Port of Miami and checked liquor and wine

[stev5138]

Just off the Imagination on 02/05 out of Miami. We had a letter from CCL staff stating that our luggage contained what may have been unauthorized items. We had four bottles of water in our checked bags. The letter stated that the articles in question were looked at and deemed authorized.

[Trplnckl]

This X-ray machine can detect what you have in your suitcases.

 

http://onthescene.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/01/11/new-airport-x-ray-could-zap-3-1-1/

I doubt Carnival has one of these machines, yet anyway. The article says they haven't even started testing with the TSA.

[Gainesville cruiser]

I traveled with a group of 6 women. All had 1 bottle of wine, in checked luggage and one also had an iced tea bottle with bourbon.

 

I am platinum and my roomate and I boarded separately from the other 4. All wine and liquor was removed from our suitcases prior to delivery to our cabin. In place of the wine was a letter from Carnival stating that it had been removed. If your suitcase was locked, you had to go to security on the ship to unlock it before you could take it to your cabin.

 

The x-ray capability detects different colors for different types of liquids.

 

As you might guess, the line at the pursers office was quite long with people complaining. It was "the topic of conversation" and that is why I know that most if not all had their liquor confiscated.

 

This new technology started, I guess on January 30 and Miami and San Juan are the only ports at this time to have it. That's all I know. Just want to pass the word along so you can pack accordingly.

[Gainesville cruiser]

Also, we saw the "rolling red dumpster" type cart they were delivering the confiscated goods to the cabins at 8pm ish on the last night. Actually it was comical, after we were through being mad.....

[REDWITCH13]

Actually, the technology exists and is in use on many x-ray machines.

 

http://www.optosecurity.com/en/optoscreener.php

 

I am very sure these x-ray machines do exist...just not for a cruise to detect booze? Explosives yes..rum, vodka or gin?????

 

I don't know...I will wait to hear from someone who just left a Carnival cruise in the next few weeks.

[jfulcher]

This can be accomplished by ordering ahead of time from Bon Voyage, no?

 

No they don't stock all the liquors that I like. Their scotch collection SUCKS. Even on the boat as a whole it sucks.

[Rachy817]

Seriously though, where do they find the time to go through everyone’s luggage that is suspected of having alcohol in it? Its bad enough that you have to wait sometimes until after dinner to get your checked bags, but imagine how many bags they would have to search to catch all the alcohol people try to smuggle? 3000 passengers with one or more bags each? It just doesn’t make sense to me. If they really are going to implement this new procedure we will be lucky if we get our bags by the next day!

I for one will be really bummed if this is a serious change. We will have to start looking into all inclusive’s again because there is no way I am paying $30 dollars for a bottle of wine that I can get at home for $8! We could always go back to smuggling in the Listerine bottles!

I agree with most people, we also end up spending ALOT of money at the bar and the casino on our cruises, on top of what we smuggle. Most of the time we don’t even finish what we smuggle on anyway. It is just for the convenience of having a cocktail while getting ready for the evening, or to enjoy on our balcony!

[jfulcher]

I traveled with a group of 6 women. All had 1 bottle of wine, in checked luggage and one also had an iced tea bottle with bourbon.

 

I am platinum and my roomate and I boarded separately from the other 4. All wine and liquor was removed from our suitcases prior to delivery to our cabin. In place of the wine was a letter from Carnival stating that it had been removed. If your suitcase was locked, you had to go to security on the ship to unlock it before you could take it to your cabin.

 

The x-ray capability detects different colors for different types of liquids.

 

As you might guess, the line at the pursers office was quite long with people complaining. It was "the topic of conversation" and that is why I know that most if not all had their liquor confiscated.

 

This new technology started, I guess on January 30 and Miami and San Juan are the only ports at this time to have it. That's all I know. Just want to pass the word along so you can pack accordingly.

 

BS on the different colors for different liquid thing - the wine bottles looked like exactly that WINE BOTTLES. If the security staff said that to you they were lying. That technology does not exist.

[F22Smitty]

This X-ray machine can detect what you have in your suitcases.

 

http://onthescene.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/01/11/new-airport-x-ray-could-zap-3-1-1/

 

Looks like CCL and the Port of Miami has been chosen as a test site.

[klmorg]

Gainesville... Thanks for further clarifying that. I'm sorry to hear that happened to you and apparently lots of others. I think it will be interesting to hear about people's experiences over these next weeks/months.

[CRAZY CANADIANS]

All had 1 bottle of wine, in checked luggage and one also had an iced tea bottle with bourbon.

 

Bottles being the KEY word ;)

[bchbum641]

Glad I am just looking at cruises for next Feb out of Miami. Sry Carnival but platinum was close but looks like that ain't happening. If they are doing that then they really need to offer an all inclusive that includes drinks for those of us that enjoy our drinnks all day long on a cruise. There is no way I'm cruisin if I have to pay individually for each drink. That would break the bank:eek:

 

Cancun here I come!!!;)

[zozza]

If they give you the booze back on the last night of the cruise, can you keep it for the second week of a back to back?

