Advertisement

New Royal Caribbean corkage fee may put a damper on your BYOB celebrations aboard ship

It will cost you more to toast your cruise with wine or Champagne you bring on board Royal Caribbean International ships.
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Share via

If you like to wine a little when you cruise, here’s some bad news: Royal Caribbean International has reinstated its $15 corkage fee for each bottle of wine or Champagne brought aboard.

The cruise line, which formerly charged passengers as much as $25 per bottle, did away with the fee in 2014. But it has reinstated the charge, albeit lowering the cost to $15 per bottle.

Royal Caribbean was one of the few major cruise lines that didn’t charge the fee. Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line charge $15. Holland America Line charges $18, and Disney Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises charge $25 per bottle.

Advertisement

Though some cruise lines, like those mentioned above, allow you to bring a couple of bottles of wine or Champagne aboard when you embark on your cruise, others will confiscate bottles you bring on board.

Some lines, such as Disney, specify that passengers can bring two bottles of unopened wine or Champagne, or six beers, on board on embarkation day and in each port of call.

Many lines confiscate bottles brought aboard at ports of call and don’t return them until the end of the voyage.

Advertisement

What’s the best way to sort it all out? Check the individual cruise company’s rules online before spending money on wine you might not be able to drink during your vacation.

travel@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimestravel

Advertisement

ALSO

Best summer camp at sea? Which cruise lines have splashy fun for kids

Isla Cozumel ranks high with cruise ship travelers, CruiseCompete says

You could get booted from your next cruise if you ignore these rules

Listen to top artists and jump in to jam on JazzFest at Sea cruise

Advertisement