New teeth in liqour policy?

[vjmatty]

My hope would be that if people want the privilege of having drinks in their rooms that they can bring from home, they would not abuse the privilege by taking them to lounges or dining rooms. Of course you can't have 100% enforcement, as is clear with their ineffective enforcement of the smuggling policy... people smuggle booze and don't get caught 90% of the time. They are still making money in spite of this practice, and obviously anticipate that people want to drink in their rooms as they allow wine with a corkage fee.

 

People aren't going to stop buying drinks in the public venues just because they can have a drink or two per night in their stateroom. Yes, there may be some desperate people who leave in the middle of a show to go down to their room and get a drink, or kids who don't mind carrying a drink wherever they go all over the ship, as opposed to someone just stepping outside onto the promenade as you suggested, but for the most part it simply does not stop people from buying drinks in the public areas of the ship.

[bowlegs2]

:cool: I REALLY DIDNT MEAN TO WAKE UP ALL THE HOLY THAN THOU PEOPLE I WAS ONLY MAKING A STATEMENT ABOUT NOT BRINGING YOUR OWN BOOZE ON BOARD NOW I HAVE ALL THESE GOODY TO SHOES WHO NEVER BREAK A RULE JUMPING ALL OVER THE BOARDS:eek: THESE ARE SURLY THE PEOPLE WHO CUT THE BUFFET LINE ,TAKE A BATH IN PERFUME, OR HOG ALL THE CHAIRS. LIGHTEN UP! PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO STATE AN OPINION !OH BY THE WAY,HAVE YOU EVER SMOKED WHERE YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE, OR HOW ABOUT LITTER???TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND IF YOUR PERFECT THEN CAST THE FIRST STONE!!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY:)

 

On reading this response with wild assumptions/accusations my first thought was "WOW now that is a guilty conscience" Reading such a tirade I found the "lighten up" and "people have a right to an opinion" comments both laughable and insincere,.. .

If someone derives satisfaction by childishly dubbing me a "Goody 2 shoes" for expressing my personal opinion and having respect for the conditions of the contract which I freely made then no problem I can live with that.

The one thought that keeps coming back to me concerns a recent TV show. Shoplifters were justifying their actions "Because the shops made a big profit". The fact that shops increased their prices to allow for their shoplifting losses thus penalising everyone else never crossed their minds or if it did they did not care. .

I find it amusing how in an attempt to justify actions we are suddenly subjected to biblical references - "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" and this coming from "stone throwers" . Perhaps these people do not realise the sinner was forgiven but then told "sin no more". Will that advice be taken?

It seems to me that the logic being applied here is one can only express an opinion or strongly hold a view unless they are perfect. Well since none of us are perfect does this mean we are all free to choose what we will or will not accept and believe we are above criticism? How quickly anarchy would become the norm

 

This was a sentence that made me sit up

I'm not living in that bar for 7 days in a row, where on a cruise ship you are living there - captive audience

I have heard cruise ships called many things but never a 7 day 24/7 bar nor that the purpose of a cruise is to be a 7 day bar fly. No wonder folks run up big bar bills if this is the thinking

 

msmarvel you asked

Besides, isn't there something more important to get all up in arms about??

It seems you think not or surely you would not be joining in and when you find it so entertaining.

 

vjmatty -

Thank you for your attemot to answer my question but forgive me if I find a touch of desperation in your thinking. First lets face it NCL are very happy to provide you with a bar "set up" and you can drink in the privacy of your room and on your private balcony if that is your choice.

Interesting you believe my argument is flawed when I say that both NCL and Cocktail bars are in business to make a profit and to this end they make a charge for alcohol they provide.

They have every right to act to stop others from damaging their income potential.

If I follow your train of thought then we must believe that people hoard alcohol in the bedroom and that is where they sit to have their daily "fix"

Seriously do you at home keep liquor in your bedroom and make that your choice of drinking area?

Seriously do you suggest that you too intend to spend your cruise 24/7 for the whole 7 days drinking in your private bedroom/balcony rather than limiting this for no more than the same few hours as you might in a cocktail bar and socialising with fellow passengers?

