A corkage fee is a surcharge many cruise lines impose when a passenger consumes a bottle of wine or Champagne they brought onboard. Cruise lines generally allow passengers to carry on at least one 750ml bottle, at embarkation, to enjoy in a restaurant or bar, or in the privacy of their own cabin. Cruise line corkage fees are set, meaning they're the same regardless of which ship in the fleet you're sailing and which bar or restaurant you choose.

Norwegian Cruise Line: $15
Oceania Cruises: $25
P&O Cruises: £15
Princes Cruises: $15
Royal Caribbean Cruises: $15
Windstar: $15

In most cases, you're only charged when you wish to consume the wine outside your cabin. Many lines waive the corkage fee for wine and Champagne pre-cruise purchases and gifts delivered to cabins by travel agents -- even if you bring the bottle to a restaurant -- as long as it was purchased on the line's website; though you most likely will have to present the gift note or receipt. Other lines already include corkage fees in the online prices.

Below is a breakdown of corkage fees (listed per bottle), for the cruise lines that enforce them. Note that most luxury lines do not charge corkage fees. In addition, MSC Cruises is the only mainstream line that does not allow passengers to bring their own wine or Champagne onboard; therefore, corkage fees do not apply.

Check out our breakdown of cruise line alcohol policies, for more information such as the rules for bringing other types of alcohol onboard and how to snag free drinks.

Azamara Cruises Corkage Fee: $10

Where It Applies: Restaurants and bars; in-cabin consumption is free

Limit: There is no limit to the number of bottles passengers can bring onboard.

Carnival Corkage Fee: $15

Where It Applies: Main dining room, steakhouse and bars; in-cabin consumption is free

Limit: One bottle per passenger

Celebrity Cruises Corkage Fee: $25

Where It Applies: Restaurants and bars; in-cabin consumption is free

Limit: Two bottles per cabin

Cunard Corkage Fee: $20

Where It Applies: Restaurants, bars and lounges; in-cabin-consumption is free

Limit: One 750ml bottle per passenger

Disney Corkage Fee: $25

Where It Applies: Dining rooms (passengers are not permitted to bring their own bottles to any lounge or public area); in-cabin consumption is free

Limit: Two bottles per passenger

Holland America Corkage Fee: $18

Where It Applies: Restaurants and bars; in-cabin consumption is free

Limit: One bottle per passenger (additional bottles can be brought onboard but will incur a corkage fee, regardless of where they're consumed)

Note: Corkage fees for additional bottles are charged at embarkation. For passengers who do not wish to pay the corkage fee, bottles will be stored onboard and returned at the end of the cruise.

Norwegian Corkage Fee: $15 ($20 for a 1,000ml bottle; $30 for a 1,500ml bottle)

Where It Applies: Restaurants, public areas and cabins

Limit: There is no limit to the number of bottles passengers can bring onboard.

Note: Corkage fees are charged at embarkation. For passengers who do not wish to pay the corkage fee, bottles will be stored onboard and returned at the end of the cruise.

Oceania Corkage Fee: $25

Where It Applies: The dining room and public areas; in-cabin consumption is free

Limit: Three bottles per cabin

P&O Cruises Corkage Fee: £15

Where It Applies: The dining room, bars and lounges; in-cabin consumption is free

Limit: At port authorities' discretion; additional bottles will be stored onboard until the last day of the cruise

Princess Cruises Corkage Fee: $15

Where It Applies: Restaurants and bars; in-cabin consumption is free

Limit: One bottle per adult (additional bottles can be brought onboard but will incur a corkage fee, regardless of where they're consumed)

Note: Corkage fees for additional bottles are charged at embarkation. For passengers who do not wish to pay the corkage fee, bottles will be stored onboard and returned at the end of the cruise.

Royal Caribbean Corkage Fee: $15

Where It Applies: Restaurants, bars and lounges; in-cabin consumption is free

Limit: Two bottles per cabin

Windstar Corkage Fee: $15

Where It Applies: The dining room and bars; in-cabin consumption is free
Limit: Two bottles per cabin, for cruises seven nights or less; three bottles per cabin, for cruises longer than seven nights