"Naughty room" for 2 airplane bottles of rum!

[woof22]

I guess in the end the goal of RCI is to get as much of my money as they can. My goal is to keep as much money as I can. We try to meet in the middle. But this is getting away from someone going to the naughty room over 2 airplane bottles of liquor. I feel that is excessive but if for some reason I chose to smuggle on the 2 bottles and got sent to the naughty room it would torque me for a short period of time and then I'd enjoy my cruise. If the drink prices were lower I would probably buy more drinks. Somewhere in there is a max/min problem I'm sure and I'm sure RCI has some pretty good mathematicians.

[annierie]

The reason behind RCCL's alcohol policy is simple... if they do not generate revenue selling their own alcohol then they have to raise the cruise prices to cover for the losses.

 

Alcohol sales represent a huge portion of the cruise lines revenue. Every time someone smuggles alcohol on board it potentially reduces the revenue for that cruise. Well, if it keeps happening then what will the cruise line do? They will of course raise the cruise fares. Then everyone gets pissed and switches cruise lines because they do not want to pay higher ticket prices. Then the cruise line that we all claim to love goes out of business.

 

The fact remains, the more people break the rules like smuggling alcohol the higher the cruise prices will be for everyone. The alcohol smuggler will wind up paying more in increased cruise fares than they saved by smuggling alcohol. When you smuggle alcohol you are LOSING MONEY!!!! Everyone is losing money because of you! This is not rocket science!

 

Now I am not even going to get into the moral and ethical implications of smuggling alcohol and rule breaking... that would be too tiring with this crowd and I am already too tired just from reading this thread.

 

OK, sounds good to me. I am tired of being told that only those who drink alcohol have to buy from the cruise lines in order to keep fares low for the cheapskates who don't drink.

 

I have no problem paying more for my cruise. I have no problem paying them a $25 corkage fee and being allowed to bring my own wine on board.

 

I have no problem with them charging a fee to bring items on board that they sell. Want your own "special" soda as an excuse for not buying whatever is available on board? Pay a premium to bring it on board. Want your own water instead of theirs, same thing.

 

I am tired of being told I am some sort of criminal for wanting to drink on my balcony the alcohol of my choice. It's OK to bring soda to avoid their prices, and pretend it's because of preference, but not OK to bring my single malt of choice even if they don't stock it or sell it.

 

I continue to make it known that even though RCCL sails out of Baltimore, they will not get my business until they treat me like an adult, and allow me to bring my alcohol of choice to my cabin. HAL and Princess have no problem with personal alcohol in cabins. I would spend tons of money to sail out of Baltimore but won't unless they change their policy.

 

On 16 cruises on 8 different cruise lines including RCCL, I've never had alcohol confiscated. We brought Bacardi Reserve rum on board after a tour in PR back in the earlier years of cruising on the Sovereign of the Seas, without any issue from the line. Their stupid policy (not evenly enforced) is what keeps us away from them now.

 

Maybe they would listen if enough of us complain, but I'm not holding my breath that they will raise fares and do away with their stupid policy. If I want a cruise in the winter from close to home, I'll suck it up and go on the Pride. Not my favorite itineraries but at least I can take my wine on board.

[James in SA]

From a business standpoint I thing it is a STUPID policy that probably in reality generates very little additional revenue, and it seems to IRRITATE a lot of customers and potential customers. Believe it or not, we DO have a choice who we cruise with, and things like this do add up when making that decision.

 

I know of a certain other large cruise line whose name starts with a C that has a very reasonable alcohol carry on restriction, and few people complain about it. Probably because it is reasonable. They still seem to have plenty of liquor revenues, and in fact they make a healthy profit, unlike some lines starting with R. They sell LOTS of drinks, and they also give away quite a few on different occasions like past guest receptions and Captain's Cocktail Party (which is open to everybody.)

 

On both lines it is obvious many people sneak on ( smuggle is the wrong word ) alcohol beyond what the cruise line rules permit. The difference is that one cruise line ticks off lots of customers with its obviously greed driven policy, while the other one does not.

 

Which makes better business sense? I think Royal's policy was thought up by accountants, whereby Carnival and Celebrity and the others are applying some good business sense in balancing squeezing every dime out of people versus having happy repeat customers that tell all their friends what a nice experience they had cruising on X.

