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Top 10 products to buy when duty-free shopping on cruise ships

CRUISE TIPS + 12 PHOTOS: Duty-free shopping on cruise ships offers tempting products to buy at terrific prices. Here are the top 10 products to consider buying – especially on sea days when you have more time to wander around.

There’s a wide variety of liquor available to buy when duty-free shopping on cruise ships. You can get incredible deals on items ranging from premium cognacs to world-renown whiskeys. What you see on the shelves is what’s available – some are so expensive they’re under lock and key. In general, you simply fill out a form of your choices and take the list to the cashier.

You won’t be permitted to take liquor back to your cabin. It will likely be delivered to you on the last night of your cruise. Prepare to carry it off in its padded cardboard box (that usually has handles) in the morning, and at the cruise terminal, pack it in your checked luggage if you don’t want to put it in your carry-on bag.

2. Cigarettes and Cigars

You’ll find great duty-free savings on cigarettes and cigars – so much that there may be lineups to buy these items. So buy them early if you’re interested and some cruise lines may allow you to take some packages back to your cabin. The shop staff will let you know what the ship policies are for these items.

If you adore jewelry such as a gorgeous gold necklace or fancy new watch, you can buy beautiful duty-free items on board a cruise ship at a discount. You’ll also find exceptional costume jewelry items at prices from $10. Some products are such great fakes that consider leaving your valuable jewelry at home and buying costume jewelry instead.

Genuine duty-free jewelry, ranging from designer watches to high-quality diamond rings, earrings and necklaces worth thousands of dollars, are also available on a cruise ship at excellent duty-free discounts.

The prices when duty-free shopping on cruise ships might also be negotiable. Most of the popular gemstones such as sapphires, rubies and emeralds are also available. The shop staff are often quite happy to also let you try on the jewelry item of your dreams even if it’s way out of your budget – so don’t be shy and consider trying on that spectacular watch or jaw-dropping rock of a ring just as a shopping thrill.

If you do buy a watch, the shop staff will personally fit the wristband for you. After sizing it, they’ll call you back the next day to pick it up and ensure it fits.

4. Cosmetics

Most of the well-known, high-end cosmetic and skin care brands are available at great duty-free prices at cruise ship shops. You’ll be surprised at the savings in this category so consider investing in a new palette of quality products. Also take advantage of a free makeover if it’s offered.

5. Skincare Products

Name brand skincare products are also available at excellent duty-free prices in cruise ship shops so take this opportunity to try out that better brand you’ve been eyeing now that it’s more affordable. You’ll also notice many items are available in a convenient easy-to-pack travel size.

6. Perfume and Cologne

Duty-free perfumes and colognes are favourite items to buy in duty-free shops on cruise ships – for yourself or as a gift. You can also be sure to get genuine products instead of products that might be watered-down at the shops in port.

7. Sunglasses

Name brand sunglasses are generally less expensive in duty-free cruise ship shops, and there are also cheaper fashion options that are more about the look, than actual eye protection. The authentic ones tend to sell out fast since many cruise ship passengers forget their sunglasses at home or lose them. Whether you’re on an Alaska cruise or Caribbean cruise, the sun can be blinding which makes sunglasses a necessity.

8. Purses, bags and wallets

Cruise ships know how much a person can collect during a cruise. So they often sell purses and bags. Designer purses are also available with great duty-free discounts and you’ll know you’re not getting a fake. Beach bags are generally available and have outstanding quality for a low price since they’re often branded with the cruise line logo and ship name.

9. Clothing

Almost all cruise ships have clothing such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and shawls for sale on board. And they also sell some basic formal wear such as ties, black pants and skirts, or white shirts and blouses, just in case you forgot something that you need for formal night or to get into a particular venue. Designer silk scarves are another popular choice that have good duty-free discounts.

10. Souvenirs

You can buy popular souvenirs on board when duty-free shopping on cruise ships although many items have the cruise line or ship name on them to serve as a memory of your cruise. You’ll see holiday ornaments, pens, lanyards, keychains, coffee mugs, plush animal toys and many other affordable souvenirs for yourself or gifts for family and friends.

Tips for Duty-free Shopping on Cruise Ships

Throughout your cruise you’ll receive daily newsletters under your cabin door (or on the cruise line app) that will also inform you of special sales on duty-free products with additional discounts – or sales of completely new items that you didn’t see in the stores.

If you’re a former cruise passenger with the line, you might also get an extra discount so be sure to let them know (although your key card will likely indicate your status).

Also ask the cruise ship shop staff if the items you’re interested in might come on sale later in the week. They may also advise you of how much stock they have in their inventory to help you make your decision as to whether you should buy the item now or take your chances and wait.

Some cruise ships also have raffles for random draws of items in their shops, so get your ticket from the shop and show up at designated time for a chance to win. Most cruise lines insist you must be there in person to get the prize.

At the end of the cruise, shops generally want to clear out their inventory so this can be a great chance to get good deals.

If you think you might want to return an item, check first if that’s possible. In most cases you can get a refund if the item isn’t opened, used and still has the price tag attached.

If you aren’t sure how much you can buy or bring home without paying tax, ask the cruise ship shop employees since they are sometimes familiar with the rules of various countries – or might keep a list on hand. You can also search duty-free buying information on a cruise ship computer at the Internet cafe.

Other cruise ship passengers who are shopping in the stores might also know limits and what’s permitted – especially if they are seasoned cruisers who make duty-free shopping a regular ritual on a cruise. Simply ask someone in line who looks like they’re stocking up on something and find out where they live. People usually love to talk about a “great deal” they got on something and share the joy!

BOOK YOUR CRUISE BEFORE PRICES GO UP!

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Travel Guides, Tips, and Tales

25 Best Tips: How to Get Cheap & Free Drinks on a Cruise Ship

October 12, 2022 By John Widmer 68 Comments

Indulging in many beverages can be so much fun when cruising. But in 2023, as drink prices on cruises hover around $10, those poolside piña coladas will add up before you know it. Splurging every night on costly cruise cocktails can be a blast. But it’ll also blast your onboard account before you can even say “mar-ga-ri-ta.”

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.

We’re now back on land to share all of our alcohol hacks, tips, and tricks on how to get cheap drinks on cruise lines such as Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, and more. Many of these strategies will even get you free drinks on a cruise!

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! That’s less than $6 per day! During a transatlantic repositioning cruise with Royal Caribbean, we solely used a $100 onboard credit to drink throughout the cruise (for free) and we again drank very well during that 13-day voyage.

But it was on a two-week Norwegian Star cruise, that we scored unlimited drinks for free the entire cruise! How did we pull that off?

This article details tactics like how to get hooked up with a free beverage package and the truth about sneaking booze onto a cruise. But let’s play by the rules. As such, happy hours can make for happy cruisers! And knowing when the free cocktails are served is even better! Yes, many cruises regularly give passengers unlimited free drinks for short periods for those in the know. Cheers to that! 🍻

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! Actually, there are plenty of free non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy on a cruise. Yet cruisers looking for booze will find plenty of alcohol hacks to get cheap cruise drinks all throughout this post.

So without further ado, here are 25 of our best cruise tips and hacks to get cheap (and free) drinks on a cruise. Let the party begin! 🍹

1) Exploit Cruise Ship Happy Hours

Sometimes cruise happy hours are only subtly advertised. 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.

Know that cruise happy hours vary greatly by cruise line, ship, and even each sailing. Cruise happy hours change constantly. Cruise happy hours even change from bar to bar on the same ship.

Despite ongoing changes, here are each cruise line’s happy hours :

• Carnival : Known to offer happy hour with half-off cocktails and beer at specific times at particular bars (e.g., Red Frog Pub, casino bar) on certain days only (often embarkation days and port days).
• Celebrity : Previously offered two happy hours with greatly reduced-priced cocktails, wine, and beer. Although Celebrity’s happy hour is now focused on free drinks for Elite Captain’s Club members 5:00-7:00, occasional happy hours can still be found throughout some ships.
• Disney Cruise Line : Typically has several happy hours nightly at specific bars with up to half-off drinks.
• Holland America : Typically has two happy hours (e.g., 4:00-6:00, 10:00-midnight) with buy one drink, get one half-off (has replaced buy-one-get-one for $1/$2 happy hour)
• Norwegian : No regular happy hour on NCL, but sporadic BOGO happy hours have been found at specific bars, only on some ships.
• MSC : No regular happy hours across MSC cruise line, but in the past BOGO drink deals have been spotted at specific bars (e.g., Sports Bar) on certain ships.
• Princess Cruises : Formerly offered BOGO happy hours but this has been discontinued.
• Royal Caribbean : No regular happy hours on most bars, but specific bars on some RCL ships do offer happy hours such as Buy-One-Get-One drinks in late afternoons at low-traffic bars.
• Virgin Voyages : No known happy hours.

💡 Tip: Plan around two happy hours

When you find cruise bars that have two nightly happy hours, plan your drinking wisely to maximize your onboard budget during these two happy hour periods. For example, it is fairly common to find happy hours during 4:00-6:00 and again from 10:00-midnight. So be sure to hit the bar and drink up during these cruise happy hours, particularly if it’s BOGO or half-off drinks. Then use our subsequent cruise drinking tips to drink economically during the four-hour gap between 6:00-10:00.

In addition to the planned cruise happy hours, some lines, such as Carnival, have been known to just announce drink deals spontaneously on party nights. Listen up and you may hear the DJ announce $1 beers! It’s happened to us before and we stocked up, which leads us to our next cheap cruise drink tip!

2) Stock Up for Later During the Best Cruise Drink Promos

If beer prices are slashed for happy hour, during a big promotion, or at a free drink event, then consider ordering some unopened beers to stash them for a later time. Take those inexpensive beers back to your cabin and put them in the mini-fridge. Doing so will enable you to enjoy those discounted (or free) beers poolside the next day!

When ordering, kindly ask the bartender not to open the beer. Occasionally a bartender may insist on opening it. If that’s so, order a 16 oz. aluminum bottles with twist-off caps. Those beer bottles can be easily resealed. So during price drops and or complimentary drink soirées, stock up!

But typically bartenders have no issue with passengers buying several unopened beers during a promotion. In fact, on a Holland America cruise when a 2-for-1 craft beer promotion came up, a bartender offered to send an entire case of discounted beers to our stateroom! We did. This brought the price-per-beer down to $2.98, which is even cheaper than buying those same beers at a bar on land!

Cruise loyalty members may also be invited to events with complimentary drinks and high-tiered members even get access to nightly complimentary happy hours on some cruise lines. But since the timing is limited, this can be another situation to take a beer or two to-go, to enjoy later.

Lastly, rare circumstances may call for free drinks onboard, which can be another consideration to snag some free beers for later. For example, on another HAL cruise, we took, the weather had canceled a planned port call. So the captain actually gave all passengers a complimentary happy hour as a nice gesture to disappointed passengers. If something like this ever happens during your sailing, it can be an excellent time to stock up on a few free beers!

3) Attend Cruise Drink Tasting Events

Wine tastings, cocktail tastings, martini tastings, and even beer tastings can be some of the best drink deals at sea. Personally, it’s our favorite tip to partake in for cheap drinks on a cruise.

These aren’t free tastings (we’ll show you where to get those later). Drink tasting events are typically paid activities to try several cocktails during a fun and informative demonstration that can last about a half hour or so. And they often yield excellent value!

🤓 Let’s do the math! Specialty drinks, like creative martinis, typically cost $15 (or more), plus gratuity. So five fancy cocktails could easily cost a cruiser $90. These tasting events on cruises vary in cost, but are often priced around $25, giving half-pours or sometimes even full-sized pours.

Often with cocktail or martini tasting they give about 4-6 ounces tasting, which is a half-sized cocktail. So that’s an okay-ish value, equating to 2.5 cocktails for $25. For comparison, three of these same cocktails would otherwise cost $53 when priced at $15 +gratuities.

Yet occasionally at tasting events, we’ve been pleasantly surprised by receiving full-sized drinks! We’ve found that drink tastings on NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line) are of particularly good value, as they’ve poured some large and strong drinks. Norwegian usually does martini tastings, margarita tastings, beer tastings, and wine tastings during their regular cruises.

Five good cocktails on an NCL would easily set you back around $100. So enjoying them at a tasting event for $25 is excellent value.

If you don’t want to drink all five drinks, consider attending with a partner/friend and sharing the experience . These events are usually charged by the pour, not by the person.

These tasting events aren’t just good value, you get to try a variety of different cocktails you may have never thought to try before. Drink-tasting events are also a lot of fun and a great way to make friends during a cruise. We’ve even learned some drink recipes that we now use back home.

Keep an eye out for alcohol tastings in the daily itineraries. When you see them, reserve a spot and you may discover your favorite new libation, all while being mindful of your drink budget.

4) Why Never Order Wine By the Glass on a Cruise

Never ever order by the glass on a cruise, even if you’re only going to have one glass of wine with dinner. Here’s why: if you order a bottle of wine and don’t finish it, your server will gladly re-cork it for you so that you can enjoy the rest of that bottle on another night, at no additional charge. Also, most cruise ships even permit the server to send what’s left of the bottle to another bar or even to your stateroom.

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.

🤓 Let’s do the math! Glasses of wine priced at $7 may seem like a good deal, but it’ll add up to $42 (plus gratuities) over the course of six glasses. That’s over $50! On our last cruise, the $7-per-glass wine was priced at $29-per-bottle. So ordering the bottle will ultimately get you that same wine for far less money. Just finish the bottle another night or whenever you’re ready.

5) Wine Drinkers Should Buy a Wine Package to Save

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.

You can often purchase these wine packages before you set sail. Buying these packages online before your cruise usually gives a slightly bigger discount. For example, Celebrity offers a Taste of the Vineyards package online with either 3, 5, or 7 bottles. The 3-bottle package starts at $109. Look online or ask your booking agent. Alternatively, inquire about these wine packages at the ship’s wine bar.

If you’re going on a 7-day cruise and you think you may share one bottle of wine each night for dinner, then it would make sense to order a 7-bottle package for nice savings!

🤓 Let’s do the math! Below is an example of the Holland America wine packages we found during a recent cruise. Their rates start at $119 for a four-bottle package. Those particular bottles were priced at $35-$40 individually. So you would save $20-$40 by purchasing this package instead of buying the wines individually. If you know, you’re definitely going to be drinking these wines, it certainly would prove advantageous to buy the wine package.

6) Find Cheap Drinks in Port

If you have an extra hour or two to burn while in port, skip the sugary overpriced drinks at Señor Frogs and Fat Tuesday. Instead, find a cozy local bar a little further away from the port to throw back a few. Not only will you have a more authentic travel experience with local flavor, but you also may find local prices!

Drink your Budwiesers and Heinekens once you’re back home or on the ship. Instead, take the opportunity on shore to explore a local beer or spirit.

We’ve found there to be some surprisingly tasty brews popping up all around the world. Many popular Caribbean and Central American cruise destinations even have local brewpubs near cruise ports.

Also, be aware that many places around the world don’t have open container laws like the US. This means you can go into a local convenience store, and get a cold beer to enjoy while relaxing on the beach, touring the city streets, or simply walking back to the ship while you sip .

Whatever you’re able to sip on while ashore will almost certainly be better priced than on the ship and likely more interesting too. So drink up!

💡 Tip: How to know if open containers are tolerated in port . Many countries officially have open container laws, but they are completely unenforced in popular cruise ports. The easiest way to know whether drinking alcohol in public is tolerated is if the cashier of a convenience store has a bottle opener at the counter .

If you see a bottle opener, it’s a clear indication it’s acceptable to drink on the streets while in port. So use it to pop open a beer. The best part is that all of these local beers while in port will be at a fraction of the cost compared to the cruise ship’s pricey drinks.

Get to know the local drinks in an area you’re visiting ! Local wine found ashore throughout a Mediterranean cruise is not only delicious but can be surprisingly inexpensive. That’s the same for rum throughout the Caribbean. And let’s not forget about all the yummy tropical cocktails found all throughout many of the world’s most popular island cruise ports.

Our favorite local drink to get is painkillers in the Virgin Islands! Although we’ll always seek out sky juice whenever porting in Nassau. Rum punch is a must in Jamacia, just as margaritas are obligatory in Mexico. Yet don’t overlook the panty ripper in Belize. There are so many delicious cocktails to explore throughout the Caribbean and elsewhere!

7) Go on Inexpensive Shore Excursions that Include All Your Alcohol

Instead of necking a bottle of beer in the streets, book a tasting tour, a booze cruise, or an all-inclusive beach pass while in port. Use a tour agency independent from the cruise line to save money on shore excursions.

We always use and recommend Viator shore excursions since they tend to be nearly half the cost of the cruise line’s excursions. Their ports of call tours include a worry-free guarantee promise to get you back to the ship. And if your cruise has to cancel a port for any reason, it’s nice to know that they automatically provide a full refund.

Where are you cruising to? Here are just a few booze-filled shore excursions in some of the most popular Caribbean cruise ports:

🇲🇽 Cozumel, Mexico Drinking Excursions:

• Mr. Sancho’s Beach Club   is the hottest drink ticket in Cozumel and is such incredible value! For the price of about five drinks on a cruise ship, this ticket gets you an all-day pass to this white-sand beach resort that includes a full open bar with unlimited drinks ! The day pass also includes a complete lunch menu, beach loungers, and even ocean kayaking along Cozumel’s coastline! But best of all, there’s a swim-up bar, so you don’t even have to leave the pool to get your next margarita. Drink up! ⚠️ Beware : this one regularly sells out in advance. Check availability now for your travel dates.
• Cozumel Coral Reef Snorkeling by Glass Bottom Boat : Although drinking is not the main activity, this snorkeling tour provides complimentary beers after getting out of the water. This high-rated tour is well-priced to pack in a boat ride, snorkeling, and cervezas ! Check availability .

🇧🇸 Nassau, Bahamas  Drinking Excursions:

• Rum Reggae and Rhythms Tour looks like so much fun and has so many excellent reviews to vouch for it. This tour the also the least expensive booze-filled tour we’ve seen in the Bahamas, and you’ll have to sip slowly while venturing out to a number of local Nassau drinking spots. Check availability .
• Nassau Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour focuses more on local Bahamian food. Yet it also includes some rum cocktails along the way. This tour gets great reviews and would be a fun way to taste Nassau while enjoying a few drinks along the way. Check prices .

🇰🇾 Cayman Islands Drinking Excursions:

• Rum & Beer Tour with Lunch : This is our top pick for the Cayman Islands, as this 3-hour tour packs a rum distillery, a rum cake factory, and a local lunch with local craft beers. It seems that there’s plenty of rum and beer to try all along the way so you definitely won’t return to the ship sober. Book now .

