Disney Cruise Line uncorks new alcohol policy

[Article updated Aug 18 10:22 a.m. to correct description of Fireball whisky.]

The four ships of the Disney Cruise Line, packed as they are with families, have less of a reputation for inebriated passengers than do other lines catering to the “booze cruise” market – despite Disney's fairly liberal alcohol policy, which until now allowed passengers to carry wine, beer, and hard liquor onboard with their luggage.

Now Disney is setting limits on the amount of wine and beer passengers can bring onboard, and prohibiting passengers from bringing on board any hard liquor. Disney did not disclose a reason for this change, but told the Orlando Sentinel that the policy was consistent with other cruise lines.

The Disney Cruise Line uncorks a new alcohol policy that impacts cruises departing on or after September 30, 2015. MousePlanet file photo.

Here is the new policy, provided to MousePlanet by Small World Vacations:

New Disney Cruise Line Guest Alcohol Policy

We regularly evaluate our policies and procedures and have recently changed our alcohol beverage policy. In addition, we have made an adjustment in the corkage fee charged to Guests who bring their own wine or champagne into restaurants onboard. The following changes will go into effect on sailings commencing on or after Sept. 30, 2015:

• Each Guest 21 years and older may bring two bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or six beers (no larger than 12 oz) onboard in carry-on luggage at the beginning of the voyage and at each port-of-call.
• All alcoholic beverages packed in checked luggage will be removed and stored until the completion of the cruise.
• Wine or champagne in excess of the two allowable bottles or beer in excess of the six beers will be stored and Guests may retrieve them at the end of the voyage.
• All liquors and spirits (including powdered alcohol) are prohibited and will be stored until the completion of the cruise.
• Guests must retrieve any stored alcohol at the end of the cruise. Uncollected alcohol will be destroyed and no compensation will be offered.
• Alcohol brought on board may not be consumed in any lounge or public area.
• Effective Sept. 30, 2015, the corkage fee charged to Guests who bring their own wine or champagne into one of our restaurants will be $25 per bottle

John T. Garcia, a MousePlanet reader who has sailed nearly 100 nights with Disney Cruise Line, feels Disney provided passengers with relatively little notice about this change. Disney requires payment in full 90 days before departure for most itineraries, and Garcia notes this means passengers who booked and paid for their trip expecting one policy to be in place are now subject to a new policy, but cannot change plans or obtain a refund. He said, “It's not so much the change as when the change is coming based on [paid in full] dates and the precedent it sets.”

Garcia points out that the cost of alcohol on Disney's ships may not be the reason many people opt to BYOB. “Disney wants to be like the others, but its offerings are nowhere near the others, whether it is beer, wine or the hard stuff. Fireball [cinnamon-flavored, whisky-based liqueur produced by the Sazerac Company.] is very popular, and it is not on any of the ships,” he notes.

Disney's new alcohol policy may help spur sales in the ship's own clubs and bars. MousePlanet file photo.

Even with these changes, Disney's alcohol policy is still more permissive than many cruise lines. In comparison: