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Can you buy a bottle of liquor on a cruise ship and drink it?

If you buy a bottle of alcohol either on the ship or in port, you don't get to enjoy it right away. Instead, it's put in a sealed box. Your purchase will be held by the cruise staff and delivered to your room the last night of the trip.



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Policy – Wine and champagne are allowed onboard. Beer or spirits purchased on the ship or otherwise taken on the ship cannot be consumed onboard; bottles will be held for the duration of the cruise and delivered to the guest's cabin on the last day of the sailing.

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Yes, there are two ways to buy a bottle of alcohol on a cruise ship: Buy a bottle from the duty-free liquor store on the cruise, but they hold it. Order a bottle of liquor to your stateroom anytime (more info in the next tip, #9)

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Boxed wine and other containers are prohibited. Guests who purchase alcohol bottles onboard, in a port-of-call, or bring more than the one permitted bottle on boarding day, will have their items safely stored by the ship. These bottles will be returned on the last day onboard for enjoyment once home.”

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Prices for cocktails on cruise ships usually run about $10-14 per drink, before gratuity. So expect to spend about $12 to $16.50 per beverage when gratuity is added.

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But, in nearly all cases, the price before your cruise will be cheaper than waiting until you are onboard. Drink packages cannot be shared, and in a road sense, all four cruise lines require that all adults 21 and over staying in the same room buy a package if one is going to.

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Guests are not allowed to bring beer or hard liquor onboard for consumption or any other use. Alcoholic beverages (beer, seltzer, or hard liquor) seized on embarkation day will be returned at the end of the voyage provided that they are in the original sealed package.

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Royal Caribbean has always been strict in this aspect. Alcoholic beverages such as beer, seltzer, or hard liquor are not permitted to be brought on board, and any seized on embarkation day will not be returned.

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Duty free items purchased onboard can be taken to your room and enjoyed during your vacation. However, duty free alcohol and in some areas cigarettes will be delivered on the final day or morning of your voyage.

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But when you get a drink, you won't see any additional charges, for the drink or gratuity. However, if purchasing a drink without the package, then you will be charged an additional gratuity on the menu price. As just mentioned, this amount varies by cruise line but is normally 18-20%.

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In some cases, it may lead to fatigue or dehydration that changes the concentration of alcohol in the blood. Even without a higher concentration, the boat can certainly make you feel more intoxicated and cause greater impairment than consuming alcohol on land. Drink plenty of water.

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There is also a limit to how much you can bring on the ship. You must present bottles in carry-on bags upon entry. Before boarding, you'll have to remove them from checked luggage and pass through ship security. Generally, guests can bring one to two bottles per stateroom on the ship.

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All passengers must be 18 years old to drink beer and wine, and 21 to drink the hard stuff; however when the ship is docked or anchored in an American port, or within the 3-mile limit, the drinking age is 21 for all alcoholic beverages.

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Final word. On most cruises, you're welcome to wander the ship with a drink in your hand, at least in most areas. It's just like one large resort, so grab your favourite tipple and then find your perfect spot to enjoy it. Just make sure you ask for plastic glasses if you want to head over to a pool or hot tub.

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Bars are everywhere on a cruise ship, and the alcohol flows freely. But it's certainly not free. Drinks are big business on a cruise.

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So what if one person traveling wants the drink package but the other doesn't? Royal Caribbean requires all adults in a stateroom to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package (which includes alcoholic drinks) if one person does.

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In many cases, no. Several of the biggest cruise lines, including Carnival, Holland America and MSC Cruises, have a rule that if one adult in a cabin orders a drinks package, all adults in the cabin must order the package. This is to prevent two or more people in a cabin from sharing a single drinks package.

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Tips are therefore paid on the value of the package, and not per drink as you order. You're welcome to tip bartenders extra on a cruise, but keep in mind that a tip has already been added when you purchased the beverage package.

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What drinks are free of charge?
  1. Water. Water is always free of charge on most cruise ships. ...
  2. Flavored water. Some cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean drink package provides their passengers with several options of flavored waters to choose from. ...
  3. Lemonade. ...
  4. Tea and coffee. ...
  5. Hot chocolate. ...
  6. Milk. ...
  7. Fruit juices.


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