🇻🇮 St Thomas, US Virgin Islands Drinking Excursions

• Rum & Food Tour : This tour explores St Thomas’s rum history, as it includes two rum drinks, but also puts focus on the island’s local food scene. Perhaps best of all, you’ll learn how to make the signature drink of the Virgin Islands – the Pain Killer. And then drink it, of course. Sooo good! Check prices .

🇸🇽 St Maarten Drinking Excursions

• Orient & Maho Beach : If you’re going to visit St Maarten’s two most famous beaches, be sure to choose a tour that includes cold beer and delicious rum punch along the way. This fun tour does and is only $40 !
• Topper Rhum Distillery Tour : After touring this famed distillery, you visit the tasting bar for unlimited rum samples and even the opportunity to bottle your own rum! It’s another bargain-priced tour that gets rave reviews.

Other Boozy Shore Excursions Around the World

The above-listed shore excursions are only a few of the vast variety of excursions Viator has available on its tour booking site. You can find these boozy shore excursions all over the world, from a whale watching & brewery tour in Alaska to a vineyard excursion in Northern Italy. Search Viator excursions for your ports of call .

8) How to Get Cheap Booze in Your Cabin on the Final Night

Can you buy a bottle of liquor on a cruise ship?

Yes, there are two ways to buy a bottle of alcohol on a cruise ship:

• Buy a bottle from the duty-free liquor store on the cruise, but they hold it
• Order a bottle of liquor to your stateroom anytime (more info in the next tip, #9)

First, let’s discuss buying a bottle from the liquor store on a cruise. Most all cruise ships have duty-free liquor stores with a vast assortment of alcohol at decent prices. However, the cruise ship liquor store will not allow you to take those bottles back to consume in your cabin …that is, until the last night.

On the final afternoon of your cruise, any bottles that you purchased while ashore or from the cruise ship’s liquor store will be delivered directly to your stateroom.

So, at some point during your cruise, go to the duty-free liquor store onboard and buy a bottle if you want to use it on the final night to cut loose and have a few extra cheap drinks. This tax-free liquor is well-priced and you may even catch an additional sale on alcohol from time to time.

Also on the final evening of the cruise, the duty-free store will, in fact, allow you to walk out of the shop with any liquor you purchase. On one cruise, we noticed that an entire liter bottle of vodka at the duty-free shop was actually priced less than two shots of the exact same vodka if you were to purchase it at the bar.

Additionally,  any alcohol purchased while in port will also be delivered to your stateroom on the final day of your cruise. So don’t hesitate to buy that delicious Jamaican rum or snag that bottle of tequila while docked in Cozumel. When you return to the cruise ship, you can easily check the bottle with security. Then once the last night of your cruise rolls around, any bottles that you’ve purchased ashore will be delivered to your room.

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. No sneaky tactics are required. Just walk right on and put that bottle through the X-ray machine. But again, this tends to only be allowed when bringing liquor back aboard a cruise that has a port call on the final day of a cruise itinerary.

So on your last night of a cruise, have a party in your stateroom and enjoy! Just be sure to schedule a late disembarkation time the next day. 🤪

Tip for back-to-back cruise cruisers only : If you happen to be on a back-to-back cruise (consecutive cruises on the same ship) and are remaining in the same stateroom, we’ve discovered a loophole that helps to procure cheap drinks on a cruise. On the final night of your first cruise segment, you will receive your purchased liquor in your stateroom. It’s then available to enjoy on your subsequent cruise! While we haven’t seen any official policy that permits this practice, it’s worked for us every time we’ve taken back-to-back cruises.

9) Ordering Bottle Service in Your Stateroom Is a Good Deal

The previous cruise alcohol tip is great for a cheap bottle of liquor on the final cruise night of a cruise. But what about the rest of the cruise? Here’s how to legally buy a bottle of alcohol on a cruise ship that you can actually consume on the ship, anytime.

Most cruise lines offer standard 750-ml bottles of liquor that they’ll deliver to your room for a modest price. They’ll set it all up nicely with glasses and ice for you to use throughout your cruise. Sometimes, they’ll even throw in some free mixers too! The price of these liquor bottles with set-up ranges around $40-$60 , depending on the cruise line and your liquor preference.

While $50 for a bottle of liquor is much more than you’d pay for it at your local liquor store, the cost still comes out to being much less expensive than you would pay for several drinks at the bar on a cruise.

🤓 Let’s do the math on bottle service on a cruise

On a recent cruise aboard the Holland America Koningsdam, the cruise offered a Gin & Tonic package that includes a bottle of Bombay gin and three cans of tonic water for $46.25 + 15% service charge for a grand total of $53.19.

That $53 will yield at least 16 delicious gin & tonics that can be made and enjoyed right from the comfort of the stateroom throughout the entire cruise. So this comes out to about $3.31 per drink.

Meanwhile at the Koningsdam’s bars, that same Bombay gin and tonic comes to $8.34, after the 15% service fee. It would cost over $133 at the bar for 16 gin & tonics. So buying the bottle set-up for your stateroom ultimately results in a massive $80 savings!

Here’s the breakdown: $133 for 16 gin & tonics at the bar -$53 for 16 gin & tonics with bottle service in your stateroom =$80 in savings

Best of all, this bottle service set-up is a totally legal and acceptable way to have booze in your stateroom without having to sneak it on the ship! And with bottles starting at $40, it’s still semi-affordable too. If you’re a heavy cocktail drinker, ordering bottles of liquor to your cabin can really make financial sense. Use this tactic to help ease your onboard account in between drinks at the bar.

Ordering a bottle of alcohol to your room is also far more economical than tapping into a cruise’s minibar set-up. Unless you’re only going to have a drink or two, steer clear of the expensive mini-bar if you’re trying to keep your cruise budget to a minimum. Ordering a bottle of alcohol to your cruise stateroom will prove more economical.

Additionally, most cruise lines (excluding Carnival and NCL) do permit you to bring your own soda on board. So if you plan ahead, you can buy a $40 bottle of liquor on the ship and then use your own mixers that you’ve brought. There’s certainly no need to tap into the expensive minibar sodas!

10) Look for the Captain’s Toast to Get Free Drinks!

If you notice any event in the daily itinerary titled something like “Captain’s Toast” or “Captain’s Reception,” this always means there will be servers running around with trays full of complimentary cocktails, wine, and/or champagne . Don’t miss it!

Typically these events will last at least a half hour. So arrive promptly to get your fill of free drinks!

Hang out, find a nice cozy spot where the drink servers are coming out of, and then cheers to the captain!

11) Play to Win Free Alcohol on a Cruise

There are always a number of contests and competitions held on board cruise ships. You’ll find anything from karaoke to the newlywed game to craft competitions. Smaller activities like daily trivia may only reward winners with a trinket like a keychain. But the larger gameshow-style events dole out much better prizes, and almost always give away free bottles of champagne !

For example, the Newlywed game show (AKA, Love & Marriage) always rewards participants with a free bottle of bubbly. This game is played across every cruise we’ve been on and even the losers have been rewarded with champagne. Really, they’re rewarding participants for embarrassing themselves on stage. And what better reward than a free bottle of champagne on a cruise?

We’ve also seen champagne be rewarded for progressive trivia competitions and virtually every gameshow-style event requiring participants to get up on stage. So participate and bring your A-game. Then you just might get rewarded with oh-so-precious free booze on a cruise!

Once you’re gifted a bottle of sparkling wine from the cruise director, you’re welcome to drink it anywhere on the ship without a corkage fee. Personally, we’ve won a few times and have brought our free bottles, to be uncorked (for free) in the main dining room and to sip on poolside.

12) Be a Loyal Cruiser to Get Rewarded with Free Drinks

If you’ve come back on the same cruise line for a second cruise, cruise lines often reward you with alcohol! But that’s only if you’ve joined their loyalty club, which is totally free to do! So always be sure to join the loyalty program with every cruise line you ever go on.

Even with the lowest loyalty tier, most cruise lines will at least invite passengers to a complimentary cocktail party full of free drinks. Cruise a few more times on that same cruise line and you may find complimentary happy hours every single night for higher-tier loyalty members!

Cruise lines are quite fond of treating their loyal patrons with booze. So if this is your second or greater instance of cruising with the same cruise line, then be sure to check what alcohol perks you may be entitled to and take full advantage of your loyalty freebies.

We’ve found that Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have some particularly enticing loyalty perks for cruisers who enjoy free drinks! In addition to exclusive parties with free drinks, Celebrity rewards their Elite Captain Club members with a daily cocktail hour with unlimited free drinks from 5:00-7:00 at most bars and lounges. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean rewards Diamond members of the Crown & Anchor Society by loading free drink tickets onto their SeaPass card.

So it can really pay off for drinkers to be loyal to those lines!

Don’t have a loyalty status? Make friends! Not everyone onboard the cruise may be as big of a drinker as you are. Some high-ranking loyalty members may have leftover drink tickets they’re just going to let go to waste. So they are often happy to give them away to anyone who can use them. Sometimes these drink tickets are non-transferable, but this tends to be widely unenforced on cruise lines we’ve sailed on.

13) Free Liquor Tastings on a Cruise!

Most all cruises have a duty-free liquor store. On at least one night (often multiple nights), the liquor store will sample some of their best liquors as a way to entice you to buy a bottle while on board.

Usually, these free liquor tastings tend to occur earlier on a cruise’s itinerary, such as the first or second night. Check the daily guide for times, then stroll on by for your free shot (err, I mean a sample of liquor).

14) Enjoy Free Champagne at the Art Auction

If you’d like to sip on a complimentary glass of champagne, then head on over to the art gallery. Nearly all ships will have multiple art auctions during the cruise, which usually extends a free glass of sparkling wine . You’re not required to bid. So just sit back, learn something about the art, and watch others fight for those limited-release prints.

It can be an entertaining experience. But if you get bored, there’s no shame in making a quiet exit. So perhaps be sure to pick an aisle seat in case you do want to leave early.

15) Beer Drinkers Should Buy Buckets of Beer to Save

Are you heading to the pool and want to kick back a few beers? Buy a bucket of five beers, which most cruises usually offer for the cost of four. It’s a win-win by saving the server a few trips to deliver your beer while saving you a few bucks.

Beer buckets may not be the best drink deal out on the high seas, but it still saves the $6-$7 cost of a bottle of beer. Even if you’re not planning to drink all of those beers in one sitting, it can be worth buying the bucket to bring whatever is left back to your cabin to put on ice or in the mini-fridge.

16) Order the Drink of the Day for a Discounted Cruise Cocktail

Many cruise lines have a specialty “drink of the day” which will usually save you $1-$3 off the regular price. Sure, it’s not as great of a deal as a Buy-One-Get-One happy hour, but the drink of the day deals last the entire day.

Waking up to find out the “daily drink” happens to be your favorite can be a wonderful surprise to take full advantage of.

An additional bonus to the daily drink specials is that you may even get a souvenir cup which can entail even further discounts when getting a refill. The drink of the day is usually outlined in the daily cruise newsletter.

17) Legally Bring Your Own Wine on a Cruise

Many cruise lines actually permit you to bring your own wine and champagne aboard the cruise ship. So take advantage of these bring-your-own-wine allowances!

But wine allowances can vary greatly by the cruise line. Some cruise lines forbid it altogether. Other cruise lines will allow you to bring wine but charge a fee per bottle, even if it’s opened in a private space like your stateroom. Yet thankfully most major cruise lines are gracious enough to allow passengers to bring a bottle of wine or two. But you need to know the rules.

Usually, the wine allowance is one 750 ml bottle per person or two 750 ml bottles per stateroom. Most cruise lines’ alcohol policies indicate that these wine bottles must be placed in your carry-on luggage only and can only be brought onto the ship on embarkation day.

Each cruise line’s wine allowance policy is slightly different and these beverage policies do change occasionally. So before you pack a few bottles of wine, be sure to check your cruise line’s official alcohol policy to confirm.

Wine allowance policy by cruise line:

• Carniva l: 🍾 1 bottle per person (source: Carnival Liquor & Beverage )
• Celebrity : 🍾 2 bottles per guest (source: Celebrity Alcohol Policy )
• Disney : 🍾 2 bottles per person (source: Disney: Carrying Alcohol Onboard )
• Holland America : 💲 Fee of $20 per bottle (source: Holland America FAQs )
• MSC : ❌ Not allowed (source: MSC Conditions of Carriage )
• Norwegian : 💲 Fee of $15 per bottle (source: NCL Beverage Policy )
• Princess : 🍾 1 bottle per person (source: Princess Pre-Cruise FAQ )
• Royal Caribbean : 🍾 2 bottles per stateroom (source: RCI Onboard Alcohol Policy )
• Virgin Voyages : 🍾 2 bottles per person (source: Virgin Help Articles )

4 More Tips When Bringing Wine on a Cruise:

💡 17a) how to avoid the corkage fee in the main dining room.

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.

Meanwhile, you can enjoy your own wine from your cabin at no charge whatsoever. Your stateroom attendant will happily deliver wine glasses to your room and will even deliver an ice bucket to chill champagne or white wine. This is complimentary, with no corkage fee on most cruise lines.

You may want to bring a corkscrew with you to open the wine. Stateroom attendants can usually track one down, but this has proven problematic for us on a few cruises. So consider screw-top wine bottles. Otherwise, it may be a wise idea to pack a cheap corkscrew.

But what if you want to have that glass of wine with your dinner without the expensive corkage fee? Then you can simply pour a glass of wine in your cabin to then enjoy it anywhere else on the ship.

Usually, the wine glasses delivered to your room are the same glasses being used in the bars and dining room. As such, no one will know (or care) that you poured your own glass of wine. So fill up your wine glass in your cabin and then take it to dinner, thereby avoiding a corkage fee. Often the maître d’ will even carry your glass of wine for you as you’re walked to your table.

Go ahead and make it a big pour. You may even be able to make one big glass last all the way until the dessert course.

💡1 7b) The Best Wine to Take on a Cruise for Value

Generally speaking, the best wine to take on a cruise is whatever type of wine is most pleasing to your tastes. But if you’re really trying to get the most bang for your buck, bring some strong wine on your cruise . Many popular wines have a lower alcohol percentage of 11%-12%. For example, one of our favorite wines, Pinot Grigio, tends to have an alcohol content of about 11.5%, which is fairly low.

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.

Some of the best wine options that have higher alcohol that you can take on your cruise are: Shiraz or Zinfandel . Those two are stronger wines, often clocking in around 15% alcohol. Better yet, consider a dessert wine like port wine or sherry , each of which can run as high as about 20% alcohol by volume.

If you’re trying to drink cheap on a cruise, bringing these stronger wines will certainly help to stretch your alcohol a bit further.

💡1 7.3c) Bring Even More Wine Than the Limit

While many official cruise alcohol policies limit cruisers to two bottles per stateroom, we’ve found it can be possible to slip in an extra bottle, particularly when using multiple bags.

If you bring an extra bottle or two above what the cruise allows, then consider dividing your wine bottles into separate luggage. Cruise line security is likely not going to add up wine bottles that are in different bags being delivered to the same stateroom. So putting two bottles of wine in one suitcase and two in another could get four bottles to slip through to a stateroom.

Just know this is officially against the rules. But it regularly works.

Maybe you miscalculated and brought three bottles instead of two. Oops! Don’t worry about it, as there’s a fair chance it will go unnoticed.

💡 17d) How to Bring Your Own Beer on a Cruise Ship (Instead of Wine)

If you’re a beer drinker, you may want to know how to legally bring beer on a cruise (instead of wine). A few cruise lines do permit you to bring your own beer onboard, although it is rare. Disney is one of the only major cruise lines that allow passengers to bring their own beer on a cruise ship . Disney Cruise’s official policy permits passengers to carry on six beers per person. Thanks Mickey!

But most other cruise lines forbid passengers from bringing beer on a cruise ship, even though they allow wine. So here’s a hack for beer lovers to bring some beer on a cruise ship instead of wine.

Consider bringing a 750 ml bottle of craft beer on board . Such bottles often have the appearance of wine or champagne. So that has worked for us to bring a nice beer instead of an allowed wine bottle. (See adjacent image: the bottle on the left is beer).

These 750 ml bottles of beer have always been permitted on wine-allowing cruise ships we’ve sailed on, even though beer is technically against their official alcohol policy.

18) BYOB – How to Bring Alcohol on a Cruise: the Sneaky Way

Most cruise lines explicitly forbid passengers from bringing their own alcohol on cruise ships, as stated in their alcohol policies.

Still, cruise passengers have been known to sneak their own booze aboard cruises. We like to play by the rules and don’t particularly recommend sneaking liquor on a cruise ship. But we’d be remiss not to mention it as a strategy that passengers do use to achieve cheap drinks on a cruise.

If you are going to smuggle some liquor aboard your next cruise, consider a cruise ship flask kit that is specifically made for the purpose of being undetected when going through cruise security. These nonmetallic pouches are purposely designed to let no air bubbles when pouring liquor into the devices, making them undetectable .

Many of these cruise flask kits have a good track record of success. For example, this Concealable and Reusable Cruise Flask Kit is currently the most popular alcohol smuggling device on Amazon and receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with about 90%+ of reviewers, indicating it got past security. Check the most recent reviews .

What happens if you get caught sneaking alcohol onto a cruise ship?

The biggest realistic consequence is (1) embarrassment and (2) potential confiscation of the alcohol brought onto the cruise ship.

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. If you’ve put a bottle of alcohol into your suitcase that security finds, the likely outcome is that your luggage won’t arrive in your room and you’ll have to go to security to get it straightened out. The cruise ship’s security may even offer to hold onto a bottle of liquor for a passenger who didn’t know the rules.

But bringing a bottle of liquor does run the risk of being confiscated. So if you’re going to try to bring a bottle of alcohol on a cruise ship, don’t bring any bottles that are valuable to you. Meanwhile, if you took sneaky tactics like putting alcohol in a mouthwash bottle, security will almost certainly confiscate it.

Many cruise lines’ official policies do indicate that passengers can actually be removed from the ship for bringing alcohol on a cruise ship. But we’ve never heard of that actually occurring in practice. A far more realistic consequence is delayed baggage and possibly confiscated liquor.

19) Enjoy These Free Non-Alcoholic Drinks on a Cruise

Often the only free beverage offered in the main dining room is tap water. Non-alcoholic drinks, such as sodas or specialty coffees, come with an added expense on most cruise lines. Yet those who know to ask, or know where to look, can get more than just a measly glass of ice water!

So what drinks are free on a cruise ? It should be obvious at the buffets that juices and other flat drinks are provided complimentary. Yet many cruisers don’t realize that they can also go to the main dining room and order complimentary iced tea and lemonade with their meals. It’s never offered. 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.

