Packing

When you’re on a cruise, it’s important to keep your cruise card safe with you at all times.

A lot of people like to wear a lanyard – if you’ve been on a cruise, you’ve probably spotted a lot of lanyard-wearers walking around the decks.

Do you need a cruise lanyard? How do you get one? Let’s find out.

Cruise lanyards explained

A cruise lanyard is an accessory worn around the neck during a cruise. It typically holds a cruise card, which serves as a room key and onboard payment method. The lanyard keeps the key card easily accessible, allowing passengers to navigate the ship effortlessly and enjoy a hassle-free cruise experience.

Everyone who boards a cruise ship is given some kind of key to access their room. But this key does more than just that, as it’s also what you’ll use to pay for anything onboard, such as your drinks or spa treatments.

Usually, it’s a card, although it can be different – on Princess Cruises you get a medallion.

But the responsibility is then on you to keep your cruise card or medallion safe. And a lanyard is a handy way of doing that.

They’re not essential, but very useful

While not necessary, a lanyard can be helpful on a cruise. It keeps your key card easily accessible, making cabin access and onboard activities more convenient. It’s a practical accessory that adds to the ease of your cruise experience.

If you’re someone who likes to have everything tucked away in a pocket, then you may not need a lanyard. But that means every time you’re going to order a drink, you’ll need to pull out your wallet or purse, find the card, and remove it before you can use it.

With a lanyard, you always know where it is.

Most cruise lines don’t provide lanyards. You’ll need to buy your own, so it’s a good idea to sort it before you travel.

And if you grab a retractable lanyard, you don’t even need to take it off, most of the time – they come with a pull-out cable that lets you just pull the cruise card to where you need to scan it:

I’d recommend packing one!

It’s a great idea to bring a lanyard with you on your cruise. It helps to keep your room card accessible at all times, so whenever you want to buy a drink or just get into your room, you aren’t having to search for your card.

The only downside to a lanyard is that you might not be able to wear one during some activities of your cruise. Anything that is particularly active might mean that you have to take the lanyard off.

Examples would be the FlowRider surf simulator or iFly skydiving simulators with Royal Caribbean, or the Bolt roller coaster at sea on Carnival. Anything where a lanyard may be considered a hazard, you’ll be asked to remove it and tuck it into a bag or your pocket.

Kids can wear them too…

While it’s not essential, having a cruise lanyard for kids can help them to keep it safe without losing it. Kids need their cruise card if they’re ordering their own soft drinks.

Most cruise lines give kids under 12 a wristband to wear, so that if there’s an emergency, they crew members can take them to the correct muster station to meet their parents.

Unless you have super-organised kids, you’ll know they can often lose things easily. Some adults can, too, of course. But kids do seem to have a knack for making important things vanish at inopportune times.

Their cruise cards are important though, so you’ll want to keep them safe. You could keep them on you, but why not get the kids their own colourful lanyard they can wear?

Then, they can keep their cruise cards with them while they’re in the kids club, and they won’t have to worry about forgetting where they’ve put it down.

If you get the Cruise Necessities lanyards then you’ll have a four-pack perfect for many families, with fun colours that the kids will love.

Disney give you them free (but not right away…)

On a Disney cruise, you’ll get a free lanyard once you’re a member of the Castaway Club loyalty program – basically, from your second cruise onwards. The lanyards are coloured silver, gold and platinum to reflect your level in the Castaway Club.

You don’t get a lanyard for your first cruise. Wearing a Disney lanyard isn’t essential, so if you don’t want to show off your Castaway Club status, you can just wear any lanyard you choose.

Or you can buy one…

Lanyards are sold onboard Disney cruise ships. You can’t buy the silver, gold or platinum lanyards used for Castaway Club loyalty members, but you can choose from other Disney-themed lanyards. You can also order them from Disney’s website in advance.

Another reason to wear a lanyard on a Disney cruise – whether it’s a Disney one or a Cruise Necessities one – is pin trading.

Pin trading is a fun activity onboard Disney cruise ships (and in Disney theme parks) where you wear pin badges on your lanyard and then trade them with other guests and with the crew on the ship.

You can buy a cheap starter pack of pins and then trade them for others that you prefer, provided the other person is happy to trade with you of course!

Carnival sells them onboard too

You don’t get a free lanyard when you cruise with Carnival, but you can buy them from the gift shop on the cruise. Carnival recommends bringing a lanyard of your own, if you have one, to keep your Sail & Sign card safe.

