Corkage Fee

[snorkelrose]

How do they keep track of your bottle of wine if you choose the "open seating" dining option? Different time, table and waiter each night.

[sailor44]

How do they keep track of your bottle of wine if you choose the "open seating" dining option? Different time, table and waiter each night.

 

I don't need to worry about that - there's never anything left :D

[sailor44]

Everyone has his/her own experiences, but I have never been charged a corkage fee. I have even (I did ask beforehand!) had the pool bar bartender / room service open for me free of charge (but I did tip, of course :)

 

The corkage fee only applies if you wish to consume your wine in the dining room or supper club.

[Cotton]

How do they keep track of your bottle of wine if you choose the "open seating" dining option? Different time, table and waiter each night.

 

Good question Rose. They seem to be getting as far away from usual cruising as possible, when your waiter knew everything you like, dislike, etc. Too bad.:(

[emilyrose]

HAHAH, they sell Beringer and Woodbridge White Zin, which are both like $6 a bottle at Walmart.

[aggieastrosfan]

HAHAH, they sell Beringer and Woodbridge White Zin, which are both like $6 a bottle at Walmart.

 

I went to our huge discount liquor store last week, which also has a very impressive wine selection. I printed off all the reds available for purchase on Bon Voyage, and took that to Spec's to purchase my wine for my next two cruises. I knew there was a huge mark-up, but just to see it...I purchased 9 bottles for about 40-60% of what Carnival was charging. My DH, who is not a big wine drinker, actually likes the Fetzer Zinfandel. Carnival charges $30. I got it for $8. :rolleyes:

[mcwebber]

I purchased 9 bottles for about 40-60% of what Carnival was charging. My DH, who is not a big wine drinker, actually likes the Fetzer Zinfandel. Carnival charges $30. I got it for $8.

 

Just got off the Imagination and saw that Carnival is offering a wine discount program. I think it was 3 bottles for each of 3 dinners (one per night) for about $60.

[aggieastrosfan]

Just got off the Imagination and saw that Carnival is offering a wine discount program. I think it was 3 bottles for each of 3 dinners (one per night) for about $60.

 

Oh, I'm still planning on buying the 5 bottle package for my Splendor cruise at the end of the month. Don't want to have to fly too much wine on the plane! :o

[Drew B]

I've had to practically BEG my waiters to charge me the corkage. If they bring it up at all, they are so apologetic about it...

[LindaJSteele]

I guess this must really be a "hit or miss" thing. I have been charged the corkage fee EVERY time I've taken wine on board - and yes, my wine is one they serve. I don't complain about it, though. I'm still saving money, and it's not like it's a surprise. I know they're going to charge it.

 

We just got off the Glory on Saturday, and yes, they charged me the $10.

[big_duck]

I went to our huge discount liquor store last week, which also has a very impressive wine selection. I printed off all the reds available for purchase on Bon Voyage, and took that to Spec's to purchase my wine for my next two cruises. I knew there was a huge mark-up, but just to see it...I purchased 9 bottles for about 40-60% of what Carnival was charging. My DH, who is not a big wine drinker, actually likes the Fetzer Zinfandel. Carnival charges $30. I got it for $8. :rolleyes:

 

Oh, I'm still planning on buying the 5 bottle package for my Splendor cruise at the end of the month. Don't want to have to fly too much wine on the plane! :o

 

Good thing 'cause I doubt any wine sitting in your house would last until the cruise anyway. :p

[Winterstale]

Wow - I am very happy to hear they allow us to bring at least TWO bottles on board.

 

I buy wine as part of my job.......so needless to say.....VERRRRRRRRY fussy about wine ;) and saw absolutely NOTHING that would have made me happy on ANY list (well, nothing that wasn't obscenely overpriced).

 

Now I can grab from the cellar and be happy...for at least two dinners :D

[pnjkeith]

I've had to practically BEG my waiters to charge me the corkage. If they bring it up at all, they are so apologetic about it...

 

Youre kidding, Right? Beg to be charged corkage

[tkportersat]

I packed a corkscrew for our two bottles of wine. There are wine glasses in the room.....no corkage fee. I would pour it and walk to the dining room.

[Thirsty Cruiser]

I packed a corkscrew for our two bottles of wine. There are wine glasses in the room.....no corkage fee. I would pour it and walk to the dining room.

I don't get that approach. One glass lasts the whole meal?

Some open the bottle and bring it in and are not charged. Some don't open the bottle and are not charged.

