Theo Nash
Although many major cruise lines ban bringing your own alcohol on board, some passengers try to smuggle it in to avoid high drink prices. While TikTok makes it seem like a harmless hack, sneaking alcohol on a cruise ship can get you in serious trouble, from fines to being denied boarding. If you're still considering it, there are several ways to do it, from hiding alcohol in your shampoo bottles or tampons to using specially designed rum runners—plastic pouches that are less detectable than glass bottles in X-ray scans. However, keep in mind that security staff are familiar with these tricks, and if your bag is manually checked, your alcohol will likely be discovered.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reasons to Smuggle Alcohol | High cost of alcohol on cruise ships |
| Common Methods | Rum runners, hairbrush flasks, tampon flasks, umbrella flasks, binoculars flasks, bra flasks, mouthwash bottles, small bottles, clothing with pouches, tote bags with secret pouches, rucksacks with secret pouches |
| Potential Consequences | Fines, drink confiscation, denied boarding, disembarkment, identity surrender |
| Alternative Options | Purchase drinks on the ship, buy drinks packages, follow cruise line alcohol allowances |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Use rum runners (soft plastic flasks)
Rum runners, also known as alcohol bags or plastic flasks, are specially-made containers for holding alcohol when going on a cruise. They are made of flexible, bendable, and reusable plastic and can be purchased on Amazon. They come with a funnel for easy filling and can hold up to 32 ounces (one litre) of liquid.
The idea behind using rum runners is that they do not look like typical bottles on X-ray scans, so they won't be detected when your bag is scanned. However, if your bag is manually checked for any reason, it will be obvious what's inside. Therefore, it is recommended to pack them in your checked luggage that you leave with the porters. They are flexible enough to be shaped to fit inside other items (such as shoes) in your bag. If you have multiple checked bags, distribute the rum runners among them.
It is important to note that attempting to sneak alcohol onto a cruise ship goes against cruise line policies and can result in serious consequences, including being denied boarding, surrendering identification, and fines.
Alcohol on a Plane: What's the Law?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Hide in feminine hygiene products
Although it is against cruise line alcohol policies and can get you into serious trouble, some people try to smuggle alcohol onto a cruise by hiding it in feminine hygiene products. One way to do this is to use fake tampon flasks, which are disguised as tampons but actually contain alcohol. Smuggle Your Booze offers a product that includes five 1-ounce BoozeTubes disguised as tampons, with a two-pack of 10 flasks also available. Another option is to use a wine bra, which is a flexible, removable polyurethane bladder that can hold 25 ounces of liquid and is worn as a sports bra.
It is important to note that trying to sneak alcohol onto a cruise ship can have serious consequences. If caught, your alcohol will likely be confiscated and not returned. In addition, you may be denied boarding or asked to disembark, potentially ruining your vacation. Furthermore, cruise line staff are familiar with many of these tricks, and X-ray machines can detect liquids, so your luggage may be flagged if it contains a large amount of liquid.
Instead of trying to smuggle alcohol onto a cruise, it may be better to follow the cruise line's alcohol policy. Some cruise lines, such as Viking Cruise Line, allow guests to bring their own alcohol, purchase alcohol ashore, or buy it from the onboard shop. Other cruise lines, such as Carnival Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises, allow guests to bring one 750-ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or champagne per person on embarkation day. It is important to check the specific policies of your chosen cruise line before attempting to bring any alcohol on board.
Electron Donating vs Withdrawing: Amides and Alcohols
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Disguise as mouthwash
It is important to note that sneaking alcohol onto a cruise ship is against cruise line policies and could result in serious consequences. If you are caught, your alcohol will be confiscated and not returned. In rare cases, you could even be denied boarding or asked to disembark.
With that said, one way people have attempted to smuggle alcohol onto a cruise ship is by disguising it as mouthwash. The idea is that you would add a clear spirit, such as white rum, gin, or vodka, and blue or green food colouring to a rinsed-out tinted bottle of mouthwash to make it look like mouthwash.
However, cruise port staff are familiar with this tactic and know that a large bottle of mouthwash is likely to be suspicious. They will likely open the bottle and smell it to see what is inside. Therefore, it is probably more effective to put a small amount of alcohol in a small bottle of mouthwash, rather than a large one.
