One of the most expensive parts about cruising can actually be what you drink onboard. More and more cruise lines are starting to introduce the “all inclusive” experience, and I for one love it when I can snap up a deal with a drinks package included! However this is not the case for all cruises and sometimes it’s nice to take that favourite bottle of wine onboard to consume in the cabin.
Cruise lines, not surprisingly, make an awful lot of profit from you purchasing alcohol onboard. So it’s not surprising that they try and limit you on what you bring onboard yourself. Most cruise lines limit your personal consumption to wines and champagnes but there are some exceptions to the rule.
In this post I will list each popular cruise line and their current rules on personal alcohol limits. This list is current and correct as of March 2022.
AZAMARA
Azamara States:
Guests are not allowed to bring beer or hard liquor onboard for consumption or any other use. Guests wishing to bring personal wine onboard with them at the beginning of the cruise may do so, limited to two (2) bottles per stateroom, but when consumed in any shipboard restaurant, bar, or dining venue, each bottle shall be subject to a corkage fee of $25.00. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports of calls or from the onboard shops will be stored by the ship and delivered to guest’s staterooms on the last day of the sailing.
Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol. Azamara Cruises’ Guest Conduct Policy may be enforced, up to and including disembarkation, if a guest violates any alcohol policy. Guests under the age of twenty-one
(21) will not have alcohol returned to them.
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
Carnival States:
Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages on board with the following exception – at the beginning of the cruise during embarkation day only, guests (21 years of age and older) may bring one 750 ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or champagne, per person, in their carry-on luggage. Outside this exception, all liquor, beer, other forms of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage and such items will be confiscated and discarded and no compensation will be provided. Guests sailing with us on back-to-back cruises are entitled to bring the same quantity as stated in this policy, per cruise. The additional quantities will be stored for safekeeping at the start of the first cruise and will be given to the guest as each following cruise begins.
Should guests wish to consume their wine or champagne in the main dining room, specialty restaurant or bar, a $15.00 USD corkage fee, per 750 ml bottle, will be charged. A corkage fee is a charge that is assessed, at time of service, for every bottle that is served and not bought on the premises.
CELEBRITY CRUISES
Celebrity States:
Guests are not permitted to bring alcoholic beverages onboard; with the exception of embarkation day when each guests are permitted to bring onboard with them up to two (2) bottles of wine (which are subject to a corkage fee) per guest. A corkage fee does not apply to guests with the Classic Beverage Package or Premium Beverage Package. Security may inspect containers (including water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, canteens, etc.) at any time and will dispose of alcohol concealed in such containers. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased from onboard shops or in ports of call (which must be presented to security upon re-boarding), will be secured by ship’s personnel. Alcohol secured by ship’s personnel will be returned to guests just prior to the conclusion of their cruise vacation. Guests who are under the permitted drinking age will not have alcohol returned to them.
COSTA CRUISES
Costa Cruises does not allow any alcohol to be brought onboard at any time for personal consumption. Any alcohol purchased in ports will be stored for safe keeping and given to you at the end of your cruise.
CUNARD
Cunard States:
You may bring beer, wine or spirits on board (subject to the age limit law of the port of departure) to celebrate special occasions. However, if you wish to consume it in any of the dining rooms, alternative restaurants or bars then each bottle will be subject to a corkage fee of $25.00 (fee subject to change). There is no corkage fee if it is consumed in your suite or stateroom. Wine and champagne gifts purchased via the Cunard Gift Collection are exempt from the corkage fee – please show your gift card to your waiter.
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Disney States:
Disney Cruise Line Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage.
Guests wishing to consume wine or champagne that they have brought on board in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corking fee of $25.00 per bottle.
FRED. OLSEN
Fred. Olsen States:
Fred. Olsen does not permit guests to bring their own alcohol on board for consumption.
Any alcohol purchased shoreside during a cruise must be handed to the ship’s security staff for safe storage. It will be then returned to guests at the end of their cruise.
If you’d like to order wine, champagne or spirits to consume when on board, you are able to do this via Room Service or on your Room Shopping Form. Should you wish to order Duty Free to take home with you, there is a Duty Free Form available for completion, and your drinks will be delivered to you at the end of your cruise.
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Holland America States:
Each guest 21 years and older may bring one bottle of wine or champagne (no larger than 750ml) onboard in carry-on luggage at the beginning of the voyage. This bottle will not be subject to a corkage fee if consumed in the stateroom. Additional wine or champagne bottles (no larger than 750ml) in carry-on luggage are welcome, but will incur a corkage fee each, irrespective of where they are intended to be consumed. Guests are not allowed to bring beer, boxed wine, or other liquors and spirits onboard. Holland America Line reserves the right to remove all alcoholic beverages from any guest luggage that violates this policy. Any alcoholic beverage found will be removed and returned on the last evening of the voyage. Guests will not receive any monetary compensation for alcoholic beverages that were removed from luggage.
