How to stop alcohol smuggling

[mochuck]

On sea days we like "Bloody Mary's" at around 8:30 AM...we've tried to get them via room service or go to the pool bar at 9 am. Pain in ARSE!! It's just so much easier to have our little stash, pour a vodka and V-8 and relax!!

 

 

Are you serious??:eek:

[pumkinsmom]

I don't know that that's true. I don't think their normal drinks are that high. The fancy/souvenir drinks are high but you don't have to get them. Otherwise I think the drink prices are in line with those at any bar or restaurant.

 

For me I would just like to be able to enjoy a drink or two or three in the privacy of my room WHEN I want to. Some say you can get your drinks delivered to your room. Perhaps that's true but I don't want to:

 

1. be bothered with having to call for room service

2. Wait for them to deliver the drink

3. Pay extra for room delivery

4. Get a drink with melted ice

5. Repeat the process for each drink I want

 

Jimmers[/quote

 

You left out my biggest pet peeve. We like to have a drink while getting ready for dinner, just as we do at home if we are going out. The drinks from cabin service will arrive, without exception, while one is in the shower and the other is undressed. :)

 

Yes, they are watered down by the time they arrive and in the Caribbean, even more so. Now you've got two watered down drinks at $6.50 per + 15% + 2.00. Do that twice a night on a 14 day cruise and you might understand why people would prefer to have a bottle for in cabin consumption. If the bar were right outside the door in the hallway, we'd be more than happy to order from them.

 

In all fairness, just because some don't ever have a drink in their cabin doesn't mean it doesn't enhance the cruise for others and the two will never have the same opinon. ;)

 

Let's see. Then I guess having a number of bars within a minute or less walk from the cabin doesn't do it, huh?? Sounds to me like you said it the first time. You don't like to pay. forget the watered down part.

[curley23]

Princess' policy allows you to bring alcohol on board. There is no need to smuggle it on. It is one of the few things I like more about Princess over RCCL.

 

Then it seems Princess is the line for you, however you have only been there once??

[denims]

Princess' policy allows you to bring alcohol on board. There is no need to smuggle it on. It is one of the few things I like more about Princess over RCCL.

 

Princess DOES NOT allow hard alcohol to be brought on board...even though they look the other way when you do smuggle!

[Bakincakes]

I recall back in the 70's and 80's that one could bring alcohol aboard with no trouble. The cruise lines have created this "problem" by its own greed.

 

 

I would venture to say that the fact RCI is being sued because a kid took a flying Walenda off the ship after over consuming alcohol, which included smuggled booze, would probably figure into this.

 

It isn't only the greed of the cruiseline but also the greed of some pax that just couldn't follow the rules and bring what was allowed in the guidelines. Piggish actions brought this on.

[Jimmers]

I would venture to say that the fact RCI is being sued because a kid took a flying Walenda off the ship after over consuming alcohol, which included smuggled booze, would probably figure into this.

 

 

Anyone can file a lawsuit but as long as RCI didn't serve him the liquor he got drunk with, I doubt this lawsuit will go anywhere. They are not responsible for someone who smuggles alcohol onto the ship against clearly defined rules.

 

Jimmers

[FL_Cruiser64]

I recall back in the 70's and 80's that one could bring alcohol aboard with no trouble. The cruise lines have created this "problem" by its own greed.

 

In the 70s and 80s you had cruisers. Now you have a "watered down" (to stick with the topic) cruising population which is mainstream America. Cheap, cheap, always asking for more, if not we sue, accountability and responsibility is out the window. It's me, me , me and only what I want counts.

 

In the 70s and 80s cruising was a more exclusive way of traveling: ships were smaller, cruise fares were more expensive thus generating profit for cruise lines. So a bottle of liqueur brought on board didn't make a difference. You also had less people cruising who were irresponsible with alcohol when cruising. It was a totally different era when courtesy and manners towards your fellow cruisers prevailed over selfishness, and common sense prevailed and cruisers took cruises in stride and were able to adjust to adversity and being thankful of taking cruises.

 

Just look at the complaints these days and reasons for lawsuits. Smuggling is not being done out of necessity but rather out of selfishness. It is unfortunately the microcosm of society.

[FL_Cruiser64]

I would venture to say that the fact RCI is being sued because a kid took a flying Walenda off the ship after over consuming alcohol, which included smuggled booze, would probably figure into this.

 

It isn't only the greed of the cruiseline but also the greed of some pax that just couldn't follow the rules and bring what was allowed in the guidelines. Piggish actions brought this on.

 

Logic wins again! Thanks.

[FL_Cruiser64]

Anyone can file a lawsuit but as long as RCI didn't serve him the liquor he got drunk with, I doubt this lawsuit will go anywhere. They are not responsible for someone who smuggles alcohol onto the ship against clearly defined rules.

