Alcohol Policy Experience, 10/4 to Cabo

[professorandmom]

I hope you tipped your servers the extra $75 you saved in corkage fees.

DISers have for years reported large variations in the assessment of the corkage fees- long before the changes in BYOB...I'd hate to see this thread go in that direction...

I am grateful for the first hand reports that will help others understand what to be prepared for...thanks skylynx for the details about your experience with your wine (and the debate: is it wine or isn't it). We now know how important it may be for cruisers to be able to PROVE the bottle contains wine (receipt for example)...and how critical it might be to be sure to retrieve your liquor BEFORE debarkation - no matter what a crew member says

 

[kiford]

The receipt I received on the Fantasy last week did have the pickup location (lobby atrium on deck 3) and a general time (the morning of debarkation). They kept it when I retrieved my purchase, otherwise I'd upload a picture of it. Also, the location and specific hours (7am to 9am) were listed in the debarkation procedure paper they give you toward the end of the cruise.

So then if you're going directly to the airport after the cruise, you have to stop somewhere and pack it into your suitcase? That's a real pain. I'm not interested in bringing alcohol on board to drink on board, but we sometimes buy stuff before we board to take back home so now I'll have to stop in the terminal after picking up my suitcases and try to pack it in before going to the airport. Annoying.

 

[bumbershoot]

Oops. Misunderstood you! Sorry!

Oh no worries at all. I wasn't communicating properly, so it was my fault. Happened in person today, too! I had to stop and reboot the conversation, so to speak.

So then if you're going directly to the airport after the cruise, you have to stop somewhere and pack it into your suitcase? That's a real pain.

Yes. But aren't we supposed to take liquor off in carryon anyway, to go through customs? I only bought liquor once, and it was on Royal. We got it the night before, but we were told clearly to take it off in carryon. Figured customs is customs and it would be the same for DCL.

 

[TheForceIsWithMe]

The receipt I received on the Fantasy last week did have the pickup location (lobby atrium on deck 3) and a general time (the morning of debarkation). They kept it when I retrieved my purchase, otherwise I'd upload a picture of it. Also, the location and specific hours (7am to 9am) were listed in the debarkation procedure paper they give you toward the end of the cruise.

I asked this in another thread, but since you just got off the Fantasy after the policy change, what were the on board drink prices like? Did you buy cocktails or drinks of the day that you can share pricing for?

 

[gismo1554]

Yes. But aren't we supposed to take liquor off in carryon anyway, to go through customs? I only bought liquor once, and it was on Royal. We got it the night before, but we were told clearly to take it off in carryon. Figured customs is customs and it would be the same for DCL.

Never been told that on DCL or any other cruise. Surely if you have left the US you go through customs either on the ship (in which case you don't have any luggage with you) or once you get off and already have your checked luggage (in which case it wouldn't matter) or am I missing something? I would assume RCL policy may have more to do with damages than with actual rules as customs doesn't specify this at all otherwise you wouldn't be able to fly with it in checked luggage either surely?

 

[mmouse37]

I think if you go over your duty free allowances you need to declare your extra booze to customs and pay your fee...whether you take it out to show them from your carry on or checked suitcase I don't think matters (but don't know for sure...just a guess).

MJ

 

[Mark D.]

So then if you're going directly to the airport after the cruise, you have to stop somewhere and pack it into your suitcase? That's a real pain.

Yes, that's exactly what we had to do. We got off the DCL bus at the airport and had to repack a little bit before we went upstairs to check in for the flight. If you plan ahead as you get your suitcases packed up the night before, it's not too bad. I had the spots picked out where I wanted to stash the bottles, so it was only a couple minutes at the airport to unzip the bags and put in the bottles. I don't know if you would be able to do this with onboard airline check-in if they take your bags straight to the airport. We fly Southwest, so that's not an option for us anyway.

I asked this in another thread, but since you just got off the Fantasy after the policy change, what were the on board drink prices like? Did you buy cocktails or drinks of the day that you can share pricing for?

Onboard, we stuck with beer. I've trashed my receipts already so I don't have the exact amount, but I think a bucket of 6 was $30 plus tip. I do remember seeing after dinner drinks listed in the MDR menus. Some of the specialty ones, as well as pours of various liquors, were listed in the $9 - $14 dollar range. I was kind of wanting a pour of bourbon one night, but didn't want to pay $14 for it (Maker's Mark, I think it was) -- so that one stuck in my mind.

I think if you go over your duty free allowances you need to declare your extra booze to customs and pay your fee...whether you take it out to show them from your carry on or checked suitcase I don't think matters (but don't know for sure...just a guess).

I've been over my allowances a couple times (once on Carnival, once on DCL). I've never been asked to pay a fee, and I've always explicitly declared what was over. The first time, they told me any duty under $10 was waived (this was years ago) and the second time, they just waved us through -- we had 4 bottles, and 4 people. Seems like they didn't care that two of the people were under 21, so we were two bottles over. I've never had to show receipts or my packages. YMMV.

 

[marxthespot]

Sounds like you were a "joy" to deal with.

