Unopened drinks updated rule

[Pattycruise]

I tried to find the old thread and could not.

 Currently on an odyssey.  Went to use my pinnacle vouchers for my remaining drinks and was told alcohol must be opened.  If you want closed alcohol you must go to the Crown lounge (NOT Suite Lounge) during happy hour only to get closed alcohol drinks.,

 there was a special today-in one of the bars- but 4 Truly get one free. The kicker-they all had to be popped open before they gave them to you.(as reported by a passenger on the Facebook group for this sailing)

 This rule was established last month after all the hoopla from the December roll out. Oddly I did not have any issue with this rule in January when I was on Brilliance or Enchantment.  I tried 3 bars here and then spoke with the concierge in the suite lounge today who explained this “compromise“

i can’t imagine how crowded that diamond lounge must be. She mentioned it does get especially crowded now during happy hour due to this new rule

[WAAAYTOOO]

25 minutes ago, Pattycruise said:

 If you want closed alcohol you must go to the Crown lounge (NOT Suite Lounge) during happy hour only to get closed alcohol drinks.

What a strange rule !  I wonder if this is an Odyssey thing or some kind of general fleet-wide rule ?  

[smokeybandit]

Probably different on every ship. 

[twangster]

The rule has been around for a while but was infrequently enforced.  I recall bumping into it back in 2019 once in a while. 

Even when using the BOGO CAS beer/wine I recall a couple times when they insisted on opening both at the same time.  Sometimes they'd offer to keep the second one in the cooler behind the bar and sometimes they'd hand them over unopened.  That was kind of a treat when it happened as I could stash a beer in the cooler back in the cabin for later in the cruise.  

I remember ordering buckets of beers before I made Diamond and sometimes they insist on opening all of them.  

The difference is now they are actually enforcing the rule more often. 

Something must have happened with someone getting too drunk in some scenario or someone was busted giving one to an adult under 21.  Something happened.

[smokeybandit]

Just now, twangster said:

Something happened.

I'd love to know what. It'd probably make for a hell of a story where you would need a few opened drinks to get through.

[twangster]

I also recall people ordering 4 or 5 beers in the days of unlimited diamond happy hour.  The wife was usually in cohorts with her husband as they could stash them in her purse/bag.  They would purposely ask for them unopened.  More often than not back in those days the wish was granted but sometimes not.

Maybe it's a reaction to that?

Maybe someone was busted selling them?  "Hey buddy...Want a beer?  Two for $5 cash"

It's not something that bothers me. 

I've never lived in a state that allow bars to sell beer/wine to go.  I'm used to the every drink is opened rule off ships so the new enforcement action seems normal to me.  Just being able to carry an open container walking around a ship is still a treat for me.  Can't do that at a ski resort or most theme parks. 

[smokeybandit]

I'm guessing someone got drunk (underage or a crew member) and did something stupid after pounding the previously unopened beers.

[Traveling Mike]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

I've never lived in a state that allow bars to sell beer/wine to go.

When I was in High School (1977) we would go out to the country bar and get a 6 pack of Coors ($2.10).  

[Hoppy2BHere]

On Feb 2nd Wonder, we were able to get unopened Stone IPAs from all we asked. The exception was one bartender in the pub who stated it was a rule and that there were cameras watching them.  I find the inconsistency odd, but somehow normal for Royal rolling down rules.. oh well…

[ChessE4]

On Brilliance last week I asked for sparkling water with a voucher and was given an unopened bottle with a glass of ice in the theater. My wife ordered Coke Zero and was asked if she wanted them opened.

[ScottD]

11 hours ago, twangster said:

I've never lived in a state that allow bars to sell beer/wine to go.  I'm used to the every drink is opened rule off ships so the new enforcement action seems normal to me.  Just being able to carry an open container walking around a ship is still a treat for me.  Can't do that at a ski resort or most theme parks. 

I never even though that was a thing, Even as archaic as the laws in PA are, pretty sure you could always buy a 6 pack of beer to go from a bar. 

[OCSC Mike]

39 minutes ago, ChessE4 said:

On Brilliance last week I asked for sparkling water with a voucher and was given an unopened bottle with a glass of ice in the theater. My wife ordered Coke Zero and was asked if she wanted them opened.

It doesn't apply to non-alcoholic beverages.

[Pooch]

1 hour ago, ScottD said:

I never even though that was a thing, Even as archaic as the laws in PA are, pretty sure you could always buy a 6 pack of beer to go from a bar. 

Nope, can’t do it here in the land of Steady Habits.  Of course we were founded by Puritans and you still can’t drive a whale through a town either!

[ScottD]

Just now, Pooch said:

Nope, can’t do it here in the land of Steady Habits.  Of course we were founded by Puritans and you still can’t drive a whale through a town either!

