Why do you bring booze onboard?

[luddite]

wow.

[michmike]

Didn't bother reading the entire thread as this issue has been hashed over MANY times and no one's opinion is ever changed.

 

In my case, I smuggle a bottle onboard in protest of HAL's policy that allows wine and champagne drinkers to bring their poison on by the case and yet discriminates against the whiskey and beer crowd. Makes NO sense to me. Stop the oenephiles and I'll stop bringing my bourbon.

 

That having been said, we limit the smuggled bottle to in-room consumption and still spend plenty in the bars

[AltarEgo]

Dear Altar......

 

One must be very careful when using the word "you" on CC. And' date=' one must choose words carefully. For, you see, bashing other posters by personally "attacking" them is not permitted here.....

 

The last paragraph typed was a little over the edge...but, I see your new here so, I'll let it ride. Perhaps a review of the community guidelines might be in order.

 

Cruise Critic is an opinion oriented forum....where everyone gives their opinion. Characterizations, however, are not part of the experience.

 

Also, technically, a troll is someone who "hits and runs".... I've been around a long time here...so, I might be disagreeable, some might say harsh, others might say short and to the point - or opinionated...but troll? Never.[/quote']

 

Thanks so much for your countenance with regard to allowing a “newbie” to express their opinion. Since this is a forum of written communication, it is imperative that the exchange of ideas be clearly stated and understood by the participants to fully engage in the pursuit of rational discourse.

 

I stand by my original assertion that some people fail to read and/or comprehend a posting before offering a response. It appears that the statement I made that people who choose to RIDICULE the OP or other posters are "trolls" has been missed again. Sigh.

 

Oh, and by the way, a troll rarely “hits and runs”. They get their jollies by posting controversial, inflammatory, and irrelevant or off-topic messages with the intent of provoking other users into an emotional or disciplinary response. Just my opinion.

[hubofhockey]

 

Oh, and by the way, a troll rarely “hits and runs”. They get their jollies by posting controversial, inflammatory, and irrelevant or off-topic messages with the intent of provoking other users into an emotional or disciplinary response. Just my opinion.

 

Agree with you. Internet trolls don't hit and run. They make trouble and that's their purpose. More likely, many of the anti-byob people on here don't mean to make trouble but do want to make their moral stances known.

 

Also agree with comment that bringing your own is NOT stealing. That's ridiculous. It is nothing more than breaking a rule that some cruieslines have no intention of enforcing. I don't think they want passengers rolling a cooler on wheels to the pool areas. But most don't care about in room consumption of your own booze. On my past cruises, stewards, without asking have put some of my beer on ice.

[navybankerteacher]

iambumbo stated that, because he also bought drinks on board. his smuggling Miller Lite was "...not depriving them of any alcohol related income." A bit of a hole in his logic: how about the money he did not spend on beer on board?

 

While I like an occasional drink on the balcony - or wine in my room, I appreciate and accept the lines' a la carte pricing because it enables them to offer the most affordable cruises -- there are lines with very high fares which include at least some drinks. For the mass market lines to offer competitive basic prices, they need to be able to charge extra for optional extras -- such as drinks purchased on board. If all passengers had to pay fares sufficient to guarantee profitability to the line, the non-drinkers, or light drinkers, would be subsidizing the more serious drinkers.

 

Sure, it is possible to get away with sneaking a bottle or two on board to save a few bucks (or to be able to sip your Glenfiddach single malt rather than to have to put up with the "undrinkable" Glenlivet available on the ship) -in violation of the terms under which a passenger books his cruise.

 

Just don't claim that, because you have already paid $X for a cruise, you have no obligation to live up to the terms of your deal with the cruise line.

 

Yes, it is possible to get away with cheating the line - and it isn't a huge amount involved on an individual basis -- so you save perhaps $10 per day - if just 25% of the passengers on a 2500 passenger ship did so, it would cost the line $6,250 per day, or $43,750 per week - if the ship cruises 50 weeks per year, it would come to $2,187,500 per year -- for a fleet of 15 ships - that would be $31,812,500 in lost income.

 

 

So, the small-time cheat (which is what the smuggler undeniably is) manages to generate a significant problem for his fellow passengers to cover.

