New to this list. Have cruised often on Princess, but last cruise was 18 mos ago. I'm going on Royal Princess next month and see in the fine print that the line now has a policy of confiscating liquor brought on board, and holding it to the end of the cruise. This is outrageous and I've never seen it before on any line. Is it being enforced? Thanks.

Actually, Ted, most cruise lines allow themselves that option. Depends on the sailing, the personnel and perhaps some "security" factors as to how much they are enforcing it. These days, as more ships are added and cruise lines have to cut prices to fill their ships, like everyone else they are "bottom-lining it." If you bring your own booze on board, you will therefore not be buying theirs (at their markup, of course), so this is one way they can shore up their sagging profit margins. Sad but true. Maybe if anyone else out there has been on Princess, especially Royal P., recently, they might know if this is actually being enforced as strictly as it sounds.
Karen

My husband and I are leaving 9/1 on the Grand - our first cruise. We heard about the no liquor policy, but also heard that wine is allowed to be brought on board. Has anyone had any experience with this?
thanks

I can confirm the wine policy. We did a Carribean cruise on the Grand 6/16/02 and the signs were posted no liquor allowed except wine. I brought about 6 bottles of wine on board without any problems.

We took Grand Princess back in August. Sure enough, they did confiscate a very small bottle of tequila from my carry-on. It was returned to me the night before returning to FL.

WE WERE ON THE DAWN PRINCESS OCT 2001. OUR CRUISE WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT THE LIQUOR POLICY WAS ENFORCE. WE WERE ABLE TO SNEAK SOME BOOZE AND BEER ON IN OUR CARRY ONS THE FIRST TIME WE BOARDED THE SHIP. AFTER THAT EVERY BAG AND CARRY ON WAS SEARCHED EVERY TIME YOU BOARDED. IF YOU HAD ANY ALCOHOL IT WAS CONFISCATED AND RETURNED AT THE END OF YOU TRIP. YOU CAN BRING ON SOFT DRINKS AND WATER. ALSO DO NOT BE AS DUMB AS THE ONE PERSON I READ ABOUT THAT PUT HIS BOXED LIQUOR OUTSIDE HIS CABIN ON THE LAST NIGHT TO BE PICKED UP WITH HIS LUGGAGE. NEEDLESS TO SAY HE NEVER SEEN IT AGAIN.

Hi,

Sorry, wrong button
We sailed on Royal from Buenos Aires to Santiago last January and had one of the best cruises ever. But to answer your question, we had no problem with carrying wine on board. In fact we made a big deal of it. I found that for a bottle of Rosemount Chardonnay they were asking $40.00 USD on board - I pay $9.00 AUD so go figure. So BYO was high on our list. We were tasting some of the best Chilean/Sth American wine all the way thru. It was like a personal wine tasting each night. By the time we were 1/2 way thru cruise, other psgrs were following our lead. They did charge us a $10.00 corkage, but still way ahead. I certainly do hope that they continue to allow this as it makes the whole land experience a little better. Especially for us who love our wine.
Regard,
Mich

We normally bring a few bottles of rum, vodka on board with us (they are sealed, plastic bottles) in the large suitcases that get sent thru via the airline. We usually bring on our large ''sipping'' bottles that we'll make our drinks in, using the orange juice, lemonade, fruit punch that is available at breakfast in the mornings. When you're in port and want to stock up on a local bottle, just bring your large sipping bottles with you and fill them with the local libation (tequila in Cozumel - rum in St. Thomas). We still enjoy the custom drinks on board, but can make our own when and if we choose to....

We've also been through the liquor test on several ships this year. CELEBRITY Constellation 14 day transatlantic allowed us to buy it in the gift shop IF we brought our blue Celebrity bag from our cabin with us to carry it back in. They treated the purchase like it was a big secret and said policy was that you were not to bring liquor, purchased off the ship, into your cabin. Nor did they endorse selling it duty free and letting you drink it on board. You had to ask to get the special treatment. PRINCESS Star, after much research on board, allowed us to buy a bottle of Vodka from one of the bars in the main lobby area. Slightly more than duty free prices. But not from the gift shop. And they said they would confiscate liquor brought on board, returning it at the end of the cruise. HAL let's you bring your liquor of choice with you. They suggest bringing the bottles in your carryone. Seems that the policy's vary per ship per sailing and asking your cabin steward, the attendant at gift shop or duty free stores, and at the pursors offices helped us find out the true scoop on the liquor!

Let's see,

First, they started charging extra for ice cream, then they started charging extra for 'premium' dining, now they are confiscating your huge supply of carry-on alcohol.

Thank heavens that they are also raising the prices for the cruises.

leT ME TELL YOU

After doing extensive research on booze on cruise. Let me tell you!!
First off...For those who want to pay LOTSA money for booze on your cruise...YOU SHOULDN'T be reading this BOARD!
2nd. I am referancing to Princess Cruise Lines.
You can bring all the wine and CHAMPAGNE you want, if you drink in your room (no charge) if you drink during dinner $10 corkage fee.
You CAN NOT bring any other booze besides wine and champagne. HOWEVER you should consider buying those pre-cruise gifts in the room. The prices are almost the SAME as you would in a liquor store, and gratuity is included and it LEGAL.
ADVICE: LOOK AT THE BON VOYAGE GIFT BASKETS (BOMBAY SAPPHIRE IS ONLY $27)

As for bringing you own WINE, YES you should. The wines they offer on Princess, for 25-30, actually cost 7-8 on land. THOSE "cheap" wines give you a headache. Not saying they are cheap in price, but cheap in quality. You can buy a $15 wine, pay $10 corkage, pay the same price but have AWESOME wine!!

Love this board!!