Can You Bring Wine on a Cruise?

Can you bring wine on a cruise ship? 

The short answer: Yes! Most cruise lines will allow guests to bring their own bottles of wine or champagne aboard.

This might be a great way to save some money, but there are a few things you should know before you head to your local wine shop to stock up.

So keep reading to learn more about what you should know before you pack up your wine as well as specific rules for Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Disney Cruise Lines.

What to Know Before You Go

Each cruise line has its own rules about bringing alcohol onboard, and most don’t allow hard liquor.

For example, most cruise lines charge a corkage fee.

What the heck is corkage? Well, while you can bring wine, you can’t bring a corkscrew, so a corkage fee is levied by the cruise line to open and/or serve the bottle that you bring. 

In some cases, bringing your own bottle may save you a bit, but the corkage fee may turn that cost-savings into an expense, so know your cruise line’s policy before you go, or reach out to your travel pro to help you navigate these policies. 

You should also know …

• Some cruise lines limit carry-on capacity by stateroom while others limit capacity by legal adult.

• Some cruise lines limit carry-on capacity to a max of two for the entire cruise, while others limit capacity by port, which means you can carry on the designated number of bottles at each port.

• Know what type and the amount of alcohol you can bring aboard. Most cruise lines prohibit liquor.

• Want to purchase wine, champagne, or liquor at ports of call? Many cruise lines will hold your excess bottles safely in storage for the duration of the cruise to be returned to you upon debarkation.

Let’s take a look at three popular cruise lines’ regulations regarding bringing alcohol on board.

Related: 3 Reasons You Should Hire a Travel Planner.

Royal Caribbean Lines

Each Royal Caribbean stateroom can bring up to 2, 750 mL bottles of wine or champagne. 

At least one guest should be of legal drinking age, and corkscrews are provided in staterooms. 

However, if you want to enjoy a glass of bubbly at a dining or bar venue, you will be charged a corkage fee, which is $15/bottle. 

Norwegian Cruise Lines

If you set sail on a Norwegian cruise, you can bring your own bottles of wine and champagne, but unlike Royal Caribbean, you’ll be charged a corkage fee even if you indulge in your stateroom.

Corkage fees are as follows:
750 mL bottle: $15
1,500 mL bottle: $30

Disney Cruise Line

On a Disney Cruise, you can bring your own (unopened) wine and champagne, but there’s a two bottle, 750 mL limit. You can also bring a six pack of 12 ounce beer.

You can bring these beverages at the beginning of the voyage and after each port of call, but they must be packed in a carry-on and not in checked bags or luggage.

Want to enjoy that bottle in the dining room? You’ll have to pay a $25/bottle corkage fee.

To Sum It Up

Yes! You can bring wine and champagne on most cruise lines.

• Liquor is typically prohibited.

• Rules and regulations vary by cruise line, so be sure to check with your travel professional before packing up those bottles!

• Most cruise lines charge a corkage fee for opening bottles of wine and champagne that aren’t purchased onboard.

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