First-Time Cruisers

Holland America Alcohol Policy: What You Can Bring On Board

Published 19 September 2026 · 2 min read · Cruise Questions Canada editorial team

Quick answerHolland America allows one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult free at embarkation (recent policy — confirm current terms), with additional bottles charged corkage of around $20 each at boarding, and prohibits beer, spirits and liqueurs, holding any found until disembarkation.

Holland America's alcohol rules follow the industry pattern — a modest wine allowance at embarkation, corkage if you drink it in public venues, and no spirits or beer — with the details below.

What's allowed at embarkation

One 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult, free, in carry-on at embarkation. Additional bottles may be brought aboard with corkage paid at boarding.

Corkage

The first bottle per adult is free in any venue; extra bottles pay roughly $20 corkage at boarding, covering their use anywhere on the ship. Wine consumed in your stateroom carries no fee.

Beer, spirits and liqueurs

Not permitted in luggage. Security holds bottles found in checked or carry-on bags and returns them on the final night. Duty-free purchases from the ship's shops and bottles bought in port are held the same way.

Why the rules exist

Bar revenue is part of every line's economics, and responsible-service rules apply on board — the allowance is a courtesy, not a loophole. The general picture across lines is in Do Cruise Ships Have Laundry and What Does It Cost, which also covers bringing water.

Drink packages instead

If you'd rather not carry wine, Holland America's drink package is the alternative — the break-even maths are in Are Drink Packages Worth It on Your First Cruise.

Policies change

Allowances and corkage fees are revised periodically; confirm the current figure for your sailing before packing.

More Holland America policies

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Sorting this before you pack

Whether to carry your allowance, buy a package or pay as you go is a small decision that a consultant who knows Holland America's current rules can settle in a sentence when you book.

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Frequently asked questions

How much wine can you bring on Holland America?

One free 750 ml bottle per adult at embarkation; extra bottles are allowed with a corkage charge of about $20 each at boarding, at recent policy.

Can you bring beer or spirits on Holland America?

No — like every major line, Holland America prohibits beer, spirits and liqueurs in luggage; bottles found at security are held and returned at the end of the cruise, and anything bought in port or in the ship's shops is stored until disembarkation.