Drew_Callahan
Moderator
The Princess Wine Question Every Cruiser Asks
You're packing for your Princess cruise in 2026, and you're staring at that bottle of wine you've been saving. Can you bring it onboard? Will they charge you? How much? I've had these exact conversations with hundreds of cruisers over 40+ sailings, and the answers are more nuanced than Princess's website suggests.
Let me break down Princess's wine policy so you know exactly what to expect before you board the Crown, Royal, or any other Princess vessel.
What You Can Actually Bring Onboard
Here's the straightforward part: Princess allows you to bring one bottle of wine or champagne per stateroom onboard at embarkation. That's it. One bottle. Not wine and champagne. Not two bottles. One.
This applies to your initial boarding day only. If you're sailing out of Long Beach on the Ruby Princess on a Friday, you can walk onboard with that bottle. If you're flying into your port and boarding mid-cruise, this rule doesn't apply to you.
But here's what I need to tell you honestly: enforcement varies wildly by terminal and boarding agent. I've seen security agents barely glance at wine bags, and I've seen them open every piece of luggage looking for bottles. The unpredictability is real.
- One bottle per stateroom at embarkation only
- Wine or champagne (not spirits or beer)
- Must be packed in checked luggage or a wine bag
- Pack it carefully — broken glass ruins your cruise and potentially your cabin
- Hard alcohol, beer, and pre-made cocktails are strictly prohibited
Join the conversation about onboard beverage policies in our Princess Cruises community.
The Corkage Fee: What It Really Costs
Now for the part that makes people nervous: the corkage fee. If you bring wine onboard and want to enjoy it in your stateroom or at dinner, Princess charges a $15 corkage fee per bottle.
Let me be crystal clear about what this means practically. You bring a $20 bottle of wine from home. You want to drink it in your cabin. You tell room service or visit the bar, and they'll open it for you — for $15. So that $20 bottle just cost you $35 in real money.
Does it make financial sense? Usually, no. A glass of wine at the bar runs $8–$12, and a bottle from Princess's wine list typically starts around $30–$50 depending on the ship and selection. The corkage fee essentially makes bringing your own wine cost the same as (or more than) buying from them.
Here's my honest insider take: The corkage fee exists because Princess wants you buying from their onboard beverage program. They're not hiding it, but they're banking on the fact that most people don't do the math before arrival.
Where the Money Actually Adds Up
If you're on a 7-day cruise and you're considering bringing wine, calculate this:
- Bring one bottle from home: $20 bottle + $15 corkage = $35
- Buy one bottle from Princess bar/wine list: $35–$50
- Buy one bottle at the specialty wine shop onboard: $45–$80
- Get a beverage package that includes wine: $15–$20 per day
For many cruisers, a Princess beverage package is actually the better deal if you plan to drink wine daily. On longer sailings especially, the package breaks even fast. But if you want occasional wine without committing to a package, bringing your own becomes a reasonable option despite the fee.
The Hidden Loophole: Dining Venues and Special Cases
Here's something most cruisers don't realize: the corkage fee structure can vary depending on where you're opening the bottle.
If you bring wine intending to drink it in your main dining room during dinner, some Princess ships have a corkage policy that's slightly different than casual venues. I've also seen variation between the Ruby Princess (older Grand-class ship) and newer vessels like the Crown Princess. Always ask your dining manager on embarkation day—this is one area where asking upfront saves confusion later.
Suite guests sometimes receive different perks or reduced fees through their concierge, though this isn't guaranteed across all suite categories. If you're in an AquaClass stateroom or suite-level cabin, that's worth verifying during your check-in.
- Main dining room may have different corkage than casual venues
- Suite guests should ask concierge about beverage benefits
- Alcohol purchased at ports can sometimes be brought to dinner (verify with your server)
- Special occasion bottles (anniversaries, birthdays) might warrant a captain's waiver on fees—ask your stateroom attendant
What Actually Happens If You Break the Rules
I'm going to be blunt because I've seen this happen: if you sneak onboard with extra bottles or hard liquor and get caught, Princess doesn't play games. They will:
- Confiscate the alcohol immediately with no reimbursement
- Potentially charge you additional fees or remove the beverage privilege from your account
- In rare cases, issue a violation that affects future bookings or loyalty status
It's not worth it. The cost of sneaking in an extra bottle is far higher than just paying the $15 corkage or buying onboard.
That said, I've also seen cruisers successfully enjoy their own wine without incident by:
- Being upfront about having brought one bottle
- Asking a crew member to open it rather than trying to do it secretly
- Enjoying it in the privacy of the cabin (not in public venues where they shouldn't have it)
- Not being obnoxious about it
The Smart Strategy for Wine Lovers
If you genuinely care about wine, here's what I recommend after 40+ cruises:
On shorter cruises (3–5 days): Skip bringing wine. Just buy a glass or two from the bar. The bottle markup from Princess is painful, but the corkage fee pushes DIY over budget anyway.
On longer cruises (7+ days): Either purchase a beverage package that includes wine (typically $15–$20/day depending on promotion) or budget for buying bottles from Princess's onboard wine shop. The specialty wine shop usually has better pricing than dining venues and no corkage fee applies.
If you want to bring your one bottle: Pick something special that you know you love and that's hard to find. Bring a $30+ bottle, pay the $15 corkage, and make it a meaningful moment in your cabin with your travel companion. Don't bring cheap wine to "save money"—the math doesn't work, and your experience will feel nickel-and-dimed.
The Real Talk About Princess's Beverage Program
Here's what I want you to understand: Princess isn't being unreasonable with the corkage fee. They're running a ship that costs millions to operate. The beverage program is where they make real margin, and the corkage fee is designed to keep people buying through official channels.
If you're a wine person, embrace it. Download the Princess app before your cruise and check out their wine list and beverage package options. Compare packages across different sailings—prices vary by ship and sail date. Many cruisers book their beverage package during a sale event months in advance and save significantly.
If wine isn't central to your cruise experience, don't stress about the policy. Grab a beer at the pool bar, enjoy cocktails at specialty venues, and skip the corkage conversation entirely.
Port Shopping: What You Need to Know
One question I get constantly: "Can I buy wine at ports and bring it back onboard?"
Yes, with limits. You can purchase alcohol at ports and bring it back to your stateroom. However, Princess policy states that you cannot open or consume port-purchased alcohol in public venues onboard. You can drink it in your cabin, but not at the pool, in the dining room, or at the bars.
This makes port wine purchases reasonable only if you want to stock your cabin for private enjoyment—not for dinner or socializing.
Join other Princess cruisers sharing their port shopping tips in our Princess Cruises forum.
Your Action Plan for 2026
Before your Princess cruise this year, do this:
1. Check your specific ship's beverage offerings. Every Princess ship has slightly different onboard wine selections and bar pricing. The Crown Princess (launching in 2026) might offer different packages than the Ruby or Emerald.
2. Calculate your wine budget. If you plan to drink wine multiple times, a beverage package almost always wins financially over corkage fees.
3. If you're bringing one bottle, pack it properly. A wine bag or bubble wrap inside a shoe in checked luggage is safer than hoping for the best.
4. Ask about suite perks at check-in. If you've splurged on a suite, find out exactly what beverage benefits are included before you assume anything.
5. Don't overthink it. A cruise should be relaxing, not stressful about wine logistics. If the policy feels annoying, just buy onboard and enjoy yourself.
Share your Princess beverage strategies and questions with thousands of experienced cruisers in our Princess Cruises community. We're here to help you navigate these policies and make the most of your sailing.