<BR>I like a glass of wine at dinner but am wondering what happens aboard a cruise ship at table of eight. Can I just order a bottle for myself and have it corked for the next night (and probably feel selfish) or do I ask the wine steward to pass the bottle around. I find this most embarrassing.

Hello, John. My wife and I always order a bottle of wine with dinner on cruises, and we've been on 14 of 'em. Our experience is that not all people like wine, and those that do, don't all have the same taste in wine (probably not as good as yours!). Feel free to order a wine that YOU like, and enjoy it. There is absolutely no decorum that dictates that you have to treat the table. Enjoy your next cruise.

John - thank you for asking your question. I am taking a first cruise and was wondering the same thing. I also am interested in knowing if you can bring your own wine, or if that is not allowed, or you would get "attitude" from the waiter or wine steward. Can you take wine on the ship and drink it in your own cabin, or take it to dinner? Anyone have any experiences? I will be on Celebrity (if that makes any difference). Michael, do you know? Thanks

We enjoy wine and on our cruises have brought some onboard to drink in the cabin but at dinner we have bought from the wine steward. We have offered our table mates a glass (to be polite) and I think they also very politely refused. (As would I if someone offered me some of theirs) Don't, however, feel obligated to offer. I have never asked to bring a bottle into the dining room but on a recent cruise on the R1 some people did and were charged an ~ $10 corkage fee. (which I feel is perfectly correct) Enjoy your wines and the cruise!

On Carnival & Princess I was able to order a bottle and have it corked to use the next night or whenever it was gone. This was very convienient since my husband dosn't enjoy wine with dinner and I do. <BR>

We order wine often while cruising but I have never "not" offered the rest of the table a glass. I think if you do not have the means to share your wine, then let it wait until you return to your cabin. <BR>99% of the time, the gesture is returned by the entire table ordering on different nights. <BR>I think it would be quite rude if someone would just order and then ask the wine steward to "cork it" back up and save it for tomorrow evening. <BR>Just my opinion, and my experience.

<BR>I don't know about opening a bottle of wine; it seems I've opened a can of something totally different! Perhaps my wife (who does not drink) and I should sit at a table for two. As for bringing your own wine or even beer aboard, I seem to remember on a cruise some years ago it was "not done" and that said property was actually confiscated until end of voyage. Thank you all for comments; I welcome any more input on a ticklish issue.

<BR>I don't know about opening a bottle of wine; it seems I've opened a can of something totally different! Perhaps my wife (who does not drink) and I should sit at a table for two. As for bringing your own wine or even beer aboard, I seem to remember on a cruise some years ago it was "not done" and that said property was actually confiscated until end of voyage. Thank you all for comments; I welcome any more input on a ticklish issue.

<BR>I don't know about opening a bottle of wine; it seems I've opened a can of something totally different! Perhaps my wife (who does not drink) and I should sit at a table for two. As for bringing your own wine or even beer aboard, I seem to remember on a cruise some years ago it was "not done" and that said property was actually confiscated until end of voyage. Thank you all for comments; I welcome any more input on a ticklish issue.

<BR>Dear John, <BR> <BR>I am a travel agent and have sailed on 55 cruises. <BR> <BR>Most pasengers order their own wine and do not share it. The few passengers who share are either very generous or had received a complimentary bottle. <BR> <BR>All cruise lines forbid bringing wine on board. Many passengers do sneak it on. If they get caught, the ship will save it and return it on the last night. <BR> <BR>Wine and liquor is sold on board at fairly reasonable prices and the selection is very good (depending on the ship). More upscale lines, the better the selection. <BR> <BR>You will be charged a $10 corking fee on all lines except Carnival. <BR>

I am not a travel agent, but have cruised many times. I have never had a problem taking wine to be consumed in the cabin on board. With reference to offering wine to your table mates, I have found that each couple orders their own. If you do not finish a bottle that night, they will bring it back to finish the next night. I do not think that anyone expects you to share your wine...that could get very expensive!

My husband and I have been on many cruises and also have never had a problem bringing wine openly on board for consumption in the room. In fact, we were on a Princess shore excursion one time and the guide stopped at a liquor store before returning to the ship so that people could stock their supply. <BR>I doubt that we would go on a cruise without being able to have wine in the room. It really enhances the cruise to sit on a balcony and enjoy a glass of wine.

Paul- Please explain what you said about the fact that all cruise lines forbid wine to be taken on board, but will charge a $10.00 corkage fee? Do they let you do it, but charge you $10.00, or they don't let you bring it on, and if caught, take it from you until the end of the cruise. you said two different things! Thanks for explaining. Does that also apply for wine in your room? Anyone else have wine taken from them or not allowed to have your own bottle in your room?

I checked with my crusise Line about this topic directly today. They said that they do discourage people from bring wine on the ship (they sell wine and of course believe they have a good selection to offer), however should you bring it in your luggage and ask that it be opened, they would not take it from you but open it and as paul said, charge you a corkage fee. If you choose to open your wine and drink it in your cabin that is up to you. They also said there is no set etiquette regarding sharing your wine with others at your table. It is entirely up to you. Personally, I will share on some ocassions and not on others. I expect after the first two nights you will get a feel for the "style" of others at your table. Remember if you feel really uncomfortable you can order wine by the glass.

C'mon people...of course you have to offer others at your table a glass of wine! Shipboard etiquette , as well as plain old good manners, dictates this! In turn, the others will offer you some of their wine that evening or another one (if they had not planned to order a bottle now they will becauce it will be their turn to share). Of course, single ladies at the table are not "required" to reciprocate, but often will. Bottom line is, a). you can't go wrong or feel uncomfortable when you practice good manners, and b). you're on VACATION, it's time to live it up and don't worry about little expenses like wine!

We just returned from a great cruise on Celebrity. We had a late seating and sat at a table for 6. We ordered wine and shared with others at our table 3 times, had our own bottle a few times (they corked it for the next night) and found that one couple offered to share once and the other couple, although accepting our offer never offered and choose to buy their own. Just do what is comfortable to you. We also brought our own wine with us. Just remember to tip your wine steward the last night of your curise if you bring your own wine. You will be charged a 15% graturity on each bottle (or dirnk for that matter) that you order. There is a small corkage fee of around $8.00 if you bring your own wine but 15% of your corkage is not much. Hope you all enjoy your cruises!

Does anyone know if wine can be purchased by the glass at dinner on Holland America ships? If so what is the approximate cost? Thanks.

My husband and I just returned from a HAL cruise. Yes, you can buy wine by the glass. Cost- $3.50 - $4.00 depending on the wine. They feature 2 different wines each nite with dinner or you can order off the wine list.

I have been reading passenger reports on other web sites about cruises and a few times people who have cruised on HAL have mentioned something about buying wine after they have registered to get on the ship. I believe they stated they bought six bottles for $99. Could anyone enlighten me as to whether this wine is to drink at dinner or for consumption in the cabin. Thanks for any feed back.