Royal Caribbean charging guests corkage fee for personal wine opened onboard

In:
03 Jun 2017

Royal Caribbean has apparently brought back the corkage fee for wine and champagne guests bring onboard.  

According to the Royal Caribbean website, as well as reports from guests on ships sailing this week, there is a $15 corkage fee per bottle of wine consumed in public areas.

Guests wishing to bring personal wine and champagne onboard may do so only on boarding day, limited to two (2) 750 ml bottles per stateroom. No beer or hard liquor may be brought onboard for consumption.

Royal Caribbean removed its corkage fee in 2014 after previously charging it for many years.  

UPDATE: It now appears that the corkage fee only applies to wine brought onboard on embarkation, and not wine purchased and/or given on board.

Bringing wine on your Royal Caribbean cruise

In:
04 Feb 2016

Did you know that Royal Caribbean allows its guest to bring wine on their cruise? Not only is this a great way to save money, but it allows guests to enjoy their favorite wines while onboard.

Before you go on your next Royal Caribbean cruise, all wine lovers should consider these guidelines to ensure a great Royal Caribbean cruise complimented by your favorite wines.

How many bottles of wine can you bring on Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean allows its passengers to bring one (1) 750 mL bottle, per adult of drinking age, per sailing on embarkation day.

Each bottle of wine may be up to 750ml in size and should be brought on in your carry-on luggage. Do not put the wine in your checked luggage.

No beer or hard liquor may be brought onboard for consumption. Guests may only bring the wine onboard on embarkation day.

What is the corking fee?

Since June 2017, guests who consume their personal wine and champagne in public areas, will incur a $15 corkage fee per bottle.  The corkage fee only applies to personal bottles brought onboard on embarkation day.

This means, guests bring their wine to any specialty restaurant, main dining room or bar to have it opened for them will be charged the $15 corkage fee.

What if I do not finish the bottle?

If you do not finish the bottle of wine, Royal Caribbean can store the wine for you and deliver it another restaurant at that time.

Whether you buy a bottle of wine onboard your cruise or bring your own, if you do not finish that bottle in one night, have your waiter store it for you.

And if the next night you choose to have dinner elsewhere, like the Windjammer or a specialty restaurant, just tell your new waiter you have a bottle of wine stored for you. They will ask your stateroom number and within a few short minutes your wine will appear.

Can I bring more wine if I am on back to back sailings?

For consecutive sailings, guests of drinking age are allowed to bring one (1) 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne for each individual sailing.

Additional bottles will be stored by the ship and delivered, one bottle at a time, to the stateroom on the first day of each new voyage. Guests bringing more than one bottle at the start of the first sailing should have documentation for any consecutive sailings available to share with security.

Royal Caribbean notes that guests bringing four bottles at the start of the first sailing should have documentation for both sailings available to share with security.

Are you planning to bring wine onboard your next Royal Caribbean cruise? Tell us about it in the comments!

Royal Caribbean now allows passengers to bring wine onboard their cruise

In:
05 Nov 2012

We're hearing that as of November 1, 2012, Royal Caribbean is allowing passengers to bring two bottles of wine per cabin onboard their cruise.

Passengers can bring the wine with them as they board the ship at embarkation.  The wine must be consumed in your cabin or balcony.  If you choose to drink the wine elsewhere on the ship, such as at a restaurant or at a bar, a $25 corkage fee will be applied.  

If you receive wine as a gift via Royal Caribbean, guests may consume the wine in their stateroom or at any of the public areas onboard the ship without incurring a corkage fee.

Guests are not allowed to bring any other alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages onboard for consumption or any other use. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports-of-call or from Shops On Board will be stored by the ship and delivered to your stateroom on the last day of the sailing.

No open liquor bottles will be permitted to be brought into the dining areas or public areas.

Royal Caribbean Cruises offers Chateau Lafite Rothschild wine aboard its ships

In:
30 Mar 2012

Royal Caribbean will offer its passengers the French wine Chateau Lafite Rothschild aboard its cruise ships.  

This experience includes one hour of the discovery of four distinct wines: Special Reserve Bordeaux Blanc and Bordeaux Red, Special Reserve Medoc and Pauillac Special Reserve. These four wines illustrate the richness of the Bordeaux appellations. The session, led by a sommelier from the company, is both educational and entertaining. Explanation of the Bordeaux region, winemakers and wine pairings will stake out this moment of conviviality.

This wine courses can be booked in advance in travel agencies, or directly on board.  

Royal Caribbean offers largest automated wine serving system

In:
30 Nov 2011

Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas can add a new achievement to their list of accolades: they both feature the the largest of its kind, state-of-the-art automated wine serving system in the Vintages Wine Bar.

With just one swipe of a passenger's SeaPass card, guests can sample selections of wine from around the world using the automated WineStation intelligent dispensing system.

The WineStation preserves wines perfectly for up to 60 days by utilizing temperature control.  The system allows passengers to try 48 varities of wine not usually offered by the glass. Using the WineStation's LCD screen, guests can see the  the varietal, year and region, and the lit bottles encourage guests to experience the labels.

Royal Caribbean's Director of Fleet Beverage Operations, Bob Midyette, talked about the new system, "We pride ourselves on always seeking the newest and most effective solutions to provide our guests with an unmatched vacation experience.  The WineStation has become a very successful option to help our guests explore wines on their own, or with one of our knowledgeable, friendly and engaging wine tenders. We look forward to offering this on more ships in the future."

Royal Caribbean signs deal with Italian winery to bring new brand of wine to their ships

In:
30 Jun 2011

Valdo Spumante, a leading winery in Italy, has partnered with Royal Caribbean to bring its wines aboard their ships.  The label "Veneto" winery will be offered by the glass in the Champagne Bar across Royal Caribbean's fleet.

Pierluigi Bolla, president of Valdo Spumante was excited about the deal, "Business, international fame and prestige. On the Royal Caribbean ships we will find a perfect fusion. Needless to say, this agreement takes us a strong value in all points of view: that the cruise industry is a thriving market which, if properly manned, may enable the company to `reap excellent results." 

Royal Caribbean extends wine program across the fleet

In:
10 Jan 2011

Royal Caribbean is extending it's successful Wine Experience Program that was on Allure of the Seas to its entire fleet later this year.  

The hour long Lafite Wine Experience debuted last month on the brand new Allure of the Seas and will now be available on all of its ships by March 2011.  

"Royal Caribbean International continues to expand our extensive range of food and beverage offerings through enrichment programs such as the Lafite Wine Experience,” said Frank Weber, vice president of food and beverage operations at RCI. “This robust wine experience provides even the most novice wine drinkers the opportunity to refine their palate and discover the fine nuances of one of the world’s most renowned vintners.”

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