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If you are planning a Holland America Line cruise, you may be wondering whether you can bring your own wine, champagne, beer, or liquor onboard. Holland America Line does allow guests to bring certain alcoholic beverages, but the rules are limited.
Guests of legal drinking age may bring wine or Champagne onboard, subject to Holland America Line's restrictions and a US$20 corkage fee per bottle. Each bottle must be 750 ml or smaller. Beer, spirits, liquor, and most other alcoholic beverages are not permitted for personal use.
The policy can also apply to alcohol purchased during your cruise. Alcohol bought at ports or from the ship's duty-free shop is generally collected for safekeeping and returned to your stateroom shortly before disembarkation.
Understanding these rules before packing can help you avoid having a bottle confiscated at security and make your embarkation process easier.
Yes, but only certain types of alcohol are permitted.
Holland America Line allows guests of legal drinking age to bring wine and Champagne onboard. The bottles must be 750 ml or less, and a US$20 corkage fee applies to each bottle. The fee is subject to change, so guests should check the cruise line's current policy before sailing.
There are limitations on the quantity that can be brought onboard. Holland America Line states that wine or Champagne in quantities considered excessive by the vessel or security may be refused.
The permitted category is:
The policy does not generally allow guests to bring their own beer, spirits, liquor, or other alcoholic beverages for personal consumption.
Holland America Line's current policy states that wine and Champagne may be brought onboard, with each bottle limited to 750 ml or less. It also states that quantity limitations apply and that security or the vessel may refuse quantities considered excessive.
Because the official policy does not give a simple unlimited allowance, it is important not to assume that you can bring as many bottles as you want.
If you are planning to bring several bottles, check the policy for your specific sailing before departure.
Yes.
Holland America Line currently lists a US$20 corkage fee for each bottle of wine or Champagne brought onboard. The fee is subject to change without notice.
For example, if you bring two qualifying bottles, the published corkage charge would be:
| Bottles brought onboard | Published corkage fee |
|---|---|
| 1 bottle | US$20 |
| 2 bottles | US$40 |
| 3 bottles | US$60 |
The actual amount charged can change if Holland America Line updates its policy.
The corkage rule applies to guest-supplied wine and Champagne under the cruise line's beverage policy.
By contrast, wine or Champagne supplied by Holland America Line is not subject to the guest-brought-wine corkage fee.
No. Holland America Line's policy does not generally permit guests to bring their own beer onboard for personal consumption.
The permitted alcohol exception is wine and Champagne subject to the applicable restrictions. Other alcoholic beverages can be removed during luggage screening.
If you want beer during your cruise, you can purchase it onboard rather than packing your own supply.
No. Guests should not pack their own bottles of liquor or spirits for onboard personal consumption.
Examples include:
These fall outside Holland America Line's permitted guest-brought wine and Champagne exception. Prohibited beverages found during screening may be removed, confiscated, and discarded.
Holland America Line screens both checked and carry-on luggage.
The cruise line states that prohibited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages may be removed, confiscated, and discarded during security screening. Guests should therefore not try to hide liquor or other prohibited alcohol inside checked baggage.
If luggage is locked and security needs to inspect it, Holland America Line states that the lock may be removed or the luggage may be held until the guest can be present for inspection.
The safest approach is to follow the published beverage policy rather than attempting to pack prohibited drinks discreetly.
Guests should follow Holland America Line's current instructions for bringing permitted wine or Champagne onboard.
Because all carry-on and checked luggage may be screened, the bottle must comply with the cruise line's requirements. A qualifying bottle is limited to 750 ml or less, and the applicable corkage fee is charged.
Keep the bottle secure and easily identifiable during the embarkation process.
You can purchase alcohol while visiting ports, but that does not mean you can immediately take it to your stateroom and drink it onboard.
Holland America Line states that alcoholic beverages purchased at ports of call are surrendered to the cruise line for safekeeping. They are generally returned to your stateroom shortly before the end of the voyage.
This means buying a bottle of liquor during a port visit does not provide a way to bypass the onboard alcohol restrictions.
Alcohol purchased duty-free from the ship's gift shop is also handled differently from alcohol you purchase for immediate consumption.
Holland America Line states that duty-free alcoholic beverages purchased from the ship or at ports of call are collected for safekeeping and delivered to the guest's stateroom shortly before disembarkation.
This procedure allows guests to take their purchased alcohol home without treating it as an onboard personal beverage.
Yes.
Holland America Line provides a specific exception for wine purchased during company-sponsored shore excursions that visit local wineries.
According to the current policy, wine purchased on these qualifying excursions is exempt from the onboard corkage fee, with the offer limited to one bottle of wine per person.
This is different from simply buying wine independently at a port.
If your excursion includes a winery visit, check the excursion details and current onboard instructions so you understand how the wine should be handled when you return to the ship.
Holland America Line also has restrictions on bringing non-alcoholic beverages onboard.
Sodas, energy drinks, and other non-alcoholic beverages are generally not permitted. Plastic water bottles are also not allowed, including water purchased during port visits.
There is, however, a specific water allowance per stateroom.
Guests may bring one of the following:
Amounts exceeding the permitted allowance are not allowed onboard.
Holland America Line makes limited exceptions for certain medical and infant needs.
Factory-sealed purified or distilled water may be permitted in checked luggage when it is needed for medical devices. The water should be packed with the relevant device.
Similarly, factory-sealed distilled or purified water may be allowed for reconstituting infant formula when the stateroom has an infant booking.
Guests with these requirements should review the current policy before sailing because limitations can apply.
Holland America Line screens luggage during embarkation and can remove prohibited beverages.
