Wine Corkage Protocal

[lhsail]

Yesterday LARGIN posted the 2014 wine list in response to a request for the wine list for the Sapphire. I am working under the assumption this is now in place on all ships, we are sailing on the CB in a couple of weeks. They have removed some wines which were standbys for DH and me in the low to mid-price range. As a result, we are giving serious consideration to taking several additional bottles on board and paying the corkage. We'll at the least break even per bottle, and in some cases save money even with the corkage and will be drinking, in our opinion, much better wines.

 

Can someone with experience in having paid the corkage help me out with some questions? If you pay corkage, I believe you can then drink the wine anywhere on the ship? If you take a bottle to the dining room, does the waiter serve it for you? Seems logical, but then I'm sure the $15 corkage goes to Princess, not to the waiter who provides the service. Anything else helpful about this process?

[paul929207]

Yes, the waiter will serve the wine. They will also remove the cork if needed. If you don't finish the bottle, they will hold it for you till the next night. You will get a receipt that will help them find it.

[IECalCruiser]

We brought on 8 bottles of wine on our recent cruise on the Grand out of San Francisco. As we went through security, the bottles were flagged and we were directed to a table. We paid corkage for the 6 excess bottles with our cruise card and received stickers to apply to the bottles. We consumed those bottles in the dining room, the Crown Grill and the Horizon Court. Service was the same as if we had bought a bottle there. We usually drink about half a bottle at dinner and the wine was available the next day wherever we ate. Per the Passage Contract, corkage must be paid if wine you bring on board is consumed in any public area. Since you have paid corkage, you should be able to consume that wine in any public area.

 

The $11.50 or $12.00 daily "auto tip" is split by your stewards, waiters and the behind the scenes staff that support those people. If you leave the auto tip on your bill, they can keep any additional cash you give them. The waitstaff never directly received the corkage. I don't know where the corkage went before, and I don't know where it goes now.

 

 

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Edited March 19, 2014 by IECalCruiser

[lhsail]

Appreciate the information. Pick assume the wines offered by the glass in the bars have undergone a similar change. Does anyone know for sure?

[IECalCruiser]

Appreciate the information. Pick assume the wines offered by the glass in the bars have undergone a similar change. Does anyone know for sure?

Wine List wines by the glass:

 

 

Vines wine by the glass:

 

[lhsail]

Wow, that was quick. Thank you.

[IECalCruiser]

Wow, that was quick. Thank you.

I'm retired and spend too much time on CC :o

[LARGIN]

IECalCruiser.. I am thinking of bringing 6-8 bottles on our upcoming cruise out of San Francisco and do not mind playing the corkage. When they check the bottles did you have to remove them from protective packing? I am using Wine Diapers.

[Maddle]

Quick - please tell me - what is a "wine diaper?"

 

Maddle

[Colo Cruiser]

Not sure I want to know. :eek:

[IECalCruiser]

IECalCruiser.. I am thinking of bringing 6-8 bottles on our upcoming cruise out of San Francisco and do not mind playing the corkage. When they check the bottles did you have to remove them from protective packing? I am using Wine Diapers.

We drove up from Southern California and had the bottles in two lightweight four bottle cloth carriers from one of our wine clubs. I put those in the bottom of my carry-on bag when I went through security. I opened up the carry-on at the table and showed them the two bags with the tops of the bottles showing and that was all. It looked like they were checking someone else in more detail to insure that several items in their bag were not wine or alcohol. I think you should be OK.

[Lulubelle45]

Yes, the waiter will serve the wine. They will also remove the cork if needed. If you don't finish the bottle, they will hold it for you till the next night. You will get a receipt that will help them find it.

 

Is there a corkage fee on screw tops??? :)

 

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[Colo Cruiser]

Is there a corkage fee on screw tops??? :)

 

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Yes.

[wineforhealth]

Yes.

 

Not always

 

When I have brought a screw cap bottle in the MDR and was only charged for the wine with a cork in it. This has happened more than a few times. Depends on the waiter also.

[IECalCruiser]

Not always

 

 

 

When I have brought a screw cap bottle in the MDR and was only charged for the wine with a cork in it. This has happened more than a few times. Depends on the waiter also.

Per the Passage Contract, you are required to pay a corkage of $15/liter for any amount above 750ml per passenger of drinking age. It has nothing to do with a cork or screw cap. In addition, if you take that bottle to the DR you will need to pay corkage on that bottle. Corkage is a bad term. It should be called a wine service fee. If you bring wine in a bag in box, which has a foil seal rather than a cork or a screw cap, you are required to pay $15 for every 750ml after the first 750ml.

