Do You Have First Hand Knowledge Of Booze Being Confiscated?

[Leejnd4]

I just ordered mine from he bon voyage dept. for my cruise this week. Not worth the trouble of trying to smuggle. The price was not a lot higher that local purchase. Will by wife her wine and take it aboard since it is legal.

 

I'd like to make an important point of clarification: you mentioned you would take your wife's wine onboard because it's "legal". The reality is that it is ALWAYS legal to carry on ANY alcoholic beverage onto any cruise ship. Some cruise lines have corporate policies banning this, while others couldn't care less. But the fact is that there are NO laws involved in this at all.

 

As for your comment that it's not worth the trouble - for many of us, it most certainly is worth the trouble. That's why there are so many threads about it on Cruise Critic. :)

[Leejnd4]

(I'm getting on my soapbox);)

 

I'm glad to hear someone who was actually smuggling alcohol had their clothes ruined. Reading about all of you who smuggle alcohol on board make me very angry after our last cruise. When our luggage arrived in our cabin one of our suitcases was saturated inside and out with alcohol, and it was not our alcohol. We are assuming that someone thought they would smuggle alcohol in their suitcase and it broke and ran all over the luggage that sat below it. Our suitcase was ruined and I spent most of our first afternoon cleaning up sticky smelly booze. My formal dresses, all my shoes, my pj's, makeup case and much, much more was in that suitcase. I was actually able to pour alcohol out of the bottom of my suitcase!:eek: I do not blame the cruiseline I blame those of you who are too cheap to purchase your alcohol on the ship. You cost me alot of time and stress of cleaning up a mess that never should have been and money to wash and clean the items that were saturated and not to mention the items ruined, Oh and I forgot to add the time I missed enjoying the first afternoon of my cruise because I was cleaning up your mess! Please remember that smuggling your alcohol affects more than you!!! (ok, I'll get off my soap box now. I feel better finally geting a chance to vent.)

 

As Allie rightly pointed out in her reply to you: you have every right to be angry at that passenger who carelessly packed a liquid in a suitcase. But I take umbrage at your comment that you "blame" all of us. I'm sorry, but the fact that I choose to carry on my own alcohol has no impact on you, and had nothing to do with what happened to you. That could have been any liquid that broke in that suitcase. One time, I had a suitcase ruined by something that smelled like nail polish remover. It must have burst or broken or leaked in someone else's suitcase, and it got all over mine.

 

So, your anger is misplaced. Further, your comment that we who smuggle booze are "cheap" is a rude personal attack, and has no place on Cruise Critic.

[G'ma]

None of your questions apply to me.

 

I don't smuggle, never plan to, never have cruised with anyone who did or ever would.

 

I have observed it many, many times on many ships over 200+ cruises. I've also observed the bad behavior of the passengers when this happens....mouthy, rude, profane in many cases - and generally causing a big stink..

 

I've watched while security has removed a large stash of alcohol from the cabin of 4 young men traveling together - all underage...who'd been drunk for days and causing problems on the ship, disturbing guests in surrounding cabins and generally being a pain in the butt. Also watched at the next port as security escorted these bums off the ship...permanently.

[Leejnd4]

None of your questions apply to me.

 

I don't smuggle' date=' never plan to, never have cruised with anyone who did or ever would.

 

I have observed it many, many times on many ships over 200+ cruises. I've also observed the bad behavior of the passengers when this happens....mouthy, rude, profane in many cases - and generally causing a big stink..

 

I've watched while security has removed a large stash of alcohol from the cabin of 4 young men traveling together - all underage...who'd been drunk for days and causing problems on the ship, disturbing guests in surrounding cabins and generally being a pain in the butt. Also watched at the next port as security escorted these bums off the ship...permanently.[/quote']

 

If none of these questions apply to you, then I can't help but asking...why post to this thread? It doesn't apply to you! Was it just so you'd have the delightful opportunity of insinuating that anyone who smuggles booze is either a foul-mouthed profane jerk, or a drunken teenage fool? :rolleyes:

[AllieInMD]

Nobody in this thread has condoned underage drinking, nor rowdy rude guests that drink too much and make a PITA of themselves....whether they are drinking 'smuggled' booze or all the booze served to them by the cruiseline.