 

More and more cruise lines are intrpducing the policy and without a doubt it is going to be enforced even more rigidly in future. Maybe I am a majority of one but this goody 2 shoes will be delighted when those passengers who refuse to honour their contract conditions are denied boarding.

[vjmatty]

Clearly you aren't reading carefully.... contrary to staying in my stateroom 24/7 I specifically said one drink before dinner while getting ready and maybe another right before bed. The rest I buy in the public places on the ship such as the dining room, lounges or theaters. Did you not read where I said I bring the limit of one per person, and that we make a box stretch for the entire week? My point about it being a week long stay is that it is more than just a cocktail lounge, it is an entire resort with many activities and alcohol is NOT their sole source of revenue, as would be for a cocktail bar. This is why you can't compare the two and why your analogy is flawed.

 

My bedroom at home is on the third floor and has a mini-fridge, so yes sometimes there is a beer or wine cooler in there, but my home also has a living room, dining room and kitchen, which my stateroom does not. My bedroom does have a balcony and I often do bring a drink out there.... what is your point?

 

And I am not violating the alcohol policy, I bring wine and intend to pay the corkage fee. I have not been on NCL so I did not know about bar setups, but most other cruise lines do not offer this service.

[lastingtouch]

Although new to contributing have been reading for some time and surprised how this topic comes up with almost monotonous regularity. One could think cruise passengers were desperate alcoholics reading some posts.

 

The way my simple logical mind work is this. People know - or should know the situation - before they book- If they are not happy with the policy of the cruise line do not book Simple as that. What is totally wrong is accepting the policy and then dishonestly trying to cheat the system. It would become chaotic if every passenger decided just which policies they would respect and which they would reject...

 

Cruise Line on board prices are very competitive with bars. cocktail bars and restaurants on land. They certainly do not try to profiteer because they have a captive audience. On a special night out in New York at the Rainbow room we paid $20 for a Bloody Mary $19 each for a glass of wine and a Martini plus $13.50 for a bottle of water . NCL is a long way from those prices. Anyone noticed the prices Airport bars/restaurants charge?

 

Can anyone seriously imagine walking into a cocktail bar with their own bottles and settling down to mixing their own drinks and cocktails? Why expect a cruise ship to allow this and especially when you have been told in advance that it is not permitted?

Cruise ships are a business and if they do not make profits they go under. It is the money that cruise ships earn from onboard activities including alcohol sales that help them to keep cruise prices to reasonable levels. Would the smugglers prefer to pay $150 dollars more in the fare and then be allowed to take bottles of spirits on board?

 

Corkage on wine and not on spirits? What would you suggest 20 measures per bottle $2.50 per shot so $50 corkage fee? I calculated this on the basis of 6 glasses of wine per bottle so 6 into $15 makes $2.50 per glass Imagine the howls of protest but it makes that $60 per bottle bar set up look reasonable.

 

If they did permit spirits to be taken on board then we would have people refusing to be limited to just 1 or 2 bottles and smuggling on as many as they wish. We could see far more drunken passengers (my right to drink as much as I wish) and passengers carrying bottles all around the public rooms (my right to do as I wish) .. Not an inviting prospect and it is one that could place passengers at risk. When people irresponsibly and dishonestly break company policy in one area do not expect them to behave differently in other areas.

 

As someone who does enjoy a drink I do hope that a policy with real teeth be introduced possibly even refusing smugglers embarkation. Apologies if my little "rant" upsets anyone.

 

Right on. Very well said.

[CruisinMomOf2]

I have not cruised on NCL in YEARS, but on other ships that allow "adult beverages" to be brought on board (or at least I thought we could and no one stopped me), I have enjoyed a beverage in the cabin on the balcony on occaision, but always spend more $ on drinks at bars than in my room. I would love to have the bar service in my room, but never heard of it 'til now (& I leave in a week so it is too late:( )

 

