Alcohol in checked luggage

[jacketwatch]

Hi guys and gals. First of all let me say its been very busy here for me with work and home stuff so that is why my posting time has been limited lately. I hope things change a bit so I can have more "fun" time, especially when I am at work. My question is what do you know about bringing liquor on board in your checked luggage? Will the ship screen or xray bags and thus charge you for it or perhaps confiscate it? I would like to bring some "hard" spirits for in cabin use. We will be sailing on Princess in June. Do you know what they will do if they come across it? It used to be very inexpensive to purchase liquor for in room use on Princess but no more. Their policy has changed and its much more expensive now. Thanks. Larry

[Mebert]

jacketwatch,

If they discover it, they'll confiscate it.

[cherole]

I never do it because my husband is a chicken and because I really just don't have space with clothes and shoes. Plus the bags are too heavy.

But, my close friend who cruises a lot and I've cruised with twice is the MASTER of this. On our last trip. she brought on full containers of vodka, bourbon and at least 8 bottles of champagne! Her cabin looked like a bar after she set it all up. She does it all the time, never been caught or confiscated. The ships seem to have the policy and the right to confiscate, so I guess for you, it's a personal choice of deciding your potential losses vs. gains. At least you won't get into trouble and thrown into cruisehip jail or anything.

[jacketwatch]

Thank you. Its a gamble it seems. However I'll probably take it because prices onboard for in cabin liquor are outrageous. Cheers. Larry.

[rogue]

I've never done it, but everyone that I know who has (about 7-8 different people), have never had a problem. I think it's one of those things that the cruise lines say you shouldn't do, but don't try very hard to enforce.

[Peddler]

On our last cruise, one party brought enough stuff to set up a nice bar, several different bottles, mixers, glasses, including a blender. Hmmm...I'm on vacation and that just seems like too much trouble to just save a few bucks. I don't drink that much, but I do like a good highball after dinner, and a nice rum type drink now and then.

Jim

[JoeyandDavid]

we have never done it.. however we have seen posts from people we believe when they said they had no problems....

[JohnG]

We've never had a problem on any line but NCL which does xray and will divert the luggage to someplace like the library and then page you to come down and pick it up, where they then confiscate it and give you a receipt and you can pick it up the last morning before debarking.

Plastic bottles are safest, avoiding breakage.

[jacketwatch]

Very good info. Thanks again. Actually there is a certain brand of vodka, Danske or something like that that comes of light metal containers. I was thinking to bring them Also and I know this seems brazen but what if I just bought some on shore and put it in an inside coat or jacket pocket, then got back on? Think it would work?

[Gregswife]

Jacketwatch, if you had anything with metal in your pockets, I would think it would set off the detectors. I don't think I would chance bringing it back onboard from in port. We were on one cruise, where the security guards were shaking the bottles of water brought back on the ship - I guess maybe alcohol will bubble or something. I would be more apt to pack a bottle in my luggage upon embarkation than to try to sneak one onboard later...