Carrying Wine on board

[taxmantoo]

wow, I've never sailed princess before (will be on Thursday), but I would think this would slow down the embarkation process big time. To actually stop every person carrying wine to stamp it or note how many you have. Its almost punishing those that are just carrying their allotted one bottle each.

 

You can come back and tell us about your personal experience once you've actually been there and seen it. Until then, ... :rolleyes:

[rpcv77]

I, as well as though I've traveled with, have brought wine aboard our Princess cruises. Doing this did not hold up our boarding process or create a log jam among wine toting travelers. It was a non-event.

[caribill]

 

I don't know where people get the idea that wine has to go in your carry-on luggage. We have never found that to be the case.

 

When Princess started the tough enforcement of the corkage policy, they did say the wine/Champagne had to be in carryon items.

 

Wording on the luggage tags, the boarding pass and in the current passage contract no longer says this.

 

Wording in the contract often changes. Two years ago it said corkage would be charged if the wine was brought to a dining room. Now it says it will be charged if consuming in public areas.

[vickie_bernie]

I don't find it has really slowed down the process and i have been on about six different cruises in the past year since they started enforcing it.

 

Once you go thru security scanner they will note that there is wine and then they direct you to a table that normally has two people taking note of your bottles. Normally there is no one in front of you so you maybe spend five minutes at the most doing this.

 

This process does not affect anyone who is not bringing wine on at all.

 

Many cruise lines are doing the same. I am just glad we can bring wine on.

[Rustyr]

Everyone is talking about getting on with wine at the port, can you also bring the 1 bottle per person on at each of the stops on the way?

[PunkiC]

When Princess started the tough enforcement of the corkage policy, they did say the wine/Champagne had to be in carryon items.

 

Wording on the luggage tags, the boarding pass and in the current passage contract no longer says this.

 

Wording in the contract often changes. Two years ago it said corkage would be charged if the wine was brought to a dining room. Now it says it will be charged if consuming in public areas.

 

I followed the introduction of this policy very carefully had lots of communication with Princess along the way, because the ability to bring our own wine on board was a big deal for us. At no time was it ever really Princess policy that wine had to be in carry-on luggage. That rumor did float around Cruise Critic during the transition, and IIRC, I even corrected that misunderstanding before the policy went into effect.

 

We checked a case of wine very shortly after the new policy was introduced with no problems whatsoever.

 

Rustyr asks:

 

Everyone is talking about getting on with wine at the port, can you also bring the 1 bottle per person on at each of the stops on the way?

 

You can always bring wine on board wherever you are. Whether or not you will be charged a corkage fee is anyone's guess--maybe yes and maybe no. Officially, you should pay a corkage fee on any bottles over the one per adult that you bring on board at embarkation throughout the entire cruise, but enforcement is sketchy.

 

Sometimes they will check for wine and have a table at the port of call where you go and report your wine, sometimes they don't. Even when there is a wine table, they often just write down your cabin number and that's it.

 

As long as you are prepared to pay the corkage fee, don't worry about it. Just do whatever you want and see what happens. We don't care one way or the other as we either pay the corkage fee when we board or else we pay it when we take the bottle to dinner.

 

Depending on where you are in the world, buying wine in port and paying the corkage fee can still be a smoking deal, compared to buying wine on the ship. In France, Italy and Portugal, for instance, we were able to buy amazingly good wines (way better than what they had on the ship) crazy cheap, often just a few Euros. In other countries, like Canada, wine is very expensive so you may as well just buy it on the ship.

 

Of course, in the USA and in Australia you can also get excellent wines at a very reasonable price. It all depends on what you like.

Edited November 2, 2014 by PunkiC

[pablo222]

At no time was it ever really Princess policy that wine had to be in carry-on luggage.

 

The passage contract says:

 

"Passengers agree not to bring alcoholic beverages of any kind on board for consumption except one bottle of wine or champagne

per person of drinking age (no larger than 750 ml) per voyage only in his/her carry-on luggage."

 

That would seem to be princess policy.

 

You can read the whole thing here:

 

http://www.princess.com/find/bookingConditions.do

[eclue]

On August 31, boarded the Grand in Seattle and had to check our two bottles of carry on wine at the table. It did slow down the process as there was a line waiting to do so.

Then on Oct 20th boarded the Grand in San Pedro and they did not even acknowledge the wine we carried on.....it depends on the port.

eclue:rolleyes:

[JimmyVWine]

As long as you are prepared to pay the corkage fee, don't worry about it.

