Bringing our own water bottles onto Radiance OTS?

Hi, getting excited now about our first RCI cruise (out of Sydney) in four days' time.

We don't have complete confidence in the quality of ship's water so have always taken a slab of water bottles onto our previous (P&O) cruises (their policy is "12 loose" bottles per person but 24 sealed ones between us has passed muster).

RCI's documentation and Web site are silent on this question so I phoned them. After checking with his supervisor the operator said "That's not possible" (In fact it IS *possible* but perhaps isn't allowed). Does anyone have experience with this?

The ship's water (either sourced from local supplies or 'made' on-board) is used for food preparation, cooking and for ice, in addition to for drinking & bathing.

The rules are clear on bringing on drinks - no drinks (beer, hard liquor or non alcoholic beverages) other than 2 x 750ml bottles of wine or champagne per cabin. Anecdotally enforcement varies.

Enjoy Radiance - great ship.

Hi, getting excited now about our first RCI cruise (out of Sydney) in four days' time.

 

We don't have complete confidence in the quality of ship's water so have always taken a slab of water bottles onto our previous (P&O) cruises (their policy is "12 loose" bottles per person but 24 sealed ones between us has passed muster).

 

RCI's documentation and Web site are silent on this question so I phoned them. After checking with his supervisor the operator said "That's not possible" (In fact it IS *possible* but perhaps isn't allowed). Does anyone have experience with this?

p&o policy is no bottles of any kind but you can take 12 loose cans onboard

Cans, bottles, staff in the suspect baggage area didn't make a distinction. I guess they were really looking for alcohol (of which we had none) and were happy for us to keep the water we'd brought aboard.

Hi, getting excited now about our first RCI cruise (out of Sydney) in four days' time.

 

We don't have complete confidence in the quality of ship's water so have always taken a slab of water bottles onto our previous (P&O) cruises (their policy is "12 loose" bottles per person but 24 sealed ones between us has passed muster).

 

RCI's documentation and Web site are silent on this question so I phoned them. After checking with his supervisor the operator said "That's not possible" (In fact it IS *possible* but perhaps isn't allowed). Does anyone have experience with this?

p&o policy is no bottles of any kind but you can take 12 loose cans onboard

I agree that P&Os policy is 12 loose cans of soft drink, not bottles of water. What you can get away with would depend on how lax the security is.

The Policy for P&O is -

As part of our commitment to the responsible service of alcohol and to ensure the safety and security of guests and crew, guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages onboard. In addition, the following beverage items cannot be brought onboard our ships:

· Plastic

or glass bottled drinks (including water) and slab packs of canned drinks;

· Tetra pack drinks (including fruit juice poppers)

Each guest can bring onboard a maximum of 12 canned drinks loosely packed in hand luggage.

From RCI website - http://www.royalcaribbean.com.au/beforeyouboard/whatToKnow/whatToPack.do

and http://www.royalcaribbean.com.au/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&snav=2&faqId=260&faqSubjectId=333&faqSubjectName=Onboard+Policies&faqType=faq

Onboard Policies

Q: Can I bring alcohol or non-alcoholic beverages (from home or from a port) on board?

A: Guests are not allowed to bring beer, hard liquor or non-alcoholic beverages onboard for consumption or any other use. Guests wishing to bring personal wine and champagne onboard may do so only on boarding day, limited to two (2) 750 ml bottles per stateroom. Additional bottles of wine beyond two (2) bottles that are brought onboard or any alcoholic beverages 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. Alcoholic beverages seized on embarkation day will not be returned.

Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol. Guests who violate any alcohol policies, (over consume, provide alcohol to people under age 21, demonstrate irresponsible behavior, or attempt to conceal alcoholic items at security and or luggage check points or any other time), may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with our Guest Conduct Policy. Guests who are under the permitted drinking age will not have alcohol returned to them.

Please Note: All guests must comply with TSA guidelines for transporting liquids.

ON RCI can you not order bulk water to be delivered to your cabin? Like on Princess, we order 12 x 500ml bottles of water for about $8 prepaid on cruise personaliser and delivered to your cabin the day you board. Way to go.

ON RCI can you not order bulk water to be delivered to your cabin? Like on Princess, we order 12 x 500ml bottles of water for about $8 prepaid on cruise personaliser and delivered to your cabin the day you board. Way to go.

P&O have 6 x 1.5 litre bottles for $19.

ON RCI can you not order bulk water to be delivered to your cabin? Like on Princess, we order 12 x 500ml bottles of water for about $8 prepaid on cruise personaliser and delivered to your cabin the day you board. Way to go.

The price on RCI for pre-order is $60.20 for 12 1litre bottles of Evian. :eek:

If that's true I'd be happy to pay that (as opposed to the minibar prices) for the convenience. A shame the person I spoke with at rci didn't mention it, saying only that bringing bulk drinking water aboard was "not possible". Will investigate...

