RCI not allowing passengers to bring wine onboard?

[wwinfl91]

Somebody earlier had posted that they had talked with someone at RCI customer service and they were told it was OK to bring on wines the cruise line didn't carry. But when I sent an email asking to have that guarantee, to be allowed to bring aboard wines they didn't carry, in writing I never received a reply. If that is actually the policy that is what they should post as a policy.

 

Until then I guess we all get to see if we can sneak our wine onboard or do as you suggest try other cruise lines. I know HAL and Princess both allow bringing wine onboard with no problems because I have done it on recent cruises.

 

Have a great next cruise.

[lisabrooke1130]

Thanks for that information. I will scour the RCI wine list to ensure that I don't bring wines they carry (shouldn't be too hard, as most of the stuff we buy to save for our cruises is "off the beaten track" wines). I will call or e-mail them too, just to be sure.

[Willie]

Just returned from the Mariner 4/3 sailing and brought several bottles of

wine/champagne packed in our carry-on......no questions/problems. Also had several four/six packs of wines/coolers in 'handled' paper bags and no problem. Brought champagne to dinner one evening and our waiter immediately chilled glasses for our table (eight) and served the champagne. We were not charged any extra fee....however, we also ordered several bottles of wine from the wine list every evening...agree, not the best selections and definitely over priced.... but we were able to find something we enjoyed. The selection in Chops was better, but again overpriced.

 

Rosemarie

[island lady]

Just returned from the Mariner 4/3 sailing and brought several bottles of

wine/champagne packed in our carry-on......no questions/problems. Also had several four/six packs of wines/coolers in 'handled' paper bags and no problem. Brought champagne to dinner one evening and our waiter immediately chilled glasses for our table (eight) and served the champagne. We were not charged any extra fee....however, we also ordered several bottles of wine from the wine list every evening...agree, not the best selections and definitely over priced.... but we were able to find something we enjoyed. The selection in Chops was better, but again overpriced.

 

Rosemarie

 

Thanks for the heads up on the Mariner. I hope to be as lucky with my carry on wines also! My champagne should still be chilled to enjoy on our balcony at sailaway!! Looking forward to enjoying some of my treasured stash to celebrate a birthday, and our anniversary on the cruise for dinner.

I am most happy to pay corkage for a really good bottle of my own wine, as it is much better than what they offer.

Cheers!

[wwinfl91]

Hope we are all able to bring our wine onboard and nobody's gets taken away. Keep voting in the poll and enjoy good wine while you sail.

 

Have a great next cruise.

[Toto2Kansas]

Just returned from the Legend of the Seas this week. We carried on our favorite wine IN OUR CARRY ONS and never had a problem one with being charged. After reading all of these messages, we thought we would give it a try to see what happened. Not a problem one.

[ricsue]

Any good wine stores near the Radisson Cocoa Beach? Any with websites?

 

We will be pre-cruise, and will have a car, thought we might purchase our wines there instead of taking them with us by air. Yes, we are planning on carrying on our favorite wines on Mariner!

[wwinfl91]

I tried to find some web sites on good wine stores near Cocoa Beach and struck out. I live near Orlando and finding a good wine store is hard even over here. We enjoy local wines from Lakeridge winery but that is close to Clermont which is a long way from Cocoa beach. Here is the link to their web site just in case.

 

http://www.lakeridgewinery.com/

 

Sorry I can't recommend anything in that area. Hopefully someone from the coast might be able to contribute.

 

Have a great next cruise.

[Nliedel]

OK so here is the plan.. We are sailing in October and just copied the RCI wine list and gave it to our local wine store (This guy is amazing, he finds us just what we want and my husband is thrilled since he is not a "hard core" drinker and prefers sweeter wines) and he is helping us stock up for the cruise with wine we will enjoy that is not on RCI's list. We are hoping this works since the room alloted to the wine on the outbound is housing gifts and trinkets in the return.

