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If you are planning a Carnival cruise, you may wonder whether you can save money by bringing your own wine, champagne, beer, or liquor. Carnival Cruise Line has specific rules about alcohol brought onboard, and the rules are different depending on the type of drink.
For U.S. departures, Carnival generally allows guests who are 21 or older to bring one 750-ml bottle of sealed, unopened wine or champagne per person on embarkation day. The bottle must be carried in your carry-on luggage. Hard liquor and beer cannot be brought onboard. Carnival Cruises
Here is what you need to know before packing alcohol for your Carnival cruise.
Carnival's U.S. departure policy provides a limited exception for personal wine or champagne.
Guests who are 21 or older can bring:
For example, if two eligible adults are sailing together, each may bring one permitted 750-ml bottle.
No. Carnival prohibits guests from bringing hard liquor or spirits onboard for embarkation.
This includes common spirits such as:
Carnival's prohibited-items information specifically lists hard liquor and spirits as prohibited. Carnival Cruises
No. Beer is not included in Carnival's personal alcohol allowance.
Carnival specifically prohibits beer from being brought onboard during embarkation. Carnival Cruises
The standard allowance is one 750-ml bottle per guest who is 21 or older.
The bottle must meet Carnival's requirements. It should be:
A larger bottle does not qualify simply because it contains wine.
There are additional restrictions on fortified wines.
Carnival states that Port, Vermouth, Sherry, and other fortified wines over 15% alcohol by volume (ABV) cannot be brought onboard, even under the wine allowance. Carnival Cruises
Therefore, check the alcohol content and type of wine before packing it.
Your permitted bottle should go in your carry-on luggage, not your checked baggage.
Carnival's policy specifically states that the permitted wine or champagne must be carried onboard in carry-on luggage. Carnival Cruises
This is important because alcohol outside the permitted exception can be confiscated and discarded.
Keeping the bottle in your carry-on also makes it easier for security personnel to identify the permitted item during screening.
Before leaving for the cruise terminal, make sure:
Not necessarily.
Carnival allows the wine or champagne you bring under its personal allowance to be consumed in your stateroom.
If you want to drink your own bottle in certain public dining areas, Carnival applies a corkage fee.
Yes.
Carnival currently states that a $15 USD corkage fee per 750-ml bottle applies when guests consume their own wine or champagne in the:
The fee is charged when the bottle is served. Carnival Help
For example, if you bring an eligible bottle and ask the staff to serve it in an applicable restaurant, you should expect the corkage charge.
Yes. Carnival's guidance allows guests to consume their permitted wine or champagne in their stateroom.
You can also bring a corkscrew for use in your stateroom. Carnival Help
If you bring alcohol that does not fall within Carnival's permitted exception, it can be confiscated and discarded.
Carnival states that liquor, beer, and other prohibited alcoholic beverages are not permitted in either carry-on or checked luggage. No compensation is provided for prohibited items that are confiscated and discarded. Carnival Cruises
For this reason, trying to hide extra bottles in your luggage is not a good way to avoid the alcohol restrictions.
Yes.
Carnival sells alcoholic beverages onboard, including beer, wine, cocktails and spirits.
Another option is the CHEERS! beverage program, which covers a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks subject to its terms and pricing. Carnival's current information says CHEERS! includes spirits, cocktails, beer and wine/champagne by the glass within specified menu-price limits. Carnival Cruises
Individual drink prices and product availability can change, so check Carnival's current information before your sailing.
Alcohol purchased ashore during a port visit is generally stored by Carnival for safekeeping until the end of the voyage.
Guests can collect eligible purchases during the designated debarkation process. Carnival also notes that liquor may be subject to customs duty if it exceeds the applicable allowance. Carnival Cruises
So, buying a bottle during a Caribbean port does not normally mean you can immediately take it back to your cabin and drink it.
Carnival also offers alcohol through its Fun Shops, subject to its purchasing rules.
Carnival's current policy states that products containing alcohol purchased through the Fun Shops have a limit of two products per stateroom. For cruises of seven days or longer, Carnival states that pre-cruise purchases include a limit of one bottle of hard liquor per stateroom; shorter cruises have different restrictions and do not allow pre-cruise hard-liquor purchases. Carnival Cruises
Alcohol purchased through the Fun Shops for onboard consumption is intended for use in the stateroom. Carnival states that guests cannot take those bottles or cans into public areas. Carnival Cruises
Guests sailing on back-to-back cruises can receive the same alcohol allowance for each cruise.
