booze

[CanadianMAG]

I remember reading a post last night and cannot find it now !! It was about bringing alcohol onto the ship. I called HAL and then put my call to the "policy" center and they told me:

You are allowed to bring wine, champage, spirits... all but HARD alchol onto the ship. Corkage $15.000

I think I recalled reading somewhere you were not allowed, and if you did to smuggle it into your checked-in stuff not your carry on. Just wanted to pass that on!!

[Esme]

What to you mean by "Spirits"? Spirits to me is hard liquour!

Beer is also not allowed.

Happened to be in my TA's office to-day when clients who had just returned from a HAL ship, phoned to say they had their booze confiscated, but returned at the end of the cruise. I have no idea if it was in their checked or carry-on luggage. TA smiled when she heard this as she had told them about HAL's policy but they decided to take a chance. :p

[Arubalisa]

Planning & Advice:

On-board Policies

Bringing Alcoholic Beverages Onboard (http://www.hollandamerica.com/guests/category.do?category=obpolicies&topic=alcohol)
Except for wine and champagne, alcoholic beverages purchased in the vessel's shops or otherwise brought on the ship cannot be consumed on the ship. Bottles and other containers will be collected for safekeeping and delivered to your stateroom on the last day of the voyage.

[CanadianMAG]

Ok. I just called back to 1-800 SAIL HAL selcted the exsiting reservations option who tsf me to someone else for their new policy.

they re-confirmed with me, spirits are like coolers (we call them in Canada, like Mikes Hard Lemonde).

You are correct Beer is not allowed.

However Wine and Champage is allowed and there is no limit on quantity

she also said you cannot bring hard liquor but can pre-order it online for you to have while on the ship.

[Esme]

Oh, that's what they are calling "spirits". Coolers I would have known. ;)

[michmike]

We've smuggled it on in our checked luggage now for 4 cruises w/o incident. Usually only a liter of gin in a plastic bottle sealed in a large ziploc bag. No big deal.

Then on our recent trip on Volendam we bought a liter in port in both tortola and dominica and carried them on in my wife's quilted tote bag and passed it right thru the xray scanner w/o anyone saying a word. So I'd say be discrete and you'll be ok.

Seems a rather discriminatory policy to me.. but that's just MY opinion.

[tttrancher]

:cool: I'm pretty new to this but all your comments are helpful. I am still a bit confused however. I would like to bring a bottle or two of wine on board for happy hour in our cabin while dressing. Since the policy is to allow wine, where would you suggest would be the best place to pack it, checked or carryon case? Thanks.

[jhannah]

Definitely in your carryon bag. Too much risk of breakage if put in your checked luggage.

[lgt]

I'm planning on taking a couple of bottles of wine onboard to enjoy in our suite. Is there a corkscrew? or should I just bring one?

[Cauvet]

When we were on the O in June we were quite shocked that they would not let you buy liquor in the shop for consumption in your cabin even if you paid the duty. You could purchase a "package" from room service. We purchased the gin package which included a Liter of Beefeater and four cans of tonic water for $32. We bought liquor in Alaska and brought it on board and no one batted an eyelash but liquor was no bargain in Alaska and the $32 package actually was a better deal. I think everyone needs to complain about not being able to purchase from the shops for personal consumption. The drinks in the lounges are overpriced and now they include the tip and they aren't that good.

[CDRMark]

lgt:

There was a corkscrew in our suite on Maasdam in November. If you do not have one, ask your steward and he will procure one for you.
Cheers
MarkB