They WILL confiscate your smuggled booze......

[MszKitty]

Just back from the weekend cruise aboard the Paradise. I had a 16 oz water bottle with rum in it and, lo and behold, they confiscated it.

I don't know if they would have caught it, except that in my carryon I had 6 splits of champagne as part of my thank gifts for my 6 clients. It was the champagne bottles that caused them to handcheck my bag. As it turned out, they did allow me to take the champagne (once I told them what it was for) but they took my rum. I was under the impression that if they did confiscate your alcohol at the beginning of the cruise, they would hold it and return it to you at the end of the cruise. NOT so! When I asked them what they were going to do with it, the security guy said it was being confiscated. Again, I asked him what they would do with it, and all he kept repeating was "it is being confiscated" He would not tell me what they would do with it. I told him it was my understanding that I could get it back after the cruise, but he said that would not happen.

So, I told him that if they were confiscating it then I wanted to see them dump it out right there (Hey...I don't want anyone else partying with MY booze...LOL) So, a female security & I went into the ladies room and dumped it out. While she was doing that she told me that if it were her that discovered it, she would have just let me thru with it. So, I guess it depends on how serious each particular security guard is. Oh, and also in my bag was my 2 liter bottle of caffiene free diet coke. He checked the tops to make sure they were still sealed. He then even checked my shampoo and conditioner bottles to make sure they really were shampoo & conditioner.

Then, when we got our checked bags delivered to our room, we found that our checked bag had been opened (we have the TSA locks that can be opened). I KNOW I had locked the bags and my things looked like they had been gone thru. Nothing was missing, thank goodness. The funny thing is, we had another bottle of rum in there, but they didn't take that. So, I don't know what they were looking for in that bag.

 

So, just be aware....they ARE getting more serious about that "smuggled" booze.

[Cruise Monkey]

Just back from the weekend cruise aboard the Paradise. I had a 16 oz water bottle with rum in it and, lo and behold, they confiscated it.

I don't know if they would have caught it, except that in my carryon I had 6 splits of champagne as part of my thank gifts for my 6 clients. It was the champagne bottles that caused them to handcheck my bag. As it turned out, they did allow me to take the champagne (once I told them what it was for) but they took my rum. I was under the impression that if they did confiscate your alcohol at the beginning of the cruise, they would hold it and return it to you at the end of the cruise. NOT so! When I asked them what they were going to do with it, the security guy said it was being confiscated. Again, I asked him what they would do with it, and all he kept repeating was "it is being confiscated" He would not tell me what they would do with it. I told him it was my understanding that I could get it back after the cruise, but he said that would not happen.

So, I told him that if they were confiscating it then I wanted to see them dump it out right there (Hey...I don't want anyone else partying with MY booze...LOL) So, a female security & I went into the ladies room and dumped it out. While she was doing that she told me that if it were her that discovered it, she would have just let me thru with it. So, I guess it depends on how serious each particular security guard is. Oh, and also in my bag was my 2 liter bottle of caffiene free diet coke. He checked the tops to make sure they were still sealed. He then even checked my shampoo and conditioner bottles to make sure they really were shampoo & conditioner.

Then, when we got our checked bags delivered to our room, we found that our checked bag had been opened (we have the TSA locks that can be opened). I KNOW I had locked the bags and my things looked like they had been gone thru. Nothing was missing, thank goodness. The funny thing is, we had another bottle of rum in there, but they didn't take that. So, I don't know what they were looking for in that bag.

 

So, just be aware....they ARE getting more serious about that "smuggled" booze.

 

Sorry to hear about your rum's premature demise! So sad, so sad :( We have been successful smuggling alcohol on board, but we usually take "extra steps", and at times not. It is interesting that they linked your carry on bag full of champagne with your checked bag, unless it was just a coincedence.

 

Anyways, I am going on the Paradise cruises in just about 2 months, and was wondering if you would post a review here, or at least some information; ie. what was the ship like (nice or beat down), what did you do on your port stop, where there a lot of party people on the ship (I have heard that he weekend trip is the party trip), etc.

 

Any info would be appreciated.

 

Thanks...

[Lakeman953]

MsZKitty

 

That does really suck that you lost out on a bottle of rum:(

I will try and answer the question regarding your booze getting returned after cruise, From what I have heard is that all sealed bottles brought back onboard at a port of call would be taken and returned at the end of cruise.

So basically they will not hold a water bottled that is not properly sealed filled with rum, And for me personally I wouldn't take it back at the end of cruise even if they offered it as there would be no way of telling if it was tampered with so that was kinda a stupid argument to get into with him.

