Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Everything to Know About Alcohol & Drinks on a Cruise Costs, Rules, & More

how to get liquor on a cruise

Guide to Cruise Line All-You-Can-Drink PackagesIt's easy to lose count of frozen umbrella drinks by the pool and rack up quite the bar bill. Consider a cruise line "all you can drink" package that can save you big bucks versus buying a la carte. If you have the drink package, however, then things get a little more complicated. Since these packages are for individuals and not meant to be shared, there are rules that limit the ability to order multiple drinks. For example, Carnival’s package doesn’t allow double shots and you can only purchase one drink at a time, with a five-minute waiting period between drinks.

how to get liquor on a cruise

Get a Cruise Beverage Package Included for Free!

But when you get a drink, you won’t see any additional charges, for the drink or gratuity. River cruise lines are far more liberal regarding alcohol you bring onboard, both at embarkation and in ports. Instead, we suggest simply bringing what the cruise lines allow and buying other drinks on board. There’s no doubt that trying to sneak on alcohol is relatively common among cruise passengers.

Double Bagging

Fortunately, there’s a way to turn your at-sea vacation into a booze cruise without racking up too hefty of a bar tab aboard the ship. Seeing that these are mock lotion and sunscreen containers, they are an ideal product for those looking for how to sneak liquor on a cruise. They are reusable and leakproof with a unique design that will get you through virtually any security so you can save your spending money for yourself.

Should You Risk Sneaking Booze?

So just remove any temptation for overspending here and ask for these items to be removed. Sure, it may not be quite as good as a barista-made espresso-based drink. But this simple little cruise hack can save coffee drinkers about $35 over the course of a weeklong cruise, while still jazzing up a boring cuppa joe. Cruise lines are quite fond of treating their loyal patrons with booze.

What to do if you get caught trying to sneak alcohol on a cruise ship

But unsweetened iced tea and lemonade are available for free in the main dining room during lunch and dinner on nearly all the major cruise lines. The biggest realistic consequence is (1) embarrassment and (2) potential confiscation of the alcohol brought onto the cruise ship. Generally speaking, the best wine to take on a cruise is whatever type of wine is most pleasing to your tastes.

So if you visit Mexico and pick up a bottle of tequila, you can bring it back with you as you board the ship. So if you’re wanting a drink in the morning, that’s no issue. Individual bar schedules will vary, but apart from very late night/early morning (e.g. 3-8 a.m.) you should be able to find somewhere serving, though it may only be one or two spots.

Thicker but other dimensions are just like a larger phone. You have to be careful not to overfill it, and keep the cap tight [so] there is no leakage at all. Thanks to its plastic and rubber construction, it’s unlikely your new “binoculars” will get caught in x-rays. These Heavy Duty Reusable and Concealable Flasks for alcohol allow you to enjoy your vacation a lot more. The good thing about this device is that it fits a massive one litre of alcohol.

However, if you are found to be sneaking alcohol on board, you might be denied boarding. Some cruise lines ban you from bringing alcohol on board while others have strict limits on how much you can pack. It is possible to sneak alcohol on board a cruise ship, but if you’re caught it will be confiscated. People often use flasks disguised as umbrellas or binoculars. This is probably the most common way to sneak wine on a cruise.

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Can You Purchase Alcohol in Port?

If security spots anything suspicious as your luggage passes through the Xrays, they can pull out bags to be searched, or sometimes they just do spot checks. However, guests will still try sneaking alcohol on MSC and Costa Cruises using these methods. Just carry the BoozeBrella in your bags as if you are ready for all weather. Even though it’s purely a flask and not an umbrella anyone can use.

Champagnes and sparkling wines can be fun wine choices to take on a cruise, but their alcohol by volume often is around 12% or lower. Sparkling wines would be a bad choice to bring on a cruise if you’re trying to get your money’s worth in the few bottles of wine that you’re legally allowed to bring aboard the cruise. Most cruise lines that permit you to bring wine onboard still charge a corkage fee if pouring that wine in the main dining room. These corkage fees vary by cruise line but typically range between $15-$25 per bottle. Each cruise line’s wine allowance policy is slightly different and these beverage policies do change occasionally.

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As is the case with any land-based restaurant, wine by the bottle on cruise ships offers significant savings compared to ordering by the glass. So as long as you’re able to finish an entire bottle during the length of your entire cruise, there’s really no reason to order by the glass. Passengers must be observant and seek out these money-saving cruise drink deals. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for happy hour promotions on tabletop signs at cruise bars. If you still need convincing that this is a bad idea, some cruise lines may remove passengers from the ship if caught with prohibited items.

