Bringing drinks on board YES or NO

[ruascott]

Just last week I put a case of bottled water and a 12 pack of Diet Pepsi in a large duffle bag, but a luggage tag on it, and it was delievered to the room with the rest of the luggage. No problem. No way I'm paying for a bottled water package.

 

RCI promotes themselves as a "floating resort". What other resort do you know forbids you from bringing your own beverages?

[Paul65]

RCI promotes themselves as a "floating resort".

 

That may be your perception of RCI, but I have never heard them promote themselves using that term.

[itsjg4]

I can only speak about Mariner to Mexico. We had no issues bringing water or sodas on board in July. In fact, in one of the ports I bought a six pack of coke and put it through security screening no problem. My only advice is to make sure to put the sodas in a suitcase. We had a 12 pack of Pepsi we brought on board and our cabin person left it outside our cabin for a minute and someone stole it.

 

Good luck...

Julie

[CruiseLover15]

As soon as they start offering Diet Dr. Pepper on the ship, I will stop bringing my own. I would not have a problem buying a soda card if I could get cold DDP when and where I wanted it, as I matter of fact, I would prefer that. DH prefers Diet Coke, so he buys the soda card.

[kyriecat]

As soon as they start offering Diet Dr. Pepper on the ship, I will stop bringing my own. I would not have a problem buying a soda card if I could get cold DDP when and where I wanted it, as I matter of fact, I would prefer that. DH prefers Diet Coke, so he buys the soda card.

The only soda that I drink is Diet DP. One problem that I've noticed with Diet DP is that the fountain version tastes weird to me. If I remember correctly, you can only use the card for fountain sodas. If that is true, even if RC offered diet DP, I wouldn't buy a soda card for it.

[NOVICE WELSH CRUISERS]

Not for me to question the preferences of others but the fact is in my part of the world we drink the perfectly safe tap water and the water on board cruise ships is as clean as it gets. So why bother hauling around packs of bottles or paying for the very same ???

[ccruisequeen]

I've been on ships where the water had a very metallic taste. It was impossible to drink & I can't drink soda for health reasons. So it's bottled water or bringing a purified water pitcher, just in case!

[SewCruise]

What about when you get back on the ship after an excursion? Do they check your bags every time?

 

I'm doing a Med cruise next summer, and it crossed my mind that I might like to buy a local bottle of wine in Italy or Greece to drink on the cruise. Will I be searched before getting back on the ship every day??

[tugboat]

What about when you get back on the ship after an excursion? Do they check your bags every time?

 

I'm doing a Med cruise next summer, and it crossed my mind that I might like to buy a local bottle of wine in Italy or Greece to drink on the cruise. Will I be searched before getting back on the ship every day??

 

Know matter how many times you leave the ship they are going to X-ray your bags when you return.:eek::(

[SASMITH]

Thanks everyone for the help. I think I understand now what I can and can't do. Thank You

[spanner14]

What about when you get back on the ship after an excursion? Do they check your bags every time?

 

I'm doing a Med cruise next summer, and it crossed my mind that I might like to buy a local bottle of wine in Italy or Greece to drink on the cruise. Will I be searched before getting back on the ship every day??

 

Yep! You can buy a bottle of alcohol at a port but every time you get back on the ship, you and your bags will have to go through a scanner. I *think* if you're upfront about any local alcohol you buy, they will store it for you in the naughty room and it will be returned to you on disembarkation day.

[aldewitt]

The below is from the RCCL website. ...

 

A: Guests are not allowed to bring alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages onboard for consumption or any other use. ....

 

Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol. ...

 

Okay, so ask yourself this question: if it was not okay for you to bring soda on board, why would the security people be inspecting the soda bottles? If they were not allowed, they'd be treated just like alcohol bottles. Right? So it seems pretty obvious to me that while they say that (and it probably keeps about 90% of the people honest), my guess is they don't give a hoot about the soda, they want the revenue from the booze.

[DivingPrincessE]

That last bit I have not seen before - even after seeing dozens of pastings of the rules in various posts. The distinction for embarkation day definitely contradicts all the many posts about the "naughty room" luggage retrieval routine when boarding. With very few exceptions people detail being given a receipt and told to pick the item up after noon on the last full day. The above would seem to indicate a change.

 

Whether they follow their own policy is a whole different thing.

 

When we were on the Mariner out of CA in March, they took my mom's wine bottles and she did not get them back. She explained we were from FL and she had gotten these bottles at a wine tasting there. She really loved them from the tasting and asked if she could please get them back at the end of the cruise. No go.

 

What was hilarious was that they said something of the extent of, "it's not our rules, it's mandated by the Department of Homeland Security." Well my mother and I happen to be very well versed in the rules of DHS...and bringing wine on a cruise ship is not one of them... It's a good thing I wasn't there b/c if some crew member just lied to my face like that, I probably would have lost it.

 

We find it very difficult to believe that they just dump the wine over the side or into sink. I'm sure there was a very lively crew party that night will all the confiscated booze.

