Bringing Soda Pop, Liquor on Board

[reader5]

My daughter and her husband are booked on the Westerdam (Western cruise) in January 2006. I have been a Celebrity cruiser for many years and my daughter as well. However, not knowing the "regulations" for bringing liquor or soda pop on board, can someone please advise if this is a restriction on HAL?

 

They are planning on bringing their own wine for dinner and paying the corkage fee ($15.00?) but did have questions regarding the above.

 

Thank you for any anticipated responses.

[formercruisestaff]

You can bring your own wine and soda - but no beer or hard liquor

[Krazy Kruizers]

And the corkage fee is $15 for wine that is not from HAL's supply.

[Two@Sea]

Unlike Celebrity, HAL allows you to purchase hard liquor onboard for cabin consumption. I understand that their offerings are available in your cabin similar to "room service," but I contacted them through their website and they promptly emailed a list of available brands. The bottle I ordered for DH will be waiting in our cabin when we board. The prices are very reasonable. No need to "smuggle" when sailing on a HAL ship!

[samm]

I like Jose Cuervo 1800. The price at home is $24.99. Hal's price is $55.00. Jim Beam price at home $13.99, Hal's price $29.00. That doesn't sound reasonable to me. Below are prices I found in another thread on this board. If these prices are wrong please let me know. Maybe these are 1/2 gallon prices?? Not trying to get anyone mad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

 

GINS

 

687

GIN: BEEFEATER

 

$29.00

 

 

 

688

GIN: TANQUERAY

 

$37.00

 

 

 

686

GIN: BOMBAY SAPPHIRE

 

$38.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIQUEURS

 

316

LIQUEURS: AMARETTO

 

$52.00

 

 

 

317

LIQUEURS: BAILEYS IRISH CREAM

 

$45.00

 

 

 

320

LIQUEURS: COINTREAU

 

$59.00

 

 

 

321

LIQUEURS: DRAMBUIE

 

$58.00

 

 

 

318

LIQUEURS: FRANGELLICO

 

$42.00

 

 

 

323

LIQUEURS: GRAND MARNIER

 

$80.00

 

 

 

324

LIQUEURS: KAHLUA

 

$36.00

 

 

 

330

LIQUEURS: SAMBUCA - OPAL NERA

 

$42.00

 

 

 

325

LIQUEURS: SOUTHERN COMFORT

 

$47.00

 

 

 

326

LIQUEURS: TIA MARIA

 

$52.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RUM

 

693

RUM: BACARDI GOLD

 

$37.00

 

 

 

694

RUM: BACARDI WHITE

 

$29.00

 

 

 

695

RUM: BACARDI LIMON

 

$29.00

 

 

 

692

RUM: MYERS

 

$29.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCOTCH/WHISKEY/BRANDY

 

707

SCOTCH: BALLENTINES

 

$37.00

 

 

 

714

SCOTCH: CHIVAS REGAL - 12 Y.O.

 

$69.00

 

 

 

706

SCOTCH: DEWAR'S White Label

 

$35.00

 

 

 

334

SCOTCH: HENNESSY VS

 

$82.00

 

 

 

708

SCOTCH: J & B RARE

 

$37.00

 

 

 

716

SCOTCH: J. WALKER BLACK LABEL

 

$86.00

 

 

 

710

SCOTCH: J. WALKER RED LABEL

 

$37.00

 

 

 

728

BOURBON: JACK DANIELS BLACK

 

$54.00

 

 

 

722

BOURBON: JIM BEAM

 

$29.00

 

 

 

732

WHISKEY: CANADIAN CLUB

 

$35.00

 

 

 

736

WHISKEY: CROWN ROYAL

 

$40.00

 

 

 

738

WHISKEY: SEAGRAMS 7

 

$29.00

 

 

 

734

WHISKEY: SEAGRAMS V.O.

