My cousin wants to sneak alcohol on a cruise? Has anyone cruised lately? What are the chances of getting...?

Question

caught? I just don't want him to get into trouble?

Answer 1

If he is under age, he will be caught. Customs goes through the bags, and anything you bring aboard. Its not worth the legal hassle, the loss of his ticket, possible jail time. Tell him, unless he is of age, has proof, he isn't bringing alcohol on board. Also, with the new flight requirements, you are not permitted to bring on any flammable liquids, that is serious jail time. What he can do, if he is with his family? They can purchase alcohol at the duty free shops on the ship and many of the locales, have that sent ahead to thier home, which you have to again provide legal proof of age, address, ect.
Tell your cousin, he just needs to wait a few years before he can embibe.

Answer 2

Although I didn't do it, I did think about it. Because you are allowed to bring bottled water onto cruises, my plan was to empty out a couple bottles and fill them with Vodka, then place them in the middle of my unopened bottles and hope no one noticed. The reason I didn't try was because of having to fly into Tampa....I figured the airlines would be more of a hassle than the cruise ship.

I did discover, happily, that drinks weren't all that expensive on the ship. Well, let me say it was cheaper than drinking in most bars. $3ish for beers and $5ish for mixed drinks. Wine depended on what you selected, but also reasonably priced.

Since you wear a wrist bracelet all the time, it's going to be difficult to drink onboard if you are under age. I just can't remember of it's 21 or 18. Probably 18 since that's the legal age in countries other than the US. Having said that, you probably won't get carded at all in Mexico or Central America; BUT....remember, these are foreign countries and if you act stupid you could end up in serious trouble.

Answer 3

Alcohol is not that expensive on board cruise ships that you have to sneak it on a ship - unless you are under 21. Your cousin will be caught and the alcohol will be confiscated - no matter what anyone else reports. The ship will have the option to refuse him passage and he will be left behind - with no refund.

My advice is if your cousin is under 21 is just to wait until the ports of call and do his drinking while on shore. A cruise is to enjoy and not to see how drunk you can get.

Answer 4

You could always put it in your checked luggage and see if it gets confiscated. The worst case scenario is it gets returned to you on the last night of your cruise. Some people try and smuggle it onboard in things like mouthwash and shampoo bottles. I personally wouldn't recommend it because they are the ones that are most likely to get disembarked if discovered.

I've been on cruises where I have been able to carry on a case of wine and bottles of vodka directly on board and I've been on cruises where they asked you to step aside to the "table O booze" where they confiscate your goods. Despite what the alcohol policies say its going to be hit or miss but unless you go to extreme measures like disguised bottles the most they will do is take them and give them back on your last night. But wrapping your bottles up in towels and smuggling them in your checked luggage will almsot always be your best bet from a risk/reward standpoint.

Answer 5

A better question would be do you want to get on the ship or watch the other passengers sail out of port? Even if you buy unopened bottles on the ship they take them and store them until the morning your cruise is ending. We saw a guy being searched after trying to get back on the ship in Mexico because he had poured water out of his Dasani bottle and filled it full of vodka. Not worth it.

Answer 6

Mom Sez No!!

Much of the trouble on cruises is caused by out-of-control underage kids drinking - or by out-of-control of-age adults drinking!!

As someone said, you just might be denied boarding, or asked to leave the ship at "the next port" with your entire family! That would be a major bummer!!

Answer 7

They screen VERY carefully. So, unless it is a 2 oz bottle such as they serve on airplanes he will likely be caught. In that event the alcohol will be confiscated. Cruise ships have liquor by the bottle for sale on board.

Answer 8

You will potentially deal with customs agents and authorities in other countries...you're better off smuggling something illegal so if you get busted it's worth it.

Last I knew cruises served alcohol 24/7, so why sneak? If you are that broke just drink on the corner as usual.

Answer 9

I don't know how old he is, but that's part of the fun of a cruise, isn't it? The chances of getting caught are almost none. Just stay inside - don't go outside and fall overboard!

Answer 10

Obviously your underage, why else would you want to try. Why risk it....Your paying alot to go on a cruise. Just go and have fun.......No worth sneaking anything. I have no idea what would happen it you got caught, but again why risk it.