Bringing alcohol on board

[I Luv Crusin]

Has anyone ever taken any drink mixes, powdered lemonade, ice tea, hurricane mix, to mix with whatever alcohol you may bring aboard?

 

I would hate to have baggage checkers think I was smuggling drugs or something, when all I'm trying to do is have a drink on my balcony before dinner...

 

We brought a liter of Tonic water and a lime for gin and tonics!

[stuffic]

Linda45: What you're saying is that they checked everyone's luggage? Wow, they must have an X-Ray machine. It is weird that they would bother to tag the bag and not do anything...what did they think it would accomplish...embarassment?:confused: Perhaps it was so they would handle the bag more carefully, like a fragile tag. Like you said...interesting.

 

Water bottle alert: Was on NCL Pride of Aloha in August 2004 in the port of Hilo, HI (if memory serves correctly), and security (or whoever) were OPENING water bottles and sniffing them before we boarded. Needless to say, there were about 15 people off to the side drinking their "water" before they boarded!:D

 

I didn't do the water bottle thing, but I did have a fifth of vodka that got confiscated until the end of the cruise (they searched my bag thouroughly). I swear, pier security found at least 100 bottles of booze and every liquor-filled bottle of water...they must have been getting commissions or something! So beware. Hawaii must be stricter than the Caribbean.

[jcruise67]

Your right, Hawaii is much stricter than the caribbean. Hawaii is in the U.S., and the U.S. ports have very hightened security. Unfortunately, more security than the Caribbean ports. However, it is somewhat unusual for security to open up peoples water bottles. I would have been quite pissed if they handles a water bottle that I've been drinking from, especially, if it was just water. I don't drink liquor, just beer. In my experience, I have never had a problem boarding with alcohol.

 

John

[stuffic]

jcruise67: You're right. They didn't actually "handle" the bottle, they asked you to open the bottle (if it was already open, of course), and then told you, very politely, that they had to sniff its contents. The opening of the bottle was not near their noses (after all, straight alcohol can be smelled from a few inches away). Sorry, I did write that wrong...

 

I would assume that a person could "refuse" this procedure, but I don't know what would be done if he or she did.

[jcruise67]

Here's a mathmatical equation for you...

 

If the average drink is $6 + 15% gratuity = $6.90 (.90 tip)

2nd drink is $6 + 15% gratuity also = $6.90 (.90 tip)

3rd drink is $6 + 15% gratuity also $6.90 (.90 tip)

 

So 3 drinks at $6 + 15% gratuity on each = $20.70

 

By your 7th drink at $6 each + 15% gratuity on each, you are paying more than a 100% gratuity for 7 drinks.

 

Number of drinks (7)

Price for each drink $6

Gratuity on each drink .90

Total for 7 drinks $42

Total gratuity for 7 drinks $6.30

Grand total $46.30

An actual 130% tip by your 7th drink.

 

So who says bringing you own alcohol on board doesn't save you a bundle? Certainly not me!!! The money is not the issue, it was just something fun to think about.

 

John

[bargainshopper]

Here's a mathmatical equation for you...

 

If the average drink is $6 + 15% gratuity = $6.90 (.90 tip)

2nd drink is $6 + 15% gratuity also = $6.90 (.90 tip)

3rd drink is $6 + 15% gratuity also $6.90 (.90 tip)

 

So 3 drinks at $6 + 15% gratuity on each = $20.70

 

By your 7th drink at $6 each + 15% gratuity on each, you are paying more than a 100% gratuity for 7 drinks.

 

Number of drinks (7)

Price for each drink $6

Gratuity on each drink .90

Total for 7 drinks $42

Total gratuity for 7 drinks $6.30

Grand total $46.30

An actual 130% tip by your 7th drink.

 

So who says bringing you own alcohol on board doesn't save you a bundle? Certainly not me!!! The money is not the issue, it was just something fun to think about.

 

John

 

 

What kind of math is this? Assume the tip is 15%, $6.30 tip on $42 purchase is not 130%

[jcruise67]

No Bargainshopper,

 

I meant that at the purchase of your 7th drink you have paid more than the drink itself in gratuity. The percentage is wrong I know. You see, if the avergar person had 7 drinks per day and their significant other also had 7 drinks per day, then the 14 drinks + the gratuity on each drink woyld add up to $88.10 for a 7 day cruise. When you add that to the automatic gratuity of $10 per day per person it ultimately adds up to a gratuity of $228.10 for the week. It was just something to think about, especially if a person consumes more than 7 drinks a day. I know I will consume anywhere from 10 to 15 drinks during the course of one day on a cruise ship. I can drink 10 drinks alone in the casino over a couple of hours. Depending on the price of a drink, the gratuirty over 7 days can be quite surprising to say the least. I guess my original point went south, but I think I made myself clear this time.

 

John

[bargainshopper]

John,

Thank you for your clarification. I agreed with you about the cost. Even the soda/bottled water adds up. I remeber those "good old day" when soft dinksi were with meals.

[jcruise67]

LOL, Bargainshopper...I hear ya. Now all you get is juice, milk and coffee at breakfast.

 

John

[MizzouMary]

Does anyone know if it is acceptable to fly Southwest Air with a 12-pack of beer in one's suitcase? How about hard liquor?

 

Thanks!

[Nonesuch]

Does anyone know if it is acceptable to fly Southwest Air with a 12-pack of beer in one's suitcase? How about hard liquor?

 

See http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/alcohol.html

 

I do see one important SWA regulation:

Alcohol content may not exceed 70% by volume (140 proof) in either checked or unchecked luggage.

