Liquor

[sparks1093]

10 hours ago, Chief93 said:

On the Vista in December I brought on two bottles of wine in my carry on.  No one looked at it.  However, one guard thought my cargo pants pockets were "too puffy" and wanted to see inside.  It was extra masks.

 

My bar tab wasnt too bad.  4 drinks per day at the Alchemy bar and the occasional beer.  Somewhere around $450.  

 

That being said, I also managed to get a liter bottle of vodka on board in my luggage.  And I brought 12 cans of pineapple juice in my carryon.  I like to enjoy a drink on my balcony in the evenings.  For those offended by this behavior,,,, the bottle I brought on board changed nothing.  Had I not brought it on board, I simply would have done without those drinks.  My bar tab would have been exactly the same.

 

If you wish to bring stuff on board, just don't be greedy and don't be surprised if you get caught.  I have a fool proof method (so far).  But I never bring on something I don't mind losing.

 

Also, for like the 100th time, I'd like to suggest a new plan where I can buy a voucher to bring on a bottle.  There is absolutely NOTHING I want to buy from Carnival.  All the scotch is cheap.  I want to be able to buy a voucher...say for $100, that allows me to bring on one bottle of my choice.  Then I can drink King George V on my balcony.

It's kind of like sneaking food into a movie theater and saying, "well, I wouldn't have bought anything from the concession stand so the theater isn't losing anything, anyway". Fact is the cruise line is entitled to the revenue from liquor consumed onboard. They may not have your brand of scotch for sale in the Fun Shops to have in your cabin, but that's the thing about travel, isn't it? We don't always have the things we prefer for various reasons. Fortunately for me I am more than satisfied with the choices of rum. I did suggest to Heald that Carnival charge something similar to a corkage fee for liquor brought onboard, which I personally thought brilliant. The cruise line still makes a profit and the passenger gets to bring on their own brand of hooch. C'est le vie. 

[klfhngr]

On 1/12/2022 at 11:33 AM, elcuchio24 said:

 

We found the easiest thing to do is just throw a cheap bottle of liquor you dont mind losing, if they find it, in your checked bag. One in each bag. We're 4 for 4 success rate doing that thus far. 

For our Oct cruise, I got 2 large RR onboard. My friend got there's on and the fake shampoo bottles also. 

[morrieb1]

On 7/2/2021 at 12:33 PM, crewsweeper said:

This is my trick when in ports where you can buy booze and craft beer outside the cruise terminals.

Just don't try to bring a large amount.  1 or 2 bottles or a sixer.

 

 

On 7/2/2021 at 11:26 AM, sassy0930 said:

Back in the day we may or may not have simply NOT stopped at the "turn in your booze" table when coming in from port. They see it in your bag and ask you to turn it in, but if you get back in a crowd it's easy to just keep walking. Not condoning or anything. Just saying. Then you're not paying tax on it either...

And I may or may not have always bought extra in port so that I could follow the directions and turn one bottle of booze in when I returned while keeping the rest in my bag.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Days long gone (don't go through the effort, nor play this game any longer) had my record at THREE full unopened cases of 16 oz Miller Lite plastic bottles. I bought 3 cheap suitcases which they fit into perfectly. Man, was I giving out the beers that trip! That's OK though, the corporation didn't suffer - I no doubt donated several thousand in the casino as "payment"...

 

 

Tom

[crewsweeper]

1 hour ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

Days long gone (don't go through the effort, nor play this game any longer) had my record at THREE full unopened cases of 16 oz Miller Lite plastic bottles. I bought 3 cheap suitcases which they fit into perfectly. Man, was I giving out the beers that trip! That's OK though, the corporation didn't suffer - I no doubt donated several thousand in the casino as "payment"...

 

 

Tom

Never did that much but have done the six pack inside a 12 pack soda box trick back when Dale's Pale was about the only craft in a can and Rum Runners for my single malt still got through.   Avoiding the naughty room these days.

But DW made me drop off my mezcal purchases at the liquor desk  in Cozumel last month😇

[Chief93]

On 1/12/2022 at 8:26 PM, SNJCruisers said:

If you can afford to drink that and you want to also pay a C note for the privilege, what on earth are you doing sailing on Carnival?

 

Bang for the buck.  I can afford to drink that (very, very occasionally) because I choose to spend less on the cruise.  I enjoy Carnival, and see no need to "step up" to a more expensive line.  It's the same ocean....