I don't open the bottle and am always charged.:(

[aggieastrosfan]

I don't mind paying corkage, but the way one waiter did it once really ticked me off.

 

The first night, I brought a bottle, no corkage. Second night, a friend supplied the bottle. No corkage. Third night, I bring a bottle. At the end of the night, I'm asked for my S&S card. I knew I wouldn't get lucky all week, I had no problems handing it over. He brings it back and has charged me for 3 corkage fees. :mad: I just stared at him in disbelief, to be charged after 3 nights, and to be charged for one that wasn't even mine. I didn't go to the maitre'd, because we did bring the wine in, but I let him know that I was upset to be charged for all of it on the 3rd night when one of them wasn't even mine, and I would've preferred to have just been charged nightly.

 

I guess I scared him, because he didn't charge us the rest of the week.

[tkportersat]

It lasted for me, didn't carry the bottle to the dining room.

March 2009 was the first time I have brought wine in 10 cruises.

 

I don't get that approach. One glass lasts the whole meal?

Some open the bottle and bring it in and are not charged. Some don't open the bottle and are not charged.

I don't open the bottle and am always charged.:(

[Thirsty Cruiser]

It lasted for me, didn't carry the bottle to the dining room.

March 2009 was the first time I have brought wine in 10 cruises.

That sounds like a good plan for you, then.

One glass would not make it to the DR from my cabin, lol.:o

[aggieastrosfan]

One glass would not make it to the DR from my cabin, lol.:o

 

Me, neither! I'll have a glass while getting ready, and another on the way to the DR, and I'll be carrying an unopened bottle. :o

[mcwebber]

I don't get that approach. One glass lasts the whole meal?

Some open the bottle and bring it in and are not charged. Some don't open the bottle and are not charged.

I don't open the bottle and am always charged.

 

I ended up bringing a couple of bottles that I knew are on the wine list so they assumed they were sent to my cabin as a gift. The assistant waiter even said it's her favorite wine. I even saw other tables ordering it. As far as one glass lasting the whole meal, a normal bottle is 4 - 5 glasses. If you fill the glass all the way you can get almost 1/2 the bottle in there.

[Wolfie48]

I ended up bringing a couple of bottles that I knew are on the wine list so they assumed they were sent to my cabin as a gift. The assistant waiter even said it's her favorite wine. I even saw other tables ordering it. As far as one glass lasting the whole meal, a normal bottle is 4 - 5 glasses. If you fill the glass all the way you can get almost 1/2 the bottle in there.

 

I'm on vacation I don't care if they charge me a corkage or not? I bring wine that is much better than you can buy from Carnival, so charge me $10.00 on my $90.00 dollar bottle. That bottle would cost me $225.00 if I could buy it! I enjoy good wine so I bring good wine! I don't care if they want their 10 dollar corkage fee, they deserve to make money.

[mjl1960]

My wife is female, too. What's your point? :cool:

:Droughly half the population is female...what is your point...?

[Thirsty Cruiser]

I ended up bringing a couple of bottles that I knew are on the wine list so they assumed they were sent to my cabin as a gift. The assistant waiter even said it's her favorite wine. I even saw other tables ordering it. As far as one glass lasting the whole meal, a normal bottle is 4 - 5 glasses. If you fill the glass all the way you can get almost 1/2 the bottle in there.

My point still stands, lol.:D

 

I'm on vacation I don't care if they charge me a corkage or not? I bring wine that is much better than you can buy from Carnival, so charge me $10.00 on my $90.00 dollar bottle. That bottle would cost me $225.00 if I could buy it! I enjoy good wine so I bring good wine! I don't care if they want their 10 dollar corkage fee, they deserve to make money.

That is exactly what I do. To me, it doesn't make sense to pay corkage on a $10 bottle of wine. You can get that onboard for about the same price. The real value is on the higher end wines.

I brought a great bottle to the supper club. Even with corkage it was a steal.

[tkportersat]

They still made plenty of money off of me, my final bill for the week was $1200.....not to mention the additional $800 I donated to the casino. :o

 

I'm on vacation I don't care if they charge me a corkage or not? I bring wine that is much better than you can buy from Carnival, so charge me $10.00 on my $90.00 dollar bottle. That bottle would cost me $225.00 if I could buy it! I enjoy good wine so I bring good wine! I don't care if they want their 10 dollar corkage fee, they deserve to make money.

[tkportersat]

I bought many glasses from them the last night and paid for it dearly the following day while "trying" to disembark. Not pretty.:(

 

That sounds like a good plan for you, then.

One glass would not make it to the DR from my cabin, lol.:o