[TexasHorseLady]

Agree with you. Internet trolls don't hit and run. They make trouble and that's their purpose...quote]

 

 

Wikipedia on internet TROLLS:

(not just hit and run, not just aimed at the OP)

In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional or disciplinary response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

[TexasHorseLady]

iambumbo stated that, because he also bought drinks on board. his smuggling Miller Lite was "...not depriving them of any alcohol related income." A bit of a hole in his logic: how about the money he did not spend on beer on board?

 

While I like an occasional drink on the balcony - or wine in my room, I appreciate and accept the lines' a la carte pricing because it enables them to offer the most affordable cruises -- there are lines with very high fares which include at least some drinks. For the mass market lines to offer competitive basic prices, they need to be able to charge extra for optional extras -- such as drinks purchased on board. If all passengers had to pay fares sufficient to guarantee profitability to the line, the non-drinkers, or light drinkers, would be subsidizing the more serious drinkers.

 

Sure, it is possible to get away with sneaking a bottle or two on board to save a few bucks (or to be able to sip your Glenfiddach single malt rather than to have to put up with the "undrinkable" Glenlivet available on the ship) -in violation of the terms under which a passenger books his cruise.

 

Just don't claim that, because you have already paid $X for a cruise, you have no obligation to live up to the terms of your deal with the cruise line.

 

Yes, it is possible to get away with cheating the line - and it isn't a huge amount involved on an individual basis -- so you save perhaps $10 per day - if just 25% of the passengers on a 2500 passenger ship did so, it would cost the line $6,250 per day, or $43,750 per week - if the ship cruises 50 weeks per year, it would come to $2,187,500 per year -- for a fleet of 15 ships - that would be $31,812,500 in lost income.

 

 

So, the small-time cheat (which is what the smuggler undeniably is) manages to generate a significant problem for his fellow passengers to cover.

 

Hey! What are you doing bring in indisputable facts and logic? Don't you know this is an emotional issue, and not a logical one? :rolleyes:

[navybankerteacher]

Hey! What are you doing bring in indisputable facts and logic? Don't you know this is an emotional issue, and not a logical one? :rolleyes:

 

Sorry about that, ma'am.

[hubofhockey]

 

Wikipedia on internet TROLLS:

 

(not just hit and run, not just aimed at the OP)

 

In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional or disciplinary response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

 

Well, originally, I thought you were actually interested in the motivations of passengers bringing on their own. But now I see that you are just as interested in agreeing and complimenting every post that accuses those you asked to contribute to your thread of stealing from cruiselines ..................., hmmm looks like a set up to me. :D

 

Again, I thank all of the cabin stewards I have had for keeping my Sam Adams Light nice and cold on ice. Of course, I guess some might consider these employees to be part of the "conspiracy" to rip off the cruiselines. ;)

[RetireeWannabee]

iambumbo stated that, because he also bought drinks on board. his smuggling Miller Lite was "...not depriving them of any alcohol related income." A bit of a hole in his logic: how about the money he did not spend on beer on board?

 

While I like an occasional drink on the balcony - or wine in my room, I appreciate and accept the lines' a la carte pricing because it enables them to offer the most affordable cruises -- there are lines with very high fares which include at least some drinks. For the mass market lines to offer competitive basic prices, they need to be able to charge extra for optional extras -- such as drinks purchased on board. If all passengers had to pay fares sufficient to guarantee profitability to the line, the non-drinkers, or light drinkers, would be subsidizing the more serious drinkers.

 

Sure, it is possible to get away with sneaking a bottle or two on board to save a few bucks (or to be able to sip your Glenfiddach single malt rather than to have to put up with the "undrinkable" Glenlivet available on the ship) -in violation of the terms under which a passenger books his cruise.

 

Just don't claim that, because you have already paid $X for a cruise, you have no obligation to live up to the terms of your deal with the cruise line.

 

Yes, it is possible to get away with cheating the line - and it isn't a huge amount involved on an individual basis -- so you save perhaps $10 per day - if just 25% of the passengers on a 2500 passenger ship did so, it would cost the line $6,250 per day, or $43,750 per week - if the ship cruises 50 weeks per year, it would come to $2,187,500 per year -- for a fleet of 15 ships - that would be $31,812,500 in lost income.