To avoid detection, some people put one bottle of wine in their checked luggage and another in their carry-on bag, as most cruise lines allow you to bring one bottle of wine per person on board.
Alcohol Package on Royal Caribbean: Worth the Money?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Wear alcohol on your body
Although it is highly discouraged and goes against cruise lines' policies, some people choose to smuggle alcohol onto a cruise ship by wearing it on their bodies. Here are some ways people have attempted to do this:
The WineRack Alcohol Bra
The WineRack alcohol bra is a flexible, removable polyurethane bladder that fits inside a sports bra. It can hold up to 25 ounces of liquid, which is enough to bring a substantial amount of alcohol on board. This method may not raise any red flags during security screening, as it is designed to augment a woman's appearance.
Stainless Steel Bangle Bracelet Flask
For those who want a more inconspicuous way to sneak alcohol onto a cruise, stainless steel bangle bracelet flasks offer a discreet option. Each bracelet holds 3.5 ounces of liquid, enough for two shots. While they may not be the most fashionable accessory, they are a clever way to conceal alcohol.
Fake Tampon Flasks
Another ingenious way to smuggle alcohol is by using fake tampon flasks. These fake, resealable tampon wrappers contain refillable mini flasks that hold one shot of alcohol (approximately 1 ounce). Even if someone thoroughly searches your luggage, they are unlikely to open a tampon to inspect its contents.
Umbrella Flask
An umbrella flask is a clever way to disguise alcohol as it looks and feels like a regular umbrella. It can hold up to 9 ounces of liquid and is easy to pour into a glass. This method is especially effective on cruises to destinations with a high likelihood of rain, such as Northern European cruises.
While these methods may seem tempting, it is important to remember that sneaking alcohol onto a cruise ship is against the policies of most major cruise lines. If caught, your alcohol will likely be confiscated, and you may face serious consequences, including being denied boarding or asked to disembark.
Recognizing FASD in School-Aged Children
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Place in checked luggage
It is important to note that sneaking alcohol onto a cruise ship is against cruise lines' policies and can result in serious consequences, including being denied boarding, surrendering identification, fines, confiscation of alcohol, and disembarkation. With that said, here are some ways to place alcohol in checked luggage:
One popular method is to use "rum runners," also known as alcohol bags or plastic flasks. These are flexible, bendable, and reusable plastic bladders that can hold various liquids, including wine, vodka, tequila, or any other liquor. They are designed to be discreet and not easily detected by X-ray scanners. However, if your bag is manually checked for any reason, the alcohol inside these bags will be obvious.
Another option is to disguise alcohol as other liquids, such as mouthwash. For example, you could mix a clear spirit like vodka or gin with blue or green food colouring and put it in a mouthwash bottle. However, cruise port staff are familiar with this trick, and a large bottle of mouthwash may arouse suspicion. They may open the bottle to smell its contents.
You could also try hiding alcohol among other liquids in your checked luggage. For example, you could include a sealed bottle of wine or a flask filled with liquor among your shampoo, shower gel, or other liquid toiletries.
Additionally, some people have found success in concealing alcohol within items that are embarrassing to inspect, such as feminine hygiene products. For example, you can purchase fake tampon flasks that resemble tampons but actually contain small amounts of alcohol. These are unlikely to be discovered, even if someone searches through your luggage.
Hydrogen Peroxide vs Alcohol: Which Cleans Screens Better?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Although it is against the alcohol policy of most cruise lines, some passengers try to bring their own drinks to avoid the high cost of alcohol on cruise ships. Some ways to hide alcohol in your luggage include using rum runners (plastic pouches), hiding alcohol in toiletries, using a shampoo flask kit, or disguising it as feminine hygiene products.
Some people choose to wear alcohol on their bodies by using clothing with secret pouches or a fake beer belly. Others opt for less conspicuous items such as a camera flask or a wine bra.
Yes, there are several risks associated with attempting to bring alcohol onto a cruise. If caught, your alcohol will likely be confiscated and not returned. In addition, you may be denied boarding, asked to disembark, fined, or have your identification surrendered.
Yes, some cruise lines, such as Viking Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages, Carnival Cruise Line, and Celebrity Cruises, allow passengers to bring a limited amount of alcohol on board. It is important to check the specific policies of your chosen cruise line before attempting to bring any alcohol on board.
