DCL carry-on alcohol policy changing Sept. 30 2015

[Twinprincesses]

I spoke to Joseph at DCL this am. He confirmed the only alcohol being taken and has been taken since the new policy is spouses being bringing more than the 2 wine or champagne or 6 pack allotment when the other spouse is either still on the island or onboard.

All adults must be present and 1 person cannot carry on for the whole cabin.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

the only alcohol being taken and has been taken since the new policy is spouses being bringing more than the 2 wine or champagne or 6 pack allotment

Did he address the reports of the passengers on the Magic not being allowed to bring anything onboard in ports?

 

[jahber]

Yesterday I saw a FB post from a woman who was given wrong info (three times) about where to pick up the bottle of alcohol she bought in a port--not, mind you, anything she was trying to "smuggle," just rum she bought on vacation. By the time she made it through customs to the lost and found, where she was told her rum would be, it was too late for her to return to the ship to the ACTUAL location of her bottle because she'd already cleared customs. (By the way, it was deck 4.) So she had to leave without her property.

It's frankly ridiculous that no one at guest services knew where the alcohol would be for pickup. And now she has to file a claim for a refund. And we all know that can take days and weeks. DCL knew about this for months. If they had no clue how to implement this so-called industry standard, they could have asked any other cruise line in the industry. It's just to frustrating to watch, even when it's not me. And people still claim that service isn't suffering even as prices increase.

 

[SarahCB]

Are you able to bring opened Or reusable water bottles through security when you embark for you're cruise? They might start having a problem with people pouring alcohol into something else as the rules get more ridged.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Are you able to bring opened Or reusable water bottles through security when you embark for you're cruise? They might start having a problem with people pouring alcohol into something else as the rules get more ridged.

Yes, you can bring water bottles onboard. Opened as well as reusable. Yes, that's an avenue for getting around the policy for those so inclined.

Such actions have caused Carnival to recently prohibit any beverages in bottles being brought onboard.

 

[SarahCB]

I'm surprised Disney allows it. We're not big drinkers so it has no baring on what we'll pack but for some it's a huge cost savings!

 

[bumbershoot]

I spoke to Joseph at DCL this am. He confirmed the only alcohol being taken and has been taken since the new policy is spouses being bringing more than the 2 wine or champagne or 6 pack allotment when the other spouse is either still on the island or onboard.

But obviously that's not true, given what's going on.

If they had no clue how to implement this so-called industry standard, they could have asked any other cruise line in the industry. It's just to frustrating to watch, even when it's not me.

Exactly. And I agree. So frustrating.

 

[jahber]

Yes, you can bring water bottles onboard. Opened as well as reusable. Yes, that's an avenue for getting around the policy for those so inclined.

Such actions have caused Carnival to recently prohibit any beverages in bottles being brought onboard.

For what it's worth, in our experience (admittedly, only 2 cruises) we were not allowed to bring any opened bottles with any liquids in them before Carnival started banning bottled water. The rule was that the bottles had to be sealed or empty (if a reusable bottle). I had to throw away a bottle of water I hadn't finished, in fact. But I guess people found ways to fake sealed bottles. Oh well.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Disclaimer: I don't like hard liquor and will not be sneaking any onboard.

That being said, if you emptied a wine bottle (particularly a dark glass one), and filled it with hard liquor, then re-corked it....how would they know? I mean, I guess the foil would be broken, but if it was screw top to begin with, it would be really hard to tell. You'd have to be looking pretty close, and it seems they're not looking to hard at the folks who are only bringing their allowed two bottles per person....

 

[AquaDame]

Additionally, in Cartagena I bought myself a bottle of coffee wine.

This. Sounds. Amazing. Or at least interesting... wine makes me snoozy but I do love it and coffee...

Yesterday I saw a FB post from a woman who was given wrong info (three times) about where to pick up the bottle of alcohol she bought in a port--not, mind you, anything she was trying to "smuggle," just rum she bought on vacation. By the time she made it through customs to the lost and found, where she was told her rum would be, it was too late for her to return to the ship to the ACTUAL location of her bottle because she'd already cleared customs. (By the way, it was deck 4.) So she had to leave without her property.

It's frankly ridiculous that no one at guest services knew where the alcohol would be for pickup. And now she has to file a claim for a refund. And we all know that can take days and weeks. DCL knew about this for months. If they had no clue how to implement this so-called industry standard, they could have asked any other cruise line in the industry. It's just to frustrating to watch, even when it's not me. And people still claim that service isn't suffering even as prices increase.

Thank you for posting this - THIS is a huge reason we dropped our January cruise in favor of a line with just as stringent policies. They at least know what they are doing and I will know that I can collect my rum at the end. When I asked DCL specifically how it would work they had no answers, not even to what they would do if they accidentally broke a bottle while it was in their care. We are planning on buying some high end special stuff, so I would be in tears if they did this at the end of what should be a very relaxing vacation! I feel so sorry for her!!