Coffee, hot chocolate, and (hot) tea are also free drinks available on most cruise ships. In fact, cruises tend to have a very nice assortment of complimentary teas . They’re all there – Earl grey, English, herbal varieties, and more. Personally, we’ve found that an after-dinner mint tea pairs quite nicely with decadent chocolate desserts. Also, we love sipping on some chamomile tea before bedtime if we’re taking a night off from drinking.

So be sure to enjoy some of these non-alcoholic drinks for free.

Also, tap water is always free on onboard cruises and is completely fine to drink. But some people complain about the taste. So bring flavored water drops such as  Mio Water Enhancement  to turn that water into a flavorful drink. A 4-pack that has enough for 96 uses will cost less than buying 6 sodas on a cruise. So bring some flavored drops to add a little squirt to your water during lunchtime or at the pool.

20) Save on Specialty Coffees by Making Your Own for Free

Don’t want to splurge the $5 on specialty coffee, but still looking for a little more flavor? Here’s our recipe to make a delicious cafe mocha :

• Empty approximately ¾ packet of hot chocolate mix to a coffee mug.
• Add 2 creamers.
• Fill mug with coffee.
• Enjoy an instant café mocha!

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.

If your cruise has a 24-hour ice cream station, you can visit that and get even more creative with your coffee. To make your own caramel latte , jazz up a boring cup of coffee by adding some hot caramel. Heck, get some whip cream and sprinkles on top!

21) Bring Your Own Drinks to Stock Your Minibar

Most cruise lines permit you to bring your own sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages. Beverage policies vary by the cruise line on what drinks are permitted onboard.

So bring aboard some sodas or whatever you prefer. Then just ask your friendly stateroom attendant to empty out all of those expensive minibar drinks so that you can make use of the fridge. The mini bar offerings are usually overpriced and sometimes old. So just remove any temptation for overspending here and ask for these items to be removed. It’s not an uncommon request.

Once the fridge is clear, you’re free to chill down all of the beverages that you’ve brought onboard. You can use the empty minifridge to cool down:

• on-sale (or free) beers you’ve snagged on the ship (refer to tip #2),
• champagne you’ve won on the ship (refer to tip #11),
• white wine you’ve legally brought on the ship (refer to tip #17),
• booze you’ve snuck onto the ship (refer to tip #18), or
• beer you’ve been permitted to bring back from port, which leads us to our next tip (refer to tip #22)!

22) Attempt Bringing Beer on Cruise from Port Calls

Most cruise line policies strictly forbid passengers from bringing any alcohol back to the ship from port. This means alcohol, including beer, is technically not permitted to be brought back on the cruise.

But we’ve found that while security is typically strict on enforcing this rule with hard spirits, many ships overlook passengers bringing beer back onboard. To find out if our ship has lax rules on bringing beers back from port, we typically experiment with attempting to bring on a few cans during the first port day on our cruise itinerary.

We’re never sneaky about this and don’t attempt to hide the beer. Rather, we run it through the X-ray machine in plain sight. Sometimes the beer will be flagged by security and stored until the final night of the cruise. In that case, we know it’s probably not worth attempting to bring beer back aboard when in subsequent ports.

But in many instances, security actually allows the beer to be carried on the cruise, no questions asked. For whatever reason, we’ve had more success with beer cans being accepted , rather than bottles.

So go ahead and give it a try! The worst-case outcome is that security will hold onto your beers for you until the final night of the cruise, as per most cruise lines’ alcohol policy. And you can still drink those beers on the final night of the cruise. So you really don’t have anything to lose by attempting to bring a few beers back aboard the ship with you. And you don’t have to be sneaky about it.

During our last Caribbean cruise, security was lenient enough to allow us to bring beer back onto the ship from every port we visited. We gladly brought back our hauls to chill in our mini-fridge and hence have inexpensive local beers to enjoy back on the cruise ship.

23) How to Determine If a Cruise Drink Package Is Worth It

The above cheap cruise drink hacks and tips will help keep your bar bill low on your next sailing. But you’ll certainly need to put in some effort and strategizing to accomplish that. If you instead just want to enjoy your vacation and not have to worry about sneaky tactics or a growing bar bill, then a drink package may be the way to go. And they are often great value!

So this cheap cruise drink tip helps to carefully break down whether the drink package may be worth it for you.

These unlimited drink packages can seem expensive on the surface, but all-you-care-to-drink alcohol packages can actually be fantastic value for those who tend to tip back a few while cruising. Cruise drink packages are a trend in the cruising industry that cruise lines like to promote. Now Celebrity, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, most Norwegian ships, and many Carnival ships offer some sort of alcohol drink package.

Each cruise drink package varies on exactly what alcohol is included. But most of these cruise drink packages tend to be generous in their offerings, even including top-shelf liquors. Some of the cruise drink packages further include specialty coffees, soft drinks, and other non-alcoholic drinks to help you recover the next day.

But cruise drink packages can be costly. So how much is a cruise’s beverage package?

Drink package prices vary greatly among the cruise lines and the specific package. Cruise beverage packages range in price from about $38 (MSC Easy) to $165.60 (NCL Premium) per day. Yet drink package pricing often tends to fall somewhere between $60-$80 per day.

Cruise drink package daily prices and policies:

• Carnival CHEERS! : $59.95 +18% for 15 drinks per day, up to $20 each ( more info )
• Celebrity Classic / Premium package : $69 / $84 +20% for unlimited drinks, up to $9 / $15 ( more info )
• Disney Cruise Line : No drink package is offered
• Holland America Signature / Elite : $54.95 / $59.99 +18% for 15 drinks, up to $11 / $15 (more info)
• Princess Plus / Premiere : $59.99 / 79.99 +18% for 15 drinks, up to $12 / $18 ( more info )
• MSC Easy / Easy Plus / Premium : $38 / $51 / $71 for unlimited drinks, select / $9 / $15 ( more info )
• Norwegian Unlimited / Premium :  $109 / $138 +20% for unlimited drinks, up to $15 / nearly all ( more info )
• Royal Caribbean Deluxe : $63-$89 for unlimited drinks, up to $13 ( more info )
• Virgin Voyages : No traditional beverage package, but has run promos that include generous bar tabs (more info)

Note: above prices are current as of October 2022 and reflect online prices purchased prior to sailing.

When deciding on a drink package, understand that cruise beverage packages do tend to have restrictions. For instance, while some drink packages are truly unlimited; Carnival, HAL, and Princess limit their drink packages to 15 drinks per day.

Also, understand that you must purchase a drink package for the entire length of the cruise . No cruise lines allow purchasing a drink package for certain days only.

Also, it’s standard across all the lines that sharing a drink package is not allowed . Typically all adults in the same stateroom must all be on a drink package. To be clear, it’s not allowed for couples in the same cabin to share one drink package.

Is there a way to cheat a cruise drink package? It may be possible to discretely slip a friend a drink. But if you do this, it violates the terms of the drink package and risks your beverage package being revoked. So doing so may not be worth the risk.

Is a Cruise Drink Package Worth It?

Often the hefty cost of a drink package is not worth the expense. But it certainly can be!

We recommend splurging on drink packages in the following instances :

• moderate and heavy drinkers : your bar bill will be higher than the cost of a drink package.
• shorter cruise itineraries : fewer nights = less total expense.
• cruises with many sea days and/or short port calls : more time on the ship means more time you’re using the drink package.
• when ports include private islands : some cruise lines allow drink packages to be used at bars on their private islands.
• when the cost of a drink package is within your budget and think you might enjoy 6+ drinks daily .

Simply consider how much you may drink on the cruise and then do the math.

For those who may drink an average of at least 6+ drinks or so each day, cruise beverage packages will likely result in significant savings. An associated benefit is simply not having to be concerned about your growing bar tab on a cruise. While cruise drink packages are never cheap, the expense can be worth it and can ultimately save.

🤓 Let’s do the math! Let’s use Carnival for example, which currently (2022) promotes its CHEERS drink package for: $59.95 per day + 18% gratuities = $70.74 daily *7 days of the cruise = $495.19 *2 people per stateroom = $990.38 total cost of CHEERS! drink package on a 7-day Carnival cruise.

Spending nearly $1,000 for the privilege of 15 daily drinks may seem pricey, particularly for budget-conscious passengers. And it is! For those who are only going to have a few drinks per day, stay away from drink packages. It won’t be worth it.

Yet for those who want to enjoy 6-8 (or more) drinks each day throughout the voyage, a cruise drink package can really make financial sense. You’ll likely save yourself from spending even more than that if you were to purchase those drinks a la carte.

Let’s consider what an average of eight drinks per day would cost on a 7-day Carnival without the drink package : $15 drinks + 18% gratuity = $17.70 per drink *8 drinks per day = $141.60 per day *7 days of the cruise = $991.20 *2 people in the stateroom = disembarking with a $1,982.40 bar tab !

In the above example, a couple could have saved about $1,000 by opting for a beverage package before the cruise began.

Considering that Carnival’s CHEERS! beverage package allows passengers to purchase drinks up to $20, you can actually break even just by simply drinking 3-4 higher-priced drinks each day .

Shorter Cruises Have a More Reasonable Drink Package Total Costs

While a $1,000 beverage package may still seem out of reach, it must be realized this is over the course of a hypothetical seven-day cruise. Shorter cruises will incur a far more reasonable expense .

For instance, a beverage package during a quick 3-day Bahamas cruise on Carnival would come out to a grand total of $212.22 per person for a fun 3-day booze cruise. That’s a lot easier to swallow!

Beware How Unexpected Cruise Drinks Quickly Add Up

Moderate drinkers may think that having 6+ drinks in a day is excessive . But new cruisers may not realize how quickly those drinks add up. Consider that you may enjoy a few beers by the pool, then a couple of glasses of wine with dinner, a cocktail at the show, and then a few more drinks at the dance party on the lido deck. You’re on vacation!

The many cruise bars can be all-too-convenient. The party atmosphere may be more tempting than anticipated to knock back a few drinks. You may be surprised how quickly all those wonderful cruise drinks flow onto your onboard account.

More Time at Sea Means More Time to Drink

Drink packages can provide even greater value on cruises with more sea days compared to cruises that are more port-intensive. When you have many full days on the ship, you’ll have more opportunities and time to hit the bars.

Conversely, if you’re on an itinerary that calls on a port every day, with long hours, you’ll have less time at the ship’s bar to take advantage of a drink package. In this case, enjoy local drinks in port and perhaps forgo the cruise’s drink package.

The exception to this is if you’re visiting a cruise line’s private island.

Drinks Packages Can Provide Great Value When Allowed on Cruise Lines’ Private Islands

Sometimes a cruise’s drink package extends its use to the cruise line’s private island . Having all your drinks included on the private island can be a huge incentive to get the drink package. Just check to see if your cruise allows this (below).

Cruise line drink package policy at private islands:

• ✅ MSC allows their drink package to be used across Ocean Cay Marine Reserve
• ✅ Norwegian allows their drink package to be used throughout Great Stirrup Cay
• ✅ Princess does allow their drink packages to be used at Princess Cays
• ✅ Royal Caribbean and Celebrity allows their drink package to be used at Perfect Day at Coco Cay and Labadee, Haiti
• ❌ Carnival and Holland America do NOT allow their drink package to be used at Half Moon Cay

24) Buy Your Beverage Package Online Before Your Cruise to Save More

Most cruise lines offer a discounted rate, usually saving cruisers $5-$10 per day when the beverage package is purchased in advance. So buy online in advance of your cruise, or expect to pay a bit more if purchased once on the ship.

If cruising is just one big party to you, the investment of a beverage package can pay dividends. Do the math. Consider the splurge. If you decide to buy a drink package, enjoy it to the fullest! Just drink responsibly and stay afloat!

25)  Get a Cruise Beverage Package Included for Free!

Sometimes cruise lines will run special deals and offer these all-you-can-drink packages for free as an incentive for you to book the cruise. That is how we drank for free when we sailed on a Norwegian cruise on two different occasions. It was fantastic! It was an open bar the entire cruise and nearly the entire drink menu was included, even most top-shelf brands!

Search around to find cruise deals that include the unlimited beverage package. We tend to see such promos offered by Norwegian and Celebrity most often. Call a good travel agent who can let you know which cruise lines may be currently running such a beverage package promotion.

Just beware that these “free drink packages” sometimes require passengers to pay an extra gratuity charge for the bar service. Depending on the cruise line, this drink gratuity cost may range from $11 (Carnival) to $20 (Norwegian) per person, per day. Even if paying $20 per day for the gratuities on a “free” drink package, that’s still a heck of a deal for all-you-can-drink top-shelf alcohol!

Have Cheap Drinks on a Cruise but Don’t Miss Out on the Fun

Part of the fun of drinking on a cruise is the social element, hanging out at the numerous bars, lounges, and clubs on these awesome ships. The nightly parties can be a blast. Drunken karaoke sessions are hilarious. Late-night clubs can get interesting.

Yet some of the aforementioned cruise tips for cheap drinks may confine passengers to drinking in their staterooms. That’s boring. You’re on a cruise – go out and have fun !

Be sure to utilize those cruise happy hours, daily drink specials, tasting activities, and beverage package deals in order to truly make the most of your vacation, as you drink your way across the open seas!

More Ways to Save Before You Cruise

Bon voyage ! We sure hope this post has given you many tips and tricks to save money on drinks during your next cruise. But before you go , here are a few more links to our other money-saving  cruise articles and to our travel affiliate partners that you may find helpful:

🚢 Be sure to check out our huge list of cruise tips here :

• 50 Best Cruise Hacks to Save You Money, Hassle, WiFi and Weight Gain .

🏨 If you need a hotel before or after your cruise, be sure to book early . All the best hotels in port cities tend to get reserved by cruise passengers in advance. We like using hotelscombined.com  to compare all the top hotel sites and score the best deal before it’s too late.

⚠️ Never go on an international cruise without travel insurance. Avoid having to shell out for medical emergencies, flight delays, trip cancelation, or lost baggage by getting a quick quote from CruiseSafe by VisitorsCoverage , which offers cruise-specific travel insurance to protect your trip. If you don’t already have travel insurance for your cruise, enter your dates for a quick quote now .

Then be sure to bookmark this page or pin the image to your right onto your travel Pinterest boards.

Publishing note: This article with tips on How to Get Cheap Drinks on a Cruise Ship was first written in June 2014 and is continually updated, most recently in October 2022 with the latest information and prices.

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July 16, 2019 at 2:30 PM

Thanks for all the great insights. I am going on a Holland America cruise in October and will purchase liquor to be delivered to my cabin, and try to bring a mixer in my carry-on. I know you gave the tip about being able to fill a wine glass in the cabin, then carry it around the ship. But what if i bring a travel cup, and make myself a mixed drink in my cabin, then carry it around? Do you think anyone would object? Is it frequently attempted?

July 26, 2019 at 1:23 PM

You could do that, but you’d probably stand out a bit walking around the ship. It’s doubtful, although possible, that anyone would object. But it would be very frowned upon bringing your own cup to the dining room. You’d likely be fine at the pool. But instead of using your own cup, when they deliver liquor to your cabin, they’ll bring you cocktail glasses. You can make a cocktail in the glasses provided and carry it around the ship, no problem at all. Usually the glasses they bring you are the same ones used at the bar. Have a great cruise!

October 9, 2019 at 3:23 PM

I did this on our last cruise with no problems. I even brought it on our catamaran party excursion and while everyone else was sipping out of tiny plastic cups I had my huge insulated cup 🙂

June 19, 2019 at 8:20 AM

Hahahaha the guy looks like a straight goober. Haha probably a five time gold medalist in the goober nationals.

June 19, 2019 at 7:03 PM

So that’s what you took away from this post about cheap drinks on a cruise and felt so compelled to drop a comment? Sounds like a classic goober move to me.

May 30, 2019 at 1:48 PM

Sailing on the RCCL Liberty of the Seas this upcoming week. It’s my first cruise in 19 years! Just bought 2 750ml bottles of corked and caged beers that look pretty much like wine. Hopefully they will make it through. I just want to sit on my balcony and sip on a beer before dinner a couple nights. Will update after the cruise to see if it worked.

June 2, 2019 at 5:41 PM

Awesome! Hope you have a great cruise and enjoy those beers on your balcony! I’d say it’s a pretty good chance those two caged bombers will make it onto the ship, but certainly no guarantees, of course. Let us know how it goes and enjoy the cruise! 🍻

April 28, 2019 at 1:29 PM

Your blog is full of great information! My friends and I are planning a Norwegian (Encore) cruise from NYC to Bermuda and some want the premium beverage package and others don’t. I drink only water and I might have a couple alcoholic drinks during the week. The “free” drink package (HaHaHa – you are forced to pay 20% gratuity) does not include bottled water! This is probably not worth it for me, but was wondering how much an average drink would cost? And, is tap water okay to drink?

May 4, 2019 at 4:44 PM

Yes, the tap water is A-ok to drink. That’s what we always drink ourselves, right out of the bathroom sink. And it’s simply chilled tap water that’s served in the restaurants. Unfortunately, NCL doesn’t allow passengers to bring on bottled water anymore, so you’ll either have to pay for it on the ship or drink the tap water. Note, NCL does serve free lemonade and iced tea too. If just sticking to water and the occasional alcoholic drink, you’ll likely be better just buying them individually rather than buying a drink package. Drink prices vary by ship and can even change from sailing to sailing. Yet with NCL, expect to pay somewhere in the ballpark of $7-$14 for a drink, plus automatic gratuity. So do the math and figure it out what may work best for you and your cabin mate.

December 10, 2018 at 2:52 PM

Just got back from a short 5 night on Majesty of the Seas. I bought the Deluxe Beverage Package and (as you list above) that includes drinks up to $12. However, I ordered many high end scotches which were 4 or 5 dollars over that as well as some specialty martinis for my wife (who didn’t have a beverage package…and often times at the same time) and wasn’t charged a dime. Is this just at the discretion of the particular ship we were on?

December 22, 2018 at 12:02 PM

Hmm, not sure. That’s kinda strange. But that’s great! Normally most beverage packages will require that passengers sharing a cabin all have a beverage package. So not sure how you may have gotten around that. But if so, sometimes the bartenders will be lenient with people on the beverage packages. The bartenders and drink servers earn a share of gratuities for serving drinks, whether you’re on a beverage package or not. So it’s in their financial interest to serve as many drinks as possible, in which case they may turn a blind eye to serving multiple drinks (and for other people), even though it’s technically against the rules of the beverage package. You benefit and so do they. That’s the only thing I can think of, unless there was otherwise some mistake or misunderstanding.

