Bring on your own booze

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SassyGirl

Guest
Hi

We'll be taking our first Carnival cruise in May (Victory). On past cruises on Celebrity, we were able to smuggle our own liquor in (discreetly, in our checked luggage) with no problem. This saved us a lot of dough on board. Is it easy to do the same with Carnival?

Thanks for any tips/info you can give on this topic.

Patty
 
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jkmcroot

Guest
We've done it before. We just buy the booze in plastic bottles if possible and then hide it in our checked luggage. We've never had a problem getting it onboard.
 
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kimmie13

Guest
This is my 8th cruise. I always bring my own drink. I bring a 12 pack of pepsi my own water. I only drink Cooks champagne and I bring that too. My cabin steward even brings my extra ice in a big white beer bucket. As long as you get it on and the big wig in custom dont see it you will be fine. BRING YOUR OWN BOOZE..it saves you money.
 
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icemaiden

Guest
Where do you fit all this??? I'm having problems fitting what I NEED to bring in the two suitcases the airplane allows lol
 
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jhahn

Guest
Bring fewer clothes! It's vacation! Make room for the booze, which is far more important.
 
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nschnell

Guest
I have a friend that told me they take water bottles in port and dump out the water and put the booze in that. I will have to check and get all the details and update you on this. They always cruise carnival so it shouldn't be a problem.
 
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CSTEEVER

Guest
we have always smuggled booze on Carnival as well in many ways. I bubble wrap my wine and alcohol and put it in plastic bags in my suitcase, I have one of the magic bullets so I bring that along to make my own blended drinks with fresh fruit from the lido deck buffett, we have put vodka in water bottles etc. We have never had a problem, we have even bought liquor in port and put it in the bottom of our stroller (who want to wake a sleeping baby to see what is in the bottom of your stroller, and they say you shouldn't bring kids on cruises!! lol) A good tip is to pack a collapsable cooler to keep in your cabin and your cabin steward will keep it stocked with ice for you no problem!
 
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brenda52684

Guest
if i want to take a water bottles, some red bull, and some coke will that be ok? Does it go thru carry on or checked luggage. what do you put in it?
 
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brenda52684

Guest
i just realized i messed up on the last sentence in my previous post. my question is: where should i put the non-alcoholic drinks i want to take? i also want to take a bottle of wine so where does that go?
 
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larsfun

Guest
I agree with all! leave clothes home take some booze. csteever has the right idea bubble wrap and double seal a plastic bag. Take plastic bottles and if possible do it in pints, half pints or those little airline bottles they sell in every liquor store as they can easily be stuffed into a shoe. You really don't need that much to get started, at the first port you can re-load with a couple more pints in the back pocket or purse. after ten Carnivals I have never been stopped getting back on board from a tour unless I voluntarily surrendered it. Where there is a will there is a way! If you are flying with it then definitely buy enough of the tiny bottles and stuff in your shoes to hold you until the first port.
 
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Bunkagal

Guest
Do they hand search your backpacks, beach bags, etc. when you return to the ship...do you have to go through an xray machine or something, and is the booze you purchase in the ports the same proof as at home..I'm really not a fan of those extra proof alcohols..If they do happen to find your hidden stash, do they simply take it away or are you called down or are you put in a naughty room..:girly
 
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Gayle V

Guest
Hi Bunkagal,

Glad you found your way over here.

About getting back onboard, at the islands. Yes they do xray your bags as you reboard. If you have any liquor with you, they will take it and tag it with your name and cabin. It will then be returned to your cabin on the last day of the cruise for you to take home. This is standard procedure. Youwould not be treated like you were trying to get away with anything, as most people buy the liquor in port, for the purpose of taking back home with them.

As for what's available for purchase in port, the answer is just about anything you could think of. We used to always buy some to take home, before the airlines started putting the limits on liquid in carry on bags. The reason to buy it on the island was more for the price (cheap) as opposed to getting the more interesting proofs. :grin.
 
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Bunkagal

Guest
Hi Gayle...yes and thank you for the invite and your new thread about smuggling booze on board it's the funniest thing I've had a litre of vodka in my fridge for over 7 months, and rarely drink, but the minute I think about going on vacation I want to smuggle booze..think it's the pirate in me..Carnival does allow for one bottle of wine each and a small amount of soda, and water..and I'll give it a try think I'll just get a few of the small plastic bottles, don't think they will find them all...this site is wonderful and very informative..still looking for the roll call for The Miracle but I'll be here for a while I'm sure I'll find it...thanks again for all your help..still looking for the organizer to keep all the paper work in order, there aren't many stationery stores any more, and our WM didn't have much but I'll keep looking...thanks again...
 
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bjm

Guest
(smuggle booze) Please put in a water proof baggie. Our first cruise I had to wash clothes right away . some one had a bottle packed that broke and all my husband clothes were wet, and on our last cruise it happen again. My suitcase was wet. but i had lined my suitcase with trash bags this time so i had a wet suitcase that smelled like booze but my clothes were dry.
 
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sbchevypwrd

Guest
I guess it depends on the ship & who is in customs. I bought a fifth of Tequilla in Costa Maya last spring. It was in a box inside of a sack. I sent it through the x-ray machine re-boarding the Grand Princess. This was our first port to stop at of 4. The customs guy handed me the bag and said go on. I expected them to take and give it back the last day, but he didnt so off I went back to my state room. I was scared like a teenager to open it so I left in my luggage, claimed it and a bottle of Crown I bought on the ship the last night of the cruise which they let my take back to my stateroom that night on my claim ticket in Galveston. So im not sure how they push different rules..
 
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6packEd

Guest
The best way that I have found to take alcohol on board is to buy what you want. When I get to the securtiy area I drink it all in front of security, surrender the empty bottle and smuggle it in inside my stomach. I than laugh all the way back to my cabin. Whoopee. I saved a ton and am feeling good. Party on.
 
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larsfun

Guest
6pack ed,

That is the best "if all else fails" method to date. Hmmmm I think I would almost want them to catch me at that point!

Lars
 
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SuperMommy

Guest
This is what the wine boxes are made for!!! Target has a great selection. We have taken tons of stuff on everyone of our cruises. We use a small cooler on wheels and fill up water bottles. I also take my V8 juice that I use to make my bloody marys. THe only have tomoto juice on board and V8 makes it so much better. We still buy frozen drinks by the pool and usually a bottle of wine for dinner but nothing beats have your own mini bar in the room. Our steward also kept us with plenty of ice and clean glasses.
 
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