One of the frequently asked questions we get is “can I bring my own liquor aboard?” Here is your answer: It depends on your cruise line!
Most cruise lines consider alcohol a personal item, so it is not included in the economical cruise fares. Upscale, luxury cruise lines tend to include spirits like wine and beer for a more all-inclusive, cruise experience.
In our experience, Crystal has the friendliest liquor policy amongst luxury cruise line, while Norwegian Cruise Line stands out amongst the popular cruises. However, to make your life a little easier we have compiled all policy guidelines for all the major cruise lines as below:
— LUXURY CRUISE LINES —
Crystal Cruises:
Policy – Passengers are allowed to bring wine and liquor for consumption onboard in the cabin only and not in public spaces. However, alcoholic beverages, including fine wines and premium spirits, are complimentary.
Corkage fees – None.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises:
Policy – Passengers are allowed to bring wine and liquor for consumption onboard upon embarkation day and when purchased in a port of call. However, alcoholic beverages, including fine wines and premium spirits, are complimentary. Ultra-premium wines and liquors are available for a nominal fee.
Corkage fees – None.
Seabourn Cruise Line:
Policy – Passengers are allowed to bring wine and liquor for consumption onboard. However, alcoholic beverages, including fine wines and premium spirits, are complimentary. Ultra-premium wines and liquors are available for a nominal fee.
Corkage fees – None.
Silversea Cruises:
Policy – Passengers are allowed to bring wine and liquor for consumption onboad. However, alcoholic beverages, including fine wines and premium spirits, are complimentary. Ultra-premium wines and liquors are available for a nominal fee. Silversea offers a connoisseur’s list of rare wines, cognacs and Champagnes available for purchase at the duty free shop.
Corkage fees – None.
Windstar:
Policy – Guests may bring wines and champagne purchased from outside the ship on board for consumption in their stateroom or suite. Bottles or other containers of beer and other alcoholic beverages purchased in the vessel’s shops or otherwise brought on the ship cannot be consumed on the ship. If the beverages are purchased from the vessel’s shops or at ports of call, they will be collected for safekeeping and delivered to your stateroom or suite on the last day of the voyage.
Corkage fees – For consumption in the restaurants or bars, a corkage fee of USD 15 will be applied to the guest’s onboard account.
— UPPER PREMIUM CRUISE LINES —
Azamara Club Cruises:
Policy – Passengers are allowed to bring liquor, beer or wine for private consumption in the stateroom upon embarkation day and when purchased in a port of call.
Corkage fees – For the consumption of outside liquor, beer or wine in any shipboard restaurant, bar or dining venue, a corkage fee of USD 10 per bottle will be charged.
Cunard Line:
Policy – Passengers are permitted to bring one bottle of wine OR champagne per person (over the age of 21) onboard, however all passengers should be aware that Cunard reserves the right to remove alcohol at the gangway should the need arise. It is not the intention to invoke this policy as a matter of course and Cunard will only implement on occasions where they consider it likely that the health, comfort, safety and enjoyment of passengers may otherwise be compromised.
Corkage fees – A corkage fee of USD 20 per bottle applies when consumed in restaurants onboard.
Oceania Cruises:
Policy – Passengers may bring a maximum of three bottles (750ml) of wine or champagne, per cabin, only in their carry-on luggage. No beer or liquor may be taken onboard for consumption.
Corkage fees – Each bottle of wine or champagne brought on board and served or consumed in any restaurant, public room area is subject to a corkage fee of USD 25 per bottle.
— PREMIUM CRUISE LINES —
Celebrity Cruises:
Policy – Two bottles of wine per cabin are allowed on embarkation. No beer or spirits may be taken onboard for consumption. Alcoholic beverages purchased in ports of call or on board shops will be held by the ship and delivered to the guest’s cabin on the last day of the sailing.
Corkage fees – Wine consumed in any shipboard restaurant, bar or dining venue, there’s a corkage fee of USD 25 per bottle.
Disney Cruise Line:
Policy – Disney Cruise Line permits guests to bring alcohol onboard at embarkation. This privilege does come with a few rules. First, all alcohol must be carried on with you at embarkation. Any beverages found in checked luggage will be removed, stored, and returned at the end of the cruise. Any liquor purchased in port may be brought onboard and consumed in your stateroom. However, any alcohol purchased onboard from the ship’s duty free store will be held until the last night of your cruise.
Corkage fees – For Alcohols consumed in any lounge or public areas a corkage fee of USD 20 per bottle applies.
Holland America Line:
Policy – Passengers may bring one bottle (750ml) of wine or champagne, per person, only in their carry-on luggage. Guests are not allowed to bring beer, boxed wine, or other liquors and spirits onboard. Alcohol purchased in port or the ship’s duty-free shop will be retained until the last night of the cruise.
Corkage fees – A corkage fee of USD 20 will be charged if wine or champagne is consumed in the dining room.
Princess Cruises:
Policy – No beer or liquor may be taken onboard for consumption except one bottle (750ml) of wine or champagne, per person, and is not subject to a corkage fee even if consumed in the stateroom. Additional wine or champagne bottles are welcome, but will incur a corkage fee of USD 15 each, irrespective of where they are intended to be consumed. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased duty free from the ship’s gift shop, or at ports of call, will be collected for safekeeping and delivered to the passenger’s stateroom on the last day of the cruise.
Corkage fees – Each bottle of wine or champagne brought on board and served or consumed in any restaurant, public room area or in the stateroom is subject to a corkage fee of USD 15 per bottle.
— POPULAR CRUISE LINES —
Carnival Cruise Line:
Policy – One bottle (750ml) of wine or champagne per person is allowed on embarkation. Guests are prohibited from bringing beer or spirits onboard. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports of call will be held by the ship and delivered to the guest’s cabin on the last day of the sailing.
Corkage fees – A corkage fee of USD 10 per bottle applies for consumption in the main dining room and USD 14 at the steakhouse.
Costa Cruises:
Policy – No alcohol may be brought onboard at embarkation. Alcohol purchased in the gift shop or onshore will be held for you until disembarkation at the end of the cruise.
Corkage fees – Not applicable.
MSC Cruises:
Policy – It’s not allowed. At embarkation, no food or beverage is allowed to be brought onboard, unless it’s medically necessary. (Baby formula, etc., is allowed.) All alcohol purchased in port or at the ship’s duty-free shop will be held with the ship and will be delivered to your stateroom on the cruise’s last evening.
Corkage fees – Not spplicable
Norwegian Cruise Line:
Policy – Passengers may bring bottles of wine and champagne onboard subject to a corkage fee. No beer or liquor may be taken onboard for consumption. Alcohol purchased in port or the ship’s duty-free shop will be retained until the last night of the cruise.
Corkage fees – Each bottle of wine or champagne brought on board and served or consumed in any restaurant, public room area or in the stateroom is subject to a corkage fee of USD 15 for 750ml bottles, USD 20 for 1,000ml and USD 30 for 1,500ml.
Royal Caribbean International:
Policy – No beer or liquor may be taken onboard for consumption. Guests may bring personal wine and champagne onboard only on boarding day, limited to two (2) 750 ml bottles per stateroom. When consumed in any public area, each bottle shall be subject to a corkage fee. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports of call or from onboard shops will be stored by the ship and delivered to guest staterooms on the last day of the sailing.
Corkage fees – A corkage fee of USD 25 per bottle is applied when consumed in public.
So, there you have it!