Smuggling booze on a cruise.
Jun 27, 2015, 8:58 pm
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,247
We've thought about it but it isn't that great a deal at least for some of the cheaper cruise lines (Holland America and Princess in our case). We thought the fares they were selling the future cruises (adjustable until final payment, mind you) were a bit too much.
Jun 27, 2015, 9:15 pm
#92
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Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,803
With NCL, you give them a $500 deposit while on board and I think you get $100 OBC. Then you have 4 years to book a specific ship/itinerary. You're not locked into a particular rate until you book it. I wish I'd done it last month as I'm about to book with them again and I could have used the $100 to apply to my bar tab.
Our next two cruises will be interesting. Price is a flat €100 pp pd but that does not include gratuities paid to the single steward. Scheduled non-stop for the first and 1 stop for the other. Cabin of over 300 s.f. with windows of course but no balcony/verandah cabins. Complimentary wine for lunch and dinner (this alone is worth $30 pp pd to us) and selection of soft drinks and juices available 24/7. Even has a real duty-free shop and you can drink your purchases onboard.
It doesn't have to be but the cruises will also serve as our intercontinental transportation.
Jun 28, 2015, 4:20 pm
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
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I could be wrong but I was under the impression that you could assign the deposit to your TA and get a better deal than working directly with the cruise line. NCL wants the commitment at the cost of the full profit.
Jun 28, 2015, 6:51 pm
#94
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Jose Cuervo Gold, Bud Light Platinum, Schwab 401K, VW Bug 2MM
Posts: 1,100
About 10 year ago for my friends bachelor party we emptied bottles of white wine, filled them with clear/yellow alcohol, and recorked them. Very easy and not a question asked.
Jun 28, 2015, 7:23 pm
#95
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
BamaVol F Y I. I have put down $100 PP on a future TBD cruises on Celibrity and Royal C.
It just " gave" $200 as SBC !
I have always done this.
When you see something you like on adeal, book with cruisenline's, the FCC works as your deposit. I then shop around with major agencies and also ask my regular TA if he can match or improve. Usually he can. Then you authorize him in writing to drag the deposit and booking to his agency . Simple. You can write to me for more....I promise not to misunderstand.
It just " gave" $200 as SBC !
I have always done this.
When you see something you like on adeal, book with cruisenline's, the FCC works as your deposit. I then shop around with major agencies and also ask my regular TA if he can match or improve. Usually he can. Then you authorize him in writing to drag the deposit and booking to his agency . Simple. You can write to me for more....I promise not to misunderstand.
Jun 29, 2015, 2:40 am
#96
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Houston, IAH
Programs: United Global Services,Hilton Diamond, Starwood Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 449
We have used Rumrunners in the past. On one cruise I assumed some of them would be picked up so I packed a bit heavy. Nothing ended up being caught, so we had Rum, Scotch, Brandy, and Grand Mariner for the trip. Very easy, just go to a liquor store between the airport and the ship port and buy what you like, then fill the runners and throw away the bottles.
Jul 6, 2015, 7:18 am
#97
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta SkyMiles, AmEx, NorthWest WorldPerks, Jelly of the Month. S&H Green Stamps, Subway sub club
Posts: 1,754
We have used Rumrunners in the past. On one cruise I assumed some of them would be picked up so I packed a bit heavy. Nothing ended up being caught, so we had Rum, Scotch, Brandy, and Grand Mariner for the trip. Very easy, just go to a liquor store between the airport and the ship port and buy what you like, then fill the runners and throw away the bottles.
Last edited by DaveBlaine; Jul 6, 2015 at 9:18 am
Jul 6, 2015, 8:10 am
#98
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Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
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The rumrunner appears to be a plastic bladder that could be concealed under the clothing. If it showed up under an x-ray, I suppose you could claim it was an ostomy bag. Your suggestion sounds a bit uncomfortable. I would hesitate to both smuggle and consume those bottles.
Jul 6, 2015, 8:28 am
#99
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta SkyMiles, AmEx, NorthWest WorldPerks, Jelly of the Month. S&H Green Stamps, Subway sub club
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The rumrunner appears to be a plastic bladder that could be concealed under the clothing. If it showed up under an x-ray, I suppose you could claim it was an ostomy bag. Your suggestion sounds a bit uncomfortable. I would hesitate to both smuggle and consume those bottles.
Dec 1, 2015, 5:53 pm
#101
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
Holland America, another line under the larger Carnival Corp umbrella, has a similar program which I've tried. Cost $49.95 per person per day and must be purchased for the entire length of the cruise. As I recall is limited to 15 drinks a day which actually is pretty good. Liquor is not top drawer but not well liquor either. They watch ordering carefully so that one person doesn't try to buy drinks to share say with a spouse, friend, etc.
Dec 1, 2015, 9:52 pm
#102
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,142
Data point: In my cruise with HAL this past year, I never thought that the staff was watching me carefully. Maybe because most of them got to know my wife and I and knew we both had the card (although often we just pulled one for purchase).
Dec 2, 2015, 4:44 am
#103
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
Actually that was our experience but watched a couple sailing with friends try to game the system and got caught. Passenger got a bit hot and bothered about being charged for the drinks for his friends so an officer was called to the bar. It apparently escalated to the point where the whole group went off to the front office for a further discussion out of a public area. Invariably there's always one who tries to test the boundaries.
Last edited by Randyk47; Dec 2, 2015 at 7:06 am
Dec 2, 2015, 6:57 am
#105
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
Yes and I believe Carnival has the same policy. Sharing within a cabin becomes a non-issue and as 747FC pointed out the waitstaff usually figures that out quickly. The crew is there to provide friendly and responsive service not to police passenger behavior but some guests push the envelope.