BYOB and avoid paying 15 percent extra on overpriced drinks in the lounges

[Host Mike]

"Q. Thank you for addressing the subject of tipping on cruise lines. We understand the policy when it comes to cabin and dining room service, but why should we still have to tip another 15 per cent on overpriced drinks in the lounges? We have heard of cruise lines that permit passengers to bring alcohol on-board. Do you know if that is true?

A. The additional 15 per cent is added to your bar bill as the staff in the bars do not receive a portion of the automatic tipping charge added to your account. This staff, plus the spa and casino personnel, are not included as not all passengers choose to make use of their services.

Holland America Line and Princess Cruises are two cruise lines that now permit passengers to bring a limited amount of wine and/or champagne on-board."

http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Discount+clubs+make+restrictive+experience/3510874/story.html

[NSWP]

We are on both Princess and HAL next Feb/March/April.   For sure our BYO will be maxxed out embarking and at each port.

We still buy a bottle of wine at dinner though.

[Host Mike]

At each port hard liquor, typically sold at the port, will be held by Princess security until disembarkation.  As I understand it you can can bring one bottle of wine per passenger aboard at embarkation for ceremonial use.    I'm told that some passenger try to smuggle extra bottles of adult beverages aboard in their luggage.  I would like to find out what the BYOB (Bring your own box of wine) (un) boxing fee would be in the dining room.  

Speaking of wine, some friends of mine had a certain brand of expensive wine they liked on the cruise and bought out the entire ship's inventory so they wouldn't go without.

[f-mattox]

Funny, I saw several empty boxes of "Franzia" in the hallways on debarkation morning a couple of weeks ago.  I don't know how they got them aboard, but they did. 

[RichC]

At one time Princess did say that it was limited to 1 bottle of wine per person per port but that's long been abandoned. They are a few signs that the ships are still using when returning from a  port that have written on them "1 bottle" but I personally have never seen it enforced. The collection tables at each port almost seem to be voluntary since carrying one or two bottles of liquor in a beach bag won't even get a glance but of course if you have a  6 pack with "AL Coen's Liquor" written on the box, it's a sure giveaway. 
We've also seen plenty of people getting on in Ft Lauderdale with many bottles being carried & never seen any bottles held. We are not big wine drinkers and always put our liquor in our carry on without any problems.