New Luggage Tag Wording re: Wine

[billco]

A few years ago, we were checking in for a cruise on the NCL Sun out of Dover. My wife had three bottles of wine in her package and was prepared to pay the corkage fees. Normally there was an NCL monitor at the security station but was off doing something else. The security guard scanned her bag and said "I see you have three bottles here." Then he said, "Go right through! We don't like the NCL people messing with our business."

Probably never be that lucky again.

[lamchops]

[quote name='AKman2495']Not being a drinker it really doesn't affect me, but I have read here on this board people bragging about brings cases of wine aboard ships.

Seems to me that sooner or later, when that much wine is coming aboard somebody in charge is going to take notice......[/quote]


It does affect you!
Profit loss from wine sales and corkage is made up in higher fares, optional dining, and pay activities. As a casual wine drinker I believe we've been subsidizing the heavy wine drinkers. If this keeps their pricing competitive and allows me to cruise more then I'm for it.

I also like the idea of bringing my own for a fee because the expensive stuff shouldn't be sloshing around in their cellar. Movement speeds the deterioration of wine and I don't imagine the higher end stuff is being restocked on each cruise. If corkage is paid upon boarding, I will now bring my two (free corkage) $30+ wines and drink it in the dining room. I can't imagine them charging you another $15 at the table.

[toberman]

[quote name='lamchops'] I will now bring my two (free corkage) $30+ wines and drink it in the dining room. I can't imagine them charging you another $15 at the table.[/quote]

Maybe they will !! If Princess follows other line's practices... they will mark any bottles that you had to pay the corkage fee upon boarding. The 2 'free' bottles are for your use in the cabin - if you take them to the DR, and they are not 'marked' as fees paid... you will, most likely have to pay the corkage fee. Just my guess though.

[toberman]

[quote name='lamchops']It does affect you!
Profit loss from wine sales and corkage is made up in higher fares, optional dining, and pay activities. As a casual wine drinker I believe we've been subsidizing the heavy wine drinkers. If this keeps their pricing competitive and allows me to cruise more then I'm for it.
[/quote]

Sounds to me as thought you think (or hope) the price of the cruises will come down since they will now make more money on wine sales ?? Seriously doubt that !!

[Loonbeam]

That's the way I expect it to work.

[quote name='toberman']Maybe they will !! If Princess follows other line's practices... they will mark any bottles that you had to pay the corkage fee upon boarding. The 2 'free' bottles are for your use in the cabin - if you take them to the DR, and they are not 'marked' as fees paid... you will, most likely have to pay the corkage fee. Just my guess though.[/quote]

[Loonbeam]

Not likely, but it could slow the rise (which has been pretty marginal to begin with, hence the motivation to do things like this).

What I COULD see it doing is mildly reducing the cost of some bottles of wine via increased volume sales.

[quote name='toberman']Sounds to me as thought you think (or hope) the price of the cruises will come down since they will now make more money on wine sales ?? Seriously doubt that !![/quote]

[highheel girl]

And they will sell the markers on ebay. :rolleyes:

[toberman]

[quote name='Loonbeam']What I COULD see it doing is mildly reducing the cost of some bottles of wine via increased volume sales.[/quote]

That would be a bonus !! ;)

[toberman]

[quote name='highheel girl']And they will sell the markers on ebay. :rolleyes:[/quote]

Probably!! :D:D

[PunkiC]

I talked to Princess this morning and, after much checking on this "new policy", the agent came back with the information printed on the boarding pass, plus the additional information that Princess would no longer allow passengers to bring wine on board at ports of call.

I can live with paying a corkage fee and plan to bring lots of wine on board at embarkation, but not allowing passengers to pick up wine in the countries they visit along the way really frosts me. That is part of the fun of travel.

Today after work I will most assuredly write a letter expressing my views to [url]www.customerrelations@princess.com[/url]

If there is anyone else who feels the same, let your views be known.

[Dudleydog73]

I also had a conversation with Princess today to try to clarify the availability of the wine packages on their sailings. It was pretty much confirmed that only voyages of 10+ days would have the possibility of having the package, but operational considerations as well as the captain's final decision would dictate whether they offered it or not on a particular voyage. I made it known that that was an unacceptable answer in light of the new alcohol policy, but apparently it is what it is.