 

$29.00

 

 

 

337

BRANDY: REMY MARTIN XO

 

$263.00

 

 

 

336

BRANDY: REMY MARTIN VSOP

 

$110.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHERRY

 

656

SHERRY: HARVEY'S MEDIUM

 

$38.00

 

 

 

657

SHERRY: TIO PEPE

 

$36.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEQUILA:

 

697

TEQUILA: JOSE QUERVO GOLD

 

$37.00

 

 

 

696

TEQUILA: JOSE QUERVO 1800

 

$55.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VODKA:

 

698A

VODKA: ABSOLUT

 

$29.00

 

 

 

698

VODKA: ABSOLUT - CITRON

 

$29.00

 

 

 

691

VODKA: STOLICHNAYA

 

$29.00

 

 

 

691S

VODKA: SKYY

 

$29.00

 

 

 

691F

VODKA: FINLANDIA

 

$29.00

 

 

 

690

VODKA: SMIRNOFF

 

$29.00

 

 

 

691C

VODKA: CHOPAN

 

$69.00

 

 

 

699

VODKA: GREY GOOSE

 

$61.00

 

 

 

691T

VODKA: TANGUERAY STERLING

 

$32.00

 

 

 

691B

VODKA: BELVEDERE

 

$76.00

 

 

 

 

 

All items have a 15% service charge included. Prices are subject to change.

__________________

[WISCruiser]

Gotta love that MARKUP! :eek: Honestly, I pretty sure those are NOT 1/2 gallon prices:rolleyes: , although I wish they were too, at those prices.

[Cruiseoften]

As a Canadian I know I should think 'metric' BUT -

I'm in the ounces generation! Our 'regular' bottles are 26ozs.(now 750 ml's.)

 

Never heard of buying 1/2 gallon of liquor. how many ozs.?

 

HAL's 'cabin delivery prices' are for 1ltr. bottles (almost double the 26oz size) -are for us, reasonably priced and include 3 cans of mix.

 

Can anyone, please, translate and spell out things in old style ozs.?

:confused:

[sketcherb]

Actually in the US Liquor is one of the places where we have converted to metric - so we talk in 750ml vs. 1 litre in our spirit shops as well. I think the price is all relative, just like when you buy that $8 bottle of wine at a restaurant for $29. If you add up the price of individual drinks on a cruise line - that bottle of liquor would be about $100 I would guess. Of course this is for "in cabin" consumption so I assume taking my bottle in a paper bag to the formal night shows would be frowned upon. :) The high price certainly keeps us from over doing it!

[bdmarine]

I know that there are lots of apologists on this board, so I'll start by saying that I love HAL. However, the liquor prices aboard ship would be called price gouging in any other context. You don't see tax stamps on the bottles, so HAL's cost is much less than a retail liquor store. They then mark up the price much higher and create a monopoly by not allowing you to carry your own liquor aboard. To me this is no different than charging hurricane victims $20 for a bag of ice. 'Nuff said.

[reader5]

Thanks everyone for your very informative responses.

[elmorejj]

The old half gallon bottle is now 1.75 litres. jean:cool:

[sail7seas]

I know that there are lots of apologists on this board, so I'll start by saying that I love HAL. However, the liquor prices aboard ship would be called price gouging in any other context. You don't see tax stamps on the bottles, so HAL's cost is much less than a retail liquor store. They then mark up the price much higher and create a monopoly by not allowing you to carry your own liquor aboard. To me this is no different than charging hurricane victims $20 for a bag of ice. 'Nuff said.

 

 

Of course they are marking up the price of bottles/drinks. They are in business to make money. They can make that money from lots of different directions on the ships.

 

They can charger higher fares. Some prices are about the same as they were 7-8 years ago. They can charge higher drink/liquor prices, they can charge for things that used to be included such as coffee in the Windstar Cafe vs. Java Cafe.

 

Pay here; pay there. What's the difference? We are customers of a profit making company.

 

HAL's drink prices IMO are no higher than other cruiselines in the mass market class. HAL is one of the few who even allow for bottles to be in cabins for private consumption and they still allow us to bring wine aboard with us if we wish.

I'm not sure all cruiselines allow passengers to bring soda aboard. HAL permits it......so far.

I in no way equate a company making a profit on a cruiseship with price gounging at grocery stores/gas stations etc during a natural disaester emergency. People have to eat whether there was a hurricane or not and they have to buy food. For stores to raise prices in those conditions is unconciousable IMO

 

We do not HAVE to cruise. No person has to have a vacation to survive. (...though sometimes it does feel that way. :) ) I cannot agree to describing a profit making company in the leisure/travel business as illegal price gouging.