In mho, it isn't the smugglers that cost the cruise line money, it is the cruise line service. On a cruise in December on a very respectable line I was at the pool bar where some of our group of 14 (the drunks:) ) had hung out for the previous 3 days, tipping above the added 15% I might add, I joined them & ordered a drink (one of about a dozen for me on that 4 day cruise). The bartender finally acknowledged me after about 10 minutes, then vanished. After about 15 more minutes (the other bartenders ignored me since my order had already been taken), I went to my cabin, made myself the drink, came back up to the pool bar, talked to my friends for awhile & THEN the bartender came back (I'm not kidding about 45-50 minutes after I had approached the bar) with some bottle of something that he had run out of for my SIMPLE 2 ingredient drink (is rum & diet coke that rare?). That just isn't worth $7. Now, sitting in a hottub in Beaver Creek, CO & paying $23 for a Cosmo is worth it, because you don't even have to get up! Putting up with rude bartenders with sub-Red Lobster hospitality skills and no recourse except to get off at the next stop & drink in port is not acceptable. We have always loved our cabin stewards, waiters, casino dealers, etc. For some reason, the bar service on almost EVERY line is slow & not particularly friendly- I've yet to meet Isaac & this is my 20 something(th) cruise. I hope NCL is above and beyond in the bar service department- if not, as good businessmen they should ask themselves why so many guests are risking what they are risking to break a rule, & could they repair the situation in a way that would make them more money?!!

 

I'll let you know if I find Isaac on the Sky!:)

[*Wink*]

I've yet to meet Isaac & this is my 20 something(th) cruise. I hope NCL is above and beyond in the bar service department- if not, as good businessmen they should ask themselves why so many guests are risking what they are risking to break a rule, & could they repair the situation in a way that would make them more money?!!

 

I'll let you know if I find Isaac on the Sky!:)

 

Interesting story. I've never thought that smuggling was a result of poor bar service... I still don't. Let me put your mind at ease. You will not have to wait for a drink on NCL. In fact, many people complain that the bar staff are TOO EAGER to refresh their cocktails. Enjoy your Sky cruise, and please report back your opinion.

[vjmatty]

I have not cruised on NCL in YEARS, but on other ships that allow "adult beverages" to be brought on board (or at least I thought we could and no one stopped me), I have enjoyed a beverage in the cabin on the balcony on occaision, but always spend more $ on drinks at bars than in my room. I would love to have the bar service in my room, but never heard of it 'til now (& I leave in a week so it is too late:( )

 

I agree.... do you know that while Cunard has a policy on the books that you are only allowed one bottle of wine or champagne per passenger, they never check your bags or enforce the policy? No one cares if you have a case of wine or a bottle of single-malt in your cabin, in fact the Queen's Grill cabins have liquor cabinets. This is because you are treated like an adult and expected to act like one, hence the drinking age being 18 rather than 21. You don't see people jumping off balconies, drinking to excess or being loud and unruly.

[newmexicoNita]

I have not cruised on NCL in YEARS, but on other ships that allow "adult beverages" to be brought on board (or at least I thought we could and no one stopped me), I have enjoyed a beverage in the cabin on the balcony on occaision, but always spend more $ on drinks at bars than in my room. I would love to have the bar service in my room, but never heard of it 'til now (& I leave in a week so it is too late:( )

 

In mho, it isn't the smugglers that cost the cruise line money, it is the cruise line service. On a cruise in December on a very respectable line I was at the pool bar where some of our group of 14 (the drunks:) ) had hung out for the previous 3 days, tipping above the added 15% I might add, I joined them & ordered a drink (one of about a dozen for me on that 4 day cruise). The bartender finally acknowledged me after about 10 minutes, then vanished. After about 15 more minutes (the other bartenders ignored me since my order had already been taken), I went to my cabin, made myself the drink, came back up to the pool bar, talked to my friends for awhile & THEN the bartender came back (I'm not kidding about 45-50 minutes after I had approached the bar) with some bottle of something that he had run out of for my SIMPLE 2 ingredient drink (is rum & diet coke that rare?). That just isn't worth $7. Now, sitting in a hottub in Beaver Creek, CO & paying $23 for a Cosmo is worth it, because you don't even have to get up! Putting up with rude bartenders with sub-Red Lobster hospitality skills and no recourse except to get off at the next stop & drink in port is not acceptable. We have always loved our cabin stewards, waiters, casino dealers, etc. For some reason, the bar service on almost EVERY line is slow & not particularly friendly- I've yet to meet Isaac & this is my 20 something(th) cruise. I hope NCL is above and beyond in the bar service department- if not, as good businessmen they should ask themselves why so many guests are risking what they are risking to break a rule, & could they repair the situation in a way that would make them more money?!!