 

None of your questions apply to me.

 

I don't smuggle' date=' never plan to, never have cruised with anyone who did or ever would.

 

I have observed it many, many times on many ships over 200+ cruises. I've also observed the bad behavior of the passengers when this happens....mouthy, rude, profane in many cases - and generally causing a big stink..

 

I've watched while security has removed a large stash of alcohol from the cabin of 4 young men traveling together - all underage...who'd been drunk for days and causing problems on the ship, disturbing guests in surrounding cabins and generally being a pain in the butt. Also watched at the next port as security escorted these bums off the ship...permanently.[/quote']

[98Charlie]

When I started this thread it was really out of curiosity about actual experiences regarding the "policing" (for lack of a better word) of liquor upon embarkation. Regardless of anyones personal feeling about BYOB on a cruise ship, it happens on most if not all cruises.

 

It has been interesting to see the responses and find out that in this very unscientific poll most smuggled liquor does make it on board.

 

Sorry if some feel that they have to jump in and take one side of the argument while bashing the other. That really wasn't the intent.

 

Charlie

[cruisemom42]

 

It has been interesting to see the responses and find out that in this very unscientific poll most smuggled liquor does make it on board.

 

Charlie

 

Well, considering that (as of the poll results when I posted) approximately 40% of people either had their liquor confiscated or knew of someone who did, I'm not sure I would say "most"! (Most implies to the greatest amount or degree; or maximum....)

[AllieInMD]

well - right now it's 64%+ that say they have always gotten through - that's most. And I would think that not all of them only had one experience at doing it. There are people that have been doing it for decades.

 

 

 

Well, considering that (as of the poll results when I posted) approximately 40% of people either had their liquor confiscated or knew of someone who did, I'm not sure I would say "most"! (Most implies to the greatest amount or degree; or maximum....)

[Leejnd4]

When I started this thread it was really out of curiosity about actual experiences regarding the "policing" (for lack of a better word) of liquor upon embarkation. Regardless of anyones personal feeling about BYOB on a cruise ship, it happens on most if not all cruises.

 

It has been interesting to see the responses and find out that in this very unscientific poll most smuggled liquor does make it on board.

 

Sorry if some feel that they have to jump in and take one side of the argument while bashing the other. That really wasn't the intent.

 

Charlie

 

Thank you for starting this poll. It was encouraging to see that a large majority of voters were able to get their booze onto their cruise. This is helpful information for anyone considering smuggling. (It was also good to see that so few people jumped in to use it as a soap-box against the practice, as that clearly wasn't the point of this thread.)

[cruisemom42]

well - right now it's 64%+ that say they have always gotten through - that's most. And I would think that not all of them only had one experience at doing it. There are people that have been doing it for decades.

 

 

Sorry, don't mean to nitpick, but 64% (which is odd in itself, because if you add up the other two choices you get 40%....but okay....) is a "majority" or "many" but statistically speaking it is not "most".

 

(from a medical editor who constantly corrects statistical assertions...please, no flames. :o)

[Leejnd4]

Sorry, don't mean to nitpick, but 64% (which is odd in itself, because if you add up the other two choices you get 40%....but okay....) is a "majority" or "many" but statistically speaking it is not "most".

 

(from a medical editor who constantly corrects statistical assertions...please, no flames. :o)

 

Hey Cruisemom - no flames here. :) But I am a writer and editor by trade, and the word "most" really does mean simply the "greater number". If you have two sets of something, the one that has the higher number has the "most" in it...even if it is greater by only one.

 

If two candidates are running for office, the one who gets the most votes wins. If candidate A gets 99 votes, and candidate B gets 100 - who wins? The one with the most votes: Candidate B!

