3 Carnival cruises out of LA in 2002- 2003- 2 on Elation, one on Ecstasy, no problem, champagne in carryon, bottles of wine in checked luggage.
Carnival Spirit out of San Diego - 2003- they were putting passengers whose carryons had been xrayed and found with alcohol into another line-
this was an unusual 3 day cruise before the Spirit left for Hawaii-
things were chaotic, I pretended like I didn't understand, and kept going, a woman started to come after me then said " nevermind."
So don't know if it was the port, or the ship or what, why they were more particular..
wine in checked luggage came on, no problem.