The REAL lowdown on booze!
We've taken so much that we had extra and gave it to the room steward. From vodka and blue cheese stuffed olives, olive juice and a shaker. You just have to be smart. The cruise line doesn't have time to go thru every bag that they think might have a bottle or 2 in them, you would never leave on time. I give my room guy $20 the very 1st time I see him and tell him to never replace anything in my fridge, ( I pull everything out of the mini fridge) and make sure I never run out of glasses and ice.
We zip tie each bag shut this makes it even more inconvenient to open. You can get them at home depot for around $1 for 15, remember to carry a small knife or toenail clippers to cut the plastic ties.
Don't fill 1 suit case full of all of your booze. It will raise a red flag if your suitcase weighs 100 pounds because you filled it full of tall boy Heineken's. We do take some beer, but don't be stupid, beer is priced as if it would be at any club in the states. Spread it out!!!!!
Its also convenient to fill many "smaller bottles" and randomly place them in different suit cases. Use plastic bottles. Smaller is better, "only in this case"
We fly every week so we save many of our mini liquor bottles and refill them. It's very easy to order 1 drink and then spike it up to where I normally drink them.
Wine are a little more complicated, but if you don't drink expensive wine you can take the small bottles and even half bottles. they work fine. Even the cheap small bottles are better than the house wines on cruise ships. At dinner always ask for the reserve list, there are many better bargains than on the regular list. I recently got a 2005 kenwood artistry for $70 (retail $48) which was much better than the $45 woodbridge that cost $12.
OK 1 st TIMERS don't get those little worthless shots a dinner unless you want to pay $7-$8 each for that shot and the worthless garage sale shot glass that comes with it.
We're not cheap, we are just frugal and we go on 6-8 vacations a year.