You can drop off checked luggage as soon as you arrive at the port. If something is detected on the scanner and your case is opened, you won’t be around to witness the embarrassment of being called out in public. An interesting method that may be used to hide alcohol when you embark on your cruise ship is the ‘beer belly canteen’. This polyurethane container looks like a beer belly when worn under clothing and holds a massive 80 oz (2.3 litres) of booze. One thing you do want to be wary of is wine bottles smashing in your checked luggage. If you are planning on putting glass bottles in there, you should always buy inflatable wine bottle protectors.

Check the cruise line rules before you go out of your way to sneak booze on the ship. You are allowed to bring wine and liquor on board for your personal consumption, both on embarkation day and at ports of call. Additional bottles may be brought on board Princess Cruises sailings but are subject to a $20 corkage fee no matter where they are consumed.

Once you have a clear understanding of the restrictions, you can start browsing for your preferred spirits, wine, or beer. Carnival Cruise Line allows guests to bring one bottle of wine on board with them. If you want to sneak more on, you’ll need to use a disguised flask, a rum runner or a rinsed-out mouthwash or shampoo bottle, though cruise lines will often check these. Some cruise lines, including Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line prohibit all drinks including water (unless it’s needed for medical reasons) to be brought on-board. This speeds up the process of having to check every bottle to see if it’s water, soft drinks or alcohol. When deciding on a drink package, understand that cruise beverage packages do tend to have restrictions.

Personally, it’s our favorite tip to partake in for cheap drinks on a cruise. Know that cruise happy hours vary greatly by cruise line, ship, and even each sailing. Cruise happy hours even change from bar to bar on the same ship. As an example of our cheap cruise drink strategy, during a 14-day sailing on the Celebrity, we managed to keep our bar tab under $75 per person, while drinking quite well …and a lot! While security will open a suspicious bottle of shampoo or mouthwash, they are far less likely to uncork a bottle of wine or champagne to check the contents.

Monday, April 1, 2024

How to Sneak Alcohol On A Cruise: 15 Sneaky Products

how to get liquor on a cruise

Just finish the bottle another night or whenever you’re ready. During the past eight years, we used extreme budget travel tactics to drink our way across 100 countries and even cruise entirely around the world. After spending 237 days (8 months) as paying passengers on 21 different cruises, we’ve figured out the best strategies to drink lots on cruises while keeping our bar bill very low. While many guests have had success with this trick, I have had my own water bottle contents inspected by security. If I were trying to sneak alcohol on the ship, I definitely would’ve been caught. Because of their popularity, many cruise lines are learning to spot rum runners hidden in luggage.

Be Nice to the Bartender

At the same time, the security staff is well aware of the tricks that people use and continually get better and better at detecting booze in luggage. In fact, when boarding we’ve personally seen check stations for liquids with security inspecting bottles brought by passengers. At the station were a number of bottles and cans that appeared to be confiscated from guests, who were then allowed to continue to boarding… without the alcohol.

Wine Backpack & Beach Bags

Use this tactic to help ease your onboard account in between drinks at the bar. Most all cruise lines offer wine packages in which you commit to a certain number of bottles throughout your sailing, at a reduced price. Typically the more wine you commit to, the greater the price reduction. So try to estimate how much wine you’ll go through on the front end of the cruise, which will lessen the blow to your onboard account by departure day. Creating your own mini-bar is another fun drinking cruise hack we regularly employ. And for those who want better coffee without paying inflated specialty coffee prices, we show how to be your own barista!

What Happens If you Get Caught Sneaking Alcohol on a Cruise?

Many cruise lines provide room service for alcoholic beverages. You can check the onboard menu or contact the guest services to inquire about this option. Getting liquor on a cruise ship can be an enjoyable and satisfying part of your vacation experience. It’s important to note that if you bring your own alcohol on board, you may be charged a corkage fee if you consume it in public areas such as bars or restaurants. However, you can usually enjoy your own alcohol in the privacy of your cabin without any additional charges. By taking advantage of duty-free shopping on the cruise ship, you can explore a wide selection of alcoholic beverages and enjoy them at a lower cost than you might find elsewhere.

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However, some can be extra useful for having once you are on the ship when it comes to sneaking the use of the alcohol into other drinks without being seen. Either way, no doubt sneaking on your favorite alcohol and liquors, in particular, could potentially save you hundreds of dollars. Usually, it is only wine you can take on a cruise, typically one to two bottles. In the above example, a couple could have saved about $1,000 by opting for a beverage package before the cruise began. But in many instances, security actually allows the beer to be carried on the cruise, no questions asked.

