trixiee Posted December 13, 2013 #1 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Can I bring a bottle of vermouth on as part of my wine allotment? I didn't see where I could purchase a bottle on board. TIA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 13, 2013 #2 Share Posted December 13, 2013 No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doublebzz Posted December 13, 2013 #3 Share Posted December 13, 2013 No. Why not? Vermouth is wine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallywagon Posted December 13, 2013 #4 Share Posted December 13, 2013 (edited) I had the same question and asked it in the online chat on the HAL website. Here is the transcript. You are now speaking with Courtney! Customer: Hello Customer: I sent a request and have not recieved an answer Customer: Ref: message tracking number 887168 I have a question about wine being brought on board. Red vermouth is fortified wine. Does this meet the HAL wine policy for bringing wine on board? Courtney: We are working through all of our emails, I'm sorry you haven't received a response yet. You are allowed to bring that onboard. Courtney: Yes, we do allow passengers to bring as much wine, champagne, soft drinks and even their own bottled water on our ships, and there is no limit! However, we do not allow beer (even non-alcoholic) or other alcoholic beverages onboard. There will be an added corkage fee of $18 per bottle if wine is consumed in the dining room. Customer: Thank you for your help. Courtney: No Problem, Is there anything else I can help you with Today? Customer: No thanks Courtney: Thank you for contacting us. It was my pleasure to assist you today, and I hope that I have been able to answer all of your questions .If you have any more questions always feel free to call or chat with us, again my name is Courtney and Have a Wonderful day! Thank you for using Live Help. You may now close this window. When we take Vermouth onboard, I take a copy of the transcript with me just in case. We have taken Vermouth 3 times since and never been challenged. Good Luck Walter 3 Star Mariner Edited December 13, 2013 by Wallywagon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixiee Posted December 13, 2013 Author #5 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Thank you Walter! I will do the same, and print it off. The HA site was down for maintenance when I posed the question here. Best, Trixiee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 13, 2013 #6 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Good news. Hope it works for you. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peaches from georgia Posted December 13, 2013 #7 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Vermouth is fortified wine and this phone rep said it was allowed. Yet they say port wine is NOT allowed because it is fortified. Go figure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 13, 2013 #8 Share Posted December 13, 2013 The Port wine issue entered my mind. Lack of consistency...... :rolleyes:, again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 13, 2013 #9 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Speaking of port wine..... I wonder what happened for Surgergirle on her cruise. She was upset they were making her purchase a case of her port choices rather than the bottle or two she usually ordered. She hasn't posted in a while and wonder if she was finally able to order the few bottles she wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa Girl Posted December 13, 2013 #10 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Vermouth is fortified wine and this phone rep said it was allowed. Yet they say port wine is NOT allowed because it is fortified. Go figure. Also, sherry was disallowed on our recent Ryndam cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa Girl Posted December 13, 2013 #11 Share Posted December 13, 2013 I had the same question and asked it in the online chat on the HAL website. Here is the transcript. You are now speaking with Courtney! Customer: Hello Customer: I sent a request and have not recieved an answer Customer: Ref: message tracking number 887168 I have a question about wine being brought on board. Red vermouth is fortified wine. Does this meet the HAL wine policy for bringing wine on board? Courtney: We are working through all of our emails, I'm sorry you haven't received a response yet. You are allowed to bring that onboard. Courtney: Yes, we do allow passengers to bring as much wine, champagne, soft drinks and even their own bottled water on our ships, and there is no limit! However, we do not allow beer (even non-alcoholic) or other alcoholic beverages onboard. There will be an added corkage fee of $18 per bottle if wine is consumed in the dining room. Customer: Thank you for your help. Courtney: No Problem, Is there anything else I can help you with Today? Customer: No thanks Courtney: Thank you for contacting us. It was my pleasure to assist you today, and I hope that I have been able to answer all of your questions .If you have any more questions always feel free to call or chat with us, again my name is Courtney and Have a Wonderful day! Thank you for using Live Help. You may now close this window. When we take Vermouth onboard, I take a copy of the transcript with me just in case. We have taken Vermouth 3 times since and never been challenged. Good Luck Walter 3 Star Mariner Thanks, Walter. I have pasted it to my Travel file, and it will travel with my next boarding pass! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fouremco Posted December 13, 2013 #12 Share Posted December 13, 2013 As has been pointed out frequently in the past, ultimately it comes down to the decision of the security personnel on duty at a given port on a given day. They are given clear instructions not to allow anything but wine aboard, and if a bottle of port or vermouth doesn't look like a bottle of wine to them, it's not getting through. FWIW, the wine industry clearly differentiates between wines and modified wines, so claiming that vermouth and similar wine-based products are simply wines is a bit of a specious argument in my view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxmantoo Posted December 13, 2013 #13 Share Posted December 13, 2013 We have brought on port wine on most of our cruises. I have even shared some on a few occasions with the Cellar Master with a plate of cheese from the Pinnacle Grill and once gave a bottle to our Pinnacle Grill wine steward as a tip because we had talked about it and I knew he would enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixiee Posted December 13, 2013 Author #14 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Does none know if we can buy a decent vermouth or port on board? I won't bother with purchasing it ahead of time, if it's available on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 13, 2013 #15 Share Posted December 13, 2013 We have brought on port wine on most of our cruises. I have even shared some on a few occasions with the Cellar Master with a plate of cheese from the Pinnacle Grill and once gave a bottle to our Pinnacle Grill wine steward as a tip because we had talked about it and I knew he would enjoy it. You got lucky. Other people have been refused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typhoon1 Posted December 13, 2013 #16 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Never knew Vermouth was considered a wine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doublebzz Posted December 14, 2013 #17 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Never knew Vermouth was considered a wine. Yes; considered a "fortified" wine because herbs and spices are added, but is basically a wine. I enjoy it solely mixed in Martinis and Manhattans but some folks like it straight or on the rocks. I can't believe some misguided security person would confiscate vermouth or sherry. I have never been questioned and even purchased a bottle of port in Funchal as gift for a HAL staffer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detroit70 Posted December 17, 2013 #18 Share Posted December 17, 2013 We've carried vermouth on board for every one of our 4 cruises in the last 2 years. We had hoped to order a bottle on board to go with our bourbon, but a bottle of vermouth was going to cost $56. (We pay $4.50 here.) We asked at a couple liquor stores and they assured us that vermouth is wine, and no one at embarkation has ever challenged us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuolumne couple Posted December 18, 2013 #19 Share Posted December 18, 2013 buy gallo. if you are sailing out of fort lauderdale go to total wine near embassy suites and pick up what you need and carry it on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefisher Posted December 20, 2013 #20 Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) Yes; considered a "fortified" wine because herbs and spices are added, but is basically a wine. I enjoy it solely mixed in Martinis and Manhattans but some folks like it straight or on the rocks. I can't believe some misguided security person would confiscate vermouth or sherry. I have never been questioned and even purchased a bottle of port in Funchal as gift for a HAL staffer. It's not the herbs and spices that make it fortified, it is because distilled spirits are added. That is the most economical way to fortify, there are other ways the alcohol content of some wines are increased, many in fact. Ice wine, late harvest, yeast strains that don't attenuate in high sugar/alcohols, addition of fermentables in stages. The field is quite fascinating, just study the way the Chinese developed rice and sorghum high alcohol "wines". And then there is the American barley wine with percentages of alcohol approaching 18%. Okay, OT and TMI but I find it interesting. Edited December 20, 2013 by reefisher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipity1499 Posted December 20, 2013 #21 Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) Can I bring a bottle of vermouth on as part of my wine allotment? I didn't see where I could purchase a bottle on board. TIA! On my bottles of vermouth it says vinted & bottled by Gallo vinyards so I'm assuming it's OK & considered wine.. This according to Wikapedia "Several wine grapes, including Clairette blanche, Piquepoul, Catarratto and Trebbiano, are generally used as the base ingredients for vermouths. From these grapes, a low-alcohol white wine is produced by vermouth manufacturers." Vermouth is fortified wine and this phone rep said it was allowed. Yet they say port wine is NOT allowed because it is fortified. Go figure. I don't see anywhere that HAL'S wine policy states that fortified wine &/or Port is not permitted? We have friends who drink only Port wine.. The only place I've seen it is on CC where it has been stated that some misguided Security people have confiscated it Maybe we could get Copper 10-8 to weigh in here & actually tell us what their instructions from headquarters is.. Cheers..Betty Edited December 20, 2013 by serendipity1499 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OVgirl Posted December 21, 2013 #22 Share Posted December 21, 2013 (edited) I was also wondering if I could bring a bottle of Dubonnet on the ship. It's also a specialty wine with an alcohol content of 15%. Not sure if that is what the cruiseline looks at when they decide if you can bring it on the ship. How does this alcohol content compare to vermouth or port. Edited December 21, 2013 by OVgirl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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