 

[bdmarine]

Sorry, Sail, we have to agree to disagree. I did not say it was illegal price gouging, but it is price gouging. The cruise ship company knows that a lot of vacationers like to relax with a drink. It then forces those vacationers to only buy drinks from them. The prices of the bottled liquor are inflated, especially considering that the cost for the cruise ship company is lower.

 

This same situation takes place in movie theaters where you can spend 10 dollars on popcorn and a drink and they don't allow you to bring in your own food. In fact I hear that the concessions are the main money maker at movie theaters, not the movie tickets.

 

This whole idea makes a cruise a way to get a bunch of people together and fleece them with endless useless odds and ends like drinks, art auctions, photographs, bus tours, etc. I just wish a little more respect was shown for the consumer.

[mechcc]

Sorry, Sail, we have to agree to disagree. I did not say it was illegal price gouging, but it is price gouging. The cruise ship company knows that a lot of vacationers like to relax with a drink. It then forces those vacationers to only buy drinks from them. The prices of the bottled liquor are inflated, especially considering that the cost for the cruise ship company is lower.

 

This same situation takes place in movie theaters where you can spend 10 dollars on popcorn and a drink and they don't allow you to bring in your own food. In fact I hear that the concessions are the main money maker at movie theaters, not the movie tickets.

 

This whole idea makes a cruise a way to get a bunch of people together and fleece them with endless useless odds and ends like drinks, art auctions, photographs, bus tours, etc. I just wish a little more respect was shown for the consumer.

 

The consumer has the right to not buy. Most people know that when they cruise they will be paying for all the "extras".

 

At a land base resort, you pay marked up prices for drinks, photographs, bus tours, shopping, and food.

 

You forgot Bingo, spa services, and casino.

[TidePrideGA]

I have to agree with Sail on this one. There is no comparison to $20 for ice in a disaster area. Liquor in no way can be classed a necessity - nor are we being taken advantage of because we've been disadvantaged.

 

Is it "price gouging"? Sure, it is. Is it anywhere near as immoral as the $20 ice? NO WAY! JMNSHO.

[gizmo]

Sorry, Sail, we have to agree to disagree. I did not say it was illegal price gouging, but it is price gouging. The cruise ship company knows that a lot of vacationers like to relax with a drink. It then forces those vacationers to only buy drinks from them. The prices of the bottled liquor are inflated, especially considering that the cost for the cruise ship company is lower.

 

This same situation takes place in movie theaters where you can spend 10 dollars on popcorn and a drink and they don't allow you to bring in your own food. In fact I hear that the concessions are the main money maker at movie theaters, not the movie tickets.

 

This whole idea makes a cruise a way to get a bunch of people together and fleece them with endless useless odds and ends like drinks, art auctions, photographs, bus tours, etc. I just wish a little more respect was shown for the consumer.

 

I have to agree that it is price gouging. I think the last time I joined in on this I called it "A rip off ".

[sail7seas]

This is an easy one:

 

If you think it "A Rip Off".......don't buy it.

You don't have to. No one forces anyone to cruise or to drink or to spend any money at all on the ship.

 

I imagine there are people who can spend a week on the ship and leave with a bill of $50 and even less.

 

In a diseaster area, one has no choice. They have to buy ice; they have to buy food; they have to buy gas. No one HAS to cruise and no one HAS to drink alcohol.

 

The water that comes out of the tap on HAL ships is very good. IMO

 

[gizmo]

LOL. :D Now this is easy for me. Regardless if I buy it or not I still think it is a Rip Off.

[sail7seas]

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I do not think it a rip off. I think it a company's right to make profit. It is only a rip off if you partake of it. If you don't 'bite', you don't get ripped off.

[mushroom]

I've got to admit that the higher prices on board help me to be a more responsible drinker. If it cost the same as it does at home, I would be tempted to over do it on a cruise.

[TidePrideGA]

It's simply economics 101, really. "Charge what the market will bear". If there weren't a sufficient number of people buying at that price, the price would come down. That's how it works.

 

That's not to say that those simple rules of economics shouldn't be waived in the face of disaster. It's still, in my opinion, immoral to charge $20 for ice in a disaster situation just because the market has been forced by circumstances into buying it.