 

And to those who argue, "well you should have followed the rules in the first place" (said in a very snooty voice)...if they were just doing their jobs and acting correcly then WHY did they feed us some lie about DHS?!? Also if they were acting correctly why is it that every other story we read on here ends with the people being given their alcohol back at the end of the cruise?

 

Yeah...like I said, crew party...

[gsb]

Yes! RumRunners?

[DivingPrincessE]

This is the most talked about post on Cruise Critics. Somehow people all want to sneak drinks alcoholic or non alcoholic on board. I am not a spokesperson for RCCL but the line is in business to make money. Would you walk into a restaurant such as Olive Garden or Red Lobster and bring a bottle of Vodka and ask the bar person to make you a drink with your own bottle? BYOB restaurants are far a few between.

 

No, but cruise ships are not floating restaurants, they are floating hotels...and yes I do bring my own wine to my hotel rooms. I don't think most people are trying to bring on wine so they bring the bottle to dining room and have the waiter serve them.

 

Most people who do, would probably like to be able to sit in their room/on their balcony and enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine without having to pay $9 for it. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. They have paid for that room, they should be able to enjoy it fully.

[pupdud]

I read on RC, that if you take alcohol on the first day of departure, you will NOT get it back. But if you purchase alcohol at a port or on board, it will be held till the last day of cruising.

[jmsnyc]

I read on RC, that if you take alcohol on the first day of departure, you will NOT get it back. But if you purchase alcohol at a port or on board, it will be held till the last day of cruising.

 

This is correct and is put into practice. If you bring a $100 bottle of scotch on the ship on the first day and they catch it, they take it and do not give it back. They claim it gets destroyed but I agree with the previous poster who said "Crew Party". How wrong is it that the crew is partying on your expense??? Yes, its in the cruise contract, but nevertheless I feel it is a reason to consider other cruise lines because this practice is reminiscent of a communist dictatorship. IMO, they should give it back at end of cruise if it is in sealed original bottle - even if they have an argument supporting this policy it creates a bad feeling towards RCCL of many of its customers/former customers.

[johneeo]

This is the most talked about post on Cruise Critics. Somehow people all want to sneak drinks alcoholic or non alcoholic on board. I am not a spokesperson for RCCL but the line is in business to make money. Would you walk into a restaurant such as Olive Garden or Red Lobster and bring a bottle of Vodka and ask the bar person to make you a drink with your own bottle? BYOB restaurants are far a few between.

 

Yep.

 

I am going to a fancy restaurant. I am addicted to shrimp cocktail. Restaurant does not have it on the menu, so I bring my own for an appetizer????:eek:

 

If you cannot take a bottle of beer on board, you should not be permitted to bring any liquid beverage on board whatsoever.

 

That is only fair.

[johneeo]

This is correct and is put into practice. If you bring a $100 bottle of scotch on the ship on the first day and they catch it, they take it and do not give it back. They claim it gets destroyed but I agree with the previous poster who said "Crew Party". How wrong is it that the crew is partying on your expense??? Yes, its in the cruise contract, but nevertheless I feel it is a reason to consider other cruise lines because this practice is reminiscent of a communist dictatorship. IMO, they should give it back at end of cruise if it is in sealed original bottle - even if they have an argument supporting this policy it creates a bad feeling towards RCCL of many of its customers/former customers.

 

Here is what is on the RCCL website: “Guests are not allowed to bring alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages onboard for consumption or any other use.”

 

However, some will opt to bring beverages on board in violation of the aforementioned policy.

 

When caught, you expect the cruise line to store the beverages and safeguard it for a week and have it available to the passenger upon return?:eek:

 

The cruise line is in the business to make a profit. When people bring beverages on board the result is a loss of profit to the cruise line. In addition, having to safeguard confiscated beverages increases costs to the cruise line. Such costs are then passed on the customers, the net result is increased cost of the cruise to customers.

 

As for your reference to “communist dictatorship”, this is inherent in all businesses. For the most part, they can run their business as they see fit. As with basic economics and the free market, we, the customer, have the ability to make choices and not patronize a business that has policies that we disagree.

 

Further, in the free market, I would suggest to RCCL that they should take all confiscated beverages, and resell them, thereby increasing their profit, keeping their costs down, which would allow them to reduce the overall costs to their customer base.

 

And if you do not like their policies, there are plenty of cruise lines that have policies and procedures that might meet your standards.

[jmsnyc]

I would suggest to RCCL that they should take all confiscated beverages, and resell them, thereby increasing their profit, keeping their costs down, which would allow them to reduce the overall costs to their customer base.

 

 

Lets agree to disagree. However, maybe you should apply for a job on RCCL - they have a lot of people who do agree with you that work in Guest Relations on board :D

[johneeo]

Lets agree to disagree. However, maybe you should apply for a job on RCCL - they have a lot of people who do agree with you that work in Guest Relations on board :D

 

Hey, I just want fairness.

