Most (if not all) ships will not allow you to board liquor (with the exception of wine and champagne in most cases) and will confiscate it when caught trying. Bummer.
Here are some of the suggestions I have heard (even though I do not drink hard liquor)
Fill a water bottle with vodka, tequila or gin
Fill a coke bottle with scotch or bourbon
Carry on a gift wrapped bottle of booze as a bon voyage gift.
In Hawaii, buy the mini bottle leis and simply wear them onto the ship.
You can smuggle hard liquor aboard in your checked bags (wrap it well!!)...but not a guarantee. You can use the water bottle trick in your carry on. But also, a little known thing they do is allow you to buy the liquor at a duty free price, and pay a $9.00 fee to carry it back to your room. For me, I like Absolut. Here in LA a liter bottle runs easily $24-25. On the ship it's around $10 duty free. Add the $9 fee, and I'm still ahead. Plus I could buy 2 liters of Absolut and still only pay one $9 fee. So I have no reason to smuggle something heavy and bulky.
This applies to Caribbean cruises..not sure if they do this on all itineraries.
Queen of Bermuda, New Years '89
Tropicale, 2/99
Explorer of the Seas, 9/7/02
Queen Mary 2, 1/31/04
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Queen of Bermuda, New Years '89
Tropicale, 2/99
Explorer of the Seas, 9/7/02
Radiance of the Seas, 10/18/02
QE2, 6/1/03
Celebrity Infinity, 7/25/03
Grandeur of the Seas, 10/11/03
Queen Mary 2, 1/31/04
Even if you buy on board, you can't consume onboard, as they keep the liquor to your last night, and then deliver to your stateroom. Just not worth it with the weight and size restrictions of luggage now. Check that out before you make a decision to carry heavy bottles.Overweight and oversize luggage cost megabucks these days.
Sue, on Royal Caribbean (at least in the Caribbean) you can pay the extra $9.50 service fee to bring a bottle purchased at their duty free shop back to your cabin. That was why I didn't bing any with me. The liter of absolut was $19.45 with the fee. Here in Los Angeles, it is still more, so no point carrying it. And your point about the weight of the bags is well taken. Luggage fees have become a new source of revenue for the airlines.
Queen of Bermuda, New Years '89
Tropicale, 2/99
Explorer of the Seas, 9/7/02
Queen Mary 2, 1/31/04
__________________
Queen of Bermuda, New Years '89
Tropicale, 2/99
Explorer of the Seas, 9/7/02
Radiance of the Seas, 10/18/02
QE2, 6/1/03
Celebrity Infinity, 7/25/03
Grandeur of the Seas, 10/11/03
Queen Mary 2, 1/31/04
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