Cruised on RCCL since new liquor policy?

[Straughn]

We have alwas packed a bottle of bourbon and a bottle of vermout in our checked lugage--DH is very particular about his Manhattan before dinner and RCCL does not carry the "required" brands of bourbon and vermouth :)

 

Never, ever a problem (knock on wood- it doesn't happpen this cruise) nothing has broken.

 

I am content with wine from Room Service.

 

We always pack the Manhattan fixings in lots of bubble wrap and then put each bottle in a heavy duty zip-lock plastic bag and pack it in the sturdy sided checked bag. Never had anything break and if it did, it would be very well protected.

 

This does not in any way reduce our sea pass account-we always have drink or two in the Champagne Bar, wine with dinner, and then DH has one or more (translate several single malts) in the theatre and the casino after dinner.

 

Yes, we (he) drinks a lot-you will never find us roaming the halls soused and misbehaving!

 

In numerous ports, we have brought liquor on board to take home. Only on the last Caribbean cruise was it confiscated. Ironically, what RCCL kept until the last night was a particular brand of rum which our neighbor drinks and we bought as a "thank you" for taking care of our mail and watering our gardens while we were away.

 

This whole " bringing liquor on board" varies so much by ship that there is no consistent policy.

[novicecruiser1]

My hubby and I recently returned from the Empress and sailed out of Miami. We carried on a 12-pack of Dr. Pepper, a fairly large bottle of Vodka and a bottle of vermouth with no problem at all. We also purchased a bottle of Kahlua in Cozumel and walked it right through the security (after they screened it) with no problem.

[Merion_Mom]

Just returned from the 8/15 Majesty sailing....Security was no tighter than usual, in regards to "smuggling alcohol".

 

I had a 12-pack of Pepsi in a "carry-on" backpack...put it thru the scanner but the zipper was never opened to see if it was beer or not. I DID carry on a gift-wrapped bottle of wine in plain sight and had some alcohol in my checked suitcases. Had NO problems with any of the above.

 

I, also voiced my displeasure with their new consumption fee policy on the cruise survey form.

DITTO on the "no security", DITTO on the checked bags, BIG DITTO on the complaint on the survey.

[rubrrick]

I'll let everyone know if there are any changes one week from today after we return from our Monarch sailing. I get the feeling that the only thing that has changed is that you can no longer purchase bottles of liquor onboard for consumption while onboard.

 

Rick

[CINCY40]

Did the duty free shop in San Juan have wine?

[yukongrl]

I also traveled with my Dh on my last cruiseon the Navigator 2003 from Miami, we were too panicked to pack beer /wine -- so we decide NOT to smuggle anything - they we see a group of 10 people loading CASES OF BEER into suit cases outside our hotel which was across the street from the pier -- Now of course we don't know if it all made it on board but boy were we kicking ouselves majorly.

My husband says when he 's on vacation he doesn't care about the money and he's going to drink well One night I left to run back to our room and I thought let me check the tv to see where our bill is at ..... Well I wanted to fall on the floor. That sea pass makes it very easy to meet people on board and say " hey this rounds on me " becomes a poplular phrase along with DH telling me he's on vacation and he doesn't care -- but I knew better I stopped by the desk and slapped down money on the counter and told them to put it towards our bill - just so he wouldn't have a stroke the last night of the cruise. The bill was still high when we checked out but just think if I didn't do what I did. and this bill was 98 percent ALCOHOL!!! We prepaid our excurisons before sailing and bought like three things at the store for our son.

So you know I am taking my chances this year after seeing this thread. ;)

[yukongrl]

Did the duty free shop in San Juan have wine?

 

When I was there in 2000 -- they did have wine and a great selection! I bought several bottles and my Dh got 3 cases of beer -- we had no problem getting them on board and into our room and the cabin steward made sure everything was kept ice cold for us. We never brought the wine to the formal dining room.

[BeachBar]

Just got back from Adventure sailing out of San Juan. In SJ you do all your paper work etc after having gone through the security check. As you approach the ship there are people handing out flyers for the duty free inside the terminal. You can buy what you want and just walk it on board. Absolutely no problem. Prices are also very good, a liter of Grey Goose Mandarin was $19.50 and a liter of Captain Morgans was $8.75

 

This was always the case, and I was wondering if it's still the same with the new policy. I've never had a problem on any of three cruises just bringing a bottle or two on in my carry-on bag. I never put it in my checked luggage - just stuck it in my carry-on put it through the scanner and no one ever said a word.

 

As stated above this was practically encouraged the two times I departed from Pan American Pier in San Juan. I walked in to the duty free, asked if they would confiscate once I tried to board, and the employee at duty free said "just stick it in your carry-on and they won't say a thing". So, that was true both times.

 

My question is, is it still true?

