Bringing Wine Onboard

[sunnyjack]

My husband and I are contemplating bringing our own wine onboard, however, we normally store our wines in a temperature controlled fridge. Does anyone know if we bring our bottles to Blu when we board, will they store them in a temp controlled area or will they just keep them on a shelf somewhere?

[Longboysfan]

You will have a mini fridge in the room to use.

Just how cool it is I do not know.

[TravelerThom]

My husband and I are contemplating bringing our own wine onboard, however, we normally store our wines in a temperature controlled fridge. Does anyone know if we bring our bottles to Blu when we board, will they store them in a temp controlled area or will they just keep them on a shelf somewhere?

From your signature block this looks like your first Celebrity cruise. You may already have most of the following info, but not knowing I'll offer:

 

When we have purchased a white wine in the MDR [true this is not Blu, but probably the same applies] in arrives appropriately cool; if the bottle is not finished they will store it for us, and it reappears the next evening again appropriately cool so clearly it has been in a temp controlled area. I would certainly expect that Blu would treat your bottles similiarly well.

 

FYI From Celebrity FAQ Answers

Does Celebrity charge a corkage fee?

 

No beer or hard liquor may be brought onboard for consumption. Guests wishing to bring personal wine onboard with them at the beginning of the cruise may do so, limited to two (2) bottles per stateroom, but when consumed in any shipboard restaurant, bar or dining venue, each bottle shall be subject to a corkage fee of $25.00. If a guest receives a bottle of wine (in their stateroom) from a family member of friend, and that bottle(s) was purchased from our Bon Voyage Gift selection, then no corkage fee will apply if they wish to consume the bottle in the dining room or any public area. If a guest receives a bottle from an outside vendor and/or travel agent, and the bottle was not purchased through our Bon Voyage selection, then a $25.00 corkage fee per bottle will apply if they wish to consume the wine in the dining room or any other public area. The fee will be applied to the guest's onboard account. Alcoholic beverages purchased in ports of call or from onboard shops will be stored by the ship and delivered to guest staterooms on the last day of the sailing.

 

Note that there does not seem to be strict enforcement of the two bottle limit, but the limit is on the books. [Celebrity's sister line RCI has much stricter enforcement] Enjoy your cruise!

[sunnyjack]

Thanks for the replies. In past cruises we have always purchsed wines form the wine lists in the MDR. However, over the past couple of years my husband and I have been "collecting" nice bottles of wines from our regular shipments from boutique wineries in Napa Valley. I thought it would be nice to complement the nice meals with some of our favorite wines, but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle of bringing on board and making sure they don't break, spoil....

[CaroleLee]

From your signature block this looks like your first Celebrity cruise. You may already have most of the following info, but not knowing I'll offer:

 

When we have purchased a white wine in the MDR [true this is not Blu, but probably the same applies] in arrives appropriately cool; if the bottle is not finished they will store it for us, and it reappears the next evening again appropriately cool so clearly it has been in a temp controlled area. I would certainly expect that Blu would treat your bottles similiarly well.

 

FYI From Celebrity FAQ Answers

Does Celebrity charge a corkage fee?

 

No beer or hard liquor may be brought onboard for consumption. Guests wishing to bring personal wine onboard with them at the beginning of the cruise may do so, limited to two (2) bottles per stateroom, but when consumed in any shipboard restaurant, bar or dining venue, each bottle shall be subject to a corkage fee of $25.00. If a guest receives a bottle of wine (in their stateroom) from a family member of friend, and that bottle(s) was purchased from our Bon Voyage Gift selection, then no corkage fee will apply if they wish to consume the bottle in the dining room or any public area. If a guest receives a bottle from an outside vendor and/or travel agent, and the bottle was not purchased through our Bon Voyage selection, then a $25.00 corkage fee per bottle will apply if they wish to consume the wine in the dining room or any other public area. The fee will be applied to the guest's onboard account. Alcoholic beverages purchased in ports of call or from onboard shops will be stored by the ship and delivered to guest staterooms on the last day of the sailing.

 

Note that there does not seem to be strict enforcement of the two bottle limit, but the limit is on the books. [Celebrity's sister line RCI has much stricter enforcement] Enjoy your cruise!

 

Question-Does anyone know of a wine shop near Citiavecchia? Can we bring 2 bottles aboard?

Thanks

carole

[sharke]

Thanks for the replies. In past cruises we have always purchsed wines form the wine lists in the MDR. However, over the past couple of years my husband and I have been "collecting" nice bottles of wines from our regular shipments from boutique wineries in Napa Valley. I thought it would be nice to complement the nice meals with some of our favorite wines, but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle of bringing on board and making sure they don't break, spoil....

 

DH and I always manage to take a few of our specially chosen bottles of wine on our cruises with us. I'm pretty good at padding and packing the bottles and we have never had a broken or spoiled bottle yet. On your first night or even on boarding find your sommelier and explain the bottles you have and your wishes for their storage. We have found them to be very accomodating. On our last cruise in Dec we took an '82 Raymond and an '87, both reds - gave them to our sommelier ahead of time. He had them ready and waiting for us, having decanted them about 30 minutes prior to dinner and also had the Reidel glasses for us without asking. I think you'll have good luck as long as you don't mind paying the $25 corkage fee. Enjoy!