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CAUGHT SMUGGLING ALCOHOL on RCCL????


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Ok - this is what I think that people want - just the facts. "WILL I BE SORRY?"

 

No opinions, rules, strutting, preaching, or flaming! Just "WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO YOU OR A FELLOW CRUISER ON A PAST RCCL CRUISE?"

I was foolish enough to ask the "A" question once myself, and have since seen so many people stumble into the trap; ramblings about sinning, bubble wrap, zip-lock bags, duct tape, trhe "RULES," what should or shouldn't happen, the cost of on-board booze, having to hit on older women for cruise bar drinks (!?!), and the basic personal character flaws of their fellow cruise posters.

The real question is: Did you see it happen or experience it yourself - and what was the outcome? Did you get away with it? Was it condoned (wink, wink) by cruise staff? Were you scolded? Were you humiliated at the dock? Pilloried at the Meet & Mingle? Crucified by Cruise Critics? Escorted off the ship by AA? Come'on, help us out here - Spill the beans! We're all grown ups! (Kinda)

Then let each decide his own fate....

In other words, are there any good stories out there?

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We have never taken alcoholic beverages onboard RCI. However, on our 2/03 Australia/NewZealand cruise on Legend the couple in the cabin next to ours had their 2 bottles in thier carry-on taken when they boarded. We were waiting in line to reboard in one port where there was a heated discussion about a bottle of wine. the passenger was arguing that it was for a friend that he was meeting in the next port and was not going to drink it on the ship. They told him the only way he could take it on was to pay the corking fee right there. Otherwise, they would return it at the end of the cruise.

 

However, 2 couples at our table did not have any problem bringing on a couple of bottles of champagne and a couple of bottles of something else.

 

For the first time, we did purchase 2 bottles of wine before our 2/04 South America cruise on Celebrity. We carried it on in the bag from the wine shop without a problem. We still purchased a bottle for dinner every night and drinks from the various lounges from time to time. Celebrity didn't lose any money because we would probably would not have had anything to drink the times we did enjoy a glass from these bottles on our balcony.

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We had 1 bottle crown in a carryon, 1 bottle of crown in checked, a case of corona in a beach bag, and hand carried a 12 pack of soda/water on board no questions asked or problems whatsoever. Got some dirty looks from other passengers in the check in line over the soda/water as that was the only "visible" contraband. But, when all got onboard, most wished they had done what we did so as to avoid $3.95/bottle of water!

 

Also, when in Jamaica, the men overheard some other guys asking if they could bring some Red Stripe back onboard to their room. Security said that was just fine. So, our guys proceeded to bring their red stripe onboard too...open and obvious to EVERYONE! No problems whatsoever.

 

I did, however, have to check in a bottle of Blue Mountain Coffee Cream Liquor purchased in Jamaica, but that was no problem mon, as I wanted to take it home w/me anyway.

 

Also, we brought a collapsible cooler onboard. We asked our room steward the first day to keep it filled with ice, and boy did he!!! He got a good tip, plus we left him a few Red Stripe, which he enjoyed!

 

Carnival Festivale 8/95

RCI Navigator of the Seas 1/24/04--SEE MY REVIEW AT http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=7683004077

RCI Brilliance of the Seas 1/14/05

WE CAN'T WAIT TIL WE SAIL AGAIN!

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Never had a problem with alcohol that was packed in our lugguge. I did have 4 bottles of rum taken from me that I bought in Panama when I tried to reboard the ship. They were in an open box so they could see what it was. It was returned the night before we got off the ship. I have seen this happen to others on other cruises on RCCL. Honest, I actually saw it. lololo

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On our first Rhapsody cruise in Jan. 2003 my husband had a bottle of wine in his carryon. They noticed it while going through security prior to boarding. They were very friendly, explained that he couldn't take it on and they would hold it for him until the last night of the cruise when it was delivered to our room. We weren't embarassed or humiliated.

 

My dad packed a box of Franzia in his luggage, was all worried about and it made it to the room fine. Funny thing is, he never even opened it and brought it back home.

