Carnival - Bringing your own wine on board?

[Sea is Calling]

Hi Everyone!

Does anyone know if Carnival will allow you to bring your own wine on board to be served with dinner in the dining room? We have a party of eight and all of us enjoy the same type of wine but it is much cheaper to buy it before hand and then take it on board. I know that you can "smuggle" it on board in the checked luggage but we would really like to have it served with dinner by our waiter. I have read about " corking fees" but am unable to find any information on fees or restrictions with Carnival Cruise Lines. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[sk8teacher]

From Carnivals Frequently Asked Questions:

 

Can I Bring Liquor On Board?

 

A liquor and beverage consumption policy was created in order for Carnival to be able to control the liquor consumption of minors and the quantities consumed that lead to the disruptive behavior of others on board.

 

Liquor and Beverage Policy

 

Bringing Alcohol On Board - Embarkation

 

Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages onboard. However, guests 21 years of age and older only may bring one bottle (750ml) of wine or champagne, per person, on board only during embarkation at the beginning of the cruise. A $10 corkage fee per bottle will be charged should you wish to consume this wine in the main dining room; $14 corkage fee per bottle in the Supper Club. Guests may bring a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages. All prohibited alcohol, additional quantities of wine/champagne or excessive quantities of non-alcoholic beverages will be confiscated and discarded without compensation.

 

Large cooler restrictions:

 

Carnival Cruise Lines does not allow guests to bring large coolers on board its ships. However for purposes of housing small, personal-sized coolers no larger than 12” x 12” x 12” for the purpose of housing small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications are permitted as carry-on luggage. Screening and movement of large coolers through embarkation is an impediment to the boarding and security screening process. Therefore, large coolers are not permitted as carry-on or checked luggage.

 

Ports-of-Call

 

Alcoholic beverages of any kind purchased in any Port-of-Call will be confiscated at the gangway, stored on board and retained by Carnival until the end of the voyage.

 

 

Cheers,

[mamasue]

You're allowed to bring one bottle per adult... so...

DH and I bring a bottle each as carry-on.....

And another bottle each in checked baggage.

[eandj]

Hi Everyone!

Does anyone know if Carnival will allow you to bring your own wine on board to be served with dinner in the dining room? We have a party of eight and all of us enjoy the same type of wine but it is much cheaper to buy it before hand and then take it on board. I know that you can "smuggle" it on board in the checked luggage but we would really like to have it served with dinner by our waiter. I have read about " corking fees" but am unable to find any information on fees or restrictions with Carnival Cruise Lines. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

When these specific questions pop up for you, you'll find loads of info if you go to the Carnival cruiseline board. Have a great time. :)

[lizzy77]

Our experience with Carnival is that it seems to depend on which region you are travelling and the age group on board.

 

We did a b2b on the Spirit. Hawaii to Vancouver then Vancouver to Alaska. The first cruise, the alcohol policy was STRICTLY utilized. They were even smelling the water bottles before we boarded in Ports:confused: The second leg was so different and we actually bought wine and took it onto the ship quite openly.

 

Next experience with Carnival was a Med cruise where we were able to bring on wine again very openly and they even let us take it to dinner with no corkage;) (but we think that was because they were running out of red wines in the cellar:confused: )

 

So my opinion is that if you are travelling to a destination where there is a younger crowd, expect the alcohol policy to be strictly enforced.

[Leejnd4]

Hi Everyone!

Does anyone know if Carnival will allow you to bring your own wine on board to be served with dinner in the dining room? We have a party of eight and all of us enjoy the same type of wine but it is much cheaper to buy it before hand and then take it on board. I know that you can "smuggle" it on board in the checked luggage but we would really like to have it served with dinner by our waiter. I have read about " corking fees" but am unable to find any information on fees or restrictions with Carnival Cruise Lines. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

The good news with Carnival (unlike RCI) is that you are allowed to bring one bottle on per adult, at embarkation. And you can bring this bottle to the dining room, where they will happily serve it to you, for the very reasonable corkage fee of $10 per bottle.

 

Note that while you are only allowed one bottle per person, they don't do much in terms of confirming that each person only brings one bottle. So, as mamasue pointed out, you can put two bottles in each checked bag - one per person! The people operating the scanners searching for smuggled booze are going to let any bag with two bottles of wine pass - they're not necessarily going to connect which bags belong together.

 

And on top of that, you can each bring on one bottle in your carry-on. They are not going to ask you if you also have bottles in your luggage.

 

So provided you are careful in how you pack, you should have no problems bringing a decent amount of wine onboard for your cruise. :)