 

This pretty much sums it up. Maybe you check it through and have to claim it later, or maybe you carry it on and pay at the table. (I do think that Princess would prefer that you carry it on. It is probably as inconvenient for them to have a "claiming room" as it is for you to have to take the time to go to said room. Easier on everyone to carry on and pay at the table.) Either way, if you accept the notion that you will pay the industry-generous fee of $15, (restaurants now average $20-$25 and $35 is becoming frighteningly common), you have nothing to worry about and will suffer no inconvenience. It seems that 95% of the angst involved with bringing wine on board comes from people trying to skirt paying a very reasonable fee attached to a very reasonable allowance policy.

[pablo222]

It seems that 95% of the angst involved with bringing wine on board comes from people trying to skirt paying a very reasonable fee attached to a very reasonable allowance policy.

 

Many, many posts on cruise critic are about how to beat some part

of the system, decide which rules do not apply to 'me', or to get

something that one is not entitled to.

 

I think some of the people here spend more time than prison

inmates trying to beat the system, and they usually have 24x7

[Wehwalt]

Everyone is talking about getting on with wine at the port, can you also bring the 1 bottle per person on at each of the stops on the way?

 

It really depends on enforcement. In my experience, you mostly can, especially if it is not a port with a huge, cheap duty free shop right outside. But be prepared for it to be held until the last night of the voyage. I don't think they'd dump wine, especially if it showed any sort of vintage. The two small ships seem almost never to enforce an alcohol policy.

Edited November 2, 2014 by Wehwalt

[Wehwalt]

Many, many posts on cruise critic are about how to beat some part

of the system, decide which rules do not apply to 'me', or to get

something that one is not entitled to.

 

I think some of the people here spend more time than prison

inmates trying to beat the system, and they usually have 24x7

 

Let he who is without sin cast the first bottle.

 

Besides, our persons and all luggage are screened. As long as you have not changed the form of the alcohol (rum runner, say), it is simply a question of whether Princess chooses to enforce the policy, a choice delegated to their employees, and not a question of deceit. Having been at many ports where the alcohol policy was not enforced, if I bring a few cans of beer on board, Princess sees them. If they say nothing and hand me back my bag, that is the end of the matter by mutual consent. If they send me to the naughty table, again, that is the end of the matter. But it's Princess's call whether to enforce the alcohol policy, and so long as you are not trying to evade the screening, you do nothing wrong.

Edited November 2, 2014 by Wehwalt

[JimmyVWine]

Many, many posts on cruise critic are about how to beat some part

of the system, decide which rules do not apply to 'me', or to get

something that one is not entitled to.

 

I think some of the people here spend more time than prison

inmates trying to beat the system, and they usually have 24x7

 

So true. A couple will pay $3000 for a cruise, $600 more for excursions, will drop $300 in the casino, and then try to figure out how to avoid paying $60 for wine bottles #3 through #6. All the while complaining about money grubbing companies that nickel and dime their customers. But who is really doing the "nickeling" and "diming" in this scenario?

[jak378]

Back when it was acceptable we usually carried liquor and/or wine aboard. Even after Princess changed their policy several years ago we still continued to do so simply because there was no enforcement of the policy. I San Juan a few years ago because of the necessity to fly to the port we did not bring anything along, BUT right next to the boarding line was a large, well stocked duty free liquor and wine shop. They packed purchases in boxes that clearly stated what was inside and what was the source. These all went through the x-ray machines with n enforcement of the new policy. In fact I seem to recall that we left the ship to go to the liquor store and then reboarded, with no problem.

 

These days I would rather simply pay the premium price for wine in the dining room as well as the small bottles of liquor from room service. It is much less hassle. I can see the merit of buying wine in a port that is in a renowned wine producing country.

[BosoxI]

No problem as far as being considered you free bottle...as long as it's 750ml.

 

 

 

Same here. I would never consider paying the prices that they ask either. ;)

 

 

We haven't been on Princess in about four years. Are their prices that high? We find decent wines on Celebrity for under $50 and usually for around $30. Is that not possible on Princess? I don't want swill but I don't need to spend a fortune on overpriced wine.

 

We're leaving in two days on a 16 day TA on Celebrity. I have purchased 8 bottles of wine which will be delivered to our cabin. I've never done this before, but none of them is more than $40. We're on vacation and I don't want to scrimp, but I don't like being taken to the cleaners, either. As Elite+ we'll have plenty of opportunity to drink on board, but a glass of wine at dinner does enhance the meal.

Edited November 2, 2014 by BosoxI

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

We haven't been on Princess in about four years. Are their prices that high? We find decent wines on Celebrity for under $50 and usually for around $30. Is that not possible on Princess? I don't want swill but I don't need to spend a fortune on overpriced wine.

