Did you know that cruise lines confiscate thousands of bottles of alcohol from passengers every year? It turns out that sneaking booze aboard your cruise is a gamble many are willing to take—but not everyone comes out ahead. Before you consider trying to outsmart cruise security by sneaking alcohol on a cruise, here’s what you need to know about the consequences of getting caught with contraband alcohol on your next sailing.
Understanding Cruise Line Alcohol Policies
Before you even think about sneaking alcohol onboard, you should know the specific policies of your cruise line. While rules can vary between companies, there are some standard guidelines most cruise lines follow:
Allowed Quantities: Many cruise lines allow passengers to bring 1-2 750ml bottles of wine or champagne per stateroom on embarkation day. Outside of this, bringing additional alcohol is typically prohibited.
Legal Drinking Age: The drinking age on most cruise ships departing the United States is 21, regardless of the legal age in ports of call. However, depending on the specific itinerary, particularly when sailing in regions like Europe, South America, or Australia, the ship may allow guests 18 and older to drink.
Purchasing in Port: Alcohol bought in ports is usually stored by the ship until the end of the cruise.
Always check your specific cruise line’s policy before packing, as allowances can change. For example, Carnival permits one 750ml bottle of wine per adult, while Royal Caribbean allows two bottles per stateroom.
Security and Screening Processes
Cruise lines take their alcohol policies seriously and have robust screening procedures in place to catch smugglers:
X-ray scanners: All luggage passes through X-ray machines similar to those at airports. These machines can easily detect bottles of liquids and similar containers.
Manual Inspections: If something suspicious appears on the scan, security may open and search your bags. Or, in the case of checked luggage, you may be summoned to a screening room to observe while they open the suitcase in front of you.
Trained Security Staff: Personnel are specifically trained to look for concealed alcohol during the boarding process.
The scanning technology used by cruise ships is quite sophisticated. Those rum runner flasks you bought on Amazon? Yeah, security has seen those before and knows exactly what to look for.
That said, you will find hundreds of stories (at least) of people successfully concealing alcohol. So, some folks make it through, and some don’t. Not surprisingly, there aren’t any reliable statistics on that point.
Consequences When Caught With Alcohol
While saving money on drinks may seem tempting, the benefits may not be worth the potential consequences. If you do get caught trying to smuggle alcohol, here’s what you can expect:
Financial Repercussions: If you are caught trying to board with unauthorized alcohol, the alcohol will be confiscated. Depending on the circumstances and the cruise line, it may or may not be returned to you. If it is embarkation day, it probably will not.
Plus, once your alcohol has been confiscated, you will be faced with paying non-discounted prices for beverages. This can be a significant penalty compared to the price you would have paid if you bought a drink package before boarding.
Definite Consequences – It will be confiscated. Depending on the cruise line and the circumstances, it may or may not be returned to you at the end of the cruise.
Theoretical Consequences – you could be denied boarding or “disemberked” (i.e. booted) from the cruise. These options are listed in the cruise line’s written policies. However, we have yet to see reports of actual people denied boarded or thrown off a cruise for the sole infraction of trying to hide booze unsuccessfully.
In short, the more severe theoretical consequences, like being denied boarding or disembarked, are possible but extremely rare and would likely only occur for more significant rule violations or disruptive behavior, not just for attempting to sneak alcohol.
You may also have read about possible fines or surcharges. The only surcharges we know that have actually been assessed were corkage fees. As for actual fines, this is theoretically possible per some cruise line written policies, but we have not seen any verified reports.
Practical/Social Consequences – It’s worth noting that planning to drink only contraband liquor can hamper your social opportunities. One of the major social consequences of sneaking alcohol on a cruise is that it severely limits your ability to drink openly and comfortably.
One of the highlights of cruising is enjoying drinks with fellow passengers in public areas—by the pool, at bars, during dinner, or at themed parties. If you’re sneaking alcohol, you’ll likely feel restricted to your stateroom or other discreet areas to avoid detection, missing out on social experiences.
Instead of being able to order a drink whenever you want, sneaking alcohol forces you to return to your room for a covert sip, which can be a hassle and break up the flow of your day. This is especially true during social activities or excursions, where you may feel awkward sneaking back and forth.
Sneaking Alcohol on a Cruise: Common Smuggling Techniques (and Why They Don’t Work)
Despite strict policies, some passengers still attempt to sneak alcohol onboard using creative methods:
Rum Runner Flasks: Flexible plastic flasks designed to evade x-ray detection.
Fake Toiletry Bottles: Containers made to look like shampoo or mouthwash.
Tampered Bottled Water: Replacing water with clear liquor.
While these might seem clever, cruise security is well aware of these tricks. Modern scanning technology and/or manual inspection can easily detect inconsistencies in liquid density, making most of these methods ineffective.
Legitimate Ways to Bring Alcohol on a Cruise
Instead of trying to sneak alcohol onboard, consider these approved methods:
Allowed Quantities: Most cruise lines allow you to bring a limited amount of alcoholic beverages when you board. You could plan to bring the maximum amount of wine/champagne permitted by your cruise line. Just be aware there may be corkage fees to drink it in public areas.
Beverage Packages: Many cruise lines offer unlimited drink packages that can save you money if you plan to indulge. These are typically sold for a discounted price if purchased on-line pre-boarding, and you can find more significant discounts during certain times of the year (e.g., Black Friday).
Specific Cruise Line Alcohol Policies
While general guidelines are similar, it’s important to know the specific rules for your cruise line:
Royal Caribbean: On embarkation day, you are allowed two 750ml bottles of wine or champagne per stateroom. A corkage fee of $15 applies to bottles opened in public areas.
Carnival Cruise Lines: Permits one 750ml bottle of wine/champagne per adult in carry-on luggage. Each guest can bring one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne. No beer or hard liquor. The ship charges a $15 corkage fee for opening wine in a restaurant.
Norwegian Cruise Line: This company allows wine and champagne but charges a corkage fee. No other alcohol is permitted. All bottles are subject to a per-bottle corkage fee regardless of where they are consumed—$15 for 750ml bottles and $30 for 1500ml Magnum. (What about the “free” NCL drink package?)
Celebrity Cruises: Guests may bring up to two bottles per stateroom. A corkage fee of $25 per bottle applies if the bottle is consumed outside of the stateroom.
Always double-check the most current policies before your cruise, as they can change.
Closing Thoughts
In the end, sneaking alcohol on a cruise might seem tempting, but the ultimate results may not be worth it. From confiscation to missing out on the full social experience, breaking the rules can lead to unnecessary stress on your vacation. Instead, take advantage of the approved options—whether it’s bringing permitted wine or investing in a drink package—and enjoy your cruise worry-free.