[wwinfl91]

We decided to try out one of the "Boxed" wines available, Franzia Sunset Blush. It actually is pretty good and may be included when we pack up for our next cruise. It looks like it would take up a lot less space and be more packable than the 4 750 ML bottles we would need to take to make up the 3 liter capacity of the box. I hope I did the math correctly on that issue.

 

Have a great next cruise.

[ricsue]

I tried to find some web sites on good wine stores near Cocoa Beach and struck out. I live near Orlando and finding a good wine store is hard even over here. We enjoy local wines from Lakeridge winery but that is close to Clermont which is a long way from Cocoa beach. Here is the link to their web site just in case.

 

http://www.lakeridgewinery.com/

 

Sorry I can't recommend anything in that area. Hopefully someone from the coast might be able to contribute.

 

Have a great next cruise.

 

HELP!!! Anyone from the Coast.....we need a good wine store in/near Cocoa Beach....I hate the thought of taking our wines on the airline.

[dixintex]

I just got off the Rhapsody yesterday and enjoyed the wine I brought with me for the whole cruise. They did not check me or my luggage upon arrival and nothing was said to me by my stateroom attendant or anyone else for that matter.

[xpcdoojk]

Island Lady

 

Do you know of any wine stores in Fort Lauderdale that deliver. So that if someone wanted to order from them on the phone they could pre deliver to the hotel that they are doing their pre-cruise stay at?

 

jc

[wwinfl91]

Sorry I can't give you the name of a wine store that delivers in Ft Lauderdale but I will post to bump it back up to the first page and hopefully someone will see it and post an answer.

 

Have a great next cruise.

[debbie311]

Just got off Grandeur last Saturday. We took two bottles of wine onboard. No problem.:)

[Babs66]

Our plan of attack is since we have luggage that packs one inside the other, we will double up two suitcases with my daughter's (5 yrs) clothes then once we get to New Orleans take the one that would be empty fill it with booze and juice boxes, then once we drink it all on the cruise fill up the empty one again with souveniours to take back to Chicago. That way no worries about bottles breaking. Is it possible to stow away a couple of glasses from the dining room?? Of course we would leave them behind.

[xpcdoojk]

Your cabin steward will provide you with glasses, ice bucket or anything of that type that you might want. We always tell the steward to ice the champagne in the afternoon, and we need 4 champagne glasses and 4 wine glasses in our cabin. They have always supplied them without comment. You can also get them at a bar.

 

jc

[wwinfl91]

Good news that wine and champange glasses are readily available for in the room. It wouldn't be much fun to drink the wine out of one of the water glasses although I would if I had to. It just wouldn't taste quite as good. Thanks for the information.

 

Have a great next cruise.

[wwinfl91]

Any more suggestions for a boxed wine, looking for a blush, thanks.

[ms_behavin0]

I think they should allow an amount for in-cabin consumption. Prefer to bring some decent brew, as opposed to wine, since the beer menu is usually far worse than the wine menu on board.

[alpinecat]

Hi ricsue,

I hope this will help you. You might want to try the ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Stores. They will be the easiest for you to find. The first one I'm going to give you directions to has fairly large and extensive wine selection. The second one I have never been too but I will give you the address and someone at the Radisson can tell you better how to get there if you want to stick closer to the Radisson.

 

The Radisson sets on A1A. From the hotel go south on A1A for approx. 5 miles. A1A will start to fork bear to your right and ABC Fine Wine and Spirits will be on you right (555 N. Orlando Ave., Cocoa Beach). On the way there you will also pass Ron Jons Surf Shop on your left. The other ABC Store might be closer since it is in Cape Canaveral where the Radisson is but I can't place where it is located. Here is the address. 6020 North Atlantic Ave., Cape Canaveral.

 

If you really want to be adventurous you could head into Historical Cocoa Village. There is a wine shop there on one of the side streets. I can't remember the name of it. I'm sure one of the local store owners there could tell you exactly where it is. But honestly it really not that great, ABC stores are better but there are lots of really cute little shops to look around in. It is just a real neat little area to visit for the day. Head south on A1A till you come to SR 520. Approx. 4 miles from the Radisson. Then head west on 520. You will go over 1 causeways to Cocoa. Historical Cocoa will be over to your left. You will also be able to see the port as you are crossing the causeway and if it is a real clear day you can see VAB building up at the Kennedy Space Center.