[SNJCruisers]

8 hours ago, Chief93 said:

 

Bang for the buck.  I can afford to drink that (very, very occasionally) because I choose to spend less on the cruise.  I enjoy Carnival, and see no need to "step up" to a more expensive line.  It's the same ocean....

But all ships are not the same.....even within your cruise line of choice.  You should take the Carnival rose colored glasses off after having sailed on them 16 times over 20 years.  Diversity can be a good thing....but it's your vacation dollar and if you're happy. 🙄

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

5 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

But all ships are not the same.....even within your cruise line of choice.  You should take the Carnival rose colored glasses off after having sailed on them 16 times over 20 years.  Diversity can be a good thing....but it's your vacation dollar and if you're happy. 🙄

 

I would agree that it's best, especially after a long period of time, to play the field a bit. We sailed with Carnival MANY times in a row before branching out. We found that we had a GREAST time on other lines - they did some things (way) better. As a result, we now have multiple options - and more than one line on our dance card at any given time.

 

Next up Celebrity, then the next month, back to Carnival --- eyeing the 75th (Milestone) cruise with them, for some serious OBC !!!

 

Tom

[Joebucks]

On 1/12/2022 at 9:26 PM, SNJCruisers said:

If you can afford to drink that and you want to also pay a C note for the privilege, what on earth are you doing sailing on Carnival?

 

There are people who sail on Carnival everyday that have more money than the "elite on luxury ships." Believe it or not, some people enjoy the experience on mass market ships. Spending many multiple more on things that are not important to them, is not in everyone's interest.

[famof4togo]

As someone who likes a lively environment in a late evening (early morning) hour... I would pick Carnival hands down....I have sailed Royal and Celebrity and have found that it is beyond dead and boring on those ships after 10pm...now yes that can vary trip to trip based on who is on board with you but overall, I like the kick back excitement of Carnival.

[elcuchio24]

7 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

I would agree that it's best, especially after a long period of time, to play the field a bit. We sailed with Carnival MANY times in a row before branching out. We found that we had a GREAST time on other lines - they did some things (way) better. As a result, we now have multiple options - and more than one line on our dance card at any given time.

 

Next up Celebrity, then the next month, back to Carnival --- eyeing the 75th (Milestone) cruise with them, for some serious OBC !!!

 

Tom

 

Couldnt agree more. We regularly mix up between a few different lines, and always happy for it. Different highlights on each. We cruise for convenience and itinerary. 

[Computer Nerd]

On 7/2/2021 at 9:16 AM, amandas friend said:

I know Carnival allows one bottle of wine per person to be brought on. Can you put a few small plastic vodka bottles in your pocket? I don’t think they can detect. TIA. 

Can you lie, cheat, and steal? Sure, and you might even be able to get away with it at the cost of your integrity. But you do you.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I do not consider smuggling alcohol a matter of morality. No more than when I used to take candy bars into theatres.

 

Having said that - I don't do it any longer (either of those two things), as it's just not worth the potential hassle to me.

 

Tom

[elcuchio24]

20 hours ago, Computer Nerd said:

Can you lie, cheat, and steal? Sure, and you might even be able to get away with it at the cost of your integrity. But you do you.

 

Oh, the humanity!

[nlktx49]

On 7/2/2021 at 8:25 AM, amandas friend said:

Do they actually open your carry on bag? Thanks 

They do x-ray your carry on bags, purses, jackets, just like at an airport - if they detect anything suspicious they will be opened and searched, items confiscated.

[sparks1093]

10 minutes ago, nlktx49 said:

They do x-ray your carry on bags, purses, jackets, just like at an airport - if they detect anything suspicious they will be opened and searched, items confiscated.

They x-rayed our carry-ons and wanted to inspect the wine and soda that was in them.

[nlktx49]

On 7/2/2021 at 7:58 PM, bamaone said:

Not  saying l have or have not tried this, but a friend say it works great. Plus the video is really funny. “ see what I’m saying”.

 

I see what you're saying, I know what you mean!  Seems like a lot of trouble to smuggle on. I had a sister with a drinking problem (not an alcoholic!! per her) who went with us on a cruise. She went to the liquor store, bought a bottle of wine, a bottle of vodka, some corks, and a foil seal. Emptied the wine bottle (into her mouth), rinsed the bottle out, poured the vodka in, put the cork in, put the foil seal on. Then heated up the seal with a hair dryer and applied pressure. Got it through, although she said the inspector wouldn't have looked so doubtful at the bottle if I hadn't been standing there with a look of panic on my face! Even with her smuggling she must have had a very high bill as she spent most of her time in the Alchemy Bar. 

