Can't bring water on Royal Caribbean

Well I just got back from the August 16th sailing of Monarch of the Seas and want to make everyone is aware RC does NOT allow bottled water to be brought on board. Security will hold it and it will be placed in your room on the last night. If you ask to see a policy stating this they can not show it to you because it doesn't exist. I talked to a supervisor and two different managers and no one would do ANYTHING. I asked the food and beverage manager if he was willing to turn a happy first time cruiser into an unhappy first time cruiser over a $3.95 24 pack of water and he said there was nothing he could do. They said they would submit it to be placed in the paperwork and on the list of prohibited items so future cruisers would be aware. I even asked them to comp the smallest bottled water package they sell and they said they couldn't do that either. I REALLY wish my 1st cruise had been on one of the other cruise lines and I will NEVER sail RC again. The water was only one of many things.. I'll submit the whole review in the proper forum later.

Guests are not allowed to bring alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages onboard for consumption or any other use. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports-of-call or from Shops On Board will be stored by the ship and delivered to your stateroom on the last day of the sailing. Alcoholic beverages seized on embarkation day will not be returned.

Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol. Guests who violate any alcohol policies, (over consume, provide alcohol to people under age 21, demonstrate irresponsible behavior, or attempt to conceal alcoholic items at security and or luggage check points or any other time), may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with our Guest Conduct Policy. Guests who are under the permitted drinking age will not have alcohol returned to them.

This is on Royals website. Some people have been succesful in bringing stuff on others not so lucky if you read some of the other boards.

The water on the ship is fine to drink....I'm not sure why anyone would want to lug a bunch of heavy water!

True, the rule that you can't bring potable liquids onboard is stupid, whether it's water or booze...

But the water on the ship is perfectly fine!

The water on the ship is fine to drink....I'm not sure why anyone would want to lug a bunch of heavy water!

True, the rule that you can't bring potable liquids onboard is stupid, whether it's water or booze...

But the water on the ship is perfectly fine!

The water on board might be perfectly fine for you, but for others, maybe not so much.

The water on board might be perfectly fine for you, but for others, maybe not so much.

Perhaps, but you can bring a water filter. It's light weight, inexpensive, and easy to pack. I never figured out why people will lug around cases of heavy water, rather than just bringing a simple filter. Different strokes I guess.

Perhaps, but you can bring a water filter. It's light weight, inexpensive, and easy to pack. I never figured out why people will lug around cases of heavy water, rather than just bringing a simple filter. Different strokes I guess.

I can see carrying a bottle or two with you, but generally agree that carrying around a case of water isn't ideal.

With that said, I have a few friends whose systems are pretty intolerant of water change, so they prefer to bring their own water with them where ever they go.

I often wonder if the people that insist on bringing water, soda, whatever... bring their own drinks into a restaurant?

Taking a case of water on board for a 3 or 4 night cruise sounds like a little much. Had you had a couple bottles in a carry on then picked up a couple more in Nassau, you probably wouldn't have had a problem.

Personally, I don't drink bottled water. There is far less inspection and regulation of the bottled water industry than there is of the utilities who supply your water. I believe in a good filter to take out the extras.

I hope you have better luck on your next cruise.

 

With that said, I have a few friends whose systems are pretty intolerant of water change,

"Water change"???

I doubt it has anything to do with their "systems".

Just curious, how do they handle the air change?:cool:

The water on board might be perfectly fine for you, but for others, maybe not so much.

I agree. The water does not taste good at all. We purchase the water package.

I always bring Crystal Light and a bottle of water with me and it hasn't been confiscated. Maybe they only bother you if you bring a larger quantity.

"Water change"???

 

I doubt it has anything to do with their "systems".

 

Just curious, how do they handle the air change?:cool:[/quote

 

I think they are referring to...there are several renal and cardiac conditions and medications that react to sodium and mineral changes in water once they have become used to what they normally drink. People that are sensitive can really have some miserable side affects.

"Water change"???

 

I doubt it has anything to do with their "systems".

 

Just curious, how do they handle the air change?:cool:

There are differences in water quality in different locations. Some states get their water from underground aquafers that contain a lot of minerals in it. Some come from rivers and resevoirs that are prone to issues such as algie bloom.

My wife is one such person that has "system" issues when we travel. I, on the other hand, have never had a problem. I do recognize that the water tastes different in different cities. I almost can't drink the water or anything mixed with local water in some S. Florida locations.

As far as "air change", try going from living in a rural town to hanging out in downtown Denver, Las Vegas, LA or Houston. Many people don't handle the "air change" very well at all. I have relatives that moved from Missouri to Montana due to allergens in the air. They don't handle the "air change" very well in some locations.

Well I just got back from the August 16th sailing of Monarch of the Seas and want to make everyone is aware RC does NOT allow bottled water to be brought on board. Security will hold it and it will be placed in your room on the last night. If you ask to see a policy stating this they can not show it to you because it doesn't exist. I talked to a supervisor and two different managers and no one would do ANYTHING. I asked the food and beverage manager if he was willing to turn a happy first time cruiser into an unhappy first time cruiser over a $3.95 24 pack of water and he said there was nothing he could do. They said they would submit it to be placed in the paperwork and on the list of prohibited items so future cruisers would be aware. I even asked them to comp the smallest bottled water package they sell and they said they couldn't do that either. I REALLY wish my 1st cruise had been on one of the other cruise lines and I will NEVER sail RC again. The water was only one of many things.. I'll submit the whole review in the proper forum later.