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I always bring a bottle of Crown Royal in my carry on and it is x-rayed. Never yet had a problem and I will continue without any guilt. No I am not saving lots of money..but I am giving myself the freedom to have it when I want. Besides I donate my fair share to RCCL via the casino.

 

I am off again in three days!!! You can be sure I will have my bottle of Crown with me, and if I am caught ..OH WELL..no big deal.

 

Michael

 

Soverign of the Seas Nov 99

Majesty of the Seas Apr 00, Nov OO

Enchangement of the Seas Sep 00, Oct 02

Rhaposdy of the Seas Jun 01

Elation Oct 01

Zuiderdam Apr 03

Radiance of the Seas Jun 03

Voyager Nov 03

Mariner Apr 04

 

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My wine in my checked luggage on all my cruises made it just fine. And my bar bill was still huge, but made the evenings on the balcony much nicer. My cabin steward also gave us fresh wine glasses when needed.

 

Until we cruise again. . . . . .

 

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Premier Oceanic-Bahamas, 2/89

Rhapsody-East. Carib. 12/97

Grand Princess-East. Car. 5/00

Radiance-Hawaii,10/2001

Adventure-South. Car. 7/2002

Brilliance-Panama Canal 12/2003 "Happy New Year!"

Mariner-East. Carib. 6/2004

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Regarding re-boarding at various mid-cruise ports of call:

Is it possible that the rules are enforced with greater diligence in some areas over others? (Say, the party-hearty rum soaked Caribbean or tequila infused Mexicican ports of call versus Europe or Alaska cruises?) Would this be considered "profiling?"

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Have done it on the last 3 listed crusies 100% of the time, from when I boarded and at each island and never, never, never have they ever taken anything from me. Put it through the scanners and everything. They seem to be uptight about it more at the home port though. big sign at the liguor store in SJ right on dock that says the cruise line can not stop you from taking it on board. Sure you can take it on board but they can take it and give it back at the end of the cruise. But they have never touched anything I brought on.

 

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Gary

 

Explorer of the Seas 10/24/04

Dawn Princess 10/12/03

Voyager of the Seas 12/01/02

Adventurer of the Seas 4/21/02

Sea Breeze 06/98

Atlantis 06/70

 

Time to Set Sail

 

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I have related this story before, so I apologize upfront for repeating for the regular readers. In 2003 March we cruised from New Zealand to Hawaii. We were there a couple of days prior to the cruise and we went on a vineyard hunt to find the local New Zealand wineries near Auckland. We tasted and sampled and collected a selection of wines between 2 couples. We ended up at the pier with about 16 bottles of wine. Consisting of Sparkling wine, red wine and white wine. There were a few odd local NZ smirnoff mixed drinks(they were not smirnoff but similar) maybe 6 of them. So I had a huge float bag. We wrapped the bottles with our wet suits and bubble wrap. It was sealed and I took black electrical tape and in the style of Aesop fables(remember the Rocky and Bullwinkle show) and spelled out the words fragile wine. We took this and our 8 suitcases to the ship. Gave them to the porters, I told one porter please be careful with this bag because I didn't want my wine harmed. This was about 3pm. The bags were all in our cabin by 6pm. This was before RCI changed the policy. I think that the cruise line enforces this kind of thing very sporadically. If you are cruising out of Miami during spring break, I am betting your experience might differ. For good reason.

 

The cabin steward kept a bottle of champagne or white wine on ice for us each afternoon. The red wine we drank at room temperature. Some sacrifices have to occcur in a trip to Tahiti! icon_wink.gif

 

The only time I have had it confiscated was in Curacao on the Adventure of the Seas when I bought a bottle of Blue and Orange Curacao on the pier just before returning to the ship. I had zero intention of drinking it on the ship as it is an ingredient not a by itself liquor for me. They took it from myself and everyone else as we reboarded and gave it back to us on the last night. They had a table there where they had a worker filling out cards to tag the boxes and to give you a claim check.

 

jc

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first cruise: bought a 6 pack of Pacfico's in Catalina, walked on with the brown grocery bag.

No problem.

 

have purchased beer in ports, every cruise sense, and walked on the ship, no problem.

