Can anyone tell me just how important Holland America places on the subject of bringing your favorite bottle of Scotch on board or a half doz. exceptional beer from a different port and to be consumed in your room. Anyone who has experienced either a positive or negative response from HAL would be appreciated.
From Fort Lauderdale on the Zuiderdam, I brought on board 2 bottles of wine along with 8 winecoolers. However, the 12 pack of Corona was taken and returned to me at the end of the cruise.
I think this really varies. We bought three BIG bottles of Tequila at a "factory.....shore excursion" and thought they'd take them. They didn't!
A tablemate bought two local beers at every stop and she never had them taken away. She cruises often and says they always let her take them on.
Most people we spoke with take some type of liquor onboard in their suitcases, they told us.
We just returned from the Zuiderdam on Sept. 3rd, I carried on 4 bottles of wine and not a word was said, but my husband carried a 6 pack of dark beer,(which by the way they dont even serve that brand on the ship) and it was confiscated at the port before boarding, but returned the last night of the cruise. HAL does not care if you carry on wine, but they do not allow any other kinds of liquer to be carried on. Some people carry it on in the check on bags and get away with it, others get confiscated. Our friends that were sailing with us had their check-on bags searched before they were brought to there room, ours was not touched, but I was searched at the port in FLL, so you never know.
When are you going to realise that liquor is one of the prime income generators for ALL gruise lines. So they will do every thing they can to force you to buy it from them at their prices and make it as hard as possible to bring your own on board with you.
Sometimes (now and again), people may get away with beating the system & smuggling it on board but why not face the facts - you drink at their prices & they make sure you have to pay them.
So, either accept that they are going to charge premium prices for drinks (for a product they have bought duty free) or move upmarket to Radisson or Seabourne or Silversea where the cruise prices are high but at least the drinks are free.
This issue comes up too often. Face the facts - one of the things that enables cruise lines to offer low fares is high (and protected) booze prices
Hi Dave,
This is off topic - but just wanted to say Congratulations on wining the last "Name the Port" contest. It is nice when the winner is one of our regular cruise-chat posters.
Nancy
Does HAL still sell bottled liquor on the ship that you can take to your cabin, as it did in the past? Can you order liquor( scotch) and wine by the bottle for your cabin from room service?
If so any idea of price range for these bottles, from room service.
Thanks
I have to agree with Dave - book Regent, Crystal and get free liquor in your suite or Seabourn and get free liquor all the time. However, you will pay more. So, do the math as I've done and decide who to book based on your needs.
I'm a "Copper Medallion" (woo hoo) with HAL and I've sailed Radisson (now Regent) 20 days, Seabourn 21 days and Crystal 12 days as well as assorted other cruise lines. Silver and Seadream are still on my "to do" list.
Lucky me - I'm to be a guest this coming weekend on the Freedom for a "cruise to nowhere" with an OPEN BAR!!!
HAL use to let you bring liquor on th ship but it stopped. I bought 2 big bottles (plastic) wrapped them in towels and put them in my checked bags (no problem) carry on bags they might have you open the bags and then they will take them. We did bring sodas in our carry on and they didn't take them. HAL use to let you purchase liquoir in the shops and let you bring it back to your room. Now they hold it for you and deliver it to your cabin the last night. Wine & champagne they allow you to bring on with sodas.
I prepurchased a bottle of Gran Marnier through the HAL gift program. It's my understanding that it will be in my room waiting for me when I arrive, and that I'll be able to enjoy it in my room for the duration of the cruise.
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