A vacation is the perfect opportunity to expand our horizons and try new things. But let’s face it: Most of us are creatures of habit. And if you’re anything like me, you’re loyal to a particular brand of soda, sparkling water, or other non-alcoholic beverage. So if you can’t live without your Diet Mountain Dew, Faygo Redpop, or Cran-Raspberry LaCroix, you’re probably wondering “Can I bring drinks on my cruise?”
Beverage policies– both non-alcoholic and alcoholic– vary by cruise line.* Most, although not all, will allow you to carry on a limited amount of soda or water on embarkation day. And while no cruise line will let you bring a bottle of booze on board, many will permit you to bring one or more bottles of wine or champagne to consume in your cabin (or in a restaurant if you’re willing to pay a corkage fee).
Read on for each cruise line’s beverage policies. BONUS: at the end of the article, we’ll share our favorite pro-tip for carry-on alcohol.
*Note: policies regarding alcohol, beverages, and prohibited items are subject to change. The information below is accurate as of August 14, 2022.
Can I Bring Drinks: A Guide to Major Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Line Beverage and Alcohol Policy
Bottled sodas, water, and other non-alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be brought on board. However, on embarkation day only, a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages in cans or cartons, may be brought on board in the guest’s carry-on luggage. Each passenger may bring a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans or cartons of non-alcoholic beverages like sparkling water, soda, energy drinks, juice or milk, 12 ounces each or less per person.
Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages on board with the exception of one 750-ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or champagne per person in their carry-on luggage on embarkation day.
To consume your wine or champagne in the main dining room, specialty restaurant or bar, a $15.00 USD corkage fee per bottle will be charged.
Read the Beverage and Alcohol Policy on the Carnival Website
Celebrity Cruises Beverage and Alcohol Policy
The Celebrity Cruises website doesn’t mention whether or not you may bring your own sodas or water onto the ship. However, many sources have told us that you can bring “a reasonable amount” as long as you carry it on yourself. What’s a reasonable amount? We assume a 12-pack per person.
Guests wishing to bring personal wine onboard with them may do so on embarkation day only. The limit is two bottles per stateroom. If guests wish to consume their wine in any shipboard restaurant, bar, or dining venue, each bottle shall be subject to a $25.00 USD corkage fee.
Read the Alcohol Policy on the Celebrity Cruises Website
Disney Cruises Beverage and Alcohol Policy
Disney’s website is somewhat vague about bringing non-alcoholic beverages on board. Digging a bit deeper, the Plan Disney section of the website states that sodas and bottled water are permitted as carry-on items on embarkation day. All items should be in sealed, original packaging.
Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of two750 ml bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or six 12-ounce beers on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These beverages must be packed in carry-on bags or luggage.
Guests wishing to consume their wine or champagne in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corking fee of $25.00 per bottle.
Read the Alcohol Policy on the Disney Cruises Website
Holland America Line Beverage and Alcohol Policy
Although bringing non-alcoholic beverages onboard was once allowed on HAL, this policy has recently changed. Sodas, energy drinks or other non-alcoholic items are not allowed on board in any form. Plastic water bottles are also not allowed. However, 12 cans or cartons (500 ml or less) or six cans or cartons (1 liter or less) of water are allowed per stateroom.
Guests may bring wine and champagne onboard. The website simply states that “limitations apply” and that wine in quantities deemed to be excessive will be approved– so don’t push your luck. A corkage fee of USD $20.00 will be applied to each bottle (max 750 ml). FYI- wine purchased during company-sponsored shore excursions to local wineries are exempt from the on-board corkage fee (exemption limited to one bottle per person).
Read the Alcohol and Beverage Policy on the Holland America Website
MSC Cruises Beverage and Alcohol Policy
Unlike other cruise lines, MSC does not allow any beverages (non-alcoholic or alcoholic) to be brought onboard for consumption. The only exceptions to this policy are fluid medications for therapeutic use, baby formula and baby food items, and dietary items prescribed by a physician.
Read the Alcohol and Beverage Policies on the MSC Cruises Website
Norwegian Cruise Line Beverage and Alcohol Policy
Although Norwegian once allowed passengers to carry on water and soda, that policy changed several years ago. Today, water, soda, and other non-alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be carried on board, with the exception of purified or distilled water in factory-sealed containers for use in conjunction with medical devices or for the reconstitution of infant formula.
Guests may bring bottles of wine and champagne on board– with no limit specified. However, a corkage fee will be charged regardless of where the beverage is consumed. That includes any restaurant, public room area or stateroom). Corkage fees are $15 for a 750 ml bottle, or $30 for a 1,50 ml magnum. Guests with beverage packages will not be required to pay the corkage fee.
Read the Alcohol and Beverages Policy on the Norwegian Cruise Line Website
Princess Cruises Beverage and Alcohol Policy
The Princess website doesn’t mention whether or not soda or water can be brought on board. However, non-alcoholic beverages are absent from the “prohibited items” list, implying that they are permitted. The website goes further to state that beverage coolers approximately 12 x 12 x 12 in size (able to hold 6-12 cans of non-alcoholic beverages) are allowed. Most people interpret this as permission to bring a 12-pack of soda or water on board per person. We haven’t heard about anyone being turned away for doing so.
Princess has one of the more liberal alcohol policies at sea. Each adult of drinking age may bring one bottle of wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) without any corkage fee if it’s consumed in the stateroom. Additional bottles of wine or champagne are welcome, but will incur a $15 corkage fee each, no matter where they are consumed.
Read the Alcohol Policy on the Princess Cruises Website
Royal Caribbean Beverage and Alcohol Policy
Passengers on Royal Caribbean may bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on embarkation day. Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom (17 oz. maximum). Milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use are permitted.
Royal Caribbean also falls in line with most other cruise lines on their alcohol policy. On embarkation day, guests may bring onboard two 750 ml bottles of personal wine or champagne per stateroom in their carry-on luggage.
Read the Alcoholic Beverage Policy on the Royal Caribbean Website
Virgin Voyages Beverage and Alcohol Policy
One of the best parts about sailing on Virgin Voyages is that basic beverages, like soda and water, are included in your cruise fare. However, if you have particular tastes and need to have a specific non-alcoholic drink, you can bring a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans or cartons of 12-ounce beverages. Bottled drinks– whether in glass or plastic bottles are not permitted.
Virgin Voyages sailors are also allowed to bring two 750ml bottles of wine per cabin on embarkation day. The wine must be in your carry-on bag.
Read the Alcohol and Beverage Policy on the Virgin Voyages Website
Our Onboard Alcohol Pro Tip:
My husband and I aren’t wine drinkers. When we went on our first cruise, we were a little disappointed to see that we could bring wine on board but no other alcoholic beverages.
And then we realized that while we don’t like wine much, we love mimosas. So each of us brought a bottle of sparkling brut on board on embarkation day, and made sure to pack our 32-ounce Tervis Tumblers.
Then, on our sea day, we headed to the galley to snag a couple glasses of orange juice,. We brought the OJ back to our roo, and mixed up some mimosas which we took to the pool with us. It made for a great sea day!
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