[MszKitty]

MsZKitty

 

That does really suck that you lost out on a bottle of rum:(

I will try and answer the question regarding your booze getting returned after cruise, From what I have heard is that all sealed bottles brought back onboard at a port of call would be taken and returned at the end of cruise.

So basically they will not hold a water bottled that is not properly sealed filled with rum, And for me personally I wouldn't take it back at the end of cruise even if they offered it as there would be no way of telling if it was tampered with so that was kinda a stupid argument to get into with him.

 

Well...I see your point. But like I said, if I couldn't have it, ain't no one having it. LOL

[MszKitty]

Sorry to hear about your rum's premature demise! So sad, so sad :( We have been successful smuggling alcohol on board, but we usually take "extra steps", and at times not. It is interesting that they linked your carry on bag full of champagne with your checked bag, unless it was just a coincedence.

 

Anyways, I am going on the Paradise cruises in just about 2 months, and was wondering if you would post a review here, or at least some information; ie. what was the ship like (nice or beat down), what did you do on your port stop, where there a lot of party people on the ship (I have heard that he weekend trip is the party trip), etc.

 

Any info would be appreciated.

 

Thanks...

 

I'm thinking it must have been a coincidence because all this with the carryon/smuggled booze was prior to checkin so they didn't know who I was at that point. But what a coincidence, eh?

 

Here is what I wrote on another thread and on another board:

 

I am back from Carnival Paradise. I've done the 3 night LA to Ensenada cruise 4 times this past year, but always on the Monarch of the Seas. Its been a few years since I've sailed Carnival, so I thought I'd give the Paradise a try this time out. While I'm very fond of RCCL and the Monarch, I have to say that I rather liked Carnival Paradise too.

 

Here's my impressions and opinions of the Paradise.

 

While Monarch is nice (and I'm a bit partial to her) the Paradise is newer.

 

Rooms: on Paradise are a bit larger than the Monarch.

The linens were plusher. Bigger softer towels, feather pillows, and comfy duvets. All oceanview cabins had robes to use. Dove body wash and Dove shampoo in the showers. And the shower was pretty good size too. No shower curtain sticking to me!

Food: Dining room, Dinner:Every meal in the dining room was excellent. On Friday night, I had one of the best steaks I've ever had on a cruise (excluding the specialty restaurant on the Adventure of the Seas). Saturday, I had prime rib. Both were cooked to perfection and very tasty and tender. Hubby had lobster (which the Monarch doesn't offer). If you like traditional Caesar salad then you would love it on the Paradise because you could taste the anchovies. (I didn't particularly care for it, but that's just a personal taste.) Sunday night, I had the beef wellington and that was wonderful too.

Buffet: This is where I liked the Monarch better. I didn't like the choices they had on the Paradise so I mostly ate a burger at lunch. However, the Paradise has a great deli sandwich bar, and the sandwiches there were delicious. Their pizza was comparable to the Monarch's.

 

Embarking: We waited an hour in line to get checked in and on the ship. Now, I don't know if that's because we got there later than we usually do....12:30 as opposed to 11:30-12:00 normally. Plus, we are Diamond Members on RCCL, so we get faster checkin anyway.

Disembarking: They don't do it by colored tags. They started it with "self assist" (those carrying off their own luggage) and those on the Lido deck and Promenade deck. About an hour after that, they said everyone can leave. Well..that wasn't so smart. Although, I have to admit people were WAY more considerate than I've experienced on the Monarch. Everyone stayed in orderly lines. It took an hour from the time we got in line to the time we got off the ship. Once off the ship, we stood about 15 minutes in the customs lines. And they did NOT have separate lines for those with passports and those without. Everyone could go to any line.

Entertainment: I'm kind of done with the whole production shows thing, but I did peek in and they looked typical of any cruiseline show. I never made it to the late night comedy show because I found someplace I would rather be...at the America Bar, a sing-along piano bar. That's where all the real partiers go...lol I spent every night there while hubby did his usual casino action.

On Sunday afternoon, we played bingo (we didn't win). I played name-that-tune trivia (I lost), the match game (I won!...wooowhoo...I got a CCL medal!) and drink trivia (I lost...but only because 1/2 the questions were about beer and I don't drink beer. If they stuck questions about hard liquor, I would have won hands down....LOL)

Nightlife: Besides the sing-along piano bar, I went to the disco. I prefer Paradise's disco over the Monarch disco. On the Monarch, the disco is really a lounge that they use as a disco at night. The seats are too much like a lounge. On the Paradise, they have tables that surround the dance floor and the DJ booth. Its a much better set up for socializing and meeting people....and I did just that.

