Alcohol on Gem

[4bellablue]

Can I bring vodka on board in my suitcase?

I like to have a drink in the room before dinner.

People have said they sneak alcohol on board?

[salty dingo]

Can I bring vodka on board in my suitcase?

I like to have a drink in the room before dinner.

People have said they sneak alcohol on board?

Sure, you can bring it in your suitcase. Lots of people do. However, it is explicitly prohibited and if they find it they will seize it and you may have to pay a fee to avoid losing it. That fee part has been reported but not confirmed personally.

 

You will get a lot of opinions on this. They will range from "rules are rules" to "how dare they tell me I can't bring my brand of booze from home to have a drink in my room."

 

I am of the latter persuasion. Suffice it to say "where there's a will, there's a way."

[DAGVBSB]

You can also order a bar set-up from NCL and enjoy several selections of drinks during the year.

 

According to reports on this board, NCL is the most thourough on luggage searches looking for alcohol. If they see it in your checked luggage (or something that looks remotely suspiscious,) then they will hold your luggage and call you to the "naughty room" and have you open your suitcase for a search. (then they will confiscate it....)

 

While I don't like the idea of cheating, in all honesty, it runs about 50-50 on the reports on here between those who get caught and those who don't.

[conandrob240]

Why are people so worried about this silly "naughty room" I hear about? Put it in your luggage and if they find it and call you down, pretend you didn't know about it not being allowed. They'll then hold it for you until you leave. No harm done if you don't succeed and if you do, you have your bottle with you. Or hand the guys who call you down $10 and tell them to pretend you threw it away. Geesh- this isn't like you are trying to smuggle drugs or weapons.

[4bellablue]

Sure, you can bring it in your suitcase. Lots of people do. However, it is explicitly prohibited and if they find it they will seize it and you may have to pay a fee to avoid losing it. That fee part has been reported but not confirmed personally.

 

You will get a lot of opinions on this. They will range from "rules are rules" to "how dare they tell me I can't bring my brand of booze from home to have a drink in my room."

 

I am of the latter persuasion. Suffice it to say "where there's a will, there's a way."

 

Hey what about putting Vodka in the water bottles that I want to bring along>

[WinnieinWA]

Call your TA or NCL and have them make arrangements for a bar Set-Up. It takes away the worry of the ole naughty room and you'll be able to enjoy a drink in your room.

 

Enjoy.:)

[4bellablue]

Why are people so worried about this silly "naughty room" I hear about? Put it in your luggage and if they find it and call you down, pretend you didn't know about it not being allowed. They'll then hold it for you until you leave. No harm done if you don't succeed and if you do, you have your bottle with you. Or hand the guys who call you down $10 and tell them to pretend you threw it away. Geesh- this isn't like you are trying to smuggle drugs or weapons.

 

LOL

It just seems a little steep to have to lay out 5-10 on a drink. It's not like I am not going to have a drink and pay, I would just like to be able to also have one in the room to keep the cost down.

Well I am going to go for it.

[4bellablue]

Call your or NCL and have them make arrangements for a bar Set-Up. It takes away the worry of the ole naughty room and you'll be able to enjoy a drink in your room.

 

Enjoy.:)

Ah what is a bar set up?

I called NCL and they said you could buy a bottle of gin for $80.00 That's a bit much now don't ya think. I know they ar ethere to make money, but come on.

[Danvillecruise]

I was on the fence as to what I was going to do about 'bringing the stuff on board'. And I also didn't want to get an earful of breaking the rules, etc, etc...

However, in the end I took 2 boxes of wine with me in my carryon. I did not hide them, but was also not broadcasting that they were in my bag and there was no high-fiving after I got through the check point/screening. That said, it is kind of hard to lug them around, so we purchased what else we wanted when we wanted from the martini tastings to the helmets of beer pool side, along with wines I have always wanted to try at dinner. Do I think I saved a whole bunch of money by bringing my own, NO! But it was nice to just have a beverage in my room while getting ready.

 

We also went off the ship early in Tortola and came back previous to our afternoon excursion. I had purchased a bottle of Rum for the folks watching my house and didn't want to carry it with me. I was fully prepared to turn it over to be picked up at the end of the trip, left it in the paper bag from the store, but they put it through the scanner, giggled and handed it to me. Again, I think it is about being discreet. However, when we returned with the masses just before sailing, they were taking everything that everyone had with them at that time.

