$20 corkage fee?! Celebrity's (New?) Alcohol Policy

[tbelian]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by nywritestuff:

Just to add another perspective here. I was on the 4/3 sailing of the Connie. We bought several bottles of rum in Barbados, and as soon as we boarded, they were taken and we were given a receipt. Same thing happened in St. Thomas. The bottles were returned to us on the last day.

 

Other PAX had no problems at all, and they were able to bring their liquor on board without having it taken away.

So despite some previous snarky responses, it does seem that Celebrity doesn't have a standard procedure that applies to everyone, which is why this issue causes so much confusion.

 

If you're lucky, you can bring alcohol on board without questions. If you're not, well, you'll get all of the alcohol back on the last night.

 

I really do wish cruise lines would have a standard procedure and follow it. That way, everyone would know right off and there wouldn't be so many questions.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

They may not have a standard enforcement policy, but they clearly have a standard 'rule' , that being,

 

"No alcoholic beverages may be purchased ashore for consumption onboard."

 

It's plain, it's simple, its right there in print.

 

The issue is that with people choosing to do what they want, when they want, different experiences will be reported (in other words, your results may vary).

 

Everything we do involves a certain degree of 'risk'. BYOB ... if you choose, but realize it's a risk, and if you get 'caught' , then live and learn.

[stngfn]

On our recent Galaxy cruise, we brought beer, wine and/or liquor back on board at 5 of the 6 ports. We made no attempt to "smuggle" it on, and they said nothing to us about it. I think it depends on the itinerary, and more importantly, how much the guard working the X-ray machine cares about it..

[Guest]

Our experience concerning purchases off ship and bringing them thru the security has been this:

1. If the booze is in a 4/6 pack cardboard carry box it will probably be held till the last night. (note the "probably"--it's not an all the time thing)

 

2. If you make your booze purchases as soon as you can get off the ship and return immediatly, the confiscation table will not be set up and you can breeze right through.

 

We have had our liquor purchases held only one time in over 20 cruises, and we both were carrying a box and it was in the afternoon when most folks are returning with their purchases. Earlier that same day we brought 2 bottles on in a plastic bag with no trouble.

 

Char

 

click <a href="mailto:gaultchar@aol.com">here</a href> to send me an e-mail

[smeyer418]

I don't want to add to the festering probem here but if you like red wines, the first rules is shake the bottle as little as possible, well you really can't do that on a ship that is moving. It is then a waste to buy a really fine red wine on a ship. It is also a waste to carry one aboard for the same reason(this doesn't apply to some whites and some champagnes), so buy or bring what you enjoy but save you money and drink the younger reds which don't need the same steadiness...

 

Proud charter member of the PPS-Passport Pusher Society

NCL Crown to Bermuda this time I hope

 

 

Oceania Athens to Venice- Something new

 

smeyer418@yahoo.com

Celebrity, NCL, Overnight Ferry, hydrofoil between countries, car ferries and river cruise and of course the Staten Island Ferry

[Anthony Hunter]

Anthony Hunter -- I really do believe that Celebrity is doing a very good job of shooting itself in the foot. I can see no harm at all in bringing aboard say a bottle of spirit for oneself and maybe another one for your better half. Now that is not being selfish or dishonest -- the cruise line would still benefit from us using the bar and buying wine in the restaurant. When you think about it if you go to any class of hotel you can wander in with as many bottles as you like and no one would take a blind bit of notice.

I could see the point of their being a policy of no alcohol if there was a reason other than the obvious one that Celebrity wants to squeeze the last cent out of each and everyone us.

It is interesting to see that P&O have no worries about people bringing alcohol on board and I am sure their health and safety rules are just as stringent as those on the Celebrity ships.

 

Anthony Hunter

[emptynest1]

Just want to add after my luggage experiance. If you chose to bring glass bottles of any kind on board, make sure they are in your carry on luggage. Unless you want your clothes to smell of fine wine after the baggage handlers get ahold of it. Bubble wrap will not handle being run over by a forklift.

