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What To Do With Luggage After A Cruise In Miami

When your cruise finishes in Miami, and you’ve got a later flight to get home, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore some of the sights of this amazing city.

There’s lots to see and do around Miami – but you hardly want to be dragging your luggage around with you all day. So, what can you do with it?

Cruise ship passengers with their luggage

There are a lot of places you can store your luggage, and in this guide, I’ll take you through them all.

There’s no luggage storage at the port!

There isn’t any luggage storage at Miami cruise port – the port’s website says that this is for security reasons. However, there are lots of options for Port of Miami luggage storage just a short distance away, as well as storage at the airport if that’s preferred.

The Port of Miami is on its own island. Unfortunately, there is no Miami cruise port luggage storage on that island.

But just a short hop away either to the east to Miami Beach, or to the west to the mainland, there are a lot of options for storing your luggage in the city.

Cruise ships in Miami port

So once you’ve worked out where you plan on spending your day, and how long you’ll take to get off your ship, you can book your luggage storage in advance and enjoy a stress-free day.

And because you can book all of the options through Stasher, you don’t need to spend ages doing price comparisons. They’re all very similar, with just a few cents difference at most. Instead, you can focus on picking the most convenient location. You can also try Bounce for a choice of even more locations.

It’s also worth checking whether your cruise line offers a luggage service after a cruise in Miami. Some cruises where you’ve booked your flight as a package will actually take your luggage to the airport for you. You’ll put it outside your room on the last night of your cruise, and then see it again when you land at your destination airport.

If you have this option and it doesn’t cost extra then definitely go for it – but if not, there are plenty of options for temporary storage.

Luggage storage near Miami Beach

Squareat

Squareat is a quirky company that sells meal packs consisting of square meals (literally). While they do most of their business online, they do have a cafe location in Miami just a short walk from South Beach, and it’s here where you can leave your luggage – and try a fun dining experience while you’re at it.

Address: 749 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening Times: 9am to 7pm, 7 days a week

Price: $6.85 per bag

2. South Florida Trikke

South Florida Trikke

South Florida Trikke is a company that specialises in segway tours, although they also offer bike rental too. If you want to explore Miami Beach on a guided segway excursion, or pedal up the coastline at your own pace, then this is a great option. The friendly hosts will also offer tips on attractions, if you’ve not yet made up your mind.

Address: 1401 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening Times: 9am to 8pm Mon to Sat, 9am to 7pm Sun

Price: $6.90 per bag

3. Cybr Caffe

Cybr Caffe

Cybr Caffe is a classic internet cafe that’s just a quick walk from the beach area in Miami. If you haven’t paid for cruise internet and you don’t want to be hammered by mobile charges, it’s a good place to store your bag and catch up on a few quick emails with a coffee before you set out to explore the city for the rest of your day.

Address: 1574 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening Times: 9am to 7pm Mon to Sat, 9am to 6pm Sun

Price: $6.90 per bag

4. Bikes and Segway

Bikes and Segway

Bikes and Segway is a little further north on Miami Beach. As the name implies, this is another place where you can hire bikes or segways to go and explore. But the company also arranges a host of other tours to enjoy too, including Everglades Airboats.

Address: 1655 James Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening Times: 9am to 7pm, 7 days a week

Price: $6.90 per bag

5. The UPS Store

The UPS Store 6445

If you want to get away from the busier South Beach area, but still have the freedom to head down there, this UPS Store is a good idea. It’s one of the few options in the Mid Beach area for luggage storage.

Address: 3921 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Opening Times: 9am to 7pm Mon to Fri, 10am to 5pm Sat, Closed Sun

Price: $6.90 per bag

6. Norman’s Hotel & Bar

Norman’s Hotel & Bar

Norman’s Hotel is a popular spot in the quieter North Beach area of Miami, away from a lot of the busy tourist spots. If you want to just relax on a quieter beach then this is a good place to go, and it has long opening hours should you have a very late flight, and plenty of time to kill.

Address: 6770 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141

Opening Times: 8am to midnight, 7 days a week

Price: $6.90 per bag

Luggage storage in Downtown Miami

7. Fortune House Hotel

Fortune House Hotel

The Fortune House Hotel is one of the closest options for luggage storage near Miami port, if you want to head to Downtown Miami and see the sights of the city. The hotel’s in a great spot for taking walking tours, and since it is open 24/7 you’ll have no problems dropping your bags off and picking them up whenever is convenient.

Address: 185 SE 14th Terrace, Miami, FL 33131

Opening Times: 24/7

Price: $6.90 per bag

8. Mindwarehouse

Mindwarehouse

Mindwarehouse is an office space in Downtown Miami with private and virtual offices available. It also offers luggage storage for cruise passengers but only for limited hours during the work week – so it may not be suitable for everyone. The location is very central, though, so it’s still worth considering.

Address: 111 NE 1st St FL 8, Miami, FL 33132

Opening Times: 10am to 2pm Mon to Thurs, 10am to 12pm Fri, Closed weekends

Price: $6.90 per bag

9. Office Logic

Office Logic

Office Logic is another office company, this time situated to the northern side of Downtown Miami. If you wanted to take a boat tour of the Venetian Islands then this is a great choice, and you’re close to lots of the parks in the city as well.

Address: 1501 Biscayne Blvd #501, Miami, FL 33132

Opening Times: 9am to 10pm Mon to Sat, Closed Sun

Price: $6.90 per bag

10. Simple Mobile

Simple Mobile

Simple Mobile is a phone store just a short drive from the Port of Miami, but they’re happy to offer bag storage for the day too. The hours are a little more limited than some other choices but they should still be open for most cruise passengers flying in the evening, unless your cruise ends on a Sunday.

Address: 742 SW 8th St suite b, Miami, FL 33130

Opening Times: 10am to 7pm Mon to Fri, 11am to 6pm Sat, Closed Sun

Price: $6.90 per bag

11. Phone Flash

Phone Flash

Phone Flash is another phone store in Miami where you can store your bags. This has longer opening hours, and it’s closer to the airport should you be in a bit of a hurry at the end of the day. It’s a good choice if you want to explore the Cuban district of the city, being situated at the heart of East Little Havana.

Address: 1199 W Flagler St #17, Miami, FL 33130

Opening Times: 8am to 9pm Mon to Fri, 9am to 9pm Sat, 9am to 7pm Sun

Price: $6.90 per bag

12. The Spot Wynwood

The Spot Wynwood

The Spot Wynwood is a creative hub in Wynwood that operates as a vendors market and live entertainment hub. It’s also a great base for exploring the Wynwood district including the famous street art of the area. It’s a friendly place where you can leave your bags safely for as long as you need.

Address: 685 NW 32nd St, Miami, FL 33127

Opening Times: 24/7

Price: $6.90 per bag

Luggage storage near Miami Airport

13. EB Hotel Miami

EB Hotel Miami

While there is the option of storing your luggage within the airport itself, you might not want to get caught in all the traffic driving in.

If you want your bags to be near the airport but in easy reach of attractions, the EB Hotel is a great choice. You can drop your luggage, get back out into Miami for the day, and then return in time for your flight. This is also a convenient option if your flight doesn’t leave until the next day.

Address: 4299 NW 36th St, Miami, FL 33166

Opening Times: 24/7

Price: $6.90 per bag

14. Worldwide Commerce

Worldwide Commerce

Worldwide Commerce is a logistics group situated on the far side of Miami International Airport from the cruise port, but it’s easy enough to get to if your options are limited for other locations (they can book up).

Just bear in mind that you’re not right next to the passenger terminals here, so leave a little extra time for picking up your bags and then heading to check in for your flight.

Address: 2355 NW 70th Ave unit d 06, Miami, FL 33122

Opening Times: 9am to 7pm Mon to Fri, Closed weekends

Price: $6.90 per bag

Other luggage storage options

There are a few alternatives to storing your luggage in one of these locations near the port or close to the city’s attractions – here’s what else you could do.

Take an excursion

Some cruise lines and independent tour companies offer excursions even on the last day of your cruise. These are really convenient because they take care of everything for you – including storing your luggage.

You’ll typically be picked up at the port by a bus with luggage storage. You’ll be whisked to your destination in Miami – the Everglades is one of the more popular options, or it might be a sightseeing tour of the Art Deco architecture – before the coach then takes you to the airport once the excursion is complete.

So you get to enjoy your day, and have your luggage taken care of, without then working out how to get back to the airport. It’s your complete package for the last day of your holiday.

Store your bags at Miami Airport

Another simple option would be to store your bags at the airport. Miami International Airport is in a great location that’s easy to get to, so a cab straight there to drop off your luggage will leave you with plenty of time to then head back out into the city and explore.

Miami International Airport

Then, when you’re finished for the day, just head back to the airport, retrieve your luggage and you’re ready to check-in for your flight home. It does mean going out of your way at the start of the day but, when you have plenty of time to kill, it is a convenient option.

Rent a car

Rather than getting a cab to the airport, another option would be to rent a car for the day. You can then put your luggage in the boot/trunk, and drive yourself to the sights for the day. Then just drive straight to the airport to drop the car off.

It may work out more expensive than some of the other options on this list, but you’ll have complete freedom to go wherever you want to in Miami, and you aren’t left waiting for a taxi or Uber when it’s time for your flight – you’re in control of your time throughout the day.

