Booze Smuggling = Higher Cost?

[DarkJedi]

First of all (and I meant to ask earlier), Darkjedi, is your dress REALLY cut up to "there"???? Sure looks that way!

 

Well, actually DW's dress is yes. I really don't have the legs for it. :D

[Knights on the Beach]

Why not smuggle your own into a bar? Actual cost isn't the $4.25 you're charged at the bar, so why not sneak it in your trousers at a bar? Why is a cruise ship different?

Apples to oranges (AGAIN). Just like my comments about the "high end restaurant" you compared a cruise with earlier, one does not spend a whole week at the restaurant or bar! You do not get your own room in a restaurant or bar, at least not the ones we go to. Maybe you sleep at the bar, but we go home to do that. Just like on the ship, we go "home" to our cabin. I don't "sneak" drinks into the bars or restaurants on the ship, but I will enjoy one on my balcony or while we are dressing for dinner, etc.

[Knights on the Beach]

Why not smuggle your own into a bar? Actual cost isn't the $4.25 you're charged at the bar, so why not sneak it in your trousers at a bar? Why is a cruise ship different?

Apples to oranges (AGAIN). Just like my comments about the "high end restaurant" you compared a cruise with earlier, one does not spend a whole week at the restaurant or bar! You do not get your own room in a restaurant or bar, at least not the ones we go to. Maybe you sleep at the bar, but we go home to do that. Just like on the ship, we go "home" to our cabin. I don't "sneak" drinks into the bars or restaurants on the ship, but I will enjoy one on my balcony or while we are dressing for dinner, etc.

[Knights on the Beach]

Why not smuggle your own into a bar? Actual cost isn't the $4.25 you're charged at the bar, so why not sneak it in your trousers at a bar? Why is a cruise ship different?

Apples to oranges (AGAIN). Just like my comments about the "high end restaurant" you compared a cruise with earlier, one does not spend a whole week at the restaurant or bar! You do not get your own room in a restaurant or bar, at least not the ones we go to. Maybe you sleep at the bar, but we go home to do that. Just like on the ship, we go "home" to our cabin. I don't "sneak" drinks into the bars or restaurants on the ship, but I will enjoy one on my balcony or while we are dressing for dinner, etc.

[Knights on the Beach]

Why not smuggle your own into a bar? Actual cost isn't the $4.25 you're charged at the bar, so why not sneak it in your trousers at a bar? Why is a cruise ship different?

Apples to oranges (AGAIN). Just like my comments about the "high end restaurant" you compared a cruise with earlier, one does not spend a whole week at the restaurant or bar! You do not get your own room in a restaurant or bar, at least not the ones we go to. Maybe you sleep at the bar, but we go home to do that. Just like on the ship, we go "home" to our cabin. I don't "sneak" drinks into the bars or restaurants on the ship, but I will enjoy one on my balcony or while we are dressing for dinner, etc.

[ihhk2]

WOW! DW is one bold gal!! Very, very few people can pull that kind of dress off.

 

I agree with cruisemom... apples and oranges. Going anywhere other than a resort is NOT the same as going on a ship. And resorts don't have this stupid rule of beverage captivity.

[Hemisphere Dancer]

Hmmmm......in this same vein, I wonder how much money Carnival loses in all the free drinks served at the Captain's cocktail parties. I for one try to put away as much as I can during those :D. And I was pleasantly surprised they were not watered down as I was expecting them to be; I got a pretty good buzz going! So, bottom line, my opinion is (and that's what the OP wanted, our opinions, right?) that Carnival isn't losing as much money as some people are making it out to be on smugglers. I usually smuggle a bit of Vodka on, but spend way more on purchased drinks....glass (or two!) of wine w/ dinner, after-dinner cordial, drinks in the casino, drinks in the disco, drinks in the piano bar, etc. Once I'm out, I don't want to keep going back to the room to fix drinks. But that's just me ......

[Hemisphere Dancer]

Hmmmm......in this same vein, I wonder how much money Carnival loses in all the free drinks served at the Captain's cocktail parties. I for one try to put away as much as I can during those :D. And I was pleasantly surprised they were not watered down as I was expecting them to be; I got a pretty good buzz going! So, bottom line, my opinion is (and that's what the OP wanted, our opinions, right?) that Carnival isn't losing as much money as some people are making it out to be on smugglers. I usually smuggle a bit of Vodka on, but spend way more on purchased drinks....glass (or two!) of wine w/ dinner, after-dinner cordial, drinks in the casino, drinks in the disco, drinks in the piano bar, etc. Once I'm out, I don't want to keep going back to the room to fix drinks. But that's just me ......

