Bringing your own alcohol on a cruise

There are plenty of reasons why guests would want to bring their own alcohol aboard when setting sail on a cruise holiday. Whether they don’t trust their cruise line to provide their favourite tipple on-board, or they happen to find the perfect bottle of red whilst ashore in their favourite wine region and feel compelled to bring some back to their stateroom to sample.

So how do cruise lines feel about you bringing your own alcohol on-board with you? Well that depends entirely on the cruise line.

Azamara Club Cruises

Azamara are happy for guest to take their own favourite beer, spirit or wine on-board for private consumption from within your stateroom. However, if you wish to consume your own alchohol in any on-board restaurant, bar or dining venue, each bottle is subject to a corkage fee of $10.

For cruises from North America, the minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages is 21, whereas sailings from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand the minimum age is 18. Alcoholic purchases made on-board will be stored by the ship and delivered to guest staterooms on the last day of sailing.

Carnival Cruise Line

Guests are prohibited from taking alcohol on-board with the following exception – on embarkation day, guests may bring one 750ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or champagne per person in their carry-on luggage.

All beer, wine or spirits outside of this exception will be confiscated and discarded. For guests wishing to consume their wine or champagne in the main dining room, speciality restaurant or bar, they will be charged $15 corkage fee per bottle. The minimum age for the purchase and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the bars, lounges and gift shops is 21.

Celebrity Cruises

Guests are now able to take up to two bottles of wine/champagne per stateroom on embarkation only. If these are consumed in a public area on-board, guests will be charged a corkage fee of $25.

Alcohol purchased on-board or in a port of call is not applicable for consumption on-board and will be held by the cruise line to be delivered to your stateroom on the last night of your cruise. The minimum age for consuming alcoholic beverages on-board Celebrity cruises ships sailing from North America is 21, with cruises from South America, Europe, Asia, the Arabian Gulf, Australia and New Zealand is 18.

Cunard Line

Guests over the age of 21 may bring wine or champagne on-board to celebrate a special occasion, however, if consumed in any of the dining rooms, alternative restaurants or bars then each bottle will be subject to a $20 corkage fee.

Disney Cruise Line

Guests ages 21 years and older can bring a maximum of two bottles of unopened wine or champagne, no bigger than 750ml, or six beers on-board at the beginning of each voyage and at each port of call, which must be packed in carry-on bags or luggage. Spirits and liqueurs are prohibited and will be confiscated until the end of the cruise duration.

For those wishing to consume their own alcohol in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corkage fee of $25 per bottle. Any wine of champagne in excess of two bottles or six beers will be stored until the end of the cruise. Any stored beverages must be retrieved by the guests at the end of the cruise, otherwise they will be destroyed and any alcohol bought on-board may not be consumed in any lounge or public area.

Fred.Olsen Cruise Line

Guests embarking on Fred. Olsen are not permitted to take alcoholic beverages on-board, except where agreed and corkage feed apply. Any alcoholic beverages which are purchased as duty free on-board or in ports of call will be held until the final night of the cruise.

Guests must be aged 18 or over to consum alcohol on-board.

Holland America Line

Each guest over 21 years of age and older may bring one bottle of wine or champagne, no bigger than 750ml, on-board in carry-on luggage at the beginning of the voyage. This bottle is not subject to a corkage fee if consumed in the stateroom.

Additional wine or champagne, no bigger than 750ml, is welcome but will incur a $18 corkage fee per bottle, irrespective of where they are consumed. Beer, boxed wine or other spirits are not permitted. Any beverages which are prohibited will be stored and returned on the final day of the voyage.

MSC Cruises

Passengers are not permitted to bring any wines, spirits, beer or liqueur on-board, whether for consumption in their own cabins or otherwise. Any alcoholic beverages brought on-board will be confiscated.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Guests are prohibited from bringing any spirits or beer on-board, with the exception of fully sealed and/or corked wine bottles for personal consumption on-board. These are subject to a corkage fee and only applicable to guests aged 21 and over.

Alcoholic drinks purchased in port of call are also not permitted and will be disposed of upon embarkation.

P&O Cruises

Guests over the age of 18, or 21 in the USA, and older may bring up to 1l of wine, champagne, beer, spirit or liqueur on-board as they embark for the first time only. Any alcohol over this limit will be stored and returned to guests on at the end of their cruise.

There is no corkage fee applied if consumed in your room, however, if consumed in dining rooms, bars, restaurants, pools or lounge areas, these are subject to a £20 corkage fee per bottle. Any alcoholic beverages purchased in the ports of call are not permitted to drink on-board, though P&O will store your purchases until your final day on-board.

Princess Cruises

Guests are able to take one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult of drinking age on-board, which will not be subject to a corkage fee is consumed in your stateroom. Additional bottles are welcome but will incur a corkage fee of $15 each, irrespective of where they are consumed.

Liqueur, spirits and beers are not permitted on-board and any alcoholic beverages purchased on-board or at ports of call will be collected for safekeeping and delivered to the guest’s stateroom on the final day of the cruise.

Royal Caribbean

Guests may bring up to two 750ml bottles of wine or champagne per stateroom on-board, but are not permitted to bring beer, spirits or liqueur on-board. Additional bottles of wine or champagne are welcome but will be stored by the ship and delivered to your stateroom on your final day.

Any beverages seized on embarkation day will be discarded and not returned.

If you’re looking to enjoy a tipple or two on-board your cruise ship, call our Cruise Concierge team on 0808 1234 118 for assistance with the perfect cruise line for you. Whether you’re looking forward to a cocktail on your balcony as the sun sets, or longing for a quiet night-cap before bed, we are sure to find the best deals for your next cruise booking.