 

I'll let you know if I find Isaac on the Sky!:)

all lines are either cracking down or will in the near future and read other threads, most this subject is discussed on a weekly basis. There will always be those who don't want to pay the going rate for something thus they will find a way around the rules, this does not apply to NCL only. I will say there are a few boards where this is not a subject as much as here. A few years ago, RCI decided to not allow guests to purchase booze in the duty free shop and take it to their cabin: you have no idea how many claimed they would never again cruise RCI/Celebrity. I don't know if they kept their word about this, my guess is they did not, but shortly after that posters starting giving all kinds of advise about how to smuggle liquoir on board, this is always discussed on Carnival boards and oftern on Princess just to mention a few. I don't think I understand what you would expect NCL to do, allow us to bring our own on or are you suggesting dropping the price of drinks? NCL is pretty much in line with others: Princess is a little less, Celebrity a little more, but all lines are within $.50 of each other on drink prices.

 

Nita

[vjmatty]

A few years ago, RCI decided to not allow guests to purchase booze in the duty free shop and take it to their cabin:

 

This is an example of shooting themselves in the foot....they took away from their own profits by not letting people buy bottles of alcohol FROM RCI for on-ship consumption. For every person that might now order a few drinks from room service, there will be two or three who will smuggle instead. Poor business decision on their part.

[LOWTYD]

That is an excellent question. Even with a corkage fee, you'd still save a ton over the bar set-up prices. Most people would be happy and NCL will still make its nickel.

 

I personally hate wine but the world thinks it's a more sophisticated beverage and I think that is why it gets preferential treatment. My day spa offers me a glass of wine with my peidcure but when I say, "can I have a beer instead?" You shuold see the look it get!:D I end up with a glass of water:(

[newmexicoNita]

I personally hate wine but the world thinks it's a more sophisticated beverage and I think that is why it gets preferential treatment. My day spa offers me a glass of wine with my peidcure but when I say, "can I have a beer instead?" You shuold see the look it get!:D I end up with a glass of water:(

 

too funny!!!!!

[mpk218]

All I know is I enjoy having a few on the balcony every day ( thats right , every day ) and ordering a few ounces of booze from room service every time the mood strikes is just plain silly. I was content ordering my bar-setup until they removed Bourbon (Wild Turkey )from the list ( which is what I drink ). Sooo I guess its back to the old evil ways. To those that think " smuggling " is some moral offense , get a hobby you need one .

 

side bar: I would bet the majority of people that want to have a bottle in thier room are also in a balcony or higher. Point being , they spend a little more time in thier room ..

 

 

 

mpk

[newmexicoNita]

This is an example of shooting themselves in the foot....they took away from their own profits by not letting people buy bottles of alcohol FROM RCI for on-ship consumption. For every person that might now order a few drinks from room service, there will be two or three who will smuggle instead. Poor business decision on their part.

Not when they start taking the booze away, which will be soon if not sooner. I really don't think that many more people started smuggling, but we will never know, will we? Again, I don't really care if someone wants to take the chance of getting caught, as long as they don't start whining when they get it taken from them.

 

Nita

[PatnJudy]

I have taken liquor on board a couple times on cruises and not got caught. One of my last cruises there was a long line outside the "naughty" room of people who did and were waiting to get their luggage back 'sans booze'.

 

I may or may not attempt to take any on this next time. Mainly because my problem is mixers. I don't drink the stuff straight. So I'll likely have one or 2 of those fancy sweet drinks like Mai tais or daquiris and then do my drinking when in port.

 

I like my alcohol and drink a fair amount of beer so I'll be the one walking around in port with a cold one in one hand and maybe a bag of them in the other hand.