April 7, 2019 at 4:56 PM

Hiya 4 couples are planning to go on a Caribbean cruise on MSC. What do you think if we buy only 4 drinks packages (assigned to two cabins 2+2) These 4 would get free drinks to the other 4… Do you reckon we would be caught doing this? Cheers Pedro

April 9, 2019 at 9:33 AM

It may or may not work out. Really, it just depends on two things: (1) how lenient the staff is on that particular ship and (2) to the extent that you’ll be doing this. If it’s just discretely sliding a few drinks to friends here and there, you’ll likely be fine. But constantly doing it would be cumbersome and may raise suspicions. You’re only allowed to order one drink at a time. So it would be a pain to order a drink, give it to a friend, then wait a few minutes or go to a different bar to order another drink. Also ordering drinks during dinner could be problematic, as it would be very evident at the dinner table what you’re doing.

July 12, 2019 at 4:22 PM

I wanted to piggie bank off this question…. we are traveling on a carnival ship for a family vacation. My husband is a hard liquor drinker, I’m more of a cocktail drinker. It would make sense for me to get the drinking package but not so much for my husband…. carnival has a policy that requires all adults in a cabin to purchase the drinking package. We are willing to pay 414 for 1 drinking package but over 800 for both is just too much. Any suggestions on how to get around this? Btw we do have 2 cabins, 1 for our kids (17 and 14 year olds) and 1 for us in case that’s helpful…..

July 13, 2019 at 1:11 PM

That requirement is a tough policy to get around. We know passengers who have been successful in skirting this rule when citing health reasons that the second person can’t drink alcohol. But that’s really the only way I’ve ever heard of them allowing one person to purchase a drink package without the other adult in the cabin doing so. Even then, it’s ultimately up to the cruise line and they still may not allow it. $800+ is definitely a lot to spend on drinking for the week, so we feel your pain. If you and the hubby wouldn’t average at least 15 drinks or so collectively, each day, between the two of you, it could prove more worthwhile to just buy per drink and use some of these other tips along the way. The drink packages can be soooo nice to indulge in. But sometimes it may not prove worthwhile.

July 17, 2019 at 8:50 PM

Go online and buy the plastic flask! I’ve never been caught boarding with that!

July 29, 2019 at 3:52 PM

TO: Canada says Where did you put your flask so it wan’t noticeable ?

Go online and buy the plastic flask! I’ve never been caught boarding with that!

November 26, 2018 at 11:44 PM

hello My husband and i are going on our first cruise in Alaska, we are wanting to get a drink package and unsure which one to get the is standard, classic and premium. we both like our drinks beers wines spirits and cocktails and also like our premium coffees. my question is any suggestion to what package we get?

December 1, 2018 at 5:09 PM

I’m assuming you’re cruising with Celebrity, in which case the premium package will likely be the best bet. Celebrity’s premium beverage package is the only one that also includes specialty coffees. You’ll also be able to drink most all the top-shelf liquors, better wines, and craft beer. Of course, you’ll be paying a premium for this premium package. The classic includes still includes a decent assortment of cocktails and liquors, under $9, but no specialty coffees. The standard can be pretty restrictive since it keeps you $6, which can be difficult to do with the price of Celebrity’s drinks. So really it just depends on your budget and needs. But if you can afford it and think that you’ll drink a fair amount, the premium package would certainly be the way to go.

January 24, 2019 at 4:12 PM

Carnival’s CHEERS! progam also includes the premium coffees (and frappes, and spiked hot chocolate, milkshakes, etc) on ships that have the coffee shops on board.

March 27, 2019 at 11:59 AM

So does Royal Caribbean…yay!!

September 27, 2018 at 7:25 AM

I am not a heavy drinker but consume a gallon+ of water,lemonade,tea daily,are there nonalchol drink packages? Are they worth it? In Chicago there are Tiki boat booze cruises on the lakefront,a friend Captians them on occasion. Best beach bar-BVI’S, just a lean to with a refrigerator,really cute girl bringing me beers,turns out she wasn’t working there but I was buying her beers too! So worth it and the look on my face when I found out later made everyone else howl with laughter.

September 29, 2018 at 4:19 PM

Good news: most all cruise ships have water, lemonade, iced tea, available for free around the clock. So no drink package needed for that. Sodas will cost extra and there are packages for that. But if you’re good with lemonade, tea, and water, then no need for the package. It’s almost always available in the cafe. They’ll serve water automatically in the dining rooms, but will have ice tea and sometimes lemonade too upon request. That’s funny about the beach bar story – lol!!

September 11, 2018 at 2:12 AM

Question: RE: NCL Escape NYC to Bermuda Oct 2018 … does anyone know if they still are offering 6 for 5 buckets of beer? Saw a 2017 comment that they don’t anymore, another after that they do. Nothing 2018 though.

Looked on posted bar menus (not sure dates), don’t see any mention of buckets. Also saw a comment somewhere that there is a $5 deposit for bucket? True? And are there only particular bars on the ship where you can get them? If so which?

John, et. al, many thank for this and your awesome other blogs! Hope the trip is going fantastically! We are about to do our first. Can’t wait! 🙂

September 13, 2018 at 2:41 PM

I can’t confirm from first-hand experience whether or not the Escape still has beer buckets. But when we last sailed with NCL on the Bliss in April, I’m fairly certain they did on that ship, on the lido deck bars around the pool. I’d be surprised to learn if the Escape has done away with beer buckets, but it could be true. Will leave this comment up to see if there’s anyone who has been on the Escape recently may be able to confirm. Enjoy you upcoming cruise to Bermuda! 🙂

September 13, 2018 at 10:19 PM

Ok, just saw the “What It Was Like To Travel Entirely Around the World Without Flights” blog, so guess that answers my question 😀 Sorry, should have read more before asking.

Should you guys happen to be in NYC sometime, drop us a note, my wife & I will take you out for (FREE!) drinks 😀

September 3, 2018 at 9:07 PM

Than you for these amazing tips! who doesn’t love drinks right? especially when they’re cheap!

September 6, 2018 at 1:01 PM

Yup, that’s right!

August 8, 2018 at 8:02 AM

I have never been on a cruise before but will use these hacks if I get to be on one anytime soon.

April 22, 2018 at 10:10 PM

There are other ways to get free drinks on ships that come to mind. There are art auctions on board most ships and wine is almost always offered. Find the bar and help yourself as they are free to enjoy. You don’t have to stay for the auction as the prices are generally inflated. Another way is the ship party to introduce the ships staff. One for early and one for late dining people. Why not go to both and get free drinks. Take a few with you. Also if you have sailed before on the ship ask about a party for past travelers. It is worth a try as the food is better and the drinks free. Have fun.

May 9, 2018 at 11:35 AM

Yes, those are all great ways to get free drinks on a cruise ship, which we detailed in our other post: How To Get Free Drinks on a Cruise Ship: http://www.roamingaroundtheworld.com/how-to-drink-for-free-on-a-cruise/

We tried to keep this post pertaining just to cheap drinks. But free drinks is better than cheap drinks! 🙂

March 5, 2018 at 12:05 AM

this is an awesome cruise hack!will surely take note of this, I hope someday… I can use this…thank you so much!

March 20, 2018 at 10:44 AM

Our pleasure, so happy that you’ve found our cruise hacks to be helpful!

September 8, 2017 at 5:01 AM

Awesome! I will be having my first cruise ship with my hubby this September. There will be a lot of drinks that might be pricey however you can some cheap ones as well. Anyways, thank you so much for sharing this great tips.

September 9, 2017 at 10:19 AM

Fantastic! We hope you have a great first cruise full of inexpensive drinks! Just be careful… most people’s first cruise ends up being the first of many, hehe!

September 5, 2017 at 3:06 AM

Good information. My husband and I have been on a cruise and loved it. We definitely want to take our kids.

August 21, 2017 at 11:39 AM

I think I’d have to drink a lot to get $50 worth of alcohol consumed and at least try to get my moneys worth. I guess if some of them are high end drinks that cost a lot, I could do it with fewer drinks, but I can’t imagine drinking that fifty dollars worth of beer per day.

August 21, 2017 at 5:26 PM

It all depends how much you drink. For heavy drinkers it’s totally worth it, and then some. Other people, not worth it at all. The important thing is to do the math and figure out if it’s worth it for the amount you drink. $50 worth of beer may seem like an insane amount. But beers are usually around $6 on a cruise ship. So if you drank 8 beers in a day, that would make up the cost. Still even 8 beers in one day seems like a lot. But when you’re lounging by the pool, then have a few drinks during a long dinner, and then go hang out the at the bar later, it all can add up! So it all depends.

June 16, 2017 at 6:42 AM

It’s funny how people migrate to the commercial establishments while in port (i.e. Senor Frogs, TGIF) The real treats are the little hidden gems where the waiter / bartender will actually strike up a conversation with you.

June 20, 2017 at 4:19 PM

Agree 100%! Give me a little hole-in-the-wall any day over any of those major chains. Senor Frogs seems to be in almost all the major cruise ports these days and they really aren’t too different from one another. We always prefer (and recommend) to check out the local flair of a port!

May 23, 2017 at 2:48 AM

The easiest way to get cheap drinks is to sail with a line that includes drinks in its fares. Seabourn Crusie Line, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Crystal and Viking Ocean are good places to start.

May 24, 2017 at 9:18 AM

Yes this is true. But those lines you’ve mentioned tend to be extremely expensive, so you are pretty much paying for those drinks with the high price of the cruise itself. I would absolutely love to go on any of those cruise lines though.

December 12, 2019 at 8:35 PM

NCL for the win in this regard.

May 11, 2017 at 3:34 AM

I have never been on a cruise and most likely never will go on one. I am not a water lover and with my luck the ship would sink when I was on it. My brother in law and his wife are going on their 5th cruise soon but its just not for me

May 16, 2017 at 12:32 PM

Cruise aren’t for everyone but most people do really enjoy them. It’s funny, one of the biggest barriers to cruising is for people to actually take their first cruise. There’s a static in the cruise industry that is something like well over 90% of first-time cruisers say they want to return for another cruise. Cruising can be great! Don’t knock it, ’til you try it. 🙂 You should consider joining your brother-in-law and wife one day.

May 10, 2017 at 7:05 PM

hello, going on Norwegian w family, i am a seasoned absolute and orange drinker, only one out of 6 of us, travel agent said i cant get drinking package? in june. is this true anyone? and im an early riser, 5-7am normally go to work, but on the ship id like to go drink, 6′.8′ 365 so it takes a bit for me personally. any idea’s or is that accurate that drink spacial is not available ?even if i got it for my wife as well,i myself would make it up by lunch @12.50 ive read per drink. sounds crazy but its not at all. any help any advice? i already paid for trip and for all others but at 13.00 basically its 500.00 a day easy everyday, ( for me anyway) TY

May 10, 2017 at 7:20 PM

Hi Bill, That is strange to hear the travel agent has told you that you can’t get the drink package. It may not be available as a free perk (as it sometimes is), but it most definitely should be available for purchase. The only reason I can think of why it wouldn’t be available for purchase is if you happen to be cruising on the Norwegian Sky, in which case, a drink package is automatically included for that ship only, so you have nothing to worry about. If not on the Sky, then I would suggest logging into your onboard account where you can view add-ons to purchase. Yes, you would be required to purchase it for all adults in the cabin, so your wife would need to purchase it as well. It sounds like the drink package would be well worth it for you, so I would suggest you purchase it, which you most definitely should be able to do. If you can’t find it online and your travel agent isn’t being any help, I’d suggest calling Norwegian Cruise Line directly. I’d imagine they’d be happy to sell you any add-on like a drink package. You can also purchase the drink package once you get on the ship, but it’s usually sold at a slight discount if you buy it before you set sail. Hope that helps and have a great cruise full of many Absolute & Orange. 😉

May 10, 2017 at 8:20 PM

Thank you so much! I thought that was strange,(told her dont care about free this and that, just give me the package) i told her im willing to pay for all of us, once in a lifetime trip, it was like she disproved of my request??! normally i would too! if it wasn’t vacation. just trying to do a nice thing for family and in-laws and really makes so much scene after reading your response and so appreciated. The ship is breakaway out of NJ/NY mid June, like i said, be happy to pay for package, she said NO to any alcohol package. they all end in April? Only during winter for incentives do they offer that?. Again it seems ridicules, but this is the case. i will call norw tell them as you suggested,the situation? agree? then i guess call travel agent, ask for owner, call there bull…poop and talk to her boss? sound like an OK course of action? TY also started this 11-12 months ago, looks like im paying same price(according to present pricing) as if i started a week before departure. it was a lot of money for me and feel like i was wronged. you’ve had the best news in 11 months,it’s still possible for package and savings. Ty Bill i am grateful your time and advice!

September 11, 2018 at 1:56 AM

Wow, this sounds wrong! I know this post is a bit old (last year), but I recently booked NCL NYC to Bermuda for October, 2018, and I definitely have this option (and many more.) However, a few things to note: It’s not necessarily just those in your cabin that must also get the drink package … my understanding is: if the travel agent booked your entire GROUP together, then ALL in the group must get the package … want or not. Children must get the soda package, adults the drinking package.

I decided to opt out because my wife NEVER drinks more than 3 glasses of wine / mixed drinks (max!!) a day. I, on the other hand, drink like a fish 😀 Well, not completely .. have to also consider days at port where I only plan to drink in the eve (we’ll be cruising around the island during the day.) So, the math doesn’t add up for us:

UDP costs 106.80 / person w/ 20% gratuity * 2= 213.60/day * 7 days = $1495.20

Look at costs, as explained in this blog. 6 for 5 beer. Buy a bottle of wine instead of glasses (1 bottle = 6 typical glasses) Possible free drinks (other article) and purchase from duty free on last day. Not buying so much (on board) on days in port (3 out of 7)

The math just doesn’t work. I can get MORE alcohol for less by NOT getting the plan.

I also checked the corks and Caps package … might be closer to working since that actually includes some juices, which my wife DOES drink a lot. I have to look closer … this one is harder since I/we also want our mixed drinks. But, I’m thinking even that doesn’t work for us.

If your travel agent didn’t explain all this to you, s/he did a mediocre job!! (or worse!)

John: THANK YOU BOTH so much for these posts!!! They are SO very helpful. I actually figured out the advantage of buying by the bottle 2 min before reading this blog, but you gave me even more to think about! AWESOME!!

I hope your trip is continuing wonderfully. I’m so jealous! 😀

June 20, 2019 at 9:55 PM

Because I am diabetic I have been advised not to drink so on our last cruise with celebrity my hubby was able to get the drink pkg. even though we were not buying one for myself.

May 3, 2017 at 3:37 AM

I’ve always heard amazing things about cruises but have never been on one. Seems like a great way to travel and have an adventure on a budget.

May 3, 2017 at 5:15 PM

I most definitely is! That’s one of the reason we like cruising so much. Many people view it as a luxury experience that is out of reach. It can be, but with the right planning, it can also be a very affordable way to see many different places.

November 5, 2016 at 2:17 AM

Hope you are having an awesome day!

That was a superb blog!!! Thanks for sharing

Have Nice Day

I am waiting for next posting.

Keep Smiling!!!

November 10, 2016 at 12:49 PM

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for letting us know. We’re smiling 🙂

November 1, 2016 at 2:51 PM

Wow! Alcohol for under $6 a person? That’s impressive! Taste-tasting events seem so fun. These are all excellent, informative tips!

November 3, 2016 at 10:53 AM

It’s always nice to find drinks under $6 and it’s absolutely possible, particularly with happy hours! 🙂 And those tasting events can be so much fun! Glad you found these tips informative – cheers!

October 26, 2016 at 1:44 AM

Spot on advice about not buying wine by the glass. It’s never a good deal.

November 3, 2016 at 11:01 AM

Yup, never a good deal unless you’re literally only planning to have one glass during the entire cruise …and who would do that, lol! We always recommend buying by the bottle if not an entire wine package. 🙂 Cheers!

June 7, 2016 at 11:52 AM

Awesome advice! I’m a cruise writer and I appreciate the research and dedication you put into this article. Well done!

June 8, 2016 at 12:22 PM

Thanks so much! It really means a lot coming from a cruise writer! 🙂

May 20, 2016 at 8:14 AM

Very nice article on Getting Cheap Drinks. Surely this would help voyagers like me.

Keep posting.

May 27, 2016 at 11:33 AM

Yup! We’re always looking for ways to cut costs on our drinking budget! Always glad to help likeminded travelers!

March 24, 2016 at 4:41 PM

Thanks for the tips about how to get cheap drinks on a cruise ship! I think that these tips could apply to anyone wanting to get cheap drinks. Especially, your tip about happy hour. Most restaurants have happy hour and their drinks are cheap during that time.

March 26, 2016 at 9:23 PM

Yup, happy hour can always be a nice bargain, whether on a cruise ship or in a restaurant. We love happy hours!

June 25, 2014 at 7:36 PM

this is how we used to do it, when we went on a cruise, lots of fun and for sure saved on your wallet.

February 12, 2016 at 2:24 PM

Glad to hear there are some like-minded people out there drinking for cheap on cruises! 😉

June 9, 2014 at 2:54 AM

If you are a wine aficionado – take a wine cruise to top wine producing countries like France, Spain and Italy.

June 9, 2014 at 3:27 AM

Oooh, that sounds like a fabulous idea! Spanish reds, French Chardonnay, Italian Pinot Grigio all right from the source! Cheers!

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Carnival Alcohol Prices &amp; Selections - Carnival Cruise Lines - Cruising Earth

Carnival Cruise Lines - Alcohol Prices & Selections

Most Recent Change(s) May 2022 - On May 1, 2022 Carnival introduced price increases on their beverage programs: "Cheers" Beverage Program and "Bottomless Bubbles" Unlimited Soda Program . Pricing and options listed below are updated frequently.

The Carnival Fun Shops

You can pre-order bottles of liquor, wine and beer to be delivered to your cabin through The Carnival Fun Shops either online or you can call.

To Pre-Order: Call Carnival: 800-522-7648 Monday-Sunday 9:AM-9:PM ET Or Online 24/7 @ The Carnival Fun Shops

Alcohol Pricing Overview

• Prices may vary & do not include tax.
• Order before boarding, this service is not guaranteed to be available once onboard - plan ahead!!
• The liquor, wine, and beer choices do occasionally change. The lists below are continually updated, but if you do not see something be sure to call and ask or check the website at the link above.
• Due to TX & AL state liquor laws ships departing from these ports can't deliver alcoholic beverages to your cabin until they are in international waters. It may even be delayed until the following day.
• The pre-ordered liquor bottle prices are not cheap. They are about 2-3 times what you'd pay onshore for a bottle.
• The savings you get by pre-ordering liquor bottles are realized when you compare it to the individual drink prices onboard. Pre-ordered liquor bottles are 2-3 times cheaper compared to the price of the same quantity of alcohol purchased through individual drinks onboard.

