IMO, it's one thing to sneak some booze into your room and another to try to consume it publicly onboard.
We always get the 5 or 6 bottle wine package at dinner as the bottle is always waiting when we arrive at dinner and not a huge rip-off. $20 or so per bottle for a decent wine works for us and that way the waiter/wine steward gets some action and everything is above board.
You might be able to sneak a cheap bottle of wine to your table and consume it but it's not worth saving a few bucks.

On our last cruise, while eating in the specialty (=extra fee) restaurant, we spotted the party of 6 at the table next to us bringing in their own wine.

It was BOX wine! :eek:

Personally, we got the mid-range wine package. Two advantages were that 1) if we didn't finish a bottle, they would label it and have it for us the following night, and 2) another couple at our table had also gotten a wine package so it was nice for us to share 2 bottles of champagne between the 4 of us on our last night of the cruise.

:eek: :eek: ;)

Depends on the port. In Nassau, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and St. Thomas they are militant about their checks but Aruba, Puerto Limon and Sint Maarten they barely checked us!

A tip, try to get into the Concierge club. The free liquor is a major +! On the Radience Class ships (Jewel and Brilliance for sure) the bars directly across from the disco turns into one at night!

What is a Concierge club?

On the Holland America line they have a Concierge Lounge for the exclusive use of those booking certain classes of suites.
I’m assuming this is what the poster meant by his reference to the Club on the Royal Caribbean line.

It's the same thing as HAL. For higher level suites or Diamond and Diamond Plus members.

The lounge (and Concierge who works there) is the reason we're at Diamond Plus 2 (30+) on RCL.

Free Liquor for a certain time period or throughout the cruise?

So is it worth booking a Suite to get invited to the Concierge club?

I am new so forgive my ignorance.

I read that one of the best-selling wines in France comes in a box. Why not?

No problem with boxed wine but when you’re trying to subtly bringing your own to dinner, it’s a bit obvious IMO.



You’ve got to run the numbers. The level of suite that will get you “free” liquor will run a couple grand or more per couple over a smaller suite. If you can consume that much extra alcohol and still function, go for it.
You probably need to decide on the suite for the other amenities as well. Such as extra room, personal butler service, complimentary drycleaning, etc., etc.
I doubt any of us could decide to spend the extra $$$’s on the free booze factor alone.

I agree. I looked up the prices for the Freedom of the Seas. I am better bringing my own liquor and gettting a very small inside room.

Smart idea not to mention the booze takes some of the edge off of dealing with an inside cabin. ;)
Enjoy the cruise!

People taking Chateau Carton on cruises now, eh? :rolleyes:

I also like buying onboard, and allowing them to stash the bottle between dinners or whatever. Once, a half-consumed bottle was misplaced, and we were comp'ed a new bottle of "upgraded" wine - classy!

As to Windstar Cruises, they are now inspecting hand baggage brought on board at all ports, and are storing Duty Free purchases until you disembark. OTOH, nobody checks when divers return on board... :D

Strongly suggest checking the boards for the cruiseline YOU are going to sail on. The rules and enforcement appear to vary widely among the various cruiselines. check over at cruisecritic.com for lots of good info.

I think I just wet my pants :p