 

It is Royal's company and they have a right to make whatever rules they want... but we as customers also have the right to choose who we spend our money with. I'll try them next week and see how I like the overall experience.

 

Incidentally personally I DO NOT sneak on alcohol against their stupid rules, but I do wish their rules weren't quite so stupid.

[grand isle joe]

NO MINI's..NO PEACE!:eek:

[James in SA]

Annie, we both used the "S" word to describe their rule! :) I too enjoyed having a bottle of my favorite wine (or whatever) in my room. On my Carnival cruises... Instead of trying to confiscate it they brought me wine glasses and kept the ice bucket full for me. There is a big difference in attitude. I probably spent more with them because they showed me a really good time and were always very nice.

[woof22]

NO MINI's..NO PEACE!

 

Now that's funny.

[coordinator23]

I guess in the end the goal of RCI is to get as much of my money as they can. My goal is to keep as much money as I can. We try to meet in the middle. But this is getting away from someone going to the naughty room over 2 airplane bottles of liquor. I feel that is excessive but if for some reason I chose to smuggle on the 2 bottles and got sent to the naughty room it would torque me for a short period of time and then I'd enjoy my cruise. If the drink prices were lower I would probably buy more drinks. Somewhere in there is a max/min problem I'm sure and I'm sure RCI has some pretty good mathematicians.

completely off the subject - my family (extended) will be on Mariner 2-7. Hope to meet you on board! On topic - yes they have to make money. I don't mind paying for drinks onboard. Should lighten up on the prices a little. Busting little old ladies for breaking the rules with - gasp - two mini bottles buys bad will not good will. Last year on Granduer I brought two bottles of Tequilla in Cozumel, forgot about them (cause I bought other stuff too) and didn't realize it until I was in my cabin. They were gifts, so we did not drink them - just packed them away. I guess it's hit or miss!

[James in SA]

Yep, it is all about rules.

[G'ma]

I'm curious....

 

Does it also get to you when passengers...

 

-bring their own soda/water on board

-book their own excursions independently instead of through the cruise line

-not buy art at the art auction

-avoid the casino

-avoid bingo

-stay out of the specialty restaurants

-make it a personal goal to spend as little as possible on board

-etc.

 

Those are all ways that potential revenue is gone for the cruise line, thereby forcing the cruise line to raise fares.

 

One thing you overlooked:

 

RCCL has made no rules prohibiting the activities on your list.

 

RCCL DOES have a rule prohibiting alcohol to be brought on board.

 

Apples and Kumquats, friend.

[crcossel]

For the people that smuggle I hope you can continue to get away with it. I feel they overcharge for everything and try to make an excessive profit. So if they raise the cruise prices so be it. I try to spend the least amout because of there over charging. I never book a tour with them and never will. I will not purchase a picture with them because of there so overpriced. If they price things to make a fair profit I would spend more. Im in the retail business so I have a good idea of there costs on liquor and wine and believe me they are overcharging. So if your cruise price goes up to bad you pay for there overcharging and dont expect me to.

 

 

It sounds like you must know everything. BTW, I am a professional photographer and my portraits are 3x's as much. (8x10s) Now I am more than 3xs as better, but I digress.

[James in SA]

Hide your knuckles kids, because the teacher's back with her RULER and she's going to whack them!

[G'ma]

I do not find integrity to be an absolute to be wrecked or restored based on one action/inaction.

 

If someone that I hold in high regard drives 5 miles over the speed limit, I do not find that person to suddenly have no integrity.

 

You are free to make your own life rules but I simply don't see it your way.

 

If my smuggling liquor causes you to decide that I have no integrity, that's on you. It does not in any way mean that to me and I can assure you that there has not been a corresponding drop in self-esteem.

 

Trust me....my post wasn't directed to you.

 

Integrity cannot be turned off and on...it's a natural as breathing. There is no decision making involved. It's how you are raised, by parents who possess the trait. It's a personal "moral" compass that directs the so endowed to follow the rules even when no one is watching.

 

As for booze smugglers.....they affect the rest of us by the cruiselines eventually raising the price on drinks onboard.

 

They also seem to drink more, get drunk faster and become a problem to themselves and those around them at a much higher level.

 

This is not personal, it's fact.