Just make sure that you choose a big enough car! On our honeymoon in Miami we thought that a convertible Mustang would be a romantic choice. And it was great, but our two suitcases wouldn’t fit in the trunk so we had to have them in the back seat.

Miami car hire

Store your cags at an attraction

Some Miami attractions will be able to accommodate your luggage for you. It depends on where you’re planning to go, and which company you use.

Say you wanted to try an Everglades airboat tour – you can call the different tour operators and see which ones would be able to store your luggage during your boat trip.

Everglades airbaot

Once you’ve found someone, just take a taxi to get there, drop your bags off for the duration of your excursion, and then grab a cab to the airport in time to check in. Easy.

Final word

There are loads of options for storing your luggage in Miami – whether you’re looking to store it near the port, close to the major attractions, or at the airport ready for the end of your day.

It’s probably a good idea to decide which of the Miami attractions you want to visit during your day in the city – and then work out the best choice for storing your luggage from there, so that you aren’t driving i

But you definitely don’t need to lug it around with you all day.

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

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


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What Clothes To Wear On A Cunard Cruise

Cunard Line is a luxury cruise line known for its elegant and sophisticated atmosphere. The cruise line has a distinct dress code that reflects the elegance and tradition the company has maintained for over 175 years.

Couple on a cruise ship

Many travellers wonder if they can wear jeans and similar casual clothing while on a Cunard cruise.

We’ll explore Cunard’s dress codes and provide tips on how to incorporate jeans into your wardrobe, while still sticking to the guidelines.

Cunard’s Daytime Dress Code

During the day, Cunard passengers are free to dress casually and comfortably, including jeans, shorts and T-shirts. Casual clothing is perfectly acceptable for daytime activities such as exploring the ship, attending onboard events or enjoying leisure time on deck.

wearing jeans on a Cunard cruise

However, most people on a Cunard cruise will be dressed very smartly, even in the daytime. Although you can wear casual clothing like jeans during the day, ripped or scruffy jeans aren’t the best choice.

Cunard is known for its elegant and sophisticated atmosphere, and ripped jeans may not align with the overall ambience the cruise line seeks to maintain. The same goes for cut-off jean shorts that are very short and show a lot of flesh.

But if your jeans or denim shorts are smart, there’s no reason why you can’t wear them in the daytime.

Suggested read: 9 Things You Should Never Wear On A Cruise

people wearing jeans on a Cunard cruise

Cunard’s Evening Dress Codes

Cunard has two main dress codes for evenings: Gala Evenings (also known as formal nights) and Smart Attire (also known as informal nights).

Gala Evenings

On these nights, passengers are expected to dress up in more formal attire. For men, this typically means a tuxedo, dinner jacket or a dark suit with a tie. For women, this means a formal gown, cocktail dress or dressy separates. Jeans are not considered appropriate for Gala Evenings.

Gala Evening on a Cunard cruise

Smart Attire

On Smart Attire nights, passengers can dress more casually but are still expected to maintain a sense of elegance. For men, this usually means a jacket, collared shirt and dress trousers. Women can wear a dress, skirt or dressy trousers with a blouse.

Smart Attire on a Cunard cruise

Although jeans are not explicitly prohibited during Smart Attire evenings, it’s recommended that you choose dressier, dark-wash jeans without any rips or excessive wear. Pair them with a more formal top and shoes.

So dark jeans and a crisp shirt, or a nice top with smart shoes or heels, are absolutely fine to wear in the evenings on a Cunard cruise.

These dress codes are mainly enforced in the main dining rooms and other public areas of the ship during the evening. When dining in more casual venues or spending time in your own stateroom, you can generally wear what you like, including jeans.

people having fun on a Cunard cruise

Cunard Packing Tips

When planning your wardrobe for a Cunard cruise, consider the following tips:

  • Bring at least one formal outfit for Gala Evenings.
  • For Smart Attire nights, pack a few versatile pieces that can be dressed up or down, such as dark jeans, blazers, dressy tops or skirts.
  • Don’t forget comfortable clothing for daytime activities and excursions.
  • Pack appropriate footwear, including dress shoes for formal nights and comfortable walking shoes for daytime activities.
  • Remember to check the weather and plan accordingly, bringing layers and appropriate outerwear for the regions you’ll be visiting.

Related Posts

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

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


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The Things You Can & Can’t Take On A Cruise Ship

If you’ve never cruised before, it’s really important to know what NOT to pack to take on the ship. You’ll want to avoid any potentially embarrassing situations at check-in by making sure you don’t pack any cruise ship contraband.

packing for a cruise

Cruise port staff regularly scan and search passengers’ bags, and if any of your belongings are confiscated, it’s highly likely that you won’t get them back. So, what can’t you take on a cruise? Read on to find out!

Spoiler: You can’t take any of this stuff!

things you can't take on a cruise
Photo: Janice Leeson

Food & drink

Alcohol rules vary by cruise line

Some cruise ships allow you to bring your own alcohol on board, although this is usually limited to one bottle of wine per person. It’s usually free to drink in your room, but if you want to take your own alcohol into public areas on the ship, they charge a corkage fee of around $15 per bottle.

Drinks on board a cruise ship can be expensive. Whilst P&O Cruises charge pub prices for drinks, some other cruise lines charge much more. If you’d rather not pay $15 for a glass of wine, then you’ll probably want to know whether you can save money by bringing your own booze on your cruise.

The great news is that most cruise lines DO allow you to bring some alcohol on-board with you. However, the limits are usually pretty small – just one bottle of wine, or maybe Champagne.

P&O Cruises used to let you bring beers and spirits but that changed in May 2024.

Read more: Drinks allowances for each cruise line

Wine allowances often come with a corkage fee

Some cruise ships allow passengers to bring some wine on board to drink in their cabin. There is usually no corkage fee, as long as you don’t drink it in any of the public areas of the ship. If you want to drink your own wine in a bar or restaurant, you’ll be charged around $15.

The following table shows how much wine you can bring with you on your cruise…

Cruise Line How much wine can you bring?
Carnival One bottle per person
Celebrity One bottle per person
Costa None
Cunard One bottle per person
Disney Two bottles per person
MSC Cruises None
NCL Unlimited but $15 fee per bottle
P&O Cruises One litre per person
Princess Cruises One bottle per person for free then $15 per additional bottle
Royal Caribbean One bottle per person

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss these hot cruise offers…

Most cruise lines permit bottled water

Most cruise lines allow guests to bring bottled water with them, but not all. If you’re cruising with Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises or NCL, you won’t be allowed to bring water unless it’s needed for medical purposes.

The reason behind this is that, in the past, people have used water bottles to hide spirits or other drinks. Banning water and soft drinks has undoubtedly made it easier for cruise lines to spot anyone sneaking alcohol on board.

Read more: Can You Bring Bottled Water On A Cruise?

The following table shows how much water or other non-alcoholic drinks you can bring on your cruise…

Cruise Line Non-alcoholic drinks allowance per passenger
Carnival 12 x 330ml cans or cartons
Celebrity No limit
Costa Water only permitted for medical needs
Cunard No limit
Disney No limit
MSC Cruises Water only permitted for medical needs
NCL Water only permitted for medical needs
P&O Cruises No limit
Princess Cruises No limit
Royal Caribbean 12 x 500ml bottles, cans or cartons (per stateroom)

Snacks are usually fine

You can take most types of snacks with you on board a cruise ship, including crisps, sweets, and biscuits. (That’s chips, candy, and cookies if you’re from the US).

We usually take a few cereal bars, a tube of Pringles and maybe some sweets for the kids. There’s always lots of food available on board, but sometimes it’s nice to have your favourite snacks too.

Whilst packaged food is always fine to bring on a cruise, you may not be allowed to take perishable items such as fresh fruit or any homemade food like sandwiches. It really depends on your cruise line’s food policy and on the local laws of the ports which you’re cruising from and to.

Suggested read: Bringing THIS Food Item on Board a Cruise Ship Could Ruin Your Holiday!

Cruise ship food is generally some of the best in the world. Special diets are catered for really well. So, if you’re at all concerned about being able to eat the food on-board, have a chat with your cruise line representative before you cruise and they’ll make sure that you’re well catered for on the ship.

Protein powder is also allowed (but be careful)

You are allowed to take protein powder on a cruise ship. It’s best to bring it in a sealed new container and to pack it in your carry-on bag to avoid arousing suspicion.

If you’re planning to carry a big bag of white powder through security, I can see why you might be a little worried about ending up in the naughty room being asked questions. However, in reality, plenty of cruisers bring protein powder on board without an issue. You don’t need to worry about bringing protein powder on a cruise.

Electrical items

Hair straighteners are OK but may not work properly

Hair straighteners and curling irons are allowed on cruise ships. While most appliances that produce heat are forbidden, cruise lines make an exception for hair styling devices.

You may need to consider the voltage of your appliances as some UK hair straighteners may not work on board American ships without a voltage converter.

My old GHD hair straighteners didn’t get hot in the USA or on cruise ships. But my newer ones work just fine. If you’re not sure, it’s worth Googling the model of hair straightener that you have to check.

hair straighteners on a cruise ship

Power strips/extension cables – strict rules apply

You may be able to take a power strip or extension cable on a cruise, so long as it meets the cruise line’s requirements. Cruise ships require that power strips do not have a surge protector, as this could overload the circuit and cause a fire. Extension cords should be less than one metre long.

It’s a bit weird since, on a home electrical network, a surge-protected strip is the safer option. But cruise ships aren’t wired up like your house.

