A frequently asked question among cruisers is…Can I bring alcohol onboard the ship? Here are the CURRENT alcohol policies on all the major cruise lines.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines ~ Royal does not permit any liquor, beer, or other non-alcoholic beverages to be brought on the ship, although you may bring two bottles (750ml) of wine or champagne per stateroom onboard on embarkation day. There will be a $15 corkage fee charged to your account for each bottle brought on.
Norwegian Cruise Lines ~ Norwegian prohibits any liquor, beer, or non-alcoholic beverages to be brought onboard, although they do allow wine & champagne. NCL will charge a $15 corkage fee for 750ml bottles and a $30 corkage fee for 1,500ml bottles of wine or champagne.
Carnival Cruise Lines ~ You may bring one bottle (750ml) of wine or champagne per adult 21 or over onboard and you will only be charged a $15 corkage fee if brought to the dining room, bars, or specialty restaurants. You may bring onboard a 12 pack of sealed cans or cartons only (no plastic bottles) of soda, water, milk, juices, & energy drinks. MUST BE CANS OR CARTONS!
Princess Cruises ~ Princess allows you to bring on one (750ml) bottle of wine or champagne per adult. If consumed in the dining room or specialty restaurant you will be charged a $15 corkage fee. You may also bring soda, waters, and other non-alcoholic drinks in bottles, cans, or cartons onboard as long as they are in their original sealed containers. Beer, and liquor are prohibited.
Holland America Line ~ Each guest 21 years and older may bring one bottle of wine or champagne (750ml) onboard at embarkation. Must be brought on in their carry-on luggage. This bottle will not be subject to a corkage fee if consumed in the stateroom. Additional wine or champagne bottles no larger than 750ml are welcome, although they will incur a $18 (subject to change) corkage fee each, irrespective of where they are intended to be consumed. Beer, boxed wines, and other liquor are prohibited to be brought onboard. Holland does still allow you to bring soda, water, mixers and non-alcoholic beverages onboard and can be in cans, bottles, or cartons and must be brought on in carry-on luggage and be in original sealed containers.
Celebrity Cruises ~ Celebrity allows two (750ml) bottles of wine or champagne per stateroom does not matter how many people are in the stateroom to be carried on during embarkation day. There will be subject to a $ 25 corkage fee per bottle is consumed in the dining room. If consumed in the stateroom there is NO corkage fee charged. No other liquor or beer are allowed to be brought onboard. Depending on port authorities at the time of sailing will depend on what other non-alcoholic beverages will be allowed onboard. Although oddly enough, they recommend store brand products, NO name brands per Celebrity cruise associate.
Disney Cruise Line ~ Disney allows each adult guest to bring two 750ml bottles of wine or champagne OR a six pack of 12 ounce beers onboard. A $25 corkage fee will be charged. They also offer soda FREE OF CHARGE onboard in the dining rooms and at designated locations onboard.
MSC Cruises ~ MSC does not allow beverages of any kind (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) to be brought onboard at embarkation. Exceptions are made for medical necessary reasons only.
You may also purchase liquors when in port and may bring back on the ship to take home, although upon returning to the ship, the cruise lines will take your alcohol and store it for you until the last day/evening of the cruise and then will return it to you to take home. They will not allow it to be consumed on the ship during the duration of the cruise.
You may also pre purchase alcohol from the cruise ships online shops to have delivered to your stateroom for consumption throughout your cruise. Although when purchasing liquor for your stateroom it is intended to be consumed within your stateroom and not out around the ship.
In regards to all cruise lines, most will allow distilled water to be brought onboard in your CARRY ON ONLY for medically necessary reasons such as CPAP machines, baby formula, etc…Although to prevent any issues, it is best to inform the cruise line or your travel agent prior to your sailing.
REMINDER: ALL BEVERAGES OF ANY KIND BROUGHT ONBOARD DURING EMBARKATION ARE TO BE PLACED IN YOU CARRY-ON LUGGAGE ONLY.
Sharon at Sea