[Hemisphere Dancer]

Hmmmm......in this same vein, I wonder how much money Carnival loses in all the free drinks served at the Captain's cocktail parties. I for one try to put away as much as I can during those :D. And I was pleasantly surprised they were not watered down as I was expecting them to be; I got a pretty good buzz going! So, bottom line, my opinion is (and that's what the OP wanted, our opinions, right?) that Carnival isn't losing as much money as some people are making it out to be on smugglers. I usually smuggle a bit of Vodka on, but spend way more on purchased drinks....glass (or two!) of wine w/ dinner, after-dinner cordial, drinks in the casino, drinks in the disco, drinks in the piano bar, etc. Once I'm out, I don't want to keep going back to the room to fix drinks. But that's just me ......

[Trotkim]

RAJNTA--Another great post!!

Question--1. How do your preoder alcohol to be delivered to your room upon arrival or did I misunderstand that?

2. What or who are the friends of Bill W?

Thanks

[rajntra]

Apples to oranges (AGAIN). Just like my comments about the "high end restaurant" you compared a cruise with earlier, one does not spend a whole week at the restaurant or bar! You do not get your own room in a restaurant or bar, at least not the ones we go to. Maybe you sleep at the bar, but we go home to do that. Just like on the ship, we go "home" to our cabin. I don't "sneak" drinks into the bars or restaurants on the ship, but I will enjoy one on my balcony or while we are dressing for dinner, etc.

 

 

Anyone can justify anything in their own mind.

[scperk]

Friends of Bill W are AA meetings.. This is one reason that we no longer cruise NCL..I always pack a bottle in my checked luggage just to mix a drink in the room while DW is getting dressed. And they still make plenty off me and DW.....I don't think there are enough smugglers to make a difference, that's why Carnival is so lienient....Dennis

[dan40]

'Why not smuggle your own into a bar? Actual cost isn't the $4.25 you're charged at the bar, so why not sneak it in your trousers at a bar? Why is a cruise ship different? "

 

In most states, it is against the state law.

 

Lost profits? A most conservative approach

2000 pax per ship, 1000 don't drink so there never were any alcohol profits coming from them. 1000 drinkers, 20% smuggle [very conservative] Lets say that reduces their on board purchases by only 2 drinks PER WEEK. At only $5.00 per drink, which would be at least $4.00 profit [even more] or $8.00 profit lost per drinking smuggler per week.

200 drinkers X $8.00 lost profit= $1600.00 X 22 ships=$35200 X 52 weeks= ONE MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS.

Only a US Govt' politician would not consider that a significant amount of money. It has to have some effect somewhere.

But the smugglers will keep smuggling............and claiming what they do is not wrong in any way, nor does it make ANY DIFFERENCE to anything.

So, they can smuggle, I won't. And if a smuggler should happen to offer me a free drink aboard [hint, hint] WELL, I'll drink it to their health.

 

Cruise drink prices are right in the same range as a middling' expensive hotel bar. Way more than the corner beer joint, but way less than a classy hotel.

 

Dan

[Bamavidiot]

It is a fair question. I'm sure the cruise lines have a known percentage of guest that drink and those that don't. I'm sure they budget expected alcohol sales based on those percentages. That budget is what they rely upon to purchase new ships, upgrade etc....

 

How about this, no more alcohol on ships period. Everyone is on an even playing field. Would passage fares go up? Yes they would.

 

Actually, based on your statement, maybe CCL should charge a 3 drink a day minimum like some bars do. After all, you are cutting into their profit margin by not drinking.

 

Like others, I will bring some alcohol on board for consumption in my cabin. I will buy from the bars because the excess cost is for the ambiance and entertainment in places like that. I feel my fare paid for my cabin and CCL has alredy been pain for the use of that.

 

Also my food cost will be much less than most. I'm not going on the cruise for fine dining. The 24 hour pizzaria will be my best friend.

[ihhk2]

Dan40: I love you. I truly do. However, one flaw in your comment is that to bring a drink into a bar is illegal in the States.

 

On a ship, we are not only not in the States, but aren't ships governed by the flag they fly (country of registry)?

 

Also, just because I have 2 drinks a day in my cabin does NOT necessarily mean I would have those same 2 drinks on deck. I would end up skipping them to stay within budget.

[rajntra]

RAJNTA--Another great post!!