With many of us taking a multitude of electronic devices such as cameras, phones and tablet computers, which all need to be charged, people often worry whether there will be enough plug sockets in their cruise cabin to plug everything in.

The number of electrical sockets varies from ship to ship, with some cruise ships only having two power outlets per cabin. The type of power outlets also varies, with some ships having a mix of UK, USA and European sockets.

If you’re wondering how many plug sockets will be on your cruise ship, you can find that information here.

You do need to check with your cruise line though. Royal Caribbean doesn’t allow extension cords at all, and also recently updated the ban to include multi-plugs.

The best solution to the issue of not having enough plug sockets or them being the wrong type is to get a 4-port USB universal charger plug.

This universal charger will fit into any plug socket (UK/USA/EU/AUS) and enable you to charge four devices at the same time.

Hair dryers are provided but you can bring your own

All cruise ship cabins are equipped with hairdryers that guests may use free of charge. The hairdryers vary in quality, and some have low wattage, so they are not very powerful. If you have long, thick hair, you may prefer to bring your own hairdryer from home.

When I cruised on the Disney Magic, the hairdryer that was attached to the wall in the bathroom was over twenty years old and pretty useless. However, there was another hairdryer in a drawer in the living area.

Hairdryers on Disney Cruise ship

Irons usually aren’t allowed

Cruise lines generally do not allow guests to take clothing irons or travel irons on cruise ships. One exception is Marella Cruises, which does permit travel irons on board its ships.

Alternatives to bringing an iron on your cruise include:

  • Crease remover spray – lots of cruisers swear by this
  • Using an iron in the ship’s laundry room
  • Sending your clothes to the ship’s laundry to be pressed
  • Using hair straighteners to iron clothes
  • Hanging your clothes in a steamy bathroom
  • Only packing clothes that don’t crease

Suggested read: How To Do Laundry on Cruise Ships

That includes garment steamers too

Clothes steamers are not allowed on cruise ships as they are considered a safety hazard. Just like irons, there’s a chance that a garment steamer could cause a fire, so they are not allowed to be brought onto any cruise ship.

Packing a drone? Don’t use it on the ship

Some cruise lines allow guests to bring drones on board cruise ships. However, you aren’t allowed to fly the drone while on the ship. It may only be used on land, away from port areas.

If you want to bring a drone on your cruise to use on land, you should check with the cruise line before you travel. Some cruise lines do not permit drones, even if they remain stored in your cabin, and they may confiscate them when you check in.

taking a drone on a cruise ship

Most cruise lines allow walkie-talkies

Walkie-talkies are allowed on cruise ships, but they often don’t work too well on board. Most walls on cruise ships are made of metal, which kills the signal, so you may find that bringing a walkie-talkie on your cruise is a waste of time.

A pair of walkie-talkies that might work over several miles on land, probably won’t work across the length of a cruise ship. As well as all the metal walls, cruise ships have large obstacles like swimming pools and elevators, which can all block the signal from a walkie-talkie.

If you really want to use a walkie-talkie on a cruise ship, you can’t just buy any cheap model and hope that it will work. You’ll need a powerful two-way radio that can transmit a strong enough signal to get through all of those metal walls.

Read more: The Best Walkie-Talkies For Cruise Ships

Communicating with your family when you’re all on a cruise ship at sea can be tricky. Your options are:

  • Each buy a WiFi package and use it to message each other with your mobile phones
  • Use the cruise line’s app to send messages
  • Arrange to meet at certain times
  • Leave notes for each other in your stateroom

Suggested read: How to Text on a Cruise Ship for Free

Toiletries

Liquids are fine – don’t expect airport rules for cruises

Whilst airports limit the amount of liquids you can take in your hand luggage, there are no such rules on cruise ships for liquid toiletry items. You can take as many liquids as you like on a cruise.

However, cruise lines do restrict the amount of alcohol you can take on board with you, and some even prohibit you from bringing soft drinks and bottled water aboard, so be sure to check the rules on that.

Read more: Can you take drinks on a cruise ship?

If you’re flying to join your cruise, you should be aware of airport restrictions on liquids and pack them in your checked baggage rather than your carry-on luggage.

So full-size toiletries are OK

There are no limits to the size of toiletries you can take on board a cruise ship. There’s probably no need to bring a 500ml bottle of shampoo with you, but if you really want to, there’s nothing to stop you.

In fact, cruise ships have no restrictions on luggage weight. Your luggage allowance will only be limited if you have to take a flight to join your cruise ship.

Medical equipment

Oxygen canisters are usually OK

Cruise lines are generally very accommodating for medical needs, and most cruise lines permit guests to bring oxygen with them on their cruise ships.

However, cruise lines’ policies about the use of medical oxygen vary, so it’s best to check with the company you plan to cruise with to find out exactly what can be brought on board and how to check it in.

If you need to use oxygen therapy to help with conditions such as COPD, cystic fibrosis and heart failure, you’ll find lots of information about cruising with oxygen here: travelwithoxygen.com

Wheelchairs are permitted

You are allowed to take a wheelchair on a cruise ship, although they may not be allowed on some river cruise ships. Collapsible wheelchairs can be used in most cabins. If your wheelchair doesn’t fold down, you’ll likely need to book an accessible cabin for your cruise.

If you don’t usually use a wheelchair but are worried about being able to walk long distances in ports, or concerned about keeping your balance with the movement of the ship, you might want to buy a lightweight travel wheelchair for your cruise.

Lightweight wheelchairs can fold down into a bag so you can store it under your bed and get it out if and when you might need it.

Check the rules for your cruise line too, before you book. P&O Cruises now only permit a certain number of guests onboard with wheelchairs or mobility scooters, even if you only use them temporarily.

That’s because they need to make sure they’ve enough crew to help anyone with a mobility issue during an emergency. Some people have been barred from cruising because they didn’t declare they needed a wheelchair or mobility scooter!

Mobility scooters are allowed (and common)

Mobility scooters are allowed on cruise ships. However, there may be restrictions on the types of batteries that can be used, and you may be required to book an accessible cabin.

Each cruise line has its own policy about the use of mobility scooters, so be sure to ask your cruise line or travel agent when you book.

CBD – even medicinal – is banned

You won’t be able to take any CBD products on a cruise with you, even if you have a prescription from your doctor. If you are concerned about not being able to use CBD products during your cruise, ask your doctor for temporary alternatives.

It’s essentially a blanket ban – there are a lot of different laws about CBD use in the countries that cruise ships visit, so they keep things simple by banning it outright.

Carnival has banned guests for life for trying to bring CBD products onboard.

Children and animals

Minimum age for cruising

Babies are allowed on family-friendly cruise ships, but they need to be at least 6 months or 12 months old, depending on the cruise line and the itinerary. Some cruise ships do not allow children at all.

Most cruise lines require that babies are at least six months old to cruise. However, MSC Cruises has no minimum age for babies, so if you want to cruise with a young baby, this is the cruise line to choose.

The age requirement for babies on cruise ships may be increased to 12 months on cruises that have a lot of consecutive days at sea (such as transatlantic cruises) or visit exotic and remote destinations.

Read more: Do you have to pay for babies on cruises?

Baby Adam in his cot on MSC Preziosa

Baby monitors won’t work

You can’t take a baby monitor on a cruise with you. It wouldn’t work anyway – cruise ship staterooms have metal walls, and so the signal would be blocked. You also wouldn’t be able to connect a WiFi baby monitor to the network on a cruise ship – they won’t allow you to connect.

Instead, most cruise lines that allow babies will have some form of babysitting service, which normally comes with an additional cost. While babysitting staff on a cruise ship will be able to change nappies or feed your child, you’ll be expected to provide the supplies to do so.

Bottle warmers and sterilisers may be banned, so check

Some cruise lines outright ban bottle warmers and sterilisers, but check with your cruise line as they may permit travel sterilisers. Costa, Cunard, Disney and P&O all have a limited number of sterilisers on the ship that you can hire.

Otherwise, you may want to take sterilising tablets with you instead, and wash the bottles in the sink of your cabin. It might not be quite as sanitary but it should be sufficient to keep your baby safe.

Rules on dogs

Service dogs are allowed on cruise ships, but pet dogs are usually not. The only cruise ship to allow pet dogs is Cunard’s Queen Queen Mary 2, which has special kennels to accommodate dogs on transatlantic cruises.

Queen Mary 2 has luxurious onboard kennels and indoor and outdoor exercise spaces for pets. Dogs are looked after by the ship’s Kennel Master, with owners allowed to visit at set times.

But, before you go ahead and book a cruise with your dog, there are a few things you’ll need to consider. Kennel spaces on Queen Mary 2 cost $800 for dogs under 26lbs and $1000 for dogs weighing over 26lbs!

Very large dogs such as Great Danes, Dobermans, Bull Mastiffs, and Greyhounds aren’t allowed as they would be too big for the kennels.

Suggested read: Where do dogs do their business on a cruise ship?

You’ll also need to get your dog a health certificate from your vet and a rabies vaccine before cruising. If that doesn’t put you off, you should get your dogs’ names down for a place as soon as possible, as kennel spaces often book up far in advance.

Read more: 5 Ways To Take Your Dog On A Cruise

Dogs on a cruise ship
Photo credit: Cunard

Service dogs

Service dogs such as guide dogs, hearing dogs and seizure-alert dogs are welcome on most cruise ships. On my last cruise, I saw a Labrador guide dog who was helping a visually impaired guest and a German Shepherd dog. I’m not sure what his job was, but he was very well-behaved.