[jschof42]

for yukongirl: we have purchased the wine in the box, then wrapped it up in gift wrap and packed the box in our suitcases twice now and have enjoyed the wine in our cabin and balcony duirng the cruise.

 

i have seen people purchase beer at their first port and bring it back in

on the ship in their beach bag!!!

 

i just posted on the 10/21/05 trip thread last night. we are very

excited about the cruise. our you taking the bus?

 

you mentioned delaware county...i grew up in springfield, pa!!!

 

talk to you soon. barbara schofield-jschof42@att.net---jschof42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Navigator 2003 from Miami, we were too panicked to pack beer /wine -- so we decide NOT to smuggle anything - they we see a group of 10 people loading CASES OF BEER into suit cases outside our hotel which was across the street from the pier -- Now of course we don't know if it all made it on board but boy were we kicking ouselves majorly.

My husband says when he 's on vacation he doesn't care about the money and he's going to drink well One night I left to run back to our room and I thought let me check the tv to see where our bill is at ..... Well I wanted to fall on the floor. That sea pass makes it very easy to meet people on board and say " hey this rounds on me " becomes a poplular phrase along with DH telling me he's on vacation and he doesn't care -- but I knew better I stopped by the desk and slapped down money on the counter and told them to put it towards our bill - just so he wouldn't have a stroke the last night of the cruise. The bill was still high when we checked out but just think if I didn't do what I did. and this bill was 98 percent ALCOHOL!!! We prepaid our excurisons before sailing and bought like three things at the store for our son.

So you know I am taking my chances this year after seeing this thread. ;)

[fyrmrs]

When my DH and I cruised on Grandeur, I had a 1.75L bottle of Crown Royal in a tampon box from Costco just in case they decided to search our luggage. What male would think to look in a tampon box for alcohol. We also heard of people filling water bottles with vodka, gin, or other clear liquors. However we have never had our luggage searched because we always use plastic zip cords to lock our luggage and they have never been cut.

[rubrrick]

Just got off the Monarch. There appeared to be no searching or removal of liquor being brought aboard at the beginning of the trip. Having the RS, I asked the guest relations manager if free liquor was included in our suite and she said "No." We did receive several bottles of champagne, but paid for soft drinks and beer as in any stateroom.

I did not try to purchase any duty free liquor from the retail shop. An interesting note, I asked one of the senior officers about the new liquor policy, and was told that, as far as he knew, liquor has never been allowed to be sold for consumption in the rooms.

So, the only change I noted, is that you cannot purchase liquor in their retail shop for consuption onboard.

 

Rick

[BeachBar]

Thanks for the update!

[edc4me2]

We just returned from cruising on R.C. Rhapsody of the Seas to Fiji from Sydney Australia. We had just gotten off a Celebrity Cruise (which we LOVED).

We did not know and did not see (the fine print), where liquor was not allowed in checked luggage, therefore, we had no idea why our luggage did not arrive. My husband was so nervous thinking our luggage was left on the dock, we missed one of the dreams we had, of leaving Sydney Harbor, having a drink from our own suite deck. When my husband found where confiscated luggage was being held, he went to investigate. There were hundreds of bags piled high. When my nice bag finally arrived, it looked like it had been drug under a bus. Completely ruined. The zipper was broken, drag marks, and dirt all over it. When I complained, the first person said it was my fault for bringing alcohol. No apology. They took my bag for repair, as I could not get home with it. Could not be repaired. They gave me a piece of junk bag to get home. (Going into the airport, with my 38 lb. bag, the wheels fell off and both handles broke off just lifting it on the belt!). All to get our money for drinks? Very sad. Their policy should be posted front and center on the web site, so you know when you book.

They have lost a customer who buys a suite on a cruise.

[PhoenixCruiser]

We just returned from cruising on R.C. Rhapsody of the Seas to Fiji from Sydney Australia. We had just gotten off a Celebrity Cruise (which we LOVED).

We did not know and did not see (the fine print), where liquor was not allowed in checked luggage, therefore, we had no idea why our luggage did not arrive. My husband was so nervous thinking our luggage was left on the dock, we missed one of the dreams we had, of leaving Sydney Harbor, having a drink from our own suite deck. When my husband found where confiscated luggage was being held, he went to investigate. There were hundreds of bags piled high. When my nice bag finally arrived, it looked like it had been drug under a bus. Completely ruined. The zipper was broken, drag marks, and dirt all over it. When I complained, the first person said it was my fault for bringing alcohol. No apology. They took my bag for repair, as I could not get home with it. Could not be repaired. They gave me a piece of junk bag to get home. (Going into the airport, with my 38 lb. bag, the wheels fell off and both handles broke off just lifting it on the belt!). All to get our money for drinks? Very sad. Their policy should be posted front and center on the web site, so you know when you book.

They have lost a customer who buys a suite on a cruise.

 

Dude this thread is almost 7 years old...

 

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