Bringing soda onboard

[julig22]

So did NCL silently remove the soda restriction? Did it ever really exist?  Boarding today I was grabbing a Pepsi from the machine that was after security and someone said they had brought a 6 pack with him, said he always does.  

Had my single bottle of Pepsi confiscated in Seattle last year so I know it wasn't my imagination on no liquids. But every so often someone claims they bring a 6 pack.  

Thoughts?  Cans vs bottles?

[Two Wheels Only]

It all depends on what gets caught. 

 

If someone brings a 6 pack buried under their socks in a suitcase, it might or might not get through. 

 

23 minutes ago, julig22 said:

Did it ever really exist?

 

Absolutely. There is a pile of confiscated drinks in many terminals. 

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, julig22 said:

So did NCL silently remove the soda restriction? Did it ever really exist?  Boarding today I was grabbing a Pepsi from the machine that was after security and someone said they had brought a 6 pack with him, said he always does.  

Had my single bottle of Pepsi confiscated in Seattle last year so I know it wasn't my imagination on no liquids. But every so often someone claims they bring a 6 pack.  

Thoughts?  Cans vs bottles?

The restriction is still in place. And you can normally find big piles of contraband at security. But a lazy X-ray person, dozing at the screen, could certainly miss a bag. Or ignore a bag with soda because it requires them to get out of their seat. 

[Sand and Seas]

After security in the old Miami terminal, I would often spend a few $$ to get a couple of Diet Cokes to take onboard.  It was after security and no one apparently cared.   However, there was often a 'rush' on those Diet Cokes so if you didn't arrive early they might be gone!   After those two or three diet cokes were enjoyed onboard I was forced over to the onboard Pepsi products😧.

   

Now that NCL has changed to Coke products,  I  bring an empty 20 oz. plastic coke bottle in my luggage.  I've never had problems with the empty bottle getting through security.  Then, once onboard, I can get my Diet Coke and pour some into my coke bottle to keep in my cabin's fridge.    As a casino guest, I can usually get Diet Coke or Coke Zero in cans at the casino's bar to take to my room.  I do not like to drink from the can.  Again, empty plastic coke bottle takes care of that😉

[bluesea777]

35 minutes ago, Sand and Seas said:

After security in the old Miami terminal, I would often spend a few $$ to get a couple of Diet Cokes to take onboard.  It was after security and no one apparently cared.   However, there was often a 'rush' on those Diet Cokes so if you didn't arrive early they might be gone!   After those two or three diet cokes were enjoyed onboard I was forced over to the onboard Pepsi products😧.

   

Now that NCL has changed to Coke products,  I  bring an empty 20 oz. plastic coke bottle in my luggage.  I've never had problems with the empty bottle getting through security.  Then, once onboard, I can get my Diet Coke and pour some into my coke bottle to keep in my cabin's fridge.    As a casino guest, I can usually get Diet Coke or Coke Zero in cans at the casino's bar to take to my room.  I do not like to drink from the can.  Again, empty plastic coke bottle takes care of that😉

That’s too much burden and work!! We drink whatever cocktails/martinis/highballs/wines etc on board and not sodas or bloody diet sodas (that are really bad for you!). 
 

Leave those killer sodas at home and enjoy what the ship has to offer …. if you have the booze package. 
 

😉🤓🥳😁🤣

 

[Sand and Seas]

51 minutes ago, bluesea777 said:

That’s too much burden and work!! We drink whatever cocktails/martinis/highballs/wines etc on board and not sodas or bloody diet sodas (that are really bad for you!). 
 

Leave those killer sodas at home and enjoy what the ship has to offer …. if you have the booze package. 
 

😉🤓🥳😁🤣

 

Yeah, I know sodas aren't good for me, but it's my 'cold caffeine' fix.   Years of working some extra long days, or being called back in for late nights🥱

 

We usually save the drink package 20% fee and just get our free drinks in the casino.   However, I do use my OBC to purchase the soda package so I can get that cold caffeine in the restaurants too😉

[Yinster]

One cruise leaving Barcelona, we managed to bring in six bottles of alcohol without being stopped. Went through security and then expected to put our bottles through NCL's scanner but it was straight onto the ship. 

 

We were ready to hand our bottles to be stored so kept them in our cabin till home time to take back home. 

 

So it is all about the security briefing in the terminal for port authority and then what NCL decide to do.

[Barb Nahoumi]

This summer when I was returning from an excursion with an unfinished bottle of water, I was able to keep it.  I was not asked to dump it, as I was in the past.

[julig22]

I've never had an issue bringing water or a single bottle of soda and/or water onboard during a port stop.  It's the initial boarding that seems to be where there's a discrepancy. And that screening isn't done by NCL. 

