Balmoral...Can I bring alcohol on board?

Normally cruise with P&O, this is our first time with FO. We have with P&O in the past, taken on board, spirits bought at the airport duty free, and boarded with them, without any problems. We have just booked a Black Sea trip leaving in the middle of June, and wonder if Fred will take them off us, and hand them back at the end, 28 days later. Not interested in what it says in the small print, just what will probably happen on the day. Many thanks for any responses, or better still, any experiences!

The straight answer is "no". Any alcohol will be taken from you and returned at the end of the cruise.

I have taken alcohol on board that has been In my suitcase.

The straight answer is "no". Any alcohol will be taken from you and returned at the end of the cruise.

I have taken alcohol on board that has been In my suitcase.

Thank you both for taking the trouble to reply.

The jury appears to be out!

Thank you both for taking the trouble to reply.

 

The jury appears to be out!

You might get it on-board in your suitcase, or you may get a call to go visit the security office where you will be asked to open your suitcase due to the suspicious item that showed up in the scan ...

Prices for spirits on-board are perfectly reasonable though so we see no reason to ignore the rules.

We have just returned from a FO cruise and some people managed to bring spirits on board, others were asked to give it in. Port calls, all bags are scanned and bottles taken, beers OK, no spirits, do not know about wine.

On the last day we got invited to a contraband party where you could only bring your left over smuggled booze to the cabin, some interesting stuff turned up.

<*{{{{{{><

Just come back from a World Cruise.

The answer is yes.

At Southampton put in your suitcase which will be delivered to your cabin.

In port, buy a litre of water and a litre of gin, empty the water bottle and put the gin in the water bottle. Bin the Gin bottle.

In Gibraltar the waste bins outside the port were full of liquor bottles.

Carried some bottles on-board in my pocket (Rum, etc), no problems. Took some boxes of wine aboard no problem.

Why go to all lengths? The prices on board are very reasonable.

Why go to all lengths? The prices on board are very reasonable.

Either have a lot of money, or you don't know the current on-board prices for spirits delivered to the cabin.

105 nights is a long time to be pay FO highly inflated joking labelled duty free prices.

Either have a lot of money, or you don't know the current on-board prices for spirits delivered to the cabin.

 

105 nights is a long time to be pay FO highly inflated joking labelled duty free prices.

'highly inflated' is a bit of an overstatement, the spirits for consumption in your cabin are priced well below the bar prices and the mini-bar prices but above duty free for take-home prices.

Even over 105 nights we wouldn't get through enough to make the sort of clandestine smuggling operation you suggest even remotely appealing.

Drinks, tips and excursions are all part of the total cost of a cruise.

Each to their own I guess ...

Lets not forget shortages on board also.

The house white wine ran out.

Even though we called in Barbados, the ship ran of Mount Gay Barbados run before Southampton. Captain Morgan s had run out also.

FO leave a lot to be desired. Never again.

Difference between Ryanair and Fred Olsen, Ryanair have a modern fleet free of rust!!!

Having just bought one litre of Gordons Gin and 47.5% proof, in Duty Free at gatwick fo £11, would say it is well worth taking your own drink on board!