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TIC Examines: The Norwegian Cruise Line Alcohol Policy

Written by T.I. Cruiser on December 18, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Let me just say the navigation of their website is terrible as is the placement of their alcohol policy. You would think the policy would be easier to find. Although I never found anything as clear as alot of the other cruise lines here is what I pieced together from the NCL website.

With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii itineraries, (Where you must be 21 years of age to consume or purchase alcohol of any kind) NCL permits guests between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty (20) to purchase and personally consume wine and beer while on NCL ships with the consent of an accompanying parent or legal guardian on the same sailing once the vessel is outside the US state territorial waters (3 miles out). Complete details and special consent form are only available onboard at the Reception Desk. *If you want to gamble in our casinos, you must have a valid ID showing you are 18 years or older. If a guest under the age of 18 wins in the casino and can not provide proof of age, he or she will not be paid the winnings. There are no casinos on our ships in Hawaii.

* NCL encourages the responsible use of alcohol and accordingly reserves the right to permanently or temporarily revoke the drinking privileges of any guest who violates NCL’s Guest Code of Conduct or who is deemed a danger to himself, herself or others by vessel management. Continued abuse of alcohol while sailing and/or violation of NCL’s alcohol policy may result in immediate disembarkation.

My interpretation of the policy is as follows:

On Norwegian Cruise Line vessels guests at least 18 years of age are allowed to purchased and consume both wine and beer, (except on cruises stopping in Hawaii or Alaska) as long as they are traveling with (and have consent from) a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian will need to give written consent. Consumption of liquor is limited to those 21 years of age no matter the circumstances. Passengers are not allowed to bring onboard any liquor. Any bottles brought or purchased onboard will be confiscated and held until the end of the cruise. Passengers may bring wine or champagne onboard as long as it is not on Norwegian’s wine list. Norwegian also charges a 15-dollar corkage fee.

TIC Examines: Holland America Alcohol Policy

Written by T.I. Cruiser on December 17, 2008 · 6 Comments

I do not know if it is by design but Holland America really needs to rewrite their alcohol policy. While it does state what can or cannot be brought onboard the presentation of the policy is among the most cryptic of any cruise line I have come across. If you want to take a second to read what it says, here you go:

Bringing Alcoholic Beverages Onboard

Except for wine and champagne, alcoholic beverages purchased in the vessel’s shops or otherwise brought on the ship cannot be consumed on the ship. Bottles and other containers will be collected for safekeeping and delivered to your stateroom on the last day of the voyage.

A corkage fee of US$15.00 applies to wine and champagne brought to the restaurants or bars for consumption.

Room Service offers reduced-price stateroom beverage packages for in-stateroom consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Maybe I am a bit strange but I like official policies to be explicit and inclusive. Holland America’s Alcohol Policy is neither of those things. After reading the policy I am left with a feeling of wonder that makes ask, “what did they leave out”. My suggestion would be if you have any questions on what you can or cannot do, call someone. In any case, here is my take on HAL’s alcohol policy.

Onboard all HAL ships the drinking age is 21 years old, no matter the ship nor destination. Liquor is not allowed to be brought onboard at either embarkation or in port. Any liquor brought onboard the ship will be taken and stored until the final day of your cruise; this includes any bought in the ships duty-free shops. Wine is allowed but is subject to a 15-dollar corkage fee.

TIC Examines: The Celebrity Cruises Alcohol Policy

Written by T.I. Cruiser on December 16, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Here is a look at Celebrity Cruises Alcohol Policy. They provide a comprehensive explanation on what they expect from their guests. It even spells out the right course of action if a passenger begins the cruise underage but has a birthday sometime during their cruise. Celebrity also states clearly that the penalty for ignoring their policy may result in your disembarkment. I suggest anyone who is going on a Celebrity Cruise, read the policy.

Here is the full alcohol policy taken directly from the Celebrity Cruises Website

The minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on all Celebrity Cruises ships is twentyone (21) years of age.

However, on ships in Europe, South America and Australia, where the legal drinking age is lower than twentyone (21), a parent who is sailing with his or her son(s) and/or daughter(s) who is between the ages of eighteen (18) to twenty (20), may sign a waiver allowing the eighteen (18) to twenty (20) year old to consume alcoholic beverages.

The eighteen (18) to twenty (20) years old must agree to comply with Celebrity Cruises’ policies, including among other things, agreeing to not provide alcoholic beverages to any other person, regardless of age. Restrictions apply, and this policy is subject to change without notice.

If a guest celebrates their 21st birthday during the cruise, the guest may thereafter ask the
Front Desk Manager to modify the ship’s records to permit their consumption of alcohol
during the remainder of cruise. The guest will be required to appear at the Guest Relations Desk with his/her parent or guardian and must present a government issued form of identification to establish that the guest’s 21st birthday was celebrated during the cruise.

An individual’s age on the date of sailing determines his or her status for the entire cruise vacation.

Guests are not allowed to bring beer or hard liquor onboard for consumption or any other use. Guests wishing to bring personal wine onboard with them at the beginning of the
cruise may do so, limited to two (2) bottles per stateroom, but when consumed in any
shipboard restaurant, bar, or dining venue, each bottle shall be subject to a corkage fee of
$25.00. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports of calls or from the onboard shops
will be stored by the ship and delivered to guest’s staterooms on the last day of the sailing.

Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and
will dispose of containers holding alcohol. Celebrity Cruises’ Guest Conduct Policy may be enforced, up to and including disembarkation, if a guest violates any alcohol policy. Guests
under the age of twentyone (21) will not have alcohol returned to them.

Guests who violate any alcohol policies, (over consume, provide alcohol to people under age

twentyone (21), demonstrate irresponsible behavior, or attempt to conceal alcoholic items
at security and or luggage check points or any other time), may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with our Guest Conduct Policy.

Celebrity Cruises reserves the right to revoke or otherwise restrict drinking privileges of any guest, regardless of age. Even if all criteria are met, shipboard personnel may elect, and
have the option to, not grant the waiver or any such drinking privileges. The waiver may not apply when the vessel is in certain territorial waters.

I know it was kind of wordy so I did you all a favor. I went through and summarized the alcohol policy. While this in no way covers everything you need to know, my summary of the Celebrity Cruises Alcohol Policy is as follows:

The minimum drinking age onboard Celebrity ships is 21 years old for all alcoholic beverages. On cruises leaving from South American or a European country, passengers 18 years and older may drink as long as they are sailing with a parent, and the parent signs a waiver. Celebrity doesn’t allow consumption of alcoholic beverages purchased ashore or in the ships duty free shops. These items will be confiscated and returned the last night of the cruise. Guests may also bring onboard up to two bottles of wine per stateroom but these are subject to a 25 dollar corkage fee if consumed in any restaurant bar or dining venue. Please note - wine may be purchased as a Bon Voyage gift. The Bon Voyage purchases are not subject to the corkage fee.