 

 

So, the small-time cheat (which is what the smuggler undeniably is) manages to generate a significant problem for his fellow passengers to cover.

 

You are assuming that everyone buys alcohol and that is not the case. If I didn't bring my own, I still would only buy a drink or two. total. The assumption that everyone drinks is wrong. I don't know about saving $10/day.

 

The teetotallers may spend money in the casino or shops or whatever.

 

Every passenger can provide revenue to the ship. But it is not necessarily going to be with alcohol.

 

The problem is that the cruise lines count on alki $. That's not my problem, it's theirs.

[CapeCodCruiser]

... so in turn the cruise lines write off the nominal lost revenue in the interest of having happy (and hopefully returning) cruisers while taking the Colonel Klink approach: "I know nothing! I see nothing!!!" ...

 

Technically that would be the Sgt. Schultz approach:D

[kchobbs]

I agree 100% with Iambumbo. I have no guilt pangs about consuming the odd drink in my suite, knowing they are getting plenty of business from me at the pool, at the bar and at the casino.

 

Face the facts, it is a business. The cruise lines are out to maximize their profits, yet try to bring their customers back.

 

Why is it Disney cruise fares are typically a bit higher then comparable cruise lines? They offer excursionss, have photo shoots, spas, etc but the difference to the other cruise lines are:

 

1. They do not have revenue generating casinos on board.

2. With more families and kids they have an atmosphere that is conducive to less consumption of revenue generating alchohol sales.

 

To compensate for this, the fairs have to be slightly higher.

 

Those who drink and gamble subsidize the base cost of the cruise for those that don't.

[TexasHorseLady]

... trying to fix my typo and the gremlins inside the pc aren't letting me. So I had to type something here.

[cruiserbryce]

when we have it hasnt been with the intention to eliminate alcohol cost but to reduce it...we just figure the cost of booze into the amount of $ we take with us...but if we can reduce it by $50 or so thats $ to spend on other things...either way they're getting my $;)

[TexasHorseLady]

Well, originally, I thought you were actually interested in the motivations of passengers bringing on their own. But now I see that you are just as interested in agreeing and complimenting every post that accuses those you asked to contribute to your thread of stealing from cruiselines ..................., hmmm looks like a set up to me. :D

 

A setup? Nice conspiracy theory. But that's not the case.

I have said to several people that I can see their point about bringing on a type of alcohol the cruiseline doesn't provide, even though it's something I would never do. In another post I believe I said "there is no right or wrong answer".

Damn, that really messes up your ol' conspiracy theory, doesn't it?

I am nothing but a curious OP who really wanted to know why people bring booze onboard. Imagine that. I know there are some angry, defensive, and suspicious minds who might find it hard to comprehend that someone could actually ask such a question without having a hidden agenda, but that's what happened and you just witnessed it.

My only stance on this whole debate is that I could never smuggle booze onboard because I would not want to deal with the guilt of breaking the rules. I also gave navybankerteacher credit for coming up with a totally logical post, and noted to boot that most of the posts so far are filled with emotional responses. I am guessing that brought on your snippy little attack on me, because to you that must have sounded like I was anti-smuggling. Scroll back and read again, my angry friend, and see if you didn't jump to conclusions.

[spongerob]

My only stance on this whole debate is that I could never smuggle booze onboard because I would not want to deal with the guilt of breaking the rules.

FWIW, I've never smuggled. If I have wanted to bring something on board, I've done it quite openly. I've even had security open bags to check on what was inside, and never had anything confiscated. It's not smuggling when you aren't hiding.

 

A few years ago, RCI did an experiment with aggressive enforcement of their non-BYOB policy. At the end of the test they discovered that all they accomplished was annoying a lot of passengers, while having absolutely no effect on bar sales on board.

 

Heck, most of the time when I do BYOB, the cabin steward ends up with most of it when we leave the ship.

[kchobbs]

"My only stance on this whole debate is that I could never smuggle booze onboard because I would not want to deal with the guilt of breaking the rules. "

 

 

Do you always stay at the posted speed limit when driving?