 

[corkpopr]

Just off last week. Documents say wine and liquor ok but celebrity does retain right to restrict amounts. never a problem for us and we bring 6-9 bottles each cruise. corkage charged on every other bottle most of the time if you get to know staff and share with them.

 

Galaxy 10 day Rome Next

[bshabazian]

I just came off Zenith on 6/5/04. 17 of us cruised. Each "couple" brought up to six bottles each on board for comsumption at dinner. We brought wine to dinner every night and was charged $12.00 per bottle "corkage fee". The wine steward was excellent and very accommodating.

[Lsimon]

We brought lots of wine with us on our March '04 Summit cruise - no problem.

 

We did find that the wine list was much more extensive than what we've seen in the past on other lines - at least for our taste in white wines - so with hindsight this wasn't needed for selection. But we still saved a few dollars even though that wasn't our primary goal.

[Moeve]

If that is going to go through then I am also going to expect wine service in my cabin when I want it - otherwise I will continue bringing my own for sun downers on my balcony!!!

[Spender Nui]

JNLROSE, why?

[stargazerm31]

Even at $20 it is still cheaper to bring your own wine. I will give you the example. In the past Celebrity has sold Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay for $36 a bottle + 15% for the wine steward which makes it $41.40. You can buy this at Sam's or Costco for $8. When you add the corkage fee of $20 you still save $13.

 

I don't mind paying for wine on the cruise lines. I know that this is where they make their money. With that said, I'm not willing to put their kids through college on this. Charge me a reasonable 2x markup and I'll buy the wine the ships offer.

 

I know many will criticize me on this. If things continue where they charge higher and higher rates for corkage while keeping the astronomical markups on their wines, I will take the route and do one of two things: 1) not drink wine at all on the cruise, or 2) stop cruising. We all have choices.

 

JMHO

 

John

 

John

 

Maui<img src=http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=32CD32&cdt=2004;01;23;08;00;00>

 

[ElaineM43]

All I can say is...never leave home without a corkscrew!!!

 

 

Mercury here we come!

 

[lesleyfb]

I agree. If the prices were more realistic they would sell much more and it would even out. The prices they charge are much more expensive than wine in a restaurant.

[CEV426]

Is there any way to view a wine list in advance? We have always brought a little something with us, most for a glass of wine to be enjoyed in the room. I think it's sort of a "don't ask, dont' tell" thing. Our cabin steward saw our bottle and iced it up and brought us wine glasses. I have heard of people packing blenders and cases of beer. (Vodka masquerades well in an Aquafina bottle.)

 

I dont remember the wines being too outrageously expensive. We usually found something decent priced in the $20s. I told the wine steward what we liked in a wine, and what we were comfortable spending. They like it when you are upfront.....then they can better recommend a selection for you. Also, if you don't finish a bottle, the will cork and store it for you for the following night. That never happened with us. Once we open a bottle, we finish it!

 

 

Zenith 09/97

Rhapsody of the Seas 2/98

Zenith 6/99

Sea Princess 7/01

Mercury 01/03

 

[LMKohler]

Stop cruising????? You must be joking [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[LMKohler]

Stop drinking wine????? NEVER [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[new_cruiser]

Is this all a tempest in a teapot? I went to the Celebrity site. The FAQ there still says $12 and $15 for corkage with nothing about plans for an increase. The specialty restraunt FAQ shows the new price of $30 so it appears they are keeping prices on the site up to date. $20 sounds excessive to me, $12 to $15 seems reasonable.

As far as bringing alcohol on board, I think the FAQ statement about not bringing alcohol bought ashore on board for consumption is referring to what is purchased duty free in ports and not what is brought with you at embarkation because our cruise documentation said they reserve the right to restrict the amount. If they reserve the right to restrict it implies that they don't have an absolute rule.

[dj4eyes]

CEV426,
I love it!
Next cruise my Grey Goose is wearing Aquafina!

[img]http://www.addis-welt.de/smilie/smilie/pc/78.gif[/img] Mark