Another bringing alcohol onboard ?

[ajeent]

I always bring a small rolling suitcase on the plane and a fold up duffle. When I get to FL, I empty the suitcase into the duffle and fill it up with my box of wine and a few bottles of champagne and roll it on board. If you leave the champagne out and ask, your stateroom host will get an ice bucket for you. My mom drinks vodka, so she sticks a bottle in her carryon over the shoulder bag. We then get mixers from the soda station or dining room. We just snag a cup and lid from the beverage station and bring a few glasses of OJ and Cranberry juice to the room to keep in the fridge. We get a few Bon Voyage drinks and use those cups all week... heck we use them at home, too If I wanted to bring wine to dinner, I just brought a glass with me. You can ask for a real wine glass in your room or bring one back from a bar.
I am sailing on Royal Carribbean in a few months and having a two wine bottle limit is stressful! LOL

 

[cruisinwithmaandpa]

I always bring a small rolling suitcase on the plane and a fold up duffle. When I get to FL, I empty the suitcase into the duffle and fill it up with my box of wine and a few bottles of champagne and roll it on board. If you leave the champagne out and ask, your stateroom host will get an ice bucket for you. My mom drinks vodka, so she sticks a bottle in her carryon over the shoulder bag. We then get mixers from the soda station or dining room. We just snag a cup and lid from the beverage station and bring a few glasses of OJ and Cranberry juice to the room to keep in the fridge. We get a few Bon Voyage drinks and use those cups all week... heck we use them at home, too If I wanted to bring wine to dinner, I just brought a glass with me. You can ask for a real wine glass in your room or bring one back from a bar.
I am sailing on Royal Carribbean in a few months and having a two wine bottle limit is stressful! LOL

I want to cruise with you!

 

[monorailrabbit]

Another newbie question! What exactly is the corking fee? If I bring my own alcohol, I have to pay to drink it?

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Another newbie question! What exactly is the corking fee? If I bring my own alcohol, I have to pay to drink it?

It is only charged if you bring the bottle to the main dining room. I believe it is currently $20 per bottle.

 

[monorailrabbit]

Oh gotcha! But it's free if we drink in our room?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Oh gotcha! But it's free if we drink in our room?

Yes.

Corking fee is only applied to bottles of wine brought to the dining rooms or lounges.

 

[monorailrabbit]

Yes.

Corking fee is only applied to bottles of wine brought to the dining rooms or lounges.

Thank you!

 

[mmouse37]

Another newbie question! What exactly is the corking fee? If I bring my own alcohol, I have to pay to drink it?

DCL policy is any alcohol brought onboard must be consumed in your stateroom and not in public areas of the ship....but, you can bring your own bottle of wine into dinner. DCL charges a corking fee (really a service charge for using non DCL purchased bottles). The corking fee is not really a fee for the actual act of opening the bottle (so boxed wine would also be charged a corking fee).

Now, your servers are supposed to charge this fee whenever a bottle of your own booze is brought into the dining room but sometimes they do not. They are supposed to but don't always...maybe in fear of alienating their guests thus getting less tip...who knows.

If you bring your own bottle to the dining room you can absolutely share with your tablemates if you want. DCL's alcohol policy is one of the most liberal in the cruise industry. Most cruise line limit you to none or just a couple bottles of booze brought onboard.

MJ

 

[bumbershoot]

I am sailing on Royal Carribbean in a few months and having a two wine bottle limit is stressful! LOL

Have you checked ou their new beverage packages? It won't be as cheap as BYO but it might be worth it for you.

 

[cruisingmom1977]

I actually wasn't aware of their policy that all drinks carried on board must be consumed in your room. Last year I packed three bottles of wine, a bottle of captain morgan and a bottle of vodka in a carry on and my husband physically carried two 12 packs of beer on (the girl who was running the scanner even joked with my husband about his beer) We packed two flasks and carried them in our pockets or diaper bag (no judging please, we were traveling with Grandma and Grandpa who spent a lot of time with the kids). I brought my bottle of wine to dinner (but kept it under the table in a small cooler bag) and my husband brought his own beer or flask. Our wait staff was great and had a fresh wine glass filled with ice for me every night and a glass of ice water for my husband to use to mix his drink. They never said anything to us about corking fees or not being able to bring our own drinks...some nights my husband brought his own beer to dinner. We also drank our drinks on deck and while walking around the ship. No one ever said anything to us about it. We are leaving in 2 weeks for our next cruise and I plan on doing the same.

