Taking alcohol on board

Got a few to go yet to catch up with the tipping threads !!

Got a few to go yet to catch up with the tipping threads !!

I agree,it will go on as long as people especially new contributors keep posting.

Just wondering if after over 620 posts on this subject it has all been said

The policy is not even in place yet, there will no doubt be lots more to say once people actually experience it in practice or see their first booze smuggler getting caught :)

Will they suffer from "cold turkey" from being denied their booze or will it be sweats and clammy skin due to having to pay for alcohol in the bars. Only a trip to the doctor would find the answer but they wont do that due to the cost compared to visit to their GPs.

The policy is not even in place yet, there will no doubt be lots more to say once people actually experience it in practice or see their first booze smuggler getting caught :)

I agree.

There seems to be so few P&O threads that when there is a good one comes along why do people want it to stop?

Unintended consequences, news from the Excursions Department (ED):

 

Due to the recently revised P&O's policy on bringing alcohol purchases on board, the ED has seen a sharp fall in the number of guests buying winery excursions. It seems that as one winery is much like another, the two main reasons for buying such excursions were to 'tank up' for free and to purchase discounted 'juice' for medicinal purposes on board. The second is no longer an option and the first has lost its appeal as the wineries have severely curtailed the 'tanking up', due to their lost sales. The ED staff have failed to reach their sale's target and questions are being asked!

 

49 cruises 17 ships 3 liners

Told you so!

Told you so!

I agree - could see this one coming.

We were on Celebrity once on a wine excursion with the person responsible on the ship for all excursions. (She was coming along for quality assurance purposes). She shared with us that she was always frustrated that the ship would not allow anyone on a ship's wine excursion to take wine back unless it was stored away until the end of a cruise. She had been trying to persuade the company to allow just a couple of bottles as on a fly cruise it is sad to enjoy a lovely day and not be able to take a reminder home / to be able to enjoy a drink at sailaway as a nice memory of the day. (We don't all want to get 'tanked up' on cheap wine!)

Our first 3 cruises were on Celebrity and have experienced the US system so are very aware of the changes it will bring for many.

We enjoy a drink of wine and tasting the local wines on a cruise. We also spend on the ship and keep to the rules.

I just think that the policy is a shame for those of us who didn't abuse it. Have to say, I am finding it increasingly frustrating that some posts seem to imply that if people want to take their own wine on board they must be an alcoholic or just want to be plastered all of the time. Talk about making generalisations about people !

I do think that it will not do P&O any favours at all as it was an advantage that they had over their US cousins which may have been the thing that tempted people to pick them rather than say RCI, Princess or Celebrity. We used to count it in as saving in terms of on board spend when pricing up the different companies. With more and more ships / cruise companies now moving to Southampton and the competition hotting up I think they have thrown the baby out with the bathwater on this one and will regret it.

Most people like me and my husband like to enjoy a pre dinner drink (one only) on the balcony or while getting dressed. As we depart on 30th January I intend to take a 3 litre box to last the 12 nights. I only hope it will fit into the fridge.

The policy is not even in place yet, there will no doubt be lots more to say once people actually experience it in practice or see their first booze smuggler getting caught :)

And one wonders if it will be strictly enforced from February 1, given the problems other cruise lines have with enforcement of BYO alcohol. :halo:

Cunard charge a $15 per bottle corkage fee for wines purchased ashore for consumption in the restaurants. This allows guests to go off-piste and sample local wines at dinner and lunch.

We don't drink enough to need a bottle in the cabin and one in the restaurant!

Some of the posts in this thread have become somewhat self justifying with people claiming that they don't drink much and implying that those of us who resent losing some of the freedoms and reasonableness of past P and O are alcoholics! Actually most us us took reasonable amounts onboard purely for in cabin consumption, also bought wine at dinner and drinks in the bars, and just liked being treated like adults and being able to enjoy a relaxed drink on their balconies before dinner or in the afternoon while watching the sea! It is such a shame that a few idiots have abused the policy and obviously hit P and O's profits in the bars; hence the financial decision to punish all passengers.

It’s not punishing all passengers though, those that drink spirits are largely unaffected by the move. I don’t believe the hit bar profits idea, this is purely to bring extra profit to carnival. The mini bars in the room came first and now this.

Some of the posts in this thread have become somewhat self justifying with people claiming that they don't drink much and implying that those of us who resent losing some of the freedoms and reasonableness of past P and O are alcoholics! Actually most us us took reasonable amounts onboard purely for in cabin consumption, also bought wine at dinner and drinks in the bars, and just liked being treated like adults and being able to enjoy a relaxed drink on their balconies before dinner or in the afternoon while watching the sea! It is such a shame that a few idiots have abused the policy and obviously hit P and O's profits in the bars; hence the financial decision to punish all passengers.

You have hit the nail on the head.

A few who severely abused P&O goodwill gave P&O ie Carnival the excuse to implement the new drinks policy which is in line with all American cruise lines.

It’s not punishing all passengers though, those that drink spirits are largely unaffected by the move. I don’t believe the hit bar profits idea, this is purely to bring extra profit to carnival. The mini bars in the room came first and now this.

Some of those who drink spirits they take on board will buy mixers from room service or the mini bar (which can be removed) thereby providing profit to offset some of the potential loss on spirit sales in the bars. The same does not apply to wine and beer.