Alcohol Prices

• Most pre-ordered liquor bottles are 1 liter in size. A 1 liter bottle will yield just over 22 drinks using a standard 1.5oz alcohol pour per drink. The first price listed below is the price you would pay for a single drink ordered onboard (minus gratuity), the second price is for a bottle pre-ordered and delivered to your cabin. Options can and do change on a regular basis. Please call the cruise line directly to verify any recent changes to availability and pricing.

*Most specialty cocktails onboard range in the $9.95 to $12.00 price range.* *You can typically make a drink a "double" with an extra shot for $3.00 more.*

See our Carnival Downloadable Menus for additional drink/pricing options.

Wine / Champagne

• This is not a complete list of all the wines available, it is just a sampling. Wine can be either be pre-ordered through The Fun Shops or purchased once onboard. The prices below will be nearly identical to the prices you see onboard at the bars/venues and in the main dining room . The bottle prices listed below are inclusive of gratuities.
• Carnival also offers wine packages. Wine packages can save you up to 25% off the prices of buying the individual bottles. Wine packages can also either be ordered through The Fun Shops (you must call, not currently available online) or purchased once onboard.

• Pre-ordered beer through the Funshops is sold in 4 packs. Prices are typically slightly lower than you would pay at a bar onboard. First price listed below is the bar price you would pay for a single beer (minus gratuity), the second price is for a 4 pack pre-ordered and delivered to your cabin. At some venues onboard you will also be able to buy a 4 pack bucket of beer at a slightly reduced price, saving you about .50 cents a beer.

Soda / Mixer Prices

Soda / Mixers / Other

• Pre-ordered soda is sold in 6 packs and juices are sold in 4 packs. Fresh lemon and lime can also be ordered from Room Service.

Non-alcoholic Beverages Offered Onboard Carnival Ships

• Pepsi - Caffeine Free *
• Diet Pepsi *
• Diet Pepsi - Caffeine Free *
• Pepsi Zero Sugar *
• Sierra Mist *
• Sierra Mist Zero Sugar *
• Mug Root Beer *
• Mountain Dew *
• Diet Mountain Dew *
• Bubly Lime Sparkling Water *
• Bubly Grapefruit Sparkling Water *
• Bubly Orange Sparkling Water *
• Naked Green Machine
• Naked Mighty Mango
• Naked Strawberry Banana
• Pure Leaf Unsweetened Black Tea +
• Pure Leaf Sweet Tea +
• Gatorade Lemon Lime +
• Gatorade Fruit Punch +
• Propel Berry Water +
• Propel Grape Water +
• Propel Kiwi Strawberry Water +
• Starbucks Frappuccino +
• Starbucks Double Shot Espresso +
• Muscle Milk Protein Shake Intense Vanilla
• Muscle Milk Protein Shake Knockout Chocolate
• Dr. Pepper **
• Diet Dr. Pepper **

* Included in "Bottomless Bubbles" Unlimited Soda Program and the "Cheers" Beverage Program .

+ Included in the "Cheers" Beverage Program .

** Dr. Pepper products are only served on ships departing from the Galveston and New Orleans cruise ports.

"Cheers" Beverage Program

Carnival is now offering the "Cheers" Beverage Program.

The "Cheers" Beverage Program is flat-rate daily pricing for alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic frozen drinks, wine by the glass, soda, juices, specialty cofees, energy drinks, bottled water and more.

For full Cheers Program details go here:

Complete menus of the drinks and prices available at the onboard bars:

Carnival Bar Menu - Indoor

Carnival Bar Menu - Outdoor

(Prices on the menus above do NOT include the additional 18% gratuity that is charged to your Sail & Sign Card.)

The "Official" Carnival Alcohol Policy

Bringing Alcohol On Board On Embarkation Day

• Guests are prohibited from bringing water, sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages that are packaged in glass or plastic bottles.
• On embarkation day, a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, energy drinks, juice, and milk), packaged in cans or cartons, may be brought on board and must be in the guest's carry-on luggage. A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12 ounces each or less, per person.
• Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages on board with the following exception - at the beginning of the cruise during embarkation day only, guests (21 years of age and older) may bring one 750 ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or champagne, per person, in their carry-on luggage. Outside this exception, all liquor, beer, other forms of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage and such items will be confiscated and discarded and no compensation will be provided.
• Guests sailing with us on back-to-back cruises are entitled to bring the same quantity as stated in this policy, per cruise. The additional quantities will be stored for safekeeping at the start of the first cruise and will be given to the guest as each following cruise begins.

Corkage Fee

• Should guests wish to consume their wine or champagne in the main dining room, specialty restaurant or bar, a $15.00 USD corkage fee, per 750 ml bottle, will be charged. A corkage fee is a charge that is assessed, at time of service, for every bottle that is served and not bought on the premises.

Additional Notes :

• You may bring on more than one bottle of wine or champagne per person as long as the total quantity per person does not exceed 750ml. The typical 4 pack of small wine bottles are 187ml each, for a total of 748ml.
• If you buy alcohol in any port during your cruise you will be instructed to turn it in when you are screened during reboarding. You will then be allowed to pick it up on the last night of the cruise.
• Alcohol purchased from the Duty Free Shop onboard the ship is held and delivered to your cabin on the last night of the cruise.
• You will be allowed to keep any non-alcoholic beverages purchased in ports as long as they are sealed and they fit in the same size and quantity limits as when you first boarded. They do not track how many non-alcoholic beverages you initially brought onboard on embarkation day. Even if you brought your limit, you are still allowed to bring on additional non-alcoholic items from the ports.
• If you want to bring a cooler onboard the max size is 12"H x 12"W x 12"L.
• Be aware: Carnival is very strict on this size limit of these carry-on coolers. Cruisers have been known to have to leave behind coolers just one inch larger in any one direction.
• Carry-on coolers also work well as another ice bucket in the room. The ice bucket typically provided in the cabin is quite small.
• Carnival's Cooler Restriction Policy: "Carnival Cruise Lines does not allow guests to bring large coolers on board its vessels. However small, personal-sized coolers, no larger than 12”H x 12”W x 12”L for the purpose of housing small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications are permitted as carry-on luggage. Screening and movement of large coolers through embarkation is an impediment to the boarding and security screening process; therefore, large coolers are not permitted as carry-on or checked luggage."

Smuggling Alcohol On Board

Smuggle at your own risk!

• There are currently no retributions other than the alcohol being confiscated if you get caught. The confiscated alcohol will even be returned to you at the end of the cruise if it is confiscated in the original manufacturer sealed container. All other containers will not be returned.
• Carnival confiscates dozens of water/soda/wine bottles that have been refilled with liquor prior to almost every cruise. It’s been this way for a long time. You have a VERY LOW chance of getting smuggled liquor on this way. In 2015 Carnival began banning all bottles from being brought onboard, exception being one bottle of wine or champagne 750ml in size or less per person (21 years of age and older) in their carry-on luggage.
• People tend to smuggle because purchasing liquor through the Fun Shops / Bon Voyage is 2-3 times more expensive than buying it at their local liquor store. You should also need to weigh in the convenience of having it waiting for you in your cabin versus having to go to the store to purchase it, repackageing it to smuggle, transporting it to the ship and then hope it doesn't get caught. When you weigh in all the factors purchasing through the Fun Shops / Bon Voyage is a pretty good option. Don't forget to also check out the "Cheers" Beverage Program .

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The following procedures pertain to U.S residents and Non-U.S residents returning to the United States.

Guests who have not exceeded the allowance listed below are not required to complete a form but will make an oral declaration to the U.S Customs Border and Protection officers on the last morning of the cruise, declaring if the following are true: 

• The value of goods being brought back does not exceed allowable amount
• No accompanying articles are forwarded in bond
• No articles are being imported for others or for sale

Guests who have exceeded the allowance listed below are required to complete one U.S Customs Declaration Form, per household which includes those family members traveling with them who reside at the same address.

The Head of Household must declare all merchandise purchased or acquired abroad and which he/she is bringing back into the United States. That includes items purchased in duty-free shops (on board) and in port as well as items received as gifts. It also includes items the guests have begun to use or are wearing. All purchases must be listed on the back of the U.S. Customs declaration form. Undeclared merchandise is subject to seizure and/or penalty. If the family has exceeded the U.S. Customs exemptions, the Head of Household must present him or herself with receipts to the U.S Customs Border and Protection officers on the last morning of the cruise. Cash is only accepted for payment of additional taxes exceeding the Duty-Free allowance.

Non-U.S Residents must comply with Customs laws set-up by the Customs Office in their particular country. Specific information will be provided on board the ship. 

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Domestic itineraries that include any of the U.S Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John)

• $1600 (retail) of duty-free purchases per person may be spent. No more than $800 can be purchased outside the U.S Virgin Islands or onboard 
• One liter of alcohol per person and an additional four liters if purchased in the U.S Virgin Islands; one of the additional liters must be a product of the U.S Virgin Islands (guest must be at least 21 years old) 
• One carton of cigarettes and an additional four cartons if purchased in the U.S Virgin Islands (guest must be at least 21 years) 
• One hundred cigars (guest must be at least 21 years old; Cuban cigars are allowed) 
• $800 (retail) of duty-free purchases per person may be spent 
• One liter of alcohol per person (guest must be at least 21 years old)    
• One carton of cigarettes (guest must be at least 21 years old) 
• One hundred cigars (guest must be at least 21 years old; Cuban cigars are allowed) 

Duty-Free Allowance for Canadian Residents

• $800 Canadian (retail) worth of tax and duty-free purchases per person may be spent 
• 1.5 liters of wine or 1.14 liters of alcohol per person (guest must be at least 21 years old)    
• 50 cigars (guest must be at least 21 years old) 

Registering Valuables Before Leaving Home It is recommended that guests register their valuables with Customs before leaving home. This should be done well in advance of travel at a Customs office near home. Items that should be registered generally include those not manufactured in their country. If the guest cannot prove that they own an item prior to departure, Customs officials may charge them duty to bring the item back into the country. Customs pays particular attention to cameras (including special lenses and video equipment), binoculars, radios, laptop computers, foreign-made watches and other similar appliances.

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How To Get Liquor On A Cruise Ship

Published: December 11, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Kissie Verdugo

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Introduction

Going on a cruise is a fantastic way to relax, explore new destinations, and indulge in some well-deserved pampering. And for many passengers, enjoying a drink or two is an essential part of the cruising experience. Whether you’re looking to unwind with a cocktail by the pool, savor a fine glass of wine with a gourmet meal, or toast to breathtaking sunsets on the open sea, having access to liquor on a cruise ship is a must.

However, it’s important to understand that cruise ship policies regarding alcohol can vary. Some cruise lines have strict regulations in place, while others are more lenient. In this article, we’ll explore the different ways you can get liquor on a cruise ship, from duty-free shopping to bringing your own alcohol onboard.

By understanding the options available to you, you’ll be able to make the most of your cruising experience and enjoy your favorite drinks while sailing the high seas.

So, whether you’re a wine connoisseur, a cocktail enthusiast, or simply enjoy a cold beer by the beach, let’s dive in and discover how to get liquor on a cruise ship.

Understanding the Cruise Ship Policies

Before you embark on your cruise adventure, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the alcohol policies of the cruise line you’ll be traveling with. Each cruise line has its own set of rules and regulations regarding the purchase, consumption, and transportation of alcohol onboard.

Some cruise lines have strict policies that prohibit passengers from bringing any alcohol onboard, while others allow a limited amount of alcohol to be brought on board but charge corkage fees for consuming it in public areas. Additionally, certain cruise lines implement minimum drinking ages and reserve the right to confiscate any alcohol they find during the embarkation process.

It’s important to thoroughly review the cruise line’s alcohol policies prior to your trip to ensure you comply with their rules and avoid any unnecessary hassles or disappointments. You can typically find this information on the cruise line’s website or by contacting their customer service.

By understanding and respecting the cruise ship policies, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable cruising experience without any alcohol-related setbacks.

Shopping for Liquor Before the Trip

One of the easiest ways to ensure you have liquor on your cruise ship is to purchase it before you even embark on your journey. Many cruise lines allow passengers to bring a limited amount of alcohol in their checked luggage, and this is the perfect opportunity to stock up on your favorite beverages.

Before you start shopping, be sure to check the cruise line’s alcohol policy to know the exact limits and restrictions on bringing alcohol on board. Some cruise lines may specify the maximum number of bottles or the type of alcohol that is allowed.

Once you have a clear understanding of the restrictions, you can start browsing for your preferred spirits, wine, or beer. Local liquor stores and online retailers often offer a wide selection of alcoholic beverages at competitive prices, so you can choose your favorites and even take advantage of special deals or discounts.

When shopping for liquor before your trip, keep in mind the weight and size restrictions of your checked luggage. It’s crucial to pack the alcohol securely to prevent any breakage during transport. You may consider using bubble wrap or packing the bottles in plastic bags to minimize the risk of any damage.

Remember to keep your purchase receipts handy as you may need to provide them during the check-in process. It’s also important to note that you will not have access to your checked bags until they are delivered to your cabin, so it’s a good idea to pack a small amount of alcohol in your carry-on luggage for immediate enjoyment once you board the ship.

By shopping for liquor before your trip, you can ensure that you have your favorite beverages with you and save on the potential markup of onboard prices.

Duty-Free Shopping on the Cruise Ship

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.

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.

It’s important to note that duty-free shopping on the cruise ship is usually available only during specific hours and while the ship is sailing in international waters. This means that you may not be able to purchase alcohol on the first and last day of your cruise or when the ship is in port.

When shopping for alcohol onboard, it’s a good idea to compare prices and deals offered by different duty-free shops. You may find that certain spirits or wines are available at discounted prices or as part of special promotions.

Keep in mind that any alcohol purchased during duty-free shopping will be held by the cruise ship’s staff until the end of your voyage or until your departure from the ship. They will then deliver the purchased items to your cabin or arrange for their collection at a designated area.

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.

Bringing Your Own Alcohol on Board

If you want to enjoy your preferred alcoholic beverages without the hassle of shopping on board or in advance, some cruise lines allow passengers to bring their own alcohol on board. However, there are usually restrictions and guidelines in place that you should be aware of.

Typically, cruise lines have limits on the amount of alcohol allowed to be brought on board. It can range from a certain number of bottles of wine or champagne to a limited quantity of spirits or beer. It’s important to check your cruise line’s specific policy to ensure you comply with their regulations.

When packing your own alcohol, it’s crucial to pack it securely in your checked luggage. Bottles should be well-padded and protected from any damage. It’s also recommended to double-check the cruise line’s guidelines on packing alcohol, as some may require it to be in its original, sealed packaging.

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.

Another consideration when bringing your own alcohol on board is the weight and size of your luggage. Keep in mind that you may have to transport the bottles yourself from your car or transportation to your cabin, so it’s important not to exceed any weight restrictions or make your luggage too cumbersome to handle.

Bringing your own alcohol on board can be a convenient option if you have specific preferences or want to enjoy a particular brand or vintage. It allows you to have your favorite drinks readily available in your cabin, without the need to rely on onboard shopping or pay higher prices for alcoholic beverages.

Sneaking Alcohol on Board

While it may be tempting to save money or bypass alcohol restrictions by attempting to sneak alcohol on board a cruise ship, it is important to note that this is generally not recommended. Cruise lines have strict policies in place to prevent passengers from smuggling alcohol, and if you are caught, it can result in significant penalties and even expulsion from the ship.

Cruise ship security is highly trained in detecting prohibited items, including alcohol, during the boarding process. They use advanced scanning technology and conduct thorough inspections of luggage to ensure the safety and compliance of all passengers. Attempts to conceal alcohol, such as using hidden compartments or disguising bottles, are likely to be discovered.

In addition to the penalties imposed by the cruise line, attempting to sneak alcohol on board can also spoil your vacation experience. If you are caught, you may face consequences such as fines, the confiscation of your alcohol, or even being denied boarding.

If you want to enjoy alcohol on your cruise, it is recommended to follow the cruise line’s policies and guidelines. Many cruise lines offer a variety of options for passengers to purchase and enjoy alcoholic beverages onboard, including duty-free shopping, pre-purchasing beverage packages, or taking advantage of happy hour specials.

By adhering to the rules and regulations set by the cruise line, you can ensure a stress-free and enjoyable vacation without the risk of facing penalties or compromising the overall experience.

Buying Alcohol on Excursions

When you embark on a cruise, you’ll likely have the opportunity to explore various destinations through shore excursions. These excursions can take you to local attractions, cultural sites, or even to nearby wineries and distilleries. If you’re a fan of local spirits or wines, purchasing alcohol on excursions can be an enticing option.

Depending on the destination and the specific excursion, you may have the chance to visit local vineyards, breweries, or distilleries, where you can learn about their unique production methods and sample their products. These excursions often present an excellent opportunity to purchase bottles of locally crafted wines, spirits, or beers.

It’s important to be mindful of any restrictions or regulations regarding the transport of alcohol back to the cruise ship. Some countries may have limits on the amount of alcohol that can be brought in or additional customs fees that need to be paid. Make sure to do your research and understand the local laws before making any purchases.

Once you’ve safely returned to the cruise ship with your purchased alcohol, it will be collected by the ship’s security, and you can typically retrieve it at the end of your cruise or when you disembark. Be sure to follow the ship’s guidelines and instructions on how to collect your alcohol to avoid any confusion or inconvenience.

Buying alcohol on excursions provides an opportunity to sample and bring home unique beverages that showcase the local flavors and craftsmanship of the destinations you visit. It allows you to expand your collection with bottles that hold sentimental value and create lasting memories of your cruise experience.

Tips for Enjoying Alcohol on a Cruise Ship

Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or embarking on your first voyage, here are some helpful tips for enjoying alcohol on a cruise ship:

• Know the Alcohol Policy: Familiarize yourself with the alcohol policy of the cruise line you’re sailing with. Understand the limitations, restrictions, and any associated fees for bringing your own alcohol or purchasing it on board.
• Consider Beverage Packages: Many cruise lines offer beverage packages that allow you to enjoy unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for a fixed price. Assess your drinking preferences and calculate if a package will be cost-effective for you.
• Taste Local Specialties: Take the opportunity to try regional wines, spirits, and beers while in port. Explore local bars and breweries to savor the authentic flavors of your destinations.
• Attend Tastings and Mixology Classes: Look out for onboard tastings and mixology classes where you can learn about different drinks and techniques. It’s a fun way to expand your knowledge and discover new favorites.
• Stay Hydrated: Alcohol can dehydrate you, and the combination of sun, sea, and alcohol can make it even more pronounced. Remember to drink plenty of water in between alcoholic beverages to stay hydrated throughout your cruise.
• Drink Responsibly: While it’s tempting to indulge in the onboard festivities, it’s essential to drink responsibly. Pace yourself, be aware of your limits, and know when to take a break. Always prioritize your safety and well-being.
• Try the Specialty Drinks: Cruise ships often have specialty bars or lounges that offer unique and inventive cocktails. Don’t hesitate to explore these options and treat yourself to a memorable drinking experience.
• Savor the Sunset: Take advantage of the beautiful sunsets at sea by enjoying a refreshing drink on the deck. Sipping a cocktail or a glass of wine while watching the sun go down is a truly magical experience.
• Be Mindful of Sea Sickness: If you’re prone to seasickness, be cautious with alcohol consumption as it can exacerbate the symptoms. Opt for lighter drinks and consider remedies like ginger or seasickness bands to help alleviate any discomfort.
• Enjoy the Entertainment: Cruise ships offer a wide array of entertainment options, from live music performances to themed parties. Take part in the festivities and enjoy your favorite drinks while immersing yourself in the onboard entertainment.

