Wine policy?

[Timelinex]

We booked an Alaska cruise for September. I have previously brought a bottle of wine with my other cruises on other lines. Googling shows they did have a policy of allowing a bottle of wine with no fees or stipulations of drank in your room.

 

However when I go on Hollands own website , it does say the policy was updated and now it says there is a cooking fee and I don't see any exceptions.

 

Can anyone confirm?

[StLouisCruisers]

From Holland America's frequently asked question page.  No exceptions that I know about.

 

Revised Policy effective June 1st, 2021

 

Guests are not allowed to bring alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages on board for consumption or any other use except as follows:

 

Guests may bring Wine and Champagne onboard, however a corkage fee of USD $20.00 (which is subject to change without notice) will be applied to each bottle (max 750 ml in volume or less). Limitations apply. Wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive by the vessel or security will be refused.

 

Wine purchased during company-sponsored shore excursions that visit local wineries are exempt from the on-board corkage fee (offer limited to one bottle of wine per person).

 

Items such as sodas, energy drinks or other non-alcoholic items are not allowed on board in any form. Plastic water bottles are not allowed. However, an allowance of six liters, twelve (12) cans or cartons (500 ml in volume or less) or six (6) cans or cartons (1 liter in volume or less) of water are allowed per stateroom.  Any amount in excess of this allowance will be not be allowed onboard. Water in plastic bottles will not be allowed onboard in any quantity, including in ports of call. Guests will be asked to discard open beverages in plastic containers prior to boarding. 

 

All checked and carry-on luggage will be scanned and any prohibited items, including alcoholic/nonalcoholic beverages will be removed, confiscated, and discarded.  If Your luggage is locked, the lock may be removed by security or, alternatively, the luggage will be held by security until you can be present for an inspection and any items in question further identified and/or surrendered.  Holland America Line shall not be responsible for any loss, cost, disappointment or damage of any kind as a result of any luggage lock removal, alcoholic/nonalcoholic items, or other prohibited items removed and discarded in violation of the policy. You agree to surrender alcoholic beverages that are purchased duty free from the ship's gift shop, or at ports of call, to Holland America Line, which will be delivered to your stateroom just prior to disembarking the voyage. Any wine or champagne supplied by the Holland America Line to you is not subject to a corkage fee.  Purified or distilled water in factory-sealed containers (including plastic containers) for use in conjunction with medical device(s) are allowed in checked luggage and must be packed with the device(s). Distilled/purified water in factory-sealed containers (including plastic containers) for the reconstitution of infant formula is allowed in checked luggage for staterooms with infant bookings. Limitations apply. Allowances are subject to change without notice and remain subject to situational assessments by both security and the vessel.

An 18% Service Charge is automatically applied to all Beverage Purchases, Bar Retail Items, Specialty Restaurant Cover Charges and all For Purchase A La Carte Menu Items. Local Sales Taxes Applied where required.

 

Edited July 14, 2022 by StLouisCruisers

[Timelinex]

Right...hence my post. So then cork fee required on all bottles now?

 

What does that entail? Does that mean they take it away and give it back to you at dinner? Or do you still take it with you to open and drink at your leisure....but they just charge you $20 for no reason

[albingirl]

No, they simply charge you a corking fee for each bottle you bring onboard.  They make money selling wine, so they want to put an end to the two bottles you used to bring onboard without corking.  Easy to understand. Since we don't ordinarily drink expensive wine,  there is no reason for us to bring any wine onboard. Corking fee exceeds the value of our wine.  

[Boytjie]

9 minutes ago, Timelinex said:

...but they just charge you $20 for no reason

 

They charge you for bringing your own wine onboard, an item that they sell themselves as part of making money.  Some restaurants will do the same thing.

[Timelinex]

Ok, so just to confirm, they won't take away the bottle or require opening and actual corkong at check in

[TiogaCruiser]

You pay the fee ( give your cabin information so they can add corkage to your onboard account) and they place a sticker on the bottle. You then are free to take the bottle to drink in your cabin, in a restaurant or other venue aboard ship.

[LMaxwell]

Where do you pay 

[kazu]

6 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

Where do you pay 

 

Normally after your carry on goes through security - there is a wine table where you go - your wine is checked and charged to your on board account and they give you stickers to put on your bottles so that it is identified corkage has been paid.

[NavyCruiser]

48 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

Where do you pay 

You mail me $20 cash per bottle to my home address, then I'll mail you a few smiley face stickers.

No tax, free shipping...