To bring a service dog on a cruise, your dog must be officially registered, and you’ll need to get permission from the cruise line before you book.

In the past, a handful of people have been known to bring pet dogs on cruises by pretending that they’re service dogs. Obviously, this hasn’t been well-received when these dogs haven’t been as well-trained as professional assistance dog would be!

Service dog relief area on Disney Wish

Cruise lines have cracked down on this and now require paperwork when booking a cruise with a service dog. Emotional support dogs, which may help with certain mental health conditions, are not allowed on board most cruise ships.

What about cats?

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 cruise ships also permit cats, dogs and ferrets to travel in the kennels on transatlantic crossings.

Suggested read: Stowaway Cat Onboard Royal Caribbean Ship Adopted By Crew

Cat on a cruise ship
Photo credit: Cunard

Other items

Matches & lighters

Most cruise ships have a smoking area, which includes traditional cigarettes, so you are allowed to take matches or a lighter on board for these purposes. You aren’t allowed to take a torch lighter onto a ship, or a novelty lighter shaped like another banned item, like a gun.

Matches and lighters are the only source of a flame that you’ll be allowed to take on a cruise ship, but only for smoking cigarettes. And novelty lighters shouldn’t be shaped like a gun if you want to take them on board as they could frighten other passengers, so just take a normal one.

Suggested read: Bringing or Buying Cigarettes on a Cruise Ship? Here’s What You Must Know

Lighter and matches on a white surface

Pool inflatables – banned

You aren’t allowed to take pool inflatables on your cruise. You might get away with a small one, but generally, they are banned – they take up too much room, and the pools on cruise ships are not enormous.

Some cruise lines may permit you to take inflatables with you if you only intend to use them when you head to the beach in a port, but this varies by cruise line, and you’ll need to check before you travel; otherwise, they could be confiscated.

father and daughter running on the beach with whale tail floatie
Photo credit: Carnival Cruise Line

Balloons are usually banned too

Most cruise lines ban inflatables of all kinds, including balloons, although some cruise lines only specify pool inflatables – you would need to check with your cruise line. You may instead be able to buy balloons from the cruise line, and have them delivered to your room already inflated if you’re celebrating a special occasion.

Helium balloons could cause havoc on a cruise ship if they were accidentally released as you brought them on-board, so it’s best to assume that they aren’t allowed. If you really want your stateroom to feel special, you may be able to order decorations – including pre-ordering them so they’re in your room waiting when you arrive.

Room birthday banner decoration
Photo credit: Princess Cruises

Musical instruments

Most cruise lines won’t allow you to take a musical instrument on-board with you. Some cruise passengers have said they were allowed to take one on a Carnival cruise, but were told it could be confiscated if other passengers found it to be a nuisance. Instruments aren’t mentioned specifically in their policy.

Again, it’s best to leave the musical instruments at home unless you have a very special reason to bring them with you. Don’t assume that you can bring an acoustic guitar and set up a sing-a-long in a bar or by the poolside – most other cruisers won’t be impressed and you’ll very quickly have the crew asking you to stop, regardless of how good you are.

There are plenty of paid performers on a cruise ship, after all.

Golf clubs

While most sporting equipment is banned from cruise ships, golf clubs are generally allowed by most cruise lines as long as they are only taken ashore for organized golf excursions. You can’t take your own putter to use on the mini golf course on your ship!

Some cruise lines will be able to arrange club rental for you instead, so if you don’t want to take your golf bag with you for golfing excursions (and remember that most staterooms aren’t that big), then you do have the option to leave them at home.

Man playing golf onboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas
Photo credit: Royal Caribbean

Metal detectors

Most cruise lines will not allow you to bring a metal detector onboard your cruise, although some don’t mention it in their policy, and you may need to check. You certainly can’t turn one on while onboard, as the entire structure is made from metal, including stateroom walls.

If you only wanted to use a metal detector on a beach during a port day then a cruise line may allow you to bring it onto your cruise ship, but they may turn you down. Definitely check in advance, don’t leave it to chance for embarkation day.

Woman using metal detector on the beach

Candles

You aren’t allowed to take candles onto a cruise ship with you. Any kind of naked flame or fire hazard is banned from staterooms. The only exception would be matches or lighters if they are to be used for smoking.

Electric tea light candles may be permitted if they are battery-powered, but they probably don’t provide the ambience you were looking for. If you do book a cruise where you have a bathtub, you may have to rely on just music to set the mood for your relaxing soak.

Seashells

Whether you can bring seashells back onto your cruise ship after a day in port is at the discretion of the ship’s crew. Carnival is the only cruise line to mention it in their policy, saying they are allowed if they are clean, dry and free from living organisms.

Remember that seashells are often used as homes by beach creatures, and even if they are just filled with sand they may have organisms inside them. If you want to bring a seashell onto the ship, clean it out properly first, and make sure it’s dry. You should be OK, but be prepared that some cruise lines may still confiscate it.

Seashells on the shore

Handcuffs & restraints

You aren’t allowed to take any kind of restraints onto a cruise ship with you, including handcuffs and leg cuffs. They are mentioned in most cruise line’s policies as specifically banned items.

This will still include ‘fluffy’ handcuffs and those clearly designed to be used by consenting adults in the bedroom. Unfortunately, if you enjoy using handcuffs with your partner, you won’t be able to do so on a cruise ship. And you will have them confiscated by port security staff, which may or may not be embarrassing for you. Either way, leave them at home.

pink fur handcuffs and keys

Pepper spray

Despite being designed for self-defence, you are not allowed to bring pepper spray or any similar chemical products with you on a cruise ship. Pepper spray or mace is normally one of the named items that makes it onto most prohibited items lists for cruise lines.

Unusually specific items banned by cruise lines

Most cruise lines have very similar lists when it comes to prohibited items, but there are a couple of unusual items I’ve spotted that I thought were worth highlighting, just because of how oddly specific they are.

A number of cruise lines specify that you can’t take any form of wheeled transport on-board, including skateboards, bicycles and hoverboards. It’s understandable, since if the deck was slick you could easily charge too fast toward a railing. But Carnival is the only cruise line I’ve seen to make particular mention of heelies – children’s trainers with wheels inside the sole. They are also banned.

Girl on the hoverboard

Similarly, there is a blanket ban on electricals that generate heat – things like hot plates. But Disney Cruise Line includes rice cookers in their list. That policy will be the same across all cruise lines, but has Disney seen a number of passengers trying to bring rice cookers on-board?

Finally, Norwegian Cruise Line has a very specific entry on its list of banned items – the Samsung Note 7. This was the oversized phone/small tablet released in 2016 which had serious battery issues, often causing it to explode, before the model was withdrawn from sale. If you have one, don’t try to take it on an NCL cruise. In fact, you probably shouldn’t use it anyway.

Final thoughts

Each cruise line will have a policy detailing the things that guests are not permitted to bring on cruise ships. As well as the items mentioned in this guide, this will include obviously dangerous things like weapons, illegal substances and chemicals.

So if you want to know what are prohibited items on P&O cruises, or what’s banned with MSC or Princess, it’s best to check their individual policies, otherwise you might end up having an awkward time at check-in.

Read more: The Most Useless Items People Packed For Their Cruises

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

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

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Everything You Need To Know About Bringing Weed On A Cruise

Now that recreational marijuana use is legal in most states in the US, you might assume that you can take it with you on a cruise. But, that’s not the case. In fact, marijuana is banned from every cruise ship in the world.

In this guide, I’ll explain the official rules as well as what actually happens in reality at cruise terminals, on cruise ships and during shore excursions.

Then, you can make your own decisions about consuming, smoking or vaping weed on your cruise.

You can’t bring weed on a cruise

It is forbidden to bring marijuana on a cruise ship. Most cruise lines follow US Federal law which prohibits the possession and use of marijuana. So, even if your cruise ship departs from and calls at ports where weed is legal, it will still be banned from the cruise ship.

Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana is not allowed on cruise ships, even if you have a prescription for it. This includes pot, edibles and cartridges. If you use medical marijuana, the cruise lines suggest that you speak to your doctor to discuss an alternative to use during your cruise.

Delta 8

A less intoxicating form of THC, Delta 8 is legal in many places, including most states in the US. However, just like regular marijuana, Delta 8 is banned from cruise ships.

smoking weed in cruise port

Cruise lines have policies to ban marijuana

It’s not just on board the cruise ships that you’re forbidden from possessing or using marijuana. The cruise line’s policies also state that it’s not allowed in the cruise terminals or during shore excursions.

Basically, you can’t use weed at any time during your cruise. Here are some examples of cruise line policies concerning recreational and medical marijuana…

Royal Caribbean

In no event shall any Passenger bring on board the Vessel any illegal controlled substances (including medical marijuana).

Marijuana possession and/or use, including medical marijuana, and possession or use of any illegal drugs, is strictly prohibited in many jurisdictions visited and on the Vessel at all times, as well as in terminals, during shore excursions or any other part of the cruise, regardless of any local, state, or other laws which might permit use or possession of marijuana

Royal Caribbean’s policy

Carnival

Carnival recognizes that some states in the U.S. have fully legalized the use of recreational and/or medical marijuana. However, cruise lines are required to follow U.S. federal law, which strictly prohibits possession and use of marijuana and other illegal, controlled substances.

Since all cruise terminals in the U.S. are federal facilities, the terminals and our ships are drug-free zones. 

Carnival Cruise Line’s policy

NCL

No illegal drugs or other illegal substances including but not limited to medical marijuana are allowed onboard or may be utilised during a Norwegian Cruise Line holiday, including during transfers to and from ships, inside terminals, during shore excursions or at our private island.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s policy

You can be kicked off the ship and given a lifetime ban!

The cruise lines’ policies lay out what you can expect to happen if you’re caught with weed during your cruise vacation. There’s a range of actions they could take, including confiscating the weed, kicking you off the ship, banning you from ever cruising again, giving you a fine and reporting you to the local police.

Of course, that’s not to say that all of those actions will definitely happen if you’re caught with weed, but it could do. Many people have reported in online forums that they’ve seen other guests being arrested after being caught with substances when boarding cruise ships.

Indeed, there was a recent case where Carnival dished out a lifetime ban to a passenger bringing CBD gummies onboard.

But then there are also cases where people have reported others for smoking marijuana on the ship and the security team hasn’t done anything about it.

FYI my wife is currently on the Miracle with her sister and she told me she can’t even enjoy their Balcony because of all the marijuana smell.  Security said they can’t do anything unless they observe it themeselves. So much for tightening up the rules

Here are what some of the cruise line policies say…

Royal Caribbean

Passengers who violate the laws of any jurisdiction are subject to being reported to law enforcement or customs authorities, arrest and prosecution.

Passengers who bring on board dangerous items, marijuana in any form, or any illegal drugs or controlled substances are also subject to immediate disembarkation or denial of boarding.

Carnival

Any illegal substances will be confiscated and the guest will be reported to the appropriate authorities.  Additionally, the guest may be subject to a $500 charge, risks being disembarked from the ship and may not be allowed to sail with Carnival in the future.

NCL

Illegal drugs or substances will be confiscated and appropriate action taken, which may include removal from the ship and involvement of appropriate authorities.

In addition, foreign governments at Norwegian Cruise Line ports of call have strict laws that address drug possession. Guests found in violation of such laws are subject to arrest and prosecution by the foreign jurisdiction (and perhaps United States or other authorities as well) and may be prevented from re-boarding the ship.

If we look at news reports, there are several examples of people who have been arrested, fined or even jailed for using marijuana during a cruise.

In countries like the Bahamas, possessing marijuana is particularly dangerous for cruise ship passengers. According to Jim Walker from Cruise Law News, cruise passengers make easy targets for the police.

Cruise passengers may be harassed by locals to buy small amounts of weed at the cruise port, then busted by the police. They are typically fined between $300 and $2,000 in cash, with the threat of a jail sentence if it’s not paid immediately. For the Bahamian government, targeting wealthy tourists is an easy way to get revenue into the country with very little effort.

While overseas police teams may turn a blind eye to locals smoking and selling weed, they might be keen to bust a tourist and make some quick cash, either as a bribe or an official fine.

In countries like Jamaica where marijuana is legal, you’re much less likely to get in trouble for smoking weed ashore, although it may still be forbidden, according to cruise line policies.

While the official line from cruise lines is that you must not smoke weed during shore excursions, Royal Caribbean and Carnival have in the past offered excursions such as the ‘Bob Marley Experience’ and the ‘Zion Bus Tour’ where cruise ship passengers have reported buying and smoking weed during the trip.

If you step off your cruise ship in Amsterdam, walk into a coffee shop, eat a space cake and then walk back onto the ship a few hours later, it would be virtually impossible for the cruise line to know. So long as you appear to be in a sober state, that is.

I have cruised to Amsterdam and let me tell you, there were a lot of giggly, red-eyed people in the elevators that afternoon!

Amsterdam coffeeshop

Sneaking weed onto a ship

Despite the possible consequences of getting stoned during a cruise, many people still seek out information on how to sneak weed on a cruise ship.

My advice would be not to do it. While it may seem easy to sneak weed on a cruise and you may think that there’s little chance of being caught, it’s just not worth it if you are.

Do you really want to spend your cruise worrying about what might happen if you’re caught smuggling drugs into a foreign country? You can never rule out a stint in jail.

cruise ship security guard

If you’re sure that you really do want to bring weed on your cruise, here’s some information about how others have reported doing it according to forums like Reddit and Quora…

Bringing edibles on a cruise

While bringing edibles on a cruise ship is not allowed, people have reported that this is one of the easiest ways to get high on a cruise. Some people mix THC gummies with regular gummy sweets in a bag so that it just looks like a snack or mix THC pills with vitamin tablets.

Homemade edibles like space cakes and brownies give off more of a smell than gummies and pills, so they’re more likely to attract attention in your luggage.

Bringing cartridge vapes on a cruise

THC oil vape pens, dap pens and carts don’t smell, so some people are able to bring them on a cruise in their checked luggage. A common trick is to bring some nicotine vape cartridges and mix your weed cart or dabs in with those so it doesn’t look suspicious.

Read more: Can You Vape On A Cruise Ship? What You Must Know!

While some people have reported vaping weed in a cruise ship casino without arousing suspicion by using a fruity-smelling pen, it’s probably better to do it in a quiet outdoor smoking area when nobody else is nearby.

Smoking weed on a cruise

Bringing dry herb, flower or bud on a cruise is one of the riskiest ways to sneak weed on a cruise ship because it smells so strongly. Smoking joints, blunts or pipes on a cruise ship is super risky because people will almost certainly be able to smell it.

Some people have reported using a Smoke Buddy to smoke in their cabin, while others have used a one-hitter in the smoking area when nobody is around. Depending on the ship, you may be able to find a quiet area with nobody around on the very top deck or the promenade deck.

But honestly, if you smoke weed on a cruise ship you’re asking for trouble.

Read more: How To Get Away With Smoking On A Cruise Ship

smoking weed on a cruise ship

Security teams will check!

Cruise ship security teams have various procedures to check for weed and other things that are banned from cruise ships. This includes the use of drug dogs that are specially trained to look for marijuana.

If you want to know exactly how cruise ships check for drugs, I recommend that you read this article.

420-friendly cruises don’t exist (yet)

As far as I know, there’s no such thing as a weed-friendly cruise. However, if you know otherwise, please do let me know in the comments section below!

In some places like Alaska and Amsterdam, you may be able to take an organised boat cruise with a cannabis culture theme. In cities like Chicago and San Francisco, you may see cannabis cruises advertised, but these are usually cruise tours in a minibus or limo.

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

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

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The Most Useless Items People Brought Onboard

When it comes to packing for a cruise, less is often more. A lot of the things you’ll pack, you’ll never even use, and it can mean a lot of extra weight in that suitcase for no good reason.

person packing for a cruise

I decided to turn to the experts – my Facebook fans! I asked what was the most useless item you’d ever packed for a cruise, and the responses were very useful (and funny too)!

So, here’s a look at the top tips from experienced cruise guests on what you shouldn’t bother packing for your next cruise getaway.

1. Half of the Suitcase 

A woman struggles to fit her shoes into an overloaded suitcase, showcasing a chaotic packing scene.

One of the most common replies from cruisers wasn’t about a specific item, but was about how much they overpacked.

People often say to pack for your cruise and then remove a third, but some were saying that half of their suitcase didn’t get used!

While I know it’s tempting to make sure you’re covered for every eventuality, remember that most cruise ships have a laundry service onboard. On many ships, you can do laundry for free.

So maybe cut down on all those extra swimsuits – leave some room for souvenirs!

2. Gym Wear 

A woman in a sports bra and yoga pants sits on a couch, packing gym clothes and a yoga mat for her trip.

A couple of cruise passengers have talked about packing gym wear, only to never touch it once they’re onboard. I’ll admit, I’ve done that too!

Most cruise ships have a gym and a running track, and some offer fitness classes. But think about how likely you are to use them if the option of relaxing by the pool is there instead.

I do pack running gear for most cruises, and enjoy a few laps of a running track with the fantastic ocean views. But it requires some dedication to set my alarm for 7 am on holiday, and that’s not for everyone.

3. Telescope 

A man gazes through a telescope, enjoying a stunning sunset during his trip.

One past cruise guest talked about bringing a telescope onboard, and I can understand the appeal. Being out in the middle of the ocean with a star-filled sky, there would definitely be some spectacular views to be had.

However, they said they were too busy to even use it, and I imagine a good telescope takes up quite a bit of room in your suitcase!

Some luxury cruise lines have their own telescopes you could use, if you’re a really keen stargazer.

4. Books

This one’s interesting, because when I asked on Facebook what were some good tips for first-time cruisers, a couple of people suggested taking a good book because it’s the perfect thing to enjoy during downtime.

But when I asked about useless things packed, others said that taking a pile of books is pointless because there’s just so much to do when you’re onboard. I’ll admit I usually take a book, but I’ve never actually finished one!

It might be worth having one book, especially if you need to fly to meet your ship and want something for on the plane or while you’re sat in the terminal.

Most cruise ships have libraries onboard, so you could just borrow a few books from there, and save on the weight in your suitcase.

5. Inappropriate Clothing

Camo print clothing in the Caribbean

A lot of people talked about how they didn’t really plan for their cruise itinerary when it came to packing clothes.

Some packed light summer wear for cruises to Norway, where it was too cold to really enjoy it. But at the same time, others said they wish they had packed lighter clothes for their own Norway cruise, because they hadn’t checked and seen that it was an unusually warm season.