By following these tips, you can make the most of your alcohol experience on a cruise ship, ensuring a delightful and memorable vacation.

Getting liquor on a cruise ship can be an enjoyable and satisfying part of your vacation experience. Whether you choose to shop for alcohol before your trip, take advantage of duty-free shopping on board, bring your own alcohol, or explore local beverages on excursions, there are various options to cater to your preferences.

However, it is essential to respect and abide by the alcohol policies set by the cruise line you’re traveling with. Understanding the rules and guidelines will help you avoid any issues or penalties while ensuring a smooth and enjoyable cruising experience.

From savoring a glass of fine wine with a sunset view to discovering unique spirits, there are many opportunities to indulge in your favorite drinks on a cruise ship. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast, a cocktail connoisseur, or simply enjoy a refreshing beer, there are plenty of options available to satisfy your cravings.

Remember to drink responsibly, stay hydrated, and pace yourself throughout your cruise. Prioritize your safety and well-being while taking advantage of the onboard offerings and entertainment. And most importantly, enjoy every moment and create lasting memories as you cruise the seas with your favorite drinks in hand.

So, whether you’re toasting to a special occasion, sampling local flavors, or simply looking to unwind and relax, make the most of your alcohol experience on a cruise ship. Cheers to a memorable journey!

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Duty-free shopping at Princess Juliana Internatonal Airport in St. Maarten. Here's our guide on how to find bargains when traveling abroad.

Consumer guide to duty-free shopping

Learn the ins & outs of finding bargains at duty-free shops.

Janet Fullwood

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Duty-free shopping is a big draw for many cruise passengers, and cruise lines are expert in whipping up desire with tempting come-ons in their on-board shops and through partnerships with pay-to-play merchants on shore. But while there are good deals to be had, there are also pitfalls — tops among them succumbing to the urge to splurge for duty-free bargains that aren't really saving you money.

Can you really get good duty-free deals? It depends.

To make sure you're getting a genuine deal, whip out your smartphone and look up the price online at Google Shopping or Amazon (assuming you follow Cruiseable's tips for connectivity ) — and don't forget to factor in the shipping and sales tax (varies by city and state). On occasion, you can score a deal with savings of 20 percent or more in a duty-free shop, either on land or on ship. 

Here's a good rule of thumb: If the price comparison checks out, and if you know you're getting the genuine article, and if you don't mind lugging it home, then your duty-free purchase makes sense.

How duty-free works: $800 is tax-free

Buying merchandise in a duty-free shop does not necessarily mean you don't have to pay any duties or taxes on it; the item is only tax-free in the country where you bought it . At a duty-free outlet, foreigners are exempt from import taxes and local sales taxes (often called VAT, short for value-added tax, or GST, short for goods and services tax). 

So think of a duty-free shop as a mini tax-free haven. You can bring  up to $800 in duty-free goods into the U.S. without incurring additional fees. If you bring home more than $800 per person, then you'll see a 3 percent levy on the next $1,000 of purchases you bring across the border. (One key exception: The duty-free allowance is $1,600 if you bought your stuff i n the U.S. Virgin Islands , American Samoa or Guam.)

A nice bonus for families traveling together? Each kid, no matter how young, is allowed an $800 allotment, so if you're a couple with two children, you can bring home $3,200 worth of purchases tax free.

In short, as long as you stay within the very generous allowances, you most likely won’t pay any U.S.-imposed duty or tax at all (caveats below). 

Which shops qualify and who's eligible to buy?

To qualify as duty-free, merchandise must be imported and quarantined “in-bond” until it exits the country in the hands of foreign shoppers — the locals can't buy these items. So that's why you'll see most duty-free shops at airports or on cruise ships, which local residents can't access.

And if you're wondering, Americans cannot buy in a duty-free shop upon their return to the United States — duty-free items can only be purchased for export in international airport terminals. “Duty free on arrival” is available in some other countries, but not here.

Shopping for bargains on the ship

Frequent cruisers know that the shops on board are closed when the ship is in port. By law, the shops can't open their doors until the ship is in international waters, 50 miles off shore. So you'll have to do your browsing while at sea.

But the upside is that the merchandise can then be sold without having to add on any city, state or national taxes. The price you see on the tag is the price you'll pay at the register. (By contrast, cruisers often are surprised to find a local tax added to their drinks bill while they were in port in, say, Miami or New York.)

Onboard shops are a big revenue source for the cruise lines, so don't be surprised if you're hit up repeatedly during your cruise with newsletter announcements about special sales or entreaties from the cruise director to shop at certain outlets on shore. But that's OK, there are often good deals to be had. Many cruise lines offer luxury items at competitive or even discount prices in their shops. Cruisers can frequently find better values on board than in port, so don't overlook what's right down the corridor.

If you're shopping for jewelry, particularly gemstones, wedding or engagement rings, certain gold and silver items, pearls or watches, you may be able to nab a good deal besides getting the tax-free benefit, which can be significant on high-end items. If you are looking for something specific — tanzanite earrings, for instance — and you happen to know the going prices and can assess quality yourself, you should feel very comfortable in the cruise shops. Most cruise lines offer guarantees on what they sell, so you'll be able to return the item if needed — which isn't a real option at foreign shops. 

A final advantage of buying duty-free right on board your ship? Convenience. You can shop at your own pace, in your shorts if you'd like, and deal with courteous, English-speaking staff. And you can take your purchases right with you. One exception: Many cruise lines don't let you buy booze in the shop and drink it on board; your purchase is held until you disembark. Other cruise lines, like Windstar , do allow it, though with a stiff corkage fee.

Bonus tip: By the way, if you're looking for souvenir T-shirts, sweatshirts or other mementos of your trip, the best bargains in the ship's gift shops are often found on the last day or two of the cruise — if the item you're eyeing hasn't sold out.

About those sales pitches on board

Before you arrive in port, the ship newsletter may list stores that are good bets for high-quality, no-hassle shopping. There may also be a daily debrief in the ship's theater or main lounge about special deals on land. Invariably, these presentations are done by the cruise director or by a port lecturer who's often hired by an outside company with ties to individual retailers.

As Cruise Critic points out , "There's just one catch to all of this: The stores mentioned have paid to be mentioned. We're not talking about kickbacks; we're talking about an accepted business practice.'' In other words, factor that info into the pitch. 

You may also come across the occasional trunk show , a short-term sales event put on by manufacturers' representatives from such companies as EFFY Jewelry who cruise along with you. The shows gives passengers the ability to buy duty-free merchandise not normally carried on the ship, such as diamonds and rare custom jewelry. Again, if you're in the market for some glitter and glam, there are some good deals here.

Buying duty-free in the port

Passengers I accompanied on a recent Caribbean cruise aboard Windstar Cruises’ flagship, Wind Surf , reported snagging Ray-Ban sunglasses and Quicksilver sportswear in  St. Kitts (where the VAT for locals is 17.5 percent) for about one-third less than back home, while many women returned to the ship glowing over clothing and accessory purchases made in the smart boutiques of Gustavia, St. Barts , a duty-free port. 

I found my treasures — a silver and larimar ring (larimar is a pale blue mineral found only in the Dominican Republic) and a batik sundress — in the gated Port Zante duty-free zone in Basseterre, St. Kitts, where locals aren't allowed to shop (an authentic island experience lies just beyond the gates). Both purchases were made from congenial Indian merchants who, when I wavered, offered reductions of about 15 percent off the originally quoted price.

What about the sexy lingerie and cute little designer dresses that you’ll never see online but can easily find in one of those smart boutiques in St. Barts? As any woman will tell you, part of the joy of shopping lies in letting serendipity be your guide. And if there's a story and a memory attached to a purchase, so much the better.

Just as with onboard shops, you get to bring your port treasures back to your room. If you choose to ship them home, you're responsible for paying the duties and taxes on those items separately, and the Postal Service may flag your item to see if you're in compliance. In 2016 President Obama signed a bill vastly expanding the duty-free exemption for products imported by mail — from $200 to $800 — so you don't plan to ship home more than $800 worth of booze, right?

Finding duty-free deals at the airport

The rules for duty-free shops at airports are fairly close to what you'll experience on the ship or in port. At just about any international airport you'll be floored by the endless walkways filled with so many glitzy shops you'll think you're in a high-end shopping mall.

One important thing to know in advance: That liter of Scotch or bottle of pricey perfume you buy in an airport duty-free shop will easily make it through U.S. Customs only if it’s properly packaged and tagged. If your international flight drops you at your final destination, you’re home free. If you have a connecting flight, though, different rules apply.

Savvy travelers know to leave room for liquor and other liquid purchases in their checked luggage. But that doesn't do you much good when you're already checked into your flight in a foreign airport and browsing the duty-free store shelves. Fortunately, TSA adjusted its rules in 2014. Now you're allowed to bring your liquor purchases onto the flight in your carryon luggage — if it meets certain conditions. 

To be allowed through security, your bottles of wine or spirits must be in transparent containers and secured in unopened, tamper-free bags provided by the merchant and approved by the TSA. If the bottles don't meet these criteria, they’ll be confiscated at the security checkpoint due to rules prohibiting fluids and gels exceeding 3.4 ounces (more details  here .)

If you are returning to the U.S. and then have a connecting domestic flight on the way back home, you'll be required to reclaim your checked bags prior to passing through Customs inspection, so use this opportunity to place your duty-free liquids, aerosols and gels in your checked bags before rechecking them for your connecting flight.

To play it straight, you’ll need to itemize and declare whatever you bought abroad, duty-free or not, on the Customs form provided by your ship or airline. And brace yourself: You might get a nasty surprise months after returning home in the form of a “ use tax ” bill levied by state and/or local authorities on purchases made out of state or abroad. The fees legally can be imposed (but seldom are) on purchases over $400 declared on your Customs form. 

The most popular duty-free items

Sometimes you just want a memento from your trip and not necessarily a total steal, right? Maybe that's why luxury goods like high-end handbags, watches and jewelry make up the largest percentage of duty-free purchases. Cosmetics and fragrances come in second and wines and spirits come in third (Caribbean rum ... yum!).

In total, travelers snap up duty-free good to the tune of more than $50 billion a year worldwide, according to estimates. Here's an idea of what you'll find in your duty-free forays:

Jewelry & watches: If it's a trustworthy brand and the price is right, why not go for it? The savings on the sales tax alone could be considerable. Just be sure to declare any purchases on your Customs form. If you're caught, agents will riffle through your luggage and flag you in their computer system during your next trip.

Fragrance & cosmetics: Savings won't be as big in this category, but you might spot a sale as well as some fragrances that are available only in duty-free shops. Perhaps because of the romance of travel and the tactile nature of experiencing a new scent, fragrances make up nearly a third of all duty-free purchases.

Alcohol: If you're traveling to the Caribbean, by all means bring back those two liters of rum. (You're restricted to one liter (33.8 fl. oz.) just about everywhere else — including alcohol bought in a cruise ship's duty-free shop — with one exception: the free-wheeling U.S. Virgin Islands, where you can bring home five liters.) The main reason for buying liquor abroad is to avoid the typically high sales tax. Just be sure it's worth the hassle of lugging it around.

Electronics & gadgets: Electronics and gadgets make up only 3-5 percent of duty-free purchases because online and Big Box retailers already keep prices down in the U.S. Plus, it's difficult to verify the authenticity of the merchandise and returns are difficult to do. If you do go ahead anyway, (a) make sure you check the warranty to make sure it will be valid with the manufacturer and (b) make sure it doesn't have any plugs, ports or a foreign voltage that require adapters.

Cigarettes: Yes, you'll find savings on heavily taxed cigarettes. But a better choice is to quit!

A note for shoppers from Europe : Europeans may spot bargains at duty-free shops more quickly than Americans because in Europe the sales tax is already figured into the product's price tag before you get to the cash register. Americans, by contrast, need to consider what the item would cost back in the States with an added sales tax, which can be high on luxury goods, cosmetics, liquor and the like.  

Tips for duty-free shopping

• Use cash or credit cards, not debit cards, when shopping in duty-free stores. While debit cards can be used at ATM machines to withdraw foreign cash (euros on the French-speaking islands of the Caribbean, for example), they get a bad rap for being easily compromised by unscrupulous merchants.
• Bring U.S. dollars in small denominations to pay for tips to tour guides and minor purchases like a beer or inexpensive souvenirs. Most shops in foreign cruise ports will accept dollars, although they often are not equipped to make change (in dollars) for anything larger than a 10-dollar bill.
• Do comparison pricing in advance when shopping for big-ticket items such as watches, designer accessories, perfumes, cameras or other electronics. Often you won't be able to do it on the spot, as WiFi may be slow or unavailable.
• Stay within your $800 duty-free limit, and keep your paper receipts.

• Know the rules about what can and can’t be brought back to the United States and what fees will be levied if you exceed the exemption. (For example, while the U.S. limits you to one duty-free liter of alcohol, some states allow importation of a second bottle as long as applicable duties and taxes are paid.) Rules are spelled out on the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol website .
• Some items, particularly meats and cheeses (whether purchased in a duty-free shop or not), cannot be brought into the U.S. and will be confiscated in Customs. (Alcoholic beverages labeled absinthe and ostrich jerky from South Africa are two of the more obscure examples.) Again, consult the appropriate pages on the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol website.
• Keep in mind that some destinations, like Hong Kong, have no general sales tax, so in a sense the entire city is one massive duty-free zone.  
• Oh, yes. If after all is said and done you wind up owing duties or taxes on your overseas purchases, you'll need to settle up at Customs upon your re-entry. A credit card or cash will usually do.

In our series Smart Money on a Cruise

• Super Guide to Booking a Cruise
• Complete guide to tipping on a cruise
• Guide to all-inclusive pricing on cruise ships
• Cheat sheet for deposits, payments & refunds
• 3 best travel rewards credit cards
• Patti's 7 money-saving tips for cruise travelers

Janet Fullwood Janet Fullwood is an editor, writer and photographer-at-large specializing in travel and hospitality topics.

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Carnival Cruise Alcohol Drinks Prices

This is CruiseMapper's review of the company's alcohol policy and beverage policy rules. It answers the question "Can I bring alcohol on board" and also gives some insights on sneaking alcohol on Carnival cruises. Next short links jump down directly to the answers of h ow much are drinks on Carnival cruises (non-alcoholic beverages, bottled water) and what is the cost of alcohol ( beer , cabin minibars , American Table cocktails prices (signature cocktails from port-inspired onboard dining concept).

Here are also listed Carnival FUN SHOPS liquor menu with prices . Fun Shop menu also includes Cruise Cash (bar/photo credits), flowers, cakes, fruit baskets, cookies, Special Occasions gifts (Wedding-Honeymoon-Birthday-Anniversary packages), bags, T-shirts, hats, Stateroom Decoration kits.

How much are drinks on Carnival cruise (drink prices)

Carnival alcohol and mixed drink prices on cruises are considered "moderate" for moderate drinking only. And the opinion of common folks is these prices do not contain much of the onboard fun. Still, they are pretty decent compared to other major cruise lines. Additional info and tips:

• the service charge for opening a personal bottle of wine not bought on the premises (Carnival corkage fee) is $10 per bottle (if the wine is consumed in one of the main dining restaurants) and $14 if consumed in a specialty restaurant. All beverage prices include the 15% gratuity. However, Carnival's drink gratuity was increased to 18% (since December 2018).
• check regularly the "Drinks of the Day" page (the ship's "Fun Times" newspaper) for daily discounted beverages. The "Early Bird Specials" (alcoholic beverages ordered before noon) are at pretty special prices. A "Bloody Mary" is only $3,95 - but only from 9 till 11am.
• The list of Carnival free alcohol offers includes the Captain's cocktail party, the farewell party, art auctions, Past Guest receptions and free alcohol testing at the onboard duty-free shops (usually on the first day).

Note: All cruise drinks prices are in USD (dollars), tips-inclusive. Also listed is the cost of non-alcoholic beverages and mixed drinks from the "Blue Iguana" and "RedFrog" bar menus.

Bottled WATER prices

Non-alcoholic beverages (soda, soft drinks, juices, mixers, energy drinks) prices.

Note: Bottled and canned beverages in packs can be purchased at the Fun Shops (on the ships and prior departures (upon booking).

"REFRESHING FROZENS" (alcoholic beverages) prices

Note: There is an option to upgrade to a higher brand liquor ($2 per drink).

COCKTAILS, MARGARITAS (drinks with alcohol) prices

Carnival cruise beer prices.

The new "Thirsty Red Frog" ale is offered in 3 sizes: pint (20oz), pitcher (60oz) and beer tubes (101oz) - see below for the prices. It's a private-label freshly onboard-brewed draft beer (brewed by Budweiser) available only on CCL ships.

Originally brewed exclusively for the RedFrog Pub, the "frog-beer" is now served in select ship bars/lounges and it has a taste similar to Killian's Red. As to The Red Frog Pub, the 100-seat indoor/outdoor bar is on the newest liners and also on all Fun Ship 2.0 upgraded ships . Along with Thirsty Red Frog, the pub serves top-rated Caribbean rums and a "best beers Caribbean" collection. Next, are listed Carnival's Draft Beers prices:

• $5,50 (16oz) and $28,95 (tube of 101oz) for the beers "Modelo Especial", "Dos Equis", "Presidente", "FROG'S PINT" (20oz)
• Thirsty Red Frog beer price is: $5,50 (20oz), $16,95 (60oz), $27,95 (101oz).

Draft beers on Carnival cruise ships

In May 2017 was introduced a tropical-flavored draft beer via a partnership with the Miami-based Concrete Beach Brewery. The special beer is served exclusively at the "RedFrog Pub & Brewery" on Carnival Vista - the first brewery found on a North America-based cruise liner. The new "Miami Guava Wheat Beer" was hand-crafted by Colin Presby (brewmaster on the shipboard brewery) and made with the best ingredients.

