Can I take alcohol in my carry-on when boarding a cruise ship?

It is not allowed - but you can do it. We do it all the time and have never gotten caught.

Put the liquor in a plastic bottle, a recycle club soda bottle, for Vodka - a recycled Coke bottle for whiskey -etc.

Make sure you also put it in a large zip lock bag, just in case it leaks - (ours never has). Put it in your checked in luggage.

It will get to your room. Worse case, if they do see it- they will just take it away - and give it back to you at the end of the cruise. But like I said - we have been on so many cruises, and we have never had this happen.

The cruise lines do not allow you to bring alcoholic beverage on board, EXCEPT some do let you bring a bottle or two of wine or champaign. Here's what the various policies are:

Princess allows 2 bottles of wine or champaign for use in stateroom; $15 cork fee if used in restaurant or bar. Can order drinks for the cabin from the pre cruise gift menu on line for about $20

Celebrity allows 2 bottles of wine or champaign in stateroom, $25 cork fee if used in restaurant or bar

Royal Caribbean does not allow bringing any alcoholic beverages on board, no exceptions. RC also states that it will search luggage including bottles of mouthwash, shampoo, etc.

Holland America allows wine and Champaign in Stateroom: $15 corkage fee if taken to restaurant. Can also buy wine card and drink card as pre-sail gifts (10 drinks each)

Carnival allows one bottle of wine or champaign per passenger age 21 or older at beginning of cruise; $10 corkage fee in restaurants and $15 in supper club

Norwegian you cannot bring and liquor on board without written prior permission of the carrier.

Now that you know the rules. Whenever I take liquor I pack a flask (in a zip lock bag) or a pint or half pint in my luggage with my toiletries. Next time I am taking miniatures packed with my toiletries; a little is better than none. I have no idea what they would do if the liquor is found, I have never even seen that happen except when people return to ship in port and are required to "check" their liquor purchases until the last day of the cruise.

Your carry-on bags will be x-rayed by security, and you will pass thru a metal detector at the port where your ship will leave. It's extremely likely that they will find it and confiscate it. If you buy it in a port along the way, the same procedure will occur; however, they may let you have it back at the end of the cruise. You may bring (declare it!) a special bottle of wine with you, but you will be charged a corkerage fee to serve it to you.

On Princess and Cunard you are allowed to bring on alcohol. The catch is it may only be consumed in your cabin. If you take it outside your room, it will be taken and returned at the end of the cruise.

you can try to be sneaky if you're interested. my grandmother put carolans and such in baby bottles.. the security never said anything. but if they notice it, they will confisgate it. and any alcohol you buy in the ports they will take, but give back to you at the end of the trip. Atleast thats how it was when i went to Mexico.

yes, if you get caught , they throw it away.