Remember when Disney allowed you to bring on as much alcohol as you wanted....

[Magical_Suitcase]

We are researching a Viking cruise and reading through their FAQs made me nostalgic for the old DCL days. I believe though, that there was a corkage fee and you were not supposed to drink "your" alcohol outside of your stateroom. Its the little things that make a difference.

 

[Snowwhyt]

We are researching a Viking cruise and reading through their FAQs made me nostalgic for the old DCL days. I believe though, that there was a corkage fee and you were not supposed to drink "your" alcohol outside of your stateroom. Its the little things that make a difference.

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Did that change after drunk patrons were found to upset families?

 

[lanejudy]

The corkage fee applied to bottles of wine taken from your room to the MDRs for dinner. And it still applies today. There was never a corkage fee for alcohol opened and consumed in your stateroom.

The "rules" are basically the same now, just with quantity limits. Consume in your stateroom or pay the corkage at dinner. But now just beer and/or wine allowed.

As to the "why" -- could be multiple reasons, but I think DCL may have finally indicated it was due to kids getting into FE's.

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

Did that change after drunk patrons were found to upset families?

I think the change was due to making more money, not drunk patrons. We have been on seven cruises and only twice have I seen individuals (one individual in each situation) that was overly intoxicated. Both of those sightings happened after the change in what cruisers were allowed to bring on-board. In each case, the individuals were drinking in the bars, not out and about the ship, and even though they were overly intoxicated, they were not making a scene. I am sure it probably happens, i.e., drunk patrons, but I have not experienced it.

 

[icc2515]

We have been on seven cruises and only twice have I seen individuals (one individual in each situation) that was overly intoxicated.

I'm sorry you had to see me that way, twice. But the bar tender at the pool bar made those drinks very strong, just for me. Man I wish I was sitting in that pool right now with my drink of the day glass. I might go fill it with iced tea just for the memories.

 

[AquaDame]

I do remember... we had a cruise scheduled for after the new rules came into effect. It's the first and only time I cancelled a cruise on principle - we jumped ship to a RCCL cruise on a similar itinerary for the same week since we'd already purchased airfare. If they had made the change for NEW bookings, I wouldn't have blinked an eye, but they did so with a little over a month's notice for a cruise we were taking five months later...

I still get a little miffed everytime I have to hand over a bottle of nice rum when boarding to have them toss it in a stack (due to worry they're going to break it and I won't have any way to get another one). Not much else has changed... we used to bring a small flask size of mixer rum that we'd put in orange juice and sip that on the balcony. Now we just get an island specific beer or two in port on the way back to the ship and have those out there instead.

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

I'm sorry you had to see me that way, twice. But the bar tender at the pool bar made those drinks very strong, just for me. Man I wish I was sitting in that pool right now with my drink of the day glass. I might go fill it with iced tea just for the memories.

 

[EllinK]

Agreed that this is about how to generate additional revenue and has nothing to do with drunk patrons (never saw one) or kids getting into fish extender gifts (who gives a full size bottle in a FE?!). We adjusted to the new normal but it was just another cash grab (like the incredibly overbooked, over priced PAs) in the otherwise delightful DCL experience.

 

[JM23457]

I'll buck the trend and say I like the current rule. Anything that cuts down on people getting intoxicated around us is a plus. In my experience, the cheaper & more easily available liquor is, the more people who can't hold their liquor overindulge.

I'm not putting down anyone else who feels differently. We all have our own perspectives and that's mine. I don't happen to enjoy being around drunk people, and I don't want them around my child.

Sorry to those of you who know how to drink responsibly & are stymied by this rule.

 

[Intr3pid]

I'll buck the trend and say I like the current rule. Anything that cuts down on people getting intoxicated around us is a plus. In my experience, the cheaper & more easily available liquor is, the more people who can't hold their liquor overindulge.

I'm not putting down anyone else who feels differently. We all have our own perspectives and that's mine. I don't happen to enjoy being around drunk people, and I don't want them around my child.

Sorry to those of you who know how to drink responsibly & are stymied by this rule.

I am glad DCL and others started this 'cash grab'. Nothing ruins a relaxing vacation more than being around cheap booze and free-flowing alcohol and those who can't walk straight having had some.

 

[monkeydawn]

The corkage fee applied to bottles of wine taken from your room to the MDRs for dinner. And it still applies today. There was never a corkage fee for alcohol opened and consumed in your stateroom.

The "rules" are basically the same now, just with quantity limits. Consume in your stateroom or pay the corkage at dinner. But now just beer and/or wine allowed.

As to the "why" -- could be multiple reasons, but I think DCL may have finally indicated it was due to kids getting into FE's.

I'd argue that no longer allowing spirits is more of a rule than quantity change, though I do have to admit that technically you are correct. LOL

Tequila is my drink of choice. Most of what DCL stocks is not good and not something you could pay me to drink. The price on a shot of the cheapest Tequila they serve that I'd consider drinking is only $2-$5 less than what a bottle of good Tequila would cost at retail (on land), that to me is too much of a upcharge to justify. But luckily I dont feel like I have to drink to have a good time.