Do you always come to a complete stop at every stop sign?

Have you ever taken your own candy or snack to a movie theatre?

Have you ever received cash or tips for work done and not reported it as income to the government?

 

If you have done so to any of the above or any other "rules" set out to you then you are just as guilty as us who bring a bottle onboard with us.

 

I think each of us views rules emposed on us with our own discretion as to whether the rules are fair or not. Personally, me having the odd drink confined to my room is one thing, wheeling out a cooler out to the pool and mixing my own cocktails in plain view of others is another.

[hubofhockey]

 

A setup? Nice conspiracy theory. But that's not the case.

 

I have said to several people that I can see their point about bringing on a type of alcohol the cruiseline doesn't provide, even though it's something I would never do. In another post I believe I said "there is no right or wrong answer".

 

Damn, that really messes up your ol' conspiracy theory, doesn't it?

 

I am nothing but a curious OP who really wanted to know why people bring booze onboard. Imagine that. I know there are some angry, defensive, and suspicious minds who might find it hard to comprehend that someone could actually ask such a question without having a hidden agenda, but that's what happened and you just witnessed it.

 

My only stance on this whole debate is that I could never smuggle booze onboard because I would not want to deal with the guilt of breaking the rules. I also gave navybankerteacher credit for coming up with a totally logical post, and noted to boot that most of the posts so far are filled with emotional responses. I am guessing that brought on your snippy little attack on me, because to you that must have sounded like I was anti-smuggling. Scroll back and read again, my angry friend, and see if you didn't jump to conclusions.

 

I am not angry. I think it's actually amusing that you start an innocent thread asking why people bring their own alcohol on board and then just start agreeing with everyone who accuses those whom you ask to contribute to thread of stealing.

 

I thought you were actually interested in the answer to a question about why people go through all of the trouble of stopping at a liquor store or Publix before a cruise or pack bottles carefully in checked luggage when they can just pay an extra $50 or so to the cruiseline and not worry about the hassle. But now I think a better title for your thread should be. "How do all of you live with the guilt of stealing from XYZ cruiseline?" But that's a bit too troll like.

[navybankerteacher]

"My only stance on this whole debate is that I could never smuggle booze onboard because I would not want to deal with the guilt of breaking the rules. "

 

 

Do you always stay at the posted speed limit when driving?

Do you always come to a complete stop at every stop sign?

Have you ever taken your own candy or snack to a movie theatre?

Have you ever received cash or tips for work done and not reported it as income to the government?

 

If you have done so to any of the above or any other "rules" set out to you then you are just as guilty as us who bring a bottle onboard with us.

 

I think each of us views rules emposed on us with our own discretion as to whether the rules are fair or not. Personally, me having the odd drink confined to my room is one thing, wheeling out a cooler out to the pool and mixing my own cocktails in plain view of others is another.

 

Most people violate regulations, agreements and/or laws to one degree or another: that is simply human nature. What is interesting is the lengths people will go to justify those breaches. I suppose there are really some people with such refined taste as to be unhappy with any but their preferred liquor --- but it is too bad that so many seem simply unable to acknowledge that they do it to save a few dollars.

[G'ma]

Thanks so much for your countenance with regard to allowing a “newbie” to express their opinion. Since this is a forum of written communication, it is imperative that the exchange of ideas be clearly stated and understood by the participants to fully engage in the pursuit of rational discourse.

 

I stand by my original assertion that some people fail to read and/or comprehend a posting before offering a response. It appears that the statement I made that people who choose to RIDICULE the OP or other posters are "trolls" has been missed again. Sigh.

 

Oh, and by the way, a troll rarely “hits and runs”. They get their jollies by posting controversial, inflammatory, and irrelevant or off-topic messages with the intent of provoking other users into an emotional or disciplinary response. Just my opinion.

 

My issue wasn't with your opinion about ridicule...it was with your last paragraph where you found it necessary to characterize me personally.

 

Your opinion, like all opinions, are welcomed here.