Bars/drinks: They are much stricter on their drinks. They have certain rules for certain drinks. For example, I like to drink Barcardi Limon and Diet Coke. But, I like to get it in a larger glass (like a beer glass) so I can have more soda mixed with the drink (not more booze, just more soda). That way, I can drink more, but not drink more alcohol. Well...they would not allow us to have a drink made in the bigger glass (even though we aren't getting more booze, just more soda). I had to buy a regular Barcardi Limon & diet coke, then purchase a separate can of diet coke, then ask for a bigger glass and I had to pour the small drink in the bigger glass and then add the extra coke. What a pain! Also, if you wanted the souvenir glass, you could only get the drink of the day, or a frozen blended drink. You couldn't get, say, a rum & coke in a souvenir glass.

Casino: Typical casino. However, I felt it wasn't as smokey as the casino on the Monarch. I don't know if it had a better air filtering system or if there just weren't that many smokers on this ship.

Ages of Passengers: I would say the average age on this sailing was early/mid thirties. And there were a lot of kids onboard, but I did not see any unruly teens or pre-teens. Quite a bit of families. We had 2nd late seating (8:30) and I don't even recall seeing little kids at that seating. I was disappointed in how casual people dressed at dinner. However, I think that's mostly because these weekend cruises attract a lot of first time cruisers that just don't understand the dress codes.

 

Smuggled booze: I got caught!...LOL In my carryon bag, I had 6 splits of champagne that were part of my thank you gifts for my clients. Because they saw those bottles on the x-ray machine, they did a hand check of my bag. Once I explained what the champagne was for, they let that go thru. But, then a security guy checked everything else in my bag....and came across my small water bottle of Barcardi Limon rum. I tried the "its water, do you want me to drink it?" but he didn't fall for it. Which is a good thing, because if I had to drink it like it was water, I would have probably thrown up...LOL

So, he confiscated that. When I told him I heard I could get it back at the end of the cruise, he told me no they do not do that. He just kept saying "it is being confiscated", but he wouldn't tell me what they do with it once they have it. So, I told him that if I wasn't going to get it back, then I wanted to see it being dumped out. I know...it was kind of bratty of me to do that, but hey...I don't want anyone partying with my booze! So a female security guard went with me into the ladies room and dumped it out. However, she did tell me that if she had been doing the inspection, she would have just let it go. Its not like it was a big bottle of booze (it was 16 ozs). So, I guess its the luck of the draw as to whether you can get away with it. Anyway, I also had 2 bottles of caffiene free diet coke and he checked to make sure the tops were still sealed. And then he even checked to make sure my shampoo & conditioner were in fact really shampoo & conditioner (they were!).

 

I will say that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this ship/itinerary to anyone. Hubby said he liked it better than the Monarch, but I'm torn. While I liked it...I like the perks that RCCL gives to its loyal customers.

 

I'll be happy to answer any questions.

 

********************

 

Regarding what I did in the port stop of Ensenada. We have been there several times. Sometimes we just stay on the ship. This time we got off, went into Papas & Beer (THE major party bar in Ensenada), had one margarita and went back to the ship. If you've never been there before, I would suggest either the tour to La Bufadora (the blow hole) or I've had friends that have taken the winery tour and they enjoyed it very much.

[MrPete]

The odds that they will confiscate your booze from a carry on is very high.

[Jolimont]

Got mine confiscated too and returned at the end of the cruise. Strangely I was embarassed more than mad, maybe it was the fact that I did break the rules!

[1particularharbor]

Friend just had a bottle of tequila taken on the Valor cruise this week when boarding ....not sure how they discovered it ..however he is to pick it up when he returns ..it was a high end priced one too :(:rolleyes:

[GoinCruisin]

The odds that they will confiscate your booze from a carry on is very high.

 

I agree... I have rarely heard of someone getting booze on in their carry on... I would never even attempt it, so I have no idea. But word on this board is don't do it... put it in your checked luggage.

 

They didn't take the champagne, because champagne is allowed.

[bucket_O_beer4john]

I hope when she was pouring it out that you demonstrated proper etiquette. Standing at attention with your hand over your liver, and playing taps through a kazoo. Very sad. Tragic even. :(

 

I really think trying to get it onboard in your carry-on was your demise. We always hand carry a couple bottles of wine, but the beer and booze goes in checked luggage.

