Bringing liquor onboard?

[IrishTimL]

Can we bring our own liquor onboard? if yes,Are we allowed to bring it to dinner?

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

Yes you can bring your own on board. Just be sure that it is safely (and appropriately) packed in your luggage or carryon.

If it's a bottle of wine that you want to take to dinner, then yes you can, but be aware that you will pay a corking fee for each bottle - $15 + 15% tip, or $17.50

What we did was on the first day, purchase one of the drinks of the day in the re-usable plastic glass; then we would mix our own drink at the room and bring it with us to dinner in the glass, and sometimes we would just purchase the drink of the day at dinner.

 

["Ginger"]

When we sail we always take our own. DH takes 2 cases of his favorite beer, they don't sell it on board. I pack a blender, coconut milk, rums and more. We also take a large soft sided cooler, packed in a suitcase, to place the beer in ice. When it's time to come home we usually have an empty suitcase for all the treasures we have bought. Like Firefighter Mickey I buy a couple of drinks in a plastic glass on the first day and wash and reuse. We still buy drinks through out the cruise but not as many. I look at it like this, you have to save somewhere why not there. Disney still gets my money at Bingo and the Spa.

 

[idontknow]

If you don't mind, I'd like to add a "part B" to the question....

If you don't drink all of the beer or have a particial bottle,how do you get it off of the ship? Most bottles come with the state exsize tax "sticker", but sometimes they fall off and beer does not have that sticker or stamp.

 

["Ginger"]

We've never had any problems getting off the ship with left overs. They go back into the suitcase and off the ship they go.

 

[RellingTwin]

I was advised the rule was if the bottle, can, whatever was opened (seal broken on a liquor bottle) it was not to be removed from the ship. We took several unopened bottles of wine as well as some left over beer off with us. A bottle of vodka we did not finish we left in our room. And speaking of contraband while checking for any item we may have left behind in the closet,just before leaving, we found 3 wrapped Cuban Cigars! Must have been left behind by another cruiser. We were too chicken to take them off the ship with us. I was told later that it is done all the time but with our luck we would have been the ones to get caught! It was too bad we did not find them while boarding as my hubby would have enjoyed them while at sea! Oh Well!

 

[willow0256]

Never ever take a cuban cigar off board with you. But we've never had problems with alcohol. They can tell if it was purchased on the islands. If you are going on the 7 day cruise, I wouldn't take too much alcohol, because you can get it for HALF PRICE on the islands! We made the mistake of paying U.S. prices, and wish we had just taken us enough to hold us over until we got to our first island! Enjoy!

 

[dianthus]

RellingTwin-

I laughed when I read your post! My DH left a few behind, as he didn't want to be hassled in customs. He also figured he'd be the one to be checked... ( we sailed through & he really regretted leaving them behind...)

DH gave them to our stateroom steward before leaving the ship. He was delighted!!

 

[wishiwasgolfing]

Is it true that the liquor prices on the islands are alot less than buying the stuff here in the USA? I would have thought it would be more expensive. Is it just liquor that is cheaper or is beer and wine also a good deal? How about those Cuban Cigars? Are they big $$$ ?

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

The US applies a very large "sin" tax to any form of liquor. so yes, hard liquor is quite a bit cheaper on the islands (even though the transport costs of getting it to the island is higher).

Also, some rums are "local" so that doesn't cost as much either (a couple of liquor stores we visited would even let you taste samples of the different liquors.

I don't know about beer and wine, because we never purchased that on the islands.

In fact, a number of things may actually be cheaper on the islands - such as electonics. We saw one family bring back a complete home entertainment system with them.

Just be sure to read the information in your room on what the limits are for bringing things back in to the US, otherwise you'll need to go to the customs officers the morning you return to port and pony up some extra cash (they don't take checks or credit cards). We were slightly over the limit, but under $10 for the import tax, and they will waive anything under $10.

 

[Señor Ferrari]

I think we bought two six-packs of Heineken for $6 at the duty free shop near the pier in St. Maarten. The "fridge" in our room had it cold by the time we got back on the ship the next day in St. Thomas.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I bought a liter of Tanqueray Gin at St Thomas for $7. This would cost about $23 back home.

Cuban cigars are available at St Maarten, but not St Thomas. Keep in mind that you're not supposed to bring Cubanos back into the United States, but there is a "Cigar and Cognac" party on deck the evening after you've been in St Maarten... I'm sure most people at this party are enjoying their Cubanos.

 

[ssclbc]

Not really any great deals on beer or wine but hard liquor is a big bargain. I've heard it's cheaper in St. Maarten than St. Thomas. Seems so from Dave's post...I paid $9.95 for Tanqueray in St. Thomas. Still a good deal but not a great deal.

We also picked up Heinekens at the pier in St. Maarten for $6 per 6-pack. Maybe it's less in town? It was definately more in St. Thomas. Rum was a bargain in St. Thomas, $5 for a liter of the local cruzan stuff.

So...pick up sodas, wine and beer in Florida; get your hard alcohol in the islands!