Alcohol and cruises go hand in hand. However, you must consume alcohol on a cruise safely and according to your cruise line’s guidelines. This means that you shouldn’t risk sneaking alcohol onto your cruise ship.

Maybe you don’t want to pay extra for drinks. Or perhaps you have a particular drink that you want to enjoy on your vacation. Whatever your reason, the consequences aren’t worth trying to sneak alcohol onto your cruise.

In this article, you’ll learn what happens if you get caught sneaking alcohol on a cruise and the alternatives to doing so to ensure that you still enjoy your vacation as much as possible.

Consequences of Sneaking Alcohol on a Cruise

In general, nothing good happens if you’re caught smuggling alcohol on a cruise, and there are several possibilities for disciplinary action.

Best case, the crew simply confiscates the alcohol. Worse case, you may be asked to disembark. Here are the consequences you can expect if you get caught sneaking alcohol on a cruise:

• Fine or surcharge: On many cruise lines, you may be subject to a fine or a surcharge if they catch you sneaking alcohol onto the ship. 
• Confiscation of alcohol: No matter what other disciplinary action the cruise line takes, you can expect them to confiscate your alcohol as soon as they find it.
• Passport or identification retention: Besides confiscating your alcohol, you may have to show ID for the cruise line to note your actions and keep them in the system.
• Asked to disembark from the cruise: In extreme cases, you may be asked to disembark the ship. This will typically only happen if you refuse to give up the alcohol or if the crew fears that you will be a disruption. 

How exactly can you get caught sneaking alcohol on a cruise? Let’s take a look.

Ways to Get Caught Sneaking Alcohol

It’s not very hard to get caught sneaking alcohol on a cruise because you have to go through several checks to even get on the ship, and you may be subject to additional checks while you’re on your cruise.

As you know, the cruise line checks your luggage as you come onto the ship. However, this doesn’t mean you can simply sneak alcohol on board by other means. Nonetheless, many people try to sneak alcohol onboard in the following ways:

• Hiding it deep in their suitcase
• Hiding it on their person
• Filling an unsuspecting bottle with liquor, such as a shampoo bottle

None of these ways to sneak liquor onboard work. Let’s look at the possible ways to get caught sneaking alcohol on a cruise. 

Body Scanners

While cruise ships don’t typically have the scanning technology you’ll find at airports, you’ll still have your luggage scanned and need to walk through an X-ray machine.

This machine can detect any liquids you may be carrying on your person, meaning you can’t hide any small bottles of alcohol in your pockets!

Room Inspections

Even if you somehow get past the cruise ship scanner with your booze, there’s still a chance of getting caught sneaking alcohol. Any cruise line can inspect any cruise passenger’s room for any reason. You’ll find this in your cruise contract, where you can also read the alcohol policy.

While most cruise lines aren’t in the habit of doing random searches, there’s still a possibility that they’ll search your cabin, especially if they suspect something is wrong. 

Informants

Speaking of suspecting something, you should expect to be monitored closely by the ship’s crew, security, or other potential informants. While they don’t follow your every move, they are wary of suspicious activity, such as being drunk yet not having ordered a drink. If the crew suspects any strange behavior, you may have your person and cabin checked and potentially be found with liquor.

As you can see, it generally isn’t worth it to sneak alcohol on a cruise. However, if you still want to drink until your heart’s content, there are other options.

Alternatives to Sneaking Alcohol

To give you some ideas on how to enjoy drinking on your cruise, here are your options.

Bring One Bottle of Champagne or Wine

There’s one exception to the prohibition of alcohol on cruise ships. Some cruise lines allow you to bring a limited number of bottles of wine or champagne onboard on embarkation day.

For example, Carnival Cruise Line allows passengers to bring onboard one 750-ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or champagne, per person, in their carry-on luggage on embarkation day only. However, that one bottle is enough to celebrate the beginning of your cruise!

Purchase Alcohol From the Ship’s Bars

Unless you are on a sober cruise, you can always purchase alcohol on board at the bar. The ship’s bars always have an assortment of drinks available, including:

• Beer
• Wine
• Cocktails
• Champagne
• Spirits

So don’t worry; you’ll likely be able to access your favorite drink on board. The stores on the ship will also have alcohol for sale as part of their duty-free shopping. However, if you purchase alcohol from the ship’s stores, it cannot be consumed onboard. It will be delivered to your cabin at the end of the cruise.

Book a Cruise with Unlimited Alcohol Packages

One of the best options that cruise lines offer is to purchase an unlimited drink package. With this package, you get access to unlimited drinks throughout your cruise. 

