Alcohol Costs

[james22]

Sailing the Carnival Triumph in a couple weeks, wondering if anyone that has sailed this could give me some information on the alcohol costs, beer mix drinks are they really expensive? And can you bring anything on the ship from the ports you stop at?

[drlivingston]

From the Triumph:

[Cruise Fanatic]

You can buy liquor in the ports but it will be taken and held until the end of the cruise for you. You can't take it to your cabin and be drinking it throughout the cruise.

Drinks on Carnival are very comparible to cost of beer and drinks in restaurants and bars back home. Carnival will also put an automatic 15% gratuity on any bar tab. Also, some beers are 16oz versus 120z. Premium beers are higher than domestic. Although, It's amusing sometimes what they classify as premium.

[drlivingston]

Try to limit your drinks until your ship is in international waters. Otherwise, you will have to pay local taxes on drinks as well as the mandatory gratuity.

[LHT28]

Originally posted by drlivingston:
Try to limit your drinks until your ship is in international waters. Otherwise, you will have to pay local taxes on drinks as well as the mandatory gratuity.

I have never seen the drink prices go lower once you are international waters ...is this something new?

[Dave]

I have never seen the drink prices go lower once you are international waters ...is this something new?

Depends on local law at the embarkation port. For instance, in Mobile the Holiday has to charge local and state sales tax on each drink. They are also restricted as to what can be sold, such as beer and liquor brands, even the size of the drink.

In the case of the drink brands and sizes, that is the silliness of the Alabama ABC Board which controls all sales in the state - even the private liquor stores have to buy their stock from the state ABC board. It is maddening.

(ABC - Alcoholic Beverage Control)

[james22]

Okay is it 15% every time you order a drink or at the end of the cruise they add 15% to your total bill?

[Dave]

Each drink order has 15% added to it when you order.

[gdjoslin]

This is from the carnival Pride, but I think they are the same.

[LHT28]

Originally posted by Dave Beers:

quote:

I have never seen the drink prices go lower once you are international waters ...is this something new?

Depends on local law at the embarkation port. For instance, in Mobile the Holiday has to charge local and state sales tax on each drink. They are also restricted as to what can be sold, such as beer and liquor brands, even the size of the drink.

In the case of the drink brands and sizes, that is the silliness of the Alabama ABC Board which controls all sales in the state - even the private liquor stores have to buy their stock from the state ABC board. It is maddening.

(ABC - Alcoholic Beverage Control)