Did you attempt to check it or carry it on?

Still haven't heard of anyone being denied checking a case of water or soda with the porters at Cape Liberty, NJ. So hopefully I'll be fine.

Well I can't comment on the 'water change' topic and this post won't help on that matter.

However,coming from Wales our tap water is the best there is but it's certainly not cleaner than that on board a cruise ship. One tip I've heard of is to take a few pieces of lemon from the buffet (if available) and put them in a bottle of water in your cabin's fridge. Apparently it makes it far more palatable.

trizzou, where (boarding the ship, check in, or security screening) was the water abducted?

Well I just got back from the August 16th sailing of Monarch of the Seas and want to make everyone is aware RC does NOT allow bottled water to be brought on board. Security will hold it and it will be placed in your room on the last night. If you ask to see a policy stating this they can not show it to you because it doesn't exist. I talked to a supervisor and two different managers and no one would do ANYTHING. I asked the food and beverage manager if he was willing to turn a happy first time cruiser into an unhappy first time cruiser over a $3.95 24 pack of water and he said there was nothing he could do. They said they would submit it to be placed in the paperwork and on the list of prohibited items so future cruisers would be aware. I even asked them to comp the smallest bottled water package they sell and they said they couldn't do that either. I REALLY wish my 1st cruise had been on one of the other cruise lines and I will NEVER sail RC again. The water was only one of many things.. I'll submit the whole review in the proper forum later.

trizzou, where (boarding the ship, check in, or security screening) was the water abducted?

The people at the port loaded it with our luggage without a problem(we had 4 rooms and 3 cases of water). Then it never showed up in the room with our luggage. Our attendant said there shouldn't be a problem and she would find it. Then she came back that we had to go sign for it at security. When we got to security we saw huge stacks of water cases and lots of angry people who were told they could have it on the last day. So basically it was the luggage security check that caught it but all the other staff didn't know we couldn't have it?

I often wonder if the people that insist on bringing water, soda, whatever... bring their own drinks into a restaurant?

No, but if I ever try to live in a restaurant for 4 days I probably would :-)

I drink about 9 bottles a day so I guess I'm an extreme case.

Stupity carried to the extreme. Maybe I should sell my RCI stock if they have to sell water to stay afloat.

Not only that but since they wouldn't let me have the water I asked if I could get a refund for my soda package and have a water package instead.. they refunded part of my soda package but still billed me for ONE day of it even though it was the first day of the cruise and my coke cup was still sealed in its plastic bag haha. So they are willing to let someone stay mad over a $3.95 case of water or one day of a soda package at $7 (that wasn't even used). They are REALLY stretching when it comes to making money. Also why is there a 3% service fee for getting money at the on-board casino when they are just sticking it on your sea pass account? That isn't really a funds transfer is it?

The reason they instituted the 3% fee for getting cash at the casino, is due to people taking large amounts of money towards their Seapass accounts, taking the cash home and paying off their credit card immediately. Since RCCL and the credit card company gives 2% back as rewards on the RCCL branded VISA, they were losing money. The 3% charge minus the 2% that a person gets in rewards left a net 1% charge. That pretty much stopped the cash advances at the casino.

It was a pretty good deal, while it lasted. But too many people were doing this and then bragging about it on CC.

RCCL does read these boards.

When we got to security we saw huge stacks of water cases and lots of angry people who were told they could have it on the last day. So basically it was the luggage security check that caught it but all the other staff didn't know we couldn't have it?

Yeah, that's weird. Sounds like someone got a phone call that said 'start confiscating water' and there wasn't time to let other crewmembers know about it. If that many people are carrying on beverages it starts to become problematic having to handle it. If one case breaks it's a real pain.

I just e-mailed the special needs dept in advance of our up-coming cruise & requested permission to bring my own bottled water for medicinal purposes. I've had problems with other ship's water, & even buying "bottled" water in Mexico didn't work (it was THEIR water in US bottles:eek: ). hopefully that will help, & we will also bring a filtered water pitcher, just in case.

So much for those who keep stating that the alcohol policy is to control drinking on the ship. It is all about money. The confiscation of water does not surprise me at all. Considering the mark-up on water and soda it only had to be a matter of time before they cracked down. First it was the alcohol now water and soda. Maybe soon RCI will confiscate cameras so that they can sell more of their over priced photos.

I just e-mailed the special needs dept in advance of our up-coming cruise & requested permission to bring my own bottled water for medicinal purposes. I've had problems with other ship's water, & even buying "bottled" water in Mexico didn't work (it was THEIR water in US bottles:eek: ). hopefully that will help, & we will also bring a filtered water pitcher, just in case.

If you have a doctor's note that you can carry with you that is even better. This is what Special Needs told us to do because each ship is different with different rules.

So we now have a letter from our Doctor stating that my husband needs to supply his own juice/soda as he is diabetic and can not tolerate anything sweetened with NutraSweet or Aspartame. Have not had any problem whatsoever.