It remains to be seen if they will lock down a policy for the availability of the wine packages and I hope they decide to offer it on 7 day itineraries.

[highheel girl]

[quote name='PunkiC']I talked to Princess this morning and, after much checking on this "new policy", the agent came back with the information printed on the boarding pass, plus the additional information that Princess would no longer allow passengers to bring wine on board at ports of call. [/quote]

I will believe it when I see it.
If it is true I would bet it would be a hit and miss proposition like a lot of other things they try and institute across the fleet.

Like I have said though I think there will be some changes with all the flaunting.

[AKman2495]

[quote name='Astro Flyer']All of the mass market cruise lines are changing as they struggle to find ways to keep their fares affordable enough to sail full. I don't put much credence in posts from those who say how everything is so terrible on any cruise line.

We have an upcoming 'family' cruise on RCI so I've been reading posts on their board and guess what...many hate that coffee also. There's a $25 corkage fee if you want to bring the one bottle per person per cruise with you to the dining room. If you choose their version of anytime dining then you have to prepay your tips at final payment. You also have to prepay for tours & to pre-reserve specialty dining rooms and they charge a cancellation fee if you cancel the restaurant reservation within 24 hours.

There are pros and cons to each cruise line and we decide which ones we prefer. Obviously Princess is no longer the choice of OP & wish them luck finding a cruise line that provides everything without sailing on a luxury cruise line.[/QUOTE]

Exactly....there is no "perfect" cruise line and you can spend a lot of time and trouble trying to find one. so, I do wish them luck because they are going to need it.

[Texas Realtor]

Can't believe some of the responses to this guy. He was not attacking you. He was venting his displeasure with the new policy. Don't take someones posts about a cruise line personal, it isn't. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. The name of this forum is Cruisecritic. It invites critiques. It would be better place if we could all just respectfully disagree. Feel free to say so as Pam did.

Don't worry be happy.

Have a good day.

I fully enjoy hearing others opinions good or bad about any line. I think it serves the purpose of this forum. Hopefully we all will have a good experience on all of our cruises, but that is not realistic.

[pcur]

[quote name='pcur']I have purchased six 4-packs of champagne splits, each 187ml. They have twist caps, so no corks. If my husband and I are allowed a total of 1500ml for the two of us, that's 8 bottles. Since the rest of them don't have corks, and they are for consumption in our cabin only, should I pack them all? I mean will they charge me a $15 "corkage fee" for each of the remaining 4-packs?[/QUOTE]

I'm going to quote myself to see if anyone can answer my questions above, please.

[highheel girl]

[quote name='pcur']I'm going to quote myself to see if anyone can answer my questions above, please.[/quote]

With or without a cork type closure yes they could.
I doubt it though as you are not taking them to the DR. ;)

[pcur]

[quote name='highheel girl']With or without a cork type closure yes they could.
I doubt it though as you are not taking them to the DR. ;)[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I have a hard time wrapping my head around a corkage fee for twist capped splits of champagne. :D

[4cats4me]

[quote name='aaerobear']In most ports the security scanners and personnel are port employees and could care less about what you take on board in your carry-on. There is almost NEVER a Princess person near the scanners. (most ports do not allow ships personnel near the security area)

As for NCL, they have a separate contract with the ports for extra screeners to scan and remove liquor bottles. They keep a large bin there and put all the confiscated bottles in the big bin.

Unless they start renewing their contracts and paying a lot more, I do not think it will happen.

One thing that I think may have driven this is all the posting here and on other sites about how to smuggle liquor and wine on board. With so many posting about it it has to have made an impression.[/QUOTE]


I remember reading where some were toting on CASES of wine. Tis was around two years ago. When I expressed my surprise, several jumped all over me:eek:
Nota good idea to be so boastful. Now two-buck Chuck, excuse me, $2.49-buck Chuck will cost $17 to $18. Yuck. That's just too much to pay. LOL
And my Macchia will cost $30 to $40 per bottle with the corkage fee .... Guess I won't indulge in wine drinking when cruising

[Working 2 Cruise]

[quote name='Texas Realtor']Can't believe some of the responses to this guy. He was not attacking you. He was venting his displeasure with the new policy. Don't take someones posts about a cruise line personal, it isn't. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. The name of this forum is Cruisecritic. It invites critiques. It would be better place if we could all just respectfully disagree. Feel free to say so as Pam did.