 

I did have a case of beer confiscated once, but that was only after my bag was flagged for an iron. :o (I know - I know - stoopid. Never thought through the safety aspect. Actively discourage the act now...)

 

I got the case back on the last afternoon of the cruise. Fun day at sea!

[LSUtraveler]

It's been well documented on this board that you can get your booze on board if you put it in your check in luggage and if you try and carry it onboard the chances are they will take it.Why would someone take the chance of putting booze in their carry on?

 

If they went thru luggage and didn't take anything including another bottle of booze, chances are no one opened the luggage.

 

 

[yogimax]

Good to hear that Carnival is finally getting serious about this. Obviously, why have the regulation if there is no enforcement? Here in New York City, there is a law against using a cel phone while driving, but it is never enforced. So what is the point of the law?

 

Carnival's policy in allowing wine and champagne but not other liquor is eminently fair.

 

At the very least, if Carnival enforced its own regulations, we would have a lot less posts here regarding "smuggling" boooze onboard.

[yooperwoody]

We smuggled 2 bottles of rum on a few weeks ago in our checked luggage. I also had a bottle of wine in my carry on. However, my DH had a bottle of water as we were checking in at the pier. They confiscated that. Out of curiousity, he asked why and they told him that they could not allow any "opened" beverage containers. Had the water bottle been still sealed, he could have brought it on board. Perhaps this is why the water bottle was confiscated.

[cruise_pirate]

I hope when she was pouring it out that you demonstrated proper etiquette. Standing at attention with your hand over your liver, and playing taps through a kazoo. Very sad.

 

ROFLMAO!! That is too funny!:p

 

Sorry about the rum was it white or golden? Just curious

[Cotton]

.......my DH had a bottle of water as we were checking in at the pier. They confiscated that. Out of curiousity, he asked why and they told him that they could not allow any "opened" beverage containers. Had the water bottle been still sealed, he could have brought it on board.

 

How odd. As far as I remember, on my cruises I've walked onto the ship either carrying an opened water bottle or with one sticking out of my tote bag, already opened. Last cruise, I walked onto the ship carrying an opened bottle of Spite. Never been questioned.

[Astronomer]

Note to self...

Carry wine on board, check smuggled booze in baggage ( not that I am bringing a lot, I am a cheep date )

I am curious if I bring wine on board for the formal dinners, will there be a problem sharing it with our tablemates if we have those? I plan to bring a bottle for each formal night, and one for the dinner at David's supper club.

[BelizePlease]

Just back from my second Legend Cruise...

Carried on six of these (same bottles, different "toiletries" dispersed throughout our group) again this year...

No problems whatsoever...

[dewayneg]

Last cruise, I walked onto the ship carrying an opened bottle of Spite. Never been questioned.

 

What a way to start a cruise! :-)

[salty dingo]

Moral of the story, smuggle your booze in the checked luggage. The have to enforce the rules somehow, and apparently they do that in the boarding line.

 

I sure hope Carnival does not take the view that NCL does and stringently enforce the policy with checked bags. Besides being a logistical nightmare, it just makes people go to even greater lengths to bring in a stash to enjoy in the cabin. And the passengers will ultimately prevail unless they raise the penalty beyond confiscating it booze.

 

Now, maybe they *should* really crack down during the spring break season!!

[Timmys_mom]

I thought everyone knew that smuggled booze goes in your checked luggage.:rolleyes: You don't even have to take the extra step to pour it into water bottles.

[Cactuscruise]

I've never "smuggled" booze on a cruise. I simply pack it, in it's original container in my luggage (not carry-on) and I've never had a problem. Of course I go with the realization that I am breaking the rules and it may be confiscated. That's the chance I take and I wouldn't be angry if they did. I know I won't get it back. Them's the breaks!

 

I would imagine that people are going so overboard with this booze smuggling business that the cruise line is paying a little more attention after all you are cutting into they're profits. Just go with the flow. You'll live longer.

[Cotton]

What a way to start a cruise! :-)

 

I was replying to someone about an open container being brought onto the ship.

 

Why would you have a problem with that?:confused:

[BelizePlease]

I would imagine that people are going so overboard with this booze smuggling business that the cruise line is paying a little more attention after all you are cutting into they're profits. Just go with the flow. You'll live longer.

 

HA! Would you like to see my RECORD HIGH Sail and Sign bill?!?!? :eek:

[tef43]

So, just be aware....they ARE getting more serious about that "smuggled" booze.

As they should.

[tef43]

unless they raise the penalty beyond confiscating it

As they should. Denied boarding would be a good start.