Norwegian Cruise Line bans almost all carry-on beverages (DCL Next?)

[disneymagicgirl]

Well the six pack is $9.00 and the 24 pack is $35.00 (in room gifts).

Onboard (embarkation specials) were 12 bottles for $19.50, and 24 for $39.00 on one of our cruises.

I suggest you just bring a refillable water bottle onboard and fill up at the tap in your room. Or at the drink station. That's what we do.

Can you take water bottles off the ship at the ports?

 

[TXDCLfan]

Can you take water bottles off the ship at the ports?

Yes you can

 

[Agent 86]

Where were the "Disney representatives" at the port who told you it was fine to pack the wine in your checked luggage? I don't think I recall ever seeing anyone employed by Disney working at the port until after the luggage drop-off area. The porters are not Disney representatives.

The first were at the luggage drop-off area. I could have sworn that their name tags and/or uniforms had some sort of Disney insignia / branding. Sure, they may not have been Disney employees, but they were "representatives" to my eyes.

The second were at a desk which had a sign marked "Alcohol Declarations" (or something similar). I'm pretty sure that the two people sitting at the desk also had some kind of Disney insignia / branding. This was after going through the security / bag check, but I think before the passport check. We went to the desk to "declare" our alcohol, confirmed that it was in our packed luggage (not carry on luggage) and they said to proceed.

Anyway, it was just one of those things. If we'd received the "little blue book", then we would have known. But, we didn't think the check the website as we figured an international cruise would have the same policy as an international flight (i.e. large amounts of liquids, must be packed not carried on). Hopefully, the crew of the Wonder enjoyed the wine.

 

[Expatriat]

I have only sailed from Port Canaveral (Platinum a few times over) on all four ships, but the procedure you describe sounds the same. After dropping off luggage to porters employed by the port, then going through the security check with employees of the TSA or port authority, one finally enters the inside of the terminal and finds actual Disney CMs.

My only reason for commenting is that although I sometimes have a few gripes about Disney myself, I hate to see them blamed for something that was not their fault. In my case (again YMMV) the beverage policy has not only been on their website but in the cruise docs and a pre-cruise email or two, along with all popular message boards and sites that cover DCL. I realize you "assumed" because you did not receive the "little blue book," but your assumption was not DCL's fault.

I am very sorry you had such an unpleasant experience, but those who gave you misinformation could not have been official "Disney representatives," and the crew of the Wonder did not drink your wine.

 

[Expatriat]

As for any alcohol declaration point and being told to proceed - At that point, since you had already packed and checked the alcohol through, there was no other option but for you to proceed, whether or not those were "Disney representatives" at that location.

 

[steves100]

If Disney can find a way to charge for it, be assured they will start to charge for it.

Don't agree. They already changed the carry on alcohol policy. If they were strickly trying to make money they would have already banded it. BTW I was pissed when the changed the policy

 

[eskimoinparadise]

Well, Princess and Holland America also charge corkage on bottles above the allotted carry on allowance. Regardless of where you intend to consume it.

I have no problem with a corkage fee if you bring more on board than is allowed. It's the lesser of two evils considering they could confiscate the overage instead. I do have a problem when you are allowed to bring two bottles on board and they charge you.

 

[eskimoinparadise]

Well the six pack is $9.00 and the 24 pack is $35.00 (in room gifts).

Onboard (embarkation specials) were 12 bottles for $19.50, and 24 for $39.00 on one of our cruises.

I suggest you just bring a refillable water bottle onboard and fill up at the tap in your room. Or at the drink station. That's what we do.

On Carnival, 12 bottles is $3.99. For $3.99, I'll drink theirs. For $19, tap water works just fine

 

[CM Dad]

The first were at the luggage drop-off area. I could have sworn that their name tags and/or uniforms had some sort of Disney insignia / branding. Sure, they may not have been Disney employees, but they were "representatives" to my eyes.

The second were at a desk which had a sign marked "Alcohol Declarations" (or something similar). I'm pretty sure that the two people sitting at the desk also had some kind of Disney insignia / branding. This was after going through the security / bag check, but I think before the passport check. We went to the desk to "declare" our alcohol, confirmed that it was in our packed luggage (not carry on luggage) and they said to proceed.

Anyway, it was just one of those things. If we'd received the "little blue book", then we would have known. But, we didn't think the check the website as we figured an international cruise would have the same policy as an international flight (i.e. large amounts of liquids, must be packed not carried on). Hopefully, the crew of the Wonder enjoyed the wine.

My understanding is that if they remove alcohol from your checked luggage, or if you have more than the allowed limit in carryon, that DCL will just hold those beverages for the duration of the cruise and you need to pick them up on disembarkation morning. Same thing with other banned item, such as extension cords tha are found in luggage. Should not have just been confiscated.

 

[RedSox68]

Just great -- we are sailing in October and I planned on bringing a case of water since medically I need at least 8-10 bottles a day. We have the free drink package which includes soda, wine, beer, but I am not going to pay NCL $35 for a case of water, so I guess we shall have to call and see what's up.