[G'ma]

Okay' date=' that was hilarious.[/color'] And the pirate & maiden thing, you got your own "naughty room". Good job!

 

 

No, G'ma, way off:

it's not like cocaine, cocaine is illegal, booze is not & theoretically costing the ship $. I think it IS PETTY (about the 4oz) and the rule is not for safety or legal reasons, it's for them to make more money. Other lines let you and they do just fine.

 

The comment wasn't about the illegality of any substance....it was about prohibited items. It makes no difference if it's cocaine, knives, surfboards, irons, weapons or alcohol......they are ALL prohibited.

[G'ma]

We've already been over the speeding comparison, and I claim victory with that one :-)

 

So let's move on:

 

I've only cruised three times previously, and will roll over on most topics to those of you who have cruised dozens of times, but hear me out on this...

 

On all three of our previous cruises (all with RCCL), we've taken a box of wine and some soda. All three times, the stateroom attendant has noticed our contraband, openly displayed on the countertop. And all three times, the attendant blew a loud whistle and security came and confiscated our loot and scolded us... no wait, that's not right...In reality, the only response has been the attendant making a special effort to keep ice and glasses available to us in our room so we can enjoy our beverages.

 

If RCCL were serious about this rule, don't you think the stateroom attendants would at least be on board with it?

 

What's funny about this is that I'm basically a boy scout. I'm no criminal. I DO obey rules. THIS, however, is not a rule. It's more like a suggestion. And a silly one at that. If that leads you to question my "integrity" I guess I can live with that.

 

No, I wouldn't expect the cabin attendant to take your booze. That's not his job.

 

However, if the Captain or security ordered a sweep for contraband (which they do on occasion), the cabin steward would take whatever the officer ordered him to remove.

 

Don't be precious.

[G'ma]

Some folks on their moral high horses are just a bit too much to bear. It must be awfully lonely up there in that tower.

 

Some posters seem to think bringing personal alcohol onto the ship is a moral defect and those people should be - I'm not sure what consequences they deem appropriate - walking the plank, excommnicated, prosecuted or something. They even implied that if you speed, roll through a stop sign, or commit any infraction of any rule or law you are morally inferior to them.

 

What bull hockey!!!!

 

I live in a small community with a posted speed limit of 15 mph. I have lived here for 10 years and I can probably count on both hands the number of times I've seen anyone drive the speed limit through my little community. Does that make me, my family and friends, almost all of my neighbors, their friends, and lost tourists morally inferior to those posters living in the ivory towers?

 

I don't see a problem with people bringing alcohol on board if that is what they want to do. I don't hold with the folks who knowingly book a cruise on a ship then complain about the drink prices so they are brining their own supply. I think most are bringing a little to have something in the cabin. But we all recognize that it is Royal's perogative to search our luggage and dispose of any contraband found. It is in the contract and if we choose to bring it on board we know we may never see it again.

 

That my friends is between me and Royal Caribbean.

 

I think those with the opposing point of view are NOT moralizing....

 

I believe the subject is more those who ignore the rules they don't like and those who follow rules because they are there...

 

And, I have noticed the subject is smuggling on a cruise ship which is privately owned and has a rule against bringing booze on board. I haven't noticed any cruise line posting any rules about speeding or running a stop sign.

 

So, what's the point?

[G'ma]

Thanks for the lesson on dictionary usage. But come on... bringing a little booze on board a cruise ship is hardly illicit and has nothing to do with lawful customs charges or duties. If you bought your booze in the US and board a ship in the US, you paid your taxes on the alcohol.

 

And I just don't understand why some folks worry about what others do. :confused: I mean, if I want to bring on booze and get caught and they dump your booze, well it's my loss- nobody else's. My problem, not yours.

 

So True.

 

But, when caught, don't complain about it.....that seems to be the point here.

[woof22]

One thing you overlooked:

 

RCCL has made no rules prohibiting the activities on your list.

 

RCCL DOES have a rule prohibiting alcohol to be brought on board.

 

Apples and Kumquats' date=' friend.[/quote']

 

Didn't overlook. It was stated that they weren't discussing ethics and breaking rules.

