Liquor Smugglers Beware~!! (Multi-ship experiences - merged)

[cruisegirl1]

Quick message -

 

We just got off the Sovereign March 7 cruise and our luggage was kept till we claimed it in security as the scanners found a wine bottle. Security took the bottle (one in each of two suitcases) and did not allow us to retrieve it till debarkation morning. So much for enjoying some FINE wine on the balcony. The few others we saw in security were “seasoned adults”. I guess the spring breakers have figured out the system.

 

Further, any liquor purchased in the ship’s store or brought on from the island could not be picked up till debarkation morning.

 

Aside from this annoying start - we did have a good trip.

 

We also enjoyed some " just OK" wine on the balcony.

 

 

M

[Tra4]

We just returned from the Liberty on Saturday. We took a "few full bottles" of adult beverages for our room. The room attendant told us as long as the bottles were not in plain view that he didnt mind, But he also said that the Supervisors frequently entered rooms to check for such things so he told us to leave the bottles in a draw. Apparently the supervisors are NOT allowed to open any draws with personal belongings in them.

 

How did you get these in your luggage? Any special way of packing them?

[CaesarsNcruisin4me]

Friends just boarded ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS this afternoon and had their 2 bottles of wine and 1 Bottle Gin confiscated. The note in the luggage says they can claim it at the end of the Cruise. Oh well... Afternoon announcement from Captain as they departed stated the policy was being strictly enforced. My Friends say that there is a huge group of FSU and UF spring breakers.

 

Well, at least they get the bottles back.

 

P.S. They didn't confiscate the travel iron....

 

Yes they have taken alot of liquor away on this cruise and the large group of college kids and spring break is the reason. I have a friend working on this ship and he said that they took over 700 bottles of liqour from passengers this cruise and that everything in its original bottle will be returned to said passengers after the cruise.

 

Of course the funniest story he told me was that 5 kids made it up to the gangway and tried to board the ship when they didn't purchase the cruise!:eek: :eek: Security escorted them away from the ship and came down on them hard.

[Tra4]

Has RCCL updated their wine lists with some better wines??

 

Thanks for the update.

[cb at sea]

Isn't this a ridiculous restriction! I mean, when you go to a hotel, you can bring your "portable bar"...

[MakinGold]

Isn't this a ridiculous restriction! I mean, when you go to a hotel, you can bring your "portable bar"...

 

A cruise ship is not the same as a hotel.

[Tra4]

I understand that there were definately those who were ridiculous, like bringing on a case of beer, or a case of coke. But for those who like finer wines than what RCCL serves and just to enjoy it in the privacy of our own room, and limit it to only two bottles, yes its ridiculous. I also think its wrong for a RCCL person to be able to check your room and if they see it they can take it. Isn't there any form of privacy issues? How does RCCL know that I didn't buy the wine at one of thier bars to bring back to my room (which is very legal?)

[Gonzo70]

Further, any liquor purchased in the ship’s store or brought on from the island could not be picked up till debarkation morning.

 

 

This is nothing new.

 

There are some cruise lines that allow you to bring a couple of bottles of wine on board if that it important to you (Holland America and Celebrity are ones that I know of).

[gadawg1979]

Just wear cargo pants and make sure that you have plastic tops and you can bring it from any port cause you are not setting of the metal detectors...

[Gonzo70]

I also think its wrong for a RCCL person to be able to check your room and if they see it they can take it. Isn't there any form of privacy issues? How does RCCL know that I didn't buy the wine at one of thier bars to bring back to my room (which is very legal?)

 

They would know that if it was a wine they do not sell on board!

 

I have not heard of RCL having random shake downs where they ransack people's rooms. If RCL staff is in someone's room during their normal course of duty they likely are required to report any contraband they happen to come across. Some may "overlook" this, but I imagine they could get in trouble for doing so.

[PH8]

 

Further, any liquor purchased in the ship’s store or brought on from the island could not be picked up till debarkation morning.

Thats cuz it was spring break.........thats what they did last year when we cruised during spring break(NEVER AGAIN).........they also would not sell buckets of beer poolside and we were not allowed to leave a lounge with a drink(even though we are well past college age).that last rule really irked me............We had just bought drinks while watching the 70s night performance.....we decided to leave and the "bouncer" at the door would not let us leave with the drinks........:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Tra4]

On this front page, another poster stated that the cabin attentant informed them to hide their liquor in a drawer. If a supervisor (which does come around to check), sees it on the counter, they will take it. However they cannot open the drawers.

 

This was posted by someone just off the liberty.

[cruisegirl1]

TRA4 - Wine list is the same, sorry.

 

CB - We couldn't agree more!

 

The finer wine would have enhanced our vacation. We collect wine and like to enjoy special bottles - especially on a cruise. In fact – we’ve purchase some with the intent of enjoying on board. It was never a problem with the two-bottle rule. Naturally - we would buy more than our share or wine or other drinks on board

 

It is not an issue of controlling drinking - the servers were PUSHING drinks every minute at every opportunity. It was a joke by the pool. I never saw so many beer buckets being sold.

 

We sailed in January (2008) and recall that you could pick up RCCL purchased liquor on the last evening. Not debarkation morning.

 

 

Perhpas it is a spring break issue.