 

We're leaving in two days on a 16 day TA on Celebrity. I have purchased 8 bottles of wine which will be delivered to our cabin. I've never done this before, but none of them is more than $40. We're on vacation and I don't want to scrimp, but I don't like being taken to the cleaners, either. As Elite+ we'll have plenty of opportunity to drink on board, but a glass of wine at dinner does enhance the meal.

 

We're not that big of wine drinkers & the stuff we drink Princess wouldn't even think of carrying since it's so cheap to begin with. We go to the free wine tasting & have sampled all or their selections at one time or another & don't care for any of them. I'm sure they have some wines priced at $40 a bottle but have never paid that much attention since we don't like them. Perhaps someone else can post some of their current prices.

[2wheelin]

For comparison sake, does anyone have an estimate of the number of glasses of red wine Princess pours from a bottle. Trying to determine difference of purchasing by the glass or get a bottle. If purchased in the MDR, can you take open bottle to your cabin?

[Working 2 Cruise]

Everyone is talking about getting on with wine at the port, can you also bring the 1 bottle per person on at each of the stops on the way?

 

Whatever you bring will be held for you....

[caribill]

If purchased in the MDR, can you take open bottle to your cabin?

 

Yes, or if you wish they can hold it for you for another meal.

[Mapu]

We haven't been on Princess in about four years. Are their prices that high? We find decent wines on Celebrity for under $50 and usually for around $30. Is that not possible on Princess? I don't want swill but I don't need to spend a fortune on overpriced wine.

 

We're leaving in two days on a 16 day TA on Celebrity. I have purchased 8 bottles of wine which will be delivered to our cabin. I've never done this before, but none of them is more than $40. We're on vacation and I don't want to scrimp, but I don't like being taken to the cleaners, either. As Elite+ we'll have plenty of opportunity to drink on board, but a glass of wine at dinner does enhance the meal.

 

Bottles of wine on Princess are less expensive then on Celebrity. The least expensive are about $25 and go up from there. If you do a search on this board 2014 Wine List, Largin posted he list as of March.

[caribill]

When Princess started the tough enforcement of the corkage policy, they did say the wine/Champagne had to be in carryon items.

 

Wording on the luggage tags, the boarding pass and in the current passage contract no longer says this.

 

 

pablo222 reads better than I do. The current contract does include the carry-on only wording.

 

The passage contract says:

 

"Passengers agree not to bring alcoholic beverages of any kind on board for consumption except one bottle of wine or champagne

per person of drinking age (no larger than 750 ml) per voyage only in his/her carry-on luggage."

 

That would seem to be princess policy.

 

You can read the whole thing here:

 

http://www.princess.com/find/bookingConditions.do

 

On the contract for my next cruise is the same:

 

Passengers agree not to bring alcoholic beverages of any kind on board for consumption except one bottle of wine or champagne per person of drinking age (no larger than 750 ml) per voyage only in his/her carry-on luggage.

 

 

[pablo222]

On the contract for my next cruise is the same:

 

Passengers agree not to bring alcoholic beverages of any kind on board for consumption except one bottle of wine or champagne per person of drinking age (no larger than 750 ml) per voyage only in his/her carry-on luggage.

 

And, it could change in a heart-beat, without notice.

 

And, the port-enforcement may or may-not match the cruise contract...

 

This is certainly more fun than "Let it Ride", but I wouldn't put

it up with shooting craps...

[JimmyVWine]

For comparison sake, does anyone have an estimate of the number of glasses of red wine Princess pours from a bottle. Trying to determine difference of purchasing by the glass or get a bottle. If purchased in the MDR, can you take open bottle to your cabin?

 

Except in Vines, Princess uses small-ish stems and tends to over-pour resulting in about 4.5-5 glasses per bottle. If you are a habitual wine swirler, you will want to bring your own, larger stems. If you try to swirl and sniff using Princess's stems, you will end up wearing your wine.

[Boytjie]

Does anyone know if a bottle of champagne would count as a bottle of wine? All We want is one bottle for sail away. Can we bring it with us instead of a bottle of wine?

 

 

Unless it is from the Champagne region of France, it is sparkling wine. So yes, it is just a bottle of wine. :)

[Marseydotes]

If I am reading this thread correctly, Princess allows a bottle per person in carry-ons when embarking and allows the purchase of some in ports with a corkage fee, at least sometimes. We will be traveling to great wine countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal) and would like to buy a few bottles to bring home. Will Princess still charge us a corkage fee?