B2B Duty Free Purchase

[CruisingDaddy]

Wife and I will be doing our first B2B cruise out of Fort Lauderdale and we are wondering what happens if we purchase alcohol from the duty free store on the ship? I know that when doing only one cruise, you pick up your purchase on the last night of the cruise. Could we purchase alcohol on our first cruise, pick it up the last night, and store it in our room and drink it during our second cruise or does Celebrity look at this and only give us the alcohol bought on the first cruise on the last day of our second cruise? BTW, we have the same room booked for both. 

[leaveitallbehind]

Those who safeguard your purchase likely don't have knowledge of your second subsequent cruise and, if not, will likely return your purchases to your stateroom on the last night of the first cruise.  At least that seems to be the way it works with alcohol brought on board from a port of call during the cruise. 

 

Can't say with certainty that this would always be the case, but we have first hand knowledge of this from cruising friends several years ago who we witnessed ending up with several bottles of alcohol in their stateroom on the second cruise of their B2B.  Just saying......

Edited August 27 by leaveitallbehind

[BSinPNS]

Leaveitallbehind's experience was the same as ours.  

[c-leg5]

I would purchase it the last day of your first cruise when you are generally able to take it back to your room without waiting for it to be delivered. YMMV

 

we would do that anyway so it is there for packing. We have been held up too long  trying to get it into checked bags for flying.

Edited August 27 by c-leg5

[miched]

Celebrity reads the forums.  Policies have changed because people have been giving tips about beating the system. 

 

2 that come to mind is only one person in a cabin getting the drink pack and then the other is only one person upgrading to the premium.  Now both have to purchase the same.  

 

Passengers have done that.   Will it change?   Probably won’t because it is involving 2 different cruises and keeping track would be create more problems than it is worth. 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[CruisingDaddy]

I should have added that we do have the premium drink package for both cruises. We like to have a drink at night while sitting on our balcony without having to go out to get one. 
 

Thanks for providing some insight. Greatly appreciated!

[c-leg5]

1 hour ago, miched said:

Celebrity reads the forums.  Policies have changed because people have been giving tips about beating the system. 

 

2 that come to mind is only one person in a cabin getting the drink pack and then the other is only one person upgrading to the premium.  Now both have to purchase the same.  

 

Passengers have done that.   Will it change?   Probably won’t because it is involving 2 different cruises and keeping track would be create more problems than it is worth. 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Not everything is about breaking the rules. Sometimes it’s about having in your cabin things that are rightfully yours,

 

We tried to deposit a bottle of Welsh whisky at embarkation in Rome and they weren’t interested in looking after it for us. It stayed untouched in our closet  for the 15- night transatlantic back to US. 
 

I would have given anything to have deposited a special whisky we bought in Grand Cayman that they insisted had to be transported back to the ship on the tender and stored for us. Guess what happened to that on the last night when we were waiting for delivery? No where to be found on the ship and no way to prove whether it arrived at the ship or not. 
 

Sometimes it is better to minimize risk and keep it in your possession. 

[leaveitallbehind]

1 hour ago, miched said:

Celebrity reads the forums.  Policies have changed because people have been giving tips about beating the system. 

 

2 that come to mind is only one person in a cabin getting the drink pack and then the other is only one person upgrading to the premium.  Now both have to purchase the same.  

 

Passengers have done that.   Will it change?   Probably won’t because it is involving 2 different cruises and keeping track would be create more problems than it is worth. 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Those drink package policies have changed more than once over the years and I doubt it was due to CC posters. It was more likely based on revenue tracking that indicated the single purchased package was being taken advantage of, as well similarly with the single package upgrade.  And it isn't about beating the system - it's about working within the system to one's advantage.  It's their policy that has purchased alcohol returned to the passengers on the last night of a cruise. 

 

And I agree completely with the last comment as it also would be a minority of passengers that are on B2B's in the first place that would then also have purchased alcohol for the second leg.  Not a real issue worth tracking IMO.

Edited August 28 by leaveitallbehind

[canderson]

3 hours ago, BSinPNS said:

Leaveitallbehind's experience was the same as ours.  

... and ours as well.

Because in all respects except for the 'private' escort off/on and B2B lunch, these are considered entirely separate and unique cruises, it's most unlikely that anyone managing this bit of business will have any visibility at all to anything that would automatically indicate a B2B was involved.  They'd have to search the manifest for the next cruise for everyone to whom they planned to return goods.  Clearly not part of procedure to date, and probably considered nowhere near the bother, either.

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Iain has often purchased Duty Free the last night of the cruise.   On that night they give your purchase directly to you after checkout instead of holding.  Never had a problem.  

[CruisingDaddy]

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Iain has often purchased Duty Free the last night of the cruise.   On that night they give your purchase directly to you after checkout instead of holding.  Never had a problem.  

Greatly appreciate your comment.