[Brillance]

I rember the days of crusing on RCCL where you could by liquor on the ship at the great rates offered in the liquor store and pay an extra nominal fee of approximately $8.00 to $10.00 and take the bottle back to your room and consume it during your cruise. Although it was very nice to be able to mix a drink while relaxing in your room apparently people took advantage of this and bought alcohol for minors and there were many problems with underage drinking and the sometimes associated negative behaviour that would occur. One particular cruise due to underage drinking we were waiting to go to late dining when an announcement was made calling some students and a chaperone to the lounge area outside the dining room and the Hotel manager informed the students and the chaperone that they would be put off at the next port due to underage drinking and damage to staterooms that the chaperones were previously warned about. These folks were indeed put off the following morning when we arrived in port. I also rember a New Years cruise we took on the Rhapsody with my wife and two daughters and being in the Vicking Crown on New Years Eve in formal attire where at the stroke of midnight several obviously intoxicated young adults though that it would be a great idea to take the champagne that was provided by RCCL, shake it up and spray the crowd including my family. What a shame this was and ruined the end of our wonderful evening and many others. It was our first and last New Years cruise. Its a shame that the actions of a few ruin it for the responsible cruise passengers and young adults but the cruise line has to draw the line somewhere. So observe the rules and regulations imposed by the cruiseline or choose another one if you feel the need or the right to break the rules.

[wayne_trisha]

As for booze smugglers.....they affect the rest of us by the cruiselines eventually raising the price on drinks onboard.

 

They also seem to drink more' date=' get drunk faster and become a problem to themselves and those around them at a much higher level.

 

[/quote']

 

You are quite good at generalizing. My smuggled booze is consumed in my cabin. If I didn't have it, I wouldn't leave my room to get a drink or order from room service. How does that affect other cruisers? I await your witty response.

 

Somehow I think it won't answer the question but will moralize on whether or not I have integrity or ethics or some such blather.

[woof22]

My smuggled booze is consumed in my cabin. If I didn't have it, I wouldn't leave my room to get a drink or order from room service.

 

Heck, I'm even curious if smuggling helps people buy more drinks than they would.

 

In the morning, start the day by ordering room service with an OJ or two. Make a screwdriver in the room. (Without the smuggled booze there wouldn't be the screwdriver.) Start feeling nice. (That doesn't mean drunk.) Head out somewhere on the ship, feeling good I'll buy another bevvie. Without feeling good. Ummmm, it's too early to buy a drink.

 

Just curious.

[woof22]

completely off the subject - my family (extended) will be on Mariner 2-7. Hope to meet you on board!

 

Bummer. We'll wave to you as you walk off of the ship and we walk on. Hope you keep her in good shape for us.

[Tucker in Texas]

It sounds like you must know everything. BTW, I am a professional photographer and my portraits are 3x's as much. (8x10s) Now I am more than 3xs as better, but I digress.

 

I have no doubt you are three times better--probably more. I suspect you spend a little more time with your clients getting a good photograph and developing them and probably printing them on much better quality paper.

 

Photographs rank third or fourth in ship's revenue after alcohol sales, casino, and ship's excursions.

 

Tucker in Texas

[Badlands99]

No' date=' I wouldn't expect the cabin attendant to take your booze. That's not his job.

 

However, if the Captain or security ordered a sweep for contraband (which they do on occasion), the cabin steward would take whatever the officer ordered him to remove.

 

Don't be precious.[/quote']

 

Would the cabin attendant do something about it if I had a firearm or an explosive in plain view? After all, it's not his job, right?

 

Rules are rules. Contraband is contraband. Why ignore one and not the other?

 

Your position is full of holes, and you're baling fast, but still sinking.

[VickyMcG]

The comment wasn't about the illegality of any substance....it was about prohibited items. It makes no difference if it's cocaine' date=' knives, surfboards, irons, weapons or alcohol......they are ALL prohibited.[/quote']

But, respectfully, still not the same. Your assertion is flawed. And you missed the op's point.

[davekathy]

Only if you designate that you want it for in room consumption and then take it to the dining room. If you designate that you want it for the dining room it will be available for you there without a corkage fee.

 

 

 

We’ve always received a cork screw with our wine packages. Never the less we pack one in our checked luggage for just in case. I've taken an opened bootle of wine that we had with diner back to our cabin and I've also taken an open bottle of wine from our cabin to the dining room. If you need a cork screw ask your cabin steward. No problem.