Let’s be real. You’ve seen the drink package prices.
Paying $70 to $100 per person, per day, just to have a few margaritas by the pool feels like highway robbery. It basically is. When a couple spends over a thousand dollars on a week-long sailing just for "unlimited" drinks, it’s no wonder people start Googling how to sneak booze on a cruise ship. I get it. I’ve been on dozens of sailings—from the mass-market giants like Carnival and Royal Caribbean to the more upscale lines like Celebrity—and the "booze smuggling" game is as old as cruising itself.
But things have changed.
If you’re relying on advice from a forum post written in 2012, you’re probably going to get caught. Security is tighter. They have better scanners. They know the tricks because, honestly, the crew members see the same three "hacks" every single week.
The Reality of Modern Port Security
Security at the cruise terminal is a lot like TSA, but with a specific focus on glass and liquid. You put your carry-on through the X-ray, you walk through the metal detector, and your checked luggage goes into a massive pile to be scanned behind the scenes.
Most people think the X-ray tech is looking for weapons. Sure, they are. But on embarkation day, they are mostly looking for the distinct shape of a bottle neck or the "sloshing" density of liquid where it shouldn’t be. If they find it, you don't go to jail. You just get a sad little note in your suitcase or a summons to the "naughty room"—the security office where you have to open your bag in front of a giant officer while other passengers walk by and smirk. It's awkward.
The Wine Loophole Everyone Ignores
Before we talk about the sneaky stuff, let’s talk about what is actually legal. Almost every major cruise line—Royal Caribbean, Princess, Disney, and Holland America included—allows you to bring two 750ml bottles of wine or champagne per stateroom in your carry-on. Carnival is a bit stricter, allowing one bottle per adult.
Why do people try to hide vodka in a water bottle when they can just carry on two nice bottles of Prosecco?
💡 You might also like: Wingate by Wyndham Columbia: What Most People Get Wrong
If you’re determined to bring spirits, some "pros" use the wine bottle method. This involves carefully heat-shrinking a new foil seal onto a wine bottle that has been emptied and refilled with clear liquor. It’s high effort. You need a corker. You need the heat-shrink sleeves. If the security guard notices the seal looks DIY or the "wine" is suspiciously clear, they’ll pop the cork. If it smells like Smirnoff, it’s gone.
The "Rum Runner" Myth and Reality
If you’ve spent five minutes on a cruise forum, you’ve heard of Rum Runners. These are collapsible plastic flasks. They’re popular because they don’t have metal parts and they don't have the "bottle" shape that triggers an X-ray tech's muscle memory.
Do they work? Often, yes.
The trick isn’t just the flask; it’s the placement. If you put a giant, rectangular bladder of liquid right in the middle of a suitcase full of thin t-shirts, it sticks out like a sore thumb on the scanner. It looks like a dense mass. Experienced travelers suggest nesting them inside shoes or tucked into the pockets of heavy cargo shorts. Some even suggest putting them inside a "toiletries" bag because a bunch of different liquid densities (shampoo, lotion, mouthwash) can confuse the X-ray image.
But don't get cocky. Modern scanners can detect organic mass. If a screener is bored and sees a weird shape, they’re opening that bag.
Mouthwash, Shampoo, and the "Toiletries" Gambit
This is the oldest trick in the book. You take a large Scope bottle, dye some vodka green with food coloring, and hope for the best.
Honestly? This is the easiest way to get caught.
📖 Related: Finding Your Way: The Sky Harbor Airport Map Terminal 3 Breakdown
Security guards aren't stupid. They know that nobody brings 32 ounces of mouthwash for a four-day cruise. If they see a large bottle of liquid, they might give it a shake. If it bubbles like soap, you’re fine. If the bubbles disappear instantly—which is what high-proof alcohol does—they know.
There are "shampoo flasks" sold on Amazon that look like real brands. They even come with foam seals. These have a higher success rate than the mouthwash trick because people do bring large bottles of hair products. However, if the seal isn't perfect, your entire cruise wardrobe will smell like a gin distillery. That’s a rough way to start a vacation.