Before you sail, check the climate and weather forecast, and base your packing on that. I know it won’t be perfect but it’ll give you a good idea of what you’re more likely to wear.

And be aware that some countries have strict rules on what you’re allowed to wear. For example, it’s forbidden to wear camo-print in many places in the Caribbean. You can read more on that here: 9 Things You Should Never Wear On A Cruise.

6. Spanx 

Woman in a very tight dress in a cruise

If you’re someone who likes to include Spanx or shapewear in your outfits, maybe think again when you’re cruising.

After all, you’re likely going to want to indulge in the restaurants, and the last thing you need is something that’s super-tight fitting when you just want to be in your comfiest clothes.

Instead, pack a few looser-fitting items, especially to wear towards the end of your cruise. On a cruise I mostly wear floaty dresses so I can eat as much as I want without feeling squeezed in!

7. Formal Wear

Close-up of a man in a sharp suit and tie, exuding professionalism and style in formal wear.

Formal nights do still exist on many cruise ships, and a lot of people like to get dressed up in their best outfits for a special-feeling night.

But equally, a lot of people don’t, and these days it’s more acceptable than ever to shun the formal night activities and just go relax in the buffet restaurant or other quiet parts of the ship.

If you’re not someone who is too interested in putting on your best suits or dresses, then don’t bother packing them. You’ll still have an amazing time.

Suggested read: The Best Cruise Dresses for Formal Night

8. High Heels

 A woman in pink heels and jeans, ready for a trip, stands confidently with her luggage beside her.

A few women mentioned how they packed high heels to wear in the evenings on their cruise, but ended up sticking to their more comfortable flats for the duration.

Remember that, while it is nice to put on a pair of sparkly heels for dinner, you might need those feet to be in their best condition the next day for a long excursion tour. Plus, if you’re cruising in rough seas, then it can be tricky to walk in heels, and possibly even dangerous.

Comfy shoes are always better on a cruise, so don’t prioritise packing those heels unless you really insist on them completing your outfit.

Suggested read: The Best Shoes For Cruise Holidays With Footwear For Every Occasion

9. Snacks 

A plastic container filled with hummus, pretzels, carrots, and celery, perfect for a healthy snack on the go.

I am someone who usually takes snacks onboard a cruise, because I like to have something simple to nibble on while I’m in my cabin, and I’ve seen how much the onboard stores charge for things like Pringles. No thanks!

Suggested read: Cruise Passenger Shocked By £9.50 Packet of Crisps

Bu,t a few passengers said that there’s no need to pack snacks, and they’re right really – there is plenty of free food on a cruise for you to enjoy, and you can always bring a plate back to your room from the buffet if you want to relax while you eat.

Having snacks in your suitcase can be handy, especially on cruises that charge a delivery fee for room service, on those days when you just want to be lazy. But they aren’t essentially and can be left behind if you’re short on space.

You can always buy snacks in your first port of call and bring them onboard with you.

10. Travel Kettle 

A monochrome shot of a  travel kettle in the kitchen of a cruise ship.

Most of the big cruise lines are aimed primarily at American passengers, rather than Brits, and so many of them don’t include a kettle in your cabin.

We know how much Brits love a cup of tea in the morning, and so some people try to take a travel kettle onboard with them, so that they don’t need to walk to the buffet restaurant or wait for room service to enjoy a fresh brew. Same with coffee, too.

However, cruise lines often don’t permit guests to bring a kettle with them as it could be a fire risk if it hasn’t been safety tested.

It’s usually best to avoid packing one if there’s any doubt, as you might just end up without the kettle and needing to go and retrieve your case from security while they explain why they confiscated it.

Suggested read: The Things You Can & Can’t Take On A Cruise Ship

11. Irons and Steamers

A person ironing clothes with a steam iron, focused on getting the wrinkles out of a shirt on an ironing board.

There are other small electrical appliances that some cruise guests have packed, only to then receive a letter from the cruise line telling them that they were confiscated.

Travel irons are common, and clothes steamers aren’t permitted either.

If there are any doubts, you should contact the cruise line in advance to check, but generally try to avoid bringing anything unnecessary that you think could be taken away, since that’s just wasted effort and suitcase space.

Suggested read: How To Iron Clothes On A Cruise

12. Electronic Devices 

A laptop resting inside a suitcase, placed on a neatly made bed, ready for travel or a cozy work session.

Personal electronic devices, such as laptops and tablets, are always going to be allowed on a cruise as long as they’re clearly in good condition and not a fire risk.

But, do you really need to take them with you?

Cruises are packed with activities and it’s often better to try and switch off while you’re sailing. At least, that’s the advice of many past cruisers.

I do work on cruises sometimes, so I will usually have my laptop with me. And working on a ship is relaxing, if you get decent WiFi. But if you don’t need your electronics, consider leaving them behind.

13. Sea Sickness Medication 

The image captures a young man on a boat, gazing thoughtfully at the ocean. He is wearing a white t-shirt and is holding onto a rope, with the expansive blue sea in the background, suggesting a moment of introspection or seasickness.

I would always suggest that you take sea sickness medication with you on a cruise if you’re someone who has suffered with motion sickness before, or you’ve never sailed and you don’t know if you’ll suffer.

Suggested read: Will You Get Seasick On A Cruise? Here’s How To Know

However, one respondent on Facebook did describe it as useless, because they weren’t affected in any way. 

And most people aren’t sick on a cruise. Sea sickness is real, but it only affects a small percentage of people when the ship is in rough waters. It’s not like half the ship is rushing to the bathroom.

So pack if if you might need it, but it’s OK to leave it behind if you handle motion without problems. Plus, there are plenty of natural remedies you can try too, like green apples.

14.  Miscellaneous Unneeded Items

 fishing rod and reel resting on the deck of a cruise ship, with the vast ocean stretching out in the background.

When I asked past cruise guests on Facebook what the most useless items they’d packed for a cruise were, I did get a few jokey suggestions.

One of those was a fishing rod, but some people have actually done this before and tried fishing from their balcony. Guess what – that’s not allowed, and you will be kicked off the ship!

Cruise lines do publish lists of banned items, including some very odd specific things, but as a rule of thumb if it’s not something you’ll really need, don’t take it with you.

15. Husbands 

An annoyed wife due to her husband's loud snoring during a cruise ship trip.

Several (!) people who had cruised before made their own joke suggestion of their husband as the most useless thing they had packed for their cruise!

I do think it’s a little harsh, but if you feel your husband is a bit too useless to enjoy the cruise properly, and they aren’t helping, you can always travel with a friend instead if you prefer!

I’ve cruised with my husband before, with the kids, with my mum, with friends, and I’ve cruised solo – and I’ve always had a great time. You do you. If you want to leave your husband at home, go for it, haha!

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Final Word

Hopefully, these tips from past guests have helped you to work out some of the things you can remove from your case the next time you’re packing for a cruise, leaving you with a lighter suitcase for travelling with.

However, make sure you also read the top things that pro cruisers take with them that you won’t have thought of – maybe the suitcase won’t be quite as empty as you thought!

Related Posts

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

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

Source link

Handheld walkie-talkie two-way radio, the type of FRS radio families take on cruise ships

The Best Walkie-Talkies for Cruise Ships (and When to Skip Them)

The best walkie-talkies for cruise ships are simple, licence-free FRS radios from brands such as Motorola Talkabout, Midland and Cobra, kept under 5 watts so they meet cruise line rules. They work best between nearby decks, as thick steel walls cut range sharply. On many ships, the cruise line’s own app chat is now cheaper and more reliable.

That said, radios still have fans. They don’t need WiFi, kids find them fun, and there is no lag when you just want to say “meet at the buffet”. This guide covers which lines allow them, what licence rules apply, what range to really expect, which features to look for, and when you should skip radios and use your phone.

Can You Bring Walkie-Talkies on a Cruise?

On most major lines, yes, as long as your radios are small, low-powered consumer models. Ham radios and similar transmitting gear are banned on all the big lines, and policies differ, so check your line’s prohibited items page before you sail. Here is where things stood at the time of writing (October 2026):

Cruise line Walkie-talkies allowed? Key rules
Royal Caribbean Yes Two-way radios are allowed up to a maximum range of 10 miles and 5 watts of power. They must be for voice only, with no external antenna. Ham radios are prohibited.
Carnival Yes Carnival has said guests can use them. It asks you to keep the volume down and switch them off during shows.
Norwegian Cruise Line No “Walkie-talkies” are named on NCL’s prohibited items list, along with ham radios and satellite phones.
Disney Cruise Line Not specifically listed Disney’s list bans ham radios and communication scanners but does not name walkie-talkies. Its Navigator app chat is free, so most families use that.
Other lines (MSC, Princess, Celebrity and more) Varies Check the current prohibited items list on the line’s official website. Security can confiscate anything they consider unsuitable.

One useful point: Royal Caribbean’s limits are based on the range and wattage printed on the box. A radio sold as “up to 36 miles” may technically break that rule, even though it will never reach anything close to that at sea. Choose models whose specs sit within the limits so you don’t have a problem at the security scanner.

FRS vs GMRS vs PMR446: Which Type Do You Need?

Consumer walkie-talkies use one of a few radio services, and which one you can legally use depends on where you are from.