 

I've never heard of anybody having a problem transporting sealed original containers in checked baggage, even persons under 21 with hard liquor in checked bags had no problems ;)

[FV-or-bust]

You can buy duty free liquor at the gift shop on board and bring it back to your cabin for the same price you would pay to go through the trouble of trying to smuggle it on. Or

You can purchase liquor as a gift before you sail on Princess's web site and it will be in your room waiting for you as a bon voyage gift. Then you can carry along sodas, water and other beverages in a carry on rolling cooler and have your own private bar at sea.

 

 

It took us a few cruises to figure out, but the way you've described it is how we do it too. I like to have a small carry on (pull) cooler (which we can also take to the excursion if we like) with a few beers and bottled waters in a non-carry on bag and a few bottles of my favorite wines as well. Buying alcohol at ports is usually the way to go - or me at least, I can't imagine lugging those things around prior to embarkation. The space that gets freed up from our empty bottles always manages to be completely replaced with souveniers :)

 

 

Someone mentioned bringing your own bottle of wine to the table and opening it yourself. This is strictly prohibited in dining settings and understandably so.

[FV-or-bust]

Your right, Hawaii is much stricter than the caribbean. Hawaii is in the U.S., and the U.S. ports have very hightened security. Unfortunately, more security than the Caribbean ports. However, it is somewhat unusual for security to open up peoples water bottles. I would have been quite pissed if they handles a water bottle that I've been drinking from, especially, if it was just water. I don't drink liquor, just beer. In my experience, I have never had a problem boarding with alcohol.

 

John

 

 

Just curious, doesn't this strike anyone as odd - that a fifth of booze would be considered a 'security' threat?

 

oh, by the way, I want my cuticle scissors back please :D

 

 

 

it aint about security folks, its about obeying the directorate.

[gr8tfulscott]

i'm a lite drinker brought my own pint of rum.

could have bought any bottle duty free on ship and pay 9.00 fee to bring back to cabin. that made mount gay rum 16.00 ltr.

duty free shopping for booze in the islands i was like a kid at a candy shop.:D

[JRE99GRAD]

iv only read a couple of posts on this subject so i dont know if all the answers have been answered.... anyways i have never had a problem brining alchohol of any type on board... just as long as you dont pack it in your carry on's make sure you pack it in a bag you are going to check.... we brought 2 large bottles of vodka and a bunch of mixers, we packed one entire suitcase full of drinks, and we never had a problem with that... if your a little worried about doing this there are ways around it.... the first time we went on a cruise we baught a case of water emptied all the water bottles and poured vodka in every single one, it just looks like water..... some people say your not even aloud to bring water onboard but they dont care i have even brought bottles of water through security with my carry on's.... some people get really creative and fill shampoo bottles and hair spray bottles with alcohol... that way you for sure wont be caught... but like i said iv never had a problem bringing actual bottles of alcohol on board.......

 

someone mentioned somthing about buying alcohol in the gift shop on board.. we usually do that for a really really good price but they box it up and give it to you the final day.. so you cant really buy it and drink it while onboard... i think you can bribe them into letting you take it though with a little extra money...

 

for those that bring there own alcohol and dont have room for mixers or juice.. on the lido deck there are free juice machines, they usually have fruit punch and lemonade...

 

thats all i got anymore questions let me know

[jcruise67]

Just a tip: If you are going to put bottles of liquor in your checked luggage...Be sure and buvvle wrap them and place them in a 2-2.5 gallon heavy duty zip lock bag for more protection. You can get the zip locks at your local grocer or supermarket.

John

[Treadonu]

On our last cruise, I just took an empty mouthwash bottle (big kind) and filled it with vodka. Added a little blue food coloring and it looked just like the real thing. Even shrink wrapped the top - no problems getting it on. :)

[jeanied]

Not that I would encourage smuggling of any kind, but...

Cruzan Rum makes a variety of different fruit flavors (mango, pineapple, banana, orange and citrus).

And, Gatorade make a variety of different fruit flavored drinks (even clear ones).

Perhaps this combination would pass the sniff test?

[sailon3520]

We just returned yesterday from MOS. We took 4 bottles of wine and several soda bottles with rum and vodka. We also packed one of the new Australian "boxed" wines. It was not the best chardonnay but it did pack well. We ended up leaving over half of it. The bubble wrap that we used for the wine bottles came in handy for all the glasswear that we brought home (buy the drink and keep the glass deal). Even with bringing our own, we managed to ring up a sizable tab. (not sure how that happened ;) ). But our bags made it through with no question. Our steward even brought us a corkscrew, wineglasses and a larger ice bucket.

[snowbird171]

Ok I will be on my first cruise in T-minus 3 days. I have been reading up on stashing alcohol in your luggage in your checked baggage...not carry on. Ok here is another question my suitcase has a lock on it. If I were to lock it, will they make me take the lock off so they can check it as they choose? Will this raise any red flags?

[DebJef]

I don't get it - I have read of several suitacses being labelled - how does anyone know if it's wrapped up in your suitcase? Is it located by sniffer dogs?

[Michaline]

Just wondering how come you can bring a limited amount of alcohol on board at Embarkation, but when you're going back on the ship from a Port they must keep your alcohol? Why can't they just let you drink it in your room?

[melissa593]

Would you suggest packing these in checked luggage on the airplane too or do you carry on and then transfer it to your suitcase when the plane lands?
I am not looking forward to a $500 bill at the end of the cruise because I like a glass of wine before dinner in my cabin. I will happily pay for drinks all nite while out in clubs or by the pool but every little bit helps!
thanks
Melissa