 

In the end, do I believe in breaking the rules, not really. But would I take my own on again, yep. I would have paid the corkage fee, whatever it would have been, but they never asked...and no I didn't tell either. The funny part was, that my DH went to 2 different bars and asked for wine glasses. They wouldn't give them to him, saying at that point he would have to bring the bottle to them and then pay the corkage fee. When he said he didn't have a bottle, but a box of wine, DH said their eyes got huge and they got a funny look on their face and told him that had no idea what to do about that. Sent him back to the room with extra water glasses and said to enjoy. My kind of people!!!

[4bellablue]

I was on the fence as to what I was going to do about 'bringing the stuff on board'. And I also didn't want to get an earful of breaking the rules, etc, etc...

However, in the end I took 2 boxes of wine with me in my carryon. I did not hide them, but was also not broadcasting that they were in my bag and there was no high-fiving after I got through the check point/screening. That said, it is kind of hard to lug them around, so we purchased what else we wanted when we wanted from the martini tastings to the helmets of beer pool side, along with wines I have always wanted to try at dinner. Do I think I saved a whole bunch of money by bringing my own, NO! But it was nice to just have a beverage in my room while getting ready.

 

We also went off the ship early in Tortola and came back previous to our afternoon excursion. I had purchased a bottle of Rum for the folks watching my house and didn't want to carry it with me. I was fully prepared to turn it over to be picked up at the end of the trip, left it in the paper bag from the store, but they put it through the scanner, giggled and handed it to me. Again, I think it is about being discreet. However, when we returned with the masses just before sailing, they were taking everything that everyone had with them at that time.

 

In the end, do I believe in breaking the rules, not really. But would I take my own on again, yep. I would have paid the corkage fee, whatever it would have been, but they never asked...and no I didn't tell either. The funny part was, that my DH went to 2 different bars and asked for wine glasses. They wouldn't give them to him, saying at that point he would have to bring the bottle to them and then pay the corkage fee. When he

said he didn't have a bottle, but a box of wine, DH said their eyes got huge and they got a funny look on their face and told him that had no idea what to do about that. Sent him back to the room with extra water glasses and said to enjoy. My kind of people!!!

 

 

OMG That is too funny. I can just see them looking like a box.

[Travel Nymph]

If you take the chance of stashing booze and do get called down to the Naughty Room, it means:

 

You don't get your luggage. You wonder where it is? Did it get lost? Is it still on the dock? Was it delivered to another cabin and some other woman is now wearing my cocktail dress? Oh no! what am I going to wear to dinner:eek:

 

It takes time away from enjoying the ship.

You have to stand in a line to get your luggage opened and checked, when you could be having a cocktail at the bar wondering what the people in the Naughty Room are doin'...

 

And, it's a bit embarrassing.:o

[conandrob240]

If I brought liquor with me and my luggage didn't arrive, I wouldn't wonder at all since you have all told me all about the "room".:rolleyes:

[Toyz711]

plus if they find the bottle, take it away until the end of the cruise.. you are out of luck...then you have to pay the high prices. if you order a bar set-up, bring your own mixers...you know you will have it and can have your drinks.

they do check water bottles and soda bottles to make sure they are still sealed...if they find they aren't sealed, they throw out the alcohol...then you are (again) out of luck.

cost on cruises are not cheap, the cruise line makes they money on the sale of drinks and the extras....since it's the bartenders (who income depends on your buying drinks) that work the naughty room, tipping them to look the other way MAY not work:eek:

if you gamble, the casinos have specials...get one of the slot club cards, plus the slot machine with the card in the slot and they MAY give your a drink or two. sometimes they have ladies night...but it's for gamblers, they aren't that generous for non-gamblers.

[Ms belp]

If you take the chance of stashing booze and do get called down to the Naughty Room, it means:

 

You don't get your luggage. You wonder where it is? Did it get lost? Is it still on the dock? Was it delivered to another cabin and some other woman is now wearing my cocktail dress? Oh no! what am I going to wear to dinner:eek:

 

It takes time away from enjoying the ship.