The cruise line states that prohibited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages may be:
If security needs to inspect locked luggage, the lock may be removed or the bag may be held until the guest is available for inspection.
Therefore, bringing prohibited alcohol is not a good way to save money on onboard drinks.
Holland America Line permits qualifying guest-brought wine and Champagne subject to its beverage rules and corkage fee.
The key point is that bringing your own bottle does not mean the bottle is exempt from the cruise line's corkage charge. The current published policy specifies US$20 per bottle.
Guests should also follow any instructions provided by onboard staff regarding where and how guest-supplied wine may be consumed.
It depends on the price of the bottle and how much you would otherwise spend onboard.
For example, if you bring a qualifying bottle costing US$15 and pay the US$20 corkage fee, your combined cost becomes US$35 before considering any other expenses.
This means the corkage charge should be included when comparing the cost of bringing wine from home with purchasing wine onboard.
Holland America Line also offers beverage packages. For example, the current Signature Beverage Package includes up to 15 beverages per day priced at US$12 or less, subject to its terms and conditions.
The right choice depends on how much you expect to drink, what types of drinks you prefer, and the price of the wine you would bring.
For guests who expect to purchase several drinks during their cruise, Holland America Line offers beverage packages.
The exact packages and prices can change, but the current Signature Beverage Package covers eligible beverages priced at US$12 or less and has a daily limit of 15 beverages. The package terms also state that sharing is not permitted.
The cruise line also offers other beverage options, depending on the sailing and current program.
Before purchasing a package, check:
Holland America Line's current terms state that adults of legal drinking age in the same stateroom must also purchase the applicable package.
Yes.
Alcohol service is subject to the legal drinking age applicable to the itinerary.
Holland America Line's published materials describe special age rules for certain itineraries, so passengers should not assume that the same drinking age applies to every cruise. For example, its 2026 Grand Australia & New Zealand materials specify that the beverage policy applies to guests aged 18 and older for voyages departing from and returning to Australia and/or New Zealand, with additional itinerary-specific age rules listed for certain other voyages.
Always check the rules for your specific sailing before bringing alcohol onboard.
If you plan to bring permitted wine or Champagne, a few simple precautions can make the process easier.
Make sure each bottle is 750 ml or smaller. Larger bottles do not meet the published requirement.
Do not substitute whisky, vodka, rum, tequila, or other spirits for the permitted wine or Champagne.
Budget US$20 per qualifying bottle based on Holland America Line's current published policy. The fee can change without notice.
The cruise line states that quantities considered excessive by the vessel or security may be refused.
Cruise policies can change. Holland America Line specifically notes that beverage allowances are subject to change without notice and may also be subject to security and vessel assessments.
| Beverage | Generally allowed? | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Wine | Yes | 750 ml or less per bottle; US$20 corkage applies |
| Champagne | Yes | 750 ml or less per bottle; US$20 corkage applies |
| Beer | No | Do not bring for personal consumption |
| Whisky | No | Not permitted as guest-brought alcohol |
| Vodka | No | Not permitted as guest-brought alcohol |
| Rum | No | Not permitted as guest-brought alcohol |
| Tequila | No | Not permitted as guest-brought alcohol |
| Port-purchased liquor | Collected | Generally returned before disembarkation |
| Duty-free ship alcohol | Collected | Delivered before disembarkation |
| Winery-excursion wine | Special exception | One bottle per person can be exempt from corkage when purchased on a qualifying company-sponsored winery excursion |
The table reflects Holland America Line's current published policy; individual voyage circumstances and security assessments can affect what is accepted.
Yes, but the exception is limited. Guests of legal drinking age may bring wine and Champagne, with bottles limited to 750 ml or less and a current US$20 corkage fee per bottle.
No. Holland America Line does not generally allow guests to bring their own liquor or spirits onboard for personal consumption.
No. Beer is not included in the permitted guest-brought alcohol exception.
The current published corkage fee is US$20 per bottle of guest-brought wine or Champagne. The fee is subject to change.
Each bottle must be 750 ml or less under Holland America Line's current policy.
Wine and other alcohol purchased at ports may be subject to Holland America Line's safekeeping procedures. Wine purchased through a qualifying company-sponsored winery excursion has a specific corkage exception of one bottle per person.
All checked and carry-on luggage is subject to screening. Prohibited alcohol can be removed, confiscated, and discarded.
Qualifying guest-brought wine or Champagne is permitted under Holland America Line's policy, but the applicable corkage fee still applies.
Generally, no. Holland America Line states that sodas, energy drinks, and other non-alcoholic beverages are not permitted, subject to its specific water and medical/infant exceptions.
Yes. Holland America Line offers beverage packages with different terms and limits. Its current Signature Beverage Package, for example, covers eligible beverages priced at US$12 or less, with a daily limit of 15 beverages.
The general beverage restrictions apply across the fleet, but drinking-age rules and certain voyage-specific requirements can vary by itinerary. Guests should check the rules applicable to their specific sailing.
So, can you bring your own alcohol on Holland America Line? Yes, but only within the cruise line's specific exceptions.
Guests of legal drinking age can generally bring wine or Champagne in bottles of 750 ml or less, with a current US$20 corkage fee per bottle. Beer, liquor, and spirits are not permitted as guest-brought alcohol for personal consumption. Alcohol purchased during port visits or from the ship's duty-free shop is generally held by Holland America Line and returned near the end of the cruise.
The most important step is to check Holland America Line's latest rules shortly before departure because the company states that beverage allowances, fees, and restrictions can change without notice. Following the current policy will help prevent delays or confiscation during luggage screening and make embarkation much smoother.
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