Why Bring Your Own Booze?

[Ladylouwho]

We wouldn't be costing the cruise line anything, because we're bringing on what they don't sell....hard liquor by the bottle. I'm not calling room service, and I'm not slogging to a bar when I want a drink in my room. If they sold it by the bottle for staterooms then we could talk about costing them revenue, but not now.

 

I agree. They used to let you buy one in the on board duty free and pay a surcharge. We gladly did that and I assume it was a win win for both RCI and us. Never stopped us from buying drinks in the bars/casino and wine with dinner.

 

To me if you say people who drink alcohol are costing the cruise line revenue because they have a drink or two of their own in the privacy of their cabin then what about the non-drinker? How much are they costing the cruise line? That argument really doesn't hold water (or Vodka for that matter), lol.

 

Colleen

[CGTNORMANDIE]

Hi Folks;

 

 

Now why to people feel a need to take money from the cruise line by bringing thier own booze on board? How much are you really saving? Is it worth the hassle to pack it carefully, worry about security finding it, or worse have your bottle of 12 year old scotch decorate your clothes?

 

Just being curious and looking for answers. I keep going back to something my travel agent told me... If you can't afford to go, come home one day early.

 

Thoughts?

 

SHORT ANSWER: Because bringing a bottle onboard is the only way you can have a bottle in your cabin. RCI made it that way...for whatever reason.

 

My cabin is my domain. I usually get a suite and I like to enjoy a cocktail in my cabin. Tell your TA I usually take the Royal Suite...and I still like a cocktail in my cabin. So let the battle continue.

[Ladylouwho]

I hope this doesn't sound snide or with malice or anything, as its not meant to be. I'm just curious and since everyone seems to be posting about it nicely I'll venture to ask a question. I don't care who smuggles, by the way - doesn't bother me! If all they had on board were wines I detested or were priced 10x retail or something I probably would, too!:p But were you on a longer than 7 night cruise with the posting above? If you had a bottle of wine every night with dinner, 7 bottles of wine/champagne in your cabin, and also ordered many drinks throughout that seems like a healthy bit of alcohol. That's 14 bottles of wine/champagne plus other alcohol. Either I'm a total lightweight (possibly :p) or I'm a cheapskate :D but I did the three wine bottle package and maybe 5 mixed frou frou drinks on a 6 night cruise and thought that was a lot! Lol :p

 

The poster didn't say they necessarily drank it alone, I assume they traveled with someone.

 

And for a drinker on vacation, yes, I do think 3 bottles of wine and 5 mixed drinks over a 6 night cruise is pretty lightweight. But I won't pass judgment on you, lol.

 

Colleen

[HorrorFan]

We threw a dozen or so of the little 'airplane' bottles in our suitcase this past spring when we were going on our cruise. We didn't buy them especially for that purpose, they were just kicking around the house. Not even sure where we got them. There was no inconvenience to that. If they hadn't have made it on board it wouldn't have mattered to me. I wouldn't have bothered to retrieve them at the end of the cruise if they had been confiscated either.

As it was they made it though, during spring break no less, and we enjoyed a few drinks on our balcony in the evening. We have never ordered drinks through room service and wouldn't have this time either. We actually drink very little. The odd beer at the pool and sometimes a bottle of wine with dinner, so the cruise line didn't lose any money by us 'smuggling' our own.

[Ladylouwho]

People need to learn to keep their activities to themselves to allow us all to continue to enjoy the loopholes.

 

You in particular seem to brag alot about alcohol smuggling and upgrades.....many posts give people a bad impression of us plussers....just chill and do your thing and try not to broadcast it so much....and you won't ever have to worry about RCI taking anything from you.

 

Sorry if this seems harsh but I say what I mean and mean what I say. I worked hard for my benefits and don't want to lose them to any loose lipped posters.

 

Well I worked hard for my benefits too and RCI had no problem taking them from Diamond Members like me so I wouldn't get too comfortable with your Plusser status. Remember, everyday more and more Diamonds are becoming Plussers and that "Crowding" problem may just effect you sooner than you think.

 

We all know RCI looks at having too many Loyal Customers as some sort of a problem, lol!

 

Colleen

[stones902]

I really feel like the cruise lines are "missing the boat" by not allowing surcharged spirit purchases from room service or their duty free liquor store while on board. Without going into the amount that the surcharge should be.....it would seem to satisfy many of us who prefer to have a cocktail or two in our cabins and allow the line to make a few extra $$$ that they otherwise might not.

 

RCL & others allowed this up until a few years ago.

 

Although I am an admitted smuggler, I would be willing to pay a few extra bucks for the convenience of buying on board rather than filling my rum runners prior to sailing.

