Alcohol on board

This is becoming circular. I maintain that stacking mislabeled "gratuities" onto the bill is nefarious money gouging - period. It doesn't matter if the passenger is warned in the fine print - or the large print. And it doesn't matter is the passenger "signed the agreement" or didn't - or if the agreement was implied or explicit. IT IS NEFARIOUS MONEY GOUGING. What I don't get is how they get their victims to defend these nefarious practices. Stockholm Syndrome?

Please see my comments in bold italicized underline above.

Double post due to web hiccup. My apologies.

Some cruise lines are worse than others - some much worse, however, I submit: "Automatic" "mandatory" daily "gratuities" is a nefarious, money gouging practice. I submit that additional "automatic mandatory gratuities" on top of the "automatic mandatory daily assessments" for all bar bills is a nefarious, money gouging practice. I submit that handing a passenger a bar bill for signature with an ADDITIONAL line for an ADDITIONAL "tip" is a nefarious money gouging practice. I submit that offering a passenger a "complimentary drink and then demanding payment is a nefarious money gouging practice. Passengers that accept these (and other) nefarious money gouging practices and shrug them off as the "price of cruising" encourages the cruise lines to continue and even increase nefarious money gouging practices. It doesn't matter that these nefarious money gouging practices may or may not have been available to passenger in the fine print (or even in large print).

Examples please?

Being able to afford it and choosing not to be taken advantage of - are two different things. But the bottom line is being able to enjoy the cruise - and if that means paying top dollar - then there is nothing wrong with that (other than it does tend to encourage the cruise line to continue their more nefarious money gouging practices).

If I can afford my cruise, I can afford to buy drinks on the ship. What I may do though is to bring drinks from a cocktail party into the dining room.

Sneaky is as sneaky does. Nothing is sneakier than offering an unwary passenger a "complimentary" welcome on board cocktail and then charging them for it. Or selling "drink packages" that are much less than they promise. Or building in "automatic" 15-20 % gratuities into bar tabs and then expecting ADDITIONAL tips. I resent being scammed - I resent being disrespected. I resent being taken for a sap. I bring my own booze onboard - enjoy a good night cap or two in my cabin, unobtrusively freshen up my glass from my flask in the cigar lounge, and liberally dose my orange juice/tomato juice at breakfast/brunch.

Somehow drink packages motivate me to drink more, to ensure I am getting value for the money spent I suppose.

On the principal of the matter to be told bringing one's own alcohol on board is a safety issue since the line can't regulate your consumption is a crock. Cruise lines will gladly sell me a bottle of alcohol at drastically inflated prices and even have it in my room when I first board. How is that safer?

This is about revenue protection and ensuring you pay their bar prices plus mandatory gratuities often for very poor bar service as the cruise lines are cutting employees leading to long lines. On that basis alone I am tempted to bring alcohol on board just to circumvent their greedy policies and give them the finger (rebel in me).

On the other hand, I can appreciate how the party ships (certain cruises lines, short or weekend cruises, etc) would quickly become a disaster due to people who drink in excess, if they were allowed to bring their own, particularly on the last day when there is half a bottle left and 'no sense letting it go to waste'. Some people can not handle their liquor.

I'm not buying the package on my upcoming cruise. I'll grab a couple drinks in the suite lounge and when that isn't convenient I'll just buy a drink. That won't be too often and I won't feel pressured to drink to get my money's worth from the package.

Not all of us book suites with the free mini-bar or are invited to the Elite Lounge. Additionally, we are not all appreciative of fine wines.

The hillbilly in me likes bourbon and rum (not at the same time, normally), and I like to ponder the wonders of the universe while sipping on my drink. It normally takes me about 30 minutes to an hour to finish a drink, so I never get "stupid-drunk", but rather remain in a comfortable state throughout the day. For me, the drink package is worth it, as I will go through at least 10 alcoholic drinks, + water and whatever else ends up being included.