 

[wxman0]

Drinks are to be had in your stateroom. I assume, however, that people frequently fill up a mug with say some rum, go to a soda station, top it off and walk around the ship with your mug of "cola"?

 

[brianvdb]

I actually wasn't aware of their policy that all drinks carried on board must be consumed in your room. Last year I packed three bottles of wine, a bottle of captain morgan and a bottle of vodka in a carry on and my husband physically carried two 12 packs of beer on (the girl who was running the scanner even joked with my husband about his beer) We packed two flasks and carried them in our pockets or diaper bag (no judging please, we were traveling with Grandma and Grandpa who spent a lot of time with the kids). I brought my bottle of wine to dinner (but kept it under the table in a small cooler bag) and my husband brought his own beer or flask. Our wait staff was great and had a fresh wine glass filled with ice for me every night and a glass of ice water for my husband to use to mix his drink. They never said anything to us about corking fees or not being able to bring our own drinks...some nights my husband brought his own beer to dinner. We also drank our drinks on deck and while walking around the ship. No one ever said anything to us about it. We are leaving in 2 weeks for our next cruise and I plan on doing the same.

Most CMs try to be as accommodating as possible. They want to make sure you are taken care of, and they do an excellent job. I'm glad that you guys enjoyed your cruise.

DCL would prefer that you consume BYOB alcohol in your stateroom and/or pay a corkage fee. I'm guessing these rules have as much to with revenue protection as they do with maintaining their image (i.e. they don't want a situation where folks are downing 40s at the pool and leaving their empties laying around everywhere).

If you maintain a low-profile, it is unlikely that any of the CMs will say anything amount minor deviations from their guidelines - as evidenced by your experience on your last cruise.

Some people here worry that guests that push the limits of the BYOB policy may cause DCL to eliminate BYOB (as the other cruiselines have).

Personally, I think that as long as you aren't causing problems for the CMs, or causing a spectacle, you are probably fine. Pour the beer/wine into a glass (which your room host will provide)... use a soda cup for your mixed drink... don't pull out your flask and mix a drink in the lobby of the kids club... don't get trashed... etc.

These types of threads are tend to involve epic battles between people of different opinions. I doubt that this one will be any different.

 

[brianvdb]

Drinks are to be had in your stateroom. I assume, however, that people frequently fill up a mug with say some rum, go to a soda station, top it off and walk around the ship with your mug of "cola"?

I think you would be safe in that assumption.

Also safe to assume that people frequently pour BYOB wine into a wine glass (provided by the room host) and enjoy the wine while walking around the ship - including at the dinner table.

Technically, both are against the rules... but neither are likely to draw much attention.

 

[mommy2777]

How can they tell if the beer you are drinking wasn't bought from one of their bars? Like if it's a beer they sell on board?

 

[JohnDS]

How can they tell if the beer you are drinking wasn't bought from one of their bars? Like if it's a beer they sell on board?

Maybe they taste test them

Sent from my rotary phone using DISBoards

 

[bumbershoot]

Some people here worry that guests that push the limits of the BYOB policy may cause DCL to eliminate BYOB (as the other cruiselines have).

Definitely comes to my mind, that's for sure.

How can they tell if the beer you are drinking wasn't bought from one of their bars? Like if it's a beer they sell on board?

They can't. So don't bring the containers outside of your room. Don't bring a bottle of wine to dinner or mess with a flask. Just head back to the room and refill when needed. That's my opinion.

 

[Cheryl726]

Sorry if this has already been asked, but if you buy a bottle of liquor in Nassau can you open when you get back on the ship? And do you think it's better to buy in Florida on the way to board the ship or wait to get in a port or on the ship, which do you think is cheaper? Thank you for your help!

 

[Made Up Name]

Sorry if this has already been asked, but if you buy a bottle of liquor in Nassau can you open when you get back on the ship? And do you think it's better to buy in Florida on the way to board the ship or wait to get in a port or on the ship, which do you think is cheaper? Thank you for your help!

Yes you can bring booze from Nassau back on the ship. Based on my experience rum in Nassau is cheaper than in Florida. Although, the ABC liquor store in Coco Beach has great prizes on booze.

 

[CM Dad]

If you bring your own bottle of wine onboard, you can request a corkscrew and glasses from room service (or possibly from your room steward), so you don't need to bring your own.

 

[Bonniec]

No pineapple juice at the self-serve stations. Room service will cost you a tip but they'll deliver anything you can get in the restaurants.

Will they deliver brewed tea?? I wanted it so bad, not just at dinner. The sodas fountain tea is nasty. I tried brewing my own at the stations but it didn't get dark enough. I was jonesing the whole trip!