Question--1. How do your preoder alcohol to be delivered to your room upon arrival or did I misunderstand that?

2. What or who are the friends of Bill W?

Thanks

 

1. Call your PVP and get the phone number for the Bon Voyage department. The peeps you order the little choclates and stuff from, give them your booking number tell them what you want and they will let you know if it is available.

 

2. I think it's an inside thing. Sounds like they're a bunch of drinkers though.

[Nilla]

We brought some rum on our last Cruise it was a three nighter and it was gone by the end of the cruise! But my boyfriends bar bill was still $300 did X lose any money on him cuz he brought a bottle... No they made a nice chunk off of him!

[DarkJedi]

RAJNTA--Another great post!!

Question--1. How do your preoder alcohol to be delivered to your room upon arrival or did I misunderstand that?

2. What or who are the friends of Bill W?

Thanks

 

1. Call Carnival directly and you can preorder bottles of alcohol.

 

2. Friends of Bill W is a term for Alcoholics Anonymous members.

[French_Fry]

You go to a baseball game and you can not bring a bottle of booze iinto the stadium.

 

You go on a ship and the same thing is true.

 

No difference!

 

FOLLOW THE RULES!

 

Is it that hard?

[ihhk2]

French Fry: Please don't be silly! :D

 

Going to a game of 3 hours' duration is NOTHING even remotely similar to setting up a household on a ship for a week or two.

 

In MY household, I like to have REASONABLY priced, convenient and tastey beverages. Those desires can not possibly be met by CCL. I have to meet those desires myself or I will NOT enjoy my trip as much as if I do.

 

Get off your high horse.

 

Oh, and the PEEPS (LOL!) who are Bill W's friends are NOT a "bunch of drinkers". They are a bunch of desperate PEEPS trying NOT to drink... one day at a time. They need and deserve utmost respect and support in their journey, their task to stay sober, and their dedication to do so.

[memphislonghorn]

Hey french fry. I work in the grocery business. One 12 oz. bottle of beer costs the cruise line (and everybody else) exactly 72 cents. Then they turn around and sell it for $3 - $4. Don't fret about anybody losing any money. They're making it hand over foot. Personally, I will bring my 8oz. flask filled with Jim Beam, just like I do at my local stadium, and I have not hurt anybody.:cool:

[ihhk2]

They are also buying liquor for like $1/fifth in the Caribbean. How many $6 cocktails does that make?

[baseballdad]

What mindset causes someone to start a thread like this? All it does is provoke a stupid argument.

 

Look at the other thread - 80% smuggle - it is a DONE deal! Accept it, or go find a cruise line that cares! Carnival CLEARLY does not care! CARNIVAL KNOWS ABOUT IT - what a concept! Their profit margins are THEIR business, not yours! You WON'T get a lower cruise fare if they start rifling through every piece of luggage, don't you see that? If you are a teetotaler, or Muslim, or alcohol hater, go start your fight on the message board for a cruise line that bans alcohol, instead of aggravating the responsible drinkers here. Oh wait, there ISN'T such a cruise line! Go figure...

 

And go promote your self-righteousness somewhere that appreciates it, okay? EIGHTY PERCENT of the people here disagree with you.

[rajntra]

What mindset causes someone to start a thread like this? All it does is provoke a stupid argument.

 

Look at the other thread - 80% smuggle - it is a DONE deal! Accept it, or go find a cruise line that cares! Carnival CLEARLY does not care! CARNIVAL KNOWS ABOUT IT - what a concept! Their profit margins are THEIR business, not yours! You WON'T get a lower cruise fare if they start rifling through every piece of luggage, don't you see that? If you are a teetotaler, or Muslim, or alcohol hater, go start your fight on the message board for a cruise line that bans alcohol, instead of aggravating the responsible drinkers here. Oh wait, there ISN'T such a cruise line! Go figure...

 

And go promote your self-righteousness somewhere that appreciates it, okay? EIGHTY PERCENT of the people here disagree with you.

 

Eighty percent of the people who TOOK THE POLL smuggle. They don't disagree with me. I just threw an idea out there and argued the position.

 

But your right, OKAY EVERYBODY THIS THREAD IS CLOSED, BASEBALLDAD SAID SO. NO MORE POSTING IN THIS THREAD AS PER BASEBALLDAD.:rolleyes:

[peterv]

I don't think it matters much in the grand scheme of things. Looking at the financials from Carnival Corp, they earn on average $1315 per passenger with a net profit of $325 or about 25%.

 

Cheers,

Peter