NanaOfBKM

My husband spent hours every day on Dream (7 day cruise) in the casino

and never got close.

We are cruising out of San Juan in May, and would like to buy liquor at the duty free and fill the rum runners before we board the ship. Has anyone tried this method? If so, did it work?

 

I've used rum runners on multiple cruises, but I've always put them in my checked luggage - never in my carry on. One other concern is the layout of the port - not sure where you are going to have privacy to fill up your rum runners as the duty free store at port is after you check in and waiting to be boarded.

That's a good idea. I saw someone posted - not sure if this thread or not - that even if you pulled the tags off, the security had walkie talkies and knew exactly who had booze in the bags. Someone pulled tag off and they still pulled him aside before he got on board. Apparently someone at the baggage check was radioing ahead with a description of him! Just use rum runners, put in your checked bags. Also note that during spring break period, younger people boarding, they are more strict on checking bags as well.

Sounds like Carnival is getting smart to all the tricks - using radios to communicate.....hmmmm. That's very interesting. When we cruised first of February, the store at port said go put in a bag you can check if you have one, take back downstairs to check bag and hand to one of the guys with a tip - worked! Wonder how long that's going to work. I had some in my bags in rum runners and those went through same as they do in all the ports - so far.

Celebrity stuck a green tag similar to embarkation luggage tags onto my carry on after the scanner at the port. Just ripped it off immediately after walking away. Took some effort. Might want to have a pair of clippers handy.

When we were on Carnival Victory in February, we were one of the first ones to board. We looked back and noticed they were setting up a confiscation table just past the scanners - not a lot of time to get tag off/put it into a larger bag.

If you are flying, I would wait until you get to SJ and buy your wine. Otherwise, you would need to wrap it up good & put in checked luggage. As rough as airlines are with the bags, I wouldn't chance it. We stayed overnight at Old San Juan the night before we boarded ship. There are grocery stores in the area where you can pick up your wine and put in your carry on for when you board the ship.

On Carnival you are allowed 1 bottle per person in your carry on and you can bring from home, put them in your carry on bag. No need to buy at pier

Once you board in San Juan can you get off the ship to go sight seeing?

We are on this cruise starting February 6. I've been told by others that you can get back off. My documents say you can check in starting at 2:30 (hopefully we can get on earlier) and you have to be checked in by 5:00, but not sure what time you have to be back on if you check in earlier. In our case, we will probably get back off and get back on by 5:00 due to super bowl.

I think it also depends on who is screening the luggage. In 2008 on Princess we bought at the duty free and put our purchases in our carry on. Also had rum runners in our checked luggage and had no problem at all. This last December we went on Celebrity Summit and brought a bottle of wine in our carry on and rum runners in our checked bag. They stopped us to look at our wine to make sure it was wine, and held the checked bag down on deck one for us to come claim it because the scanner picked up liquids in the bag. Thankfully I had all of my tolietries in the bag and my rum runners hidden in a beach towel in plastic bags, so when I opened the bag, they didn't see them, but it was still embarrassing getting called to the "naughty room". HOWEVER, my friend brought on board several bottles of alcohol, went to her room and unloaded and got off and got more with no problem at all. We also were able to get alcohol at the ports and bring it back on with no problem in our carry on bag.

I've never heard of scanners picking up "liquid" of rum runners. Hmmm.....maybe I've just been lucky in the past. Then again, it's been on Carnival. I read somewhere that the people at Carnival port scanning the luggage aren't Carnival employees and aren't causing any problems - especially if you give them a tip....

Hope we get on a little early. So you took 2 bottles of wine on, got off ship for a while and brought on 2 more bottles of wine?

Yes, I will post when I get back - probably be 15th of Feb as we get back late on 14th.

As for the hard stuff, I'm taking my rum runners with me and fill them up once I get to OJS and then pack in luggage.

My cruise is 2/7. I printed off documents last night and it says we don't start boarding until 2:30 p.m. I hope they will start taking our luggage before then as well. If not, you have about 2 1/2 hours minimum to worry about luggage after checking out of hotel. I guess if that's the case, the hotels will have a place to store for you.

Marlene

Is there a difference in carrying on booze vs. wine vs. beer? I'm a beer drinker who likes some variety over just what is offrered on the ship.

Carnival allows one bottle (not the large ones - LOL) of wine per passenger to be carried on. Other that that - no go unless you smuggle it on using rum runners or some other method.

Marlene

thank you so much!!! This is fantastic information - and taxi is much cheaper than expected. We got a taxi from JAX port to airport recently and it was much more expensive, or maybe we got "robbed". I had heard SJ had fixed rates but was kind of scared how much that would be.

Marlene

We left our luggage with Barrachina last year. There is no "charge", but tips are accepted. We left $5 for a couple of bags and came back to have lunch there before heading to the airport. We were out of Pan American pier and it was maybe a 5 - 10 minute cab ride.

Thank you - that's very helpful! Question: how expensive are cabs in SJ. We have 4 people in our group and wondered what to expect/budget? We would be getting a taxi for 4 from airport to OSJ - Howard Johson. Then we would need taxi from port to Barrachina. Then taxi from Barrachini back to airport. Gonna cost me an arm and leg?

M

Thank you! We are doing a meet and greet there with roll call group the night before we ship out. Have you left your luggage there before? No charge? Do you know how far this is from the port?

Marlene

You will know something for sure next week. I will contact a roll call member before the Jan 24th cruise to post for you all!:)

I just wish I knew now before I left.

I will be sure to check back. I was so excited to be leaving from SJ for this reason and then the bubble burst! I guess I will have to pull out my rum runners, buy my stash when I get to OSJ and fill them up, put them in my checked luggage....once again.

Do the grocery stores etc that sell the liquor sell it on Sunday? Or do we need to get that purchased on Saturday?

I think I'll take my standard rum runners & a some zip lock bags and put in my checked luggage. Sounds like that may work even better than when I hide it at the other ports. Been on two earlier cruises and have always been able to get the rum runners through with no problem, even with Carnival doing the scanning.

We are considering using the Luggage Express Post Cruise as our flight is not until 6 pm I don't know if US Airways is one of the airlines that uses this service with Carnival or not. We are eating pre cruise with a group at Barrachina and I did notice they have this free service, which could be an option for us. I would also be interested in knowing if anyone has used them or if anyone has used Luggage Express with US Air.

I too want to know. I'm thinking I may have to take empty rum runners and find a place in OSJ to buy "stuff" and then fill them up and put in checked baggage.

Weldon - you and Pam will arrive day earlier. Scope out the liquor stores in the area for us that we can visit on Saturday afternoon!

Marlene