What changed & why it matters
These are standing alcohol policies the major lines use to control what you can carry on and where you can drink it. Knowing the exact wine allowance and corkage fee saves money (vs. a drinks package) and avoids confiscation or hold-until-debark hassles. Policies were re-checked on Nov 9, 2025.
How to comply (quick steps)
- Pack only what’s allowed (typically a sealed 750 ml wine/champagne bottle).
- Carry-on, don’t check (most lines require the wine to be in hand luggage at embarkation).
- Decide where you’ll drink it: stateroom (often free) vs. public venues (corkage usually applies).
- Declare extras (where permitted) and accept corkage, or expect storage until the end of the cruise / refusal per line rules.
- Skip boxed wine (explicitly banned by several lines).
Cruise alcohol rules at a glance (wine & corkage)
| Line | Allowance per adult at embarkation | Where you can drink it | Corkage fee (USD) | If you bring more than allowed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | 1× 750 ml sealed wine or champagne per guest of legal drinking age | In-cabin free; public venues incur corkage | $15/bottle in public areas | Extra bottles stored by ship and returned at end | Royal FAQ & corkage policy. Royal Caribbean+1 |
| Carnival | 1× 750 ml sealed wine or champagne per guest 21+ (embarkation day; carry-on) | In-cabin free; dining rooms/bars incur corkage | $15/750 ml | Over-limit wine and other alcohol subject to confiscation; B2B guests get the same allowance per cruise | Contract & corkage FAQ. carnival.com+2help.carnival.com+2 |
| Norwegian (NCL) | Bottles of wine/champagne permitted (no stated quantity limit) | Corkage applies everywhere, incl. stateroom; beverage-package holders not charged | $15/750 ml; $30/1.5 L | Boxed wine not allowed | NCL FAQ pages. ncl.com+2ncl.com+2 |
| Princess | 1× 750 ml wine/champagne per guest per voyage (more allowed but stickered with corkage at embark) | First bottle free in-cabin; public venues incur corkage; additional bottles can be consumed anywhere once corkage paid | $20/750 ml (AU ships ~AU$30) | Excess quantities may be refused; beer/spirits not permitted | Passage Contract & FAQ. Princess+1 |
| MSC Cruises | No alcohol permitted to be brought on board | N/A | N/A | Alcohol brought on may be confiscated; duty-free/port buys held until end | Guest Conduct Policy (PDF). MSC Cruises |
Notes: Most lines ban boxed wine. Spirits/beer are generally not allowed at embarkation. Dollar amounts are shipboard-currency dependent; Princess quotes US$20 (or AU$30 on AUD-currency ships). Always check your specific sailing’s FAQ.
Line-by-line quick notes (with links)
- Royal Caribbean — One sealed 750 ml bottle per adult on embarkation; corkage $15 if consumed in public venues; extra bottles are stored until the last day. Royal Caribbean+1
- Carnival — One 750 ml bottle per 21+ guest, carry-on only; corkage $15 in restaurants/bars; contract spells out B2B allowance and confiscation rules for overages. carnival.com+2help.carnival.com+2
- Norwegian (NCL) — Wine/champagne allowed; $15 (750 ml) / $30 (1.5 L) corkage charged even in staterooms; beverage-package holders aren’t charged. Boxed wine not allowed. ncl.com+2ncl.com+2
- Princess — One 750 ml bottle per adult per voyage is free to bring (cabin only); additional bottles allowed with $20 corkage at embarkation; public-area service incurs corkage. Princess+1
- MSC — Prohibits bringing alcohol; purchases on board/ashore are held until debark. MSC Cruises
Tips & edge cases
- Back-to-back cruises: Carnival explicitly confirms the same wine allowance per leg; others typically treat each segment as a separate voyage—ask Guest Services. carnival.com
- Boxed wine: Explicitly prohibited by Royal, NCL, and MSC. Royal Caribbean+2ncl.com+2
- Beverage packages vs corkage: On NCL, guests with a beverage package aren’t charged corkage for personal wine. This exemption is not stated by other lines. ncl.com
- Fortified wines: Carnival bans fortified wines (>15% ABV) even within the single-bottle allowance. carnival.com
Should you bring a bottle or buy a package?
If you drink <1–2 glasses/day, bringing a bottle and paying corkage once (or drinking in-cabin) can beat a package. Heavier daily consumption usually favors packages—run the math with our tools below.
Featured-Snippet Target
Q: How much wine can I bring on Royal Caribbean, and what’s the corkage fee?
A (one sentence): Royal Caribbean allows one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult on embarkation day; drinking it in public venues incurs a $15 corkage fee per bottle (stateroom consumption is free). Royal Caribbean+1
FAQs (3–5)
Are boxed wines allowed on cruises?
Generally no. Royal Caribbean, NCL and MSC explicitly prohibit boxed wine; others limit you to standard 750 ml bottles. Royal Caribbean+2ncl.com+2
Do back-to-back cruisers get a fresh wine allowance for each leg?
Carnival confirms the same allowance per cruise; other lines commonly follow that approach—confirm on board. carnival.com
Does a beverage package waive corkage?
On NCL, guests with a beverage package are not charged corkage on personal wine. Other lines don’t state such a waiver. ncl.com
Are beer or spirits ever allowed at embarkation?
Not on these five lines. Wine/champagne is the sole exception (or none, for MSC). MSC Cruises+4Royal Caribbean+4carnival.com+4
What happens to alcohol over the limit?
Royal stores extra bottles until the last day; Carnival’s contract allows confiscation/disposal of prohibited items. Royal Caribbean+1