 

(Don't EVEN ask me which candidate *I* want to be candidate B!) :D

[AllieInMD]

I'm an analyst - all I do all day is crunch numbers and analyze the results - but just wasn't worth it to me to debate a word choice on an internet board ;)

 

Hey Cruisemom - no flames here. :) But I am a writer and editor by trade, and the word "most" really does mean simply the "greater number". If you have two sets of something, the one that has the higher number has the "most" in it...even if it is greater by only one.

 

If two candidates are running for office, the one who gets the most votes wins. If candidate A gets 99 votes, and candidate B gets 100 - who wins? The one with the most votes: Candidate B!

 

(Don't EVEN ask me which candidate *I* want to be candidate B!) :D

[Schnitztx]

This is so funny, two cruises ago we were called down to security and I had to disembark and open my "cooler" (a soft sided regular cooler) apparently the security camera couldn't "see" into it through the insulated lining or they couldn't see through the capri-suns themselves... scared the &*## out of me, because the bags had much more in them of the adult nature (beverage wise), but they called me down to the security and had me open the coolers to reveal the capri-sun for my kids - they took each capri sun out and looked at it very carefully then allowed me to re-board the ship -LOL it was very funny... afterwards...

 

ANyway, we no longer bring capri-sun aboard any ship with us. My kids just suffer through ports with water and cokes (poor kids huh).

 

HA!

 

--Debi

[Happy ks]

I had to answer yes, but not at embarkation and going through security I knew full well it would be confiscated. We purchased a couple of bottles of tequila in Mexico and had to give them up until the morning of disembarkation, fine with us. Weird thing is, we've had them for almost 2 years and still haven't opened them. I suppose the tequila place that gives free samples really know what they're doing :)

 

I also have to admit I've smuggled a couple airline sized bottles of Jack onboard in DH's shoes for in-cabin consumption. I wrap them in bubble wrap and a plastic baggie.

 

To the person who had their clothes ruined, bummer, I feel for you. Not for the problem of booze bottles breaking, but for any type of liquid, even rain water, I line our cases with plastic dry cleaner bags to try to avoid any liquid assault. Most of our hanging clothes are in dry cleaner bags and I put a layer between folded clothes, to avoid wrinkles. You might try this in the future. Also, better quality luggage has more water-proofing materials than cheaper brands. Don't take offense, I do realize you may have very nice luggage and your problem may not have been avoidable. I probably would have taken the issue up with the ship, they may have helped you out a bit with the cleaning, especially if a person is nice.

 

To those of you who do smuggle, I would never tell you not to, that would be hypocritical although I generally choose not to smuggle any more. Just be thoughtful of your fellow pax and pack in bubble wrap with the bottles placed inside well sealed zip lock baggies, please.

[Sandytoes]

When I started this thread it was really out of curiosity about actual experiences regarding the "policing" (for lack of a better word) of liquor upon embarkation. Regardless of anyones personal feeling about BYOB on a cruise ship, it happens on most if not all cruises.

 

It has been interesting to see the responses and find out that in this very unscientific poll most smuggled liquor does make it on board.

 

Sorry if some feel that they have to jump in and take one side of the argument while bashing the other. That really wasn't the intent.

 

Charlie,

We never had a problem bringing wine, soda, even beer on board Princess.

They allow it!

Being there is a "No Liquor" on board policy, we follow it.

Don't want to break the rules.

[zacc]

Sorry, don't mean to nitpick, but 64% (which is odd in itself, because if you add up the other two choices you get 40%....but okay....) is a "majority" or "many" but statistically speaking it is not "most".

 

(from a medical editor who constantly corrects statistical assertions...please, no flames. :o)

 

 

No flames.....just a question....so is it correct then to say 6 out of 10 doctors recommend a certain drug or must it be 9 out of 10 like in the commercials?

[marci4tony]

We use Rum Runners - never had a problem (in checked luggage) even on the plane.

 

We sailed Carnival - the first group of us that got through security stood on the other side and waited for the rest of our group and we watched them confiscate one after another after another...They had quite the "table" of wares by the time the rest of our party got through security.

[houstoncruisers2001]

I have never had to go to the "naughty room" or had any booze taken away from me......but since I've booked a spring break cruise in 2009 I feel that there's a first time for everything.

