Wine Question

[ropeadope13]

Normally when I bring wine onboard it’s Champagne that I’m able to open in my room. For my upcoming cruise I am bring a bottle of Cabernet that I would like to enjoy at dinner. Do I just bring it with me to dinner and they open it for me at the table?

[Doug_Texas]

You can do that - officially there should be a corkage charge but that is rarely enforced.  We just take wine glasses with a jumbo pour from the cabin.

[CrimsonCruiser]

Like Doug said, there is technically and officially a corkage fee (which is applied regardless of a cork being required) and in 3 cruises taking advantage of the bring wine on board, this past August as Izumi Hibachi on Harmony was the only time it was ever mentioned to us. And, I will say we cackled when the staff said "oh there's a corkage fee" and we said "...it's a twist off..." and they're like " well, we still have to charge if we open it" to which we said "okay...then I'll twist it" and I swear they were much confused. In the end, we just saved it for the MDR.

But note that your mileage may vary so if you want to avoid any and all chances of fees, it's best to open it in the room and bring poured glasses to dinner.

[ropeadope13]

Thanks for the help. I’ll just pour it in the room to be safe

[WAAAYTOOO]

Technically, the corkage fee applies whether they open the bottle for you or you open the bottle yourself.  It is a poorly-worded term.  The corkage fee applies to any bottle that you did not purchase from Royal (or was not gifted from Royal).  It is really a coin toss as to whether you will be charged or not.  For a while they were enforcing the corkage fee but honestly, I think it's pretty rare to have them charge it these days...but it COULD happen.  The safest way to ensure that you are not charged a corkage fee on your personal bottle of wine is to open it in your room.

[smokeybandit]

Last cruise with 3 groups we brought our own wine each night to dinner. Waiters chilled it and kept our glasses full, no charge.

[barjpoe]

If you do have or get a bottle that has a cork; make sure you also pack a GOOD wine bottle opener. I had a cheap one with a screw and a hole in the handle to put the cover in and couldn't pull the cork out. So now I'll pack one that has a 'hook' like to rest on the bottle lip as I pull the cork out.

[Riley]

11 minutes ago, barjpoe said:

If you do have or get a bottle that has a cork; make sure you also pack a GOOD wine bottle opener. I had a cheap one with a screw and a hole in the handle to put the cover in and couldn't pull the cork out. So now I'll pack one that has a 'hook' like to rest on the bottle lip as I pull the cork out.

Yeah... your room steward will give you a corkscrew but it's one of those really cheap plastic ones, and they often don't really do the trick without massive struggle. Good corkscrews are often confiscated by TSA if you're flying, so it can be a pickle, but any liquor store (or Walgreens) sells decent corkscrews so in the past we have picked one up the night before, along with a couple bottles of wine. $10 well spent.

[Geezer Of The Seas]

33 minutes ago, barjpoe said:

 I had a cheap one with a screw and a hole in the handle to put the cover in and couldn't pull the cork out.

We ordered a bottle on one trip through Cruise Planner for delivery on embarkation day; one of the 'El Cheapo' corkscrews was included. 

Best corkscrew I've ever used, I threw out 2 I had at home when we returned. Dunno why, but no violence, bloodshed or potty mouth when opening a bottle now. 

Must be the crown & anchor logo embossed on it....... 

[Pooch]

So one carry on  bottle each on a 10 day cruise.  Only I drink wine so we both bring a glass to dinner & I drink both.  What do I do after night 3??!!

[barjpoe]

2 hours ago, Riley said:

Yeah... your room steward will give you a corkscrew but it's one of those really cheap plastic ones, and they often don't really do the trick without massive struggle. Good corkscrews are often confiscated by TSA if you're flying, so it can be a pickle, but any liquor store (or Walgreens) sells decent corkscrews so in the past we have picked one up the night before, along with a couple bottles of wine. $10 well spent.

It should be ok in my checked luggage.

[Biaggio]

2 hours ago, Pooch said:

So one carry on  bottle each on a 10 day cruise.  Only I drink wine so we both bring a glass to dinner & I drink both.  What do I do after night 3??!!

You’re Pinnacle, your wine is free

[Doug_Texas]

2 hours ago, barjpoe said:

It should be ok in my checked luggage.

No, carry on only

[FOB]

48 minutes ago, Doug_Texas said:

No, carry on only

Think the "it" is the corkscrew not the wine

[Pooch]

4 hours ago, Biaggio said:

You’re Pinnacle, your wine is free

Nope, lowly Diamond so I think between the two of us , we get 4 50% off glasses.  Now I might make it to day 5.

Remember, level here is not the same as RC level.

[barjpoe]

3 hours ago, FOB said:

Think the "it" is the corkscrew not the wine

Yup

[Riley]

On 12/24/2024 at 5:55 PM, Pooch said:

Nope, lowly Diamond so I think between the two of us , we get 4 50% off glasses.  Now I might make it to day 5.

Remember, level here is not the same as RC level.

Diamond level you get free drinks as well, which you can use for wine. if the per-glass cost is over the free drinks limit they charge you only that.... I drink a lot of $3 glasses of wine that way.