[mpk218]

I have taken liquor on board a couple times on cruises and not got caught. One of my last cruises there was a long line outside the "naughty" room of people who did and were waiting to get their luggage back 'sans booze'.

 

I may or may not attempt to take any on this next time. Mainly because my problem is mixers. I don't drink the stuff straight. So I'll likely have one or 2 of those fancy sweet drinks like Mai tais or daquiris and then do my drinking when in port.

 

I like my alcohol and drink a fair amount of beer so I'll be the one walking around in port with a cold one in one hand and maybe a bag of them in the other hand.

 

Theres no rule about bringing mixers .. Mix away :D

[terrymtex01]

I have taken liquor on board a couple times on cruises and not got caught. One of my last cruises there was a long line outside the "naughty" room of people who did and were waiting to get their luggage back 'sans booze'.

 

I may or may not attempt to take any on this next time. Mainly because my problem is mixers. I don't drink the stuff straight. So I'll likely have one or 2 of those fancy sweet drinks like Mai tais or daquiris and then do my drinking when in port.

 

I like my alcohol and drink a fair amount of beer so I'll be the one walking around in port with a cold one in one hand and maybe a bag of them in the other hand.

 

Next cruise I'm going to ask the front desk where the naughty room is just so I can walk by and snear at the rule breakers. I bet these are the same people who have not yet learned that when a person who is staying in a suite walks by you are not to look at them in the eye AND you are to allow the suite pax on the life boats first, if ever the need arises

[*Wink*]

Next cruise I'm going to ask the front desk where the naughty room is just so I can walk by and snear at the rule breakers. I bet these are the same people who have not yet learned that when a person who is staying in a suite walks by you are not to look at them in the eye AND you are to allow the suite pax on the life boats first, if ever the need arises

LOL Terry! Don't forget though, that many of the people in the naughty room are there because of water or pop packed in their luggage.. So don't sneer too harshly!

[98Charlie]

Next cruise I'm going to ask the front desk where the naughty room is just so I can walk by and snear at the rule breakers. I bet these are the same people who have not yet learned that when a person who is staying in a suite walks by you are not to look at them in the eye AND you are to allow the suite pax on the life boats first, if ever the need arises

 

Never been called to the naughty room before but have walked by it on a couple of ships by accident. You may think that all the luggage is there because it contains smuggled booze. You are in for a big surprise.

 

Let's see, besides smuggled booze there are rules about no irons, no candles, no illegal drugs, etc. etc. You really should go down to the naughty room to see just whose luggage is held for what reason.

 

Think you might get a big eye opener.

 

Good to see we have some volunteers to be the ``naughty room'' police on these threads.

 

Dianne

[vjmatty]

side bar: I would bet the majority of people that want to have a bottle in thier room are also in a balcony or higher. Point being , they spend a little more time in thier room ..

 

Not to mention a little more money as well... but you're right, I probably wouldn't have drinks in my room if I had an inside cabin.

[terrymtex01]

LOL Terry! Don't forget though, that many of the people in the naughty room are there because of water or pop packed in their luggage.. So don't sneer too harshly!

 

After I posted that, I thought to myself.. that's it. Trying to make a funny and I probably jinxed myself and next cruise I will get called to the naughty room for having some hair conditioner bottle that looks like a bottle of alcohol, etc.. LOL

[CruisnGram]

I may or may not attempt to take any on this next time. Mainly because my problem is mixers. I don't drink the stuff straight. So I'll likely have one or 2 of those fancy sweet drinks like Mai tais or daquiris and then do my drinking when in port.

 

 

Mixers aren't a problem. There is no rule against taking mixers with you....they are alcohol free. You can put them in your carry on if you'd like and carry them right on.

 

One word of caution though. If you pack the mixers, they may be spotted and deemed suspicious during the scanning and cause you to be called to the naughty room. So be sure to put them in a different bag then your liquor. You don't want the good stuff found accidentally cause the mixers roused suspicion. We just put our rum runners on one suitcase and our mixers in another and all came through just fine.

[PatnJudy]

Good idea. I've taken on cokes before because they are almost as expensive as beer. Plus since I'll be driving to New Orleans this next cruise, I won't have to worry about the airlines.

