Alcohol question

[Kalypso]

Is it possible to bring a bottle of wine on board for a special dinner? I know this is where the cruises make their $$$ so I HIGHLY doubt it - but just thought I'd ask - do they let you? for a "corkage" fee or something?

 

[mmouse37]

You can certainly bring your own booze onboard with DCL...they are the only cruiseline that will let you.

There is a $15 corkage fee for any wine brought to the table...you can drink it with no charge in your own stateroom or practically anywhere else onboard (I would not bring into the clubs, though)!!

MJ

 

[Kalypso]

OMG I am so happy to hear that!! We will gladly pay the corkage fee to bring our own wine Thanks MJ - I didn't expect that answer!

 

[PatriciaH]

Most cruise lines will let you bring wine/champagne abord. cruisecritic.com has the rules for all the cruise lines.

 

[kristen821]

I read on another post that if you open it your self and give it to the waiter at dinner you do not have to pay the 15$ corkage fee. Does anyone know if you can have beer delivered to your room in a gift basket or something so you don't have to carry it on?

 

[DoomBuggieDriver]

Kristen,
I asked the staff at "The Perfect Gift" (the owner, Shirley, is on these boards) to pack a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey as part of a Father's Day Gift basket for my DH. It was no problem, and I bet a reasonable amount of beer can be arranged. Depending on your cruise, the first port may be Key West where you can stock up without dragging it aboard the first day with everything else. The basket was delivered to our room the afternoon before we set sail, and it was a great surprise for family (no, the girls didn't get the Jameson, but they enjoyed the snacks and soda, and I loved the large canvas Disney souvenier bag and Mickey Cape Canaveral towel!) Just give the staff a dollar amount and they'll take care of it for you.
Kathy

 

[PinClubs]

I thought the corkage fee was for when you didn't finish a bottle and they stored it for you overnight.

If you bring a bottle and finish it I don't think the corkage fee applies, but I could be wrong.

Jeff

 

[RellingTwin]

The rules for bringing beer on board have changed every year we have done it. One year I was able to put a luggage tag on a case of beer and it was delivered to our cabin. The next year we had to carry it on ourselves. Last year I was allowed to carry it on, BUT it had to be "covered"! Since I was not prepared for this, the folks who scan your carry on luggage in the terminal gave me a plastic bag to wrap around the 12 pack of DH favorite beer.

 

[Kalypso]

A corkage fee is applied in most fine dining establishments that allow patrons to bring their own wine - it's just a charge for allowing folks to bring their own to the restaurant as opposed to ordering off of the list - or it's a charge in restaurants who have been given the "okay" to allow patrons to drink their own but don't have their own beer/wine/liquor license - DBF and I are wine enthusiasts...I am VERY happy we can bring a couple of selections!!!

 

[MamaQuack]

Kalypso,

I have sent you a PM regarding my wine-on-board experiences during our July 24 Magic cruise.

MamaQuack

 

[CAMICKEY]

I had Shirley from "The Perfect Gift" deliver a 12 pack of Coronas to our cabin along with a cople of key limes. Worked out great for us. - Mike

 

[Mary Anne]

Regarding the corking fee. If you pay the $15 say, night one, and it takes you 3 nights to finish the bottle, do you pay the $15 each night?

My wine problem is different then most, I prefer a cheaper wine. (Please don't think poorly of me, it's my terrible upbringing I know) I actually prefer the $5 and $7 types to the $20 and $35 ones they sell you onboard.

One trip, I begged them to sell me the same "cheap" type they put out on the free Captain nights because I enjoyed it so much but they wouldn't. Said it was too "cheap" to sell. I even said I would pay double

 

[mmouse37]

I checked out cruisecritic after Patricia H posted to see what the rules were for each cruiseline.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/search/results.cfm

DCL still is the most liberal in allowing you to bring your own alcohol onboard and consuming it. Most cruise lines like Carnival and RCCL will not, but some do allow you bring champagne onboard with prior approval from management. Most have varying corkage fees and holding policies.

Interesting that DCL is not listed on the site.

MJ

 

[kristen821]

Thanks everyone for your help. Camickey do you remember about how much you paid for the 12 pack. I was thinking a 18 pack and some limes for my husband and father and possibly a 6 pack smirnoff twisteds for me. Also if you don't drink it all can you take it off the ship? Did you get anything else in the basket or can you get a basket with just beer. I probably would like a couple of sand toys for the kids too. It would be great to get this delivered to the room since it is so bulky.

 

[TiggerKing]

Although not a wine drinker myself, I heard an interesting fact on a Travel Channel show about cruises. They said to never order wines on a cruise. The reason they suggested this (and some of you afficionados know this already) is that wine should be stored in a controlled temperature with no movement. The controlled temperature may be accomplished, but the constant movement of the ship apparently degrades the quality of the wine.

It's amazing the useless trivia you remember from some shows!

 

[NJ Cruisers]

Mary Anne - my favorite wine (Asti) is also one of the cheaper ones. But ..... the $5-7 wine you love probably IS the $25 wine they are selling on board. Carrying on your own inexpensive wine to have at dinner doesn't save you anything with the corkage fee. We carry it on, but drink it in our room.

Diane