Booze on a cruise

BrewSwag 728
Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
treacheroustexan

treacheroustexan

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 17, 2013
Messages
4,935
Reaction score
4,934
Location
Cleveland
Going on a destination wedding In January. Cayman islands/cozumel from Port Tampa. My girlfriend and I are planning ways to smuggle our booze on. The only thing we are allowed to take is a bottle of wine each. I have shampoo/conditioner bottles to fill with rum and then I have caps and the foil to seal them. Since they can't break the seal I'm confident I'l get those through if they are with the rest of our toiletries. Also thinking of taking a chance with a boxed wine in the checked bag (no box, just the bladder). I also heard rum runner plastic flasks are good. Any other "almost guarenteed" ideas? I have been on Google the past few days but wanted some input from you guys as well. Going through Carnival. Thanks!
 
treacheroustexan said:
Going on a destination wedding In January. Cayman islands/cozumel from Port Tampa. My girlfriend and I are planning ways to smuggle our booze on. The only thing we are allowed to take is a bottle of wine each. I have shampoo/conditioner bottles to fill with rum and then I have caps and the foil to seal them. Since they can't break the seal I'm confident I'l get those through if they are with the rest of our toiletries. Also thinking of taking a chance with a boxed wine in the checked bag (no box, just the bladder). I also heard rum runner plastic flasks are good. Any other "almost guarenteed" ideas? I have been on Google the past few days but wanted some input from you guys as well. Going through Carnival. Thanks!
Click to expand...

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24HlK6IXkoc[/ame]
 
When my wife and I went, we each had the plastic liquor bottles that are shaped like mouthwash. They got taken from her bag, mine made it through. Then on the last night, they gave us back the bottles they confiscated. So it seems random, and you get it back anyway.
 
It has been a while, but last time it was 2 bottles per adult, they never specified the bottle size... they let us pass with 2 each 2liter
 
treacheroustexan said:
Going on a destination wedding In January. Cayman islands/cozumel from Port Tampa. My girlfriend and I are planning ways to smuggle our booze on. The only thing we are allowed to take is a bottle of wine each. I have shampoo/conditioner bottles to fill with rum and then I have caps and the foil to seal them. Since they can't break the seal I'm confident I'l get those through if they are with the rest of our toiletries. Also thinking of taking a chance with a boxed wine in the checked bag (no box, just the bladder). I also heard rum runner plastic flasks are good. Any other "almost guarenteed" ideas? I have been on Google the past few days but wanted some input from you guys as well. Going through Carnival. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Fill the wine bottle with booze and recork it.
 
Listerine is a great idea but I feel like it's over done. Think I could still get it through successfully?
 
Carnival makes you check any booze.


I just buy a large Evian bottle on each island and fill it with vodka or banana rum (clear) each day. Carry it right in. Don't hide it. If you feel suspicion, just complain about the humidity and ask the wife to pass the water. Take a good swig and hide the burn. Lol!

70% of the time, it works every time!
 
LMFAO...Buy the Drink package and leave the mouth wash for the morning..If your going to Grand Cayman and port at the International Pier,make a left on the main street and get jerk chicken from the guy on the corner under a tarp.It'll look like you might get lock jaw but its the best damb chicken I ever had. Cozumel has some of the best/clearest water for scuba I've been in...Do it and skip the severely overpriced excursions..We went to scuba MAU,they were great.
 
I cruised with Carnival many times. The only time I got caught smuggling is when I filled a water bottle with rum, put it in the middle of a 6 pack of Desana and tried to carry it on. The security guard shakes all liquid bottles in your carry on and can tell by the size of the bubbles that it is alcohol. I even witnessed the guard opening the bottle, sniffing, then taking a swig when the person insisted that it was not alcohol! Whew, wonder how she can make it through her shift doing that all day? They confiscate it and you don't get it back. Luckily, I had back ups in my checked luggage. I also did the water bottle trick getting booze on board in port. Water bottles are handy so you can carry your hooch with you on board so you don't have to run back to your stateroom when you want to fortify your drink. Those ships are huge!
 
Years back I went to a Western Michigan Football game with the inlaws. Saw one guy standing there with binoculars. Then I saw him unscrew the eyepiece on one side and take a swig.

Apparently they are made so that one side is a flask, and the other side is a monocular. If someone looks through it, it seems as though they are just kind of broken.

The smell might give it away if you spill some.

Amazon has some that are double flasks, but I think that might give it away easier.
 
A google image search shows a hairbrush that is hollowed out to hold liquor, and also a bra that has liquor pouches built in.

Lots of options. One of these might even be kind of fun to pull off.
 
treacheroustexan said:
Not quite.... but good try.

$60 for a normally priced $3 bottle of wine is different than buying a Benz with no leather. Lol.
Click to expand...

I guess my point is if you can't afford to get the leather, maybe you shouldn't be buying the Benz. Maybe a nice cloth-seated Toyota is more your speed.

Likewise if an add'l $55 a day for unlimited booze (Carnival) breaks you, maybe you can't afford to go on a Cruise or that cruises (and their beverage program) aren't for you.
 
broadbill said:
I guess my point is if you can't afford to get the leather, maybe you shouldn't be buying the Benz. Maybe a nice cloth-seated Toyota is more your speed.

