DCL carry-on alcohol policy changing Sept. 30 2015

[jetskigrl]

My wife got an email off to Mr Holtz and we got calls back on both our cellphones within a couple of hours. The email she sent though ran through the list of our disappointments with many changes DCL has made recently not just the alcohol policy. We are debating if one or both of us call back, I am tempted to call too.

The biggest question we have for them besides our disappointment in the policy changes, stale itineraries and shows, etc is does DCL want repeat customers or are they really targeting first time cruisers.

Will be interesting to see what they say.

Interesting....my email to Mr. Holz must be the only one that they didn't bother to answer in some form. Like the 3 other emails I sent to the main DCL guest services email, with questions about the policy, mine has been completely ignored.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

so - you can bring on 2 bottles of wine per person initially - and then again at each port?

Yes. 2 bottles of wine/champagne (750ml) OR 6 beers (12 oz) on embarkation at at each port of call.

 

[starousse]

We're not big drinkers and don't ever bring wine on board. Just a quick question though...how would anyone know if someone puts some small size bottles of rum or vodka in their carry on bag? Are they searching guest's bags?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We're not big drinkers and don't ever bring wine on board. Just a quick question though...how would anyone know if someone puts some small size bottles of rum or vodka in their carry on bag? Are they searching guest's bags?

The bags go through a scanner, like at the airport. They can see shapes. If they see bottles, you are pulled aside and have to open your bag for security screening.

 

[JimmyV]

We're not big drinkers and don't ever bring wine on board. Just a quick question though...how would anyone know if someone puts some small size bottles of rum or vodka in their carry on bag? Are they searching guest's bags?

If they see something that looks like a liquor bottle, they will investigate further. If they see something that looks like a shampoo bottle, they probably won't. And, of course, there is always the possibility that when the new policy goes into force, they will randomly search every 10th or so passenger just to strike some fear into everyone in line.

 

[cgolf]

Interesting....my email to Mr. Holz must be the only one that they didn't bother to answer in some form. Like the 3 other emails I sent to the main DCL guest services email, with questions about the policy, mine has been completely ignored.

I do know that we sent ours yesterday and I am guessing the number of emails coming in has slowed quite a bit. I do feel a little bad though that the person has called twice now and I did not get the call because the building I work in hates cell phones lol. My wife will be calling them tomorrow so I will let you all know how it goes.

 

[Subi WRX]

I do know that we sent ours yesterday and I am guessing the number of emails coming in has slowed quite a bit. I do feel a little bad though that the person has called twice now and I did not get the call because the building I work in hates cell phones lol. My wife will be calling them tomorrow so I will let you all know how it goes.

I'll save you the trouble.

Do not expect a thing besides:

- I'm sorry.
- I know you're disappointed. I'm so very sorry.
- The timing of the announcement was not a financial decision.
- The policy was subject to change. We changed it. I'm sorry.
- No, there are no plans to change the policy at this time. I'm sorry.
-I promise we're listening to guest feedback. We may or may not use the feedback to reevaluate the policy at some point, but definitely not now. I'm sorry.
-No, you can't order your favorite bottle of vodka to have delivered to your room upon embarkation like every other cruise line. Might I interest you in some Korbels or Bud Light? That is readily available and equally refreshing.
-The new policy is standard across the industry. The industry has introduced all inclusive drink packages? No we're not that standard. I'm sorry.
- Too bad. So sad. We have your money, and there isn't a thing you can do about it.
-I'm confident you're going to have a MAGICAL cruise!!!!!!

That about sums it up.

I hope you'll report back and tell me how close I was to summarizing your call.

 

[cgolf]

Well I this point if we don't get through Monday we probably give up, played phone tag Wednesday and Thursday, and the day both my wife and I had a chance to call the representative, today, they must have been out of the office.

Well guess I will just have to go get a drink to celebrate the weekend

 

[NerosFamily]

If they see something that looks like a liquor bottle, they will investigate further. If they see something that looks like a shampoo bottle, they probably won't. And, of course, there is always the possibility that when the new policy goes into force, they will randomly search every 10th or so passenger just to strike some fear into everyone in line.

Other liquids should be ok in your carry-on, like mouthwash, shampoo, iced tea, or water bottles? I only ask because there's LOTS of ideas and products out there on how to get around the alcohol rules of other cruise lines.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Other liquids should be ok in your carry-on, like mouthwash, shampoo, iced tea, or water bottles? I only ask because there's LOTS of ideas and products out there on how to get around the alcohol rules of other cruise lines.

Yes, any beverages you bring onboard (soda, water, wine, beer) must be in your carry on bags.

I would think if there were a large number of bottles in any given person's carry on bags, DCL may request you to open the bag so they can verify that it's authorized liquids. But I don't know that for sure.

 

[NerosFamily]

I hope that after the policy change date, people will share their initial security experiences here.