 

I find that in many cases, being classified as a "troll" means that someone has had an opposing opinion, a commons sense answer, cited sources for information, answered the question directly and to the point. There are truly trolls around any forum...easily spotted, mostly ignored.

 

There was no intent to "permit" you, a newbie, to post....only the moderators have that ability. My intent was to let you know I'll not report you this time, realizing that you might not be acquainted with the guidelines.

[G'ma]

Each cruise line has revenue targets for each ship. These revenues are monitored weekly.

 

They count revenues for ship excursions, for-fee venues, bingo,casino, alcohol and more.

 

When the target revenue amount is not met over the long term, changes in price occur; shore tours prices increase, bingo goes up, optional dining venues increase or are added, bar drink prices are increased.

 

Bean counters are incredible folks. They know the percentage of folks, based on averages, who will not consume alcohol or don't drink. They know, based on averages, how much they will most likely earn on each cruise. These and other statistics are taken into account when planning revenue targets.

 

When alcohol revenues fall over a period of time....prices at the bar increase.

 

They run a BUSINESS....when revenues fall, they do what is necessary to adjust prices in order to meet the revenue expectations and projections.

 

Folks who smuggle booze on board DO have an effect on every passenger.....like it or not.

[crazcane05]

Question for those who choose to smuggle: do you also smuggle alcohol into restaurants/clubs etc or food/drink into other venues which prohibit it (movies, festivals, etc) because they want you to buy it there?

It not, why is this a different situation?

 

This is NOT a judgmental, rhetorical, or sarcastic question. I realy do want to hear responses to this issue.

 

No, I would not sneak alcohol into these places because I am not there for 5+ days paying super high prices. :rolleyes: I do sneak some onboard, but I still pay my share by buying drink coupons, soda card, beer, etc. Truth be told, it is really a hassle to sneak it on for anything other than maybe mixing a drink in your room before dinner, or having a nice early morning drink to start the day. We are probably saving 30-40 dollars, which we end up spending elsewhere on the ship anyway. I would say few people actually take money away from the cruise line by sneaking alcohol because they just spend the money on something else. If people really dont have the money to spend on alcohol and have to sneak it on, then they probably would not buy alcohol at all if they didnt sneak it on....no harm no foul? ;)

[iambumbo]

For the anti-smuggling crowd, have you ever booked an excursion outside of the cruise line? Don't you realize by doing so you're have a direct effect on the cruise line's bottom line and driving up the costs for everyone else? Do you feel guilty about doing that? Of course not. Nor should you. You're simply trying to have a more favorable experience on your cruise at a lesser cost to you. Which is exactly the same as enjoying a smuggled beer in your cabin.

[navybankerteacher]

No, I would not sneak alcohol into these places because I am not there for 5+ days paying super high prices. :rolleyes: I do sneak some onboard, but I still pay my share by buying drink coupons, soda card, beer, etc. Truth be told, it is really a hassle to sneak it on for anything other than maybe mixing a drink in your room before dinner, or having a nice early morning drink to start the day. We are probably saving 30-40 dollars, which we end up spending elsewhere on the ship anyway. I would say few people actually take money away from the cruise line by sneaking alcohol because they just spend the money on something else. If people really dont have the money to spend on alcohol and have to sneak it on, then they probably would not buy alcohol at all if they didnt sneak it on....no harm no foul? ;)

 

When you are on a mass market cruise ship, you are NOT paying "...super high prices." Where else can you get a room, three meals per day, virtually endless snacks, room service, access to recreation facilities, free movies and shows, disco/dance facilities, transportation to various locales, etc. for about $100 per person per day? (Somewhat more if you want fancier accomodations.) That price works only because the line charges extra for other things - casino, tours, upscale restaurants and, yes, drinks. The fact that you MIGHT "...spend the money on something else...", does not change the fact that by smuggling liquor on board you are unilaterally changing the terms of your agreement with the line and being part of a larger group which, to the extent they also smuggle, contributes to necessarily higher basic charges for everyone.

 

Yes harm, yes foul.

[StillPooh]

Agree with you. Internet trolls don't hit and run. They make trouble and that's their purpose.

Frequently the OP is the troll, proclaiming to be asking an innocent question when their real motivation is to stir up trouble.