Likewise if an add'l $55 a day for unlimited booze (Carnival) breaks you, maybe you can't afford to go on a Cruise or that cruises (and their beverage program) aren't for you.
Click to expand...

Hmm... I don't know TT in any way, but I do know people who go on cruises and save their extra money all year to afford a nice vacation as their big splurge. Maybe that's them? Maybe the outrageous prices for some items in resorts is unjustifiable to their budget?

I don't know. I know that if beer costs that much more on a cruise, I'll be doing without most of the time because while I can generally afford to splurge on a rare bottle of something special once in a while, I won't pay that same amount for average beer at 1/4 the price when bought at the corner store.

It's maybe kind of like buying snacks for the movies from the gas station. Yeah, I could that stuff at the theater, but I'd rather pay a reasonable amount somewhere else and not get raped financially at the cinema. Now if they sold their snacks at a reasonable price, like M89 Cinemas in Plainwell, MI, I'd gladly pay for a bunch of it to enjoy with the movies, and often did when the in-laws lived there.

If/when I take my wife on a cruise, I'd want to know how to save a few dollars on the things that are priced way above what they should.
 
broadbill said:
I guess my point is if you can't afford to get the leather, maybe you shouldn't be buying the Benz. Maybe a nice cloth-seated Toyota is more your speed.

Likewise if an add'l $55 a day for unlimited booze (Carnival) breaks you, maybe you can't afford to go on a Cruise or that cruises (and their beverage program) aren't for you.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority here, but I drink a TON of coffee on cruises. I was on a Carnival cruise this past summer and they had some impressively good coffee, too, seriously. I spent most of the boat time sitting on the highest, quietest deck reading.

(never ever will take a carnival cruise again, but that's another subject).
 
You're going on a cruise, to a place where rum is actually cheaper than cola... and need to smuggle your booze with you?

Ditch Carnival and look into SilverSeas. With the exception of the casino, spa, and one restaurant, it is ACTUALLY all expenses included. The staff is instructed to learn all of the passengers -- by the fourth night, I sat down in the theater, and a waiter walked over and sat my 7&7 down on the table next to me. I hadn't ordered it yet.

And I did my diving at Grand Cayman with Red Sail Sports. Excellent crew as well.
 
We went on a Disney Cruise last February and decided to bring some bourbon and vodka. I used wine bottles and re-corked and then stuck a price sticker on top of the seal. Worked fine.
 
dkwolf said:
You're going on a cruise, to a place where rum is actually cheaper than cola... and need to smuggle your booze with you?

Ditch Carnival and look into SilverSeas. With the exception of the casino, spa, and one restaurant, it is ACTUALLY all expenses included. The staff is instructed to learn all of the passengers -- by the fourth night, I sat down in the theater, and a waiter walked over and sat my 7&7 down on the table next to me. I hadn't ordered it yet.

And I did my diving at Grand Cayman with Red Sail Sports. Excellent crew as well.
Click to expand...

not getting my hopes too high, but how's the beer selection on SilverSeas? guessing it's all macro lagers?
 
Homercidal said:
Hmm... I don't know TT in any way, but I do know people who go on cruises and save their extra money all year to afford a nice vacation as their big splurge. Maybe that's them? Maybe the outrageous prices for some items in resorts is unjustifiable to their budget?

I don't know. I know that if beer costs that much more on a cruise, I'll be doing without most of the time because while I can generally afford to splurge on a rare bottle of something special once in a while, I won't pay that same amount for average beer at 1/4 the price when bought at the corner store.

It's maybe kind of like buying snacks for the movies from the gas station. Yeah, I could that stuff at the theater, but I'd rather pay a reasonable amount somewhere else and not get raped financially at the cinema. Now if they sold their snacks at a reasonable price, like M89 Cinemas in Plainwell, MI, I'd gladly pay for a bunch of it to enjoy with the movies, and often did when the in-laws lived there.

If/when I take my wife on a cruise, I'd want to know how to save a few dollars on the things that are priced way above what they should.
Click to expand...

I hear ya, I'm not made of money either. Seems to me that booze is a required part of a cruise and that would be something I'd consider in shopping for that type of vacation from the get-go.

That being said...I would definitely get my $55/day out of cruises beverage service! That seems like a no-brainer to me.

Plus, what about the rules of the cruise-line?
 
I just got smashed at every port and gritted my teeth for $8 buds on the ship. I mean you're already paying a decent amount for the cruise, might as well just bear with it IMO

Now, getting other things aboard the ship, thats where things get interesting. Especially if it has to go through customs
 
broadbill said:
I guess my point is if you can't afford to get the leather, maybe you shouldn't be buying the Benz. Maybe a nice cloth-seated Toyota is more your speed.

Likewise if an add'l $55 a day for unlimited booze (Carnival) breaks you, maybe you can't afford to go on a Cruise or that cruises (and their beverage program) aren't for you.
Click to expand...

