The internet is full of videos and posts about how to smuggle alcohol on cruise ships to save money. Although concealing liquor in hidden flasks might seem easy enough, the consequences can be dire if caught. Recently, one unlucky cruiser learned this the hard way.
Courtney Murley, a passenger who sailed aboard Carnival Conquest at the end of March 2025, posted a now-viral TikTok, revealing that she had successfully smuggled alcohol on their Bahamian voyage.
"Def waited until after I got home to post this! Hahahaha but it worked," reads the caption of the short video.
"Forget a drink package lol....okay we ended up drinking probably what we would [have] paid for a drink package anyways but still was fun to try and see if the rum runners would work."
The TikTok depicts Murley and her travel partner hauling their two suitcases into their stateroom. They prop the bags on the bed and immediately unzip them to check whether their smuggled alcohol made it through Carnival's security screening.
Inside a box of tampons, the duo reveals they hid plastic flasks in wrappers. They removed shampoo and conditioner bottles from the suitcase, which supposedly was filled with liquor.
Read more: How to sneak alcohol on a cruise and why you should not do it
Although Murley wasn't caught during her cruise, her post sparked a wave of criticism and concern in the comments.
Not only that, but it was brought to the attention of Carnival Cruise Line executives. As such, Murley received a notice from Carnival's Staff Investigator, Joaquin Garcia, about the violation in May.
"This letter is to inform you that you will not be able to sail onboard any Carnival Cruise Line vessel in the future due to the smuggling of alcohol onboard the Carnival Conquest on March 31st, 2025, and subsequently posting about it on social media platforms," the letter reads, "Your attempt to book a future cruise will result in cancellation and possible loss of deposit monies."
"This is a little embarrassing"
Since being shared on April 6, the 37-second video has been viewed over 314,000 times, with many comments pointing out the risks and criticizing her actions.
"If you can afford the cruise but not the refreshments, maybe a cruise isn't for you," said Wayne Jason.
Another user added, "Did y'all know that when you post these, it just makes them search better next time?"
"Posting this is a great way to never sail Carnival again, your name and city are on your page," wrote Shelly Holmes Herter.
However, Murley didn't seem too concerned, replying that she had been on 18 Carnival cruises. "They won't turn down my money," she said.
At the moment, she may have thought that, since she was home, she was in the clear from any consequences. Of course, hindsight is 20/20.
In the comments, Murley also revealed how much alcohol she successfully brought onboard, including a whole bottle of bourbon, Malibu, Fireball, and 2 bottles of wine — though the latter is allowed.
"...why would I be embarrassed? I did this for FUN ...not because I couldn't afford it, I clearly can afford it," she declared.
Read more: 5 cruise passengers got banned by Carnival for life (and how you can avoid a similar fate)
Ironically, she later claimed she never brought alcohol on her Carnival cruise
“What I’m mad about is that they are banning me for something that didn’t happen. They said for smuggling alcohol. I did not smuggle alcohol. Not one ounce of alcohol was smuggled onto the ship. Not one. Not a single drop,” Murley said in another TikTok.
"What you see in that video is not alcohol. Is everything on the Internet real? No....You guys saw an edited video. You saw juice in a tampon flask," she added.
Carnival hasn't rescinded Murley's ban, but she'd have to go to great lengths to prove that it was a joke. Since she's no longer onboard, she can't take out the flask to verify that its contents were non-alcoholic.
If anything, Murley's story serves as a warning to watch what you post on social media. Even if you think it's a joke, it may be interpreted as a policy violation by security or cruise line executives.
Tips for saving money on cruise drinks
Let's face it: alcohol can easily be one of the most expensive add-ons for any cruise vacation. However, that doesn't mean there aren't savvy ways to minimize costs without breaking the rules.
For example, most cruise lines allow guests to bring on limited quantities of wine on embarkation day. Recently, I took advantage of this and stopped at a local grocery store en route to the cruise terminal in Seattle.
I paid around $15 for a bottle of Pinot Grigio, which was more cost-effective than paying upwards of $11 per glass at an onboard bar.
You may also want to keep an eye out for drink of the day and happy hour specials. While you might not be able to order your usual drink, the featured daily selections typically cost between $6.00 and $11.00. For instance, Royal Caribbean has recently begun offering $6 happy hour margaritas from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.
Read more: I always do these 5 things to save money on cruise drinks when I don't buy a drink package
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