[/quote]

Actually, the OP said he was no longer going to be sailing with Princess because of this. What most people stated is that the same policy is or is going to be implemented on all cruise lines, except for the luxury lines.

This is what most people on this thread responded to. Apparently, the OP prefers paying the much higher prices on Celebrity, which also has one of the most restrictive policies in bring wine onboard.

[Amuse Bouche]

K, I also just spoke to a Rep at 1-800- PRINCESS. She wasn't aware of the new disclaimers on the boarding passes and the luggage tags. She put me on hold and went and checked on it.

Indeed, you can bring one bottle per person on, and bring more at the $15 per bottle corkage fee.

Not surprisingly, she also mentioned this is because people like to bring cases on. :-/

I'm happy about this, because like I said before, I couldn't pack any on and risk losing it. We aren't wine drinkers, wine is part of food to us. Liquor is much better for refreshment, and wine is to eat with. So, needless to say, we don't buy wine that would make it rediculous to pay $15 just to have it.

You know, with the cost of the booking itself, the cost of the excursions, and the fact that we don't have to pay for meals...isn't it silly to split hairs on the cost of wine? Either with the corkage fees, or buying a glass or a bottle onboard??? I'm not rolling in money, but I find savings in not buying souveniers that I like at the moment, but will end up in a bin in the garage after I'm home, I stay OUT of the shipboard shops and the tourist trap gift stores on shore, I buy bottles of liquor from the ship to cut down on my bar bill, and I try to stay away from the casino except for the tournaments. You can splurge on things if you edit the stuff you know you can do without. Wine and drinks are part of the whole relaxation package for many of us...

[SissyG]

This new policy is fuzzy about length of cruise....is that 2 bottles for a 7 day cruise...what about a 14 day cruise and what about a 48 day cruise like we are taking in September, would we only be allowed to bring aboard 2 bottles or would be more be allowed because of the length of the cruise, this new policy really needs some clarification.

 

Sissy

[LARGIN]

I am bringing 8 bottles of wine on our upcoming cruise and do not care if they send me to the naughty room and charge me $15 per bottle. The wine I am bringing is from our local winery and is on the Princess wine list. Princess charges $49 plus 15% gratuity or $56.35 per bottle.. I paid $20 per bottle at winery so with the $15 per bottle charge that is $35 per bottle.. Wine if bought on ship.. $450.80. My cost bringing bottles on board.. $280 or a savings of $170.80.. :):D

[Amuse Bouche]

I am bringing 8 bottles of wine on our upcoming cruise and do not care if they send me to the naughty room and charge me $15 per bottle. The wine I am bringing is from our local winery and is on the Princess wine list. Princess charges $49 plus 15% gratuity or $56.35 per bottle.. I paid $20 per bottle at winery so with the $15 per bottle charge that is $35 per bottle.. Wine if bought on ship.. $450.80. My cost bringing bottles on board.. $280 or a savings of $170.80.. :):D

*Applause*

 

Me too. Of course, it would be different if wine was my primary beverage, and if I didn't live in a wine region.

[highheel girl]

K, I also just spoke to a Rep at 1-800- PRINCESS. She wasn't aware of the new disclaimers on the boarding passes and the luggage tags. She put me on hold and went and checked on it.

 

Indeed, you can bring one bottle per person on, and bring more at the $15 per bottle corkage fee.

 

Not surprisingly, she also mentioned this is because people like to bring cases on. :-/

 

 

If you call again you will get another answer. :eek:

Heck many have never even cruised before. :rolleyes:

Corporate and Fleet, 2 different worlds.

[Amuse Bouche]

If you call again you will get another answer. :eek:

Heck many have never even cruised before. :rolleyes:

Corporate and Fleet, 2 different worlds.

 

Actually, she said she was shocked because in 7 yrs working for them, she'd never seen a policy change like that. Although, I wasn't surprised, but was concerned, that she obviously hadn't been briefed on such a huge policy change.

 

I know many have never cruised, but she did take it to her higher up to find out. I asked her what I needed to do to make sure my wine wasn't confiscated because someone else didn't know the new policy. She suggested that I carry it on and make sure the notice on the boarding pass was noticed if anything happened.

I see 3-4 people involved in my check in :D