Why the "Checked Bag" is Your Best Bet (And Worst Enemy)
There is a huge debate over whether to put "contraband" in your carry-on or your checked luggage.
- Carry-on: You are there when they find it. You can argue, or you can just let them take it and move on.
- Checked Luggage: If they flag it, your bag doesn't show up to your room. You have to go find it.
Most successful "smugglers" swear by the checked bag. The sheer volume of luggage being processed for a 4,000-passenger ship is astronomical. The screeners have about three seconds to look at each bag. They are looking for power strips (which are banned), irons, and massive amounts of booze. A single, well-hidden plastic flask in a checked bag has a statistically high chance of making it through simply due to the chaos of embarkation.
What Happens When You Get Caught?
Let’s clear up the drama. You aren't going to get kicked off the ship for a flask of bourbon.
Most of the time, the cruise line will simply confiscate the alcohol. Some lines will hold it until the end of the cruise and give it back to you (though this is becoming rarer). Others will just pour it out or discard the container.
The real "penalty" is the loss of the money you spent on the booze and the container. However, be warned: if you are caught with a massive, commercial-scale amount of alcohol, they might flag your account. This could lead to closer scrutiny of your cabin or even a stern talking-to from the Chief of Security. Virgin Voyages and some luxury lines are a bit more chill, but the big ones like Carnival and Royal take their beverage revenue very seriously.
👉 See also: Why an Escape Room Stroudsburg PA Trip is the Best Way to Test Your Friendships
The Ethics and Economics of the Drink Package
Is it worth the stress?
Let's look at the math. A cocktail on a ship usually costs between $12 and $18, plus an automatic 18% gratuity. If you drink five drinks a day, you’re at roughly $80. If you can't hit that mark, the drink package is a waste of money anyway.
If you only want a "nightcap" in your room, sneaking a small amount might save you some cash. But if you're trying to fund a week of heavy partying, the "cat and mouse" game with security can actually ruin the vibe of your vacation.
A Note on Ports of Call
Many people think they can buy a bottle of local rum in Cozumel or Nassau and walk right back onto the ship. You can buy it, but security will take it at the gangway. They’ll give you a receipt and return it to you on the final night of the cruise. They are very efficient at this. Don't try to hide a bottle in your backpack when coming back from a port; those X-ray machines are much more focused because the passenger flow is slower.
Actionable Tips for the Modern Cruiser
If you're going to try it, do it smart.
- Stick to the rules first. Bring your allotted wine. It’s legal, it’s easy, and it guarantees you have something in the room.
- Ditch the glass. Glass is heavy, it breaks, and it looks "correct" on an X-ray. Plastic bladders are the industry standard for a reason.
- Spread it out. Don't put four flasks in one suitcase. Put one in each bag. It lowers the "mass" profile on the scanner.
- Use "Camouflage" containers. If you use those sunscreen or shampoo flasks, make sure they are in a bag with other actual toiletries. A lone bottle of sunscreen in a suitcase full of formal wear looks suspicious.
- Check the cruise line's specific policy. Some lines allow a certain amount of soda or bottled water (in cans or cartons). People often swap these out, but be aware that many lines now require these items to be in their original, unopened shrink-wrap.
Ultimately, the best way to save money on booze is to look for "Drink of the Day" specials or attend the Art Gallery auctions where they give out free (admittedly cheap) sparkling wine. Sneaking booze is a gamble. Sometimes you win, sometimes you're drinking $15 mojitos while your "shampoo" vodka sits in a bin in the ship's basement.
Choose your adventure wisely.
The most effective strategy for saving money isn't necessarily smuggling, but rather a hybrid approach. Utilize your legal wine allowance for pre-dinner drinks, take advantage of the port-side bars where drinks are half the price of the ship, and if you must bring something extra, keep it small and soft-sided.
Before you pack, check the latest "Prohibited Items" list on your cruise line's website. These lists are updated frequently, often specifically naming the types of "diversion" containers that security has been trained to spot. Awareness is your best tool for avoiding a trip to the naughty room.