Marcelo OliveiraCan you bring alcohol on a cruise? On MSC and Costa, no: both prohibit boarding with drinks bought ashore, alcoholic or not. On Royal Caribbean, each adult may bring 1 sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne at embarkation, and beer and spirits are prohibited (rules checked Oct/2026).
| MSC | Prohibits any beverage, alcoholic or not (Terms, item 4.6, Oct/2026) |
|---|---|
| Costa | Prohibits food and drinks bought ashore (official FAQ, Oct/2026) |
| Royal Caribbean | 1 bottle of wine or champagne, 750 ml, per adult; beer and spirits prohibited (Oct/2026) |
| Water and soda | Royal: up to 12 units of 500 ml per cabin; MSC and Costa: no |
| Wine with corkage fee | Royal: value to be confirmed; Costa: to be confirmed |
| Drinks from ports | Held by security and returned at the end of the trip (Costa and Royal) |
| MSC package limit | 15 alcoholic drinks per day, since 04/01/2025 |
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The question pops up right after booking, when people do the bar math: if the ship charges a lot for a beer, can’t you just bring a few cans in your suitcase? The answer changes from line to line, and the one that sails most from Brazil happens to be the strictest.
In this article · 7 topics
- Can you bring alcohol on a cruise?
- Can you bring alcohol on an MSC cruise?
- Can you bring alcohol on a Costa cruise?
- Can you bring alcohol on a Royal Caribbean cruise?
- What happens if they find alcohol in your luggage?
- How much does drinking onboard cost and what’s the package limit?
- Who should buy the package and who shouldn’t?
🚢 This article is part of the 2026/2027 Cruise Guide, with ships, ports, costs and boarding rules.
Can you bring alcohol on a cruise?
On most ships sailing the Brazilian coast, no. MSC and Costa, the two lines with the most departures from Santos, Rio and Salvador, block outside drinks at the embarkation X-ray. The exception among the big players is Royal Caribbean, which allows one bottle of wine or sparkling wine per adult.
| Cruise line | Alcoholic drinks | Water and soda | Source (Oct/2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSC | Prohibited, including beer, wine and champagne | Prohibited, including juices | MSC Terms and Conditions, item 4.6 |
| Costa | Prohibited if bought ashore | Prohibited if bought ashore | Official Costa FAQ |
| Royal Caribbean | 1 bottle of wine or champagne, 750 ml, per adult | Up to 12 units of 500 ml per cabin | Royal’s alcohol policy |
Themed charters (artist cruises, private events) may have their own organizer rules: Royal itself warns that the policy may not apply on chartered sailings. In that case, the charterer has the final say.
Can you bring alcohol on an MSC cruise?
No. The MSC Cruises Terms and Conditions (item 4.6) prohibit bringing alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, spirits and champagne, as well as non-alcoholic ones like soda and juice. Item 4.6.2 even covers already-opened containers, and the only written exception is for sealed dry foods or vacuum-packed items.
The line reinforced this rule on 10/29/2025, in a notice to travel agents, during the methanol poisoning crisis in the country. The official reason was to ensure safe embarkation. In practice, MSC also removed plastic water bottles from cabins and serves AQUA by MSC, water produced onboard, in a glass and pitcher (checked Oct/2026). Package details are in the MSC drink package guide.
Infant milk, formula or medically prescribed drinks are not listed as exceptions in the terms: anyone traveling with a baby or on a special diet should confirm with MSC’s call center before embarkation (to be confirmed).
Can you bring alcohol on a Costa cruise?
No. The Costa Cruises help center says you cannot bring food or drinks bought ashore onboard (checked Oct/2026). Costa’s price includes full board, but not drinks, which are sold individually or in My Drinks packages.
Costa does not publish, on the pages we checked, a wine-with-corkage-fee rule at embarkation: that point remains to be confirmed with the line or your travel agency at booking. To compare what’s included in each package, see the Costa drink package.
Still choosing a line? Check out Costa sailings on Logitravel and the selection of domestic cruises, which gathers MSC and Costa departing from Brazil with prices in reais.
Can you bring alcohol on a Royal Caribbean cruise?
Yes, wine or champagne only. Under the Royal Caribbean alcohol policy, each guest of legal age may board with 1 sealed 750 ml bottle; beer, spirits, wine boxes and other containers are prohibited (Oct/2026). On back-to-back cruises, it’s 1 bottle per cruise.
For non-alcoholic drinks, the line’s food and beverage policy allows up to 12 cans, bottles or cartons of 500 ml per cabin in carry-on luggage on embarkation day; baby milk and distilled water for medical use are also allowed. Security may open water or soda bottles and discard any that contain alcohol. If the wine is opened in a restaurant or bar, a corkage fee applies, the amount of which the page does not state (to be confirmed onboard).
What happens if they find alcohol in your luggage?
On MSC, luggage goes through the X-ray; if alcohol shows up, the guest must discard it, and anyone who refuses is denied boarding (Terms, items 4.6.1 and 4.6.3, Oct/2026). There is no holding until the end of the trip.
On Costa, local products bought in ports are held in security custody and returned before final disembarkation. On Royal, bottles beyond the allowance and drinks bought onboard or at ports of call are stored and returned on the last day, if sealed; minors do not get alcoholic drinks back.
The most common trap is the bottle of wine bought in Uruguay or Argentina: it can come back on the ship with you, but it stays held until the end of the cruise, without being enjoyed in your cabin.
Tip: luggage stopped at the X-ray delays embarkation, and mishaps before departure (lost suitcase, a visit to the ship’s paid medical center) get expensive. Travel insurance with baggage and medical coverage saves you the bill: get a travel insurance quote.
How much does drinking onboard cost and what’s the package limit?
On MSC, individual drinks carry a 15% bar service charge on the menu price (Terms, item 2.11, Oct/2026). Packages have limits: since 04/01/2025, anyone buying an alcoholic package may consume up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day, a rule announced by the line in December 2024.
Package prices vary by ship, length and purchase date, and usually cost less when bought with the cabin. The verified values are in each line’s specific guide, linked above; on Royal, the price is to be confirmed at booking.
Who should buy the package and who shouldn’t?
Since you can’t bring alcohol on MSC and Costa, the package becomes the only way to predict your spending. It’s worth it for anyone having beer by the pool and wine at dinner every day, especially on itineraries with sea days. It’s not worth it for light drinkers, for those who spend port days ashore, or for those who only drink water and coffee, which are already included with full board in the main restaurants.
Anyone who wants to save with their own wine has a real option: choose Royal Caribbean and bring the allowed bottle, accepting the corkage fee if you open it in the restaurant.
Conclusion
Before packing, check your cruise line: on MSC and Costa, leave the drinks at home and decide between the package or paying per drink; on Royal, bring one sealed bottle of wine per adult and that’s it. On a themed charter, ask the organizer.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bring alcohol on a cruise?
On MSC and Costa, no. On Royal Caribbean, only 1 sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult at embarkation; beer and spirits are prohibited (Oct/2026).
Can you bring water or soda onto the ship?
On MSC, no — the ban includes soda and juice. On Royal Caribbean, up to 12 units of 500 ml per cabin in carry-on luggage (Oct/2026). On Costa, drinks bought ashore don’t come onboard.
Can you bring wine on a cruise?
Only on Royal Caribbean, 1 bottle of 750 ml per adult, with a corkage fee if opened at a bar or restaurant. On Costa, the wine-with-corkage rule is to be confirmed; on MSC, it’s prohibited.
Can drinks bought in ports come onboard?
On Costa and Royal Caribbean, yes, but they’re held by security and returned at the end of the cruise. On MSC, the terms require you to discard them.