Holland's wine policy

[STANCPA44]

According to the website a 20 dollar corkage fee is applied per bottle of wine.  Is this just if you bring in the dining room or is it applied when you come on board.

Thinking about bringing a bottle of wine per person on board but not if they apply a corkage fee.

 

 

[VMax1700]

The charge is to take the wine on board.  Then there is no further charge if you take it to MDR or anywhere else on the ship.

[Corby114]

On the Nieuw Statendam’s January 2nd sailing we carried on three bottles of wine for the three family members that were sharing a cabin. Going through the security checkpoint we were flagged and asked what was in the carryon luggage. We were escorted over to a table and spoke with a member of the Liquor Police that explained if we wanted to take the three bottles onboard we would be charged twenty dollars per bottle plus an eighteen percent tip fee that would be added to our Sign and Sail account. We signed the receipt, they tagged the three bottles but miraculously we were never charged. 

[VMax1700]

1 minute ago, Corby114 said:

we would be charged twenty dollars per bottle plus an eighteen percent tip fee

Whoever told you this was not correct.  The corkage charge of $20 per bottle is not subject to a further 18%.  It is a flat $20 per bottle.

[Corby114]

The Liquor Police Officer was a member of the ships bar staff.

[Suzcruz57]

22 hours ago, Corby114 said:

On the Nieuw Statendam’s January 2nd sailing we carried on three bottles of wine for the three family members that were sharing a cabin. Going through the security checkpoint we were flagged and asked what was in the carryon luggage. We were escorted over to a table and spoke with a member of the Liquor Police that explained if we wanted to take the three bottles onboard we would be charged twenty dollars per bottle plus an eighteen percent tip fee that would be added to our Sign and Sail account. We signed the receipt, they tagged the three bottles but miraculously we were never charged. 

You were very lucky!!!!!!!!

[KirkNC]

I have seen reports that the $20/bottle is not charged consistently.

[STANCPA44]

 

I remember the good old days when you could bring a case or two of wine on board on Holland

[taxmantoo]

2 hours ago, STANCPA44 said:

 

I remember the good old days when you could bring a case or two of wine on board on Holland

You still can.  The only difference is you now have to pay corkage for 12 bottles instead of 10.                                                                                                                                           

[raesive]

You can't take one bottle per person on for free anymore?

[RuthC]

42 minutes ago, raesive said:

You can't take one bottle per person on for free anymore?

Nope. Not anymore, unless you get lucky and aren't charged. There have been reports that it has happened, but is not SOP. 

[Cruzin Terri]

That is one of the reasons I don’t sail on Holland America any more.

Oceania lets you bring what you want on board, including liquor. You only pay the corkage if you bring it to the dining room or outside your stateroom. 

No problems or police at check-in.

The last time I was on HAL I had the most awful experience with bringing wine on board and I swore that was my last cruise on HAL,.  It was.

Terri

[VMax1700]

Never a problem here.  I bring it, I show it, I pay if asked, then I drink it. cheers! 🥂

[Seasick Sailor]

17 hours ago, Cruzin Terri said:

That is one of the reasons I don’t sail on Holland America any more.

Oceania lets you bring what you want on board, including liquor. You only pay the corkage if you bring it to the dining room or outside your stateroom. 

No problems or police at check-in.

The last time I was on HAL I had the most awful experience with bringing wine on board and I swore that was my last cruise on HAL,.  It was.

Terri

 

Wow Terri. I had no idea you don't cruise HAL. We see you so much on our Daily!

[Cruzin Terri]

1 hour ago, Seasick Sailor said:

 

Wow Terri. I had no idea you don't cruise HAL. We see you so much on our Daily!

I enjoy the daily and feel comfortable there. 

The last two cruises we took on HAL were very unhappy experiences.  As for the wine, We brought more than the free bottles and were ready to pay.  The security person put two fingers in her mouth and whistled over to the wine desk and yelled across the embarkation hall and said “they have wine”

and had someone escort us over to the person taking the corkage fee.  Everyone in the hall had their eyes on us.  It was one of the most humiliating experiences we have ever experienced.,  This included my brother-in-law who was in a wheelchair.  There was no reason for that kind of interaction. We did not refuse to pay the corkage fee.

On the subsequent cruise, we had a terrible experience in the dining room.  We had trouble getting service.  Even after going to the Matre’d we could not get decent service either from the dining steward or from the wine steward. And we were in the Pinnacle Suite on that cruise.  That was the final straw.  

I find the service, food and the ability to bring wine on board on Oceania fits more to our liking.

By the way, I am a Four Star Mariner and very close to Five so we did not make this decision lightly.

 

I do, however, enjoy interacting with all of you on the Daily and hope you don’t mind my being there.

Terri

Edited February 1, 2022 by Cruzin Terri

[Queenmom1947]

We booked a HAL a for Feb.   was totally dismayed to trad no wine to br taken onboard for consumption in stateroom— total change from past cruises on HAL.  Even plastic bottles not allowed of water!   We are directed to drink lots of water thru day so unless we buy a pricier drink pkg, will add extra, not planned for fees on our drink purchases!   
at least in American airports you can now refill containers easwi5h filtered water that is cooled.   Available on Niew Staatendaam ?

[VMax1700]

1 minute ago, Queenmom1947 said:

We booked a HAL a for Feb.   was totally dismayed to trad no wine to br taken onboard for consumption in stateroom— total change from past cruises on HAL.  Even plastic bottles not allowed of water!   We are directed to drink lots of water thru day so unless we buy a pricier drink pkg, will add extra, not planned for fees on our drink purchases!   
at least in American airports you can now refill containers easwi5h filtered water that is cooled.   Available on Niew Staatendaam ?

Wine can be taken onboard in reasonable quantity,  corkage fee $20 per bottle.  Still good value for a half decent bottle of vino.

Lido has water and ice available 24/7 and you can refill your own bottle.