FRS (US, no licence)

Family Radio Service radios are the plug-and-play option sold in most US stores. You don’t need a licence. Power is capped at 2 watts on most channels and 0.5 watts on channels 8 to 14. For cruise use, FRS is the obvious choice: legal, cheap and well within cruise line limits.

GMRS (US, FCC licence required)

General Mobile Radio Service radios share many channels with FRS but can transmit at higher power. You need an FCC GMRS licence to use them. At the time of writing it costs $35, lasts 10 years and covers your immediate family. Many handheld GMRS radios run at up to 5 watts. That is right at Royal Caribbean’s limit, and some have removable antennas, which can raise questions at security. The extra power helps a bit through steel, but it is no miracle.

PMR446 (UK and Europe, no licence)

If you are sailing from the UK or Europe, the licence-free standard is PMR446, limited to 0.5 watts. US FRS and GMRS radios use frequencies that are not approved for licence-free use in the UK and EU. So buy PMR446 sets for European sailings, and don’t bring US radios to use on a Mediterranean or Northern Europe cruise.

Do Walkie-Talkies Work on Cruise Ships? The Range Reality

This is where expectations and reality part ways. Range claims like “25 miles” or “36 miles” assume an open, flat landscape with a clear line of sight. A cruise ship is the opposite: a stack of steel decks, fire doors, bulkheads and machinery, which together block and reflect radio signals.

In practice, you can expect:

  • Same deck, open area: generally good, often from one end of the pool deck to the other.
  • A few decks apart in the same section: usually workable, especially near atriums and stairwells.
  • Cabin to the opposite end of the ship, many decks down: often patchy or dead.
  • Inside theatres, the casino and lower interior decks: usually the weakest spots.

Two habits help. Agree on a “radio check” spot on an open deck, and move toward a window or stairwell when the signal breaks up. On the biggest ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s Icon and Oasis classes, accept that radios will cover your neighbourhood of the ship, not the whole ship.

Families relaxing on an open cruise ship deck where walkie-talkie signals carry best
Open decks are where cruise walkie-talkies work best. Photo: emre varışlı on Pexels

The Best Walkie-Talkies for Cruise Ships: What to Look For

Instead of chasing the biggest range number on the box, look for features that matter on a ship. Several well-known model families tick most of these boxes:

  1. Motorola Talkabout T-series (FRS): widely sold in the US, with models that run on rechargeable batteries or AA batteries, and some waterproof versions (such as the floating H2O models) that suit pool decks and beach days. They are a sensible default for most families.
  2. Midland T-series (FRS): simple, light radios that kids can manage easily. Many sets come with privacy codes and a shared charging setup, and they are often sold in multipacks for bigger groups.
  3. Midland GXT series (GMRS): chunkier, higher-power radios aimed at outdoor use. They are worth considering only if you will get a GMRS licence and confirm the wattage is within your cruise line’s limit.
  4. Cobra RX and ACXT ranges (FRS): budget-friendly, rugged, often water-resistant pairs, and a good choice if you mainly want radios for port days and the pool.
  5. PMR446 sets for UK and European sailings: Motorola, Midland and Cobra all sell licence-free PMR446 versions in Europe. Buy the regional version, not the US one.

Whichever brand you choose, look for:

  • Privacy codes (CTCSS/DCS): they filter out other families on the same channel, which is a real issue on busy sailings.
  • USB charging: one cable you already pack, instead of a bulky charging cradle. Pack a multi-port USB charger, not a surge-protected power strip, which most lines prohibit.
  • Keypad lock: stops kids (and pockets) changing the channel.
  • Water resistance: handy around pools, splash pads and tender boats.
  • Earpiece socket or vibrate alert: keeps you from becoming the person whose radio squawks during dinner.
  • Specs within the rules: 5 watts or less, advertised range of 10 miles or less for Royal Caribbean, and a fixed antenna.

Expect to pay from around $30 to $60 for a basic FRS pair and more for waterproof or GMRS models. Prices change often, so compare a few retailers.

Are Walkie-Talkies Worth It on a Cruise in 2026?

For many passengers, the honest answer is “probably not”. Ships now have fast satellite WiFi, and cruise line apps include guest-to-guest messaging. Here is how the options compare:

Option Typical cost Works ship-wide? Best for
FRS walkie-talkies From around $30 to $60 a pair, used again on future trips No, it is patchy across decks Kids without phones, port days, lines without free chat
Royal Caribbean app chat Free between guests on the same sailing (connect to ship WiFi) Yes, wherever there is WiFi Royal Caribbean guests with phones
Carnival HUB app chat One-time fee, about $5 per person at the time of writing Yes Carnival families on a budget
Disney Navigator app chat Free Yes Disney Cruise Line guests
NCL onboard messaging Uses ship WiFi and Free at Sea minutes or an internet package Yes NCL guests, since radios are banned
Full WiFi package Often $20 to $30 or more per person per day Yes, plus messages home People who need WhatsApp, email or work access

App features and fees change, so check what is included before you sail. If you are weighing up connectivity, our guide to cruise ship WiFi costs and cheaper alternatives breaks down package prices by line.

Person sending a text message on a smartphone, an alternative to walkie-talkies on a cruise
Cruise line app chat has replaced radios for many families. Photo: RDNE Stock project on Pexels

When Walkie-Talkies Still Make Sense

Radios still earn a place in your bag in a few situations:

  • Kids and tweens without phones: a radio gives younger cruisers a bit of independence on the pool deck or at the kids’ club drop-off. If you are choosing a family-friendly ship, see our guide to the best Royal Caribbean ships for kids of each age.
  • Port days and private islands: ship WiFi and app chat stop working once you are away from the ship, and roaming can be expensive. A radio set works on a beach or at a private island with no data at all.
  • Groups and family reunions: one shared channel can be quicker than a dozen group chat notifications.
  • Older passengers who prefer push-to-talk: there are no apps to set up or links to accept.

Cruise Walkie-Talkie Etiquette and Pre-Cruise Checklist

A little planning avoids confiscation, flat batteries and annoyed neighbours:

  1. Read your cruise line’s prohibited items list in the week before sailing, as rules change. NCL’s walkie-talkie ban is a recent example.
  2. Check the wattage and advertised range on the box against the line’s limits.
  3. Pack radios in your carry-on so any security question is answered at the terminal, not after your checked bag goes missing until evening.
  4. Fully charge radios the night before, and bring a USB charger with enough ports.
  5. Pick a channel and privacy code at home, then lock the keypad.
  6. Agree on a backup meeting point in case radios fail.
  7. Keep the volume low, use an earpiece in quiet spaces, and switch off in theatres, restaurants and the spa.
  8. Never use radios near crew working areas or anywhere you are asked not to.

Still planning your trip? Before you buy any gadgets, compare current offers in our cruise deals 2027 guide.

If you would rather use your own phone at sea, our guide to whether the AT&T cruise package is worth it compares daily passes with ship Wi-Fi.

FAQs

Can you bring walkie-talkies on a cruise?

On most big lines, yes. Royal Caribbean allows two-way radios up to 5 watts and 10 miles of advertised range with no external antenna, and Carnival allows them too. Norwegian Cruise Line is the main exception: walkie-talkies are on its prohibited items list. Always check your line’s current list before you pack.

Do walkie-talkies work on cruise ships?

They work, but not as well as the box suggests. Steel decks and bulkheads block radio signals, so expect reliable coverage within a few decks and a section or two of the ship rather than end to end. Higher, open areas such as the pool deck work best.

Do I need a licence for cruise walkie-talkies?

In the US, FRS radios need no licence. Using GMRS channels or higher power needs an FCC GMRS licence, which costs $35 at the time of writing, lasts 10 years and covers your immediate family. In the UK and Europe, only licence-free PMR446 radios should be used.

What is the best walkie-talkie for a cruise ship?

A good choice is a rechargeable FRS pair from a mainstream brand such as Motorola Talkabout, Midland or Cobra, with privacy codes, a belt clip, a keypad lock and decent battery life. Pick a GMRS model only if you are willing to get the licence and it stays within your cruise line’s power limits.

Is it cheaper to use the cruise line app instead?

Usually, yes. Royal Caribbean’s app chat between guests on the same sailing is free over the ship’s WiFi, and Carnival’s HUB app chat has been a small one-time fee, about $5 per person. That is often cheaper than buying radios, and messages get through anywhere on board.

wine-on-cruise-ship-with-a-sea-view.jpg

Can You Bring Alcohol On A Cruise?

There are lots of reasons you might want to bring your own alcohol onto a cruise.

It could be that you want to have your own bar in your cabin for pre-dinner drinks. Or maybe you just want to avoid the high drinks prices onboard, where possible.

Wine on cruise ship with a sea view

In this guide, I’ll take you through everything you need to know about whether you are allowed to bring booze onto a ship, how much, and whether it’s better to just buy onboard.

Can you bring your own alcohol on a cruise?

Some cruise lines allow you to bring your own alcohol onto a cruise, but a handful don’t let you. Usually, you’re limited to one bottle of wine or Champagne, but there are some exceptions where you can bring a small number of beers or extra bottles of wine.

Obviously, it is in the cruise line’s interest to get you to buy your drinks onboard – that’s where they’ll make a lot of their money. So they don’t want you to bring too much with you.

They may charge corkage fees as well, depending on where on the ship you plan to drink it. Usually drinking in your stateroom is free of charge, but not always, so be sure to check!

Suggested read: Can You Walk Around A Cruise Ship With Alcohol?