 

[kaseyC]

I agree that it was probably revenue related but I believe they used one of their standard excuses for when they remove something- it was either "to align with industry standards or due to guest feedback".

On our 4 night and 7 night cruises I don't remember seeing people bring on large amounts but on our transatlantic sailings people were literally rolling on boxes and suitcases full of liquor (not just wine and beer but the hard stuff). If it could fit through the security scanner, you could bring it on.

 

[DisneYE]

I'll buck the trend and say I like the current rule. Anything that cuts down on people getting intoxicated around us is a plus. In my experience, the cheaper & more easily available liquor is, the more people who can't hold their liquor overindulge.

I'm not putting down anyone else who feels differently. We all have our own perspectives and that's mine. I don't happen to enjoy being around drunk people, and I don't want them around my child.

Sorry to those of you who know how to drink responsibly & are stymied by this rule.

I'm like you in this regard. I can't stand drunks (esp. the loud/obnoxious ones, regardless of kids being around)
This is not say I don't like drinking. I do. But I drink on occasion and responsibly.

I don't see how this rule inhibits those that want to get drunk.
I've seen plenty of ppl heavily juiced on many DCL sailings (thankfully none out of control) and I'm of the opinion that if a passenger wants to get drunk, he/she will... lots of options to do that onboard, especially now with how popular the tastings have become.. you can get smashed every 2-3 hours for $30-$50 with all the seminars going around.

IMO these 'new' rules are plain and simply just to increase the alcohol revenue, not to have less drunks.
And I'm surprised they still allow beer/wine onboard. I'm inclined to think they'll ban those as well when sailings go back to normal. (due to loss of revenue as a result of the pandemic)

 

[Dug720]

And I'm surprised they still allow beer/wine onboard. I'm inclined to think they'll ban those as well when sailings go back to normal. (due to loss of revenue as a result of the pandemic)

Most lines do allow 2 bottles of wine (whether that is per passenger over 21 or per cabin containing a person over 21 depends on the line) at embarkation. Some have a fee up front, others it is only a corkage charge if you take it to the dining room. Beer is less frequent. BUT that allowance is only on embarkation. So I don’t think Disney would eliminate the ability to bring on 2 bottles of wine (beer debatable) on embarkation.

Where I do think they might make a change is the ability to restock in port. They are the only line I am aware of that allows that (without confiscating until the final night or debarkation morning), so I could see that going away.

 

[JM_97]

I'll play devil's advocate. While no one likes dealing with someone who can't handle their alcohol, I have to say that I've had drink packages on other lines and it's liberating to not have to worry about a tab. Try different drinks and you don't have to worry if it was worth the price. Some lines have limits on how many drinks you can have per day with the package.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I'll play devil's advocate. While no one likes dealing with someone who can't handle their alcohol, I have to say that I've had drink packages on other lines and it's liberating to not have to worry about a tab. Try different drinks and you don't have to worry if it was worth the price. Some lines have limits on how many drinks you can have per day with the package.

I understand what you mean but,...
Sometimes I feel like I need to get what I paid for, as if I need to get my value. Man $61 of drinks a day can be a ton when you normally only have 2-3. Plus when I do drink I like top shelf not included in the package. Think if I did get the package I would feel compelled to drink.

 

[Dug720]

I understand what you mean but,...
Sometimes I feel like I need to get what I paid for, as if I need to get my value. Man $61 of drinks a day can be a ton when you normally only have 2-3. Plus when I do drink I like top shelf not included in the package. Think if I did get the package I would feel compelled to drink.

The packages also include specialty coffees and bottled water. Not just alcohol. (And they also include soft drinks which Disney does not technically charge extra for.) The water alone is amazing - on Celebrity I would get a bottle of water every time I got a drink. Gave me plenty of water in my room and for excursions and time off the ship.

Many lines also offer the beverage package as a perk - either it IS a perk or it is one you can choose - so if you choose that there is no “money’s worth” to get.

 

[poohs4me]

I remember these days and enjoyed them. There are certain liquors DCL does not stock and we use to bring those onboard with us particularly for longer sailings. The bars still got lots of our business since we were not ones to always go back to our rooms to get a drink. If it was only FE related, I could have seen them restricting it to no mini-bottles. I agree it was a monetary decision.

 

[nancipants]

I’m still mad this policy changed. I don’t like beer or wine, I only like mixed drinks. I would bring a bottle of vodka for me and a bottle of rum for husband and we’d mix it with orange juice/coke to have in our room. I always get the drink of the day anyway, and husband drinks beer around the ship, so it’s not like they weren’t getting our liquor money elsewhere.

 

[DCLDVC1]

Yes I remember it well. There was even a FB group created for people to complain and a lot of people said they'd never cruise on DCL again (I remember a few of the names and I don't think they have stopped).