Great deal, eh?

[The-Inside-Cabin]

11 hours ago, Timelinex said:

Ok, so just to confirm, they won't take away the bottle or require opening and actual corkong at check in

Some times they charge you the $20 at embarkation, and other times they said to pay it in the dining room when you bring it to dinner.   YMMV.....Be ready to pay during embarkation.   

[VMax1700]

3 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

YMMV.....Be ready to pay during embarkation. 

There is no need to be 'ready to pay' as it is charged to your onboard account.  

[FlyingCruiser2]

On Eurodam out of FLL in March, when we got to the table just past carry-on xray - they asked what it was and then told us not to worry about the fee. 

[DaveOKC]

32 minutes ago, FlyingCruiser2 said:

On Eurodam out of FLL in March, when we got to the table just past carry-on xray - they asked what it was and then told us not to worry about the fee. 

Typical HAL - things vary by ship, time of the day, person doing it, etc.  This makes it hard to give people advice on HAL policies and procedures.

 

 

[timbom]

Just another money grab by Holland.  I know of no other cruise line that charges you corkage for the  one bottle you take to your room to drink.

[daisy-mae]

7 minutes ago, timbom said:

Just another money grab by Holland.  I know of no other cruise line that charges you corkage for the  one bottle you take to your room to drink.

We were charged a corkage fee on Norwegian a few years back.

[XBGuy]

1 hour ago, timbom said:

Just another money grab by Holland.  I know of no other cruise line that charges you corkage for the  one bottle you take to your room to drink.

 

I don't know if this policy crosses all CCL brands, but Princess has has the same policy--$20 corkage fee for every bottle of wine brought on board.

[VMax1700]

2 hours ago, timbom said:

Just another money grab by Holland.  I know of no other cruise line that charges you corkage for the  one bottle you take to your room to drink.

Just because you don't know them doesn't mean that they don't exist! 

Celebrity, Norwegian, Princess etc all charge for any wine brought onboard.

[LMaxwell]

On 7/15/2022 at 3:16 PM, VMax1700 said:

Just because you don't know them doesn't mean that they don't exist! 

Celebrity, Norwegian, Princess etc all charge for any wine brought onboard.

Celebrity does not charge for wine brought on board.  Allowance is 2 bottles per adult.  Only charged corkage if you take a bottle to a restaurant. 

[VMax1700]

5 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

Celebrity does not charge for wine brought on board.  Allowance is 2 bottles per adult.  Only charged corkage if you take a bottle to a restaurant. 

According to their FAQ's corkage is charged.

Guests are not permitted to bring alcoholic beverages onboard; with the exception of embarkation day when each guests are permitted to bring onboard with them up to two (2) bottles of wine (which are subject to a corkage fee) per guest.

[Wakepatrol]

You can thank the Two Buck Chuck clientele who would boast “Just Slap A Luggage Tag On It” for the changes in wine policy

[VMax1700]

23 minutes ago, Wakepatrol said:

You can thank the Two Buck Chuck clientele who would boast “Just Slap A Luggage Tag On It” for the changes in wine policy

There was no boasting involved.  It was the policy at the time and I and many others appreciated it and used it.  Nothing wrong with that. 

[LMaxwell]

4 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

According to their FAQ's corkage is charged.

Guests are not permitted to bring alcoholic beverages onboard; with the exception of embarkation day when each guests are permitted to bring onboard with them up to two (2) bottles of wine (which are subject to a corkage fee) per guest.

I was on Celebrity 3 weeks ago.  No corkage charge unless you bring the bottle to a restaurant.  Brought onboard 1 bottle per adult instead of the 2 allowed. 

[Cruise Junky]

8 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

According to their FAQ's corkage is charged.

Guests are not permitted to bring alcoholic beverages onboard; with the exception of embarkation day when each guests are permitted to bring onboard with them up to two (2) bottles of wine (which are subject to a corkage fee) per guest.

Celebrity only charges if you take it to a restaurant or bar. Not in cabin consumption.  

[VMax1700]

5 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

I was on Celebrity 3 weeks ago.  No corkage charge unless you bring the bottle to a restaurant.  Brought onboard 1 bottle per adult instead of the 2 allowed. 

 

1 hour ago, Cruise Junky said:

Celebrity only charges if you take it to a restaurant or bar. Not in cabin consumption.  

OK.

I still appreciate the facility to be able to take a good bottle of wine onboard.  Even with the $20 corkage it is still good value compared to the onboard choices.