• Miami Guava beer has a light body and its primary ingredient is pink guava, also used in Miami's popular guava pastries. The new beer is available on a limited basis, and joins the 3 other original draft beers brewed on the Carnival Vista ship - ThirstyFrog Port Hoppin' IPA (floral flavor, with passion fruit and citrus overtones), ThirstyFrog Caribbean Wheat (unfiltered lager with banana aroma and spices) and FriskyFrog Java Stout (with hints of coffee).
• Concrete Beach Brewery is an "Alchemy & Science" beer brand, operating as an independent subsidiary of "The Boston Beer Company". Other "Alchemy & Science" breweries in the USA include Angel City Brewery (Los Angeles) and Coney Island Brewing Co (Brooklyn, NYC New York). Their most popular draft beers are named "Tropic of Passion" (Miami), Angel City IPA (LA), and Coney Island Mermaid Pilsner (NYC).
• US-homeported Carnival ships serve the Concrete Beach Brewery's Rica Wheat IPA, Angel City Brewery's Pilsner, Coney Island's Hard Root Beer, and 1609 Amber. On a regional basis, Carnival ships leaving from Miami offer Concrete Beach Brewery's Stiltsville Pilsner, ships from Long Beach (Los Angeles) offer Angel City Brewery IPA, and ships departing from NYC offer Coney Island Mermaid Pilsner.
• Carnival Cruise Line also offers draft beers brewed either locally (in homeports) or within the homeport state. Such beers are offered on cruise ships leaving from NOLA New Orleans, Galveston TX, Baltimore MD, and Tampa FL, as well as on ships to Alaska and Hawaii.

In October 2019, Carnival introduced fleetwide the seasonal brew "ParchedPig Pumpkin Ale" (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, gingerbread, herbs, caramel, brown sugar). The beer is offered in both bottles (22-oz) and on draft, and in 3 variations - West Coast IPA, Toasted Amber, and Beach Lager.

Carnival Beer Package

Carnival beer bucket prices are discounted - for 4 bottled beers in a bucket (plastic or aluminum bottles), purchased on the ship, domestic brands from the menu. You save $2 on the bucket ($0,50 a beer) plus you save the 18% gratuity on the $2 ($0,30 additional savings).

By purchasing the "Island Hopper" beer bucket (at the Red Frog bar) you'll save $3 on every 4 beers. The cost of a beer bucket depends on the brand, you can also mix and match beers, sometimes there are specials

if you buy 4 beers you get the 5th one for free in the bucket. It's exactly what the beer bucket says: "Fewer trips to the bar - more lounge chair time"! Now about Bon Voyage / Fun Shop beer-packages (4-pack prices):

Carnival cruise alcohol prices

See what is the cost of liquor on Carnival cruises (Fun Shops alcohol prices by the glass and by the bottle).

Souvenir glasses prices

Note: All (cruise long) refills with frozen cocktails in Carnival souvenir glasses are at discounted prices.

Alcoholic beverages prices

Note: As types, these beverages include COCKTAILS, FROZENS, SHOOTERS, DAIQUIRIS, MOJITOS, CORDIALS, LIQUEURS.

Alcohol prices

Note: Alcohol prices are per glass plus Fun Shop prices (per bottle). As types, these include VODKAS, GINS, LIQUEURS, RUMS, TEQUILAS, BRANDY-COGNAC and BLENDS-SCOTCH-WHISKEY-BOURBON-SINGLE MALT.

Stateroom Mini-Bar drinks prices of liquor, beer, soft drinks

Note: All prices are not inclusive of the 18% gratuity.

AMERICAN TABLE cocktail prices

Carnival cruise martini tasting.

• The Carnival's "Martini Tasting" deal will cost you $17 per person.
• The list of all favorite martinis with Finlandia Vodka in your booze fun package/tour includes: "Berry Melody", "Mangotini", "Florida Squeeze", "Spicy Chipote", "Pomegranate Breeze", "Jack Julep", "Melon Crush" and the "Classic Cosmo" (for their exact ingredients - see the recipes link below).
• Martini Tasting is available fleet-wide, but depending on ship/itinerary they offer it from twice a cruise to every night. To be sure when and where - check the "FunTimes" (onboard newspaper), it should be listed there.

Carnival Fun Shops liquor prices (alcohol, beer, drink packages)

Bon Voyage is open for business from Monday through Friday (9 AM to 6 PM EST) and closed on Memorial-Independence-Labor days, Thanksgiving, Christmas-New Years days.

• Bon Voyage/Fun Shop orders are accepted up to 1-week prior to departure.
• If an item is not available at the sailing time, an item of equal value will be substituted.
• Fun Shop purchases will not show up on your booking info (meant to be a surprise after all). Carnival sends confirmation emails. If you didn't receive the email (sometimes it just happens) - send a request for confirmation.
• All prices below are per bottle and don't include tax.
• Alcohol brands are occasionally changed.
• Tips: Fresh lemon and lime you can order via 24-hour room service (complimentary). If you buy souvenir glass, you can mix your "Bon Voyage" drinks in it and carry them wherever you want on the ship.

Fun Shop drink packages (beer, soda, bottled water, juices/mixers, energy drinks)

Tip: Fun Shops water cost is pretty high. Instead, you can buy a gallon (3,8 L) of distilled water from your cabin steward for US$3. Or use for free tap water on the boat - it is perfectly fine for drinking.

Carnival Bon Voyage alcohol policy rules

• Any alcohol purchased through Fun Shops is delivered to staterooms (not to dining room tables).
• If you buy wine through Bon Voyage, you don't pay a corkage fee.
• There's a limit of max 2 bottles per cabin when ordering liquor (until recently it was 4 btls).
• In the above list if you don't see something be sure to call/ask.
• Due to Alabama and Texas alcohol laws, Carnival ships departing from Mobile AL and Galveston TX can't deliver alcoholic drinks to staterooms until the ship is in international waters (delivery may even be delayed until the following day).

Bon Voyage/Fun Shops prices updates

In January 2018, Carnival added a 15% delivery fee to any items pre-purchased from Fun Shops (prior departure). However, it doesn't apply to all purchases. The list of not charged items include packages ( Bottomless Bubbles , Cheers , Cruise Cash , Internet, water packages). The new delivery fee doesn't apply also to any liquor packages bought onboard with intent to carry home at the end of the voyage. The charge is added when, after having made Fun Shops selections, passengers make an actual purchase.

Carnival regularly makes "price corrections" on its Bon Voyage/Fun Shop liquor. While 12-year scotch from $75 now is $80, it's still way cheaper than $7-8 a drink at ship's bars.

• In March 2013, CCL renamed its retail section from "Bon Voyage" to "The Fun Shops". Along with the name, they changed prices as well.
• On most items prices were increased from 20 to 40%. Some of the "most expensive" examples are 9" BV Cakes ($9,95 to $14), "Fruit Supreme" basket ($39 to $50), and most of the liquor (up by 10-15% on average).
• In June 2013, liquor prices were souring up again - the most "extravagant" cases showed up to a 25% increase.
• Carnival Bon Voyage liquor prices are in US dollars, both per bottle and per glass (1,5 fl oz, 45 ml). The list of services (besides ordering liquor and fine wines) also includes special offers and various Carnival branded merchandise.
• Fun Shop alcohol prices are about 2-3 times higher compared to your local liquor store. However, the savings you'll make onboard with this option make them well worth the purchase. While these prices may somehow seem a little bit over the edge, this service is a very convenient option to start your vacation.
• Bon Voyage alcohol ordering saves good money. Most liquor brands are in 33,8 fl oz (1L) bottles, which makes these "alcohol packages" great deals.
• And remember, the limit is 2 bottles per cabin.

Carnival Cruise Lines alcohol policy

The company's alcohol policy is mostly about bringing wine on Carnival ships . The allowance is one 750ml bottle of wine/Champagne per 21+yo passenger, only once (on embarkation day) and only in carry-on luggage.

Bringing alcohol on Carnival ships

Follows the list of "not allowed" alcohol-related rules.

• selling/serving alcohol to passengers under 21 yo. Carnival reserves the right to refuse to sell alcohol to anyone.
• buying alcohol for under-aged passengers
• The legal drinking age on Carnival ships is 21 years of age - both for purchasing and consumption of alcoholic beverages at all bars-lounges-shops.
• purchasing alcohol in seaports and onboard (duty-free) shops - your liquor is retained and stored until the end of the voyage.
• Carnival's corkage fee (additional wine/Champagne serving charge when the wine wasn't bought on the premises) is $10 per bottle (if consumed in Main Dining Room) and $14 per bottle (specialty restaurants / at a fee).
• "All you can drink" cruise deals are offered also on ship-charters and as a bonus on party-themed cruises .
• Free alcohol on Carnival ships is offered at Captain's Welcome and Farewell cocktail parties, Past Guests receptions, art auctions, alcohol testings (at duty-free shops, usually on the first day), Steakhouse reservations (free wine on first-night promotions).

Carnival beverage policy

Carnival's alcohol and beverage policy rules were implemented (as officially stated) "to control the liquor consumption of minors and the quantities consumed that lead to the disruptive behavior of others on board" - meaning to avoid shenanigans at sea.

Bringing water/soda on Carnival cruises

According to the old beverage policy:

• the allowance was max 12 bottles/cans (max 20oz each, sealed) of non-alcoholic beverages (soft drinks, bottled water, juice, milk, iced tea, etc.
• It allowed bringing soda on Carnival ships, but - only in carry-on luggage, in original and sealed containers (meaning not opened) and on each embarkation.
• "Each embarkation" meant you can do so at each port of call. It was an unwritten rule and one of the coolest "tips and tricks"). However, purchasing sodas at call ports is rather expensive.

(NEW) Carnival drink policy changes

Starting July 9, 2015, Carnival Cruise Lines changed radically its beverage policy, implementing new rules on bringing water on Carnival ships. Signs with beverage policy changes were posted at all homeports.

• Passengers are no longer allowed to bring their own bottled drinks on the ships. The main goal (as officially announced) is to lower the number of attempts by customers to smuggle alcohol using PVC bottles. Checking PVC bottles for liquor smuggling slows down the embarkation process, as security staff checks each bottle.
• Passengers are allowed to bring max 12 unopened cans (volume 12-oz) or cartons per person. The list of canned drinks includes soda, juices, milk, sparkling water - stored in carry-on luggage.
• Large coolers are not allowed, but you can take small coolers (max size 12x12x12 inches, or 30x30x30 cm) as carry-on luggage. These are used for non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications.

Since October 2015, in all call ports, Carnival passengers are allowed to bring nonalcoholic drinks on the ship. The allowance is only if the drinks are canned (or in cartons 12 ounces / 0,35 L or less). The enforced limit per person is 12 cans/cartons. Previously, the allowance for boarding the ship with beverages was for homeports only. The new rule didn't affect the ban on bottled beverages (enforced in July).

Carnival's wine policy remained unchanged, allowing passengers to bring 1 bottle of wine/champagne per person (750 ml, unopened, in carry-on luggage). No other liquor is allowed on board. Also unchanged is the rule about bringing distilled water onboard, excluding only passengers who need it for babies or CPAP machines ("continuous positive airway pressure").

(NEW) Bottled water prices

Carnival Cruise Line's bottled water prices were USD 2,99 (plus tax) for a 12-pack. The pricing is if you buy it before the voyage. The pack will be delivered to your cabin before departure. Onboard water price was USD 4.99 (plus tax).

However, In March 2016, bottled water prices were raised by over 30%. The price for 12-pack of water was USD 3.99, (up from USD 2.99, or 33 cents per 17-oz bottle). In December 2016, Carnival raised water prices again. The current bottled water price for 12-pack (16,9 fluid oz bottles) is USD 4.50 (plus 18% gratuity if ordered onboard) or over 10% increase.

Sneaking alcohol on Carnival cruise

This is a "cruise alcohol policy" of "cheap fun" people - read why some do it anyway. With Carnival, besides the thrill of sneaking something (alcohol or whatever), most smugglers do it because ships' alcohol prices are not cheap. Even if you order liquor through Fun Shops (prior departure) it's 2-3 times more expensive than in your local store. Some do it simply because Carnival doesn't supply their favorite brand.

The Fun Shops service allows pre-purchasing liquor to be delivered to staterooms the second day of the voyage. Online purchases' deadline is 1-week prior departure. Two useful "bringing alcohol on ships" tips:

• If you purchase your alcohol from Fun Shops, you're allowed to put your booze in a stainless steel flask (or Carnival tumbler) and carry it around the ship. Be sure not to take it with you while disembarking in ports. If security personnel find it, they will confiscate the flask when you re-board the ship. Of course, only if there's alcohol in it.
• Pack your empty flask in the carry-on bag. If you pack it in checked baggage, you'll most probably get called to the "naughty guys room" to open luggage for inspection.

How to smuggle alcohol on Carnival cruises?

This is the smuggler's know-how for sneaking alcohol on cruise ships in general. The question of how to smuggle alcohol on ships is one of the industry's oldest. Smuggling alcohol is against cruise lines policy rules. This practice is forbidden, illegal, emotionally dangerous - don't do it! Ship's personnel check passengers' luggage - if you get caught, the hooch will be confiscated (basically that's all).

• The confiscated bottle(s)/cans are stored for safekeeping until the morning of the voyage's last day). The "illegal" beverages (liquor/water/soda/wine) must be in original, manufacturer-sealed containers - other containers won't be returned. All unsealed liquids are discarded, without any compensation.
• "Rum Runner flask" (costs around $10) has the best chance to go through security checks. These flasks are usually smuggled in checked baggage and are almost undetectable. However, if the security checks your bags for another reason and sees them, flasks will be taken and not returned.
• "Wine Rack" is the latest booze-smuggling device. This boob enhancing, alcohol-filled bra contains over 25oz/750ml of your chosen liquid. They are absolutely right by saying this is way better than a regular boob job, and way cheaper too. Women look beautiful and save money on overpriced cruise drinks. The sneaking alcohol tool price is only US$30. The same price is the "BeerBelly" (capacity up to 80oz/2,4L).
• Adults with a record of sneaking alcohol on Carnival ships, adults buying liquor for underage passengers and adults with other regular violations of the company's beverage policy may end up even with "early" (no-compensation) disembarkation or get banned for life.

The following links are to CruiseMapper's Carnival drinks related articles:

• Wine Prices (by the glass and by the bottle) and wine packages
• Carnival Fun Shops liquor prices
• Bar menu drinks prices
• Cheers unlimited alcohol package - about the "Carnival All-Inclusive Cruise Alcohol Included" option by the new "Cheers" Bar Program.
• Carnival drink packages - all about them (with info on the wine packages).
• Only the very best of all Carnival Drinks Recipes of the most famous cocktails at sea, ever! Learn how to make onshore the best of the best Carnival drinks - at much better prices!
• Our hub with all about the Carnival cruise information/ prices in general (Spa, Internet, etc).
• Carnival vs Royal Caribbean - compare Carnival with the Royal Caribbean drinks prices .
• Tips and tricks on cruise ship food and drinks and alcohol .

• Onboard Activities
• All Onboard Activities

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Did you know that your bartender will be glad to list the ingredients of your favorite onboard cocktail? Give it a shake once you get home… but first, make sure your bar is ready for action. Stock up on spirits at the onboard Fun Shops™!

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11 Best Duty-Free Shopping Deals on a Cruise Ship

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Amazing Duty-Free Shopping Deals on a Cruise Ship

If you love cruising, and LOVE shopping you can have some fun on a cruise ship!

Cruise ships today offer many shopping opportunities, and being honest, there are some great deals to be had!

To give you an idea of what to expect, there are usually several shops on board, plus some “side-walk style” pop up sales and larger shopping events happening on your cruise ship.

Whether you want to buy souvenirs for family and friends, or pick up something special just for you, you can find some great things on your cruise ship.

10 Duty-Free Shopping Deals on Board a Cruise Ship

1. duty-free cruise ship boutiques.

Cruise ship boutiques are duty free and tax free. This can be so advantageous.

There will often be a medium-high end jewelry store, watch boutique, handbags and purse shop, cruise clothing, cruise line logo items, liqueur stores and more!

Something to note – larger cruise ships may have a larger variety of stores. Also, on certain ships, specific brands may even have their own exclusive stores.

Shop till you drop!

Do you have a favorite perfume, make up, or skin cream? Check out the duty free cosmetics available on board.

Need souvenirs for the folks back home? No problem, you’ll find something for everyone!

Would a new piece of jewelry make a great memento of a wonderful trip? Shop away…

2. Liquor purchases

We’ve found some amazing deals on alcohol in the liqueur shop on board. While the selection varies from ship to ship, we’ve almost always found the pricing to be significantly better than back home.

In some cases, as much as 40% less than in the island we were visiting (in the case of a local rum we wanted to bring back home).

If you love a good scotch or premium brand liqueur, do check out the selection and price. It could be a great souvenir you’ll really enjoy once back home.

Tip: Check the daily planner for free liqueur tasting events where you can try several different featured brands.

3. Duty-Free Shopping for Luxury Items

Diamonds, tanzanite and other gems, and luxury watches can all be a great duty-free deal on a cruise ship. Often you’ll pay 50% or less of the average retail price on land.

Keep an eye out for extra coupons that come in your cruise cabin “mail” and special events where extra discounts are offered.

A word of caution, when making a luxury purchase. Even though the pricing is duty-free and tax free, always compare pricing on big ticket items such as watches and jewelry to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

It’s a good idea to research before you go, if you already have an idea of what you want. You might also want to compare pricing in an island or do some quick checking online, even while on your cruise.

Tip: If you’re a past passenger, in some cases a perk is an additional discount in ship boutiques. Saving an additional %5-10 can make a good shopping deal even better.

4. $10 Items Sales

Every cruise ship I’ve ever been on has these 10$ items, which not only can make great inexpensive purchases to take back home, but can be so useful while on a cruise.

Plus, there are often events announced in the daily planner, where you may get 6 items for $50, if you want an even better shopping deal on board.

What kind of items are there to buy?

Scarves, sunhats, “fashion” watches, bathing suit cover ups, shawls, and evening bags, and probably more.

Tip: Pick up a sunhat on the first sea day, to use later in the islands. You may also want to pick up a pretty shawl, to cover your shoulders if the dining room is cool at night.

5. Costume Jewelry (that looks gorgeous)

For those that love a sparkly new ring to wear on an evening during the cruise, or any other time, without spending thousands of dollars, there is gorgeous costume jewelry on board.

For between $20-$100 (it does depend on the brand and item), you’ll find items that only you would know aren’t real.

Tip: Consider leaving your valuable jewelry at home while traveling, and wear this instead. You’ll still look and feel like a million bucks!