 

[cgolf]

Well I had my call. I will say that the person I talked to was very reasonable, and brought up some reasons for some of the changes we were taking issue with, alcohol policy included, but others too. I would say that it was a good call, and while I don't agree with all of the policy changes, we will just have to decide when on board next time if we want to jump ship so to speak and try another line. I was excited to see that Dreams does handle Celebrity, so we could keep our same TA if that is what we decided.

We will probably book a placeholder on board though, because we really want to do the Panama Canal cruise on DCL, and if Celebrity didn't work, we could still get a good deal on DCL later. Just really not sure what to think, I guess we will be deciding while we are on board next year.

 

[turtle27]

Well I had my call. I will say that the person I talked to was very reasonable, and brought up some reasons for some of the changes we were taking issue with, alcohol policy included, but others too. I would say that it was a good call, and while I don't agree with all of the policy changes, we will just have to decide when on board next time if we want to jump ship so to speak and try another line. I was excited to see that Dreams does handle Celebrity, so we could keep our same TA if that is what we decided.

We will probably book a placeholder on board though, because we really want to do the Panama Canal cruise on DCL, and if Celebrity didn't work, we could still get a good deal on DCL later. Just really not sure what to think, I guess we will be deciding while we are on board next year.

Were the reasons any better than "it is so the kids don't drink the liquor in the parents room"? Please share what reasoning they have given, as so far, for those of us that are PIF and beyond cancellation period when the new policy was announced, just because is still as crappy an answer now as it was 3 weeks ago.

 

[cgolf]

Were the reasons any better than "it is so the kids don't drink the liquor in the parents room"? Please share what reasoning they have given, as so far, for those of us that are PIF and beyond cancellation period when the new policy was announced, just because is still as crappy an answer now as it was 3 weeks ago.

It was the same/similar answer. While I kind of fed the line to the person, I think the FE alcohol was a concern too. If this truly is their reason, and based on other items we were talking about I felt he was being honest with me, then it is there choice. I don't like it, but if we stop sailing DCL this won't be the reason, just a very small portion of the reason.

For us these threads and our daughter turning 18 really woke us up to look around at other lines to see what else we can get on other lines. Time will tell if other lines are for us or we are DCL lifers. We will board the ship with quotes from at least one other line and see how DCL compares.

I did learn that currently cider won't be allowed to be carried on, but that could change in the future. The current rules are it has to say beer, but since the ciders fall in the same alcohol content range it is possible they may be allowed in the future.

 

[Staceroo]

It was the same/similar answer. While I kind of fed the line to the person, I think the FE alcohol was a concern too. If this truly is their reason, and based on other items we were talking about I felt he was being honest with me, then it is there choice. I don't like it, but if we stop sailing DCL this won't be the reason, just a very small portion of the reason.

For us these threads and our daughter turning 18 really woke us up to look around at other lines to see what else we can get on other lines. Time will tell if other lines are for us or we are DCL lifers. We will board the ship with quotes from at least one other line and see how DCL compares.

I did learn that currently cider won't be allowed to be carried on, but that could change in the future. The current rules are it has to say beer, but since the ciders fall in the same alcohol content range it is possible they may be allowed in the future.

Boo! I don't drink beer and was hoping to bring on cider! Arghhhh...

 

[steves100]

Interesting report of someone's attempt to reach out to DCL about this issue:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=47694739&postcount=195

Small snip:

I didnt even get a call, just the canned email

 

[steves100]

Except.....just like the Disney Dining Plan, any drink package that they introduce will be designed to be a profit center for the ship and not a savings mechanism for the guest. Another cruise line recently introduced a drink package, and a poster on Cruise Critic put together a helpful "calculator" to assist people in deciding whether it would be worthwhile to purchase the plan. Very, very few people are reporting their ability to come out ahead by using the plan. And it is fair to say that the amount that people would have to drink to come out ahead would cause many of the judgmental people here to say that they do not want to encourage or see that level of drinking on DCL. So while a drinking plan might make planning easier, one should not be looking forward to it as a substitute to bringing their own bottles on board.

And I'm sure it will be like the Disney Dining Plan. ALL cabin members must have the plan!!!

 

[steves100]

We're not big drinkers and don't ever bring wine on board. Just a quick question though...how would anyone know if someone puts some small size bottles of rum or vodka in their carry on bag? Are they searching guest's bags?

Scanner

 

[steves100]

Were the reasons any better than "it is so the kids don't drink the liquor in the parents room"? Please share what reasoning they have given, as so far, for those of us that are PIF and beyond cancellation period when the new policy was announced, just because is still as crappy an answer now as it was 3 weeks ago.

That is the most ridicules excuse Disney could ever make!

My son was 3 on our 1st cruise, hes now drinking age! They had this policy for 16-17 years and NOW care about kids drinking in the cabins!!! PLEASE!!!

 

[elfandrents]

For the record they have no problem giving a 50 drink credit when I used my disney visa.......soda coffee are free so what do I use the drink card for I wonder