MARELLA/TUI CRUISES
Marella States:
On your flight and once onboard our ships, you can only drink the alcohol that staff serve you. During embarkation, we have the right to search luggage and hold any alcohol that we believe has not been purchased on your flight – please retain your proof of purchase. Any alcohol that is not permitted onboard will be returned to you on your departure.
Marella/Tui cruises are all inclusive so there really should be no need to bring any alcohol onboard.
Related Post: Marella All-Inclusive Drinks List
MSC
MSC States:
Alcoholic drinks, including wines, spirits, beer or other liqueurs are available for purchase onboard the Vessel at fixed prices. Passengers are not permitted to bring onboard any such drinks for use during the voyage, whether for consumption in their own cabins or otherwise. Alcoholic drinks in any form will not be sold to Minors during the cruise. When the itinerary includes a port located in the U.S.A the same conditions will apply for any passengers under the age 21.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES
Norwegian States:
Please note that with the exception of Wine and Champagne, all guests are prohibited from bringing alcohol on board our ships. If you purchase any alcohol at one of our ports-of-call or in our onboard shops, we will safely store your purchase(s) and either on the final night of the cruise or the morning of debarkation it will be available for pick up in a designated area.
Wine & Champagne Policy
Guests may bring bottles of wine and champagne on board. When bottles are brought on board and served or consumed in any restaurant, public room area or in their stateroom, a corkage fee will be charged according to bottle sizes noted below.
750 ml Bottle: $15.00 USD
1,500 ml Magnum: $30.00 USD
Wine or champagne sent directly to the ship by travel agents, friends, family, etc. or from another retail source, are subject to the same fees. Box wines are not allowed on board.
P&O
P&O actually have the best alcohol policy as they allow you to bring spirits onboard. This used to have no limit but a few years ago they limited it to 1 bottle per person. You can also purchase bottles of alcohol onboard to consume in your cabin at a very reasonable rate.
P&O States:
Each guest aged 18 years (21 years in United States of America ports) and older may bring up to 1 litre of wine, Champagne, beer, spirit, or liqueur on board as they embark the ship for the first time only. Alcohol over the 1 litre limit will be stored and returned to the guest prior to the end of the cruise. If this alcohol is consumed in the dining rooms, bars, restaurants or lounge areas, it will be subject to a corkage fee of £20* per bottle, per occasion which will be charged to the guest’s on-board account.
Should guests wish to enjoy a drink in their cabin, they will be able to refer to the in-cabin directory which has a selection of spirits and wines which can be purchased by the bottle, as well as our extensively-stocked mini bars in all cabins.
Related Post: P&O Announces Brand New Drinks Packages Starting March 2019
PRINCESS CRUISES
Princess States:
Beer and liquor are not allowed. It will be confiscated and discarded. Each passenger of drinking age can bring one bottle of wine or Champagne (no larger than 750 ml) per voyage, which will not be subject to a corkage fee if consumed in the cabin. When brought to restaurants, a $15 corkage fee applies. Bringing additional wine or Champagne bottles aboard is allowed, but each bottle will incur a $15 corkage fee, irrespective of where they are intended to be consumed.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL
Royal Caribbean States:
On boarding day, guests may bring onboard two (2) 750 ml bottles of personal wine or champagne per stateroom in their carry-on luggage. If more than two bottles of wine or champagne are brought onboard, including any alcoholic beverages purchased in ports-of-call or in our onboard shops, they will be stored by the ship and delivered to your stateroom on your last day onboard.
VIKING CRUISES
Viking States:
Guests may bring alcohol and beverages with them, purchase alcohol ashore at destinations that sell alcohol, or purchase them from the onboard shop. Alcohol can be consumed in the guest’s stateroom or in public spaces, including the restaurants. There is no corkage fee.
VIRGIN VOYAGES
Virgin States:
As an Adult-by-Design experience, we have an array of carefully selected beer, wine and expert cocktail options shipwide. If you must bring that rare bottle of red you got in the south of France, we get it. Sailors are also welcome to bring two (2) 750mL bottles of wine per cabin in carry-on bags (sorry, no liquor or beer please). Please note, any alcohol in your checked luggage will be collected pre-sailing and returned once your voyage is complete. You are also welcome to bring specialty liquors from a port of call on board. Simply hand them to our security team as you board, and we will hold them until your final night.
A TIP FROM ME (THAT YOU DIDN’T READ HERE)
Even if a cruise line states the limit is a number of bottles per cabin there is no way of them managing this at check in. Port check in is run by in house staff and when your bags are going through the security scanner they have no idea who you are travelling with and neither do they really care.
Quite often hubby and I have carried 2 bottles in our carry on each and no one has ever batted an eyelid.