Corkage Fee...How does this work?

[cfc525]

Please explain how this works, I understand that you take along your own bottles of wine, but then what happens next?

 

Thank you!

[Toto2Kansas]

Please explain how this works, I understand that you take along your own bottles of wine, but then what happens next?

 

Thank you!

 

If you take your own wine brought onboard to one of the dining venues, the wine is served (and if you don't finish it, help until the next night with your name on it). The corkage fee isn't for opening the wine, but for serving it in any of the dining venues onboard. Your cruise card will usually be charged the corkage fee accordingly.

 

If you enjoy your wine in the comfort of your own stateroom (on Princess) then no corkage fee is charged.

 

Just realized you are sailing on NCL, I have no idea if it is handled the same way on NCL as it is on Princess.

[fann1sh]

NCL charges corkage for each bottle of wine brought aboard, whether you consume it in your stateroom, or in the dining room.

 

No other cruise line does this. They either prohibit all alcohol brought aboard (like RCI, Carnival) or else only charge corkage on wine served in the dining room (as Toto2Kansas points out, above - Holland America, Princess, Celebrity). Some sommeliers on some lines are more apt to "forget" to charge corkage when they are allowed to taste the wine, and are tipped well.

 

The amount charged for corkage varies with bottle size on NCL - also a policy unique to that line.

[tulsacubfan]

NCL charges corkage for each bottle of wine brought aboard, whether you consume it in your stateroom, or in the dining room.

 

No other cruise line does this. They either prohibit all alcohol brought aboard (like RCI, Carnival) or else only charge corkage on wine served in the dining room (as Toto2Kansas points out, above - Holland America, Princess, Celebrity). Some sommeliers on some lines are more apt to "forget" to charge corkage when they are allowed to taste the wine, and are tipped well.

 

The amount charged for corkage varies with bottle size on NCL - also a policy unique to that line.

 

Carnival does allow you to bring a bottle of wine per adult and charges a corkage fee if served in the dining room.

[paul929207]

This disscussion brought up a question. Who get the corkage fee? Is it like a tip that goes to the server(s) or does the cruise line get it? Most bottles of wine on Princess are in the $20 to $30 range, so the 15% tip is $3 to $5, while the corkage fee is $15 (on Princess).

[Donray]

Almost all restaurants change a corkage fee if you bring your wine. This is not unique to cruise lines.

[sultan_sfo]

Yes -- and if on NCL one puts it in the checked luggage, one is called to the "naughty" person room to collect the luggage and pay corkage!

 

NCL charges corkage for each bottle of wine brought aboard, whether you consume it in your stateroom, or in the dining room.

...

The amount charged for corkage varies with bottle size on NCL - also a policy unique to that line.

 

We have been told that the corkage goes to the "Dining Room" account along with a tally of wine sales, cocktail sales, and tips. So if the overall wine sales are high, the headwaiter tells the waiters to be more lenient with the corkage for tables that have also bought dining room wines in addition to bringing one's own. A target is also set for each dining room. No idea how corkage and tips get divided.

 

This disscussion brought up a question. Who get the corkage fee? ... (on Princess).