While some cruise lines may restrict the type of drinks you order, this is an excellent option for those who want the freedom to drink their favorite alcoholic beverage and keep the party rolling throughout their vacation! Most cruise lines offer unlimited alcohol packages, here are a few:

• Royal Caribbean International
• Celebrity Cruises
• Holland America

Bonus Tip: Drinking Ashore

In general, drinking at bars ashore is much cheaper than drinking on the ship. So one great way to ensure that you get drunk on your trip, even while on a budget, is to mainly drink at bars in the ports before going back on the ship. Plus, they’ll always have new drinks for you to try!

FAQs

The Takeaway: Don’t Risk Being Caught

The consequences of sneaking alcohol on a cruise are not worth the risk of being caught, and being caught can potentially ruin your entire vacation.

Instead, take advantage of the options on board the ship, including an unlimited drinks package. They’re a great chance to be catered to and to try out some new drinks, as long as you’re above the legal drinking age. Remember to drink in moderation!

Do you have a cruise coming up, but want to know if you’re at the minimum drinking age? Maybe you have a cruise planned and want to know whether your older kids will be able to join you for a cocktail. No matter the situation, knowing the drinking age on cruise ships is important.

In this article, you’ll learn the minimum age for drinking on cruise ships so you can properly plan your next vacation.

Legal Drinking Age on Cruise Ships

The legal drinking age on cruise ships varies. Factors influencing the set minimum ages include the specific ship you’re on and your departure and final destination.

In most areas of the world, the minimum drinking age is anywhere from 16 to 18, so it is possible to find a cruise that adheres to this minimum.

That said, you’ll notice that most cruise ships sailing from North America have a minimum drinking age of 21 years to abide by United States law. This is despite Mexico and some places in Canada having minimum drinking ages of 18 or 19.

Since the U.S. is in between these two countries, cruise lines choose to abide by the United States minimum. Let’s look at some of the minimum drinking ages for major cruise lines.

Age Requirements for Major Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Line

On all Carnival Cruise Line ships, passengers must be 21 years of age or older to be served alcohol on board, even in international waters. Carnival Cruise Line is one of the only cruise lines that does not allow drinking under the age of 21 under any circumstance.

Norwegian Cruise Line

On Norwegian Cruise Line, the drinking age requirement is 18 in international waters. No guest under 18 may possess or consume alcohol at any time. This means that on board their ships, you must be at least 18 years old to drink alcohol. If you break this rule – including parents who give alcohol to their children – you’ll face disciplinary action.

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean cruise ship drinking ages depend on where the ship departs from. The drinking ages are the following:

• From North America or the Caribbean: 21
• From Dubai, United Arab Emirates: 21
• From South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand: 18

However, these minimum ages are not set in stone. Royal Caribbean reserves the right to raise the minimum drinking age on sailings based on local laws.

Princess Cruises

When sailing from North America, the minimum drinking age on Princess Cruises ships is 21 years. But, if you’re sailing from Europe, South America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand on a Princess Cruise, the legal drinking age is 18.

Disney Cruise Line

The minimum drinking age on all Disney Cruise Line ships is 21. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For destinations departing from Europe, anyone 18 to 20 may have their parents sign an alcoholic beverage consent form, allowing them to consume alcohol while in an adult’s presence.

What’s more, on round trips from Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and Brisbane, passengers 18 years old and older can consume alcohol without the presence or permission of an adult. 

Cunard

On most Cunard ships, the minimum drinking age is 18. The exception is when the ship is in U.S. waters and the minimum drinking age is 21.

Celebrity Cruises

The minimum drinking age on ships sailing from North America is 21. The minimum drinking age for remaining destinations is 18.

Drinking Age Exceptions on Private Islands

Some cruise lines have private islands as possible destinations and have different drinking age rules for private islands than they do for their ships. Here are some examples:

• Norwegian Cruise Line: Guests must be 21 to possess or consume alcohol at the cruise line’s private destinations. 
• Royal Caribbean International: No matter where the departure point is, on Royal Caribbean International ships, the minimum drinking age for private islands is 21. 
• Celebrity Cruises: You must be 21 to consume alcohol at any of Celebrity Cruises’ private destinations.  
• Holland America: The minimum drinking age for Holland America ships is 21.

Checking IDs on Cruise Ships

Don’t think all rules are thrown out the window on your cruise! If you look underage, cruise ships will check your ID when you ask for a drink. The same goes for when you’re entering spaces restricted to those of a certain minimum age. If you’re a minor, you may get a wristband indicating so.

