor, wine, beer food etc. Have I always been wrong? Is this not the norm? Has it ever been? Just curious. Not planning any cruises anytime soon, but as a fan of the drink and the vacation I think I should know the deal. Thanks for the replies!

JB
 

Kay H

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I've cruised on no fewer than 6 different cruise lines and although the food and shows are all inclusive, the drinks, including non alcololic soft drinks are not. They are high priced and if you don't keep tabs on how many drinks you have, you will be in for a big surprise when you get your bill at the end of the cruise. There is also a tax on each drink purchased but I forget how much it is.
 

Twinkstarr

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I've cruised on no fewer than 6 different cruise lines and although the food and shows are all inclusive, the drinks, including non alcololic soft drinks are not. They are high priced and if you don't keep tabs on how many drinks you have, you will be in for a big surprise when you get your bill at the end of the cruise. There is also a tax on each drink purchased but I forget how much it is.

The last day on a cruise ship is always fun, that's when they usually give you a copy of your on board charges. Lot's of muttering"I can't believe we drank that much!" :hysterical:
 

Passepartout

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A little off the mark of the OP, but the last couple of cruises we were on offered all-you-can-drink stickers on the ubiquitous charge card. They were a bit dear- seems like about $25-30 a day, but that covered wine with meals, cocktails, mimosa at breakfast, unlimited espresso drinks, etc. We are not especially big drinkers, and don't care to have much-if any- alcohol in the cabin, so they worked for us. We knew going in what the bar bill would be and there were no surprises at cruise settlement.

Jim Ricks
 

x3 skier

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A little off the mark of the OP, but the last couple of cruises we were on offered all-you-can-drink stickers on the ubiquitous charge card. They were a bit dear- seems like about $25-30 a day, but that covered wine with meals, cocktails, mimosa at breakfast, unlimited espresso drinks, etc. We are not especially big drinkers, and don't care to have much-if any- alcohol in the cabin, so they worked for us. We knew going in what the bar bill would be and there were no surprises at cruise settlement.

Jim Ricks

Which lines offered this?

Cheers
 

AwayWeGo

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[triennial - points]
Abstinence Is Easier Than Moderation (For Some Of Us).

A little off the mark of the OP, but the last couple of cruises we were on offered all-you-can-drink stickers on the ubiquitous charge card. They were a bit dear- seems like about $25-30 a day, but that covered wine with meals, cocktails, mimosa at breakfast, unlimited espresso drinks, etc.
Shux, if I were paying $30 a day for all I can drink, I would have to make a point of drinking at least $90 worth every day -- not a good idea in my case.

Same goes for All I Can Eat -- which means trying to invoke a measure of sanity any time we go with our grandson to his favorite eating place.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

Passepartout

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Which lines offered this?

Cheers

We were offered aycd on Carnival last Summer. Seems like it was about $130 for a 4 night cruise. We didn't bite that time, then on a Louis Lines Black Sea cruise we did last Fall, we did. Seems like about 130 Euros for an 8 nighter. If offered, I think we'd do this again. We probably imbibed more than we would have at home, but hey, it's vacation and we're not driving!

Jim Ricks
 

talkamotta

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That would be sad if they wouldnt let us bring wine from port stops.

When we went on Holland America on an Aus/NZ cruise. We would buy a bottle or two of wine from the area we were visiting. It was fun talking to people about the wineries in thier country. We met some very nice and informative people (People like talking about thier wines). Before dinner or on a "at sea" day we would sit out on the balcony and share wine with our group. We were passing wine from deck to deck and even people we didnt know got into the party.

We still bought our share of drinks from the ship, but drinking wine or beer from the area we are visiting, has now become a tradition. Now when I go to the Liquor Store at home, walking down the wine aisles is like a trip down memory lane.
 

isisdave

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Alcohal? Isn't that one of those Dam Drinks on Holland America?
 

clsmit

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Red wine in Gatorade bottles. It's cheap red wine anyway, so one doesn't worry as much about how the Gatorade bottle will affect the taste. (This idea from a girlfriend who packed this for her 3 day Breast Cancer walk. She had the most popular tent every night!)
 

bizaro86

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On a recent NCL cruise in the med, we were informed all alcohol had be surrendered coming in from each port for "Safety." It kind of annoyed me, because we made a point of buying a local wine in each place, and it would have been nice to drink it that evening, instead of the wine they had available. Oh well, it has been nice having the wine to go with our memories here at home...
Michael
 

Talent312

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Red wine in Gatorade bottles. It's cheap red wine anyway, so one doesn't worry as much about how the Gatorade bottle will affect the taste. (This idea from a girlfriend who packed this for her 3 day Breast Cancer walk. She had the most popular tent every night!)

I like this.
How's about margaritas in the lemon/lime-Gatorade bottles?
As an extra precaution, reseal the caps with super glue.
 

beejaybee

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On a recent NCL cruise in the med, we were informed all alcohol had be surrendered coming in from each port for "Safety." It kind of annoyed me, because we made a point of buying a local wine in each place, and it would have been nice to drink it that evening, instead of the wine they had available. Oh well, it has been nice having the wine to go with our memories here at home...
Michael

We are thinking about an NCL Med cruise for next spring. Michael, I thought as long as you pay the $15 corkage fee, you can bring wine aboard. Does NCL have a different policy for Europe? Secondly, how did you ship your wine home safely?
 

Passepartout

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They seem like pretty expensive empty containers to me. My experience has been that each passenger can bring 2 bottles aboard at embarkation. They say wine, but honestly, with some 3,000 people, averaging more than one bag each trying to board within a 2-3 hour window, they aren't looking too closely.

The only bottles I've seen 'held for the night before disembarkation', have been carried in a separate liquor store bag. I had some like that, the cruise line guy said something, I did a quick u-turn around a corner, but the bottles in my carry-on backpack and walked aboard.

Don't flaunt it and you'll be fine.

I don't recommend mentioning 'smuggling booze' on Cruise Critic or Roll Calls. Many eyes are watching.

Jim
 

Beefnot

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When I go on cruises, the alcohol goes in snapple bottles, the color generally matching the labeled snapple flavors. Not a problem. That and a flask? Boom, done.
 

jzsackst

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I have used rum runner flasks many times for past cruises. Never, ever a problem at all. While they are somewhat expensive, they are also great for transporting alcohol when doing any type of travelling. Much lighter than glass and virtually indestructable. I love them.
 

hvsteve1

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The definitive answer to this is, of course, on www.cruisecritic.com where the forums have much discussion, and information, on the subject. My personal experience is this:

I'm sailing in a few weeks on Holland America. Though it's my first time with them, they are clear that you can bring on all the wine, soft drinks and water you wish. NO hard liquor. I have purchase a beverage card that saves a little money and will buy as many drinks as the card will cover.

My last three cruises were on Regent Seven Seas. Their three ships are all-inclusive. That means you can bring on all the booze you want because it saves them money as they charge you for NOTHING on board. Wine flows freely and there is an open bar throughout the ship. They even stock a bar with your choice of liquor in most cabins, greet you with a bottle of bubbly and stock a fridge with beer, soda, water or whatever else you desire. It's a more expensive cruise than most of the others, but you also get free air, hotel, shore tours and no tipping to anyone at any time.

Another upcoming cruise is on Crystal, which is going all inclusive this year, so more free booze. These luxury lines seem expensive but, if you upgrade to a suite on a mass market line and pay for tips, drinks, soda, specialty restuarants, shore tours, airfare, etc, it's not that much more.
 
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