bringing drinks on board

[janetw]

has anyone had luck with sneaking alchoholic bevs on board? i've heard filling up water bottles with vodka, chocolate milk containers with baileys, but not sure if it really works. if anyone has tried it, would appreciate some tips and pointers, as we spent $1500 in alcohol on the last cruise and just can't afford it again;

[ChucksOK]

we spent $1500 in alcohol on the last cruise

WOW! That would average out to 33 drinks per day (at $6.50 per drink) for a 7 day cruise. Instead of another cruise you should really consider the Betty Ford Center.

[Tracy1969]

ROFLMAO!

1500 sounds like alot of money though we are Canadian and our bar tab may be that high also! ROFL!

Just kidding. I did ask the same question when I found this site and most people washed out mouthwash bottles, and did the water bottle trick also. I understand the drinks are much cheaper than 6.50 a drink, I actually found a bar list from another Carnival Liner and it was super reasonable. I pay more for a drink here at our local gold club than I will on the cruise. I'll try to find that bar list and post it for you.

Tracy.

[MrOctober]

I threw $1600.00 away at the casino last year. I believe the Betty Ford Clinic would cost more like 15 thousand dollars. I'm with tracey on this one it's cheaper on the cruise Than at home.

How long was your last cruise ? 23 days?
it's convieniant to have alcohol in the cabin but going from the club, or pool to the room each time you need a drink sucks. by the time you get to the room you wore off the buzz of your drink and then you have to start over.. before you know it the cruise is over and you never even got tipsy but lost a lot of weight. maybe thats a good thing I dont know but there are other threads on here if you use the search you can find the answers to the original question.

me myself just save up for my bar tab seperately and usually run a $250.00 to $300.00 for a 4 night cruise by myself. i'd rather do that than bend any rules...rules are there to protect everyone from everyone else. I like skeet shootiing but I'm not going to sneak my shotgun onboard,

Just a few thoughts

Me

[Larry in Miami]

If you have a water bottle full of vodka I don't think they are going to taste it to see what it is.

You are allowed to bring wine, fill the wine bottle with something else

[Leigh]

Being a Canadian myself....our bar tab was rather high $1500 for 7 nights (2 adults & 2 children) but that included the wine at dinner and have to admit I over indulged in the Martini's at night and Mojito's & rum punch during the day. Also enjoyed the baileys & brandy for a night cap. I guess I too need to go to the Betty Ford ok after my next cruise. To save some $$$ you are able to bring on wine with you so if you and your partner each bring a couple of bottles that should shave some off your bill. As far as the alcohol, I did bring (undisguised) rum in my luggage, don't think I could bring myself to drinking rum out of listerine bottles, I figured if they found it no big deal, if they didn't bonus. Turns out they didn't find it but I ended up leaving for our cabin cleaning buddies. I figure that you usally can get some smokin deals on cruises these days, or at least I have gotten lucky on 3. So spend it where you want. Stay clear of the Spa's that will soak up all your $$$

[Tracy1969]

OMG I've never laughed so hard reading all these posts. By the way, If I drank 33 drinks in one day, there would still be a small bar tab at the end because I would be so hungover I'd spend the rest of the cruise in my room, in bed, drinking chicken soup and eating dry toast.

But I totally get a person who does want to slip a bottle into their luggage. I would love at the end of the night to sip away on a Baileys while reading a book in my bed, but thats just me. I've read alot of threads on this forum about the whole sneaking booze and some people think its to scam the cruise line or to get so loaded and not have to pay a hefty bar bill. Well I know speaking for myself, I like to have a drink at home so why not in my room, while relaxing! Sounds good to me! ehheeh I'm such a Pros and cons gal aren't I!

Anyhow, These posts have been so amusing. Thanks for giving me a great chuckle!

[funship freddy]

I wish I knew how to cut and paste....

I have cruised several times. In the beginning (on Princess) you could buy liquor in the duty free shop on board and take it to your cabin.

I now take a couple bottles of liquor in my checked luggage and also take a case (made for the exact purpose) with wine from my cellar at home.

We always take wine to dinner and sometimes they charge the corkage fee and sometimes not. It serves a two fold purpose. We drink great wine at a fraction of the cost of buying it on board (even if they charge the corkage fee) and we can drink what we want.

I have NEVER been hassled about my "wine box" It is safe to check as luggage on planes and I always check it at the pier and it always arrives at my cabin.

On my most recent cruise (Caribbean Princess Aug. 2006) we stopped at the liquor store and supermarket on the way from the airport to the pier. (new TSA rules) We bought cases of water and soda which we checked at the pier simply placing our extra luggage tags on them. They arrived in our cabin just fine. Liquor was the same. I carried liquor in a soft side bag onto the ship.

I have never tried to sneak...just do it in plain sight.

Enjoy your cruise.

[penny3333]

I want to meet Janetw on a cruise, sounds like it would be a great party Last year I was really bad with Baileys on the rocks in the casino at night, plus wine with dinner, plus a couple of drinks during the day, plus a few splits of champagne, plus--oops, guess that's why our shipboard account was so high. I usually take a few splits of wine for consumption on the balcony, but other than that, I hit the bars. Have a wonderful cruise!

[ChucksOK]

I like skeet shootiing but I'm not going to sneak my shotgun onboard,

Mr. O,
Remember when we could shoot at hand-thrown clay pidgeons off the fantail?