Bringing wine onboard (LOTS!)

[wilsonzoo]

I know that HAL allows bringing wine and champagne onboard with you, but does anyone know if they LIMIT the amount you bring? For our group, I'm looking at bringing potentially a CASE of wine (12 bottles), in a styrofoam-padded case for protection. We do love our Happy Hours! Is this pushing the limit?!?!

Days remaining to Alaska via Oosterdam:
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;09;04;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

Amsterdam, Sept. 2002
Oosterdam, Sept. 2004

[melzateach]

wilsonzoo..I will update you next week on this..we are leaving on Saturday on the Oosterdam and I have 12 bottles packed and I am not planning on any issues..I have read many posts of people bringing cases on.

[localady]

Unfortunately I believe if people push it and bring "cases" of wine onto the ships, HAL will begin to limit or [B]ban[/B] wine being brought on to their ships. Frankly this change in alcohol policy came about because of 2 things I believe; 1. People bring ice chests of beer and other beverages on board and 2. HAL desire to boost their profit. I would hate to see a few ruin it for the rest. Flame away if you must!

Happy Cruising!

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B
12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal
7/05 Prinsendam Baltic
11/05 "Veendammers" Carribean

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Veendam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

[This message was edited by localady on 06-17-04 at 12:32 PM.]

[ryansmemom]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]Hi,

This is a serious question. I would truly like to understand. Why are you bringing so much wine with you? It seems very inconvient to me. Why not just buy it on board?


Linda

Thanks for listening

[jhannah]

The only time I've seen a case (or in this instance, CASES) of wine being brought on board was when a wine club was sailing. They brought their own tastings with them. Seems like I remember counting 15 cases ... all with the same cabin number on them. They were stacked outside the arrival hall waiting to be taken on board.

'Vegas Jim

[Krazy Kruizers]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] wine

I agree with Linda, why do you have to bring so much of your own wine on board?

Who wants to travel all over the country carrying bottles of wine and having to worry if one gets broken?

The ships offer various wine packages - mix or match - at reasonable prices.

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[sail7seas]

I agree with the others. When folks push the privilege to the limit, the privilege is taken away from everyone.

There is a real possibility they could advise you they will be more than happy to hold the case of wine for you during the cruise and will return it to you the last night. So, you would have the chore of lugging it to the ship and then lugging it back home.

Seeing as you mentioned a "group", have you considered bringing a bottle or two for yourselves, and the others in the group can each bring a bottle or two for themselves etc?

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[ehschief]

We were on the Ryndam in May, We brought 5 bottles on board, one was champagne. There were no issues. We also had wine with our dinners which we bought on ship at the wine tasteing. There were 6 of us and it was perfect. We had cocktails everynight before dinner. (We also packed a bottle of rum in our luggage.)

[helenp2]

We have brought as many as 2 cases on board with no problem. We put a luggage tag on the cases and it is delivered to our cabin with our luggage. When we find out our dinner table # we mark the cases with table # and first or second seating and have it delivered to the dining room. We have never experienced a problem. However, with HAL's new corkage fees and service charges it becomes almost a waste of time. We always ordered our wines from a Ft Lauderdale liquor store and liked the idea of buying what we wanted. HAL's wine list leaves a lot to desire. Good luck.

[helenp2]

Forgot to add, that I sailed on the Rotterdam on 5/06 and HAL attempted to raise the corkage fees in the middle of this cruise. After much discussion, and many, many customers complaining they did not charge the new fees. Most people who took that cruise were not aware that HAL was raising the corkage fees. For that matter, most of the wine stewards did not realize it also. This was a real sore point with some of the cruisers, even though HAL agreed to not raise the fees mid-way in the cruise. Most felt that it was just another move to increase revenue at their expense. So, at $17.50 per bottle it becomes rather expensive to take on board your own wine.

[1cruiselvr]

We have always brought 1 bottle of wine for every night we dined. Yes, that means up to 12-15 bottles for the longer cruises. HAL has never said a word, they have been happy to get their corking fee for each bottle. WHY??? Because we prefer our wine selections to HALs. We have always shared out bottle with our tablemates and even the wine steward. So in answer to your question, we have never had a problem. ENJOY!

Dawn Princess 5/04;Infinity 12/04; HAL Veendam 11/05; HAL Ryndam 12/03; PP 10/03 (b2bs); HAL Noordam 3/03; HAL Veendam 10/02;RSSC Navigator 5/02;HAL Statendam 12/01; Carnival Elation 4/01; NCL Sky 9/00; Ren R4 5/00; Rhapsody of Seas 11/99; Dawn Princess 12/98; RCCL Viking Serenade 7/98; Crown Princess 11/97; 8/94 Carnival Tropicale; '88 Admiral Stardancer

[wilsonzoo]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by helenp2:
We have brought as many as 2 cases on board with no problem. ... However, with HAL's new corkage fees and service charges it becomes almost a waste of time. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


What about those corkage fees? I called HAL and wa told $10/bottle, but I'm reading all over this board that that figure seems to change nightly, and quite arbitrarily at that. What kind of charges have you experienced? $10 seems like a deal, but not upwards of $20!

Days remaining to Alaska via Oosterdam:
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;09;04;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

Amsterdam, Sept. 2002
Oosterdam, Sept. 2004

[Orcrone]

The new policy seems to be $15.00 + 15% service charge for a total of $17.25 per bottle.

1/1990 - RCCL Song of America
4/13/2003 - Carnival Inspiration
10/30/2004 - Maasdam

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0924ff&cdt=2004;10;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400[/img]
Till sailing on the Maasdam

[jhannah]

Yikes! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] I know people who don't spent that for the bottle in the first place!

