Carnival's Alcohol Policy: What You Can and Cannot Bring Aboard
Carnival allows you to bring a limited amount of alcohol in your carry-on luggage when you board the ship, but the rules are strict about what types and how much. You can bring one bottle of wine or champagne per stateroom, or one liter of liquor per person, but only during embarkation day — the day you board. Beer and other beverages are not permitted in your luggage at any time. Any alcohol you bring must be unopened and in its original container.
Once you are aboard, you cannot bring additional alcohol from ports of call back onto the ship. If you purchase alcohol at a port, you must either drink it there or have the ship store it in a find location until the end of your cruise — and you will pay a fee to retrieve it. Carnival enforces these rules consistently across all its ships, and crew members inspect luggage during the boarding process.
The reason for these restrictions is straightforward: Carnival makes significant revenue from onboard beverage sales, and the policy also prevents safety and security issues that come with unrestricted alcohol. Violating the policy can result in your alcohol being confiscated, additional charges to your account, or in serious cases, removal from the ship at the next port.
Key Takeaways
- You may bring one bottle of wine or champagne per stateroom, or one liter of liquor per person, but only on embarkation day in your carry-on bag.
- Beer, pre-mixed cocktails, and other beverages cannot be brought aboard under any circumstances.
- Alcohol purchased at ports cannot be brought back onto the ship unless you pay Carnival to store it and retrieve it at the end of your cruise.
- Crew members inspect luggage during boarding, and confiscated alcohol will not be returned to you.
- The policy applies to all Carnival ships and is enforced consistently across the fleet.
What Types of Alcohol Are Allowed
Wine and champagne are the only beverages you can bring in your carry-on luggage. A standard bottle is 750 milliliters, which falls within Carnival's one-bottle limit per stateroom. If you are traveling with multiple people in the same cabin, you still get only one bottle total — not one per person. Champagne counts as wine for this purpose, so a bottle of champagne uses your one-bottle allowance.
Liquor — spirits like vodka, rum, whiskey, or gin — is allowed at one liter per person. This means if two adults are in the same stateroom, you can bring two liters of liquor total. The bottle must be unopened and in its original sealed container. Flavored liqueurs and fortified wines like sherry or port count as liquor under this rule, not wine.
Beer, hard seltzers, pre-mixed cocktails, energy drinks, and any other beverage are prohibited. This includes craft beer you may have purchased at a port or local brewery. The rule makes no exceptions for premium, imported, or specialty beers. If you want beer during your cruise, you must purchase it from Carnival's bars and restaurants onboard.
When and How to Pack Alcohol in Your Luggage
You can only bring alcohol in your carry-on bag on embarkation day — the first day you board the ship. If you pack alcohol in your checked luggage, it will be confiscated during the security screening process. Carnival's crew members open and inspect carry-on bags as you board, and they will remove any alcohol that does not meet the policy.
Pack your bottles in the center of your carry-on, surrounded by soft items like clothing or towels to prevent breakage. Do not wrap bottles in plastic bags or try to conceal them — crew members expect to see them and will find them regardless. If a bottle breaks during inspection, you will not be allowed to bring a replacement, and the broken bottle will not be returned to you.
Arrive early on embarkation day so you have time to go through security without rushing. Lines can be long, and crew members move at their own pace during inspections. If you are traveling with family or friends, each adult can bring their own allowance — one bottle of wine per stateroom and one liter of liquor per person — as long as you are all staying in the same cabin.
Alcohol Purchased at Ports: Storage and Retrieval Fees
If you buy alcohol at a port of call, you cannot carry it back onto the ship in your hands or luggage. Carnival crew members will stop you at the gangway and confiscate it. Your only option is to ask Carnival to store the bottle in a find location onboard, which you can then retrieve on the last day of your cruise or at the end of your voyage.
Carnival charges a storage fee for this service — typically around $15 to $20 per bottle, though the exact amount may vary by ship and region. You pay the fee when you request storage, and you retrieve the bottle from a designated location before you disembark. If you forget to retrieve it, Carnival does not refund the storage fee, and the bottle remains onboard.
Many cruisers find it simpler to drink alcohol at the port rather than pay to store it. If you purchase a bottle intending to bring it home, consider shipping it to your address instead, or purchasing it at a duty-free shop in your home port on the day you return — after you have already disembarked from the ship.
Beverage Packages and Onboard Alcohol Costs
Carnival offers beverage packages that cover unlimited drinks at bars and restaurants throughout the ship. These packages range from basic (beer, wine, and soft drinks) to premium (top-shelf liquor and specialty cocktails) and cost between $60 and $75 per person per day, depending on the package and how far in advance you purchase. If you drink multiple cocktails or premium spirits daily, a package can save money compared to paying per drink.
Individual drinks purchased without a package typically cost $8 to $15 for beer or wine, and $12 to $18 for cocktails made with premium liquor. Soft drinks and coffee are extra if you do not have a beverage package. Carnival also sells bottles of wine by the bottle in its restaurants, which can be cheaper per glass than ordering drinks individually if you plan to share with others in your stateroom.
If you bring your own wine or liquor, you cannot consume it in public areas of the ship — bars, restaurants, dining rooms, or the pool deck. You can drink it only in your stateroom, and crew members may ask you to stop if they see you with an open container outside your cabin. This is a safety and liability rule that Carnival enforces.
What Happens If Your Alcohol Is Confiscated
If crew members find alcohol in your luggage that violates the policy, they will remove it and not return it to you. You will not receive a refund, and the bottle will be discarded or kept by the crew. There is no appeal process or exception — the policy is applied uniformly to all passengers.
In some cases, if the violation is significant — for example, if you attempt to bring multiple cases of beer or large quantities of liquor — Carnival may add charges to your onboard account or, in rare cases, remove you from the ship at the next port. This is uncommon for a single bottle of wine, but it can happen if crew members believe you are attempting to circumvent the policy deliberately or if you become argumentative during the inspection.
The best approach is to be honest and cooperative during the boarding process. If you have questions about what you can bring, ask a crew member before you board. They can clarify the rules and help you understand what will and will not be allowed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring alcohol in my checked luggage instead of carry-on?
No. Carnival prohibits alcohol in checked luggage entirely. Any bottles found in checked bags will be confiscated during security screening, and you will not be able to retrieve them. You must pack alcohol only in your carry-on bag, and only on embarkation day.
What if I am traveling with a group in multiple staterooms?
Each stateroom gets one bottle of wine or champagne, and each adult gets one liter of liquor. If you have two staterooms with two adults in each, you can bring two bottles of wine and four liters of liquor total — one bottle and two liters per stateroom. Alcohol must be packed in the carry-on of the person in that stateroom.
Can I bring alcohol back onto the ship after visiting a port?
No, not in your hands or luggage. If you want to keep alcohol you purchased at a port, you must ask Carnival to store it onboard, and you will pay a fee (typically $15 to $20 per bottle). You can retrieve it on your last day or at the end of your cruise.
Are there any exceptions to the alcohol policy for special occasions?
No. Carnival does not make exceptions for birthdays, anniversaries, or other celebrations. The policy applies equally to all passengers on all sailings. If you want to celebrate with a specific bottle, you can purchase it from Carnival's onboard wine shop or order a bottle from a restaurant.
What if the crew member made a mistake and let alcohol through?
If alcohol made it past the boarding inspection, you can keep it in your stateroom and drink it privately. However, do not assume this means the policy has changed or that you can bring more on a future cruise. The inspection process is thorough, but mistakes happen occasionally. Future cruises will be subject to the same rules.