Bring Your Own Drinks to Stock Your Minibar

how to get liquor on a cruise

Many passengers have had success putting alcohol in refillable water bottles. Refillable water bottles are a common item on cruise ship packing lists, and many people fill them with water in case they get thirsty during embarkation. It’s never a good idea to try smuggling alcohol on a cruise ship. Not only will cruise lines confiscate your bottles but you may be denied boarding. Getting caught is a great way to end your cruise vacation before it begins.

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As you can see, the price of alcohol on the ship can be expensive. If you’re looking to save money, the cruise line offer drink packages. So, for example, a cruise line like Carnival will charge about $55 per day for a package, and for that amount you can simply grab a drink when you’re ready.

This saves the cruise lines time from having to check bottles to see if they sneakily contain alcohol. Fake shampoo bottles are a great way to smuggle some alcohol onboard. Many are specifically made with sneaking alcohol on cruise ships in mind. With prices so expensive, it’s no wonder that many people wonder about sneaking alcohol on with their luggage. Cruise lines don’t allow you to bring on beer or liquor, but you could potentially save a lot of money if you brought on your own drinks with you instead of buying them on the ship.

Umbrella flask

It’s rare that you will be able to smuggle in alcohol using a trick they haven’t seen before. Still, given the volume of passengers being screened in such a short time, many people are able to successfully bring on drinks. “Guests are not allowed to bring beer or hard liquor onboard for consumption or any other use.

Most cruise lines allow you to bring one bottle of wine per person on board. So what people do is they put one bottle of wine in their checked luggage and another in their carry-on bag. If you do get caught sneaking booze onto the cruise, typically cruise security will just remove the liquor and may even offer to hold it for you until the end of the cruise. The cruise ship’s security may even offer to hold onto a bottle of liquor for a passenger who didn’t know the rules. Also, if you happen to be in port on the final day of a cruise itinerary, most cruise ships will actually permit you to bring any liquor purchases right back on board with you. Just walk right on and put that bottle through the X-ray machine.

Any alcohol purchased at ports is held and returned on the last night of the cruise. You can bring your own liquor, beer or wine for consumption in your Azamara suite or cabin at no charge. If you want to drink your own bottle in a dining venue or bar, there's a $10 corkage fee.

The cruise ship’s duty-free shops typically have an extensive selection of spirits, wines, and beers from all over the world. You can find popular brands as well as specialty liquors that may not be available in your local area. Whether you’re looking for a bottle of single malt Scotch whisky, a fine French wine, or a craft beer, the duty-free shops onboard are sure to have something to satisfy your palate. One of the most popular ways to get liquor on a cruise ship is through duty-free shopping. Most cruise ships have onboard shops that offer a wide variety of duty-free items, including alcohol. Duty-free shopping allows you to purchase alcohol at a lower price compared to land-based retail stores.

10 Best Beaches In Nassau For Cruisers In 2024

beaches in nassau bahamas near cruise ship port

At Love Beach’s main area, the entrance into the water is a bit rocky. If planning to go in and out of the water frequently, you might want to walk a bit down the beach where access is smoother. Cabbage Beach offers beautiful, white-sand beaches and crystal clear waters. The views are spectacular as you face north towards the Caribbean. From your ship, there’s one more option to get to Cabbage Beach. A water taxi service picks up near your cruise terminal and can drop you off on Paradise Island.

Best Nassau beach for kids and families

Caves Beach lies west of Cable Beach but doesn't get a lot of tourist traffic. The narrow strip of white sand on the north shore of New Providence island gets its name from the limestone caverns that line its edges. These caves once provided shelter for early Indians, and now offer reprieve to beachgoers on hot and rainy days.

Blue Lagoon

Montagu is a lovely local beach with smooth white sands and warm shallow crystal clear emerald waters. With the beach being a popular local lunch break area, you can be sure to enjoy some of the best local dishes on the island from the food vendors in the area. The relaxing shoreline is a short walk across the street to various food and drink restaurants. The slightly longer journey is often best to get away from the crowd at the cruise port.

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How far is Blue Lagoon from the Nassau Cruise Port?

And to show you’ve been there, take home a souvenir from the cute little shop. It will depend on the crowd, but you can typically score both for $20 or less per set. There are only two access points for public access to Cable Beach. It’s right by Maharaja Restaurant next to the Melia Resort.