 

[RedSox68]

Just spoke to NCL Rep -- who sounded exaspperated about this. She said it is a security issue and NCL is just falling in line with other cruise lines who are going to start enforcing the no liquids of any kind for boarding! Her argument was that the airline doesn't allow you to bring liquids on board, so why should a cruise ship. Really -- unopened liquids? Anyway, she gave me a phone number to call to discuss with the department enforcing this new rule. If this becomes a cruise industry standard, I don't see how Disney won't eventually follow suit. My personal opinion, it's just a nice excuse to force us to buy everything onboard. Their water prices, btw, for liter bottles: 6-pack is $27.08 and 12-pack is $47.14. Oh, but don't forget -- these are liter size

Funny how they are allowing you to bring two unopened bottles of wine, but not unopened water?!? And then charge you to open them. What if you want to use them in your room -- we usually bring our own corkage appliances. Geez, air travel has been skimmed to the minimum, now cruising is being made just as "unfun" and more added fee costly.

 

[JimGA]

Well the six pack is $9.00 and the 24 pack is $35.00 (in room gifts).

Onboard (embarkation specials) were 12 bottles for $19.50, and 24 for $39.00 on one of our cruises.

I suggest you just bring a refillable water bottle onboard and fill up at the tap in your room. Or at the drink station. That's what we do.

Plus the water on board is pretty good. I believe it is "filtered" through the ships water system ?

 

[NS8VN]

Her argument was that the airline doesn't allow you to bring liquids on board, so why should a cruise ship. Really -- unopened liquids?

That is perhaps the worst argument I have seen. Cruise ships are floating resorts, I don't get on them for fast travel and I certainly don't get on a 747 for fun and relaxation. I know the phone reps are just reading their script and answering the same question for the thousandth time, but if they really believe this is somehow for security then they are well conditioned. At least airlines don't try to convince us that charging extra for checked luggage is for security reasons.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Airlines don't allow you to bring liquids because post 9-11 a potential terrorist tried to take two liquids that, when mixed, would make a bomb. That's when the 'no liquids' ban started. Before that, you could take any liquids you wanted.

I doubt that's what the NCL rep was thinking of while reading her script.

 

[Hundredacre]

Just spoke to NCL Rep -- who sounded exaspperated about this. She said it is a security issue and NCL is just falling in line with other cruise lines who are going to start enforcing the no liquids of any kind for boarding! Her argument was that the airline doesn't allow you to bring liquids on board, so why should a cruise ship. Really -- unopened liquids? Anyway, she gave me a phone number to call to discuss with the department enforcing this new rule. If this becomes a cruise industry standard, I don't see how Disney won't eventually follow suit. My personal opinion, it's just a nice excuse to force us to buy everything onboard. Their water prices, btw, for liter bottles: 6-pack is $27.08 and 12-pack is $47.14. Oh, but don't forget -- these are liter size

Funny how they are allowing you to bring two unopened bottles of wine, but not unopened water?!? And then charge you to open them. What if you want to use them in your room -- we usually bring our own corkage appliances. Geez, air travel has been skimmed to the minimum, now cruising is being made just as "unfun" and more added fee costly.

Did you ask why they do not fall in line with cruise industry "standards" and charge a reasonable amount for bottled water on board? For a 24 pack of water, after they have added their 18% gratuity (also not "industry standard"), it is close to $70 with ncl. That's not a reasonable profit margin. And if I remember correctly, it is Aquafina, not Evian or equivalent.

 

[darnheather]

Just spoke to NCL Rep -- who sounded exaspperated about this. She said it is a security issue and NCL is just falling in line with other cruise lines who are going to start enforcing the no liquids of any kind for boarding! Her argument was that the airline doesn't allow you to bring liquids on board, so why should a cruise ship. Really -- unopened liquids? Anyway, she gave me a phone number to call to discuss with the department enforcing this new rule. If this becomes a cruise industry standard, I don't see how Disney won't eventually follow suit. My personal opinion, it's just a nice excuse to force us to buy everything onboard. Their water prices, btw, for liter bottles: 6-pack is $27.08 and 12-pack is $47.14. Oh, but don't forget -- these are liter size

Funny how they are allowing you to bring two unopened bottles of wine, but not unopened water?!? And then charge you to open them. What if you want to use them in your room -- we usually bring our own corkage appliances. Geez, air travel has been skimmed to the minimum, now cruising is being made just as "unfun" and more added fee costly.

Absolute b-s.

 

[RedSox68]

Did you ask why they do not fall in line with cruise industry "standards" and charge a reasonable amount for bottled water on board? For a 24 pack of water, after they have added their 18% gratuity (also not "industry standard"), it is close to $70 with ncl. That's not a reasonable profit margin. And if I remember correctly, it is Aquafina, not Evian or equivalent.

Very good point. I think the whole thing is b-s and am waiting for a reply to the email I sent. The woman got very defensive when I mentioned that there are still cruiselines like Disney who do not take this attitude and ban liquids. I still cannot understand their "reasoning" behind allowing two unopened bottles of wine, but not unopened bottles of water (other than money money money)!

 

[RedSox68]

Airlines don't allow you to bring liquids because post 9-11 a potential terrorist tried to take two liquids that, when mixed, would make a bomb. That's when the 'no liquids' ban started. Before that, you could take any liquids you wanted.

I doubt that's what the NCL rep was thinking of while reading her script.

Exactly.