Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

Approximately how much are drinks on the ship, soda to beer to coctails?? My mom keeps calling me telling me people are telling her how expensive they are, we should bring a bottle of something in our suitcase, yada yada yada. I personally am not a big drinker and keep telling her its not going to be that much and to stop listening to other people! Thanks!!

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

As far as I remember, they're on the expensive side and add up quickly. When DH and I went on a cruise - we brought ALL of our alcohol with us - it was great!

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

Drink prices vary and gratiuity is included for each one. If I'm remembering correctly, soda was about $1.50, the average mixed drink is probably $4-7; I'm not a beer drinker, so I don't know the price.

I've brought alcohol on the ship with me, but either forgot about it or drank very little of it. It doesn't take much to get me drunk, so for 5-7 day cruises, I spent no more than $110 on drinks total on each one.
It doesn't sound like you'll go crazy spending $$$ on alcohol.

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

drinks certainly do add up quickly

on our cruise they would have the special drink of the day/night which was less...

But other than that, the bill does rake up.

IMO if i were you i would bring a little something

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

Thanks girls...we were told that lemonade and iced tea were free..so I am going to pack a bottle of citron with it. Lemonade and citron is my "signature" drink of the summer anyway!!

So they won't take anything you bring on board away? Mom mom had read that they confiscate any alcohol, other than a bottle of wine or champagne.

Thanks!!

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

Posted by Mrs-Boop

Thanks girls...we were told that lemonade and iced tea were free..so I am going to pack a bottle of citron with it. Lemonade and citron is my "signature" drink of the summer anyway!!

So they won't take anything you bring on board away? Mom mom had read that they confiscate any alcohol, other than a bottle of wine or champagne.

Thanks!!

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

We wrapped bottles in t-shirts and towels in our suitcases - were never found.

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

My sister's friend brought a HUGE Poland Spring bottled filled with Vodka when we went on our cruise. DH and I went out and bought empty plastic hair dye bottles and filled them with rum. I was soooo paraniod doing this that I made labels for them .... "rubbing alcohol" .. "SPF 15"... "SPF 8"
I am sooooo stupid! But it worked

We also bought, for like 20 bucks, a card that you can get unlimited soda and juice. Looking back now, we only really needed one card because DH hardly ever used his, but it was good to have just in case.

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

we bring are our liquor. Gin in one water bottle, vodka in the other. We would buy a soda card and mix it ourselves all week.

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

The drinks are expenseive and they really add up. Especially when they walk up to you on the deck with the special drink of the day and you can't resist...

I think it's a great idea to bring some alcohol with you so you can pregame before spending some $$$$.

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

My parents cruise all the time and always take a bottle of Bacardi on board with them. My mom actually said that if you read the fine print the ships "request" that you not bring your own alcohol, but they won't take it from you unless you buy it in port. They still don't carry it openly.She also said that most cruise lines they have been on (Princess, NCL, RCCL, Holland, Carnival) all allow you to bring wine, soda and champange onboard without trying to be sneaky.

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

Thanks a lot girls. I think I am going to get a small bottle of citron, and a 6pack of 20oz pepsi and bring it in my suitcase. If they take it they take it.

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

a great website for cruise info and chat forums is cruisecritic.com
you can even look up your exact ship and sailing date, (some people meet online and then meet for drinks on the ship )
or you can look up for people that have just gone on that exact ship and tell you in detail any info youre looking for.
that website was a Godsend for me several times! happy cruising!

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

I would ask this question on cruisecritic.com

It really depends on the ship - many cruiselines have drinks of the day, others don't. Most lines have a soda card - that you can buy that give you unlimited soda for the week.

Most lines drinks are $4-8 depending on size and what you get.

Many lines are taking alcohol away these days - but many people still manage to sneak it on. I have never tried so I am not the best to answer this.

If you pack it in your checked bags remember that it might break in there. If you ever watch them throw your bags at the airport they are even rougher with them on the cruises - I see them throwing the bags often there. You can wrap it in clothes on your carry on. But this depends on the cruiseline and who is at security.

I suggest going onto the link I posted above and asking specifically on that cruiselines board. You will get answers from people who have sailed on your particular ship. They can also point you to websites that list the drink menus which might help with budgeting.

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

On the celebrity cruises we went on - they Xray any bags you carry on each time you come on the ship. So I would think they would be able to see the bottle with the Xray machine. (at least, the metal cap of the bottle, anyway)

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

double post sorry

Message edited 7/3/2006 8:23:37 AM.

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

What we always did (this is when I was single and with my friends, much more drinking) was to go everyday to clear up my bill on those cards they give you. Then you keep a better watch on exactly how much you are spending everyday.

Plus we brought alcohol in emptied mouthwash containers.

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

we brought liquor too, because THEY NEVER buy you back a drink, and even if you order a soda, they add tax and tip on it

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

Soda was more like $3-4
We brought our own soda on and DH snuck on some alcohol he could mix with the soda.
I don't drink either so I was free

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

talk abt one time ! i was just looking up info for this - going to Mex next week - thanks

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

Beers are like $4-5, drinks range from $6 to $11 for martinis. We only brought a small flask because we were afraid of gettign caught. Turns out we could have smuggled a lot more without getting caught.

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

i will get a water container & fill with Bacardi Razz

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

Maybe about $4- but it depends on what you drink. We are not big drinkers and have never rang up more than maybe $200 on drinks (if even!)

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??

Depending on which cruise line you go on, you can get a soda card for about $30 each and they usually have a mixed drink special of the day for around $4 each.

Re: Cruise Question for those that have been on one??