Looking for a freebie with Carnival? It’s unlikely

There is no guaranteed way to get a free lanyard on a Carnival cruise. Some guests have had success asking for one from the casino, but normally you’ll be told that you can only buy them from the gift store on the ship.

Don’t avoid buying one before you sail just because you hope you can get one for free from the Carnival casino. Instead, buy one before you travel so you know you’ve got one sorted.

Some NCL ships sell them too

NCL doesn’t provide lanyards with your cruise card. They are sometimes sold in the onboard stores, but if you want to use a lanyard on your Norwegian cruise then you’re recommended to buy one before you travel.

Final word

Cruise lanyards are really handy, and I’d recommend buying one for your whole family. You’ll never have an issue finding your cruise card, and swiping for drinks or getting into your cabin is super easy.

Make sure you choose a durable, reliable lanyard like those from Cruise Necessities though – cheap lanyards you can sometimes find on Amazon won’t last very long, and can be uncomfortable to wear too.

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Bottles of water are some of the most popular items from cruise ship bars and restaurants. You’re often cruising in warm weather, and you need to stay hydrated – but do you really want to pay the premium to buy the bottles on the ship?

Some people prefer to bring their own bottles of water onto a ship – if they’re allowed. It varies by cruise line though.

So let’s take a look at the major cruise lines and their policies on bringing your own water onto a ship.

Bringing your own water onboard a cruise

Many cruise lines let you bring water onto a cruise with you, but not all do. Some block it completely except for if you need distilled water for medicinal purposes, while some others won’t let you bring single-use plastic bottles onboard, but permit cans and cartons which can be recycled.

Each cruise line has a different policy, so I’ve done the research to check what each one allows you to bring.

Rules by cruise line

Here’s a quick summary by cruise line of whether or not you’re allowed to bring water onto the ship.

While some cruise lines ban you from bringing your own water onboard, others let you bring all sorts of drinks including soft drinks, beer, wine and even spirits. To find out more, read this article next: Can You Bring Your Own Drinks on a Cruise?

Taking water on a Carnival cruise

Guests are allowed to bring a small number of non-alcoholic beverages onto their cruise, including water, but it can’t be packaged in plastic or glass.

Instead, you’re asked to only bring cans or cartons – a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans or cartons no bigger than 12 ounces/354 ml each. It must be included in your carry-on luggage.

Read more: Carnival Cruise Luggage Restrictions

Read Carnival’s policy on bottled water here.

Carnival’s bottles of water on the ship range from $1.50 to $3.95 for larger bottles for your room.

They are not included in the Bottomless Bubbles drinks package, but you can get 500ml bottles if you buy the more expensive Cheers package, which includes alcohol. You can also pre-order bottled water for your room at a discounted price.

12 500ml bottles cost $9.95 plus an 18% delivery fee. Or, for $20 + 18% you can get 8 large 1.5 litre bottles instead.

The Lido buffet on every Carnival ship has a water dispenser. It’s not designed for water bottles though – for contamination reasons, fill a cup with water from the fountain and then pour it into your water bottle.

Taking water on a Celebrity cruise

While it is not mentioned in the Celebrity Cruises terms on their website, many guests have reported that yes you can take water onto your Celebrity cruise with you.

You should expect to have it checked by security though, to make sure it is sealed – many people try to sneak alcohol onboard using water bottles.

You can enjoy free tap water on a Celebrity cruises ship at any of the bars or restaurants. Bottled water costs $3.50 but you can get it included with a drinks package. It’s available on the Zero Proof Drinks Package, costing from $30 per person, per day, so you don’t need a really expensive alcohol-inclusive package to enjoy it.

There aren’t any ways you can pre-buy bottled water on the ship to save money. But there are plenty of water fountains available if you want to refill a bottle.

Taking water on a Costa cruise

Costa is one of the few cruise lines that doesn’t allow guests to bring any water onboard. The only exceptions are when you need water for medical purposes, but you’ll need to get in touch with the cruise line in advance to clear this with them. Otherwise, it will still be confiscated at the port by security. They’re really strict!

Bottles of water cost €1.70 for 500ml, or €2.90 for a litre. With Costa you need to buy water, it’s not freely available as tap or fountain water as it is on other cruise lines. It may be a good idea to buy a drinks package – they include unlimited bottles of water for you to enjoy.