Carnival explains that additional permitted quantities may be stored for safekeeping at the beginning of the first cruise and returned as each subsequent cruise begins. Carnival Help
This means a back-to-back itinerary does not simply allow you to bring an unlimited amount of alcohol onboard at the beginning.
Carnival also has restrictions on bringing non-alcoholic beverages.
For U.S. departures, guests may bring a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages such as soda, juice, energy drinks or sparkling water, provided they are in cans or cartons. Carnival defines the small quantity as a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans or cartons of 12 ounces/354 ml or less per person. Carnival Cruises
Bottled water and other non-alcoholic drinks in bottles are generally not permitted under the standard policy.
| Alcohol type | Can you bring it onboard? | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Wine | Yes | One 750-ml bottle per guest aged 21+ |
| Champagne | Yes | One 750-ml bottle per guest aged 21+ |
| Beer | No | Not permitted as personal carry-on alcohol |
| Hard liquor | No | Spirits are prohibited |
| Vodka, rum, whisky, gin | No | Treated as hard liquor |
| Fortified wine over 15% ABV | No | Includes certain Port, Vermouth and Sherry |
| Alcohol purchased in port | Not for immediate use | Stored until the end of the voyage |
| Wine served in applicable dining areas | Yes, with conditions | $15 corkage fee per 750-ml bottle |
Policies can vary by departure region, so travelers should check the rules that apply to their specific itinerary before sailing. Carnival's published policy cited above is specifically for U.S. departures. Carnival Cruises
A few simple steps can prevent problems at embarkation.
Make sure your wine or champagne bottle is 750 ml or smaller.
Do not open the bottle before you reach the ship.
Do not place your permitted bottle in checked luggage.
Avoid fortified wines that exceed Carnival's 15% ABV restriction.
If you plan to have your personal bottle served in an applicable dining venue or bar, budget for the $15 corkage fee. Carnival Help
Carnival's rules can differ by departure region, so review the policy for your particular cruise before packing.
Yes. On U.S. departures, guests aged 21 or older can bring one sealed, unopened 750-ml bottle of wine or champagne per person in their carry-on luggage. Carnival Cruises
No. Carnival prohibits guests from bringing hard liquor or spirits onboard. Carnival Cruises
No. Beer is prohibited as personal alcohol brought onboard. Carnival Cruises
Yes. Under Carnival's U.S. policy, each guest aged 21 or older can bring one 750-ml bottle of permitted wine or champagne. Carnival Cruises
No. The permitted wine or champagne must be carried in your carry-on luggage. Carnival Cruises
Yes. Carnival allows permitted personal wine or champagne to be consumed in the stateroom. Carnival Help
Yes, but a $15 USD corkage fee per 750-ml bottle applies when the bottle is served in the main dining room, specialty restaurant or bar. Carnival Help
Carnival may confiscate and discard prohibited alcohol. Its policy states that no compensation is provided for prohibited alcoholic beverages that are confiscated and discarded. Carnival Cruises
Alcohol purchased ashore is generally held by Carnival until the end of the voyage rather than being made available for immediate consumption onboard. Carnival Cruises
The rules can vary by departure region. Carnival's published liquor and beverage policy for U.S. departures specifically directs guests sailing from Australia to a separate policy, so travelers should check the rules for their particular itinerary. Carnival Cruises
So, can you bring your own alcohol on Carnival Cruise Line? Yes, but only within Carnival's specific allowance.
For U.S. departures, an eligible guest who is 21 or older can bring one 750-ml bottle of sealed, unopened wine or champagne in carry-on luggage. Beer and hard liquor are not permitted as personal alcohol. Certain fortified wines above 15% ABV are also prohibited. Carnival Cruises
If you want to enjoy your own bottle in your stateroom, there is no stated corkage charge. If you have it served in an applicable dining venue or bar, Carnival currently charges $15 per 750-ml bottle. Carnival Help
Because cruise policies can change and can differ by departure region, check Carnival's official policy for your specific sailing before you pack.
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