 

Hope this helps.

Alpinecat

[ricsue]

Thanks so much Alpinecat! One of my friends also found ABC on the net and suggested that store, sounds like just the kind of store we're looking for. Thanks also for the info on Cocoa Beach, we will be in early on the 14th and wanted something to do for the day, that sounds like a neat place to go to browse around. We will have a car and map, and your directions sound very easy.

 

Any suggestions on restaurants for dinner? We enjoy casual local dining rather than 'chain' restaurants. We will have wheels, so distance not a problem.

[alpinecat]

Hi ricsue,

There are tons of great places to eat around here. I agree I don't do the franchise thing. I'll give you several suggestions.

At the port you have several great places to go and you can watch the cruise ships leave on Saturday. One of my favorite things to do on a Saturday afternoon by the way. We usually go the the Redhead Martini Bar. Great drinks, good music, a very nice fun group, however not a very extensive menu. They do have a great prime rib sandwich. Then you have Grills, very good food and music. We like the Redhead over Grills because the outdoor area is covered and has fans. If it is a hot sunny day this is very important also Grills can get to be very busy. Another new bar and grill is Fishlips. Have not been there yet but have heard great things about them. There is also Rusty's, which is good. Away from the port but still on water (the river), is Sunset Waterfront Cafe and Bar. Easy to get to. When you are heading over to Historical Cocoa Village, before you go over the causeway it is on the left hand side of SR520. Very good and a nice place. Very casual. Eating on the river is nice, you may even get to see a manatee and they have great sunsets. Over in Historical Cocoa you have Bankers Bar and Grill on Harrison Street, Murdock's Bistro at 600 Brevard Ave, Cara Mia Riverside Grill, 11 Riverside Dr. There are a lot more I just can't remember their names. Then right down from the Radisson (south on A1A just a few blocks) is Mangroves, 6615 N. Atlantic Ave. (A1A), very good restaurant, maybe a little more pricey than the others but excellent. Everything in Florida is casual! Hope this helps have fun.

alpinecat

[skyking]

I walked on Mariner last week with2 bottles of wine, one of them was a Magnum bottle....NO ONE said a word to me.

 

Tim

[ricsue]

Hi ricsue,

There are tons of great places to eat around here. I agree I don't do the franchise thing. I'll give you several suggestions.

At the port you have several great places to go and you can watch the cruise ships leave on Saturday. One of my favorite things to do on a Saturday afternoon by the way. We usually go the the Redhead Martini Bar. Great drinks, good music, a very nice fun group, however not a very extensive menu. They do have a great prime rib sandwich. Then you have Grills, very good food and music. We like the Redhead over Grills because the outdoor area is covered and has fans. If it is a hot sunny day this is very important also Grills can get to be very busy. Another new bar and grill is Fishlips. Have not been there yet but have heard great things about them. There is also Rusty's, which is good. Away from the port but still on water (the river), is Sunset Waterfront Cafe and Bar. Easy to get to. When you are heading over to Historical Cocoa Village, before you go over the causeway it is on the left hand side of SR520. Very good and a nice place. Very casual. Eating on the river is nice, you may even get to see a manatee and they have great sunsets. Over in Historical Cocoa you have Bankers Bar and Grill on Harrison Street, Murdock's Bistro at 600 Brevard Ave, Cara Mia Riverside Grill, 11 Riverside Dr. There are a lot more I just can't remember their names. Then right down from the Radisson (south on A1A just a few blocks) is Mangroves, 6615 N. Atlantic Ave. (A1A), very good restaurant, maybe a little more pricey than the others but excellent. Everything in Florida is casual! Hope this helps have fun.

alpinecat

 

Wow, thanks, you are a 'wealth of info', we have previously sailed from Ft Lauderdale & Miami and we have our 'fav' haunts there, first time for Port Canaveral, sounds like great choices.