Going a cruise and wondering if you can sneak a bottle of Vodka on board? Well, think again. All of the major cruise lines have a “No Sneaking Booze on Board” policy. Many will allow you to bring a few bottles aboard that you may enjoy with dinner (with a corkage fee of $10–$25). Only Norwegian Coastal Voyages will let you bring whatever you want on board as long as you consume it in your cabin. The majority also hold your duty-free purchases until the last night of the cruise.
Here’s the break down by largest cruise lines:
Carnival Cruises
What you can bring: Wine & Champagne (corkage $10)
Celebrity Cruises
What you can bring: Wine (corkage $25)
Costa Cruises
What you can bring: Wine (corkage $10)
Cunard Line
What you can bring: Wine & Champagne (corkage $15)
Holland America Line
What you can bring: Wine & Champagne (corkage $15)
MSC Cruises
What you can bring: Nothing (not even Nyquil)
Norwegian Cruise Line
What you can bring: Nothing, but you may drink wine purchased on port calls for a corkage $15. They will also go through your luggage looking for contraband booze. They return anything that is confiscated on the last night of the cruise. I guess they figure that you have spent enough on their drinks during the cruise, so on the last night: What the Heck!
Norwegian Coastal Cruises
What you can bring: Anything that is legal as long as you drink in your cabin.
Princess Cruises
What you can bring: Wine & Champagne (corkage $15)
Silver Cruises
What you can bring: No need. This high-end line is all inclusive. State rooms are stocked with vodka, whisky, wine and champagne.
I guess the moral of this story either go high end, cruise only in Norwegian Waters, or suck it up and buy your drinks on board.
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