I think it is wrong to see this as punishing all for the sins of a few. Carnival is a business which like all businesses exists to make a profit, some of which gets put back into the business to improve it and some of which goes to shareholders, many of whom contribute to this forum.

Some of those who drink spirits they take on board will buy mixers from room service or the mini bar (which can be removed) thereby providing profit to offset some of the potential loss on spirit sales in the bars. The same does not apply to wine and beer.

 

I think it is wrong to see this as punishing all for the sins of a few. Carnival is a business which like all businesses exists to make a profit, some of which gets put back into the business to improve it and some of which goes to shareholders, many of whom contribute to this forum.

P&O beer choices and prices are very reasonable so i for one rarely bring alcohol onto the ship.

The only time was in a Spanish port when i might bring a 6 pack of the stronger sold in Spain SanMiguel beer back to drink on our balcony.

One can approach this discussion from another aspect, that of the cruise Basic Price. The general move by mass market, cruise lines, to adopt added value onboard sales as a key revenue earner, whilst keeping the advertised cruise price as low as possible. Examples relative to P&O since our days on Canberra include, ending morning ice-cream, casinos installed/enlarged, so-called fine dining, a return to a class system where some deck space and / or dining facility relates to cabin class. Further trends can be identified from Celebrity and Norwegian cruise lines.

Any winners? Perhaps, those who are attracted by the Basic Price and only use their cruise card to open their cabin door.

49 cruises 17 ships 3 liners

Cunard charge a $15 per bottle corkage fee for wines purchased ashore for consumption in the restaurants. This allows guests to go off-piste and sample local wines at dinner and lunch.

Cunard's corkage charge is $20. You have to look hard to find anything below $30 on the wine list so there's still a potential saving if you take something reasonable on board with you.

Despite some slightly ambiguous wording of their drinks policy, in practice Cunard currently allow passengers to carry any amount on board. Their drinks prices are also far higher than P&O's so presumably they're making enough profit to not bother too much about in-cabin consumption. The cheapest room service gin is Gordon's at $60 (including 6 mixers) so Cunard is way more expensive than P&O in that respect too.

Cunard's corkage charge is $20. You have to look hard to find anything below $30 on the wine list so there's still a potential saving if you take something reasonable on board with you.

 

Despite some slightly ambiguous wording of their drinks policy, in practice Cunard currently allow passengers to carry any amount on board. Their drinks prices are also far higher than P&O's so presumably they're making enough profit to not bother too much about in-cabin consumption. The cheapest room service gin is Gordon's at $60 (including 6 mixers) so Cunard is way more expensive than P&O in that respect too.

Interesting, we were charged $15 in August 2017.

Yes, Cunard drinks are v. expensive wherever you buy them from, and you can rack up a healthy bar bill if you like a cocktail or two.

You have hit the nail on the head.

A few who severely abused P&O goodwill gave P&O ie Carnival the excuse to implement the new drinks policy which is in line with all American cruise lines.

I still think that the people that have contributed heavily to this new rule are those drinking their own booze on the decks and in bars. I think P&O have seen a way to keep the 'illegal' drinking to a minimum. The next step will be no alcohol bought on board for consumption as per other cruise lines

Told you so!

It has not started yet this is not fact. It's stirring

Unintended consequences, news from the Excursions Department (ED):

 

Due to the recently revised P&O's policy on bringing alcohol purchases on board, the ED has seen a sharp fall in the number of guests buying winery excursions. It seems that as one winery is much like another, the two main reasons for buying such excursions were to 'tank up' for free and to purchase discounted 'juice' for medicinal purposes on board. The second is no longer an option and the first has lost its appeal as the wineries have severely curtailed the 'tanking up', due to their lost sales. The ED staff have failed to reach their sale's target and questions are being asked!

 

49 cruises 17 ships 3 liners

I agree.

There seems to be so few P&O threads that when there is a good one comes along why do people want it to stop?

Will they suffer from "cold turkey" from being denied their booze or will it be sweats and clammy skin due to having to pay for alcohol in the bars. Only a trip to the doctor would find the answer but they wont do that due to the cost compared to visit to their GPs.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

As a point of interest, passengers currently on board Aurora for the South American Circumnavigation have been allowed to buy duty free booze on board for consumption in their cabins. Apparently it's a 'trial' and passengers have been given a voucher each (so it's not unlimited) but, if it takes off, it could be of some small comfort to those who are so upset about the new policy (of which I am not one). It will obviously only pacify some of the spirit drinkers though.

I have not read previous replies, so forgive me if I am commenting repetitively... We are currently booking with Norwegian, they still allow unlimited to be brought on. $15 corking fee now applies to all bottles, regardless of cork or twist top.

I have not read previous replies, so forgive me if I am commenting repetitively... We are currently booking with Norwegian, they still allow unlimited to be brought on. $15 corking fee now applies to all bottles, regardless of cork or twist top.

Sent from my SM-T700 using Forums mobile app

As a point of interest, passengers currently on board Aurora for the South American Circumnavigation have been allowed to buy duty free booze on board for consumption in their cabins. Apparently it's a 'trial' and passengers have been given a voucher each (so it's not unlimited) but, if it takes off, it could be of some small comfort to those who are so upset about the new policy (of which I am not one). It will obviously only pacify some of the spirit drinkers though.

Perhaps a half way house ???