Thinking about smuggling in liquor?

[giginevelyn]

Think again! Off the Jewel of the Seas on Monday and they were kept everyone's luggage who they suspected had something until you came and opened it for them to search. It wasn't just a few people either. It had to have been hundred's. One of my suitcases was held and I made 2 different attempts to wait in line to get it back. I left the first time as it would have made me miss my dining time (6pm). Came back about 8:30 and the line was even longer. I had no liquor, but a single bottle of Vitamin Water in mine was all it took to prevent me from having my clothes and belongings until I waited for an hour in line. They showed no mercy. I even saw them sniffing bottles of Contact Lens solution. They found plenty of liquor though. On a cart next to the line was the confiscated booze and I saw everything. Even a box of wine! I don't know if this is just a result of Spring Break, but they weren't messing around!

[reallyitsmema]

They will sniff or shake anything to see if it is alcohol. Next time, carry on your bottle of vitamin water, especially during spring break season.

[Bakincakes]

RCI usually gets tougher during Spring Break...if smuggling is cutting into their liquor revenues enough they may just step up their efforts all year round.

[Ren1216]

Tightening on the alcohol policy is typical for this time of year, as others have mentioned. I agree with you, not worth the wasted time in that line to get your bag back.

[tdk]

Well hopefully its just because of spring break...I realize the rule is not to bring alcohol on board but lots of people do it...I am dissapointed that RCCL would have their customers standing in line for hours to get their bags. I would have thought they had lots better things to do other than to sort thru every single piece of luggage and sift thru everything from mouth wash and saline solution, taking bottled water. I admit have a brought liqour in my suitcase and not once have had an issue but we haven't been on RCCL in a long time. I probably like most dont bring liquor on board so I can sit in my room and not spend any money at the bars....beleive me we always have a pretty high bill getting off the ship. But it is nice in the evenings to sit out on the balcony and have a drink weather its before dinner or after dinner. I understand going thru some bags if they see something that looks excessive but its bad customers service I think to sift every single thing. But this is just my opinion.

[reallyitsmema]

Well hopefully its just because of spring break...I realize the rule is not to bring alcohol on board but lots of people do it...I am dissapointed that RCCL would have their customers standing in line for hours to get their bags. I would have thought they had lots better things to do other than to sort thru every single piece of luggage and sift thru everything from mouth wash and saline solution, taking bottled water. I admit have a brought liqour in my suitcase and not once have had an issue but we haven't been on RCCL in a long time. I probably like most dont bring liquor on board so I can sit in my room and not spend any money at the bars....beleive me we always have a pretty high bill getting off the ship. But it is nice in the evenings to sit out on the balcony and have a drink weather its before dinner or after dinner. I understand going thru some bags if they see something that looks excessive but its bad customers service I think to sift every single thing. But this is just my opinion.

All bags are xrayed. If your bag contains something that is on the prohibited list, your bag is put to the side. You will be notified that you need to go and open your bag for security.

[Mybearsbaby]

Ok here is my question: If I were to take a 6 pack of diet dr. Pepper (the only soda I really drink, and not offered onboard) and put it in a clear backpack with a luggage tag on it, would I have to go explain, and would it be confiscated? I wont be trying to hide anything, all I want is to have some diet dr. Pepper!

[lov2sun]

Contact lens solution, really? I wont be smuggling but now have to worry about being called down cuz i wear contacts and Will have a couple.bottles of

solution?

[tdk]

Ok here is my question: If I were to take a 6 pack of diet dr. Pepper (the only soda I really drink, and not offered onboard) and put it in a clear backpack with a luggage tag on it, would I have to go explain, and would it be confiscated? I wont be trying to hide anything, all I want is to have some diet dr. Pepper!

 

Yep... That is the case.

[kebahdog]

Did you see Rum Runners on the confiscated list

[Cruising240]

Contact lens solution, really? I wont be smuggling but now have to worry about being called down cuz i wear contacts and Will have a couple.bottles of

solution?

