Going a cruise and wondering if you can sneak a bottle of Vodka on board. Well think again. All of the major cruise lines have a “No Sneaking Booze on Board” policy. Many will allow you to bring a few bottles aboard that you may enjoy with dinner (with a corkage fee of $10 – $25). Only Norwegian Coastal Voyages will let you bring whatever you want on board as long as you consume it in your cabin. The majority also hold your duty free purchases until the last night of the cruise.
Here’s the break down by largest cruise lines
Carnival Cruises
What you can bring – Wine & Champagne (corkage $10)
Celebrity Cruises
What you can bring – Wine (corkage $25)
Costa Cruises
What you can bring – Wine (corkage $10)
Cunard Line
What you can bring – Wine & Champagne (corkage $15)
Holland America Line
What you can bring – Wine & Champagne (corkage $15)
MSC Cruises
What you can bring – Nothing (not even Nyquil)
Norwegian Cruise Line
What you can bring – Nothing, but you may drink wine purchased on port calls for a corkage $15. They will also go through your luggage looking for contraband booze. They return anything that is confiscated on the last night of the cruise. I guess they figure that you have spent enough on their drinks during the cruise, so on the last night – What the Heck!
Norwegian Coastal Cruises
What you can bring – Anything that is legal as long as you drink in your cabin.
Princess Cruises
What you can bring – Wine & Champagne (corkage $15)
Silver Cruises
What you can bring – No need. This high-end line is all inclusive. State rooms are stocked with vodka, whisky, wine and champagne.
I guess the moral of this story either go high end, cruise only in Norwegian Waters, or suck it up and buy your drinks on board.
