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How does alcohol work on a cruise?

You can't bring most alcohol onto the ship for drinking during your cruise. So if you wanted to bring a bottle of rum or a 12-pack of beer from home to enjoy while sailing, that's not allowed. Cruise lines expect you to purchase their bar offerings. They do, however allow you to bring on a bottle of wine or champagne.



Alcohol on a cruise is generally treated as a "premium" add-on and is not included in the base fare of most mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean or Carnival. Most passengers choose to buy a Daily Beverage Package, which for a flat fee (typically $60–$100 per day) allows for unlimited drinks up to a certain price point. If you don't have a package, you pay per drink, with prices similar to land-based bars plus an automatic 18% to 20% gratuity. Cruising has strict "bring-on" rules: most lines allow you to bring one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne per person in your carry-on during embarkation, often subject to a "corkage fee" (approx. $15–$25) if consumed in a restaurant. Bringing your own beer or hard liquor is strictly prohibited, and security will confiscate "hidden" alcohol found in luggage. Any alcohol purchased in a port-of-call or the ship's duty-free shop is held by the crew and returned to your stateroom on the final night of the cruise to be taken home.

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Most cruise lines don't allow guests to bring spirits on board. If you want to bring whiskey on board then you'll need to disguise it. Many people use a rum runner, a rinsed-out tinted bottle of mouthwash, or just decant whiskey into a wine bottle, where wine is permitted.

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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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If cruise ship crew suspect you are sneaking alcohol on board they will inspect your luggage in detail. They may check your wine bottles to see if it really is sealed as new and contains wine. They will confiscate it if found to contain spirits, and may even refuse you boarding.

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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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Most cruise lines allow 2 bottles of wine or sparkling wine per cabin and some do allow liquor or beer. You can enjoy that in the stateroom, or pour a glass and walk freely with it, but if you want to bring the bottle to the dining room they will charge you a corkage fee.

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The only bar that will be consistently open late and may stay open 24/7 is the casino bar on most ships. As far as am drinks, the main bar in the atrium is usually available earliest, pool bars shortly there after.

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Generally speaking, if you are found with alcohol that was not purchased from the ship or brought onboard in accordance with their policies, it will be confiscated and you may face disciplinary action such as being asked to leave the ship at your own expense.

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Underage passengers who try to sneak alcohol on a cruise face the same repercussions as anyone else: The booze will get confiscated. The only difference is that if you're under 21 won't get it back at the end of the cruise. Cruise lines reserve the right to disembark passengers who violate their alcohol policies.

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Yes, you can buy a beverage package. These all-you-can-drink packages allow passengers to pay a set fee up front for unlimited drinks (of a certain type, as outlined by the package's fine print), rather than pay per drink once onboard the cruise ship.

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Can I pack wine in my suitcase for a cruise? You cannot pack wine in checked luggage for a cruise.

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Here's the best way to do it.
  1. Start with a soft layer of clothes. When you are ready to pack, gather your clothes and begin with a soft layer for the bottom of the suitcase. ...
  2. Roll your booze in bubble or foam wrap. ...
  3. Roll it up a second time. ...
  4. Nestle your bundle carefully. ...
  5. Finish with a soft layer of clothes.


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If you wonder whether cruise ships have jails, the answer is yes. Jails are called brigs on a cruise ship and tend only to be used in serious circumstances when no other options are available. Cabin arrest is typically used before the brig is needed.

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How to Hack (and Share) the Royal Caribbean Drink Package
  1. 1 Buy your drink package before the cruise.
  2. 2 Share the drink package with someone else.
  3. 3 Order top-shelf liquor at the bar.
  4. 4 Take advantage of the non-alcoholic drinks.
  5. 5 Take bottled water with you on excursions.


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When you go through security you will set your carry-on bags on the x-ray machine like you'd find at an airport. Checked luggage is also X-rayed behind the scenes. Usually further inspection isn't required unless the security staff finds something dangerous or prohibited.

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To sum up, you can bring a vape on a cruise. However, there are strict guidelines on where to smoke once on the ship. Vapes are treated identically to cigarettes on a cruise ship, so it's essential to follow the rules to avoid getting your vape confiscated or facing fines.

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Can I bring booze onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise? Bringing alcohol onboard at embarkation: Passengers can bring onboard a maximum of two bottles of wine or Champagne (750 ml each) per cabin during embarkation only; if spirits or beer are found, they will be confiscated and destroyed.

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While purchasing a beverage package prior to your cruise is the most cost effective, you can opt to purchase one on board for a slightly higher price.

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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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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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There are no set limits on how much you can drink. One exception is that Carnival does limit those with drink packages to 15 alcoholic beverages per day. (It's not clear if that limit applies to those without the package.) Still, for the most part you aren't under any clearly defined limit.

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