If you’re bringing your own wine onboard Royal Caribbean, you might’ve heard about something called a corkage fee and it can be confusing, especially if your bottle doesn’t even have a cork.
Let’s break down exactly what it means, when it applies, and how to enjoy your wine onboard without paying extra.
🥂 What the Corkage Fee Actually Is
Royal Caribbean’s policy states:
“Guests who consume their personal wine or champagne in public areas will incur a $15 corkage fee per bottle.”
That means the fee isn’t really about removing a cork — it’s about where you drink it.
You’re allowed to bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult onto the ship at embarkation. (If you’re on back-to-back cruises, you can bring one per sailing.)
If you enjoy that bottle privately in your stateroom or balcony, there’s no corkage fee at all — even if you brought a twist-off, not a corked bottle.
But if you bring your personal wine to a restaurant, bar, or public lounge and ask the staff to open or serve it for you, you’ll see that $15 fee on your account.
💡 What the Fee Covers
Think of it less like a “corking” fee and more like a service fee — it covers glassware, service, and cleanup.
It’s also a courtesy charge to the dining staff, since they’re opening and serving a bottle that wasn’t purchased onboard.
🍇 Can You Bring Twist-Off Wine Bottles?
Yes!
Twist-off wine bottles are perfectly fine — as long as they’re store-sealed and 750 ml or smaller.
The corkage fee has nothing to do with whether the bottle uses a cork or a screw cap. It only applies if the crew opens or serves it for you.
🔧 Can You Bring a Corkscrew?
Yes, you can bring your own corkscrew in your carry-on bag.
Security allows corkscrews as long as they don’t have a blade or knife attached (so skip the Swiss Army–style openers).
Most cruisers either bring their own or simply ask their room attendant for one — they’ll gladly bring wine glasses, too.
🍷 How to Enjoy Your Wine Without Paying a Fee
Here’s what experienced cruisers recommend:
- Bring your wine in your carry-on, not your checked luggage.
- Ask your stateroom attendant for wine glasses (or grab a couple from a bar).
- Open and pour your wine in your room.
- If you’d like to bring a glass to dinner or a show, go for it — you won’t be charged unless you hand the bottle to staff to open or serve.
If you’re hoping to enjoy your bottle at dinner and avoid the fee, pour a generous glass (or two) in your room before heading to the Main Dining Room.
🛎️ When You Might Be Charged Anyway
Some cruisers report being charged the corkage fee even if they only asked for service in the dining room — others say they weren’t charged at all. It can vary by ship, crew, and how busy the dining team is that night.
Bottom line: if you bring the bottle to a restaurant and ask them to open it, expect the $15 fee just in case.
🧭 FAQs About Wine and Corkage on Royal Caribbean
Q: Can I bring more than one bottle of wine?
A: Each guest of drinking age can bring one 750 ml bottle per sailing. For back-to-back cruises, you can bring one per leg.
Q: Can I bring boxed or canned wine?
A: No. The wine must be in a sealed glass bottle. Boxed, canned, or tetra-pack wines aren’t allowed.
Q: Is champagne treated the same way?
A: Yes — champagne and sparkling wines fall under the same one-bottle rule and corkage policy.
Q: What happens if I forget and pack it in my checked luggage?
A: It may be flagged and held by security until the end of your sailing, since alcohol must be hand-carried onboard at embarkation.
Q: If I order room service, can I use my own wine?
A: Yes, but room service staff can’t open it for you. Bring your corkscrew or open it yourself before they arrive.
Q: What about dining in specialty restaurants?
A: Same rule — if you bring your personal bottle and ask them to serve it, there’s a $15 corkage fee per bottle.
🗣️ Final Takeaway
Royal Caribbean’s corkage fee is less about corks and more about courtesy.
If you enjoy your wine privately in your cabin or balcony, you’ll never see the fee.
But if you want your bottle opened and served in a restaurant, it’s a small charge for the service and glassware.
Twist-offs, corkscrews, balcony toasts — all are welcome. Just remember: one sealed 750 ml bottle per adult, and you’re good to go.
Want to feel prepared for your cruise?
I pulled the most important Royal Caribbean prep steps into a printable checklist bundle that walks you through what to do before you leave, what to bring, how embarkation works, and what to expect on disembarkation day—so you’re prepared instead of guessing.
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