Avoid Trouble - What Not To Pack

Preparing for a cruise is exciting—and maybe just a little overwhelming. You want to make sure you have everything you need, but you also don't want to arrive at the port with something that isn't allowed onboard!

Cruising is a little different from a traditional hotel stay or land vacation. Cruise lines have specific rules about what you can and cannot bring onto the ship, and some of the prohibited items may surprise you.

While a few are pretty obvious, others might seem downright strange or unnecessary. And yes, bringing certain items onboard can cause more than just a little inconvenience—you could even find yourself in trouble with security.

There are also plenty of practical travel items you might normally pack for a vacation that simply aren't allowed on a cruise ship.

Before you start filling those suitcases, let's take a look at some of the things you should leave at home when packing for your cruise.

Prohibited Items on Cruise Ships

The following are examples of items that are not allowed onboard cruise ships. These prohibited items, along with similar items, may be confiscated if they are found during the embarkation or security screening process.

Weapons, illegal drugs & other Substances (including marijuana, cannabis, extracts of THC and/or CBD), These items could interfere with the safe operation of the ship or the safe and secure environment of our guests and crew and are strictly prohibited.Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, flammable liquids, explosives, and dangerous chemicals will NOT be returned.

Firearms & Ammunition, including realistic replicas.Sharp Objects, including knives and scissors. (Personal grooming items such as safety razors are allowed. Scissors with blade length less than 4 inches are allowed.) In Alaska, ulu knives bought in port may be brought onboard but must remain stored in cabins.

Aerial Drones: Some cruise lines allow guests to bring drones on their cruise for use on land only and outside of the port area. Drones are not to be operated onboard the ship at any time. Different countries may have different rules. Guests assume full responsibility for understanding all local authority rules related to drone usage and for obtaining ay required permissions for drone operations. Any liability, including environmental damage from drone usage is the guest’s responsibility.

The cruise line assumes no liability for guests drones that may be confiscated by local authorities for violating local laws or for any accident or injury resulting from a guest drone flight. While onboard, drones must be stored safely in the stateroom. Drones used on the ship will be confiscated till the end of the cruise. A Guest Conduct Policy warning will be issued and guests may be subject to disembarkation at their own expense for onboard drone usage.

Candles, Incense, Coffee Makers, Clothes Irons, Steamers & Hot Plates: Items that generate heat, steam or produce an open flame are strictly prohibited. This includes heating pads, clothing irons, hotplates, candles, incense and any other item that may create a fire hazard.

NOTE: The only exception to this policy are curling irons, hair straighteners and personal fans that are “”certified”” low wattage. Matches and normal lighteners are allowed onboard. However “”torch lighters”” and novelty lighters that look like guns are not allowed onboard. Torch lighters emit a powerful concentrated flame, and therefore are prohibited.

If you are someone who loves a specific type of coffee, you can request a hot water kettle from your cabin steward and make pour-over coffee in your cabin. Or your favorite tea.

Clothing Irons and SteamersThese are a potential fire hazard, they’re prohibited to be brought on a cruise ship. Fire is one of the worst things that could happen on a cruise ship; therefore, this is strictly enforced.f you are a first time cruiser, you might be surprised that unlike a hotel room, you won’t have an iron in your cabin. If you do need to get wrinkles out of your clothes, some cruise ships have public laundry rooms that cruise passengers can use. You can also use the ship’s laundry and pressing service at an additional fee.

Which cruise lines offer self-service laundry?It is easy to remove wrinkles in your cabin and to wash out smaller items. Click on picture for link to products.More text

Smart/Meta Glasses They may be brought onboard but are restricted in areas including casinos, spa service areas, restrooms, locker rooms, medical facilities, security screening locations, youth facilities, back-of-house tours, crew areas or any place with a reasonable expectation of privacy. Violations result in confiscation.

Vapes While allowed onboard in specified areas, vapes and e-cigarettes are banned ashore in Mexico, with public smoking of regular cigarettes prohibited in many areas, risking fines or jail.

Baseball Bats, Hockey Sticks, Cricket Bats, Bows & ArrowsSkateboards & SurfboardsMartial Arts Gear If sailing in the Caribbean, do not pack any clothing with camouflage material. There are a few islands, such as Barbados, that prohibit this type of clothing, as it is worn by the military only

Self-Defense Gear, including handcuffs, pepper spray, night sticks.
Flammable Liquids and Explosives, including lighter fluid and fireworks.
HAM Radios
Hookahs & Water Hookah Pipes .
Surge protected Electrical Extension Cords
*check photo below for information directly from Celebrity
Dangerous Chemicals, including bleach and paint.

Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Check with your cruise line to see if wine is allowed to be brought onboard at embarkation and how much…many do. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports-of-call or from shops onboard will be stored by the ship and delivered to you on the last day of the sailing. Alcoholic beverages seized on embarkation day will not be returned.

Perishable food that requires refrigeration…this includes fruit, vegetables, dairy products or take away containers. If you need refrigeration for medical reasons, contact the cruise line at least 30 days prior to sailing to make arrangements. Food that is prepackaged such as snacks, chips, candy, powdered coffee creamer, etc are allowed onboard.

Special Needs Form for Celebrity Cruises

Holland America Special Requirements Form

Princess Cruises Form

Final Thoughts on Cruise Ship Prohibited Items

Following your cruise line’s rules about prohibited items can help make embarkation quick, easy, and stress-free—and get your vacation started on the right foot.

Before you start packing, be sure to check your cruise line’s current list of prohibited items, as policies can vary between cruise lines and may change over time.

And now that you know what you CAN’T bring on a cruise ship, let’s talk about what you CAN bring!

Be sure to check out the link below for my list of cruise essentials and items you CAN take onboard!

19 Essential Items You Need in Your Cruise Cabin

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