 

 

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[wineforhealth]

Per the Passage Contract, you are required to pay a corkage of $15/liter for any amount above 750ml per passenger of drinking age. It has nothing to do with a cork or screw cap. In addition, if you take that bottle to the DR you will need to pay corkage on that bottle. Corkage is a bad term. It should be called a wine service fee. If you bring wine in a bag in box, which has a foil seal rather than a cork or a screw cap, you are required to pay $15 for every 750ml after the first 750ml.

 

 

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I agree with you totaly and have never had problem with the passage contract or paying the corkage fee and have paid it many times. Your response should be to the MDR staff. I have asked to pay and was told , no charge because the bottle didn't have a cork. You are also not allowed to bring a container of wine no larger than 750ml so that leaves out bags and boxes but clearly they have made it onto the ship.

[Tedferg]

I assume Lulubelle was making a joke. However the wait staff could be confused by the term corkage.

[IECalCruiser]

I agree with you totaly and have never had problem with the passage contract or paying the corkage fee and have paid it many times. Your response should be to the MDR staff. I have asked to pay and was told , no charge because the bottle didn't have a cork. You are also not allowed to bring a container of wine no larger than 750ml so that leaves out bags and boxes but clearly they have made it onto the ship.

There have been some posts about people bringing on a Box wine and being allowed with paying corkage for amount over 750ml. I have no personal knowledge, but on a longer cruise it might be worth it to us to bring a 3 liter Black Box wine for our cabin and paying $30 for the privilege.

 

Assuming your first two allowed bottles are for in cabin consumption, then a $15 corkage will be paid in advance on any additional bottle which would be brought to the DR. Those bottles will have a sticker indicating that corkage has been paid when you bring it to the DR. I have no problem with the corkage when we bring wine to the DR but want everyone to play by the same rules. We have brought wine to the DR on numerous ships. Only one time were we not charged corkage and our waiter sheepishly noted the error the next day and we paid it then. I think some waitstaff may have hoped for a better additional tip by not charging corkage. That becomes a non issue with the new procedure.

 

 

 

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[msmoger]

Deleted

Edited March 20, 2014 by msmoger

[wineforhealth]

There have been some posts about people bringing on a Box wine and being allowed with paying corkage for amount over 750ml. I have no personal knowledge, but on a longer cruise it might be worth it to us to bring a 3 liter Black Box wine for our cabin and paying $30 for the privilege.

 

 

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I agree with you on the box (or bags) and paying more. I have always followed the rules and supporter of what you say. I and enjoy the fact that Princess allows passengers to bring wine on-board.

[Colo Cruiser]

I agree with you totaly and have never had problem with the passage contract or paying the corkage fee and have paid it many times. Your response should be to the MDR staff. I have asked to pay and was told , no charge because the bottle didn't have a cork. You are also not allowed to bring a container of wine no larger than 750ml so that leaves out bags and boxes but clearly they have made it onto the ship.

 

You would have to get on the ship with any extra bottles first and they don't care in the terminal whether it has a screw top or not.

[saturngazer]

We brought on 8 bottles of wine on our recent cruise on the Grand out of San Francisco. As we went through security, the bottles were flagged and we were directed to a table. We paid corkage for the 6 excess bottles with our cruise card and received stickers to apply to the bottles. We consumed those bottles in the dining room, the Crown Grill and the Horizon Court.

 

I am planning on bringing 10 bottles of wine on my next cruise - on the Star - out of San Francisco. I am trying to determine the best way to 'carry-on' 10 bottles. How did you bring the 8 bottles? I am more than willing to pay the 'corkage fee' upon boarding, so that is not an issue. I was happy to see that you could pay the fee with your cruise card and there was no problem taking them to the dining rooms. Any other information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[Colo Cruiser]

We brought on 8 bottles of wine on our recent cruise on the Grand out of San Francisco. As we went through security, the bottles were flagged and we were directed to a table. We paid corkage for the 6 excess bottles with our cruise card and received stickers to apply to the bottles. We consumed those bottles in the dining room, the Crown Grill and the Horizon Court.

 

I am planning on bringing 10 bottles of wine on my next cruise - on the Star - out of San Francisco. I am trying to determine the best way to 'carry-on' 10 bottles. How did you bring the 8 bottles? I am more than willing to pay the 'corkage fee' upon boarding, so that is not an issue. I was happy to see that you could pay the fee with your cruise card and there was no problem taking them to the dining rooms. Any other information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

Best way is in your carry on or in a carrier taken on with you.

[windsor26]

 

Best way is in your carry on or in a carrier taken on with you.

 

All wine MUST be in your carry on or in your hand Any wine in your checked luggage is deemed to be smuggled and will be destroyed

[Colo Cruiser]

The policy states "liquor brought onboard outside of the policy will be removed and discarded" not wine/champagne placed in luggage. It will probably just delay the luggage getting to the stateroom.

Edited March 23, 2014 by Colo Cruiser