Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Bringing Beverages on the Major Cruise Lines

Beverages and what you can and cannot bring on board your cruise ship is the hot topic right now. I started thinking about what we have done as far as bringing water, soda and alcohol on our cruises thus far-as well as what the new rules are from the major cruise lines for our future cruises. This research gave me the idea to put all the information in one place so other cruisers could find out about the latest guidelines easily. Below you will find the most up to date information regarding what beverages you are allowed to bring on board the major cruise ships:

Norwegian Cruise Line-Beginning July 15, 2016 guests are not allowed to bring any beverages aboard with them-or check any beverages in luggage. This includes including liquor, beer and non-alcoholic drinks like soda, juice and bottled water. The only exceptions are distilled or purified water if needed for medical devices (CPAP machines) or to reconstitute infant formula. Wine bottles which are corked and unopened may be brought aboard by guests age 21 and over. This appears to be a one bottle per guest limit and NCL has stated that a mandatory corkage fee will be charged per bottle. The corkage fee is
$15.00 for a 750 ml bottle or $30.00 for a 1,500 ml magnum bottle of wine. Perhaps more than one bottle can be brought on the ship than one per person-we will know exact information when this new process begins in a few days. If you purchase any beverages at a port they will be held for you by the staff until the morning of debarkation.

Carnival Cruise Line- Bottled beverages are prohibited from being brought on board which includes water and soda. Guests may bring a quantity of 12 sealed cans of sparkling water, juice, soda or milk in their carry on only. Alcohol is not allowed to be brought on the ship except for one 750 ml bottle of either wine or champagne for every guest that is 21 or older. This sealed bottle must be put in the passenger's carry on (along with the maximum 12 cans listed above). A corkage fee of $15 per bottle will be added to the guest's account if he/she wishes to consume this bottle in the dining room. It appears as though passengers may bring their own corkscrew and open/consume their wine in their stateroom without a charge of $15. Carnival does sell 12 packs of bottled water for guests to purchase at the cost of $3.99. If guests pre-purchase their water they will not be charged a gratuity on the 12 pack. However, if the 12 pack of water is purchased on the ship guests will pay an 18% gratuity. Guests needing distilled water for CPAP machines or nursery/filtered water for infant formula may do so. The CPAP machine must be brought on board in carry on luggage. Like Norwegian, Carnival will not permit guests to bring any alcoholic/non alcoholic beverages they purchase at ports to their rooms. These purchases will be held by the ship's staff and given to passengers the morning of debarkation.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line- The official word from Royal is that hard liquor, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be brought on board. The exception is wine- approximately 2 bottles maximum per cabin (for guests 21 and older) at a size of 750 ml. This being said, many guests report online, like in Cruise Critic forums, that they carry on cases of water or cans of soda which is sealed and there is no problem. Few folks have reported that they have been unable to carry on sealed, bottled water. Additionally, RC does not have a corkage fee.

MSC Cruise Line- All beverages are prohibited from being brought on board according to MSC. It appears that if you need to bring water with you for a medical purpose you can contact MSC and have them notate your account prior to boarding. Any distilled or nursery water should be brought on the ship in your carry on luggage. Cruisers who have traveled on the Divina, MSC's only ship out of the USA have reported that they brought a few bottles of unopened water in their carry on without issue. 

Disney Cruise Line- Guests who are 21 and older are able to bring 2 bottles of unopened wine, no larger than 750 ml or 6 unopened beers, no larger than 12 ounces. These may be brought on board at embarkation as well as at each port of call. If wine brought on board is consumed in the dining room guests will be charged a $25 corkage fee per bottle. Any alcohol brought aboard in excess of this will be stored until the cruise is ended. Water which is unopened, as well as unopened and packaged snack foods may be brought on the ships in a carry on bag. Additionally, Disney provides soda at no extra cost to guests.

Celebrity Cruise Line- Hard liquor and beer are prohibited from being brought on board a Celebrity ship. However, 2 bottles of wine per cabin, no larger than 750 ml, may be brought on board in carry on luggage. Should guests choose to bring their wine to the dining room for consumption there will be a $25 corkage fee per bottle. You are able to bring water and soda on board in "reasonable" amounts, either by bringing it in your carry on or in a checked luggage piece. Many passengers report no problems bringing a case each of unopened bottled water and soda.

Holland America Cruise Line- Guests ages 21 and older are permitted to bring one bottle of champagne or wine, no larger than 750 ml on board without charge. If this is consumed in the dining room a corkage fee of $18 will be imposed. Additional bottles may be brought on board-however, an $18 fee per bottle will be assessed at check in, whether the bottles get consumed or not.  Guests cannot bring beer, boxed wine, or any other liquor on the ship. Should guests wish to bring wine of 750 ml or smaller on board at a port they may do so in any quantity-but there are two options for this. The first is that the bottles will be stored (along with liquor purchased) until the end of the cruise. The second option is that the bottles will be assessed an $18 per bottle fee and can be consumed at any point on the cruise. Like with embarkation, whether the bottles of wine are consumed does not make a difference regarding the $18 per bottle fee if guests choose to bring them to their stateroom. Unopened bottled water and soda may be brought on board in carry on luggage-and there does not appear to be a limit other than what you can carry.

Princess Cruise Line- The only alcoholic beverage allowed on board at embarkation without a charge is one bottle of wine or champagne per person of legal drinking age (21)-which cannot be larger than 750 ml and must be sealed. Should guests wish to bring additional bottles they will be assessed a $15 corkage fee per bottle, regardless of whether the wine is consumed or not. Princess has not stated that guests cannot bring soda or water on board-and many previous guests report that they have brought sealed soda and water bottles in their carry on luggage without issue.

By far Norwegian,Carnival and MSC seem to have the most stringent policies regarding bringing beverages on board their ships. While the above information is up to date as of July 2016 you should always check with your cruise line before heading to port with several cases of water or soda! 

Cheers! :)
 

 







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