 

Jimmers

 

Well, they are quite innovative these lawyers.

 

There was a case not too long ago in which a guy beat up another guy. Both were drunk as a 'sailor'. Since, at that time, their sea pass account showed small movements and they found bottles of liqueur in each stateroom they determined that the liqueur was 'smuggled'. Both were suing the cruise line for medical bills, punitive damages, return of their cruise far (they were locked up over night to sober but were allowed to continue their cruise). Their argument was that the cruise line failed to prevent them from smuggling booze onboard, not enforcing their own rules.

[tuff2]

$1000.00 for a week? Looks like you have a drinking problem. Now we know why you smuggle!

[FL_Cruiser64]

$1000.00 for a week? Looks like you have a drinking problem. Now we know why you smuggle!

 

LOL.

I was thinking the same but didn't want to say anything. You can find me pretty much all day with a drink in my hand and my sea pass bill was $1000 too but it was also other stuff on it like casino bill, some souvenirs etc. and it was for 2 people.

:D

[OGCFreddie]

I would say you are right with the drink prices being similar to that of a good restaurant especially if you are in the dining room, Champange Bar, Viking lounge etc... but out at the pool bar and in the more casual bars at the restaurant they are more overpriced than what you would pay at a similar place on land. With no competition or ability to BYOB they can charge what they want and increase the prices. It is like a monopoly once on board the ship.

I've always stayed out of these threads because they are the same outcome as the smoking threads. One person with a strong opionion is not going to persuade another person with a strong opinion to chage their minds.

 

I do, however, want to say that I really don't think the prices for a drink on RCI are out of line. It could be because I live in a tourist area (Orlando) and am used to prices being just as high or higher than the ones RCI has. Bars, Lounges, etc are ALWAYS higher at home than the prices I'm charged on RCI ($9-$12 for a Cosmo).

 

Yes, I pay more on alchohol when I cruise than if I stayed at home, but at home I generally drink beer. On the ship, I tend to stay with stronger drinks because, in my opinion, if I'm going to spend $4 for a beer I might as well go the extra $1 or $1.50 and get something with some kick. Maybe that's the answer to the ones who don't think the drinks are strong enough (something I have never observed on RCI). Get a stronger drink. Instead of Vodka and Cranberry, get a Long Island Iced Tea. It's the same price and it has quadruple the alchohol ;)

 

Again, JMHO!

[Chigirlcruzin]

In the 70s and 80s you had cruisers. Now you have a "watered down" (to stick with the topic) cruising population which is mainstream America. Cheap, cheap, always asking for more, if not we sue, accountability and responsibility is out the window. It's me, me , me and only what I want counts.

 

In the 70s and 80s cruising was a more exclusive way of traveling: ships were smaller, cruise fares were more expensive thus generating profit for cruise lines. So a bottle of liqueur brought on board didn't make a difference. You also had less people cruising who were irresponsible with alcohol when cruising. It was a totally different era when courtesy and manners towards your fellow cruisers prevailed over selfishness, and common sense prevailed and cruisers took cruises in stride and were able to adjust to adversity and being thankful of taking cruises.

 

Just look at the complaints these days and reasons for lawsuits. Smuggling is not being done out of necessity but rather out of selfishness. It is unfortunately the microcosm of society.

 

EXTREMELY well said:).

[FL_Cruiser64]

EXTREMELY well said:).

OMG! My Carnival girl agrees with me again!!!

 

We are a match. :D

[Chigirlcruzin]

Well, they are quite innovative these lawyers.

 

There was a case not too long ago in which a guy beat up another guy. Both were drunk as a 'sailor'. Since, at that time, their sea pass account showed small movements and they found bottles of liqueur in each stateroom they determined that the liqueur was 'smuggled'. Both were suing the cruise line for medical bills, punitive damages, return of their cruise far (they were locked up over night to sober but were allowed to continue their cruise). Their argument was that the cruise line failed to prevent them from smuggling booze onboard, not enforcing their own rules.

 

I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. It amazes me you can actually find lawyers to take these cases:rolleyes:

[Chigirlcruzin]

OMG! My Carnival girl agrees with me again!!!

 

We are a match. :D

 

 

LOL!!! Update...both guys are out. The "hottie", well, he had no personality, and the "nice guy", well, I just had no desire to take things to um, the next level;). I'm looking at sailing on the 5 day Enchantment in May. Price is only about $20 more than a similar Carnival sailing.

[FL_Cruiser64]

LOL!!! Update...both guys are out. The "hottie", well, he had no personality, and the "nice guy", well, I just had no desire to take things to um, the next level;). I'm looking at sailing on the 5 day Enchantment in May. Price is only about $20 more than a similar Carnival sailing.