 

Keep the cost down. Either allow all beverages to be brought on board, or allow none.

 

If they confiscate water, soda, beer, or liquor, sell them, and give me a reduction in my cost to cruise.

 

Pretty simple, eh?

[jmsnyc]

Hey, I just want fairness.

 

If they confiscate water, soda, beer, or liquor, sell them, and give me a reduction in my cost to cruise.

 

Pretty simple, eh?

 

Simple, yes. However taking customer's private personal property and spreading out the value to the mass population is socialist in its very nature and is one of the main ideals of communism. And if you think RCCL is going to lower the cost of your cruise because they are making more profit by seizing alcohol and reselling it, you apparently are living in another world.

 

Of course it cant be proven that it is being resold or used at crew parties but I believe at least one of the 2 rumors are true - and likely both. It is highly unlikely they are "destroying" sealed bottles.

 

Again, if they confiscate sealed water, soda etc - I believe they return it at the end. While alcohol is prohibited by the ship it is not illegal - (of course if it is a minor - that is a different story). I understand that they take it - but they should check it and return it just like they do at the ports. Whether people in this forum agree or disagree, seizure of personal property is wrong and I will consider strongly other cruiselines the next time I book because of this policy.

 

This policy is not going to discourage many people from trying to bring alcohol on board - it is just going to piss off their customer base - encourage them to either consider other cruise lines or be more creative in packing it next time. I spoke to a lot of people on the ship who were victims of alcohol seizure - and I can tell you they all told me they are likely to book Carnival or Norwegian next time. So in the end RCCL loses customers, loses profit.... hmmm

[arc918]

we crusied the FOS about a month ago, I brought a case of water and some 24 ounce bottles of soda with me without any problems

 

I drink Diet Mtn Dew (nectar o' the gods) and I knew they didn't sell it on the ship

 

had I been denied, then I would have been out $10, a risk I was willing to take

[johneeo]

Simple, yes. However taking customer's private personal property and spreading out the value to the mass population is socialist in its very nature and is one of the main ideals of communism. And if you think RCCL is going to lower the cost of your cruise because they are making more profit by seizing alcohol and reselling it, you apparently are living in another world.

 

Of course it cant be proven that it is being resold or used at crew parties but I believe at least one of the 2 rumors are true - and likely both. It is highly unlikely they are "destroying" sealed bottles.

 

Again, if they confiscate sealed water, soda etc - I believe they return it at the end. While alcohol is prohibited by the ship it is not illegal - (of course if it is a minor - that is a different story). I understand that they take it - but they should check it and return it just like they do at the ports. Whether people in this forum agree or disagree, seizure of personal property is wrong and I will consider strongly other cruiselines the next time I book because of this policy.

 

This policy is not going to discourage many people from trying to bring alcohol on board - it is just going to piss off their customer base - encourage them to either consider other cruise lines or be more creative in packing it next time. I spoke to a lot of people on the ship who were victims of alcohol seizure - and I can tell you they all told me they are likely to book Carnival or Norwegian next time. So in the end RCCL loses customers, loses profit.... hmmm

 

Really, get a grip.

 

Obviously, you do not understand capitalism, the free market, and economics. The cruise line needs to make a profit. To do so, they need to cut costs and increase revenue.

 

For example, you bring a bunch of beverages against their policy. You expect the cruise line then to hire people to confiscate your beverages, and then store your beverages, and protect your beverages until you return?:confused:

 

That is additional cost that is passed on to me and all other cruisers.

 

I really do not expect RCCL to lower prices for me, however, economically speaking, when they have to expend resources because of your failure to follow their written policies, that is a cost to RCCL, and that is a cost passed on to me and all cruisers.

 

Basic economics 101.

 

And if you and others have a problem with that policy, and it "pisses you off" enough, let the free market prevail, and sail on another cruise line that meets your specific criteria.

 

However, do not attempt to tell me that customers that violate written policy should be protected from their own stupidity, and I should bear the cost of it. Now, protecting the ignorant from their own stupidity, that in a nutshell is communism at work.

[daze6399]

The cruise line is in the business to make a profit. When people bring beverages on board the result is a loss of profit to the cruise line. In addition, having to safeguard confiscated beverages increases costs to the cruise line. Such costs are then passed on the customers, the net result is increased cost of the cruise to customers.

 

 

Further, in the free market, I would suggest to RCCL that they should take all confiscated beverages, and resell them, thereby increasing their profit, keeping their costs down, which would allow them to reduce the overall costs to their customer base.

 

Point #1: The loss of profit is negligible. They would have to do it on EVERY ship EVERY time (which they do not) for prolly 3-6 months before word got around and people stopped trying. Secondly the people and storage areas are already in existence, they are used at every port where you CAN buy alcohol and have it kept for you until the last evening.

 

Point #2: HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA. *deep breath* HAHAHAAHAHAA. What on earth makes you think that they would even for a second consider lowering rates because they made money from selling confiscated booze? That's just gonna go in the stockholders check at the end of the year.