On our most recent cruise, on the Norwegian Epic, we packed a couple of bottles of wine in our luggage. We know the drill. Take booze on board and either it will be confiscated until you get off the ship or, in the case of wine, you'll pay corkage to keep it.
We paid the corkage. Six hours after boarding the ship, we were able to "claim" our luggage by standing in line with all the other "law-breakers." So if you're going to do this on a Norwegian ship, make sure the wine isn't in the same suitcase as, say, your poolwear. We didn't.
This week, Royal Caribbean announced it will allow passengers to take two bottles of wine on its ships, without charge, as long as they are consumed in staterooms. Take them to the restaurant and the corkage is 25 bucks.
We don't keep score on which cruise lines allow "wine on board" and which don't because cruise-line policies tend to be all over the map on this, and ever-changing. We always expect there will be consequences and if there aren't, that's a bonus.
Hopefully, the Royal Caribbean policy will become at least the industry standard and will alter the positions adopted by Norwegian and others. One cautionary point…that's two bottles of wine per STATEROOM, not per passenger.
If nothing else, it's a good start.
Crown Princess
7 nights
February 16, 2013
Galveston (return): Cozumel, Roatan, Belize
Inside: $499
Cost per day: $71
www.princess.com