Cruise lines offer a lot of amenities and activities, which earns them significant revenue. This is particularly true for drink packages and shore excursions. As we all love to have fun once aboard, most will opt for drink and beverage packages. But those who wish to cut down the budget will think of carrying alcohol on their trip. But cruise ships don’t let you carry everything in your luggage. That raises the big question: Can you take alcohol on cruise ships?
If you’re a seasoned traveler, you already know that the cruise ships don’t let you bring weed onboard. There may be times when you want to buy some gorgeous bottles when you get down at some ports in between. But the question lingers – can I bring alcohol on a cruise ship? Well, our article perfectly answers this and the alcohol policies related to the various cruise lines.
Can You Take Alcohol on Cruise Ships?
Well, the answer varies based on the cruise line. The answer is mostly “no,” but there are some exceptions. The main reason why the cruise lines don’t let you bring alcohol on board is that they make considerable revenue by selling drinks to the guests. Why would they want to lose it?
Even if your cruise line lets you bring alcohol, it will probably be champagne or wine, which is true for most mainstream cruise lines. Also, there will be restrictions on the number of bottles you can bring. If you plan to take it, pack it in your carry-on rather than in checked luggage.
That’s not it. To consume the drinks outside of your cabin, you’ll have to pay a per-bottle corkage fee, which is ideally between $10 and $25.
Why Can’t You Bring Alcohol on a Cruise?
Whether you can bring alcohol or not depends on the cruise line you choose. Ideally, most cruise ships restrict it as they want to maintain a safe environment during the cruise.
Alcohol Policies on Cruise Lines
Can you take alcohol on cruise ships? Well, the alcohol policies of the main cruise lines will answer all queries related to that.
Royal Caribbean International
- A traveler of drinking age can bring one bottle (750 ml) of champagne or wine. The cruise line doesn’t allow bringing liquor or beer.
- Consuming the bottle outside your cabin will incur a corkage fee of $15.
- If you buy bottles from duty-free shops or ports, they’ll store them till the end of the trip.
Carnival Cruises
- Passengers aged 21 and above can bring one bottle (750 ml) of champagne or wine (sealed) in their carry-on.
- Consuming the bottle outside your cabin will incur a corkage fee of $15.
- If you buy bottles from duty-free shops or ports, they’ll store them till the end of the trip. You can collect them from a designated lounge when you disembark.
Celebrity Cruises
- A traveler of drinking age can bring two bottles (750 ml) of champagne or wine per cabin. The cruise line doesn’t allow bringing liquor or beer.
- Consuming the bottle in bars and restaurants will incur a corkage fee of $25.
- If you buy bottles from duty-free shops or ports, they’ll store them till the end of the trip.
Disney Cruise Line
- A traveler of the drinking age can bring beer, champagne, or wine on their ships. You can carry up to two bottles (750 ml) of wine or champagne or six beers (each up to 12 ounces).
- You can’t drink them in any public area or lounge. Consuming the bottle in the dining rooms will incur a corkage fee of $15.
- The cruise line will store all the extra bottles you buy or try to bring on board till the end of the trip.
Norwegian Cruise Line
- A traveler of drinking age can bring unlimited champagne or wine bottles. It can be even 1,500 ml magnum bottles. You can’t bring or consume liquor, beer, or boxed wine inside the ship.
- Consuming the bottle outside your cabin will incur a corkage fee of $15-$30 based on the bottle size.
- If you buy bottles from duty-free shops or ports, they’ll store them till the end of the trip.
MSC Cruises
- You can’t bring alcohol onboard their ships.
- If you buy bottles from duty-free shops or ports, they’ll store them till the end of the trip.
Holland America Line
- A traveler aged 21 can bring champagne or wine bottles in their carry-on. Though they don’t specify the limit for bottles, we recommend that you don’t bring too many bottles as they may confiscate them. The cruise line doesn’t allow bringing liquor, beer, or boxed wine.
- Consuming the bottle outside your cabin will incur a corkage fee of $20. The corkage fee will be exempt for one bottle if you buy it ashore via a winery visit arranged by the cruise line.
- If you buy bottles from duty-free shops or ports, they’ll retain them till the end of the cruise.
Azamara Cruises
- You can bring liquor, beer, or wine and can consume it in your cabin or suite free of cost.
- Consuming the bottle in a bar or dining area will incur a corkage fee of $10.
- If you buy bottles from duty-free shops or ports, they’ll store them till the end of the trip.
Cunard Line
- A traveler of drinking age can bring a bottle of champagne or wine. The cruise line doesn’t allow bringing liquor or beer.
- Consuming the bottle in a dining venue will incur a corkage fee of $25.