6. Art Auctions

Some love art auctions, and some don’t. However, if you enjoy learning about art along with a pretty fun atmosphere, I’d say don’t knock it until you try it.

It’s a great sea day activity when you want to get out of the sun.

Want to get the best deal on a piece of art to bring back home?

There are often some super amazing deals announced early in the art auction, to get things rolling. Plus, if you like something in particular, have a chat with one of the art auction staff.

They’ll give you some tips on what’s coming up and will often negotiate with you if you want to make a purchase.

Recommended: 27 Awesome Sea Day Activities

7. Pop-up Sales (daily)

Check your cruise line app or daily planner to find out what shopping events are going on around the cruise ship.

Often, cruise ships will make sort of “side-walk sales” in the large public areas outside the shops or even in other areas. These little and big events can change daily, so keep an eye out.

Sometimes it’s totally new merchandise, while other times it may be items from the stores, and the cruise line will offer an additional 10-20% off or more.

Tip: Your daily planner will be delivered to your cabin each night. Check quickly through the next day’s activities and events, and highlight your favorites.

8. Liquidations and Close-outs

You never know when there will be a close out of a brand or collection. Cruise ships will want to liquidate their inventory to make room for new items that are coming in, and although they are unpredictable sales and bargains, the deals are potentially amazing!

How can you find these amazing shopping deals on a cruise ship?

Ask at the jewelry or watch store if they are liquidating any items or collections. They often have one glass showcase with these items, as there may only be a few left.

You can also check for camera equipment and sunglasses, and brand name costume jewelry in the various shops on board.

If you see an item you love, always check the pricing to make sure it really is the best price you can find. You can also ask the cruise ship shop staff if the item might be on sale (and less expensive) even later in the cruise.

My son’s best deal ever!

I had to share this little story, to illustrate what I mean. Although we like to shop on board, and have gotten some good deals – this one was a “START THE CAR!!!!!” moment.

My son, Ethan, was interested in purchasing a “luxury” watch. He’s liked watches for years, and often would ask for one for his birthday.

Knowing this, I suggested he wait until we were on board, as we were doing a Caribbean Cruise for Christmas and New Years .

I told him to check the cruise line watch store (it’s tax and duty free) and also check in the Caribbean islands to see what “deal” he could find.

He had a couple of ideas of watch brands and styles he wanted, and had saved his money for a watch that would be a keeper.

Well, upon talking with a lovely store clerk in the cruise ship watch store, she let us know that they were liquidating the 3, yes, just 3 remaining Gucci watches – at 50% off the already discounted price.

Luckily, he loved one! A nice gold watch that’s both modern and classic.

They were actually ending their contract with the brand, at least for the moment, and making room for other inventory to come in the new year.

It got better!

You see, this was a Christmas Cruise , and the cruise ship was having an extra “sale” and offering another 10% off.

On top of this, there was an additional 10% as a past passenger perk.

This watch, a Gucci watch ended up being $325!!!

Best duty-free cruise shopping deal ever!

Seriously, start the car!! Right?

Read our Cruise Review :  Regal Princess Cruise Review; A Back to Back Holiday Sailing

9. Cruise line Duty-Free Shops: Logo Wear and Souvenirs

Though not always the least expensive things you can find to purchase on a cruise, bringing home a cruise logo sweatshirt or basecall cap is an awesome souvenir.

There are cruise ship logo coffee mugs, cruise line Christmas ornaments, inflatable cruise ships (my own kid’s favorites when they were young), there are tons of great things to buy.

You can still get a great deal though. Often these items will go on sale with a buy 2 for $40 special, or a 15% off or more sale.

Tip: Ask the cruise ship boutique staff if they can tell you when the sale will be, approximately.

10. Carry-on Bags and Duffel Bags

Cruise ships know how much extra stuff we accumulate by the end of our cruise. So, they often will sell a good size carry-on bag either as a duffel style or one with wheels.

We’ve bought these before, so we didn’t have to fight trying to cram all this extra stuff into our already full suitcases.

While not necessarily a sale item, we’ve found these bags to be a very good quality for the price ($25-35)

11. “Famous” Last Day Sale

Have you ever heard to wait to the last day of your cruise to buy all your souvenirs and other items?

This is actually only half the story. While true there is a often a big “sale” on the last day of your cruise, it’s not usually to liquidate the items in the store that you may have been thinking about all during your cruise.

What can you find at the last day cruise sale event?

Most of the time, the cruise ship will set up a massive sale in the main dining room on the last sea day of your cruise. These items are often new merchandise that is priced cheaply and meant to go.

Some things include scarves, t-shirts, very inexpensive  fashion jewelry, and souvenirs of all different sorts.

You can also find t-shirt sales in the cruise shopping area and even sometimes set out on a table by the pool. T-shirts can be cruise line related, or often will be of the ports you may have visited on your cruise.

Things That Are Not a Good Deal to Buy on a Cruise Ship

While there are great shopping deals on a cruise, there are some things that are really overly expensive and not a good deal at all.

The best thing you can do, is make sure you prepare and bring these items from home.

Convenience items

Sunscreen, lip balm and other convenience items are limited, and will be pricey. Make sure you prepare by packing these items and bringing them with you.

Packing list:   20 Cruise Packing Tips all Cruisers Need

Over the counter medication

Make sure to bring your own over the counter medication. Not everything is available in the “general store”, so it could mean a trip to the medical center (and there’s a cost to that).

Crusing with kids? Bring any potentials medications as this will be most limited.

Here’s a list of basic first-aid type items that might be helpful to get prepared for what you need:  31 Cruise First Aid Kit Essentials You Need to Have

Recap: 11 Best Duty-Free Shopping Deals on a Cruise Ship

Cruise ships can be a great place to find amazing duty-free shopping deals, as well as to buy some souvenirs and even some useful items that will remind you of your cruise vacation once back home.

Remember to do some due diligence, especially when making larger purchases on board.

Do you like to shop on a cruise? What are the best deals you’ve seen and look for?

Happy Cruising!

P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-). Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

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My hometown jeweler told me that all diamonds prices are set by the US dollar and that there is no duty on diamonds bought in the US so there is no value to the duty free sales pitch. Also, unless you don’t care about quality don’t buy diamonds at the cruise approved stores on the Caribbean Islands. I looked at two diamonds because I wanted to increase the size of my diamond. They were definitely not quality. One was large looking because all the carats were in the flat table and the other the weight was in the Hugh depth of the diamond. No wonder they were selling so cheap.

That’s interesting. Definitely important to have your information when buying an expensive piece of jewelry.

Thanks for sharing! Ilana

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Can I bring alcohol on a cruise ship? A line-by-line guide

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Unsurprisingly, cruise lines make revenue by selling drinks to their passengers — and with a large markup. With that in mind, many newbie cruisers wonder if they can bring their own alcohol on board. The answer varies by cruise line, but in most cases, it’s both yes and no.

If the cruise line allows alcohol — which, in the case of mainstream lines, is mostly only wine or Champagne — there will likely be rules that limit the number and size of bottles, as well as per-bottle corkage fees (usually $10 to $25) that you’ll have to pay if you consume the alcohol outside of your cabin.

If you are allowed to bring a bottle or two and choose to do so, you will have to carry it on rather than packing it in your checked luggage. So, if you’re flying to the port and choose to bring alcohol from home rather than purchasing it in port before embarkation, you’ll have to transfer your booze from your checked bag to your carry-on.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

On luxury ships, you might be able to bring as many bottles of booze as you like and replenish your supplies at the ports of call, too. Don’t miss buying Bordeaux in Bordeaux!

The rules for bringing your own alcohol generally apply to passengers 21 and older. The bottles must be unopened and sealed.

If you think it’s easy to sneak alcohol on a cruise ship — in a flask, mouthwash bottle, water bottle or other container — you’re wrong. Cruise lines know the tricks. If you get caught, the container will be taken away and discarded.

Alcohol purchased in the ship’s duty-free shops will be stored for you and returned at the end of your voyage.

With all that in mind, here is a line-by-line rundown of cruise line policies for bringing your own alcohol on ships.

Azamara Cruises

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 same rule applies to alcohol purchased in ports. If you buy a bottle at the duty-free shop, it will be stored until the end of your cruise.

Carnival Cruise Line

At embarkation on Carnival Cruise Line ships, passengers 21 and older may bring on board one 750 mL bottle of wine or Champagne (sealed and unopened) per person packed in their carry-on luggage. There is a corkage fee of $15 if you drink your bottle outside your cabin. That rum you purchased in port will be retained for you until the last night of your cruise. The same goes for any duty-free purchase. You’ll collect your purchases in a designated lounge.

Celebrity Cruises

You can bring two bottles of wine or Champagne (maximum 750 mL) on board at embarkation, per cabin, on Celebrity Cruises ‘ ships. However, beer and spirits are not allowed. There is a corkage fee of $25 in restaurants or bars. Anything you purchase at port or the duty-free shop is held until the last day of your sailing.

Cunard Line

The carry-on allowance for Cunard is one bottle of wine or Champagne per adult but no beer or liquor. There is a $25 corkage fee if you drink your wine or Champagne in a dining venue. Any alcohol purchased at ports is held and returned on the last night of the cruise.

Disney Cruise Line

You are allowed to bring beer on Disney cruises and wine or Champagne on embarkation day and in each port of call. The limit is two bottles of wine or Champagne (up to 750 mL) or six beers (up to 12 ounces each) in your carry-on per adult. The alcohol cannot be consumed in any lounge or other public area, but you can bring your bottles to the dining rooms, with a $26 corkage fee charged. Any excess amounts you try to bring on board will be stored until the end of the cruise.

Holland America Line

Holland America Line allows adults 21 and older to bring bottles of wine or Champagne on board in their carry-on, but there is a corkage fee of $20 per bottle for the privilege (even if the wine or Champagne is drunk in one’s cabin). The policy does not specify the maximum number of bottles allowed but says cruise officials reserve the right to decide if you’re bringing too much and could force you to check some of it until the end of your sailing. No beer, liquor or boxed wine is allowed.

You can bring wine on board from ports, but any other liquor purchases will be retained until the end of the cruise. One bottle of wine per person is exempt from the $20 corkage fee if purchased ashore as part of a winery visit arranged through Holland America.

MSC Cruises

No alcohol can be brought on board at embarkation on MSC cruises , and anything purchased in port or at the duty-free shop will be held until the end of the cruise.

Norwegian Cruise Line

You may bring wine or Champagne on board NCL voyages, including 1,500 mL magnum bottles, and there is no limit on the number of bottles. Corkage fees are based on size and range from $15 to $30. They apply only when your bottles are consumed outside your cabin. Corkage fees do not apply to passengers with beverage packages.

No liquor, beer or boxed wine can be brought and consumed on board. (These bottles and duty-free purchases will be held until the final night of the cruise or the morning of disembarkation.)

Oceania Cruises

You may bring on board up to six bottles of wine or Champagne per cabin (60 bottles for world cruises). There is a corkage fee of $25 per bottle if you consume your bottles in public areas on Oceania ‘s ships. Beer or liquor brought on board or purchased in port will be held until the end of the cruise, and the same applies to purchases beyond the allowed six (or 60) bottles.

Princess Cruises

You may not bring beer or liquor on board, but each adult passenger is allowed one bottle of wine or Champagne (750 mL) that is not subject to a corkage fee if consumed in your cabin ($20 if in a restaurant or lounge). Additional bottles may be brought on board Princess Cruises sailings but are subject to a $20 corkage fee no matter where they are consumed. Port purchases are held until the end of the cruise.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Adults are allowed to bring alcohol on Regent cruises without restrictions. There are no corkage fees.

Royal Caribbean

Each Royal Caribbean passenger of drinking age is allowed to bring, in a carry-on, one bottle (750 mL) of wine or Champagne. You are not allowed to bring your own beer or liquor. There is a $15 corkage fee if you consume your bottle in a dining room. If you declare you have additional bottles or make purchases in ports or at duty-free shops, these beverages will be stored until the end of the cruise.

Seabourn Cruise Line

You are free to bring spirits, wine and Champagne on board. There are no corkage fees or limits on Seabourn cruises.

Silversea Cruises

You are allowed to bring wine and liquor on board for your personal consumption, both on embarkation day and at ports of call. Silversea has no limits and no corkage fees.

Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking does not limit quantities or charge corkage fees, and you are allowed to bring wine, Champagne, beer and liquor on board.

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages passengers are allowed to bring two bottles of wine or Champagne (750 mL) per cabin in their carry-on luggage. Liquor and beer are not allowed. Alcohol brought on board in checked luggage or not in accordance with the policy will be stored until the end of the sailing. Bottles purchased in port also will be held until the final night.

Windstar Cruises

No beer or liquor is allowed to be brought on board Windstar voyages. You may bring up to two bottles of wine or Champagne (750 mL) per cabin on embarkation day (three bottles if your sailing is more than a week). There is a $15 corkage fee if you consume the alcohol outside your cabin. Alcohol purchased in ports will be stored until the end of the cruise.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

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• Norwegian Cruise Line

Duty Free liquor price list

By jmoak , November 4, 2015 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Does anyone have a current lists of alcohol available to purchase at the duty free shop on the Norwegian ships? I've been looking but can't find a recent one and would like to know what is available.

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I haven't bought any on board in a long time, Not worth the aggravation for the little savings there might be on most brands grant it there seems to be that one item that's a good buy. I've actually got off the ship and gone to Costco and found bottles at same price or less then on the ship.

I have found some big price differences from the Breakaway to the Gem. I inquired in the shops and was told that different ships use different vendors. I do not know if I believe this as both ships were out of NY. In any case we always buy some booze and Kettle one Vodka was $16 a bottle on the Breakaway and then 2 months later on the Gem it was $31. So who knows

FranknBeans

When we were on the Epic in its first couple of years they had signs posted saying that they would meet competition prices, so we did just that at the pier in St Thomas we just took a photo and presented it on board no problem. The price difference was $5.

But I don't know if the ships still do this, it would be interesting to know.

Usually the first night on board they offer approx 10% off in order to grab sale before pax get off at the first port.

Whatever the prices are they are a steal for us Canucks.

Was on the jade in the Med in June. Booze supplied by Dufrey duty free on the ship was no bargain. ..dewars, absolute and baileys priced the same( or $1 cheaper ) as NY liquor stores.

The only bargain I've found in the duty free package store are the free tastings.

I remember seeing Bacardi 2 for $25.

I don't think the savings is worth having to pick up the bottles on the last night and carrying them off the ship. Customs only allows 1-2 liters per person duty free.

If you want cheap alcohol, drive to New Hampshire.

Decent deal if you use OBC to buy. Beat forking out hard cash on land.

Sheridan's liqueur on the Breakaway $26.00, on the Gem 2 for $37

On the Gem, Captain Morgan's 2 for $22

I agree. :D

If you come across a really nice person doing the tasting then you can do really well!! :D :D Last time 3 or 4 of us were discussing with the staff member what the drinks were like and we did really, really well. :D The staff member also did some interesting mixtures so we all had to taste all of them!!

I have a very naive question....if you purchase in the duty free store, do you get to take them to your room to enjoy or have to wait until the end of the cruise? I have one cruise under my belt and we had the UBP, so didn't even think about it. Just curious!! Thank you!!!

They hold it till the last night of the cruise. :mad:

They hold it till the last night of the cruise. :mad:   Mike

Thank you Mike....that's what I thought.

We sampled something like a Kahlua on our cruise that was yummy but would have been sad to not have it in our room!!! Good to know though...we've booked again..yes, a cruise addict is just begun, LOL.

Thankful for the next one to also have UBP, LOL!!!

Thank you Mike....that's what I thought.   We sampled something like a Kahlua on our cruise that was yummy but would have been sad to not have it in our room!!! Good to know though...we've booked again..yes, a cruise addict is just begun, LOL.   Thankful for the next one to also have UBP, LOL!!!

My guess is that was Sheridans.

Its a cruise stable to me. Since its not available for purchase in the US.

I had never had a problem getting my 2 bottles per cruise until my last cruise Quantum out of Cape Liberty NJ. It sold out on the first night. Some guy bought all of it...ALL of it. Luckily the Liquor store manager found me 2 bottles. He acted like he recognized me he gave me the "I'll take care of you, No worries I will take care of you" and he did.

So my point...I do have one is if you want it buy it as soon as you can or risk it selling out. Of course I could have bought it on island for around the same price.

On Getaway last August they had a South African creme liquor that I think was called Amarula? It was excellent. I will probably pick up a bottle or two if available on upcoming cruise.

My guess is that was Sheridans.     Its a cruise stable to me. Since its not available for purchase in the US.   I had never had a problem getting my 2 bottles per cruise until my last cruise Quantum out of Cape Liberty NJ. It sold out on the first night. Some guy bought all of it...ALL of it. Luckily the Liquor store manager found me 2 bottles. He acted like he recognized me he gave me the "I'll take care of you, No worries I will take care of you" and he did.   So my point...I do have one is if you want it buy it as soon as you can or risk it selling out. Of course I could have bought it on island for around the same price.

We too have acquired a taste for Sheridan's and bought some for ourselves and for gifts on the Jewel last January. I don't remember the price but I think it was a good deal. Yes, it does seem to sell very well.

Does anyone know if they serve it in the bars?

hawkeyetlse

We used to buy several and give them as gifts, but for a while it seemed like everyone we gave them to got divorced… correlation/causation? Now we buy everyone Ashley Madison subscriptions instead. :D

I don't think so, never noticed. Not sure if I have ever seen it in any bar on land, either. I think their scheme is to make it so scarce everywhere else so that when people see it in duty free shops, they have to buy a bottle right away!   We used to buy several and give them as gifts, but for a while it seemed like everyone we gave them to got divorced… correlation/causation? Now we buy everyone Ashley Madison subscriptions instead. :D

My temptation when I get back home is to keep it all for myself and not give it as a gift.

They certainly push Sheridans with their offers, and in tastings, on NCL cruise ships we have been on. :D

Mustangdrew

Sheridan's liqueur on the Breakaway $26.00, on the Gem 2 for $37       On the Gem, Captain Morgan's 2 for $22

Is it true it's not available in the US. I always thought they were full of it.

I don't know about the U.S., but it's not in our liquor stores around where I live.

Your location states "North Texas". Have you seceded? :D :D

Your location states "North Texas". Have you seceded? :D :D   Mike

No we haven't seceded (yet), but Texas is so big I have to specify which part of the state I live in. ;)

It is not available in the US. When we were on the cruise some woman bought 7 bottles. I don't know how she was carrying them off, she must have had a suitcase just for these bottles. The bottles are very heavy. When ever I cruise I pick myself up a bottle or two.

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LauraS · Started May 24

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