Okay to Bring Champagne on Board?

[Golfette]

Before you yell at me for posting this, I want you to know I've tried twice to do a Search which resulted in "error" messages & also checked the advice for newcomers forum. I didn't post it with the Liquor Police question, because I know I've read posts in the past saying (I believe) that HAL allows you to bring 2 bottles of wine aboard. Search did not reveal these threads. I also checked HAL website & either didn't look in the right place, but found nothing about wine or liquor. So! I did my homework. :o Could someone please confirm that it is o.k. to bring Champagne on board when boarding or is it not???

[LAFFNVEGAS]

By all means you can bring your own Champagne.I have done it many times. I actually have it down pretty good. We have ordered Champagne from a California wine company that has shipped it to us in the past. So we have this great styrofoam packaging that hold three bottles perfectly. Plus this packaging fits perfectly into a small suit case that we have with wheels. We have successfully flown checking in this suit case several times and the bottles arrive in great shape. Now when we get to the pier we keep this small suit case with us as a carry on. We have never even been questioned about bringing it on board.:)

[sail7seas]

If you bring it to the dining room to enjoy, you will be charged a $15 corking fee. If you drink it in your cabin, there is no corking fee.

[dakrewser]

We have ordered Champagne from a California wine company that has shipped it to us in the past.

Which one Lisa? I always have a bottle or two of Gloria Ferrer (http://www.gloriaferrer.com/) with us for sailaway.... ;)

[SoCalRick]

Dear Golfette, Unless Rosie or Elisabeth are responding to your question, there should be no yelling. Here's what I found under the "For Booked Guests: Planning & Advice" heading on the HAL website:

On-board Policies
Bringing Alcoholic Beverages Onboard
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.

So, I understand that to mean "yes" it's permissable to bring your own champagne aboard. Enjoy your champagne and your cruise!
Rick

[NoNoNanette]

Golfette:

You're allowed to bring as much wine and champagne on board as you like. On our past cruises (most recently HAL Volendam), we wheel on a case using a collapsible cooler on wheels. :)

[Golfette]

Okaaaay! Thanks all! SoCalRick, you clever guy, you found it on the HAL website. I guess I just don't have the patience. Since we don't have to fly, we'll just bring it in our carry-on bag. Hate to trust it to baggage handlers. We used to sail our own sailboat & on our 1st long trip, my brother gave us a bottle of priceless champagne to celebrate. When we finally anchored for the 1st nite, all hot & exhausted, we uncorked the bottle only to have it explode on us! Oh! What a waste! We never forgot it!:o

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Which one Lisa? I always have a bottle or two of Gloria Ferrer (http://www.gloriaferrer.com/) with us for sailaway.... ;)

Dave, we have ordered from Pacific Wine Merchants out of Upland CA. The Sparkling we get is really inexpensive but cannot be bought at the stores. It is Wycliff Sparking Brut. It is sweet without being too sweet. Don't let the price fool you. http://www.pacific-wine.com/catolog_i1374794.html?catId=59727

[Krazy Kruizers]

Why don't you all just buy bottles of champagne once you get on the ship??

I would never think of trying to pack any kind of alcohol in luggage and risk having a bottle broken and ruining clothes while flying.

[O2B@C]

Why don't you all just buy bottles of champagne once you get on the ship??

I would never think of trying to pack any kind of alcohol in luggage and risk having a bottle broken and ruining clothes while flying.

Two words: (1) price, and (2) selection. And I think there are several good suggestions above about safeguarding the bottles en route. Not to mention that not everyone has to fly to their embarcation port, and even if you do, it's often possible to buy your desired champagne when you get there at less than what it would cost on board.

[Palm Beacher]

You can bring as much wine and champagne as you can carry. We usually bring about 12 bottles for a 10 day cruise. Just remember there is a corkage fee of $15 if bring it to the PG or dining room.

[dakrewser]

Dave, we have ordered from Pacific Wine Merchants out of Upland CA. The Sparkling we get is really inexpensive but cannot be bought at the stores. It is Wycliff Sparking Brut. It is sweet without being too sweet. Don't let the price fool you. http://www.pacific-wine.com/catolog_i1374794.html?catId=59727


That's one I'm not familiar with - where is Wycliffe located?

[dakrewser]

I would never think of trying to pack any kind of alcohol in luggage and risk having a bottle broken and ruining clothes while flying.

It's extremely hard to break a bottle of champagne - just ask anyone who's tried to christen a ship! (watch here :rolleyes: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN6IvLoxzSU))

[Copper10-8]

That's one I'm not familiar with - where is Wycliffe located?

Isn't he that dude that paints dolphins and whales on buildings? Didn't know he consumed champagne in large quantities on seagoing vessels:rolleyes:

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Oh Dave, You are pulling out all the funnies today:D I have laughed hard at 2 of your posts within the last 3 minutes:D

BTW, I was just grocery shopping at Vons and they had 2 different Gloria Ferrer Sparklings, they had the Brut and the Blanc de Noirs. Which is it you prefer? As for the Wycliff we discovered it at a local restaurant that we would go to a champagne brunch at. It was not the normal cheap tasting sparkling like a lot of the Sunday Brunches have. We tried to buy it locally but they only sell to restaurants so we found it on the web thru Pacific Wines. I will have to try your champagne:)

KK, Dave is correct. Champagne bottles do travel quite well. We also pack the bottles in a seperate suite case in styrofoam and then that is placed in a large plastic garbage bag. We have have very good success in transporting wine and champagne this way with no problems.

[dakrewser]

BTW, I was just grocery shopping at Vons and they had 2 different Gloria Ferrer Sparklings, they had the Brut and the Blanc de Noirs. Which is it you prefer?

Any of them. But the Blanc de Noirs is great for afternoon sipping.....

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Any of them. But the Blanc de Noirs is great for afternoon sipping.....

Thanks for the tip;) that sounds good to me:)