You have to stand in a line to get your luggage opened and checked, when you could be having a cocktail at the bar wondering what the people in the Naughty Room are doin'...

 

And, it's a bit embarrassing.:o

 

It is a lot embarrassing. On our Dawn cruise we had stayed overnight in Ft Lauderdale and I had opened a bottle of wine. I packed it in my carry-on as I hadn't had much. I was pulled out of line and not given the chance to pay a corkage fee; I guess because it had already been opened.:o We never did go back to reclaim it. When we have cruised before the price for a bottle of Absolut has been $40.00. I now hear it is $80.00!:eek: I will still pay that however. I am one of those who has experienced Karma to the full extent, and I'm not going there again.:eek:

[conandrob240]

plus if they find the bottle, take it away until the end of the cruise.. you are out of luck...then you have to pay the high prices. if you order a bar set-up, bring your own mixers...you know you will have it and can have your drinks.

 

Aren't you out of luck before you even try if you don't try to bring it on- board? Aren't you then also just automatically paying the high prices? IMO, no worse off if you hadn't tried.

 

I would not be even slightly embarassed if I got "caught" with a bottle. I'd smile and say "oh, I didn't realize we couldn't bring that."

[garycarla]

Hey what about putting Vodka in the water bottles that I want to bring along>

 

Gee... ya don't think somebody has thought of that one?

[Ms belp]

Aren't you out of luck before you even try if you don't try to bring it on- board? Aren't you then also just automatically paying the high prices? IMO, no worse off if you hadn't tried.

 

I would not be even slightly embarassed if I got "caught" with a bottle. I'd smile and say "oh, I didn't realize we couldn't bring that."

 

You can't buy a bar set-up once you are onboard, so yeah, you will probably triple your bar bill if you get caught.

[conandrob240]

Okay. I wouldn't buy a bar set up anyway. $80 for a bottle of Absolut is way too high. I'd rather buy 8 -10 already mixed drinks from the bartender for that price.

[Ms belp]

Okay. I wouldn't buy a bar set up anyway. $80 for a bottle of Absolut is way too high. I'd rather buy 8 -10 already mixed drinks from the bartender for that price.

 

You'd rather buy 8-10 drinks at $10.00/drink rather than pay $80.00 for 20 drinks, depending on how much alcohol you put in each drink. Huh?:rolleyes:

[conandrob240]

You'd never get 20 drinks out of a bottle of liquor (at least I personally wouldn't)- more like 15. So, yes, I'd rather pay $8-$10 a drink to have someone make me a quality drink with whatever mixer I want than pay $5-7 a drink to mix some concoction by myself in my room with limited mixers and my limited bar skill.

 

Now, if I can smuggle my $14 bottle of absolut on and make own drinks for less than $1 each, then I will sacrifice quality and an array of mixers.

[Ms belp]

I'm impressed. Absolut, last time I checked was $29.99 a bottle here. If that's how you feel, I say go ahead. It's your vacation after all.:)

[conandrob240]

You are overpaying for 1 liter of Absolut. More like $20 a bottle here. However, we always buy all of our liquor when we come home from the carribean and actually pay more like $10-11 a bottle for Absolut ($13 or $14 for Vanilla or a flavor)

[Ms belp]

We stock up in St Thomas as well. But, here in Dallas, it does cost more. That's why I don't buy it at home. I also buy the regular vodka, or 100 proof. I couldn't do vanilla. My mother always told me to stay away from the "sweet stuff". Major hangover she said. Have a great cruise!

[rrobynec]

So should I let them know when I'm getting back on the ship--or should I chance it and maybe be embarrassed?:eek:

Also, bringing wine on board--do I let them know? I'd rather not pay the corkage fee, but would be ok if I had to....

[*Wink*]

So should I let them know when I'm getting back on the ship--or should I chance it and maybe be embarrassed?:eek:

Also, bringing wine on board--do I let them know? I'd rather not pay the corkage fee, but would be ok if I had to....

When coming back from port, how could you possibly remember all the wonderful products you purchased?? ;)

 

When initially checking-in, if you don't have it in a carry-on (which they may or may not notice) then you risk getting called into the liquor inquisition room which is not a big deal. So it's a toss-up.