Alcohol Policy Change?

[Bekkilin]

Ok this is on page 2 under Vacation checklist of my disney cruise planning book that I just got last Saturday for Oct. 1 sailing on magic.
Review our alcohol policy. Plase be sure to review our full alcohol policy prior to departure. A limited quanity of alcohol is allowed per guest(21 years of age and older) in carry- on bags only. for full details, vist disneycruise.com

This was exact wording. So take from it what you might, I personally am not hauling any booze on so that's more for someone else.

My cruise docs had this exact wording as well. It caught my eye as I have never seen Disney discuss "quantities" before. I planned on bringing quite a bit of wine since my small kids fall asleep at 8 pm and my nights consist of wine on the verandah. I don't prefer to sit in a dark cabin, I don't go to bed at 8 on my vacation, and I can't hit the clubs and leave my kids in the room, so wine it is!

This really changes my plans and my budget. I was planning on purchasing the wine pkg, but may reallocate that money now more strategically. Very sad I need to rethink this just 4 weeks out.

 

[Baseball1999]

Our cruise documents also said this Review our alcohol policy. Plase be sure to review our full alcohol policy prior to departure. A limited quanity of alcohol is allowed per guest(21 years of age and older) in carry- on bags only. for full details, vist disneycruise.com.
I have searched the disneycruise.com website and cannot find their alcohol policy the only thing that I could find is below. Does anyone know where the policy is on the website? This does affect our cruise plans as well and is disappointing if it is true.

Alcohol is permitted on board. However, be aware that any fragile items (including bottled alcohol) must be hand-carried on board in a day bag and/or carry-on bag, the dimensions of which cannot exceed 22" wide, 14" high and 9" deep. Alcohol brought on board may not be consumed in any lounge or public area. Guests who arrive in the dining room with a bottle of champagne or wine that has been brought on board will be charged a corking fee of $20.00 per bottle.

 

[mdvlprof]

As some PP have said ...

Until, unless, policy change is posted on DCL website, it's just a rumor [even if source is well-trusted].
Not that I drink that much, but a small amount in my carry-on can make vacation a little more vacation-y.

 

[Nikki'sMommy]

It's so funny that a thread like this is getting as much if not more traffic than the "will CC open", "Arrival time in Port" threads All I can say to my fellow imbibers is "CHEERS" - and if you see my 5 yr. old dressed in heels, with makeup, wearing sunglasses and carrying my fake ID from 28 yrs ago -don't rat us out- we're just trying to bring on our 3rd bottle of wine

 

[anooska]

Ok this is on page 2 under Vacation checklist of my disney cruise planning book that I just got last Saturday for Oct. 1 sailing on magic.
Review our alcohol policy. Plase be sure to review our full alcohol policy prior to departure. A limited quanity of alcohol is allowed per guest(21 years of age and older) in carry- on bags only. for full details, vist disneycruise.com

This was exact wording. So take from it what you might, I personally am not hauling any booze on so that's more for someone else.

Hi, we're sailing september 24 th, we received our travel documents and nothing like that is written under vacation checklist......meaning we can bring our own wine and alcohol for our cruise ??

 

[GumbyO]

I agree with Nikkismom-we are in the restaurant business and drink quality wines that can be on the higher end. We dont drink beer or hard liquor. This will be a much bigger expense and I am really hoping this is not the case.

I would imagine you would not be permitting patrons to your restaurant to bring unlimited beverages into your business, that makes its profits from selling them? As I said I think they're being more than generous in comparison to the industry norm by letting you bring some alcohol onboard for each adult.

 

[izzinmac]

This change doesn't bother me personally. I just find some old guy who knows how to find all the onboard 2 for ones, and drink for free all cruise.

 

[NancyIL]

I wonder how this will impact liquor that is purchased in port. There are some liquors that we like to get in port that aren't available to us in MI. I guess we'll just wait and see.

On other cruise lines that restrict liquor brought on board - liquor purchased in port is held for you until the end of the cruise. However, you are still limited by US Customs as to how much liquor you can bring back into the US.

 

[Kae]

So all of those who bring all their own booze on the ships sit in their rooms & drink? And everyone pays the Corkage fees then?

Just asking.

Kae

 

[salbythec]

Count me in as one that will be disappointed if this is the new policy!
We like to sit on our balcony in the evenings and have a glass of wine. We purchase wine with dinner and order drinks by the pool. But we do like the freedom to bring wine of our choice to drink in our cabin!
Here's to hoping this is a rumor!

 

[Nikki'sMommy]

I would imagine you would not be permitting patrons to your restaurant to bring unlimited beverages into your business, that makes its profits from selling them? As I said I think they're being more than generous in comparison to the industry norm by letting you bring some alcohol onboard for each adult.