 

To those wondering whre the naughty room is, the last cruise I was on it was right in the main lobby area where the shore excursions, purser, etc are.

[bowlegs2]

Clearly you aren't reading carefully.... contrary to staying in my stateroom 24/7 I specifically said one drink before dinner while getting ready and maybe another right before bed. The rest I buy in the public places on the ship such as the dining room, lounges or theaters. Did you not read where I said I bring the limit of one per person, and that we make a box stretch for the entire week? My point about it being a week long stay is that it is more than just a cocktail lounge, it is an entire resort with many activities and alcohol is NOT their sole source of revenue, as would be for a cocktail bar. This is why you can't compare the two and why your analogy is flawed.

 

My bedroom at home is on the third floor and has a mini-fridge, so yes sometimes there is a beer or wine cooler in there, but my home also has a living room, dining room and kitchen, which my stateroom does not. My bedroom does have a balcony and I often do bring a drink out there.... what is your point?

 

And I am not violating the alcohol policy, I bring wine and intend to pay the corkage fee. I have not been on NCL so I did not know about bar setups, but most other cruise lines do not offer this service.

 

Then I will... you can't compare a week on a cruise ship with a few hours in a cocktail bar. Those who wish to bring their own spirits on board are doing it in order to have a glass of wine in their room or perhaps a cocktail on their balcony. I have never had a bedroom or private balcony in any cocktail lounge I have gone to, so I think your analogy is flawed.

That being said, I have no problem bringing our one bottle (or box) of wine per passenger and paying the corkage fee if requested. We can make that stretch the entire cruise and would still pay for anything we drink in the dining room, lounges, theater or casino.

Those few drinks that people wish to have while getting ready for dinner or before going to bed are not going to break the cruiseline if people bring their own. I really think that the cruise lines just need to prohibit people from bringing their own alcohol into public areas, not their staterooms.

***********************************************************

.

 

 

¨Ginny

It is absolutely your right to criticise me on a personal basis and inform me I am not reading carefully. Please forgive me and feel free to continue if it gives you personal satisfaction. Maybe I was wrong when I thought I read "your cant compare a week on a cruise ship with a few hours in a cocktail bar" and also "Those few drinks"

Personally I am amazed at the big deal you are making over one glass of whatever whilst dressing for dinner each evening.

 

May I respectfully ask you to read the following observations on my part even if you decide they are all "flawed" .

 

1. My original comments were not aimed at you personally nor you alone which it appears you assume

2, I am not sure how you decided every other passengers behaves the same as you. Many will behave very differently .

3. There is a distinct difference between wine and spirits.

4. My comments are not for those who bring wine on board and pay a corkage which is absolutely in accordance with Contract conditions

5. To make a genuine "cocktail" normally involves several spirits -- so do you suggest people be allowed to bring as many bottles as a cocktail they claim is the only one they drink requires? For instance a Long Island Ice Tea requires tequila, rum, gin, vodka..

6. Although it is unimportant (and I mention it only since you believe I am not reading carefully) you have in your second post changed your reasons for deciding my analogy is flawed. First it was a question of the difference between 7days ,and a few hours spent in a bar and in your own words "I have never had a bedroom or private balcony in any cocktail lounge I have gone to, so I think your analogy is flawed".

Now In your later post NCL has become a "Resort" and cocktails are not its sole source of income.

Maybe Resort is one way to describe your cruise ship but it is a Resort with Contract conditions and Policies it has the right to expect guests to honour. It is a resort which taking into account accommodation, food, travel, service, entertainment, etct provides value far outstripping land based resorts and has every right to expect to make a profit on liquor sales.

Sorry but I still believe what is unacceptable in a cocktail bar must be unacceptable in a "resort" if prohibited.

A cocktail bar might well have to derive income from cocktails alone but it will also have considerably fewer costs/overheads/wastage's than a resort. The business plan of the resort could well include bar profits in its expectations and has the right to prevent people damaging that.

7. If you have never encountered passengers out in the public rooms/decks with a container of some kind with their smuggled spirits mixed in perhaps cola or orange juice you are lucky. Some even boast about how clever they are and that they have not paid for a single drink whole cruise..