P&O have 6 x 1.5 litre bottles for $19.

That is acceptable and convenient, no lugging them around town and onto ship.:cool:

The price on RCI for pre-order is $60.20 for 12 1litre bottles of Evian. :eek:

Evian is 'topshelf' water, if there is such a thing. lol.:cool:

If that's true I'd be happy to pay that (as opposed to the minibar prices) for the convenience. A shame the person I spoke with at rci didn't mention it, saying only that bringing bulk drinking water aboard was "not possible". Will investigate...

Is it not in your cruise planner? Under Dining and Beverage Packages?

Top shelf or bottom shelf, $60 (or more) for something you can get at any grocery store for $6 is just "taking the p***" to use the appropriate and colourful Aussie vernacular.

That is acceptable and convenient, no lugging them around town and onto ship.:cool:

We think so.:D

Evian is 'topshelf' water, if there is such a thing. lol.:cool:

Top shelf or bottom shelf, $60 (or more) for something you can get at any grocery store for $6 is just "taking the p***" to use the appropriate and colourful Aussie vernacular.

You are not at home or at the grocery store though. If you went to a land based resort or bar or restaurant you would also be paying higher prices for water. When cruising you are basically at a resort that floats, complete with a variety of bars, and restaurants, so higher prices is the norm.

Top shelf or bottom shelf, $60 (or more) for something you can get at any grocery store for $6 is just "taking the p***" to use the appropriate and colourful Aussie vernacular.

I agree, $60 is over the top, but at a lesser price packaged water delivered to your cabin is acceptable, to us anyway.:halo: But as Mic states, many hotels and resorts here are over the top with bottled water prices. One waterfront eatery down here charges $7 for a bottle of Perrier water.

I agree, $60 is over the top, but at a lesser price packaged water delivered to your cabin is acceptable, to us anyway.:halo: But as Mic states, many hotels and resorts here are over the top with bottled water prices. One waterfront eatery down here charges $7 for a bottle of Perrier water.

Hmm, I am thinking $60 for 12 x 1 litre bottles of Evian is a very good price. $5 a bottle, even the local take away would charge you $5 for a no name brand of water half that size.

The World Heath Organisation standards that ALL cruise companies must comply with are actually equal to or above those for commercial companies that provide bottled water.

It is mind over matter.

The water on cruise ships is tested monthly to comply with regulatory requirements of their license to operate.

The water quality is constantly monitored by engineering staff as it is used for food preparation in the galley, hand washing in the medical centre, crew and pax showers, the list goes on.

The turn over of water in the tanks is high, it's not like it sits there 'growing nasties'.

Yet people question the water quality for drinking.

If I were you I would take empty water bottles and just fill them up using the ship tap water.

Just my observance - don't shoot the messenger.

ON RCI can you not order bulk water to be delivered to your cabin? Like on Princess, we order 12 x 500ml bottles of water for about $8 prepaid on cruise personaliser and delivered to your cabin the day you board. Way to go.

Unfortunately it is not water on RCI, it is Evian!

The price on RCI for pre-order is $60.20 for 12 1litre bottles of Evian. :eek:

It's not just the price that leaves a bad taste!

Top shelf or bottom shelf, $60 (or more) for something you can get at any grocery store for $6 is just "taking the p***" to use the appropriate and colourful Aussie vernacular.

If these are the only choices:

1- Ship's water

2- P!$$

3- Evian

I have been on RCI cruises where I bought the water package, tried to drink the Evian, tipped it out, and refilled with ship's water.

I have twice bought a 6 pack of 1.5ltr water from Casino supermarket in Noumea and brought it back on board without an eyebrow raised.

My advice to anyone is take a $6 gamble trying to get your unopened, sealed water bottles onboard. The worst that will happen is you lose $6.

The World Heath Organisation standards that ALL cruise companies must comply with are actually equal to or above those for commercial companies that provide bottled water.

 

It is mind over matter.

 

The water on cruise ships is tested monthly to comply with regulatory requirements of their license to operate.

 

The water quality is constantly monitored by engineering staff as it is used for food preparation in the galley, hand washing in the medical centre, crew and pax showers, the list goes on.

 

The turn over of water in the tanks is high, it's not like it sits there 'growing nasties'.

 

Yet people question the water quality for drinking.

 

If I were you I would take empty water bottles and just fill them up using the ship tap water.

 

Just my observance - don't shoot the messenger.

This is my plan B

My advice to anyone is take a $6 gamble trying to get your unopened, sealed water bottles onboard. The worst that will happen is you lose $6.

That's what I plan to do this time, previously we had drink packages which included bottles of water, but since becoming diamond we don't buy the packages.;)

I don't mind losing $6 or so.