Bringing your own wine onboard a cruise is one of the most common questions travelers ask before heading out on their vacation at sea. After all, cruise ship drinks can be pricey, and many wine lovers enjoy having their favorite bottle with them—whether it’s for a special dinner, a balcony sunset moment, or a celebration during the cruise.
So, can you bring your own wine onboard Royal Caribbean?The simple answer is YES, but with specific rules, limits, and guidelines you must follow.
In this 2500-word ultimate guide, you’ll learn everything about Royal Caribbean’s wine policy—including how much wine you can bring, how to avoid corkage fees, what happens during security checks, how to carry wine safely, and insider tips that experienced cruisers use to save money.
Let’s dive deep into the complete policy and practical strategies to help you enjoy wine your way while sailing Royal Caribbean.
Bringing your own drinks onboard a cruise can be tricky because every cruise line has different rules. Royal Caribbean is fairly generous—but you must understand the limits.
Royal Caribbean permits guests to bring 2 bottles of wine per stateroom on embarkation day. This is a straightforward rule, but travelers often misunderstand the details.
Below is the exact breakdown:
Limit: Two (2) 750ml bottles of wine or champagne per stateroom
Allowed drinks: Wine and champagne only
Not allowed: Liquor, spirits, beer, or hard seltzers
When: Only on embarkation day
How: Must be hand-carried, not placed inside checked luggage
Many cruise lines completely ban bringing alcohol onboard. Royal Caribbean’s approach is more flexible because:
They want to offer freedom and comfort to guests
They recognize celebration is part of cruising
Wine is less likely to be abused compared to spirits
It enhances guest dining experiences
Still, they balance guest freedom with revenue rules—which is why limits exist.
Here are the specific guidelines you must follow for a smooth boarding experience.
Royal Caribbean allows:
2 bottles per stateroom (not per person)
Bottle size must be 750ml only
Champagne counts as wine
A family of four in one room still can bring only two bottles total.
However, if you book two staterooms, you can bring two bottles per stateroom.
Only guests 21+ may carry wine onto the ship (18+ in some international sailings).
Royal Caribbean is strict about this rule. You cannot pack wine bottles inside checked luggage because:
Bags go through heavy machinery
Bottles may break and damage other luggage
Broken bottles create messy, unsafe situations
Always carry wine bottles in:
Your backpack
A small carry-on suitcase
A padded wine travel sleeve
If you try to bring more than two bottles:
Excess bottles will be confiscated
You will not get them back until the end of the cruise
This includes any additional wine found in checked luggage.
Royal Caribbean is very consistent with this rule.
No. Boxed wine, pouches, cans, or non-traditional containers are not allowed.
The wine must be:
✔ Sealed✔ In its original 750ml glass bottle
One of the best parts of bringing your own wine is that you can drink it in multiple places.
You can drink your wine in your cabin with:
No corkage fee
No restrictions
Complete freedom
Most cruisers bring wine specifically to enjoy on the balcony while watching the ocean or sunset.
You can also bring your wine to:
Main Dining Room
Buffet
Specialty restaurants
Lounges
Public areas
However:
Royal Caribbean may charge a $15 corkage fee if you ask the staff to open or serve your bottle.
Many dining room servers do not actually charge the corkage fee, especially if:
You are polite
It’s a special occasion
You bring your own opener
You open the bottle yourself
This varies ship to ship and server to server.
Yes! Royal Caribbean allows you to:
Take your unfinished bottle from dinner to your room
Bring it to another restaurant
Store it with your dining team for next day
This flexibility is one of the biggest advantages over buying onboard.
Bringing fragile glass bottles requires some protection. Here are safe and easy ways to pack your wine.
A wine sleeve prevents:
Breakage
Leaks
Bag damage
These sleeves seal tightly and cushion the bottle.
They cannot protect bottles from bumps, pressure, or drops.
Wrap bottles with:
Sweaters
Towels
Jeans
Hoodies
Place them in your carry-on, not your checked baggage.
This gives the best protection.
Even though you are limited to two bottles on embarkation day, you can purchase additional wine:
In onboard bars
In specialty restaurants
Through wine packages
By the glass
At onboard wine shops
Wine packages actually offer excellent discounts and let you carry bottles to multiple dining venues.
Yes, but with restrictions.
Royal Caribbean allows you to:
Buy wine at ports
Bring it into the ship
However:
🔒 Port wine will be taken and stored until the final night of your cruise.
You cannot drink port-purchased wine during the sailing unless you pay the corkage fee and have it served inside the restaurant that night.
Passengers bring their own wine for several good reasons.
Onboard wine prices can be:
$30–$60 for mid-range bottles
$80+ for premium brands
Bringing your own favorite wine can save you a lot.
Not all ships carry the brands guests prefer. Some people enjoy:
A specific regional wine
Organic wine
Rare vintages
Special anniversary bottles
Bringing your favorite ensures you're satisfied throughout the cruise.
Wine is often brought for:
Birthdays
Anniversaries
Honeymoons
Proposals
Family gatherings
Cruisers love popping open their own bottle on their balcony to celebrate.
Nothing beats sipping your own wine while watching the waves or a sunset.
Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Yes. Security scanners check all bags. Staff may:
Ask you to remove the wine
Verify bottle type and quantity
Check for tampering
Yes! Corkscrews are allowed. They are not considered weapons by Royal Caribbean.
A small wine opener is extremely helpful if you want to avoid corkage fees.
Yes. For each segment of your cruise, you may bring:
2 bottles per stateroom per sailing
A 2-week B2B cruise counts as two sailings, so you can bring 4 bottles total.
Each stateroom gets its own allowance.
If you book two rooms:
Room 1 = 2 bottles
Room 2 = 2 bottles
Total = 4 bottles allowed
Yes!Champagne counts as wine.
Yes, as long as it is commercially packaged and sealed. (Rare, but acceptable.)
Here are insider expert hacks from experienced cruisers.
If you enjoy wine with a view, balconies offer the perfect environment.
Make embarkation wine worth it. Bring:
A premium bottle
A celebratory bottle
Something you cannot buy onboard
Open the bottle in your stateroom before dinner.
Pour wine into:
A water bottle
A stainless steel flask
A wine travel bottle
Then carry it to dinner discreetly.
Relaxing with wine on sea days adds to the experience.
Ask your cabin attendant for an ice bucket to chill white wine or champagne.
Absolutely—if you enjoy wine.Here's why:
You save money
You drink your preferred wine
You enjoy greater flexibility
You enhance your cruise experience
You avoid expensive restaurant prices
Wine lovers overwhelmingly agree: bringing your own wine is one of the smartest cruise hacks.
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