8. Congratulations you are indeed fortunate and I am impressed. A 3 floor residence with so many facilities particularly in the bedroom is far superior to my humble one bedroom apartment with combined living/dining room and a very small balcony off the kitchen. . Despite that I am willing to honour the requirements of the cruise company and pay for spirits or wine I might drink on board.. I budget and have only what I can afford.

9. You are showing us your 4 upcoming cruises all within a matter of months and again congratulations you are far luckier than me who now I am a pensioner can only afford one main holiday per year. However you should be aware that the other 3 companies (for general passengers) operate Contractual Conditions no different to NCL some might not even offer a "wine corkage" fee.

10. You are right most do not offer a "bar set up" to save clients money so why beat up on NCL who try to treat passengers as responsible adults?

11. I only learned about the "Bar Set Up" by carefully reading the forums and I am grateful for the knowledge gained.

12. On a very personal basis I have been advised by my Cardiologist to have 1 or 2 glasses of red wine per night. Because of my one medication (warfarin) it is most important that I follow the same regime each night. From here

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/pdfs/locale-us/wine_list.pdf

I will pre-order my few bottles of wine and hopefully they will be there waiting for me at boarding and I will have no need of carrying it, or corkage charges and all costs built in to my holiday budget..

13. Not so long ago I read a topic here concerning NCLs financial stability. At that time it seemed to be the general consensus that they were not making the profits you and others believe. Quite the reverse in fact.

14. fyfisticts show that the easier spirits are to obtain, or the cheaper the price of the spirits so there is an increase in drunken behaviour.

Perhaps there is an unacknowledged reason in the NCL policy which has nothing to do with profits but is of benefit to many passengers.

15. Every cruise line is going to toughen up their policy on spirits and maybe even wine being brought on board. People better get used to that. It is ridiculous for some passengers to constantly complain and attempt to justify their smuggling (something done secretly or against rules/laws) with pathetic excuses. They know the situation accept it or take the business elsewhere...

 

May I take this opportunity to wish you a very happy and safe NCL Spirit (and wine:) ) cruise now only days away for you.

[bowlegs2]

This is an example of shooting themselves in the foot....they took away from their own profits by not letting people buy bottles of alcohol FROM RCI for on-ship consumption. For every person that might now order a few drinks from room service, there will be two or three who will smuggle instead. Poor business decision on their part.

I note that you have an MSC cruise booked over Christmas.

Living in Europe I have sailed the Med with them a few times. It might interest you to learn that it was in 2004 they changed their policy.

No longer could customers bring their own spirits aboard. No longer could customers buy spirits at the on board store and take it back to their cabin.

 

MSC is a Family owned company a family who have a very hands on approach and directly involved with the company. I am quite sure that they are astute enough to reakise if they had made a poor business decision and to reverse it.

 

Going off topic a bit and being personal. Unless you have done considerable pre cruise research or cruised with MSC before you possibly have made a bad decision. I hope not.

MSC are not and have no desire to be like Cunard, Princess, RCI, Costa/Carnival etc etc. They cater to a truly international passenger base. The family have their own very definite ideas on how a true Italian ship should be and have built a loyal passenger base amongst Europeans .

Just to give a few examples of what you might find -

few people who talk english,

large family groups who will have little respect for buffet queues..and have children running everywhere unchecked and this even late at night.

There will be very few if any "death by chocolate" style desserts.

Dining times of an evening will be later.

Different cultures/nationalities will have different behaviour.

That said I believe there is no real reason why you cannot have a truly wonderful if different cruise experience.

[bowlegs2]

I am becoming confused

 

On the one hand we read that Cruise Ships have made poor business moves and damaged their profitability with the policy to prohibit customers consuming their own spirits on board. If they changed their policy business would boom

 

On the other hand we read that the evil cruise companies have the policy because bottom line they are greedy and interested in their profits.

 

So far as I am concerned it makes no difference the whole subject has been beaten to death and cry all they might the unhappy are not going to get their way and they had better prepare for increased steps by the cruise lines.