There are no ride-sharing companies in the Bahamas, so a taxi is the most convenient way to reach your destination without waiting. The crystal-clear blue waters of Saunders and its pristine white sands lined with tropical palms offer a postcard-perfect snapshot of the Caribbean! Located about a 20-minute walk from the ship terminal, west of Junkanoo Beach, this beach is one of the quieter Bahamas beaches cruisers can easily reach. Cable Beach features some of the most well-known all-inclusive resorts in the Bahamas. The beach offers numerous water sports activities to keep the kids busy while mom and dad relax on the warm white sands. There are plenty of water sports available here as well as soft white sands and beach chairs.

But if you’re visiting Nassau, which is one of the most visited cruise ports in the world, you might be surprised that you don’t see any beaches at all from the pier. Nassau is a popular cruise port in the Bahamas and while there are many things to do in Nassau, one of the most popular ways to spend the day at a beach. If you’re looking for a beach day excursion while here, there are many Nassau public beaches near the cruise port for you to visit. For soft sand and crystal waters, vacationers flock to Cable Beach. This beach is your ultimate playground for fun in the sun, with many water sports, outdoor restaurants and a golf course. You’ll also find plenty of space for sunbathing or swimming at this public beach.

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beaches in nassau bahamas near cruise ship port

Just look for the Starbucks by the roundabout on the corner of West Bay Street and Skyline Drive, and follow the driveway to your right to the beach access point. Montagu Beach is only 2.2 miles (3.6 km) from Nassau’s cruise terminal. Montagu Beach is located just off East Bay Street, about a mile past the entrance to the ferry.

You’ll want to continue on to Marlborough Street and keep walking until you see Junkanoo Beach. So, whether you are looking for a quiet beach to relax on or one with plenty of activities and amenities, we have you covered. Keep reading for our top picks for the best beaches in Nassau for cruisers. Nassau's Caribbean flavor, warm temperatures and beautiful natural environment have made the port a staple on cruise itineraries. Indeed, the modern cruise industry's first itineraries in the 1970s focused on three- and four-day Bahamas sailings from Miami.

beaches in nassau bahamas near cruise ship port

Activities available on Cabbage Beach include parasailing, banana boat rides, jetskiing, and snorkeling. There are no lifeguards, but you’ll find some roped-off areas for swimming. Like many beaches along West Bay Street, Saunders Beach is easily reachable by jitney.

The island is known for its beautiful white sand beaches, crystalline blue waters, and lush vegetation. Visitors to the island can enjoy plenty of activities such as swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing. Junkanoo Beach is approximately a 15-minute walk from the cruise port, offering travelers an inexpensive and convenient way to enjoy some sun and fun. Don't forget to bring your towel; chairs are available for rent chairs from vendors. Some will package a bucket of beer with chairs and an umbrella. Junkanoo beach is one of the more secure beaches in Nassau, Bahamas.

Boasting more than two miles of spotless white sand, this place offers ample space for everyone to find a spot. Arawak Beach is a secluded beach in a posh suburb southeast of the island. It’s located in Paradise Island near Paradise Golf Course at the junction of Ocean Club Drive. This soft white sandy stretch of beach boasts of crystal clear warm shallow waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. It’s named after the most popular festival on the island and truly embodies the festive culture of the locals. This beautiful stretch of pristine white sandy beach with warm shallow crystal clear waters is the major reason why Junkanoo beach is so beloved.

Passengers who are booked on excursions arranged by the cruise line will find providers staged in areas leading from the dock. Private operators, including those who booked tours with guests separate from the cruise line, will be found beyond the first group. Cable Beach is situated along the North shore of New Providence Island. The cruise terminal is a little over 3 km away from this location, which is a little further than walking distance. Cabbage Beach is located on Paradise Island and is free to the public.

The minor downside to this beach is the lack of food vendors and loungers. Regardless, the trip won’t be a disappointment, and the kids are sure to have a blast. Known as the “Spring Break Beach,” Junkanoo Beach gets a large influx of visitors throughout the year.

The bus charges $1.25 per person and takes about 20minutes to get to the beach from downtown Nassau. Cable Beach offers beautiful, white-sand beaches and crystal clear waters. You’re far enough west to get beautiful views without an obstructed view from the cruise ships or Paradise Island. Some visitors would argue that the beach is too close to the cruise port. While relaxing in the sand, the docked cruise ships will be in your vista background. The food options aren’t as plentiful at Saunders Beach as on other popular Nassau beaches, but families know to always bring their own snacks anyway.

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