Taking water on a Cunard cruise

Despite the lack of mention in the Cunard terms and conditions, you are allowed to take unlimited soft drinks on your Cunard cruise with you. It’s a good idea to carry as many as you’re comfortable with since it can save you money compared to buying them onboard.

Bottles of water on a Cunard ship cost between $2 and $3.50 but you can get them with a drinks package. You need the Premium Soft Drinks Option, which costs $30 per person, per day. If you choose the Beers, Wines and Spirits Option then you get the Premium Soft Drinks inclusions as well.

There are water fountains available in the buffet restaurant. With these you’ll want to refill your bottle using a cup, to avoid putting your bottle directly under the fountain.

Taking water on a Disney cruise

Disney Cruise Lines lets you take as many bottles of water onto your cruise as you wish, as long as they are factory sealed – that’s the only caveat.

They are also the only cruise line to remind you that since you need to carry it on, be wary of how much you can carry since your room may not be available for a few hours. It’s good of them to think of that!

You can buy bottles of water on the ship for $2 to $3, or you can pre-order a Dasani pack to be waiting for you in your cabin’s mini fridge. The prices aren’t amazing though – a 6-pack costs $15 plus an 18% service charge. Drinks packages aren’t available though.

There are water fountains located throughout the ship and you’re welcome to refill your own bottle here. Fountain sodas are also free too with Disney, if you prefer something with a bit more flavour and fizz.

Taking water on a Holland America Line cruise

Holland America Line has a similar policy to Carnival when it comes to bringing water onboard the ship. You’re welcome to bring up to six litres of water onto the ship, provided it’s in cans or cartons, and not bottles. You can bring 12 x 500 ml cans/cartons, or 6 x 1 litre cans/cartons, but nothing bigger.

Read Holland America’s policy on bottled water here

Bottles of water on a Holland America Line ship are a little more expensive, starting at $3.25 and ranging up to larger bottles for $5.50. You can get bottled water (both still and sparkling) included on a drinks package – not the most basic one, but anything from the Quench package upwards.

Water fountains are available in the buffet restaurant, but this is another cruise line where you’ll be expected to fill a cup and then decant that into your water bottle, instead of using the fountain directly.

Taking water on an MSC cruise

MSC Cruises is another of the cruise lines that doesn’t allow guests to bring water onboard the ship in any form, unless it is distilled water that’s needed for medical purposes.

Again, you’ll need to speak to the cruise line in advance to arrange this – don’t assume you can just walk up to port security and declare it, and they’ll let you on with it.

Read MSC’s policy on bottled water here

MSC isn’t as strict as Costa though, because you can at least enjoy water on the ship for free when you’re onboard. The buffet has a water fountain you can use, while tap water is available from the bars and restaurants.

If you want to buy it, bottled water costs $3.50 for 500 ml and it’s free if you buy any of the drinks packages for your cruise.

Taking water on an NCL cruise

NCL is another cruise line that doesn’t let you take any water onto the ship. Again, there are exceptions if you need distilled water for medical purposes, but you’ll have to speak to the cruise line before you travel to get permission. Otherwise, it may be confiscated at the port of embarkation.

Read NCL’s policy on bottled water here

You can get bottles of water for $3 for 500 ml, while larger bottles cost $6. You can get the 500 ml bottles with a drinks package, but only if you buy at least the Premium Drinks Package for $109 per day – or you choose the Open Bar perk with the Free at Sea promotion. You don’t get water with the cheaper Soda package.

Another option is to pre-order your drinks and have them delivered to your stateroom before you sail.

A 6-litre package costs $19.95, 12 litres costs $34.95 and 24 litres costs $49.95.

Considering how 24 litres costs $144 if you bought 1-litre bottles individually from the bars, that’s not a bad saving. Tap water is also available for free from bars and the buffet.

Taking water on a P&O cruise

P&O’s terms and conditions don’t mention bringing water or soft drinks onto the ship – the website only covers alcoholic drinks. But you are allowed to bring as many soft drinks and water onto the ship as you like – I know, because whenever I cruise P&O we’ll take a couple of bottles with us.

Bottles of water (330 ml) cost £1.95 each, although you can get a drinks package if you want unlimited bottles. You’ll need the Alcohol Free package, as the cheapest Refresh package doesn’t cover water.

You can get tap water from the bars on the ship, and if you ask nicely the waiters will even refill your own water bottles for you.  There are water fountains in the buffet, but these are the sort that you’re not allowed to put your bottle under for hygiene reasons.

