Alcohol

[hec202]

Hey all,
I know this has been answered and I think I've actually seen the answer before, but thought I'd ask. Sailing on Valor in October and was wondering what is the deal with bringing alcohol on board at the beginning of the cruise? I'm not a big drinker, so it wouldn't be much, but would help me save a little money in my cruise costs. As it turns out, I'm closing on my first house a week or 2 after I return from cruising, so a bunch of costs are hitting me all at once - I'd love to cut corners on alcoholic beverages if possible. Can you take alcohol on board (in checked luggage or wherever)? And how would you recommend it? Thanks so much!

 

[Mbandy]

Technically it is against the rules. Having said that, I have never had any alcohol taken from my checked bags. :spyglass:

 

[Jeanie]

It is against the rules, just use your imagination and have fun

 

[Cruizer]

It is against the rules, just use your imagination and have fun

The OP is asking about the Valor. The Imagination is a different ship.

 

[Jeanie]

The OP is asking about the Valor. The Imagination is a different ship.

I was not quoting the ship Imagination but ones mind, when taking Alcohol in check luggage, Sorry you mis-understood.

 

[Cruizer]

I was not quoting the ship Imagination but ones mind, when taking Alcohol in check luggage, Sorry you mis-understood.

I didn't misunderstand. Your post was quite clear. I just decided to have a little fun.

 

[mustang44]

I just called Carnival's bon voyage office and ordered a bottle of vodka for $40 to be in our room at embarkation. If you figure there are about 32 shots to a fifth and $6 a drink, I think that is a steal considering you can bring your own soda or juice on board.

 

[bob]

Did they specifically say 5th, usually bottles onboard are liters, would make it a better deal yet and even better if it's absolut, finlandia or skyy

 

[mgrimes]

I hope your get your bottle upon arrival. From my experience, the alcohol gets delivered to the stateroom on the last night of the cruise after 9pm.

 

[mustang44]

I called the bon voyage office a second time to confirm there was no miscommunication, and specifically stated that we wanted to consume the alcohol in our room and not get the bottle the night before debarkation and the bon voyage office confirmed it would be in our room when we arrived. It is Skye vodka. I used to the term fifth. Just used to calling a bottle that, it very well could be a liter. If we don't have it in the room, there will be a very unhappy cruiser. If I wanted to take it home, I can get 2 liter bottles of Absolut in St. Thomas for $16 that is why I called them a second time.

 

[mustang44]

Just found this thread on another forum:

Re: another alcohol question
Reply
We chose to use Carnival's Bon Voyage service and preorder our liquor and have it waiting in our room. We also brought some soda to mix it with. It was a little more expensive than you would pay at your local liquor store, but NO hassle, NO worrying about getting "busted" and YES your steward will have plenty of ice for you. Saved us tons of $$$ over buying each drink at the bar.

April 12, 1996 - Carnival Ecstacy
March 7, 2009 - Carnival Fantasy

 

[bob]

That's pretty good then, Princess does the same but they get $18 for a lousy 375ml bottle of Smirnoff,, but wait, they throw in three cans of tonic..................

and you can't buy a liter bottle, everything from room service comes in 375

 

[MisterD21]

Although I know RCCL holds all liquor/wine sales until night before debarkation, I think you can buy in port(s) and return to room with them. I just bought mine for duty free home consumption. It also doesn't hurt to inter-buy with others in your party so you get more "duty-free" of the items each wants.. i.e. like i liked the alcohol and cigars, and my cruisemate doesn't drink or smoke so she also bought me a liter and some smokes, and i bought her items she wanted(we just split the item declarations so we didn't have to pay duty tax).

I really think that if the alcohol is that much of an importance you should just call ahead and have some delivered to your state room for pre-embarkation purposes. I mean i had 2 doubles of gin&tonic on board RCCL and it only cost me $26. Broken down on a per drink price was only like 6.50 a drink. So for me, unless Carnival is much different i can have a few drinks on board without it costing me my retirement...

 

[Cruizer]

Although I know RCCL holds all liquor/wine sales until night before debarkation, I think you can buy in port(s) and return to room with them. I just bought mine for duty free home consumption. It also doesn't hurt to inter-buy with others in your party so you get more "duty-free" of the items each wants.. i.e. like i liked the alcohol and cigars, and my cruisemate doesn't drink or smoke so she also bought me a liter and some smokes, and i bought her items she wanted(we just split the item declarations so we didn't have to pay duty tax).

I really think that if the alcohol is that much of an importance you should just call ahead and have some delivered to your state room for pre-embarkation purposes. I mean i had 2 doubles of gin&tonic on board RCCL and it only cost me $26. Broken down on a per drink price was only like 6.50 a drink. So for me, unless Carnival is much different i can have a few drinks on board without it costing me my retirement...

Royal Caribbean will collect any alcohol bought in the ports and hold it until the last day, as will Carnival.

 

[Dan40]

I hope your get your bottle upon arrival. From my experience, the alcohol gets delivered to the stateroom on the last night of the cruise after 9pm.

Alcohol purchased in the liquor store[gift shop] on board is delivered on the last night. Bon Voyage delivers when you order.

 

[Mbandy]

Royal Caribbean will collect any alcohol bought in the ports and hold it until the last day, as will Carnival.

I think it is a matter of being discreet. If I pick up a bottle of Appleton or Tortuga in port, I just wrap it in a beach towel and put it in my snorkel bag. I don't wrap it in the towel to conceal it because the x-ray can "see" through a towel. I wrap it to keep it from breaking. I have never had a bottle confiscated when employing this method.

On the other hand folks who bring a few bottles in the brightly colored shopping bags and boxes from the stores in town might as well be waiving a red flag at the "confiscators".

 

[stepharredon]

Glad I read this blog, I thought that alcohol was okay to bring onbord min 375ml per person, or do I have it confused with wine and champange? I will be calling the bon voage, or can the order be done online? What about wine? :duh:

 

[mustang44]

You are allowed to bring one bottle per person of wine up to 750 ml. You can call the bon voyage office and order liquor or wine (if you don't want to bring your own) and it will be your cabin embarkation.

 

[mustang44]

Just a quick note on this subject. I called the Bon Voyage office at Carnival Cruise Lines and ordered one bottle of Skye Vodaka at a price of $40. I know that is a little steep but if you figure out the price of a drink at the bar versus this price it is a steal. I brought my own cranberry juice. The bottle was on our desk at embarkation all wrapped in plastic wrap with a bow on it. I highly recommend this to anyone who would like a drink or two before dinner. By the way the bottle was 1.14 liters, an even better deal. :clap:

 

[Conniemc]

Mustang, that's different. Of course you can pre-order whatever booze you want for your cabin and take it with you or drink in cabin. The only stuff "held" is purchased in duty free store on board or if you get caught "smuggling" Not worth the embarrassment. You went the right way - buy your own "bon voyage" gift and it will be in your cabin upon embarkation for your enjoyment.