- If you buy bottles from duty-free shops or ports, they’ll store and return them at the cruise’ last night.
Oceania Cruises
- A traveler of drinking age can bring up to six bottles of champagne or wine per cabin. The cruise line doesn’t allow bringing liquor or beer.
- Consuming the bottle in the ship’s public areas will incur a corkage fee of $15.
- If you buy beer or liquor bottles onboard or from ports, they’ll store them till the end of the trip. The same applies if you buy more than six bottles.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Any adult can bring alcohol on their ships without any limits.
- The ships don’t charge any corkage fees either.
Princess Cruises
- A traveler of drinking age can bring a bottle (750 ml) of champagne or wine. The cruise line doesn’t allow bringing liquor or beer.
- Consuming the bottle in a lounge or restaurant will incur a corkage fee of $20.
- If you buy bottles from ports, they’ll store them till the end of the trip.
Silversea Cruises
- You can bring liquor and wine onboard for personal use during ports of call and embarkation day.
- The cruise line hasn’t imposed any limits, and there’s no corkage fees.
Virgin Voyages
- A traveler of drinking age can bring two bottles (750 ml) of champagne or wine per cabin in a carry-on. The cruise line doesn’t allow bringing liquor or beer.
- If you bring alcohol in checked luggage, it won’t comply with the policy, and the cruise line will store it till the cruise ends.
- If you buy bottles from ports, they’ll store them till the final night of the cruise.
Viking Ocean Cruises
- You can bring beer, liquor, wine, or champagne onboard their ships.
- There is no corkage fee or limit on the number of bottles.
Seabourn Cruise Line
- You can bring beer, liquor, wine, or champagne onboard their ships.
- There is no corkage fee or limit on the number of bottles.
Windstar Cruises
- A traveler of drinking age can bring two bottles (750 ml) of champagne or wine per cabin on the day of embarkation. The number of bottles can be three if you’re cruising for more than a week. The cruise line doesn’t allow bringing liquor or beer.
- Consuming the bottle outside your cabin will incur a corkage fee of $15.
- If you buy beer or liquor from ports, they’ll store them till the end of the trip.
Do Cruise Ships Check Your Bags for Alcohol?
Before onboarding your cruise ship, your luggage will be scanned, and you must pass through an X-ray machine. The machine can find out any liquids you may be carrying, so you can’t even hide small bottles of alcohol in your pockets. Also, some cruise lines will specifically check for alcohol. For instance, Royal Caribbean will check your luggage for alcohol and, if found, dispose of it.
You must understand it’s somewhat easy to get caught if you try to sneak alcohol into the ship. These are the ways by which you can get caught.
- Hiding it deep in the suitcase
- Filling some other bottles with liquor like a shampoo bottle
- Asking another person to hide it
How Do Cruise Ships Detect Alcohol?
Well, there are also other ways by which you may get caught, like the following.
Room inspections
All cruise lines can check your room anytime. It is included in your cruise contract. So, even if you sneak alcohol into your room, you can get caught during your room check.
Body scanners
Before boarding, there will be a luggage scan, and you’ll have to walk through an X-ray machine. The machine can find out any liquids you’re carrying. So, it’s easy to get caught if you hide tiny bottles in your pocket.
Informants
There will be stringent monitoring by the ship’s security, crew, or other probable informants once you’re aboard. If they notice any strange behavior from you, the ship officials will search your cabin and seize alcohol if found.
Can You Get in Trouble for Bringing Alcohol on a Cruise?
Most cruise lines will charge you a penalty or subject you to a surcharge if they find you sneaking alcohol onto the cruise ship. Some cruise lines also won’t allow you to board the ship. Whatever the disciplinary action they impose, you can always expect these cruise lines to confiscate the alcohol as soon as they find it.
Consequences if caught
- Fine: Many cruise lines may impose a penalty or surcharge if caught sneaking alcohol into the ship.
- Confiscation: Irrespective of the disciplinary actions, the cruise line will confiscate the alcohol as soon as they find it.
- Retaining identification: The cruise line will ask your ID to note your actions and record them in the system if required.
- Disembarking: In rare cases, the cruise line will ask you to disembark from the ship. It happens if you don’t give up the liquor or the crew fears trouble from you.
Can You Get Kicked off a Cruise for Bringing Alcohol?
Yes, some cruise lines may kick you out of their ship if they find you sneaking alcohol while boarding.
Do Cruises Check ID for Alcohol?
From ships that sail from the US, most cruise lines will serve liquor for guests aged at least 21 or older. The cruise lines require a proper ID with a birth date for this. The policy is only applicable for ships or itineraries based in the US.
How Do I Sneak Alcohol on a Cruise Ship?