[Vanessa L]

Just off the Imagination on 02/05 out of Miami. We had a letter from CCL staff stating that our luggage contained what may have been unauthorized items. We had four bottles of water in our checked bags. The letter stated that the articles in question were looked at and deemed authorized.

 

I am very sure these x-ray machines do exist...just not for a cruise to detect booze? Explosives yes..rum, vodka or gin?????

 

I don't know...I will wait to hear from someone who just left a Carnival cruise in the next few weeks.

 

It appears the list is growing.......

[Smithkids5521]

 

The x-ray capability detects different colors for different types of liquids.

 

This new technology started, I guess on January 30 and Miami and San Juan are the only ports at this time to have it.

 

This would explain the whole reason Carnival tried to start the "unlocking the bags" thing- and it was to start with Miami cruises beginning January 30th...with this new type of scanner they would need easy access to get into your bags.

 

I would think Carnival will determine if using this machine and confiscating alot of booze makes a difference in the bar profits- if it really helps them make more money on bar tabs I can bet they will spend the money for more of these x ray machines in all of their ports, but if it didn't really boost bar sales then would it really be worth the expense? (I bet those machines are not cheap!).

 

I guess time will tell...

 

Take care,

Diana :)

[JohnMI]

Just off the Imagination on 02/05 out of Miami. We had a letter from CCL staff stating that our luggage contained what may have been unauthorized items. We had four bottles of water in our checked bags. The letter stated that the articles in question were looked at and deemed authorized.

 

So, I was under the impression that you couldn't take ANY drinks -- alcohol or otherwise -- except for one bottle of wine. Is that not correct? It sounds like they were fine with you bringing the water on -- is that normal?

 

My wife and I don't drink, but wouldn't mind having a 2-liter or two of Diet Coke on board in our room for convenience. I assume this is something that would be confiscated until the last day if found or no?

 

Thanks!

 

- John...

[gecko2gecko]

So, I was under the impression that you couldn't take ANY drinks -- alcohol or otherwise -- except for one bottle of wine. Is that not correct? It sounds like they were fine with you bringing the water on -- is that normal?

 

My wife and I don't drink, but wouldn't mind having a 2-liter or two of Diet Coke on board in our room for convenience. I assume this is something that would be confiscated until the last day if found or no?

 

Thanks!

 

- John...

 

No alcoholic beverages. You can bring on a "reasonable amount" of soda, juice, water, etc.

[firedisney97]

No alcoholic beverages. You can bring on a "reasonable amount" of soda, juice, water, etc.

 

Can you still put that water/soda in a bag and check it or does it have to go as "carry-on" like the bottle of wine?

[John&John]

Can you still put that water/soda in a bag and check it or does it have to go as "carry-on" like the bottle of wine?

From Carnivals' FAQ's:

Guests may bring a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages.

 

They do not specify how to bring it. I will continue to check a bag with water, soda, and some other non-alcoholic beverages until they tell me I can't. :D

[Irishlinny]

If they give you the booze back on the last night of the cruise, can you keep it for the second week of a back to back?

When we were on Destiny in 2008 we got to keep it. Who knows now with the new tactics Carnival is pulling:mad:

 

Yup, may be time for all-inclusives and land vacations.....:rolleyes:

[REDWITCH13]

Unlocking your luggage....not putting wine or pop in carry on bags....:mad:

 

We are going to carry on ALL of our luggage and bypass the porters at the gate. Also put our water, pop and wine in a beach bag type of bag.

 

That way we will be sure that our zip tie bags are with us if they have to inspect what we have and all "stuff' is not rummaged through or the zipper is not closed all the way and we lose something. Like my new underware,:D LOL :eek:

 

Darlene :o

[John&John]

Unlocking your luggage....not putting wine or pop in carry on bags....:mad:

 

We are going to carry on ALL of our luggage and bypass the porters at the gate. Also put our water, pop and wine in a beach bag type of bag.

 

That way we will be sure that our zip tie bags are with us if they have to inspect what we have and all "stuff' is not rummaged through or the zipper is not closed all the way and we lose something. Like my new underware,:D LOL :eek:

 

Darlene :o

 

You are now allowed to lock your luggage and if they want to search it they will call you to come and open it for them.

[5waldos]

BS on the different colors for different liquid thing - the wine bottles looked like exactly that WINE BOTTLES. If the security staff said that to you they were lying. That technology does not exist.

 

Science is good but as you note- not that good.

[Vanessa L]

Wonder how they are going to feel about boxed wines? The boxes are small but hold the equivalent of 4 bottles of wine. This is what DH and I travel with. Maybe we'll just put it in the carry on and call it good.

[REDWITCH13]

You may not lock it if you are checking it.

 

We will carry on all of our luggage..it can be zip tied locked. If they want to go throught it. We will be there. I won't need to be called somewhere.

 

All the pop, water and the wine will be in a different bag....not my carry one from the plane.

 

Not too bad. All my luggage is on wheels and my carry on piece slides onto my bigger one. I will have the liquids(pop, wine and water) in a beach bag over my shoulder. Did it that way last time. Worked fine :)

 

Darlene