 

M

[MakinGold]

I understand that there were definately those who were ridiculous, like bringing on a case of beer, or a case of coke. But for those who like finer wines than what RCCL serves and just to enjoy it in the privacy of our own room, and limit it to only two bottles, yes its ridiculous. I also think its wrong for a RCCL person to be able to check your room and if they see it they can take it. Isn't there any form of privacy issues? How does RCCL know that I didn't buy the wine at one of thier bars to bring back to my room (which is very legal?)

 

They do not search your room for wine, nor would they likely take it, if they happened to find any. Hard liquor is a different story, as it's not supposed to be in your room at all.

 

BTW, what "finer wines than what RCCL serves" do you insist upon. They have some very good wines, if you're willing to pay for them. They're just about twice the price you'd pay from most wine merchants. It's not an enormous selection, so they won't have everyone's favorite wine, but those who suggest they have no "fine wines" are just spouting crap.

[Tra4]

Thats cuz it was spring break.........thats what they did last year when we cruised during spring break(NEVER AGAIN).........they also would not sell buckets of beer poolside and we were not allowed to leave a lounge with a drink(even though we are well past college age).that last rule really irked me............We had just bought drinks while watching the 70s night performance.....we decided to leave and the "bouncer" at the door would not let us leave with the drinks........:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

 

So I wonder if the rule of purchasing a bottle of wine in one of the bars to take to your cabin will still be ok??

[MakinGold]

Thats cuz it was spring break.........thats what they did last year when we cruised during spring break(NEVER AGAIN).........they also would not sell buckets of beer poolside and we were not allowed to leave a lounge with a drink(even though we are well past college age).that last rule really irked me............We had just bought drinks while watching the 70s night performance.....we decided to leave and the "bouncer" at the door would not let us leave with the drinks........:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

 

No. That's standard policy (about not allowing bottles of liquor to be brought back to your room). If you purchase liquor onboard, they'll deliver it the last night. I've never heard of not allowing individual drinks out of the lounges, though. That certainly was not the case on my cruise, but I've never gone over Spring Break.

[cruisegirl1]

You may take RCCL purchased beverages anywhere around the ship.

 

 

We took our dining room purchased wine back to our cabin every evening. We carried drinks purchased in one bar to other areas.

 

 

M

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

Just try taking your own bottle of wine into a restaurant that sells liquor and see how far you get. The only place we can bring your own wine is where they don't sell liquor and then they charge a cork-age fee.

 

Its not just RC all cruise lines are cracking down on this....anyone who was able to sneak through its because the agent didn't care or missed it.

 

***

[MakinGold]

Just try taking your own bottle of wine into a restaurant that sells liquor and see how far you get. The only place we can bring your own wine is where they don't sell liquor and then they charge a cork-age fee.

 

Its not just RC all cruise lines are cracking down on this....anyone who was able to sneak through its because the agent didn't care or missed it.

 

***

 

Actually some restaurants that sell alcohol will allow you to bring your own bottle of wine and charge you a corkage fee. Many will not, but it's not that uncommon.

[Cruise Junky]

Just try taking your own bottle of wine into a restaurant that sells liquor and see how far you get. The only place we can bring your own wine is where they don't sell liquor and then they charge a cork-age fee.

 

 

***

 

Maybe in Arizona, but a lot of states allow corkage, Nevada, California, NY. It's an accepted policy in a lot of restaurants. We were in Vegas for New Years and took a lovely bottle of wine with us that we bought in France last year. $20 corkage.

[Tra4]

Just try taking your own bottle of wine into a restaurant that sells liquor and see how far you get. The only place we can bring your own wine is where they don't sell liquor and then they charge a cork-age fee.

 

Its not just RC all cruise lines are cracking down on this....anyone who was able to sneak through its because the agent didn't care or missed it.

 

***

 

I wouldn't dream of taking my own wine into the restaurant unless I checked first and paid corkage. But if I wanted a glass of wine in the privacy of my own cabin on my balcony, that was packed in my suitcase, that is different. And never consumed outside the cabin.

 

On the same level, how many restaurants allow you to take your remaining bottle with you when you didn't finish it? Not too many, so either way, the rule has its positives and negatives.

[PH8]

 

We sailed in January (2008) and recall that you could pick up RCCL purchased liquor on the last evening. Not debarkation morning.

 

 

Perhpas it is a spring break issue.

 

M

It is for spring break only

 

No. That's standard policy (about not allowing bottles of liquor to be brought back to your room). If you purchase liquor onboard, they'll deliver it the last night. I've never heard of not allowing individual drinks out of the lounges, though. That certainly was not the case on my cruise, but I've never gone over Spring Break.

Save yourself the grief and dont go.......

 

You may take RCCL purchased beverages anywhere around the ship.

 

 

We took our dining room purchased wine back to our cabin every evening. We carried drinks purchased in one bar to other areas.

 

 

M

Well,Im only saying how it was on the Majesty last March 9th cruise...............

[isujim]

Gee Kathy

 

You must have had a rough crowd on your cruise;)

[wolfcathorse]

You may take RCCL purchased beverages anywhere around the ship. We took our dining room purchased wine back to our cabin every evening. We carried drinks purchased in one bar to other areas. M

 

Ahh, but were you doing that during a Spring Break cruise. I think that's the difference. usuall you can, but during Spring Break, at least on the newer ships that may attract the young crowd more, they won't let you out of the bar with a drink in your hand.

[wolfcathorse]

So I wonder if the rule of purchasing a bottle of wine in one of the bars to take to your cabin will still be ok??

 

I didn't know you could buy a whole bottle to drink at one time, either in the bar or in your cabin.