'Vegas Jim

[localady]

Yes I guess there is no reason to drink Thunderbird or Annie Greensprings anymore. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img] Do they charge as much "corkage" with a screw top???? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

Happy Cruising!

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B
12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal
7/05 Prinsendam Baltic
11/05 "Veendammers" Carribean

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Maasdam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

[Krazy Kruizers]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]wine

Keep up people and HAL will soon be confiscating those cases of champagne and wine.

Although we have never brought any champagne or wine on board, we do feel sorry for those who want to bring a bottle on board. And for those who may buy a bottle of something special in a particular port we feel sorry for you if HAL gets tough and stops allowing champagne and wine to be brought on board.

Bringing on 15 bottles or 2 cases is ridiculous!

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[helenp2]

Actually, the wine stewards are more upset about these new corkage fees than you might expect. Most people who bring on their own wine tip these stewards very, very generously. In our case we give the wine steward a nice tip on the first night out and an envelope on the last night. With these new fees they now feel they are getting short changed.

[Krazy Kruizers]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] helenp2

With the new tipping regulations, your wine steward may not be able to keep the money that you give him at the begining and end of the cruise. From what we have heard, all crew members who receive extra monies must turn it in so that it can be pooled by everyone. Some people on this board have mentioned that if a crew member doesn't turn in the money, he can be fired. Hope this isn't true.

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[Host Walt]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by melzateach:
wilsonzoo..I will update you next week on this..we are leaving on Saturday on the Oosterdam and I have 12 bottles packed and I am not planning on any issues..I have read many posts of people bringing cases on.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

We carried 8 bottles (talk about heavy) of wines, mostly well aged reds, to enjoy with the other 2 couples who were sailing with us. All of us appreciate good wines that have been permitted to sit a few years.

The wine lists on board contains only new ("green") wines which are OK but are too young for our tastes.

Just one tip, if you bring a good aged red, check to see if it's unfiltered or if it contains sediment before packing. They don't travel well. (Yes, you can filter it at your table (we use natural (not white) coffee filters) but that's a chore and, if you have others, why bother?

We have broght some unusual whites on board as well, but the white wines on board are usually just fine.

Last point. HAL's wine list pricing really isn't bad at all. Don't bring your own wine just to save a few bucks. It isn't worth the hassle.

Walt Tuthill
Cruise Board Moderator

Contact at [email]Shiptender@aol.com[/email]

[melzateach]

Personally I am bringing a case of wine with me as there 14 adults in our group and we are planning on having a few gatherings on our verandahs throughout the cruise. I myself have also preordered 6 bottles for the dinning room and a know others in our group have too, so we are not bringing our own to spite HAL or to push any limits.

[sail7seas]

Good tips, Walt. Thank you.

Of course, the vast majority of typical cruisers are not quite as wine sophisticated as you. We are probably discussing cases of something a little more pedesatrian. IF that is the case, I wonder how worth it lugging heavy bottles would be when moderate price adequate wines are on HAL's wine list. Sure saves a back ache to simply order from the wine steward. What price to save "an aching back"? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[Host Walt]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by sail7seas:
...I wonder how worth it lugging heavy bottles would be when moderate price adequate wines are on HAL's wine list. Sure saves a back ache to simply order from the wine steward. What price to save "an aching back"? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Exactly my point. Bring your own because it's not available on board...not to save money that you'll spend on other things anyway.

The only benefit of bringing a lot of wine, besides having a unique wine to drink, is that you get a lot more packing room for your trip home!

BTW, if you sail out of a foreign port other than San Juan (not really foreign) make sure you are in compliance with possible import restrictions (quantity can be an issue) you might encounter when you go through customs in the departure country.

One last point. If the wine person on board knows his or her wines, why not offer that person a sip or two of your wine? they will really appreciate it. (In one case, the corkage fee was "forgotten" altogether for the entire 10 days. Guess who was tipped generously at the end?)

Walt Tuthill
Cruise Board Moderator

Contact at [email]Shiptender@aol.com[/email]

[sail7seas]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] DH and I enjoy wine with our dinner every evening. We have our usual favorites and will order them regularly.

From time to time, we will ask the assistance of the wine steward as we do enjoy hearing his/her suggestions and always learn something new during each of these conversations.

WE ALWAYS ask the steward to be sure to save a glass of a wine they recommend for themselves to enjoy when their work for the evening is finished. They are always very appreciative. Surely they must enjoy it as they most usually comment when recommending that it is a particular favorite of theirs.

(I think they enjoy our consideration of the fact they are people who also like to relax with a glass of wine at the end of their work day....the same as us. Yes, they like the wine. They like ALOT more our courtesy to them.)

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[wilsonzoo]

Does anyone know of a way to get access to Oosterdam's wine list? If I knew what the choices were going to be prior to sailing, that might eliminate my bringing some of my own wines onboard. Just seems like last cruise I recall an awful lot of white zins and other pretty commonplace varietals and wineries, which I'd rather drink on my patio as opposed to my CRUISE!!!

Days remaining to Alaska via Oosterdam:
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;09;04;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

Amsterdam, Sept. 2002
Oosterdam, Sept. 2004

[ryansmemom]

melzateach and Walt

Thank you so much for answering my question. I truly did not understand why people would bring quantities of wine on board with them and you have educated me.

I understand how having your special wine enhances your cruise experience. I would be very upset should something that important be disallowed and In would be looking for another cruise line where my experience would not be so diminished.

melzateach, I hope everything works out for you. Enjoy your cruise.

Linda

Thanks for listening