[Pooch]

6 minutes ago, Riley said:

Diamond level you get free drinks as well, which you can use for wine. if the per-glass cost is over the free drinks limit they charge you only that.... I drink a lot of $3 glasses of wine that way.

I use my vouchers for drinks poolside & at evening shows.  Rarely have enough to cover dinner wine.

[JustMeJoe]

25 minutes ago, Pooch said:

Rarely have enough to cover dinner wine.

If you like a nice Red, get a Glass of Oberon  Cab at dinner; only $1.18 upcharge on your voucher !!!

[Pooch]

25 minutes ago, JustMeJoe said:

If you like a nice Red, get a Glass of Oberon  Cab at dinner; only $1.18 upcharge on your voucher !!!

Sadly I am a white wine only gal.  Never acquired a taste for red.  But perhaps you can educate me in March

[JustMeJoe]

4 minutes ago, Pooch said:

Sadly I am a white wine only gal.

Try Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc; no upcharge by the glass on your voucher at dinner !!!  

[JustMeJoe]

5 minutes ago, Pooch said:

Sadly I am a white wine only gal.  

Or maybe a nice Cloudy Bay; no upcharge on your voucher by the glass ! 

[Pooch]

14 minutes ago, JustMeJoe said:

Or maybe a nice Cloudy Bay; no upcharge on your voucher by the glass ! 

What time is your Giovanni lunch on day 9?  When the price dropped for the BF sale, I rebooked for 1pm.  Hey @WAAAYTOOO, you have a reservation that day too?

[JustMeJoe]

1 minute ago, Pooch said:

What time is your Giovanni lunch on day 9?  When the price dropped for the BF sale, I rebooked for 1pm.  Hey @WAAAYTOOO, you have a reservation that day too?

We can get the Giovanni's maitre'de to accommodate what we want !!!  We have:

 

What time do you guys want ?? They will take us whenever......

 

 

 

[Pooch]

19 minutes ago, JustMeJoe said:

We can get the Giovanni's maitre'de to accommodate what we want !!!  We have:

 

What time do you guys want ?? They will take us whenever......

 

 

 

I’m fine with 1ish if that’s good for you!

[JustMeJoe]

3 minutes ago, Pooch said:

I’m fine with 1ish if that’s good for you!

I'll see if I can make it happen -- Table for 6 at 1ish, Day 9.  

[Pooch]

1 minute ago, JustMeJoe said:

I'll see if I can make it happen -- Table for 6 at 1ish, Day 9.  

looking forward!!

[WAAAYTOOO]

2 hours ago, JustMeJoe said:

If you like a nice Red, get a Glass of Oberon  Cab at dinner; only $1.18 upcharge on your voucher !!!

This is Dans go-to wine.

[Pooch]

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

This is Dans go-to wine.

You in for Giovanni’s?

[WAAAYTOOO]

9 hours ago, Pooch said:

You in for Giovanni’s?

Sure.

[JustMeJoe]

10 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

This is Dans go-to wine.

Learned this trick from @RCL_Cruiser_Dan.  

[barjpoe]

13 hours ago, JustMeJoe said:

Or maybe a nice Cloudy Bay; no upcharge on your voucher by the glass ! 

Which restaurant can you order it?

[Last2Know]

On 12/24/2024 at 11:45 AM, Pooch said:

So one carry on  bottle each on a 10 day cruise.  Only I drink wine so we both bring a glass to dinner & I drink both.  What do I do after night 3??!!

One option is to spend lots of time in the casino.  Win or lose, the casino host may gift you what we affectionately call the "bottle of shame".  I don't often buy expensive wine, but when I do it usually comes with a twist off cap from Casino Royale.

[JustMeJoe]

1 hour ago, barjpoe said:

Which restaurant can you order it?

MDR & Specialty

[Pooch]

45 minutes ago, Last2Know said:

One option is to spend lots of time in the casino.  Win or lose, the casino host may gift you what we affectionately call the "bottle of shame".  I don't often buy expensive wine, but when I do it usually comes with a twist off cap from Casino Royale.

Sorry but no.  I cannot stand the smoke or the vibe of the casino and I avoid the area like the plague.  I’d rather pay for my wine than go there.

[Sharla]

19 hours ago, JustMeJoe said:

Try Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc; no upcharge by the glass on your voucher at dinner !!!  

This is my all-time favorite wine!

 

[JustMeJoe]

On 12/24/2024 at 11:45 AM, Pooch said:

What do I do after night 3??!!

Gotcha covered  .

[JustMeJoe]

2 hours ago, Sharla said:

This is my all-time favorite wine!

Have you tried the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc ?  A little more $, but IMO very good for the price. 

[Sharla]

1 hour ago, JustMeJoe said:

Have you tried the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc ?  A little more $, but IMO very good for the price. 

Oh yes I love that too! Bottles at home are similarly priced but for a few $ per glass I usually stick with Cloudy Bay on cruises.

[Pooch]

Ok now I gotta try that!