Cruise lines must combine respect for passengers with enforcement of the rules. In some cases, these rules are related to safety.
No cruise line wants to look for candles, irons, coffee pots, power strips with surge protectors, and other flammable items in your luggage. They search for these items and others on the prohibited list because they need to put the safety of the ship first.
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In other cases, they must enforce federal law. Cruise lines may not really care if you bring food or CBD pills on board, but they have to be very strict when it comes to enforcing federal laws. This is also an example of cruise lines protecting passengers from themselves.
If you bring marijuana or even CBD into some countries, you may end up getting arrested. No cruise line wants its passengers to end up in foreign prisons or deal with other people on the ship who complain about the smell of marijuana.
However, when it comes to alcohol policies, cruise lines are protecting passengers’ health and profits. The cruise line wants to be able to monitor guests’ alcohol consumption for health and safety reasons, but it also wants to sell more alcohol.
That’s why Carnival Cruise Lines (copper clad laminate) does not allow its archrival Royal Caribbean to (RCL) Do.
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Image source &col;Carnival Corporation.
Carnival doesn’t offer Royal Caribbean-like exceptions
Most cruise lines that sell beverage packages have some version of the rule that if one passenger in a cabin over the age of 21 purchases an adult beverage package, everyone in the cabin must purchase one. This is apparently a rule designed to stop people buying packages and then illegally sharing drinks with people who don’t have a package.
Royal Caribbean requires that if one person in a cabin purchases a Deluxe Beverage Package (DBP), everyone else staying there must also purchase it. Cruise lines do offer one notable exception, however.
If you call, you can ask people who don’t need DBP to purchase a refreshment package – which includes all drinks except alcohol.
Carnival Cruise Line does not offer all beverage packages other than alcohol. Brand ambassador John Heald has repeatedly said there is no cost-effective way to do this.
With Carnival recently raising the price of Cheers unlimited drink packages, many angry passengers are calling for change.
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Carnival remains strict on beverage packaging
Christian Montoya was visibly angry with Hield and posted a lengthy response to one of his posts on his Facebook page.
“I see your response to Cheers increasing. No, it’s not affordable when it costs as much or more than a cruise,” she wrote.
Heald noted earlier that if the price of Cheers increases, even if you only drink 15 alcoholic drinks, the cost per drink will be less than $6. When a mixed drink and most wines are $14, the price is pretty good.
Montoya also brought up two other points Carnival passengers had about the Cheers fare increase, which was implemented without any warning.
“What’s disturbing is that there was no warning at all. My parents and I have booked four cruises through 2026. We have been advocates for the Cheers plan, but God, if there was no warning, this is crazy. You The Beards really need to be made aware that if the cost of this program is so high then there needs to be an option for them to opt out if someone in your cabin doesn’t drink,” she wrote.
Also read: Top travel agents share how to get the best cruise prices
Heard expressed sympathy but also made the cruise line’s position very clear.
“Thanks. Well, we did try when we first started the program, but it was abused, pure and simple. Now the only way we can fairly control the program is to do this and require everyone to be 21 years or older.
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