 

I'm going to have to change my plan of attack.

 

Side note: That's the beauty of a back to back cruise. You stock up on the last day of week one for the 2nd week. I got a kick out of that.

[Leejnd4]

No flames.....just a question....so is it correct then to say 6 out of 10 doctors recommend a certain drug or must it be 9 out of 10 like in the commercials?

 

Well, that depends on how many doctors recommended the drug! Was it 6, or was it 9?

 

In either case, it would still be correct to say that MOST of the doctors recommended the drug. :)

[tinkerme1]

Just a quick aside, there were some folks on our Monarch cruise that used several Rum Runners and were caught with them. Seems that they now have some kind of detection for "liquids"! What gave it away, the Rum Runners were stacked together and not separated in the suitcase, hence more liquid in one place!

[jean163]

We have only sailed on Oceania and brought liquor on board in our checked suitcases (duty free from our flight). We also shopped at various ports and brought it on board through the regular security. Never a peep, as they say they "reserve the right to seize alcohol brought on board", but we were told by their agents at a 'cruise night' that they rarely, if ever, do. They don't offer wines or liquor for sale by the bottle at the bar like some of the other cruise lines do (?HAL) so maybe that's why they're lenient. Also, not really a young person's cruise line and we certainly didn't see anybody over-imbibing, but the prices for a drink (even wine) on board are so ridiculous that it's commonplace to get together in a cabin for a cocktail before dinner.

[PurpleCow]

We've never carried any aboard and I've never seen any confiscated from anyone.

[Aquahound]

Sorta confiscated.....In Labadee, I purchased a bottle of Barbencourt rum. They caught it at the scanner and took it from me. I did get it back prior to disembarking though.

[Eeyoregon]

Yes, I know of someone who got caught. He emptied out two large listerine bottles and filled one with rum and one with vodka and both were intercepted.

 

The employee joked with him and pretty much said that had it not been soooo obvious that it probably would have made it through just fine. Two gallons of "mouth wash" on a 7 night cruise raises a red flag!

 

Last months our friends packed 3 medium sized metal flasks and left them right on top of the suitcase and it arrived safe and sound in their room so you just never know.

 

Glad I am a soda drinker cause' you can bring all you want and no one cares :D .

[happy cruzer]

(I'm getting on my soapbox);)

 

I'm glad to hear someone who was actually smuggling alcohol had their clothes ruined. Reading about all of you who smuggle alcohol on board make me very angry after our last cruise. When our luggage arrived in our cabin one of our suitcases was saturated inside and out with alcohol, and it was not our alcohol. We are assuming that someone thought they would smuggle alcohol in their suitcase and it broke and ran all over the luggage that sat below it. Our suitcase was ruined and I spent most of our first afternoon cleaning up sticky smelly booze. My formal dresses, all my shoes, my pj's, makeup case and much, much more was in that suitcase. I was actually able to pour alcohol out of the bottom of my suitcase!:eek: I do not blame the cruiseline I blame those of you who are too cheap to purchase your alcohol on the ship. You cost me alot of time and stress of cleaning up a mess that never should have been and money to wash and clean the items that were saturated and not to mention the items ruined, Oh and I forgot to add the time I missed enjoying the first afternoon of my cruise because I was cleaning up your mess! Please remember that smuggling your alcohol affects more than you!!! (ok, I'll get off my soap box now. I feel better finally geting a chance to vent.)

 

I had the same experience, a piece of luggage ruined by someone else's broken bottle of men's cologne. I did not need to vent because I pretty much figured it was an accident, I'm sure the guy did not intentially let his bottle break in his luggage to ruin my luggage. And I imagine no one wanted to harm you either. You let yourself be carried away and need to vent because of an accident that involved a bottle of liquid; you don't know that the guy was intentially smuggling, he may have been unaware of the cruise policy (many first time cruisers are) of no alcohol and just packed a bottle like he does in regular vacation travel. Maybe you will feel better thinking it was just an accident instead of being victimized?

 

Hope you feel better.