The new ships Arvia and Iona also have water dispensers by the pool and by the atrium.

Taking water on a Princess cruise

Princess Cruises has one of the more relaxed policies when it comes to bottled water. You’re allowed to bring as many bottles of water onto the cruise as you like, provided they’re manufacturer sealed.

Bottles are fine though – unlike sister cruise lines Holland America and Carnival, they don’t have to be cans or cartons.

Read the Princess Cruises policy on bottled water here

Expect to pay around $2 for a bottle of water on the ship. You can get them included with a drinks package too, but only if you buy the Plus package or above. The Zero-Alcohol package doesn’t include bottled water.

It may be cheaper to book a Princess Plus or Princess Premier fare, which includes the drinks package and other benefits.

You can get water by the glass with ice for free from any of the bars, and there are water fountains in the buffet area too if you want to top up a bottle, provided you do it using the cups at the station.

Taking water on a Royal Caribbean cruise

On a Royal Caribbean cruise, you’re allowed to bring water (and other non-alcoholic drinks) onboard at the start of your cruise, as long as it doesn’t exceed 12 bottles, cans or cartons no bigger than 17 oz, which is around 480 ml.

Read Royal Caribbean’s policy on bottled water here

Typically a bottle of water on a Royal Caribbean cruise costs $3. You can get water included in drinks packages – with the Classic Soda Package you get Dasani flavoured or sparkling water, but if you want bottled water you need the more expensive Refreshment Package

Flavoured water is available for free in the Windjammer Buffet, and there are free water stations around the ship too. Use a cup or glass to fill your own bottle, don’t refill directly from the station.

Taking water on a Virgin Voyages cruise

Virgin Voyages lets you bring as much water and other soft drinks onto your cruise as you like, but the ships do have a policy of no single-use plastics – so again, you’re looking at cans or cartons.

Don’t bring your own flask filled with water, as they’ll assume you’re sneaking alcohol onboard. Sealed products only!

Once you’re on the ship, water is free from the bars and restaurants. This isn’t just tap water, but filtered still and sparkling water, which you can get by the glass or from a water fountain if you want to refill a reusable bottle on the ship. You don’t need a drinks package – not that the cruise line offers them anyway.

Final word

Most cruise lines are perfectly happy to let you bring water onto a cruise ship, although some prefer it if you bring cans or cartons instead of bottles. And on most cruise ships, you can enjoy tap and fountain water for free.

Bottled water is often, but not always, included in drinks packages too so you can carry a bottle ashore on a port day without paying expensive charges at local stores.

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

If you have a cruise lined up, you may be wondering where to get the luggage tags, how to attach them securely and when to put them on. With so many things to consider, it’s understandable if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

I get lots of questions about this small but crucial aspect of cruising. I’m answering everything here in one place, so you have all the info you need on cruise luggage tags to help you before your next cruise.

What are cruise luggage tags for?

Cruise luggage tags are essential in guiding porters and crew members, helping them deliver your luggage to the right spot on the ship. After you leave your bags with the porter at the port and proceed through security, the cruise line relies on these tags to correctly distribute your luggage.

Basically, if you don’t put the tags on your bags, they might not make it to your cabin!

The information included on a cruise luggage tag

Your luggage tag will display essential details such as your name, the ship’s name, stateroom number, sail date, and reservation number. They even specify your cabin’s position on the ship, such as AFT (the back of the ship), FWD (the front of the ship), or MID (the middle of the ship).

Where you’ll get your cruise luggage tags

There are a few methods of obtaining your luggage tags:

1. The cruise line posts them to you
2. Print at home
3. Get them at check-in

Some cruise lines will send them to you through the post. However, in most cases, printing your luggage tags at home is the best method, as it allows you to prepare before arriving at the port, which means a quicker check-in process. If you don’t have a printer, you may have to visit a local printing service or ask a friend. 

Although at the cruise terminal, the curbside porters often have a bundle of luggage tags. You will need to show them your booking details, add any details required on the tags, and hand over your bags to be taken on from here.

How to print luggage tags for a cruise

When booking a cruise, you will receive e-documents either in an email or on an online account which you have to log in to. There should be a section with text such as “print cruise luggage tags.” Click on this, and a PDF will download. From here, you can print the cruise luggage tags at home.

Do cruise luggage tags have to be printed in colour?

If you’re printing your cruise luggage tags, ideally, they should be printed in colour. The labels are colour-coded for some cruise lines, so it will be more difficult for the cruise line to deliver your luggage to your cabin.

