Smugling liquor. Well ... it can be done. All luggage, including carry-ons, is X-rayed and (supposedly) liquor or beer is consfiscated and returned on the last night. Wine is OK. If you're taking a clear liquor, transfer it to a water bottle and stash it in your carry-on. You'll probably have to do that between the airport and the cruise terminal. I also have a "fool-proof" way to smuggle,, which is very popular with members of Cruise-Addicts. Try this ... Go by your local speakeasy (I mean liquor store). Don't waste your money on some big, 'ol bottles of booze. Instead, opt for a nice selection of the individual serving bottles. You know the kind ... Yeah, the airline bottles. Be sure to buy the plastic ones and check that they have plastic caps. The why of this will be explained later. Get enough for however many drinks you're going to need for each day of your cruise. Play around with the planning. Be creative. This way, you have a choice of drinks throughout your cruise, instead of the same ol' thing every morning, day and night. *sigh* Boring!
Pack the little bottles in your suitcase. Because they're small, you can find all kinds of hiding places. This allows you to bring even more booze on your cruise. When looking for those nooks and crannies, don't overlook the hidden space inside your shoes. No, not the ones you're wearing, the ones you pack! Another advantage of using the small bottles is that, if one breaks, you'll only ruin one or two outfits, as opposed to your entire wardrobe.
When you get to the port, visit the restroom. Grab a handicap stall, as you'll need a little room for this step. Besides, you're going to need it much more than they will! Remove the tiny bottles and, using dental floss, tie them together, in a chain. Don't use an extra belt, because of the metal buckle, instead, grab that roll of duct tape I always recommend cruisers take. Wrap the tape around your waist, tie your bottle chains to it and let them hang down, inside your trouser legs. Here's why you buy plastic bottles ... 1) glass bottles can be COLD and that makes you walk funny, and 2) plastic bottles don't clink together and give you away!
Now, go on through the screening process. Act as normal as possible. Since the bottles have plastic caps, you won't have to worry about the metal detector. See? Another advantage of plastic!
One final advantage of the little bottles is that you can sneak them into the dining room and avoid any corkage fees! Just 'palm' the bottle and pretend that you are coughing while you chug away.
I guarantee, no one will know!
IMHO if you can't afford to take a vacation without resorting to smuggling alcohol aboard, you can't afford the cruise. If they didn't have free food, people would probably be smuggling Whoppers on board.