6 Ways to Get Caught Sneaking Alcohol on a Cruise

Table Of Content

• Wine Drinkers Should Buy a Wine Package to Save
• Cruises
• While you can find plenty of clever hacks for sneaking alcohol on a cruise ship, you’re better off following the rules.
• Gastro Outbreak Hits Luxury Cruise Ship
• Can I bring my alcohol on a cruise?
• Bring your own wine and booze
• A line-by-line guide to cruise drink packages

Alcohol brought on board in checked luggage or not in accordance with the policy will be stored until the end of the sailing. Bottles purchased in port also will be held until the final night. You are allowed to bring beer on Disney cruises and wine or Champagne on embarkation day and in each port of call. The limit is two bottles of wine or Champagne (up to 750 mL) or six beers (up to 12 ounces each) in your carry-on per adult. The alcohol cannot be consumed in any lounge or other public area, but you can bring your bottles to the dining rooms, with a $26 corkage fee charged. Any excess amounts you try to bring on board will be stored until the end of the cruise.

Wine Drinkers Should Buy a Wine Package to Save

There’s nothing like a cold cocktail on a cruise, but $20+ drinks start to add up fast. Passengers have been bringing their own alcohol on board since the first ship sailed, and although it’s not recommended (and against the rules) it’s saved people some money. If your cruise doesn’t allow you to bring alcohol aboard, check out these 13 tricks to sneak on some contraband.

Cruises

How to sneak alcohol on a cruise and why you should not do it - Cruise Blog

How to sneak alcohol on a cruise and why you should not do it.

Posted: Tue, 05 Nov 2019 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The most popular way people sneak alcohol onto the ship is by replacing the liquid in permitted bottles with alcohol. If you get caught with excess booze in your carry-on bag, you’ll have to suffer the humiliation of all the passengers in the line behind you, seeing you get busted. The security team has a lot of people to check in and so will be focused on looking for bottle shapes. However, if caught you may have your alcohol confiscated and you could even be refused boarding. Cruise ships scan your luggage with an X-ray and, if they are suspicious of any items they see, open the luggage for a manual search. They also open bottles to check the contents, so the trick of using an old mouthwash bottle for spirits isn’t infallible.

While you can find plenty of clever hacks for sneaking alcohol on a cruise ship, you’re better off following the rules.

Some people think it’s the only way they can drink on a cruise at 18 to 20, although underage drinking should be discouraged. Whereas others are convinced alcoholic cruise drinks are watered down, so try to take their own. In some cases, finding a cheap drink is as easy as hopping off the ship and walking a street or two off the main tourist route. Local bars and restaurants are a great way to try regional cocktails, wines, beers and other beverages that aren't available on the ship — usually at a lower price. If you make friends with the staff, they may even treat you to something special like housemade limoncello if you're in Italy or ouzo in the Greek islands. Many lines offer free beverage packages as incentives when booking a cruise.

It’s an easy way to appear as if you are just clinging to a summer vibe while being able to enjoy your favorite drinks. To use this sneaky storage option, transfer your liquor into shampoo bottles or another product container that would typically be allowed aboard the ship. It’s also important that all containers are properly labeled with their contents as some cruise lines may not allow certain types of alcohol even if they are marked as an “empty” container.

Double Bagging

Alternatively, inquire about these wine packages at the ship’s wine bar. One trick to sneak alcohol on board a cruise ship is to use a mouthwash bottle. However, the crew will be suspicious of large mouthwash bottles for one cruise and may open them to check the contents. There are many online cruise forums where people have discussed their experiences in getting caught sneaking alcohol on a ship. The bags are checked at different times by different people, and it’s virtually impossible for cruise ship staff to match them up and see that you’ve brought more than the allowance.

With that in mind, many newbie cruisers wonder if they can bring their own alcohol on board. The answer varies by cruise line, but in most cases, it's both yes and no. Some cruise lines may allow passengers to bring back a limited amount of alcohol purchased during port visits. However, you will need to check with your specific cruise line as there may be restrictions. While some cruise lines prohibit passengers from bringing alcohol in their carry-on luggage, others may allow a limited amount within specific guidelines.

Bring your own wine and booze

But since the timing is limited, this can be another situation to take a beer or two to-go, to enjoy later. Passengers must be observant and seek out these money-saving cruise drink deals. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for happy hour promotions on tabletop signs at cruise bars.

The cost of cruise ship drink packages varies widely by line. At several of the biggest cruise brands, including Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America, the main drink packages that include all types of drinks cost about $60 per person per day. Other brands, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, charge as much as $138 per person per day for a top-tier package. Nearly all the major mass-market cruise lines offer flat-fee drink packages that, in some cases, can save you money when cruising. The exceptions are Disney Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages, though both offer alternative ways to save on beverage purchases. Conversely, if you’re on an itinerary that calls on a port every day, with long hours, you’ll have less time at the ship’s bar to take advantage of a drink package.

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At first it can seem a little weird walking from a restaurant to the casino to the pool all while carrying a drink in your hand. For those of us used to laws surrounding public display of open containers, it feels unnatural. Perhaps nothing is as iconic on a cruise ship as sipping a delicious cocktail with an umbrella in it. Not only can you get classics like Rum Runners, Margaritas, and Mai Tais, but cruise lines are constantly introducing unique cocktails that you won’t find anywhere else. River cruise lines are far more liberal regarding alcohol you bring onboard, both at embarkation and in ports.

Because the alcohol won’t have the shape of a bottle, it’s more likely to go unnoticed. Though clever, cruise ship security is familiar with the mouthwash trick. If the security guard sees a large bottle of mouthwash through the scanner, they’ll open it to see what’s inside.

As stealthy as you think you are, cruise lines know all the popular hiding spots. This blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. However, if your bag was manually checked for any other reason, it would be obvious what’s inside these booze bags. Some of the things to hide alcohol in for cruise vacations are just genius.

Finding a discreet spot is a great way to conceal the alcohol on your cruise. There are several places to hide your smuggled booze, like inside your luggage or a toiletry bag. Hiding your alcohol in your checked luggage is probably the most fool-proof way to smuggle spirits aboard a cruise. This type of container looks like an empty water bottle but it has a tube running out one end which you can suck on to get drinks out of it. If you want to smuggle liquor on a cruise, one of the best ways to conceal your contraband is by utilizing shampoo bottles. Pack all your alcohol securely in our checked or carry-on bag that will fit within the regulatory requirements of your cruise line.

Enjoying an alcoholic beverage doesn’t give anyone a license to break the rules or become obnoxious. Locker rentals are available in most cruise ports, and the cost may be bundled with the cost of your ticket. Bring cash and tokens can be purchased to open up your locker onboard the ship. If you choose this option, make sure you check with your cruise line ahead of time to ensure that it is accepted.

Drink package prices vary greatly among the cruise lines and the specific package. Cruise beverage packages range in price from about $38 (MSC Easy) to $165.60 (NCL Premium) per day. Yet drink package pricing often tends to fall somewhere between $60-$80 per day. But most other cruise lines forbid passengers from bringing beer on a cruise ship, even though they allow wine. So here’s a hack for beer lovers to bring some beer on a cruise ship instead of wine.

From glitzy wine bars to English pubs, we round up our favorite bars at sea. ⚠️ Never go on an international cruise without travel insurance. If you don’t already have travel insurance for your cruise, enter your dates for a quick quote now.