We still have some out dated laws .. like you can't buy liquor and beer at the same store, liquor is controlled by the state and sold only in "state stores" then you go right next door to the beer distributor for a case of beer.  But, as long as a i can remember, at least had take out beer at the bars. They have allowed supermarkets to start selling beer and wine... but the state continues the stranglehold on actual liquor. 

[OCSC Mike]

16 minutes ago, ScottD said:

you can't buy liquor and beer at the same store, liquor is controlled by the state and sold only in "state stores"

I didn't fully realize how odd that was until I moved here. Liquor at the supermarket, Walgreens, Costco... what?

[smokeybandit]

1 hour ago, ScottD said:

I never even though that was a thing, Even as archaic as the laws in PA are, pretty sure you could always buy a 6 pack of beer to go from a bar. 

Good ole PA liquor laws.  Crazy thing is they've been relaxed quite a bit in the last 10 years, yet still are strict.

[HeWhoWaits]

38 minutes ago, ScottD said:

We still have some out dated laws .. like you can't buy liquor and beer at the same store, liquor is controlled by the state and sold only in "state stores" then you go right next door to the beer distributor for a case of beer.  But, as long as a i can remember, at least had take out beer at the bars. They have allowed supermarkets to start selling beer and wine... but the state continues the stranglehold on actual liquor. 

Pennsyltucky - you can buy beer and wine at the same store, you can buy wine and liquor at the same store, you can't buy beer and liquor at the same store.

Ohio - you can buy "liquor" at the grocery store but only a watered down version (less than 40 proof). If you're going to mix your liquor with water anyway, not a bad option. If you want a real cocktail, fuhgeddaboudit.

[Disneylover89]

If you do not have a beverage package, vouchers and just a plain old Gold and purchase a bucket of beer, will they insist on opening them all too? The plan is to bring some back to our room and enjoy drinks on the balcony.

[Ampurp85]

We sell liquor a lot of places, you can buy wine, liquor and beer at a Walgreens in Chicago..........in pretty much every supermarket/grocery/retailer that sells food as well. When there are block parties and festivals, you can take your beer, wine and mixed drinks to-go. Special cups and licenses are involved.

I was on Symphony, Oasis and Indy in Jan, only one new bartender gave us a little push back on unopened alcohol. I really think it will come down to crew members being new and whether they understand the vouchers. Because the push back was always based on a drink package and not the vouchers. 

[Pooch]

7 hours ago, HeWhoWaits said:

Pennsyltucky - you can buy beer and wine at the same store, you can buy wine and liquor at the same store, you can't buy beer and liquor at the same store.

Ohio - you can buy "liquor" at the grocery store but only a watered down version (less than 40 proof). If you're going to mix your liquor with water anyway, not a bad option. If you want a real cocktail, fuhgeddaboudit.

Connecticut - beer, wine & liquor sold at package stores.  Beer only sold in grocery stores.  No take out of any kind at bars.

[CruiseGus]

I still have pretty good luck getting my last voucher of the night as an unopened beer on all cruises this year

[Last2Know]

On 2/17/2025 at 8:24 PM, WAAAYTOOO said:

What a strange rule !  I wonder if this is an Odyssey thing or some kind of general fleet-wide rule ?  

Embarked Grandeur yesterday and can confirm lots of people using their vouchers at the Crown Lounge for unopened drinks during happy hour. I ordered my 5 Coronas and the server bought them in a bucket…easy to carry and ice down. 

[ChessE4]

7 minutes ago, Last2Know said:

Embarked Grandeur yesterday and can confirm lots of people using their vouchers at the Crown Lounge for unopened drinks during happy hour. I ordered my 5 Coronas and the server bought them in a bucket…easy to carry and ice down. 

I think smaller ships really emphasize customer  service. This is an example.

[Vince M]

We are on Enchantment and are seeing unopened beers when you buy the bucket at the pool deck and in the Schooner bar.  I asked the waiter about it and he said they were given instructions that buckets are OK unopened, but have to open cans if they are thru the free diamond drinks.  Seems the safety reason RC gives for opening the free beers doesn't apply if you pay for them...   Starting to think it is not a safety issue but a money issue.  As they say follow the money.

Come on Royal.  Time to be loyal to us as we are to you.  Get consistent with the rule or remove it.    

[Last2Know]

On 2/27/2025 at 10:58 AM, Vince M said:

Get consistent with the rule or remove it.    

Not complaining, just adding a data point:  On Symphony this week and have been able to get unopened beers at every bar and beverage cart that I've visited.  I haven't had to use the Crown for redeeming vouchers at all.

[Pooch]

On 2/22/2025 at 6:26 AM, ChessE4 said:

I think smaller ships really emphasize customer  service. This is an example.

Not evidenced on my DD’s Enchantment cruise last weekend.  Except for MDR, she said service was uniformly awful.