However, for some cruise lines such as NCL, Carnival and Princess, it is ok to print off in black and white.  

How to fold and put on the cruise luggage tags

Once the luggage tags are printed, it’s essential to put them on correctly, as they need to be visible and secure. You’ll need to fold them, seal the ends together and then add your details before attaching them to the bags.

1. Fold the tag: Instructions for how to fold the luggage tags will be on each tag document. Start folding from the top where it indicates “Fold Here”. You should now have a long, narrow strip with your cruise information visible on one side.
2. Seal the ends: Some people like to tape over the folded tag to make it more durable and water-resistant.
3. Fill in your details: Often, there is a space to write your name on the tag. My tip would also be to add a mobile phone number in case of any problems.
4. Attach the tags to your bag: You can attach the tags by looping them through your suitcase handle and stapling them along the sides, or by using a luggage tag holder.

I always use luggage tag holders because they make it virtually impossible for your tags to get ripped off. If you’re flying or it rains, then cruise luggage tags come off very easily.

These are the luggage tag holders I use…

Different cruise lines have different sizes and shapes of tags. I chose these tag holders because they’re universal, so I can use them for every cruise. The last thing I want is to have to buy a bunch of different holders and figure out which one to use for each cruise!

If you lose or damage your tags…

If luggage tags get lost or damaged, this may mean they may not be delivered to your stateroom. If this does happen, check with the guest services desk on the ship. Misplaced luggage often ends up there, and you can reclaim it by identifying it and providing your details.

Unfortunately, this does happen occasionally, so there are a few things you can do so it gets to you as soon as possible:

• If your bag has an outside pocket, write your details clearly on a piece of paper and slide them in there. A crew member may check this pocket, which might help identify your bag quickly.
• Make your bag look different. This will ensure you can easily identify it quickly. You could add a ribbon or a unique luggage strap.
• Pack a carry-on bag with essential items you’ll need for your cruise’s first day.

Securing luggage tags

To avoid the luggage tags getting ripped off, you can strengthen them by using thicker paper or card, or use clear tape to seal it better. You can add a backup second tag if you’re concerned. But the best way has to invest in some luggage tag holders. They’re pretty cheap and will save you any unnecessary worry or stress.

There are a few things you can do to secure your tags:

• Print your tags onto a thicker paper or card, making it less likely to tear.
• Use plenty of staples. Bring a mini stapler with you, especially if you’re staying in a hotel before your cruise.
• Seal the ends with clear sticky tape. Bring a small roll of this with you too.
• Attach a second tag as a backup. It could be placed on another handle or part of the luggage.
• Use Cruise Ship Luggage Tags Holders

Cruise ship luggage tag holders

Luggage tag holders aren’t essential, but I think it makes the process easier. Using them removes the hassle of stapling and taping without worrying about ruined or lost cruise luggage tags.

Cruise luggage tag holders are very durable and reusable for any other holidays you may have booked. They are generally made of plastic material with a braided steel loop to securely fasten the tag to your luggage.

Be careful about size

Cruise luggage tags are not all the same size; they can vary between cruise lines. This is important to remember when purchasing holders for your luggage tags, as you will need to ensure they are appropriately sized for the specific cruise line’s tags. 

For example, Carnival and Princess Cruises generally have wide tags, whereas NCL usually has smaller tags. So make sure you buy the right ones for your cruise line – I recommend these universal luggage tag holders as they fit all cruise lines.

Where to buy cruise ship luggage tag holders

No matter which cruise line you are using, there are plastic luggage tag holders available on Amazon designed to fit various cruise line tags. 

Carry-ons & tags

Typically you do not need luggage tags on your carry-on bags for a cruise, as you will have these with you, or once you find your stateroom, you can leave them in there. 

However, it can still be a good idea to tag them. If you accidentally misplace them, it will be easier for the crew to return them to you.

Suggested read: The Best Carry-On Bags For A Cruise

Before you cruise but AFTER you fly

If you have a flight and cruise package, the labels should be put on after the flight. If you attach them before the flight, unless your cruise line tells you otherwise. That’s because they might get damaged, ripped off or confuse any baggage handling staff.

You should only put a luggage tag on before your flight if you are instructed to by a tour company. For example, once you hand over your bags to the airline on some flight and cruise packages, you won’t see them again until they get delivered to your cruise stateroom.

Got any more questions about cruise luggage tags? Ask away in the comments section below…

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me