I agree that DCL is being generous by letting us bring in our own I understand the business side of it as much as anyone. If the hearsay is true I will not be angry about it- just disappointed. It will not affect our consumption one bit- maybe just the quality of it. For us it is not a money issue- but for some it is. We have no true verification of the policy anyway- the DCL site is the same as always..

 

[Cmbar]

Not this one!



I justify the higher cost of DCL by the quality.

Not that I won't be disappointed if this turns out to be true, but I believe I am getting the quality cruise I pay for with DCL and the bringing alcohol on board is/was simply a bonus for as long as it lasts.

What exactly is "quality" to you? The good food? What if they start charging for the sit down restauarants and now your only choice is the back of the ship buffet for free.

Is Quality the entertainment? What if they start charging for movies or small fee for the adult entertainment. Lord knows they charge a ridiculous amount to play four trys at Bingo.

What about free soda and juice. What if they started charging for that or for ice cream for you kiddies?

Oh what about room service. There has to be charges for that coming soon.

Many people consider this part of the "quality" of a Disney cruise. We are not so in love with Mickey that we need his face on the ship to pay a SIGNIFICANT premium to go to the same docks as the other cruise line.

I love DCL and Disney, but the over the top costs of cruises and their insistance to keep raising WDW prices in the midst of a great recession, reeks of arrogance. And I for one think this takes away from their perceived "quality". I don't want to be nickel and dimed on a cruise. Not after the prices I have paid.

Obviously this "perk" wasn't important for you but to some others it adds to the "quality" factor.

And by the way, I was on the Dream in April and the Quality was severely lacking in the service of their food restaurants and their staff. I truly hope it is better now that they have had time to work out the kinks but as of that sailing I was really challenged to say I was getting superior Quality on DCL.

 

[kathi]

I hope so! It's totally mutual! I've been an AP holder for most of my adult life!

mmmmmmm Disney=HAPPY MUSE!

I've been an AP holder for the last 15 years, and I'm not pleased about this one bit - so your statistics may be a bit off....

 

[stargazertechie]

As some PP have said ...

Until, unless, policy change is posted on DCL website, it's just a rumor [even if source is well-trusted].
Not that I drink that much, but a small amount in my carry-on can make vacation a little more vacation-y.

Would you consider an email from guest relations to be "official".

Looks like the change is true folks


-------------
8/30/11

Dear Rebecca,

Thank you for choosing a Disney Cruise Line vacation!

I would be happy to assist you.

Beginning September 19, 2011, a change is being implemented regarding
the amount and types of alcohol that can be brought onboard on
embarkation day.

On embarkation day, Guests 21 years of age and older may bring on board
one unopened bottle (750ml) of wine or champagne or six bottles/cans (12
oz.) of beer per person. The drinks must be hand-carried in a day bag
and/or carry-on luggage. Carry-on luggage dimensions cannot exceed 22"
wide, 14" high and 9" deep.

Guests can still take a bottle of wine or champagne to the restaurant
for dinner. If you request a Wine Steward to open and serve a bottle of
champagne or wine that has been brought onboard a corking fee will be
charged per bottle.

If you open the bottle in the stateroom and bring it into the dining
room, you will still be charged a corking fee.

Please be aware, Guests are unable to consume alcohol that has been
brought onboard in any lounge or public area.

In addition, Disney Cruise Line reserves the right to remove fragile
items (including beverages) from checked luggage. In such cases, any
alcohol will be discarded with no remuneration offered. Beverage
containers are considered fragile and have previously caused damage in
checked luggage. All fragile items must be transported inside carry-on
luggage.

All beer/wine/champagne, over the allowable 1-bottle per Guest limit in
carry-on luggage will also be confiscated and discarded without
compensation.

Guests may bring aboard unopened/sealed alcoholic/non-alcoholic
beverages from the ports visited during the itinerary in accordance with
the stated U.S. Customs allowances.

I hope this information has been helpful. If you require further
assistance in planning your visit, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to sailing with you!

Have a Magical Day!

Wilma
Reservations Department
Disney Cruise Line
------------------------------

 

[bengals01]

I have cruised 43 times and like that we were able to bring our own. If they limit the liquor then they should limit the water brought on. Since they also sell water. So if you bring 6 beers on when you get on will you then be able to bring 6 beers when you go to the islands.

 

[kathi]

I agree that DCL is being generous by letting us bring in our own I understand the business side of it as much as anyone. If the hearsay is true I will not be angry about it- just disappointed. It will not affect our consumption one bit- maybe just the quality of it. For us it is not a money issue- but for some it is. We have no true verification of the policy anyway- the DCL site is the same as always..

