It’s almost hard to envision a cruise without a tropical drink in hand. Letting loose and having a few cocktails or a nice bottle of cabernet at dinner is part of the vacation experience for many. That is why cruise lines sell you wine by the bundle, all-inclusive drink packages, and even bottles of liquor to bring home duty-free from the onboard shops.

But what if you wanted to bring your own booze onboard your next cruise?

On some cruise lines, packing your own alcohol to bring onboard is not allowed. Other ships might permit you to bring a limited amount of your own alcohol in carry-on baggage at embarkation, like two bottles of wine. And some luxury cruise lines look the other way, allowing passengers to bring unlimited amounts of alcohol onboard their ships to consume. It all depends.

We break down what to expect about cruise ship BYOB, including where you can drink your own alcohol onboard, and what happens to rule breakers who attempt to sneak on clandestine liquids.

GUIDE TO BRINGING ALCOHOL ON A CRUISE BY CRUISE LINE

What You Need to Know About Bringing Alcohol on a Cruise

Can I bring my own alcohol on a cruise?

Yes and no — the answer depends on the cruise line. It also depends on the type of alcohol. But in all cases, any bottle of beer, wine, or spirits intended to be brought onboard should be unopened and sealed.

The most lenient alcohol policies are typically onboard luxury cruise lines that include alcohol in the price of their cruise fare. Considering the steep price to get onboard, these ships don’t mind if you’re imbibing a special liqueur you found in port or a glass of Champagne from an onboard bar.

Cruise lines that allow unlimited alcohol onboard with no corkage fees include Silversea, Seabourn, Viking Ocean Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas.

Meanwhile, MSC Cruises does not allow any alcohol in guest’s baggage at embarkation — no exceptions.

Each cruise line’s alcohol policy is spelled out in your cruise contract, which you receive when booking. If you don’t want to book without knowing if you can BYO, do a search on the cruise line website (usually you’ll find this under FAQs) or ask your travel advisor.

What kind of alcohol can you bring on a cruise?

Unless you’re sailing on an all-inclusive luxury cruise line, the allowance is typically limited to wine. Many cruise lines allow two bottles of wine onboard at embarkation, but not beer or spirits. For example, Carnival Cruise Line allows one, 750-ml bottle of wine at embarkation. However, no six-packs of beer or handles of spirits like vodka.

Where can I consume my own alcohol on a cruise ship?

Cruise lines that allow passengers to bring their own alcohol onboard typically do so with restrictions. Consumption of your own alcohol is allowed freely in the privacy of your cruise cabin.

Outside of your stateroom, something called a corkage fee usually applies to consumption. A corkage fee is a set fee you pay to partake in your own stash. This applies whether it’s wine at dinner or booze in a lounge. Despite its name, the fee has nothing to do with whether you physically uncork your own bottle, but rather your choice to drink your own alcohol in a public area like a bar or restaurant.

Corkage fees might range from $10 to $15 to consume your own bottle of wine in a restaurant to $25 for enjoying a bottle of your own tequila in the casino. Cruise lines that have no restrictions on bringing your own alcohol onboard also forgo the corkage fees.

What happens to alcohol I’ve purchased in port?

If you’re sailing on a line that allows you to bring your own alcoholic beverages onboard, you’ll be able to bring back a limited amount to your stateroom. If your cruise ship does not permit you to BYOB, you’ll have to check that bottle of rum from Puerto Rico or prosecco from Italy at security upon boarding.

A crew member will typically write a description of the item next to your name and stateroom number. Guests can retrieve these bottles at the end of the voyage prior to disembarkation. Or, there will be a designated pickup location that guests can go to gather their own alcoholic purchases.   

What happens to alcohol I’ve purchased in the onboard shops?

Similar to alcohol purchased off of the ship in port, booze purchased in your ship’s onboard boutiques is also subject to being withheld until the end of your cruise. This is typically arranged with the cashier upon purchase.

What is the drinking age onboard a cruise ship?

Most cruise lines stick to the U.S. drinking age of 21 onboard their fleets. However, some lines lower the drinking age to 18 when sailing from ports outside of the U.S.

Can you get in trouble for bringing alcohol on a cruise?

Any alcohol in your possession beyond the allowed limit may be confiscated or destroyed by security. This rule applies equally to an extra bottle of wine as it does to liquor snuck in through a water bottle or a plastic flask called a “rum runner.” For cruise lines with the strictest alcohol policies, like Royal Caribbean, you might be denied boarding.

After confiscation, there are typically no additional penalties for bringing extra alcohol onboard unless the guest is under the drinking age. If crew continue to find the same guests attempting to sneak banned amounts of liquor onboard, they could be asked to disembark early.

Which cruise lines allow you to bring alcohol onboard?

Royal Caribbean

On boarding day, guests may bring onboard one 750-ml bottles of wine/Champagne per stateroom in their carry-on luggage. Boxed wine is prohibited.

Carnival Cruise Line

During embarkation day only, guests may bring one 750-ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or Champagne per person, in their carry-on luggage. 

Norwegian Cruise Line

Guests may bring bottles of wine and Champagne onboard with no limit. Guests who have a drink package will not be charged a corkage fee.

Celebrity Cruises

Each guest is permitted to bring up to two bottles of wine onboard with them on embarkation day.

Princess Cruises

Each passenger can bring one bottle of wine or Champagne (no larger than 750 ml) onboard per voyage. Any additional bottles of wine can be brought onboard for a $20 corkage fee.

Holland America Line

Guests may bring unlimited bottles of wine or Champagne onboard. But there is a $20 corkage fee for each bottle (maximum size 750 ml), no matter where guests consume it. Quantities of wine deemed “excessive” by ship security will be refused.

Virgin Voyages

Virgin’s sailors can bring two 750-mL bottles of wine per cabin in carry-on bags. However, any alcohol in checked luggage will be collected pre-sailing and returned once the voyage is complete.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of two bottles of unopened wine or Champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or six beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage.

Windstar Cruises

Passengers may bring aboard two bottles of wine or Champagne (750 ml) per cabin for their enjoyment for a seven-day cruise. They may bring three bottles for an eight-day (or longer) cruise.

Oceania Cruises

Guests may bring up to six bottles of wine or bubbly onboard during their cruise. For lucky guests sailing a full world cruise, the wine limit jumps to 60 bottles per stateroom.

Viking Ocean Cruises

Guests may bring alcohol and beverages onboard with them. Additionally, guests may purchase alcohol ashore at destinations or purchase them from the onboard shop. Guests may consume the alcohol in their stateroom or in public spaces, including the restaurants. There is no corkage fee.

Silversea Cruises

There are no limitations on alcohol or other beverages that passengers can bring onboard throughout their cruise. Additionally, there are no corkage fees onboard.

Seabourn Cruise Line

There are no corkage fees or limits on bringing wine, beer, or spirits for adults 21 and older onboard a Seabourn cruise.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Passengers may purchase and enjoy wine, beer, and spirits throughout their voyage with no limits or fees on bringing their own alcohol onboard.

Which cruise lines don’t allow you to bring alcohol onboard?

MSC Cruises

Guests cannot bring any alcoholic beverages onboard at embarkation.

Margaritaville at Sea

Guests cannot bring any alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages onboard during embarkation. 

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Comments

Do you typically bring alcohol on a cruise? Or, you do opt for a drink package when you cruise? Drop us an anchor below with your tips about bringing alcohol on a cruise?