Corkage fee current reality

[LordBeavis]

Decided against the drink package for my upcoming Symphony sailing.  I will be the only one in my party that drinks wine so I would like to avoid any corkage fees.  $15 isn’t an ungodly sum but it’s not like I would be bringing anything special onboard.  Are they more likely to  impose the fee in the MDR vs specially restaurants?  If other alcoholic beverages are ordered do they overlook the charge?  Just interested in the current landscape.  Thanks for any insight.

[neverbeenhere]

I’m sure someone has seen the charge. But, not I my reality. But(again) you signed up for it, so if it is charged, get over it. 

[Biker19]

31 minutes ago, LordBeavis said:

Just interested in the current landscape.  Thanks for any insight

I don’t recall anyone reporting that charge for years. 

[paradise4me]

I would just bring a glass from my room. No worries 

[patattack]

My sister was not charged in the MDR or Specialty on our Panama Canal cruise this month.

 

Pat

[LilBlackDress]

6 hours ago, LordBeavis said:

Decided against the drink package for my upcoming Symphony sailing.  I will be the only one in my party that drinks wine so I would like to avoid any corkage fees.  $15 isn’t an ungodly sum but it’s not like I would be bringing anything special onboard.  Are they more likely to  impose the fee in the MDR vs specially restaurants?  If other alcoholic beverages are ordered do they overlook the charge?  Just interested in the current landscape.  Thanks for any insight.

Have the others in your party bring a bottle of wine on for you 😉

[Chiliburn]

I am not aware of anyone being charged corkage. I have seen bar staff offering an ice bucket and glasses with a smile.

[not-enough-cruising]

Have never been charged a corkage fee in 25 years 

[cruisegirl1]

12 hours ago, Biker19 said:

I don’t recall anyone reporting that charge for years. 

 

5 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

I am not aware of anyone being charged corkage. I have seen bar staff offering an ice bucket and glasses with a smile.

 

19 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Have never been charged a corkage fee in 25 years 

The above is reality and standard practice. OP - if you are changed, it would  be rare and noteworthily to post to let others know. 

 

M

Edited October 29, 2023 by cruisegirl1

[little britain]

Once, and only once , I overheard a waiter telling the couple on the table next door that they will be charged corkage (IIRC it was on Radiance Alaska 2018); so once the waiter had left I advised them to go to their cabin, open the bottle and come back with 2 full glasses. Which they did! 

[smedley_odwin]

I always just carry a full glass from my cabin to dinner. Saves any concerns on corkage.

[cruisegirl1]

4 hours ago, little britain said:

Once, and only once , I overheard a waiter telling the couple on the table next door that they will be charged corkage (IIRC it was on Radiance Alaska 2018); so once the waiter had left I advised them to go to their cabin, open the bottle and come back with 2 full glasses. Which they did! 

WOW - Bad luck for them. They get the one of the thousands of RCCL waiters for the past 25 years who wants to charge a corkage fee! Never heard of this happening.   I wonder he was telling them there was a fee, but he will "waive it' with hopes of getting a better tip. 

 

 Regardless, glad you were able to help them out.  

 

M

[little britain]

49 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

WOW - Bad luck for them. They get the one of the thousands of RCCL waiters for the past 25 years who wants to charge a corkage fee! Never heard of this happening.   I wonder he was telling them there was a fee, but he will "waive it' with hopes of getting a better tip. 

 

 Regardless, glad you were able to help them out.  

 

M

Nope, he was very insistent about the fee!!

Thankfully I was on the next table to save the day lol  

[cruiseguy1016]

13 hours ago, LilBlackDress said:

Have the others in your party bring a bottle of wine on for you 😉

 

^^^ This ^^^    It will be a lot cheaper to have others to carry on your wine for you than it will be to purchase it on board.

[TravelinTess]

Ask your room attendant for a corkscrew 

Edited October 29, 2023 by TravelinTess

[Norwich Cruiser]

We’ve never been charged even on the occasions the waiter has opened a bottle for us.

 

 

[barbeyg]

We brought our own corkscrew, and hubby got wine glasses from a bar on our way back to the cabin. DH was asked more than once on his way to dinner where he got such a generous pour. 

[nferr]

I've never been charged, including last week on the Oasis. The waiter uncorked my bottle and said they would hold my bottle for me. Everyday after that it was either on the table when I arrived or they brought it right out. And they always poured the glass for me. Great service.

[volunteer cruiser]

No corkage fee when dining on Wonder in Sept. 2023 and Allure Oct. 2022

[Ret MP]

Avoid Corkage fees, bring boxed wine!  

 

 

 

 

Humor! 

[livingonthebeach]

2 hours ago, Ret MP said:

Avoid Corkage fees, bring boxed wine!  

 

 

 

 

Humor! 

 

I know you said this in jest, but just in case anyone is thinking about it, it is not allowed. 

[LilBlackDress]

5 hours ago, Ret MP said:

Avoid Corkage fees, bring boxed wine!  

 

 

 

 

Humor! 

just to add to the humor... a screw top 

[Crazy4Cruisin225]

It was quite a few years ago, maybe 2019, but we opened a bottle of wine in our cabin and brought the full glasses and the opened bottle with us to dinner…and the waiter charged us the corkage fee. Now we just leave the bottle in the room. Lesson learned. 

[Ret MP]

1 hour ago, Crazy4Cruisin225 said:

It was quite a few years ago, maybe 2019, but we opened a bottle of wine in our cabin and brought the full glasses and the opened bottle with us to dinner…and the waiter charged us the corkage fee. Now we just leave the bottle in the room. Lesson learned. 

The corkage fee doesn't have anything to do with opening a bottle of wine with a corkscrew, twist top, or a box <LOL.  The policy is about where you consume the wine.  If you consume it in a public space, it's subject to a corkage fee.  

 

For general consumption:  I don't care if you have ever paid a corkage fee or not, it is subject to the fee, that's all I am saying.  So be forewarned, that is all.  

[LilBlackDress]

6 hours ago, Ret MP said:

The corkage fee doesn't have anything to do with opening a bottle of wine with a corkscrew, twist top, or a box <LOL.  The policy is about where you consume the wine.  If you consume it in a public space, it's subject to a corkage fee.  

 

For general consumption:  I don't care if you have ever paid a corkage fee or not, it is subject to the fee, that's all I am saying.  So be forewarned, that is all.  

I found out what the corkage charge was back in 2009. We brought 2 bottles of wine to dinner with us (I am not sure if you were allowed to bring your own wine on the ship back then) 
The waiter said he would be happy to open it for us and pour it and then explained the ins and outs of the corkage fee. I said that was fine, I just thought since RC delivered it to our room to congratulate us for getting married on the ship, I would share it with the family... The waiter said, well, in that case, there is no charge since it is from RC. We said we were happy to pay and he explained again the corkage fee 😄