We sail concierge on DCL - so we are already paying a hefty price and expect the quality and the perks to remain consistent unless given ADVANCE notice (like before my cruise was paid in full - which it has been). We took 3 DCL cruises last year and are booked for two in 2011. We are LOYAL customers and I'm NOT pleased.

This would have definitely made our traveling group reconsider taking this cruise verses a Celebrity cruise in concierge. I don't want to pay substantially more for access to characters (which even my kid doesn't care about) My daughter can have fun just about anywhere, so although she loves the Disney experience, she will make out just fine on another line. We go to Disney World a couple times a year, she can get her fill there.

My parents take probably 4 cruises a year (one with us on Disney and then usually Celebrity, RC or HA). They like Disney but think the service is better on Celerity in the suites and they think the food is better. I never wanted to hear anything about it because of my loyalty to DCL; but yes, this makes a difference to me because I don't care for a bait and switch. Especially when I am being charged substantially higher prices.

Hopefully it will not actually turn out to be true.

 

[MouseinMelbourne]

The haven't updated the policy online yet.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faqs/prohibited-items/food-storage-containers/

Until they do, I haven't heard of it. And screenprint of their website will come with me onboard. We sale in 60 days.

 

[kathi]

Would you consider an email from guest relations to be "official".

Looks like the change is true folks


-------------
8/30/11

Dear Rebecca,

Thank you for choosing a Disney Cruise Line vacation!

I would be happy to assist you.

Beginning September 19, 2011, a change is being implemented regarding
the amount and types of alcohol that can be brought onboard on
embarkation day.

On embarkation day, Guests 21 years of age and older may bring on board
one unopened bottle (750ml) of wine or champagne or six bottles/cans (12
oz.) of beer per person. The drinks must be hand-carried in a day bag
and/or carry-on luggage. Carry-on luggage dimensions cannot exceed 22"
wide, 14" high and 9" deep.

Guests can still take a bottle of wine or champagne to the restaurant
for dinner. If you request a Wine Steward to open and serve a bottle of
champagne or wine that has been brought onboard a corking fee will be
charged per bottle.

If you open the bottle in the stateroom and bring it into the dining
room, you will still be charged a corking fee.

Please be aware, Guests are unable to consume alcohol that has been
brought onboard in any lounge or public area.

In addition, Disney Cruise Line reserves the right to remove fragile
items (including beverages) from checked luggage. In such cases, any
alcohol will be discarded with no remuneration offered. Beverage
containers are considered fragile and have previously caused damage in
checked luggage. All fragile items must be transported inside carry-on
luggage.

All beer/wine/champagne, over the allowable 1-bottle per Guest limit in
carry-on luggage will also be confiscated and discarded without
compensation.

Guests may bring aboard unopened/sealed alcoholic/non-alcoholic
beverages from the ports visited during the itinerary in accordance with
the stated U.S. Customs allowances.

I hope this information has been helpful. If you require further
assistance in planning your visit, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to sailing with you!

Have a Magical Day!

Wilma
Reservations Department
Disney Cruise Line
------------------------------

I am SO ANGRY I cannot think straight. I have booked a one-week cruise in concierge for November and convinced a bunch of other people to go on the cruise also with the "it's OK that it costs more than Celebrity, you can bring on your own wine". ONE BOTTLE PER PERSON - we will be out of wine before we leave port. (not really, but close).

BAIT AND SWITCH

 

[elgerber]

I guess I can maybe see them limiting the amount (not that I am happy about it), but 1 bottle of wine per person? On a 7 day or longer cruise? That's ridiculous!

 

[jilljill]

On other cruise lines that restrict liquor brought on board - liquor purchased in port is held for you until the end of the cruise. However, you are still limited by US Customs as to how much liquor you can bring back into the US.

US Customs does not limit the amount of alcohol you can bring back to the US, they only limit you to the number of bottles that you can bring back Duty Free.


http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/types_of_exemptions.xml

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/paying_duty.xml

Federal regulations allow you to bring back more than one liter of alcoholic beverage for personal use, but, as with extra tobacco, you will have to pay duty and Internal Revenue Service tax.


While federal regulations do not specify a limit on the amount of alcohol you may bring back for personal use, unusual quantities are liable to raise suspicions that you are importing the alcohol for other purposes, such as for resale. CBP officers are authorized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to make on-the-spot determinations that an importation is for commercial purposes, and may require you to obtain a permit to import the alcohol before releasing it to you. If you intend to bring back a substantial quantity of alcohol for your personal use, you should contact the port through which you will be re-entering the country, and make prior arrangements for entering the alcohol into the United States.