 

Trying to tell me something? :p:D

[royalcaribbeanfan]

Hi everyone. I just had to add to this. I, for one, am very upset that we can't buy a bottle of alcohol from the liquor store on the ship and take it back to my cabin to consume. We do have a substantial bar tab at the end of the cruise and really don't mind spending the money that they charge and if you know which bar to go to you can get a pretty strong drink!! However, at the end of the night I like to go back to the cabin and have a drink or two before I go to bed. I can do this if I get dressed and run down to the bar, purchase a drink and then go back to my cabin. The only problem with that is by the time I get back to the cabin, my ice is melted and the drink is very watered down. :( Royal Caribbean told me that the reason they do it this way is because of the irresponsible people who consume too much and then cause problems. ie: jump overboard, get into fights, rape, murder etc. For the responsible people, like my husband and myself, we have to put up with the inconvenience or smuggle it onboard. Until they modify their policy, that is what we will do. :mad: I don't like it, but I don't like being inconvenienced while I am on vacation either. Other cruise lines don't have this policy and they do just fine. I enjoy cruising with Royal Caribbean and will continue to do so; and until they modify their alcohol policy we will continue to smuggle liquor onboard for responsible consumption in our cabin.

[FL_Cruiser64]

Hi everyone. I just had to add to this. I, for one, am very upset that we can't buy a bottle of alcohol from the liquor store on the ship and take it back to my cabin to consume. We do have a substantial bar tab at the end of the cruise and really don't mind spending the money that they charge and if you know which bar to go to you can get a pretty strong drink!! However, at the end of the night I like to go back to the cabin and have a drink or two before I go to bed. I can do this if I get dressed and run down to the bar, purchase a drink and then go back to my cabin. The only problem with that is by the time I get back to the cabin, my ice is melted and the drink is very watered down. :( Royal Caribbean told me that the reason they do it this way is because of the irresponsible people who consume too much and then cause problems. ie: jump overboard, get into fights, rape, murder etc. For the responsible people, like my husband and myself, we have to put up with the inconvenience or smuggle it onboard. Until they modify their policy, that is what we will do. :mad: I don't like it, but I don't like being inconvenienced while I am on vacation either. Other cruise lines don't have this policy and they do just fine. I enjoy cruising with Royal Caribbean and will continue to do so; and until they modify their alcohol policy we will continue to smuggle liquor onboard for responsible consumption in our cabin.

 

Like I said every reason for smuggling can be shut down very easily.

 

Why don't you get a drink without ice. They certainly make it for you. Use the ice cubes in your room to cool your drink.

 

:p

 

 

And seriously: you can not use responsible while breaking rules. Responsible is something when you become innovative without breaking rules. :D

[BobBeaSea]

And then there are some rules which are so stupid, it would be irresponsible NOT to break them. :D

[royalcaribbeanfan]

Thanks BobBeaSea. That's what I'm saying. I normally follow the rules. I don't break the law and am an easy person to get along with. :D But Royal Caribbean's alcohol policy makes me fume. :mad: Thanks again.

[Bakincakes]

And then there are some rules which are so stupid, it would be irresponsible NOT to break them. :D

 

 

Guess that depends upon the rule and what your definition of "stupid" is.

 

Some people think speed limits are stupid...

[kidless]

Anyone can file a lawsuit but as long as RCI didn't serve him the liquor he got drunk with, I doubt this lawsuit will go anywhere. They are not responsible for someone who smuggles alcohol onto the ship against clearly defined rules.

 

Jimmers

 

If you read the small print on your contract they take no responsibility for anything on the cruise..smuggled or not. :D

[PhoenixCruiser]

Anyone can file a lawsuit but as long as RCI didn't serve him the liquor he got drunk with, I doubt this lawsuit will go anywhere. They are not responsible for someone who smuggles alcohol onto the ship against clearly defined rules.

 

Jimmers

 

Perhaps, but he was served while drunk.

 

###

[dontpanik]

I have not yet cruised with RCI, but when I cruised with Disney, there was no alcohol policy. I remember bringing an entire gallon (yes a gallon) of vodka onboard for a 4 day cruise and no one even blinked (I had planned on making screwdrivers in my room before dinner). As it was, we had a $400 bar bill at the end of the cruise, a very slightly used bottle of vodka that I gave to the stateroom attendant since I couldn't bring open alcohol back through customs, and I had purchased my alotted 2 bottles of rum onboard to bring home. Disney made a fortune off of me.

 

I guess my policy would consist of allowing people to purchase alcohol onboard and be allowed to take it back to their room for consumption. As far as the smuggling..give up. It costs more in labor and effort to try to stop people from bringing 12 oz of alcohol on board than its worth. JMHO:D

 

BTW, for the record, I no longer drink so RCI will have to make do without my $$$ this cruise