Preparing for your cruise is exciting and a little overwhelming. You don’t want to forget anything….but you also don’t want to bring something that is not allowed onboard! Cruising is a different kind of vacation from hotel and land tours. Ships have very set rules on what you can and cannot bring onboard. You might be surprised to find out some of the items that are actually prohibited on cruise ships!
While some things are obvious, others may seem a bit weird or strange….you can even get you in trouble if you bring them. There are also some practical travel items that you might normally bring on a vacation, but aren’t allowed onboard cruise ships.
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Items that Are Prohibited on a Cruise
The following are examples of items that guests are not allowed to bring onboard. These and other similar items will be confiscated upon being found.
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.)
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 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.
Clothing Irons and Steamers
These 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.
Baseball Bats, Hockey Sticks, Cricket Bats, Bows & Arrows
Skateboards & Surfboards
Martial Arts Gear If sailing in the Caribbean, do not pack any clothing with camouflage material. There are a few islands 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
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
Final thoughts….
Follow the rules of your cruise line and you will have a quick and easy embarkation and an enjoyable vacation.
Be sure to check out the link below for items you CAN take onboard!
19 Essential Items You Need in Your Cruise Cabin
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