[luckyprincess]

It seems to me that if they are allowing the purchase of bottles on their other lines but not RCCL then it would be for what they deem as 'over imbibing' reasons instead of money reasons. If it was such a windfall for them I'm sure they would extend the policy to their other lines. I still think the few lawsuits that stemmed from stupid people started it.

 

So I haven't seen this addressed as devil's advocate at all - but I've had cocktails in my cabin. I've either gotten them from a bar or had room service deliver them. So everyone that says that they smuggle because they like to have a cocktail in their cabin, or on the balcony, or while getting dressed - you can do that. I've done it quite a few times.

I think what they may mean, which someone else touched on was they want lots of cocktails in their cabin, or on their balcony or while getting dressed. I'm not knocking anyone at all - but at least say what you mean :) As I said before - my sister and her husband like to drink and they do drink quite a bit - compared to me (but I was outed as a lightweight a few posts ago!:p) but they're honest about it, you know. They probably have 5 or 6 drinks a night - rough estimate - on a cruise ship. So it would probably be a lot cheaper for them to smuggle. I do wonder, though, if the act of walking or riding the elevator to a bar to get it or making a phonecall for it is such a big burden or not fast enough - are you really having fun anymore drinking it? It just seems like the excuses are somewhat vague....

Now - I may be totally off base because I've been on 'smaller' ships so far. Maybe the walk from my hump cabin on 9 on FOS to the bar will suck and I'm gonna want to smuggle after all!:p

[unklez]

I think they should allow a minimum of one bottle of wine or champagne per adult to be brought onboard. That can't possibly detract from their bottom line, and when people are drunk they spend more money anyway.

 

Listen to me Richard and Adam!

 

I like this idea with a slight twist.

 

1. I say let each adult bring one bottle of whatever liquor they choose to bring.

 

2. Alternatively, consider giving each adult one alcoholic drink free per day which can be had from any bar or even the mini bar. We are bound to want more and pay for it.

 

Adam, Adam, Adam, Richard, Richard, Richard - LISTEN UP.

[Ladylouwho]

It seems to me that the whole process of smuggling is totally inconvenient!

 

Just seems that smuggling booze is one of the least convenient activities there is.

 

 

Not if one knows how to do it properly.

 

Colleen

[stones902]

So everyone that says that they smuggle because they like to have a cocktail in their cabin, or on the balcony, or while getting dressed - you can do that. I've done it quite a few times.

I think what they may mean, which someone else touched on was they want lots of cocktails in their cabin, or on their balcony or while getting dressed. I'm not knocking anyone at all - but at least say what you mean :)

 

Room service delivery times can be inconsistent - sometimes 20 minutes or more. Also, if you like to have a beverage (or two) while you are getting ready for dinner it is just not convenient to step out to the nearest bar on board to get your drink.

 

Your point is true and correct but there is a convenience factor here.

[luckyprincess]

Not if one knows how to do it properly.

 

Colleen

Lol! I guess that would make the difference!

I just think its crazy to not let people bring on a bottle of something not offered on the ship. Also, if they just let you have a bar set up or buy something in their shop to have delivered to your stateroom they wouldn't have so much below the line smuggling going on. If you limit the amount of alcohol per stateroom (if they are truley worried about people 'falling off') and have the bars actually enforce a cut off then I can't see that they would have as much issue as they do now...:confused:

[olemissreb]

On our first two cruises, we didn't smuggle any booze on board. In fact, we purchased some rum or something in San Juan on our first cruise on Princess and they took it from us before we boarded. We got it back at the end of the cruise.

 

Our last cruise on X, we stopped in the duty free shop in the Pan Am terminal building in San Juan and purchased some coke and a bottle of Don Q to take on board. I put it in my carryon bag and we didn't have any problem. Why? Because we like being able to mix a drink and sit on our balcony and read. It really is inconvenient to have to stop reading and put some shoes/sandals on to go to the nearest bar and get a couple of drinks and then schlep back to the cabin and try to get back into the book you were reading. It's much more convenient to walk inside the cabin and mix yourself a drink and then walk right back outside.

 

Did X lose money on us because of it? Highly doubtful as our bar bill for 7 days was well over $1000!:eek: (and yes that was just the bar/wine tab - we only did one excursion thru the cruise line - they cancelled 2 of our excursions thus giving us more money to spend at the bar):D

[luckyprincess]

Room service delivery times can be inconsistent - sometimes 20 minutes or more. Also, if you like to have a beverage (or two) while you are getting ready for dinner it is just not convenient to step out to the nearest bar on board to get your drink.