Unless I'm missing it, I don't see anything in the list of prohibited items, so wondering where it's written at this point? I'm pretty sure I've seen it somewhere.  Possibly in the FAQs but those are horribly outdated.

 

FYI, I asked security onboard and they more or less confirmed that scanning at boarding isn't done by NCL so YMMV.  And in ports they will usually not bother you if you've got a bottle or 2 of water or soda. 

[brookie848]

We usually get a liquid exemption and it is noted on our boarding documents. On all the cruises where we've had this, we've only had it and our liquids questioned once (at Miami).

[julig22]

Wondering if it's also a can vs bottle issue?  I'm at the Boston port right now and their sign says no plastic bottles, full or empty....

[julig22]

8 minutes ago, brookie848 said:

We usually get a liquid exemption and it is noted on our boarding documents. On all the cruises where we've had this, we've only had it and our liquids questioned once (at Miami).

Not sure my Dr. would sign off on that, since I'm wanting to bring soda!

[GeezerCouple]

3 hours ago, julig22 said:

Wondering if it's also a can vs bottle issue?  I'm at the Boston port right now and their sign says no plastic bottles, full or empty....

 

Can the x-ray or whatever devices detect an empty plastic bottle carefully packed within regular clothing, etc.?

I thought it was the liquid itself that was "detected".

GC

[Traveling Fools]

47 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

I thought it was the liquid itself that was "detected".

Depends on what kind of X-ray machine they are using

[Sand and Seas]

2 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

Can the x-ray or whatever devices detect an empty plastic bottle carefully packed within regular clothing, etc.?

I thought it was the liquid itself that was "detected".

GC

I've brought an empty plastic bottle onboard dozens of times.  Never had them look at it.

[GeezerCouple]

Just now, Sand and Seas said:

I've brought an empty plastic bottle onboard dozens of times.  Never had them look at it.

 

That makes sense.

 

After all, shampoo and such come it nice plastic containers, and those even have some real contents in 'em.  And they have lids on them... hopefully! 😱

 

GC

[cruiser2015]

7 hours ago, julig22 said:

Wondering if it's also a can vs bottle issue?  I'm at the Boston port right now and their sign says no plastic bottles, full or empty....

That smells like NCL trying to prevent you from bottling your own on board. Nasty!

And that's something I am planning on doing on my next cruise.

[RD64]

Can’t we just buy it on board instead of reverting to all the subterfuge for a few cans of pop?

[GeezerCouple]

47 minutes ago, RD64 said:

Can’t we just buy it on board instead of reverting to all the subterfuge for a few cans of pop?

 

If a cruise line only serves, say, Pepsi, and we prefer CocaCola (and detest Pepsi), then NO, one cannot "just buy it on board".

[Others may have the reverse preference, or some may prefer something like Mountain Dew or whatever...]

 

That was the problem for us. It certainly wasn't an issue of saving a few bucks.

Given what we pay for a cruise, paying extra for soda simply isn't a problem.  Not being able to have the drink we *most* prefer all the time, for what might be several weeks?  Yup, that is a problem.

Sure, it's a first world problem if ever there was one, but given that Diet Coke would/should have otherwise been very easy to get, to purchase, that didn't sit well.

And surely you are familiar with the past "Coke vs Pepsi" issues, including the choice offered on NCL?

Nope, that wasn't an "okay, we'll just buy it on board" issue then, either.

 

So, for example, we had no issue with paying for the nice glass bottles of San Pellegrino.  We just asked that some always be kept in our fridge, and perhaps a few extras on the counter (and "please put it on our bill", etc.).  But that worked because San Pellegrino "was allowed".

So we spent a lot on it; no problem at all.

 

GC

[cruiseat50]

On 9/21/2023 at 4:39 PM, bluesea777 said:

That’s too much burden and work!! We drink whatever cocktails/martinis/highballs/wines etc on board and not sodas or bloody diet sodas (that are really bad for you!). 
 

Leave those killer sodas at home and enjoy what the ship has to offer …. if you have the booze package. 
 

😉🤓🥳😁🤣

 

You sound like my sister telling me to quit drinking my diet cokes and telling me they'll kill me.  Ok sis, put your cigarette out and tell me again. 😝🙄

[julig22]

19 hours ago, cruiser2015 said:

That smells like NCL trying to prevent you from bottling your own on board. Nasty!

And that's something I am planning on doing on my next cruise.

It was a sign for the port of Boston, not NCL.

[cruiser2015]

1 minute ago, julig22 said:

It was a sign for the port of Boston, not NCL.

Alrighty.

Security gone berserk.   🙄