Different things are important to different people and also our interpretation of what is deemed fair and just and bending the rules is also different person to person.
Personally I enjoy wine, I like the fact
DCL is one of the very few cruise lines that allow you to bring drink onboard and respect them and their rules for that. It allows me to enjoy a drink in my stateroom or on deck. That doesn’t affect anyone.
Now on other cruise lines this debate wouldn’t even start as you couldn’t take any wine to dinner as it’s confiscated at port.
To my first point, respect for the flexibility given to us, I wouldn’t like the option to bring on booze taken away.
Now, we know there is a corking fee for a full bottle of wine, so to me and quite a few people, (not all) taking a glass to dinner from your room is getting around that rule. Now to each of us we have to decide, if as a decent honest traveller, knowing you have not purchased that at a bar, are you bending the rules too much.
To my second point, many posters here post strong statements and opinions, you can do this you can’t do this. DCL to my knowledge hasn’t made any statement that you can do this; circumstantial evidence of providing glasses in room is ‘good service’ by DCL. Not evidence its ok. So those of you who are unsure of the rule, my advice is take a print of this thread to the restaurant and show it to the staff ,saying these people posted that it is fine to do so.
Third point, many people are on tight a budget, that’s understandable, and consider a cruise a major cost. Therefore how to save money is always going to be a popular conversation. A few weeks back there were a few who were posting, we have cruised 5/6 times and never purchased trip insurance and encouraging people this was a good saving. With recent issues on the Magic, those vocal posters encouraging people to save and skip on insurance have gone a bit quite.
My Next point, There are posters here who have encouraged, organising people to use as a team unlimited internet package, it was stopped due to misuse. Where is the line? Also people encouraged, booking REAS, (Romantic escape at sea0 package because of a loophole that you could book shore trips at 105 days. That wasn’t part of the package, and the ‘misuse’ was a reason why REAS stopped. These actions caused other cruisers upset.
Now que at this point, a response saying, some posters can force the future. No I cannot, I am saying in my humble opinion my personal view.
My view is respect for rules (as I read them), and the normal principles of good manners. I would not walk into any good quality restaurant with a glass of wine in my hand. There wine is expensive, I decide if I will pay that, or drink water and, then go to the pub later for a drink.
I consider the views of my servers; I wouldn’t put them in a difficult position. They do not know if that glass came from a bar, or came from the captain’s cocktail party, and if they upset you, you may reduce their tip. No win position. I wouldn’t place anyone in that position.
I have seen a few people take glasses into dinner, when the captains cocktail party isn’t on, normally they hold it low in there hand behind them. Also I have seen hip flasks used, when the server is collecting food, to me this behaviour suggests people are not fully comfortable if it’s allowed or not.
Que anther normal response, well there isn’t a rule you can’t do it. Correct/ true, there isn’t, exactly the same as it isn’t public or written down that you can do it, but a few posters will give you the impression it’s fully ok.
I post this not to flame, not to impact my values on others, not to say what is right or wrong but to try in a balanced way to put my views and those of others into context.
Now, normally a cruise line will make 75% (ish) profit on cruise fare, and 25 %(ish) on the ship, a major part of this for any cruise lines is booze. IMHO, if this is encouraged here and we continue to bend the rules, the line will snap and the freedom to take booze on ‘’for security reasons’ stopped.
I like to bring wine onboard for personal use; I would like to continue to do that.
We all need to make a judgemental call, where we feel, a rule is being observed, and respected, or bent a little bit too much. Large glass/small glass, buying DCL wine, or taking a glass in, it’s up to you!
Everyone is different, everyone a different perspective....
Positive suggestions: By a wine package, or pre buy some wine as gifts pre cruise, or tell people you are on a cruise and for birthdays etc get a gift of wine for the cruise as a nice thoughful present, it tastes better knowing its paid for, and you dont need to carry it from your room.
) I could never have the bottle to say I dont like it, I just smile and say thats fine.
But it was worth it!!