 

Your point is true and correct but there is a convenience factor here.

right - I did wait about 15 minutes for our drinks but we had just finished showering a few minutes before so it worked out. Waiting could be inconvenient in those time frames, I understand that. At one point, my boyfriend went to the bar in his pajamas to get drinks for us because we were just hanging out in the room. I think I still have the pic:

[Ambrosia64]

I think you've tried to be very polite re smugglers -thanks :)

 

Not everyone that smuggles drinks heavily. My fiancee and I actually drink very little and thought we'd drink much more on our last cruise being vacation and all - in reality we brought a lot of booze back.

 

Sure you CAN call room service or go to a bar, and we smugglers know that. For us - as we were getting ready for dinner - one or the other of us in a state of undress - or not wanting to finish dressing to go get a drink until the other was ready - or taking a shower last thing at night and deciding after to have a nightcap in the moonlight without having to call room service or dress and trudge to a part IS an inconvenience. BTW, we had an aft balcony on Navigator - it was a bit of a walk but no big deal - but I wasn't going to redress at the end of the day to go to a bar when I could make one right in my cabin. And yes, we enjoyed it - that part of your post I didn't understand - how could having a drink in your cabin equate to not enjoying yourself? In fact, it enhanced us enjoying ourselves and that drink.

 

 

 

It seems to me that if they are allowing the purchase of bottles on their other lines but not RCCL then it would be for what they deem as 'over imbibing' reasons instead of money reasons. If it was such a windfall for them I'm sure they would extend the policy to their other lines. I still think the few lawsuits that stemmed from stupid people started it.

 

So I haven't seen this addressed as devil's advocate at all - but I've had cocktails in my cabin. I've either gotten them from a bar or had room service deliver them. So everyone that says that they smuggle because they like to have a cocktail in their cabin, or on the balcony, or while getting dressed - you can do that. I've done it quite a few times.

I think what they may mean, which someone else touched on was they want lots of cocktails in their cabin, or on their balcony or while getting dressed. I'm not knocking anyone at all - but at least say what you mean :) As I said before - my sister and her husband like to drink and they do drink quite a bit - compared to me (but I was outed as a lightweight a few posts ago!:p) but they're honest about it, you know. They probably have 5 or 6 drinks a night - rough estimate - on a cruise ship. So it would probably be a lot cheaper for them to smuggle. I do wonder, though, if the act of walking or riding the elevator to a bar to get it or making a phonecall for it is such a big burden or not fast enough - are you really having fun anymore drinking it? It just seems like the excuses are somewhat vague....

Now - I may be totally off base because I've been on 'smaller' ships so far. Maybe the walk from my hump cabin on 9 on FOS to the bar will suck and I'm gonna want to smuggle after all!:p

[dual]

I have ordered a couple of bottles of wine to be sent to my stateroom in advance of my upcoming cruise in November. This is allowing me to avoid the "smuggling" alcohol issue.

 

I note a few posters may not realize that you can order wine to be delivered to your stateroom - you just have to do it in advance of the cruise via the website. I understand you cant do that when on Board. Yes you will pay over £20 a bottle for cheap wine - but its wine - as long as I get a little jolly buzz from it im happy!

 

But I have to say the mark up on some of the lower end bottles is amazing. A bottle of chilean Sav at my local store is £4 - the same bottle on my LOS sailing is £20 - its a huge mark up. I dont mind them having a mark up - its about profit after all - its a business - but the mark up is truly awesome.

[luckyprincess]

I think you've tried to be very polite re smugglers -thanks :)

 

Not everyone that smuggles drinks heavily. My fiancee and I actually drink very little and thought we'd drink much more on our last cruise being vacation and all - in reality we brought a lot of booze back.

 

Sure you CAN call room service or go to a bar, and we smugglers know that. For us - as we were getting ready for dinner - one or the other of us in a state of undress - or not wanting to finish dressing to go get a drink until the other was ready - or taking a shower last thing at night and deciding after to have a nightcap in the moonlight without having to call room service or dress and trudge to a part IS an inconvenience. BTW, we had an aft balcony on Navigator - it was a bit of a walk but no big deal - but I wasn't going to redress at the end of the day to go to a bar when I could make one right in my cabin. And yes, we enjoyed it - that part of your post I didn't understand - how could having a drink in your cabin equate to not enjoying yourself? In fact, it enhanced us enjoying ourselves and that drink.

We didnt' drink as much as we thought, either! Weird, huh? I just assumed I'd be free and crazy because it was vacation. Maybe I was too exhaused with all there was to do:D At the end there I meant that all the fretting and worrying was making getting a drink more of a chore than an enjoyment, but I think you cleared that up for me!

Cheers:p

[stones902]

I have ordered a couple of bottles of wine to be sent to my stateroom in advance of my upcoming cruise in November. This is allowing me to avoid the "smuggling" alcohol issue.

 

I note a few posters may not realize that you can order wine to be delivered to your stateroom - you just have to do it in advance of the cruise via the website. I understand you cant do that when on Board. Yes you will pay over £20 a bottle for cheap wine - but its wine - as long as I get a little jolly buzz from it im happy!