For example, some cruise ships allow passengers as young as 18 into the casino, but you must be 21 to drink on the ship. Therefore, you may be given a wristband to indicate to the staff that you are underage. 

Drink Packages and Minors

Many cruise lines offer drink packages specifically for minors – meaning their packages account for no alcoholic beverages. For example, MSC Cruises has a drink package for minors that includes soft, energy, and coffee drinks. Celebrity Cruises also offers a Zero Proof package at $30 per person per day, which includes some delicious zero-proof cocktails for minors to enjoy alongside their parents.

FAQs

The Takeaway: Know Drinking Rules On Your Cruise

Drinking is one of the most fun parts of any cruise, but sticking to the rules is essential to maximize the experience. Knowing the drinking ages on cruise ships during your planning will ensure that everything goes as expected. 

If you’re under the drinking age of a particular cruise, you can still enjoy yourself and try out any specialty mocktails your ship might offer.

A cruise is an exciting way to travel and escape your everyday life for a bit. The only downside to a cruise is figuring out what you can and cannot pack.

Cruise ships have a lot of restrictions when it comes to what you’re allowed onboard. From no irons to sharp objects, you want to pack smart to prevent having your items confiscated. But what are the rules when it comes to food? Can you bring food on a cruise?

Keep reading to learn the rules when it comes to bringing food on a cruise so that you can best prepare for your upcoming vacation.

Can You Bring Food On a Cruise?

Yes, you can bring food on a cruise, but only to a certain extent. You are permitted to bring non-perishable food onboard. For the most part, this food must be pre-packaged and processed. Here are examples of food items that you can bring onboard your cruise:

• Granola bars
• Bags of chips
• Pre-packaged cookies
• Packaged beef jerky
• Packaged and sealed baby food and formula

Just make sure that these snacks are in their original packaging and unopened, or they may be confiscated. You cannot bring fruits, vegetables, or home-cooked meals onboard. If you try, they will be confiscated by the crew.

How Much Food Can You Bring on a Cruise?

While you can bring some non-perishable food on your cruise, that doesn’t mean there’s no limit to the quantity you can bring on. 

For the most part, cruise lines don’t provide exact limits on how much food you can bring on. However, cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line describe “limitations” on the quantity of food you can bring onboard without expressly saying what those limits are.

Use your judgment to determine whether you’re following the cruise line’s guidelines. It should be a reasonable amount of snacks for yourself or the people in your party. In general, bringing a few snacks here and there won’t get you in trouble, but you may run into some problems if you have an entire checked bag full of snacks.  

Why Are There So Many Restrictions for Bringing Food on a Cruise?

There are two main reasons why bringing your own food onto the cruise ship is so restricted. 

The first has to do with international customs. Cruise ships make stops in multiple countries, and different countries have their own laws regarding what you can bring into the country. This is because you risk bringing foreign diseases and illnesses, which could be carried through food.

In the same respect, you risk getting other passengers onboard sick if you carry unpackaged food. Cruise ships are isolated, so if one passenger gets sick with something contagious, it can spread quickly.

Restrictions aside, being able to bring food on a cruise ship is excellent news for those who don’t want to go a week without their favorite snacks or for parents of picky eaters who request the same granola bars every day. Let’s check out specific food policies on popular cruise lines.

Different Cruise Line Policies for Food

To give you an idea of what to expect on your next cruise, here are some of the food policies of the most popular cruise lines.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean cruise passengers can bring non-perishable prepackaged food in limited quantities. They also allow you to bring select beverages on board.

Non-alcoholic beverages must be carried in your carry-on luggage on boarding day and must not exceed 12 standard cans, bottles, or cartons per room. Finally, Royal Caribbean allows milk and distilled water to be brought on for specific reasons, including infant, medical, or dietary use.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line allows passengers to bring pre-packaged, unopened, and ready-to-eat snacks. Homemade items and pre-cooked food are not allowed. Carnival Cruise Line also allows you to bring non-alcoholic beverages, but only in can form, and the cans must be in your carry-on.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises specifically lists prohibited items as perishable food, meat products, and food that requires refrigeration. You can bring a small amount of prepackaged snacks on board. Contact Celebrity Cruises to find out what the exact amount is. 

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is quite strict with their food and drink policy. Unlike other cruise lines, no drinks of any kind are permitted to be brought on board, including non-alcoholic drinks. In terms of food, the only restriction is no unsealed food items are allowed on board.

The Verdict: Don’t Go Overboard

To sum up, yes, you can bring limited quantities of food on a cruise, as long as it is non-perishable and pre-packaged. However, it’s essential to check with your cruise line before embarkation day to avoid getting any prohibited items confiscated.