 

[turtle27]

I just have to comment that I am shocked. Just shocked that DCL does not know how to implement the policy correctly. SMH.

 

[jahber]

This. Sounds. Amazing. Or at least interesting... wine makes me snoozy but I do love it and coffee...



Thank you for posting this - THIS is a huge reason we dropped our January cruise in favor of a line with just as stringent policies. They at least know what they are doing and I will know that I can collect my rum at the end. When I asked DCL specifically how it would work they had no answers, not even to what they would do if they accidentally broke a bottle while it was in their care. We are planning on buying some high end special stuff, so I would be in tears if they did this at the end of what should be a very relaxing vacation! I feel so sorry for her!!

I asked her to report how it was resolved because I figured she wouldn't be the only one. She replied back that they had a list of names they were taking. A list of names of people whose stuff they had confiscated and not given back. Sigh. Not good, DCL. Not good.

 

[Ofinn]

I'm going to bring a copy of the policy with me in December if they try to take away the beer we bring onboard in Key West I will be up at Guest Services, and I won't be in a happy mood. I'm not the nicest person when I'm angry either. Follow your policy DCL or change it. I'm really surprised people on the ship weren't complaining. It's not like you can fly home with beer or wine. I would have been really mad.

 

[tinkerone]

I'm going to bring a copy of the policy with me in December if they try to take away the beer we bring onboard in Key West I will be up at Guest Services, and I won't be in a happy mood. I'm not the nicest person when I'm angry either. Follow your policy DCL or change it. I'm really surprised people on the ship weren't complaining. It's not like you can fly home with beer or wine. I would have been really mad.

why? what am I missing? I fly in with it, why can't I fly home with it? I agree with you, I would not be happy either so please don't think i'm questioning your thoughts, i'm just wondering what I missed.

 

[icesk8abc]

why? what am I missing? I fly in with it, why can't I fly home with it? I agree with you, I would not be happy either so please don't think i'm questioning your thoughts, i'm just wondering what I missed.

I'm going to hazard a guess which is always dangerous.

I think what the previous poster is referring to is the fact that you pick up your alcohol the morning of debarkation, but put out your suitcase the night before. If you participate in the airline program, you have no opportunity to put said wine in your checked luggage. As you cannot fly with it in your carry on luggage, you must either choose not to participate in the airline program or choose not to take home your alcohol.

 

[bumbershoot]

It's not like you can fly home with beer or wine.

I agree with most of what you said, but sure you can fly with beer and wine. And liquor. We didn't plan on buying Guavaberry Rum in Sint Maarten so we weren't prepared, but we wrapped it up in several layers of clothing, put it in our hard case, and it got home just fine. They sell "wine diapers" to protect wine, beer, liquor bottles in checked luggage.


If the PP is right about what you mean, if you can't take the stuff to your room, you KNOW you'll be getting it the morning of embarkation. So don't set out one of the checked bags. Leave room in it for the alcohol. Take it off the ship with the alcohol you have now picked up, and when you get through customs put the alcohol into the checked bag. Maybe go prepared with some wine diapers.

 

[brianvdb]

Disclaimer: I don't like hard liquor and will not be sneaking any onboard.

That being said, if you emptied a wine bottle (particularly a dark glass one), and filled it with hard liquor, then re-corked it....how would they know? I mean, I guess the foil would be broken, but if it was screw top to begin with, it would be really hard to tell. You'd have to be looking pretty close, and it seems they're not looking to hard at the folks who are only bringing their allowed two bottles per person....

Not a new trick. You can buy unused corks and new foil wrappers if you really wanted to.

I'm guessing that DCL is aware of the different methods people use to smuggle liquor aboard - I'm sure they know how to do a Google/YouTube search. It's just a matter of how much time and energy they want to spend on trying to detect this activity. I think it is too early to say how closely they are monitoring this.

Of course, if DCL perceives that smuggled liquor is a real problem, they will just increase enforcement or make the rules more strict.

 

[Twinprincesses]

Did he address the reports of the passengers on the Magic not being allowed to bring anything onboard in ports?

He stated this was an online run our and this did not happen unless it was over the allotted amount. I am part of several online Disney message boards and saw only 1 person report nothing was being allowed on. I honestly think that if nothing was being allowed on there would have been more people posting about it.

 

[Twinprincesses]

Side note others called and got different Information from the same guy I talked to so who knowns what is true. They said the guys apologized for the alcohol being taken.

I would have assumed that the person that had the alcohol taken herself would had called and given an update.

If it was me personally that had alcohol help after I was allowed to bring it on I would be asking for a shipboard credit but I guess that is just me.

 

[steves100]

Can't believe they screwed this up cruise #1, unbelievable