 

But I have to say the mark up on some of the lower end bottles is amazing. A bottle of chilean Sav at my local store is £4 - the same bottle on my LOS sailing is £20 - its a huge mark up. I dont mind them having a mark up - its about profit after all - its a business - but the mark up is truly awesome.

 

My posts were referring to spirits (i.e. hard liquor) and beer. Wine may be ordered on board.

[yogimax]

Alternatively, consider giving each adult one alcoholic drink free per day

 

Ha! Somehow, I see little possibility of this:)

 

Actually, you can qualify right now for even more. Just cruise with RCCL ten times!

[Alexru12]

i put people who smuggle "because the HAVE to HAVE a drink or two b4 going out" in the same catagory as the people who drink at home b4 going to the bar...it's just what they do...and nothing is going to change it.....

same thing with the drink b4 bed....can't call room service...you might pass out in the 15 minutes it takes the drinks to arrive...just kidding:D...look a happy face...

i can see the inconvenience of saying..."hold on dear, sweet, love, of mine, whilst I get another round to take to the room"

Jeepers...by then dear, sweet, love, may have taken a tumble down the elevator shaft...kidding...;)...happy wink face...see..

and those pool waiters....jeesh

better to just lay by the pool and send the kids to the room to make your marquaritas...and if they are too young to learn... TEQUILA & FRESCA..thats all they need to know....:p...look happy face...again with the kidding.....

[USNA Wife]

I agree with Stones902. I sometimes want a drink in the cabin.. Last cruise, DH and I spent 2300.00 on board. Did one spa service each and the rest was .......DRINKS !!! Yes , we were with friends and on our Honeymoon . I would pay a bar surcharge to have bottles in the cabin or better yet , pay a higher fee and have a "magic" sea pass which would make it all inclusive (Bar Only - No Bottle Wine) Not having to sign reciepts would be so nice..

 

RCCL - If your listening , let us pay extra for bottles in the cabin.

 

Cheers,

[Ladylouwho]

Lol! I guess that would make the difference!

I just think its crazy to not let people bring on a bottle of something not offered on the ship. Also, if they just let you have a bar set up or buy something in their shop to have delivered to your stateroom they wouldn't have so much below the line smuggling going on. If you limit the amount of alcohol per stateroom (if they are truley worried about people 'falling off') and have the bars actually enforce a cut off then I can't see that they would have as much issue as they do now...:confused:

 

You got it, luckyprincess!

 

Colleen

[Ladylouwho]

right - I did wait about 15 minutes for our drinks but we had just finished showering a few minutes before so it worked out. Waiting could be inconvenient in those time frames, I understand that. At one point, my boyfriend went to the bar in his pajamas to get drinks for us because we were just hanging out in the room. I think I still have the pic:

 

Did he leave any for you? ROTFL!

 

Colleen

[dual]

My posts were referring to spirits (i.e. hard liquor) and beer. Wine may be ordered on board.

 

So my TA got it wrong then:confused: - she said I had to order it pre-cruise to be delivered to my stateroom - are you saying I can order a couple bottles of wine whilst on board to be delivered to my stateroom on the 1st night???

[Ambrosia64]

Can't stand wine - we even brought home the bottle our TA sent us -never opened it. Fiancee does like wine, but he's picky about what he drinks and did not like the prices onboard either.

 

BTW, pretty sure you can buy the wine package once onboard.

 

I have ordered a couple of bottles of wine to be sent to my stateroom in advance of my upcoming cruise in November. This is allowing me to avoid the "smuggling" alcohol issue.

 

I note a few posters may not realize that you can order wine to be delivered to your stateroom - you just have to do it in advance of the cruise via the website. I understand you cant do that when on Board. Yes you will pay over £20 a bottle for cheap wine - but its wine - as long as I get a little jolly buzz from it im happy!

 

But I have to say the mark up on some of the lower end bottles is amazing. A bottle of chilean Sav at my local store is £4 - the same bottle on my LOS sailing is £20 - its a huge mark up. I dont mind them having a mark up - its about profit after all - its a business - but the mark up is truly awesome.

[Ambrosia64]

Had my very first Long Island Iced Tea aboard the Navigator - was sucking it down fast - I'm very seriously a lightweight - fiancee kept warning me - but I didn't listen - I staggered outta there a bit. Think that might have been the last drink I had on that trip lol!

 

We didnt' drink as much as we thought, either! Weird, huh? I just assumed I'd be free and crazy because it was vacation. Maybe I was too exhaused with all there was to do:D At the end there I meant that all the fretting and worrying was making getting a drink more of a chore than an enjoyment, but I think you cleared that up for me!

Cheers:p