 

But on a cruise ship, in a movie theatre, in any other entertainment/optional venue, it's perfectly fair in a free market economy. IOW, I'm 100% with Sail on this one.

[mechcc]

I also agree with Sail. There is a difference between food, water and ice in an emergency situation and a cruise.

The prices quoted for bottles appear to be 2 times what I pay in my local stores. When we go out and order a bottle of wine, it is usually more then twice what we would pay if we went to the store and bought it. As for price per drink, again it's on the level we pay for a drink at a resturant. I choose to indulge on a ship. But to me, Bingo on the a ship is way way overpriced and refuse to go there, even though I enjoy Bingo. For others, Bingo is the end all for a cruise and will give up adult beverages for Bingo. Separate pricing for the extras give the cruiselines the profits they need to stay in business and keep the price of the cruise down so more people can afford them while giving the consumer the choice on how to spend or how not to spend.

I secretly envy those individuals who are happy to cruise in the cheapest inside room and only on board charges are the automatic tips.

[PRINSENDAM]

I've got to admit that the higher prices on board help me to be a more responsible drinker. If it cost the same as it does at home, I would be tempted to over do it on a cruise.

 

 

 

On a short cruise that is not much of a problem but on a long cruise you could do some serious damage!!!!;)

 

My own opinion is that the prices for booze on board are too high... by about 30%. I would like to see lower prices and I firmly believe that would increase consumption... and profits.

 

When I look around the dining room at night and see a forrest of glasses of ice tea on everyone's table instead of wine I wonder if I am sailing with people who don't like wine with dinner or am I sailing with people who would prefer not to spend their money on alcohol.

 

If people just prefer to drink ice tea then that is fine but if they are holding back on ordering the wine because of cost then to me that is taking away some of the enjoyment that those passengers might have otherwise experienced.

 

In years gone by you used to see large groups in the bars before dinner. I think that sales have dropped because the prices have just edged a bit too high. Cruise ships used to sell cheap drinks because all of their stock was supplied Duty Free.... real Duty Free.

 

On Saga Cruises nearly every table will order wine in the evening. Good wines can be had for around $18 to $25. And that included the gratuity! Bottled water is provided free in each cabin as well as small bottles at the gangway for passengers to take ashore. Drink prices are in the $3 to $5.00 range.

 

Stephen

[sail7seas]

How do Saga Cruises' fares compare to HAL's, Stephen?

 

[PRINSENDAM]

How do Saga Cruises' fares compare to HAL's, Stephen?

 

 

Sail 7

 

Difficult question!!!! The ships are vastly different but I will try to compare.

 

In January both SAGA RUBY and PRINSENDAM are setting out on a 'grand voyage'. RUBY does a 110 night world cruise and PRINSENDAM is making a 108 night Circle the Sun' cruise.

 

 

So.. length of cruise being approximately the same, when comparing rather nice C grade cabins on the RUBY with C grades on the PRINSENDAM.... the C grades on the RUBY are slightly superior but each are without balcony....

 

RUBY... the 110 night cruise is $35,000

 

PRINSENDAM the 108 night cruise is $31,308

 

SAGA RUBY is the former VISTAFJORD/CARONIA from Cunard. Completely refurbished this year. She is well known as a high quality ship.

 

 

 

RUBY is a few grand more but the cruise price includes all gratuities.

Drink prices are lower. Shore excursions are roughly 30% cheaper on average.

RUBY as no casino.... big saving there! ;)

RUBY ....single sitting dining room.

 

 

The management philisophy is that the passengers pay enough for the cruise so they should not be hit with high prices for the extras.

 

It is all very interesting because it does work and the cruise experience with Saga is First Class... as it is with HAL!

 

What you do need to remember is that with SAGA, roughly some 98% of the passengers are British and they do have the age restriction... you must be over 50!

 

Ruth and I are joining SAGA RUBY in San Francisco in March for a 21 day segment of her world cruise.... San Francisco to Bermuda. Usually we do a segment in the SAGA ROSE ex SAGAFJORD but this year we are switching to the 'new' ship to tie in a few other cruises. Before the RUBY we do STATENDAM in January followed by maiden voyage of NOORDAM and then Hawaiii on AMSTERDAM.

 

 

 

Stephen