[popeyesChickenSandwich]

On 7/2/2021 at 9:14 AM, czechcruzr said:

i tried the refill the wine bottle trick in galveston. the lady at the check desk said the color is off 🙄 and we need to open it if you want to bring it onboard, i said just keep it and walked off.  lesson learned.

Galveston is the worst! My colored refilled wine looked good, but the lady identified the resealable shrink wrap top as the cheap brand sold on Amazon.. it was wild. She just put them to the side and told me to enjoy the cruise.

[SNJCruisers]

23 minutes ago, popeyesChickenSandwich said:

Galveston is the worst! My colored refilled wine looked good, but the lady identified the resealable shrink wrap top as the cheap brand sold on Amazon.. it was wild. She just put them to the side and told me to enjoy the cruise.

Life's a beach.  Quit being cheap, buy Cheers and enjoy your cruise.

[Computer Nerd]

On 1/20/2022 at 8:54 AM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

I do not consider smuggling alcohol a matter of morality. No more than when I used to take candy bars into theatres.

 

Having said that - I don't do it any longer (either of those two things), as it's just not worth the potential hassle to me.

 

Tom

It isn't the "smuggling" of alcohol (although the term "smuggling" by itself indicates wrong doing otherwise you would use the word "taking"). It's knowingly violating the rules that you personally agreed to follow that most definitely is a morality issue. Of course, that's the problem these days. Everyone is trying to change what is considered morally acceptable to include their own immoral habits while condemning others. Maybe it helps them sleep better at night?

[Computer Nerd]

On 1/20/2022 at 5:39 PM, elcuchio24 said:

 

Oh, the humanity!

Just because smuggling alcohol isn't up there with the Hindenburg disaster, it's still most definitely wrong to do. And in most cases, the one that make jokes about smuggling alcohol are the ones usually doing it. 🙄

[roguebandit]

10 hours ago, Computer Nerd said:

It isn't the "smuggling" of alcohol (although the term "smuggling" by itself indicates wrong doing otherwise you would use the word "taking"). It's knowingly violating the rules that you personally agreed to follow that most definitely is a morality issue. Of course, that's the problem these days. Everyone is trying to change what is considered morally acceptable to include their own immoral habits while condemning others. Maybe it helps them sleep better at night?

 

Morally is the correct word, it is a company policy not a violation of a law to sneak in liquor for your own consumption. When I was a officer the biggest problem was people not in authority or knowledge of the law trying to force everyone else to their Morally.

Edited January 22, 2022 by roguebandit

[SCBarker]

17 hours ago, popeyesChickenSandwich said:

Galveston is the worst!

My last trip was out of Galveston last month on RCCL. I had the 2 bottles of wine going through security (gf had 2 more bottles staged about 5 people back going through a separate x-ray line) and 2 6-packs of non-alcoholic craft beer. I was totally expecting some sort of kerfuffle over the 12 beers even though they were non-alcoholic beverages. To my surprise no one was even working the table where they inspect things like that. Walked right through. I must've caught them on a restroom break.

[BigAfts]

Sneak on all you want, but if you hold up the already 1-hour long line to get through security because today was the day you wanted to try out the online $19.99 law degree you bought loudly arguing with a port-security employee barely making minimum wage, then prepare for the worst cruise of your life.

 

I don't care about sneakers. I'm OK if you win. I only care when you don't admit when you lost and hold everyone else up.

 

 

[tm_aw_love]

13 minutes ago, BigAfts said:

Sneak on all you want, but if you hold up the already 1-hour long line to get through security because today was the day you wanted to try out the online $19.99 law degree you bought loudly arguing with a port-security employee barely making minimum wage, then prepare for the worst cruise of your life.

 

I don't care about sneakers. I'm OK if you win. I only care when you don't admit when you lost and hold everyone else up.

 

 

Ha, you think you've seen them be mad about getting their shampoo bottle of booze confiscated... imagine if Carnival actually enforced the ticket contract on them!

 

"any Guest traveling with such items and/or attempting to board the Vessel with any such items, may be denied boarding or disembarked and no refund of the cruise fare will be issued."

 

Not worth it in my opinion.