I actually am a joy to deal with. I complained with facts and in the correct way when I received that phone call from the upper ups. I haven't heard of anyone else getting this free perk, but I must have done something right to get a couple freebies from DCL. This was my first cruise with DCL, and although a great time, I will be spending my money elsewhere after experiencing their business practices with this trip.

Were you not aware of the new alcohol policy or just seeing if you could get away with it?

I hope you tipped your servers the extra $75 you saved in corkage fees.

The policy still states that all carried on beverages cannot be consumed in public areas (unless consumed in dining room with the corkage fee) however I saw more people than usual on the 10/4 San Diego sailing with wine bottles and glass beer bottles around the pool and they were not trying to be discreet about it.

I was very aware of the policy change, hence why I complained about it, and hence why I did try to see what I could get away with. A bottle of vodka could spread out my expenses to upwards of $300. I tipped the Palo guy $20 because he was a great server, not because he waived the corkage fee. I tipped my MDR server and assistant $20 each on top of standard tips for the same reason.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

But aren't we supposed to take liquor off in carryon anyway,

We got off the DCL bus at the airport and had to repack a little bit before we went upstairs to check in for the flight.

I've always understood that liquids larger than the carryon size limit could be packed in your checked bags when leaving the ship.

My question is, how do the people participating in the Onboard Airline Check in get their returned liquor (returned on embarkation morning) into their checked bags?

The bags are picked up the night before and you don't see them again until your home airport.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I've always understood that liquids larger than the carryon size limit could be packed in your checked bags when leaving the ship.

My question is, how do the people participating in the Onboard Airline Check in get their returned liquor (returned on embarkation morning) into their checked bags?

The bags are picked up the night before and you don't see them again until your home airport.

I think they just have to not use the Onboard Airline Check in for their bags, or at least one of their bags.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I think they just have to not use the Onboard Airline Check in for their bags, or at least one of their bags.

Well, there goes one of the benefits of using the Onboard Airline checkin. If you still have to check a bag, you may as well check all of them.

 

[Mark D.]

I've always understood that liquids larger than the carryon size limit could be packed in your checked bags when leaving the ship.

My question is, how do the people participating in the Onboard Airline Check in get their returned liquor (returned on embarkation morning) into their checked bags?

Yes you can pack large liquids in your checked bags when leaving, but you won't get your liquor back until after you've set your bags out on the last night. So either you repack in the terminal, or you repack in the airport. For someone doing Onboard Airline Check In, about all I can recommend is to keep a bag (or more) with you as you debark so you've got someplace to stash your purchases. Then check that bag at the airport.

I really wish DCL would allow for picking up liquor on the last night. That would solve a lot of issues.

 

[tinkerone]

this is all so new, dcl may see the fly in the ointment and fix the issue. as Mark D says, all it would take is to allow pick up the night before. they deliver on board liquor purchases the night before.
or, maybe they want more of the purchases to made through them so this is why they are making it hard.
who knows, its dcl!

 

[professorandmom]

how do the people participating in the Onboard Airline Check in get their returned liquor (returned on embarkation morning) into their checked bags?

They can't utilize Onboard airline check in for all their bags

Folks in this circumstance have to hang onto one bag and check that bag themselves when they get to the airport...I believe DCL used to send liquor purchased in the duty-free shop to your stateroom on the last evening so it could be packed in your luggage...but no more

 

[Mark D.]

they deliver on board liquor purchases the night before.

Not for us. We had both onboard and in-port liquor purchases, and we had to pick both of them up on the last morning. Nothing was delivered.

There were two separate lines for pickup. One for onboard purchases that was managed by the shop staff, and one for in port purchases managed by the bar staff. The line for onboard purchases was MUCH shorter Since I had both, I was able to claim both from the onboard line, but I was the only person in that line at the time.

 

[CarolynU]

So if you take a rum tasting/beach DCL excursion you cannot buy any rum to take home is that right or do they just confiscate it and give it back to you on debarking?

 

[tinkerone]

Not for us. We had both onboard and in-port liquor purchases, and we had to pick both of them up on the last morning. Nothing was delivered.

There were two separate lines for pickup. One for onboard purchases that was managed by the shop staff, and one for in port purchases managed by the bar staff. The line for onboard purchases was MUCH shorter Since I had both, I was able to claim both from the onboard line, but I was the only person in that line at the time.

good to know. I usually buy liquor for my house sitter as we don't want it. I thought it would be easier to purchase on the ship but now that there is no difference i'll rethink that.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So if you take a rum tasting/beach DCL excursion you cannot buy any rum to take home is that right or do they just confiscate it and give it back to you on debarking?

Yes, you can. They will confiscate it and hold it until debarkation morning. Then you pick it up and take it off the ship.

 

[rachelm23]

I am surprised they let you bring the bottle of wine to dinner. Usually they charge you even it you do all the work. Best to just leave it in the room and bring a filled glass with you to dinner.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am surprised they let you bring the bottle of wine to dinner. Usually they charge you even it you do all the work. Best to just leave it in the room and bring a filled glass with you to dinner.

And there we have one of the issues.