You can bring alcohol on a Carnival cruise, but only beer and wine in your cabin, and only a limited amount per person
Carnival allows passengers to bring their own beer and wine into their stateroom — two bottles of wine or two cans of beer per person, per sailing. That alcohol must arrive in your cabin before you board; you cannot bring it aboard at the port. Spirits (liquor, vodka, rum, whiskey) are not permitted in any form, and you cannot bring alcohol into public areas of the ship. Any alcohol found outside your cabin will be confiscated.
The rule exists because Carnival makes money from its onboard bars and wants to control what you drink in common spaces. Your cabin is treated as private space, which is why the exception exists there. If you want to drink alcohol anywhere else on the ship — the pool deck, dining room, casino, or hallways — it must be purchased from Carnival.
Key Takeaways
- You may bring two bottles of wine or two cans of beer per person into your stateroom before boarding, but no spirits of any kind.
- Alcohol must be in your cabin when you arrive; you cannot carry it through the terminal or onto the ship yourself.
- Any alcohol found in public areas will be taken from you, and you will not be refunded.
- Carnival sells beer, wine, and spirits at bars throughout the ship, and offers drink packages that may reduce the per-drink cost.
- The rules explore to all Carnival cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess, Holland America, and Cunard.
How to get your alcohol into your cabin before boarding
The most common method is to have alcohol delivered to your cabin through a third-party service. Companies like Shoreside Delivery and CruCare allow you to order beer and wine online before your cruise, and they deliver it to your stateroom on your arrival day. You pay for the service and the alcohol upfront, and the delivery happens while you are checking in at the terminal. This avoids the problem of carrying bottles through the port yourself.
If you prefer to buy alcohol yourself and bring it to the port, you can pack it in your checked luggage. However, cruise lines do not may provide that alcohol packed in luggage will make it to your cabin — it may be held at the terminal or confiscated during security screening. Many passengers report that alcohol packed in luggage does arrive, but the risk exists. Using a delivery service removes that uncertainty.
Do not attempt to bring alcohol through the terminal in a carry-on bag or in your hands. Port security will stop you, and the alcohol will be confiscated before you board.
What happens if alcohol is found outside your cabin
If you are caught with alcohol in a public area — the hallway, pool deck, dining room, casino, or any other common space — Carnival staff will take it from you. You will not be refunded for the alcohol or charged a fee; it is straightforward removed. A first offense typically results in a warning. A second offense can result in removal from the ship at the next port, at your own expense, with no refund for the remainder of your cruise.
Carnival takes this rule seriously because alcohol in public spaces creates liability and safety issues. The policy is enforced consistently across all Carnival-owned cruise lines.
Drink packages and onboard alcohol pricing
Carnival offers several drink packages that allow you to purchase alcohol by the day or for the entire cruise. A daily beverage package typically costs between $60 and $75 per person and includes beer, wine, spirits, and soft drinks at most bars and restaurants. A full-cruise package costs more upfront but works out cheaper per drink if you plan to drink regularly.
Individual drinks at the bar range from $8 to $15 depending on the drink type and location. Wine by the glass costs $7 to $12. A bottle of beer costs $6 to $8. These prices are higher than what you would pay on land, which is why many passengers choose to bring their own wine or beer into their cabin.
If you purchase a drink package, you can order drinks anywhere on the ship without paying per drink. The package does not cover alcohol in your cabin, so bringing your own wine or beer is still allowed and can save money if you plan to drink in your room.
Rules for all Carnival-owned cruise lines
Carnival Corporation owns multiple cruise lines, and the alcohol policy is the same across all of them: Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Cunard. Two bottles of wine or two cans of beer per person are permitted in your stateroom. No spirits are permitted anywhere on the ship. Alcohol found in public areas will be confiscated.
If you are sailing with a different cruise line — Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Disney — the rules are different. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian allow more alcohol in cabins and have different enforcement policies. Disney does not allow outside alcohol at all. Always check the specific cruise line's policy before you pack.
What counts as beer and wine under Carnival's rules
Beer includes standard beer, light beer, and craft beer in cans or bottles. Wine includes red, white, rosé, and sparkling wine in bottles. Hard seltzers and wine coolers are sometimes treated as beer under the rules, but enforcement varies. To be safe, assume that anything stronger than wine or beer — including hard seltzers above a certain alcohol content — will be confiscated.
Spirits include vodka, rum, whiskey, gin, tequila, brandy, and any other distilled liquor. Pre-mixed cocktails in bottles or cans are also prohibited, even if they contain only beer or wine as a base. Carnival considers them spirits and will take them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring alcohol if I am under 21?
No. Carnival requires that anyone bringing alcohol into a cabin be at least 21 years old. If you are under 21, you cannot bring alcohol aboard, and you cannot drink alcohol purchased on the ship. This rule is enforced at check-in and throughout the cruise.
What if my alcohol is confiscated — can I get it back?
No. Carnival does not return confiscated alcohol, and you will not receive a refund or credit. The alcohol is disposed of. This applies whether it is found in your cabin after you leave or discovered in a public area.
Can I bring alcohol as a gift for someone else in my cabin?
Yes, as long as the total does not exceed two bottles of wine or two cans of beer per person in the cabin. If you are traveling with two other adults, you can bring six bottles of wine total (two per person). The alcohol counts toward each person's limit, not the cabin's limit.
Do I have to declare my alcohol when I board?
No. Carnival does not require you to declare alcohol that arrives in your cabin through a delivery service or packed luggage. However, if staff discovers alcohol in your cabin, you may be asked where it came from. Having a receipt from a delivery service protects you if questions arise.
What if I buy alcohol at a port and want to bring it back to my cabin?
You cannot bring alcohol from a port back onto the ship. Port security will confiscate it before you board. The only alcohol permitted in your cabin is what arrived there before you boarded or what you purchase from Carnival onboard.