 

 

I wear contacts too and I will be really p****d if they hold my luggage after I have spent over $3000 already precruise on top of whatever I spend onboard. I work in eyecare and get the small sample bottles so hopefully with them being so small they wont have the desire to sniff them out. I would suggest maybe stopping by your eye dr to see if as a courtesy they will give you a sample bottle. I have done it for patients who were flying somewhere. Good luck!

[tdk]

All bags are xrayed. If your bag contains something that is on the prohibited list, your bag is put to the side. You will be notified that you need to go and open your bag for security.

 

 

I understand that and for all of our safety I am glad they do BUT ...where I think it's just bad customer service is them trying to get every single item so that so many people are punished with long lines. Get the bags where they are smuggling in excessive amounts of what ever the item is and not grab every person that has one bottle of mouth wash or saline or 1 bottle of wine.

[Havingfun2010]

Well hopefully its just because of spring break...I realize the rule is not to bring alcohol on board but lots of people do it...I am dissapointed that RCCL would have their customers standing in line for hours to get their bags. I would have thought they had lots better things to do other than to sort thru every single piece of luggage and sift thru everything from mouth wash and saline solution, taking bottled water. I admit have a brought liqour in my suitcase and not once have had an issue but we haven't been on RCCL in a long time. I probably like most dont bring liquor on board so I can sit in my room and not spend any money at the bars....beleive me we always have a pretty high bill getting off the ship. But it is nice in the evenings to sit out on the balcony and have a drink weather its before dinner or after dinner. I understand going thru some bags if they see something that looks excessive but its bad customers service I think to sift every single thing. But this is just my opinion.

 

You mentioned that it bad customer service? Or is it good customer service because they clearly state you can't, so if they look the other way, what happens? You become the "other" cruise line that I won't mention that anything goes. If I follow the rules, than they look the other way, than why should anyone follow the rules? A good business adheres to the rules they make.

 

A very common place to hide booze is contact cleaner bottles, mouth wash bottles and even shampoo bottles. Why, I don't know, but it's done, so if you have an unbundant supply of contact cleaner, than it's a clue.

[reallyitsmema]

Did you see Rum Runners on the confiscated list

Not sure what you are asking. Do you mean the prohibited list? Do a search on the cruiseline website and you can see what is not allowed on the ship.

 

Bringing your own alcohol on the ship is not allowed. If you want to bring an empty rum runner, go for it, I am sure they won't mind. And don't fall for the marketing hype, they are not invisible.

[orville99]

The Jewel cruise before yours had several people escorted off in cuffs, and quite a few who didn't get their luggage for the same reasons that you mentioned. Welcome to spring break cruising.

 

We brought eight bottles of water in our carry on with no problem, but it was clear that they were really checking luggage. Even the porters warned us when we dropped our luggage off.

 

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[reallyitsmema]

I understand that and for all of our safety I am glad they do BUT ...where I think it's just bad customer service is them trying to get every single item so that so many people are punished with long lines. Get the bags where they are smuggling in excessive amounts of what ever the item is and not grab every person that has one bottle of mouth wash or saline or 1 bottle of wine.

So if that group of college guys each got just a bottle through and partied all night in the cabin beside you that would be ok then since it wasn't an excessive amount? Others would think it was bad customer service not to get all smuggled alcohol.

 

If you don't like the policy, try another cruiseline that will let you bring one wine or whatever. My sister now cruises Princess because of their wine policy. My mother on the other hand now uses rum runners.:rolleyes: Not sure if she got called to the naughty room this week or not, I will know on Sunday for sure if she did.:eek: I know if I were cruising during spring break, I would carryon anything that might cause my luggage to be held.

[Mybearsbaby]

Yep... That is the case.