Well, are you still desperate to sneak alcohol into your cruise ship even after knowing it’s illegal to do it? Of course, you may tend to do it as drink packages tend to be expensive, or you don’t want to drain your wallet by buying drinks repeatedly while cruising. These are some methods that you can try. But be aware there will be screening and checks, and cruise ship employees are cunning enough to find your tricks. If found out, be ready to face the consequences!
Pack a private minibar
If you have mini bottles of alcohol, they will fit in a quart-sized bag as they are less than 3 ounces in quantity. Then, you can hide them in your carry-on. However, be cautious of the luggage scanner.
Repackaging mouthwash
Have you ever heard about sneaking alcohol into a cruise ship in a mouthwash bottle? Yes, some seasoned cruise travelers have claimed to have done it in the past. The ideal method is to empty a bottle of mouthwash and then sterilize it with hot water, and then dry it. Fill the bottle with alcohol and dye the liquid using blue or green food coloring. Wrap in your undergarments so that the chances of security discovering them are very slim.
Find the best match
Since mouthwash comes in many colors these days, you need to keep looking till you find the perfect type. For instance, if one brand sells a clear mouthwash, you can empty the bottle and fill it with vodka, gin, or white rum. If the mouthwash has a cloudy white bottle, you can easily hide dark-colored liquids.
Reseal the bottle
Since your baggage will undergo inspection, ensure that the bottle is properly resealed so that it won’t leak everywhere around your suitcase. Some travelers use super glue to seal the bottles.
Why Take Alcohol on Cruise Ships When You’ve Alternatives?
A cruise is a one-of-a-kind experience. Many amenities and activities will keep you engaged throughout the trip. To experience that, you should be on board. Sneaking liquor may even result in the ship officials disembarking you. So, it’s better to be on the safe side by following these tips.
Bring wine or champagne
Some cruise lines will let you bring 1-2 bottles of wine and champagne. As it is allowed, you can bring it without the fear of confiscation. The number of bottles you can bring varies by each cruise line.
Buy from ship’s bars
Most cruise lines have a bar that’ll serve beer, spirits, champagne, cocktails, and wine. Though it may be a bit more expensive, consuming it is safer than sneaking liquor into the ship.
Unlimited drinking packages
Some cruise lines offer unlimited drink packages that you can buy additionally. So, buying this package gives you access to unlimited drinks throughout the trip. Check with your cruise line about the alcohol packages when booking.
Drink ashore
It is a cheaper option than drinking from the ship’s bar. So, drink from the bars in the port when you get down and get back to the ship. There will always be new spirits that you could try out.
Can You Take Alcohol on Celebrity Cruise Ships?
No, you can’t bring beer or liquor onboard. However, a passenger aged 21 or above can bring one bottle of champagne or wine (750 ml) per cabin. However, consuming it in bars and restaurants will incur a corkage fee of $25.
Can You Bring Alcohol on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship?
No, you can’t bring beer or liquor onboard. However, a passenger can bring one bottle of champagne or wine (750 ml) per cabin. However, consuming it in bars and restaurants will incur a corkage fee of $15.
Can You Take Duty-Free Alcohol on Cruise Ships?
No, ideally, you can’t bring alcohol into a cruise ship. However, the alcohol policy varies by each cruise line. Also, if you buy alcohol from the port or the ship’s duty-free shop, the cruise line will hold it and give it to you when the trip ends.
Which Cruise Line Allows You to Bring Alcohol on Board?
Some cruise lines let you bring 1-2 bottles of wine or champagne onboard. However, cruise lines like Viking, Regent Seven Seas, Azamara, Seabourn, etc, let you bring liquor onboard. Always check with your cruise line on alcohol policy when you book your trip.
Is Alcohol Expensive on Cruise Ships?
Yes, it is. Beers can cost you around $8, and cocktails can cost you around $15. The exact rates vary by cruise line.
Can I Bring Alcohol on MSC Cruises?
No, you can’t bring liquor for consumption on board any of the MSC Cruises unless allowed by the crew or security personnel of the ship.
Which Cruise Has Free Drinks?
Cruise lines like Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, and Silversea offer you an all-inclusive beverage service.
Is Wine Free at Dinner on a Cruise?
The policy varies by the cruise line. However, most cruise lines charge you for consuming liquor.
Can You Walk around a Cruise Ship with a Drink?
Yes, the cruise line lets you get a drink from a bar and proceed to your cabin or other ship areas.
Can You Buy Alcohol on a Cruise without the Drink Package?
Yes, even if you don’t opt for a drinking package, you can always buy liquor from the ship’s bar and consume it. If you buy a liquor bottle from the ship’s duty-free shop, the cruise line will hold it and give it to you on the day the cruise ends.