 

On the Monarch I bought 2 CASES of beer in San diego. Needed help lifting up through x-ray. got plenty of help, icon_biggrin.gif walked on, no problem.

 

(this was a highschool graduation cruise. I chaparoned and kids where on a budget) They did buy plenty of beer on board also.

 

Checked out the NCL boards. They x-ray the luggage and take out anything that looks like booze. Including hair gel, mouth wash, etc...........rediculous.

 

Lets Go!

 

Royal's Viking Seranade 1/94

Carnival, Holiday 12/95

Carnival, Jubilee 12/96

Royal's, Song of America 11/98

Celebrity Galaxy 9/99

Royal's, Viking Seranade 6/00

Celebrity, Millennium 12/00

Royal's Vision 2/02

Royal's Vision 12/02

Royal's Monarch 6/03

Celebrity Galaxy 9/17/04 !!

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We smuggled booze our previous (and only) 2 cruises. Neither time were we caught. We packed amaretto in our checked luggage, and carried on beer and coke. Our carry-on was never even opened. We will certainly do this again for our Mariner trip 5/30.

 

Cindy

 

Sovereign of the Seas-June 2002

Voyager of the Seas-April 2003-Read My Review Here http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=6323075917

Mariner of the Seas-May 30, 2004!

countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;05;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500  Til we cruise on Mariner--woo hoo!

 

 

 

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We have taken Crown Royal and numerous bottles of wine on practically every cruise we've been on (RCI, Celebrity, Holland America, NCL, Princess)- in our checked baggage. Once in one of the Mexican ports (sorry can't remember which one) I put a couple bottles in a backpack and had it scanned and walked right on back to my cabin....nothing said. Another time, I tried carrying it in one of the little boxes they pack for you to carry as carry-ons....they took it and kept it until the last night of the cruise when they delivered it to my cabin. In February on the Rhapsody, some people behind us in line had several bottles of wine in their carry-on. They had to step into another line with their bottles where the information was taken as to name, cabin #, seating, table # and their wine was taken from them and then delivered to their table at dinner....properly chilled and ready to go. I say, if you are going to take it on and want it in your cabin (not RCI's holding room) don't be obvious about it, and you should have no problem.

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We brought 2 bottles of our favorite champagne onboard in our checked baggage (well wrapped)! and never had a problem. They did not confiscate or charge us corkage fee. We did have trouble in Jamaica bringing a six pack of RedStripe back onboard with us. Jeff Arpin and one of the security people shook their heads at us, but I just "batted my baby blues" at them and explained that they were for gifts not consumption and they let us bring them to our suite. So we didn't have a problem bringing liquor on the ship. Good luck.

 

Happy Cruising

 

Patty

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Just got back Monday from the Sovereign- I had 3 bottles of wine- just in a plastic bag in my checked luggage- got to the room no problem- I brought my own opener- ice was filled each night without even asking- I left the wine out on the desk- never heard a word about it.

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We have taken soda, water and bottles of spirits as carry on and never had a problem. There is that chance that you get stopped but it is really no big deal.If you don't want to bother with it then buy the special on day 1 as you can pay 1 charge for multiple bottles (no wine or beer). Party on cruisers!

 

MARINER of the SEAS

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On our Mexican Riviera cruise in February 2003, we bought a bottle of scotch and a Bailey's at the duty free before leaving Vancouver (home), and carried them on the plane to LA. Then when we picked up our bags at the airport we went off to the side and put the bottles in our suitcase. As it turned out, right in front of the RCCL greeters - nothing was said and our bottles arrived safely in our cabin.

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CCLETZGO: Maybe that's why we prefer RCCL over NCL!

 

So, let's see, if I take a bottle of wine and they take it away, they'll give it back to me on the last night of the cruise. Well, then it can't be too bad. At least we'll have wine to celebrate our last evening on the cruise! icon_biggrin.gif

 

 

Rhapsody

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Monarch of the Seas

Disney Wonder

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We were on the Radiance of the Seas last week. Friends who said to be careful with a bag at check in because there was champagne in there were playfully asked if the "checkers" could join their party. Boxes of alcohol purchased in St. Martin by us and them were tagged & held until the end of the trip

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