 

Oh wow! Ok. Thanks :) Well I don't think we will even try then. Its not worth standing in a long line for 6 diet dr. Peppers ;)

[cruisenfever]

I understand that and for all of our safety I am glad they do BUT ...where I think it's just bad customer service is them trying to get every single item so that so many people are punished with long lines. Get the bags where they are smuggling in excessive amounts of what ever the item is and not grab every person that has one bottle of mouth wash or saline or 1 bottle of wine.

It really is very simple. If people follow the rules, then they won't have to be punished and stand in long lines waiting to open their luggage for inspection.

[Mybearsbaby]

Oh and are they holding all the bags for that cabin or just the bag they think has booze or liquid?

[peteukmcr]

It really is very simple. If people follow the rules, then they won't have to be punished and stand in long lines waiting to open their luggage for inspection.

Agree 100%!

[time4u2go]

It really is very simple. If people follow the rules, then they won't have to be punished and stand in long lines waiting to open their luggage for inspection.

 

But if somebody brings a bottle of mouthwash or contact lens solution, and they end up standing in long lines because of it, aren't they being punished even though they DIDN'T break the rules?:confused:

[cruisinquestions]

My family of 5 will have 4 or 5 normal size suite cases delivered. Inside 2 or 3 will be a full size bottle of shampoo and condition in a zippy bag. I will also have a zip bag of contact eye stuff and probably hair spray bottle (pump) and possibly mouth wash will be inside one case. Im probably forgetting a product or 2 that we'll need that is liquid in a 16 oz (or so) bottle.

 

With all these bottles- and this thread- I feel that its highly possible theyll snatch my bags for inspection. While I understand what they are doing- I find it to be a bit of a stretch of boundaries that they would sniff my bottles and even make people go through this. We have to bring our liquids?!

 

Again I say I understand- but every suite case with a few bottles cant be grabbed- can they? Seems way too excessive to me, making people wait hours to retrieve their stuff. I leave 3/31 and am sooo excited!

[ARCruisinNana]

Oh wow! Ok. Thanks :) Well I don't think we will even try then. Its not worth standing in a long line for 6 diet dr. Peppers ;)

Take it on board with you in your carryon bags. That way you're not hiding it and taking on that much. You won't have to wait in line to claim your luggage. They'll either take it or let it go through. I usually take on a few bottles of sealed water and haven't had a problem.

[tdk]

So if that group of college guys each got just a bottle through and partied all night in the cabin beside you that would be ok then since it wasn't an excessive amount? Others would think it was bad customer service not to get all smuggled alcohol.

 

If you don't like the policy, try another cruiseline that will let you bring one wine or whatever. My sister now cruises Princess because of their wine policy. My mother on the other hand now uses rum runners.:rolleyes: Not sure if she got called to the naughty room this week or not, I will know on Sunday for sure if she did.:eek: I know if I were cruising during spring break, I would carryon anything that might cause my luggage to be held.

 

I know the policy and know they are obviously strict about so we hadnt planned on bringing anything we aren't suppose to because we won't want to wait in line. I really don't care what anybody brings on board I was stating that they probably go overboard about it. I do think if more cruise lines offered beverage packages like celebrity they would have alot less smuggling.

[cruisinquestions]

But if somebody brings a bottle of mouthwash or contact lens solution, and they end up standing in long lines because of it, aren't they being punished even though they DIDN'T break the rules?:confused:

 

My first cruise I was called down- it took a few minutes and was quite light hearted, the whole experience. They asked me to take out a certain zippy bag, and I did- they saw shampoo, put it back and away I went. Whats cute if the suite case with 2 bottles of booze did go straight to the room!

 

Never smuggled again anyway- decided its annoying and not worth it. Next 3 cruises my stuff arrives promptly, no troubles, even though I continue to bring bottles of 'stuff' (shampoos, contact solution, etc)

 

I was part of the problem, now Im not. Said it in my last post- it SEEMS TOO EXCESSIVE to bug so many people to catch a certain percentage of smugglers.