Another cruise line is prohibiting travelers from lugging and chugging their own booze and beverages aboard its vessels.
Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line has announced a ban on bringing aboard liquor, beer and nonalcoholic drinks, including water, soda and juice, in carry-on and checked bags, starting July 15.
In an email statement last week, the cruise line said it adopted the new rule to speed up the embarkation process and “ensure a safe and enjoyable onboard environment for all.”
“The inspection of large volumes of beverages has an impact on the embarkation process and security resources,” Norwegian said on its website. “This modified policy will now bring us in line with other travel industry procedures for transporting beverages and allow security personnel to focus on other screening efforts and not (be) individually inspecting all beverages being brought onboard.”
The ban also applies when passengers are returning to cruise ships from port calls.
Norwegian’s beverage ban includes bottled, boxed and canned drinks. However, there are a few exceptions: Passengers can bring aboard purified or distilled water in factory-sealed containers for use in medical devices or infant formula preparation, the cruise operator said. Passengers should inform the cruise line of their medical needs before sailing, while those traveling with infants need to advise security during boarding that they’re carrying water for formula purposes, Norwegian said.
Additionally, cruise passengers age 21 and older can bring factory-sealed bottles of wine or champagne for consumption on board, Norwegian noted. They are subject to screening and a corkage fee of $15 or $30 per bottle, depending on size.
Most cruise lines allow a limited amount of wine to be brought onboard. On its website, Norwegian explains the distinction: “As very few guests bring wine onboard, the team is able to easily and quickly screen these items.”
In recent years, other cruise lines, including Carnival and Disney, have taken steps to restrict or ban travelers from bringing certain drinks during boarding or after port calls.
Since September 2015, Celebration, Fla.-based Disney Cruise Line has banned carry-on liquor or spirits. It allows a limited number of bottled wine and canned beer.
Miami-based competitor, Royal Caribbean International, also bans passengers from bringing aboard beer, hard liquor, fortified wines and nonalcoholic beverages including bottled water.
Royal Caribbean passengers can bring aboard two bottles of wine per cabin on boarding day.
Carnival, based in Doral, Fla., also doesn’t allow certain alcoholic beverages. It added nonalcoholic bottled beverages to its ban in July 2015.
Carnival passengers, however, can still bring up to 12 unopened cans or cartons of nonalcoholic beverages per person when boarding their cruise.
Passengers who brought bottled beverages aboard were a source of multiple issues and typically slowed down the boarding process because items had to be searched to ensure there were no secret stashes of alcohol, Carnival said. The cruise line also said smuggled alcohol was often a factor in behavioral issues investigated on board.
There’s also the issue of revenue. Beverage packages are a key source of revenue for cruise lines.
Norwegian offers several beverage programs with options tailored to small children, teens and adults. The Children’s Soda Program costs $5.50 per person daily, plus 18 percent gratuity taxes for kids 12 years and younger. The Ultimate Beverage Package, which includes a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks for age 21 and older, starts at $79 per person daily. Both packages must be purchased for the entire cruise.
The majority of Norwegian ships also offer Aquafina bottled water packages that range in price from $22.95 for a six-pack of 1-liter bottles, plus gratuities and taxes, to up to $59.95 for a 24-pack, according to NCL.com.
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