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Bringing beer onboard from FFL (embarkation)


qwertyiop

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If I stopped by a liquor store in Ft Lauderdale and bought a case of beer (ie, have receipt to show non-duty price and tax paid) before boarding the ship, would Princess let me take the case through to my room? Or, would I have to conceal it in my checked luggage? Or, if I concealed the case in my carry-on bag, would they then let me take it through to my room?

 

If you have done this with beer in the past, please let me know what has and has not worked for you. I am not bringing hard liquor, wine, or champagne. I've read the Princess alcohol policy, so please don't repeat it to me.

 

Thanks for any help!

Laura

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Hi Laura!

 

I am leaving on the CB on May 27th and we plan on doing the same thing. We are flying into FLL and will be taking a cab to the liquor store. I plan on bring 3 12 packs on. Some in checked luggage and some on carry on.

 

Hopefully it works and we can get some tips from others who were or were not successfull.

 

Good Luck.

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In the past, I have not had any trouble getting booze on the ship in my checked luggage. That said, I don't try to bring on large amounts either. A case might be pushing it, as well as quite heavy. However, if it's in your checked bags, it will most likely make the ship.

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I've brought on a 6 pack of beer along with several bottles of wine without an issue with my carry on bags. Not sure I'd try 3 12 packs though. Have you thought about re-stocking on the islands as you cruise?

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We went last year and are leaving this Saturday on the Caribbean Princess. Last time, no problem, a case in my carry on, they saw it no problem. Just a tip, try to buy it at the last minute and cold. The refrigerators in the room take forever to cool it, if that happens just call for ice and throw some in the sink with some water and you are good to go until the fridge gets cold. We are taking a couple of 12 packs, to save a bit of money. We took them out of the box and stuck them all over, I don't know if it makes any difference or not.

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I too read the policy but input from others is helpful. Is that not why we are here?????????????????????

Sure, we’re here to get input from others that would be helpful. But in this case, it’s input into ways to circumvent the policy and in effect decrease onboard revenue. In the meantime, there’s a thread going regarding the new charges for coffee – the objective of which is to increase on board revenue. Interesting how things come full circle, huh?

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Sure, we’re here to get input from others that would be helpful. But in this case, it’s input into ways to circumvent the policy and in effect decrease onboard revenue. In the meantime, there’s a thread going regarding the new charges for coffee – the objective of which is to increase on board revenue. Interesting how things come full circle, huh?

 

I don't drink coffee.

 

I do drink beer.

 

How can Princess discriminate against beer drinkers, and not wine or champagne drinkers? If I packed a suitcase full of wine, it's ok, and Princess would still lose out in alcohol revenue. What is the difference between wine and beer? It just doesn't make sense.

 

Don't worry, Princess will get some money out of me one way or another, in tropical drinks, pictures, bingo, casino, etc, etc, etc...

 

Laura

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If I stopped by a liquor store in Ft Lauderdale and bought a case of beer (ie, have receipt to show non-duty price and tax paid) before boarding the ship, would Princess let me take the case through to my room? Or, would I have to conceal it in my checked luggage? Or, if I concealed the case in my carry-on bag, would they then let me take it through to my room?

 

If you have done this with beer in the past, please let me know what has and has not worked for you. I am not bringing hard liquor, wine, or champagne. I've read the Princess alcohol policy, so please don't repeat it to me.

 

Thanks for any help!

Laura

 

If you can't afford to spend 3 or 4 dollars for a beer, you shouldn't be on a cruise. You are in fact reducing the ship's revenue which in turn drives the price up. Would you sneak a beer into your favorite restaurant?

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Not to get into a fight here, but, I am not at a eatery for a week. And it seems strange that you can bring wine and champagne on board. There is no need to rude here, we are just posting suggestions for each other. I usually take a little beer and we usually spend plenty of money on the cruise in one form or another, why are you not teling the wine drinkers to stay home and drink or if you can't afford wine stay home?

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I don't drink coffee.

 

I do drink beer.

 

How can Princess discriminate against beer drinkers, and not wine or champagne drinkers? If I packed a suitcase full of wine, it's ok, and Princess would still lose out in alcohol revenue. What is the difference between wine and beer? It just doesn't make sense.

 

Don't worry, Princess will get some money out of me one way or another, in tropical drinks, pictures, bingo, casino, etc, etc, etc...

 

Laura

Princess isn’t discriminating against anyone. Princess is trying to protect its onboard revenue by setting a policy and even if it doesn’t make sense (and I agree with you on that – I’m not sure why they drew the line where they did) it’s still their policy. I would venture to guess that Princess is trying to protect the stream of revenue that is most advantageous – and beer sales compared to wine sales probably point to that revenue stream.

 

I suggest you do whatever it takes to make your vacation enjoyable. But my point is that we shouldn’t be complaining about nickel and diming when we contribute to the reason for it.

And I CAN afford to buy drinks onboard...my point is, how can wine and champagne be brought aboard in unlimited quantities, but not a case of beer? It must certainly be more expensive for a glass of wine/champagne than a can of beer. Until Princess changes the unlimited wine/champagne allowance, I'll bring my own beer.
Perhaps that's a question for Princess - they probably can give the real reason - but feeling that until Princess changes their policy, it can be ignored kind of points to the fact that you don't really care about why the policy is in place, true?
There is no need to rude here, we are just posting suggestions for each other. I usually take a little beer and we usually spend plenty of money on the cruise in one form or another, why are you not teling the wine drinkers to stay home and drink or if you can't afford wine stay home?
I guess I find it interesting that the suggestions point to ways to get around a written policy which, in effect, is agreed to when the cruise ticket is purchased. Wine is not part of the issue as Princess allows it to be brought on board.
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Aren't you an uppity jerk!