As I mentioned on page one, it is for a wedding (and not my wedding) and I'm not missing it because I don't want to pay for over priced drinks lol. I didn't know they had an unlimited drink program, and still there has to be some sort of catch for only $55. I'm sure it's not really unlimited. It's not that it breaks my bank, it's just I'm also not irresponsible with my money I do have and I'd rather not blow it all on booze if I don't have to. If I can smuggle my own alcohol like 98% of everyone else on the cruise I am going to.

I have no say in any of this cruise other than showing up. I have never been on a cruise before so I have no idea how anything works. Thanks for all the input so far though.
 
broadbill said:
I guess my point is if you can't afford to get the leather, maybe you shouldn't be buying the Benz. Maybe a nice cloth-seated Toyota is more your speed.

Likewise if an add'l $55 a day for unlimited booze (Carnival) breaks you, maybe you can't afford to go on a Cruise or that cruises (and their beverage program) aren't for you.
Click to expand...

Tried this my last cruise with Carnival. Everyone in your stateroom of drinking age must buy the package, which you must get every day of the cruse. Kind of unfair if your cabin mate(s) don't drink that much, or if you are going to be off the ship in port all day. Prices are equivalent to an upscale bar or restaurant. Beer (not much in the line of craft, but had some imports like Heineken and Stella) were $4-$7 each, + 15% tip automatically added. Top shelf spirits and specialty drinks were not included, but you would get a whopping 25% discount if you had the card. You only had to pay the 15% on the $55 a day charge, and I don't know how much of that actually makes it to the servers because it would take up to an hour to get a drink at times.
 
treacheroustexan said:
As I mentioned on page one, it is for a wedding (and not my wedding) and I'm not missing it because I don't want to pay for over priced drinks lol. I didn't know they had an unlimited drink program, and still there has to be some sort of catch for only $55. I'm sure it's not really unlimited. It's not that it breaks my bank, it's just I'm also not irresponsible with my money I do have and I'd rather not blow it all on booze if I don't have to. If I can smuggle my own alcohol like 98% of everyone else on the cruise I am going to.

I have no say in any of this cruise other than showing up. I have never been on a cruise before so I have no idea how anything works. Thanks for all the input so far though.
Click to expand...

You said it's a wedding in the Caymans...so is the wedding on an island, or on the boat?

If on an island, is there no other way to get there than by cruise ship?

If on the boat, why are you paying for it?

Carry on...
 
GrogNerd said:
not getting my hopes too high, but how's the beer selection on SilverSeas? guessing it's all macro lagers?
Click to expand...
If I remember correctly, it varies depending on their last ports of call. To be honest, I don't know that I saw a bud light can on board. But I can't remember for sure.
 
agrazela said:
You said it's a wedding in the Caymans...so is the wedding on an island, or on the boat?

If on an island, is there no other way to get there than by cruise ship?

If on the boat, why are you paying for it?

Carry on...
Click to expand...

Does it matter? Lol. It's on the island.
 
m00ps said:
I just got smashed at every port and gritted my teeth for $8 buds on the ship. I mean you're already paying a decent amount for the cruise, might as well just bear with it IMO
Click to expand...

Geting lit on the islands isn't that cheap either anymore, but still cheaper than on the boat.

First night on the boat, three of us spent almost a $1,000 partying (total). Shots add up fast. After that, it was smuggling time! Lol!

OP: Don't even bother trying to get anything on when you initially board. Wait until the next day and do the water bottle trick. Hop on the ship when there's a decent size line waiting to board.

Most of the island liquor stores will let you use their bathroom so you can transfer to water bottlles without spilling too!
 
broadbill said:
This is like buying a Mercedes but ordering it without leather so you can do the upholstery yourself for cheap.
Click to expand...

I hate leather. I always stick to it. I get sweaty...

Homercidal said:
A google image search shows a hairbrush that is hollowed out to hold liquor, and also a bra that has liquor pouches built in.

Lots of options. One of these might even be kind of fun to pull off.
Click to expand...

Check out the beer belly! It's amazing!
 
Went on a cruise back in the 80's to Mexico and at one of the ports got a couple of 6-packs and brought on board and kept them iced in the sink. When they cleaned the room each day they re-iced my beer! I guess they don't do that any more...
 
I've had great luck seeking out a bar that's open when I first get on the ship and ordering Anejo Tequila neat (I like my sipping Tequila), saying Thank You and leaving a minimum $10 cash tip on the bar. As most bar tenders work the same bar at the same time they get to know you. It was not unusual to get 3 oz pours. Treat them well and most will pour heavy. Like @dkwolf said, by the time I'd step up to the bar the drink was there.
 
PlexVector said:
Went on a cruise back in the 80's to Mexico and at one of the ports got a couple of 6-packs and brought on board and kept them iced in the sink. When they cleaned the room each day they re-iced my beer! I guess they don't do that any more...
Click to expand...

I wish...but they don't do that anymore.
 

Similar threads

W
Cruising & homebrew
Replies
3
Views
911
boscobeans
B
shafferpilot
cruise liquor
Replies
30
Views
2K
Revvy
Revvy
BrewSwag 300

Latest posts

Back
Top