 

No one goes on vacation for a week to a resturant...your analogy doesn't make sense in this case.

 

And I CAN afford to buy drinks onboard...my point is, how can wine and champagne be brought aboard in unlimited quantities, but not a case of beer? It must certainly be more expensive for a glass of wine/champagne than a can of beer. Until Princess changes the unlimited wine/champagne allowance, I'll bring my own beer.

 

**Thank you to all the others with helpful tips!**

Laura

 

small point, but most wine and champagne is consumed at meals, and then they collect the "corkage charge" of $10. That in itself is revenue. Nothing is collected from beer consumed on board.

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Dear Princess,

 

the Cruise Critic Communtiy decided that it is in our interest having a Beer Card System like the Soda Card.We suggest a Flatrate of $25 a week.

 

thanks,

 

CCC;)

 

please Print,sign and send to Princess;)

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If you call Princess and ask, they will tell you that you can bring beer on board, not just hard liquor. I have called more than once and have always been told it's allowed. I asked while on board the Star as well. I carried a few Corona on board the Star out of FLL in March since they don't carry it.

While on the 3/19 Star Princess sailing, we purchased Sol in Cozumel and carried back on board with us. They gave us the bag and we carried it back up to our balcony. Oh the poor Sol though, I never got to drink it and it got lost in the cabin. I'd love a cold one right now!

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There is no problem bringing beer on board, the people from Princess I spoke with equate it with wine which is okay to bring to your cabin. We carried 18 cans of Heineken at FLL and our friends an 18 of Bud.

 

We also had 12 coke.

 

The forum control freaks, serving as the self appointed Princess "rules" Judge/Jury/and executioners always pipe up on these sort of questions I suspect because they feel that they are loosing control over "their" personal cruise line.;)

 

Enjoy your cruise, we're outta here this weekend and are including a cruise (not Princess.. they don't sail out of Greece):D

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There is no problem bringing beer on board, the people from Princess I spoke with equate it with wine which is okay to bring to your cabin. We carried 18 cans of Heineken at FLL and our friends an 18 of Bud.

 

We also had 12 coke.

 

The forum control freaks, serving as the self appointed Princess "rules" Judge/Jury/and executioners always pipe up on these sort of questions I suspect because they feel that they are loosing control over "their" personal cruise line.;)

I guess I have a problem wrapping my mind around carrying 48 cans of any beverage on board a ship when it’s available there. Any money one might save by buying it on shore and carrying on board, or any advantage of bringing a brand that Princess doesn’t sell is immediately cancelled out by effort and inconvenience of hauling freight on board the ship. What is an appropriate tip for the forklift operator?

As for calling those of us who don’t think carrying on in spite of the guidelines an acceptable idea “control freaks,” I would suggest that schoolyard tactics when it comes to debate really don’t further the validity of the argument. Perhaps instead a post which gives the reason for supporting ignoring the policy? Or is it just a matter of getting away with it?

The real issue is that if one feels they can beat the system by bringing their own truck load of beer on board, then they should not complain when their cruise becomes less and less inclusive as the practice becomes more pervasive.

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I brought a small amount of beer on board in Cozumel since it's my favorite and not something I can easily get here in Naples. I actually like bringing on a six pack of the local beer that you can get at each port. I don't do it to beat the system, I do it because I enjoy having a beer while out on my balcony before dinner.

 

To me, bringing on a 6 pack is the same as bringing on your favorite bottle of wine, I guess why bother bringing the wine on board since they carry wine?

Many people who do bring wine and champagne on board do not bring it to the dining room and pay the corkage fee, they enjoy it on their balcony or in their cabins while relaxing or pre-dinner. This is the same as enjoying a beer in your cabin prior to going to dinner.

 

Brian, wasn't it you who like Grey Goose? Did you ever try that with the blue cheese stuffed olives?

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'Princess isn’t discriminating against anyone. Princess is trying to protect its onboard revenue by setting a policy and even if it doesn’t make sense (and I agree with you on that – I’m not sure why they drew the line where they did) it’s still their policy. I would venture to guess that Princess is trying to protect the stream of revenue that is most advantageous – and beer sales compared to wine sales probably point to that revenue stream.'

The markup on wine is many times more per bottle than the markup on beer. So, if it revenue that they are after, don't allow any wine, beer, or any other beverage. Beringer, Sutter Home wine is $5.00 in the stores. On the ship it is $25.00 (15% gratuity included.) Beer you can buy for $1.00 a bottle, but on the ship it is ~$4.00 with tip. Is this duty free booze?

'small point, but most wine and champagne is consumed at meals, and then they collect the "corkage charge" of $10. That in itself is revenue. Nothing is collected from beer consumed on board.' Sorry, I have never been charged a 'corkage charge on any cruise line yet.' Very few people are charge this fee.

Happy cruising.

Oh, for the individual who says 'if you can't afford $3 - 4 per drink stay home.' Hope to meet you on a cruise so you can by me a drink since you are so nice!

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