Sparkling wine inside cruise ship stateroom

Which cruise lines allow you to bring alcohol onboard?

Most cruise lines allow you to bring alcohol onto your cruise, including the big names like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney Cruise Line and P&O Cruises. Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises are two cruise lines that do not allow guests to bring any alcohol onto the ship, at all.

Here’s a quick summary of the major cruise lines, and whether they let you bring alcohol on board:

Cruise line Can you bring alcohol onboard? Is there a corkage fee?
Carnival Cruises Yes Only for public area consumption
Celebrity Cruises Yes Only for public area consumption
Costa Cruises No N/A
Cunard Line Yes Only for public area consumption
Disney Cruise Line Yes No
Holland America Line Yes Yes
MSC Cruises No N/A
NCL Yes Yes
P&O Cruises Yes Only for public area consumption
Princess Cruises Yes Only on 2+ bottles
Royal Caribbean Yes No
Virgin Voyages Yes No

How To Take Alcohol On A Cruise

If your cruise line does permit you to bring alcohol, you should check their policy about how much you can bring, and whether it should be packed in your checked luggage or carry-on bag. The rules are quite different for each cruise line, but I’ve listed them for the major cruise lines below.

When packing glass bottles, it’s vital that you pack them carefully so as to avoid breakages. The last thing you want is to fine broken glass and red wine all over your clothes!

I suggest that you invest in some of these wine bottle protectors to keep your alcohol safe inside your bag.

Can you take alcohol on Carnival cruises?

Guests are allowed to take one 750ml bottle of either wine or Champagne onto their cruise, per person. It must be packed in the carry-on luggage, and it must be completely unopened and sealed.

Only guests aged 21 and over are allowed to bring alcohol onto the ship, regardless of local laws. A $15 corkage fee applies if guests want to drink their bottle in a restaurant or bar on the ship.

Read the Carnival alcohol policy.

Carnival’s drinks aren’t the cheapest – expect to pay around $7 to $9 for a beer, and between $9.50 and $14 for a glass of wine. A cocktail will set you back around $10.50 to $12.50.You can see the drinks menus and prices here.

There is a drinks package, but it’s expensive – around $60 per person, per day if booked in advance. So definitely take advantage of your allowance to take a bottle onto the ship with you if you can!

Can you take alcohol on Celebrity cruises?

On a Celebrity cruise, guests are allowed to take two 750ml bottles of wine onto the ship with them. There’s a $25 corkage fee if you drink it in a public area of the ship, but no charge if you drink it in your stateroom. The corkage fee is waived if you’ve bought a Classic Beverage Package or Premium Beverage Package.

Read the Celebrity alcohol policy.

Drinks on a Celebrity cruise cost a similar amount to some of the other larger American-style cruise lines, so they aren’t cheap – around $7-10 for beers, $9-14 for glasses of wine and up to $20 for a cocktail. There are drinks packages but they are very costly – $89 per person, per day for the Classic package, and $109 per person, per day for the Premium package.

A bottle of wine inside Celebrity suite

Can you take alcohol on Costa cruises?

Costa Cruises does not allow guests to bring any alcohol onto the ship at embarkation or at any of the ports of call. Costa won’t store any alcohol for guests either – and will just refuse to allow it on the ship at all.

Read the Costa alcohol policy.

Costa Cruises are known for being a little more penny-pinching when it comes to drinks in general – you don’t even get free tap water throughout the day. In terms of alcohol prices, they’re a little lower than on major cruise lines – beers start at around $5.50, cocktails start at $8 – and there are drinks packages available from $37 to $51 per person, per day.

Can you take alcohol on Cunard cruises?

According to Cunard’s terms and conditions, you’re allowed to take one bottle of wine of Champagne (750ml) onto the cruise ship “to celebrate special occasions”. You don’t need to prove it is for a special occasion though. A corkage fee of $25 will be applied if you want to drink the wine in the restaurants or bars on the ship.

Read the Cunard alcohol policy.

Cunard’s alcohol prices are mid to high – expect beers to start at around $6 and glasses of wine to cost from $8 up to around $14. Prices for cocktails range from $9 up to $17 for the fanciest, with most around $12.

Alcohol-inclusive drinks packages cost $69 per person, per day so are quite expensive too – definitely take that bottle of wine onto the ship with you.

Can you take alcohol on Disney cruises?

Any guests 21 years or older (regardless of local licensing laws) are allowed to bring either two unopened bottles of wine or Champagne onto the ship (no bigger than 750ml), or 6 beers no larger than 12 ounces (340ml) each. British guests must heed that size warning as many beer cans sold in the UK are 440ml or more. All drinks must be packed in the carry-on luggage.

Read the Disney alcohol policy. 

Drinks on a Disney cruise are about as expensive as on similar American-style ships – there’s no massive ‘Disney’ premium, but you’ll still pay between $8 and $17 for a glass of wine, or $6.50 to $9 for a beer. There are no unlimited drinks packages, but you can buy a package with a set number of drinks included.

Can you take alcohol on Holland America Line cruises?

Guests are allowed to bring wine and Champagne bottles onto their Holland America Cruise, provided they are no bigger than 750ml.

There’s no limit on the number, though the cruise line states “wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive… will be refused.” A corkage fee of $20 is applied to each bottle, so it can get expensive if you bring a lot on board.

Read the Holland America Line alcohol policy.

You’ll pay a similar amount to other cruise lines for your drinks – $7 for a beer on average, $9-14 for a glass of wine, and $9-18 for a cocktail.

Drinks packages are available but buying an alcohol-inclusive package doesn’t make sense – instead, the Have It All package costs $50 per person, per day (cheaper than drinks packages bought separately) and includes drinks plus other benefits.

Can you take alcohol on MSC cruises?

MSC Cruises is another cruise line that, like Costa, refuses to allow guests to bring any alcohol onto the ship with them. Alcohol brought onboard at embarkation or at a port of call will be confiscated, and it’s not clear whether it will be returned to guests at the end of the cruise.

Read the MSC alcohol policy.

MSC’s drinks prices are actually some of the highest on any cruise line. A beer will typically cost between $10.50 and $12.50 and a glass of wine starts at $11, up to around $14. Cocktails start at around $12 too.

Drinks packages cost between $42 and $85 if you want to drink alcohol so those aren’t cheap either. Considering the price of the drinks, it’s a shame MSC doesn’t let you at least bring one bottle onboard.

Can you take alcohol on NCL cruises?

NCL has one of the most relaxed policies when it comes to bringing alcohol onboard. You are limited to wine and Champagne only, but you can bring as many onto the ship as you like, and the size limit is increased to a magnum (1.5 litres).

However, you do still have to pay a corkage fee, even if drinking the bottles in your stateroom – $15 for a 750ml bottle and $30 for a magnum.

Read the NCL alcohol policy.

NCL’s drinks prices are on a similar level to other American-style cruise lines. Expect to pay between $6 and $9 for a beer, and $8-10 for a glass of wine. A cocktail will usually cost $10 to $13.

Drinks packages can be bought for all-inclusive drinking but they are super expensive – $109 per day for the regular Premium package and $139 for the Premium Plus package.

Can you take alcohol on P&O cruises?

P&O Cruises lets guests bring 1 x one-litre bottle of alcohol onboard their cruises at embarkation, but they are not just limited to wine or Champagne – spirits and liqueurs are also permitted as part of the policy.

This is the most generous alcohol policy of all cruise lines. You can also bring unlimited mixers, so a litre of spirits can last quite a while.

I brough this gin and lemonade on my last P&O Cruise

Any drinks over that limit will be held by the ship until disembarkation day, and then returned to guests. A £20 corkage fee applies if the alcohol is drunk in the public areas of the ship, but not if it is consumed in the cabin.

Read the P&O alcohol policy.

Alcohol prices are pretty good – beers cost around £5 ($6) and a glass of wine ranges from £4.50 to £12.50 ($5 to $15.50). Cocktails cost between £6.95 and £8.95 ($8.50 to $11).

The drinks packages cost between £45 and £55 per person, per day ($56 to $68) so they aren’t cheap but they’re not at the level of some rival cruise lines’ top-tier packages either.

Can you take alcohol on Princess Cruises?

With Princess Cruises, you’re allowed to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne onto your cruise with you, up to 750ml. You can bring more, but those will be charged with a $15 corkage fee, no matter where on the ship you consume them. This only applies to wine and Champagne – no beer or spirits can be brought onboard.

Read the Princess Cruises alcohol policy

Drinks prices on a Princess ship aren’t too bad – a beer costs around $6-7 and a glass of wine $8-12. Cocktails are quite cheap too, ranging from $7.50 to $10 on average.

Drinks packages cost between $77 and $100 per person, per day, so are pretty expensive, though you can often get a better deal by booking a Princess Plus or Princess Premier cruise fare.

Alcohol on Princess cruises

Can you take alcohol on Royal Caribbean cruises?

Royal Caribbean’s alcohol policy states that guests are allowed to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne (maximum 750ml) onto their cruise. The policy also clearly states that any other alcohol brought onto the ship will be confiscated and not returned. 

Also if you book consecutive sailings, you can bring on a bottle for each cruise, but you’ll only be allowed one for each individual sailing – you’ll then get your next one delivered to your room at the start of each cruise.

Read the Royal Caribbean alcohol policy.

The price of drinks on a Royal Caribbean cruise is similar to a lot of other cruise lines – not great, but not terrible. Beers cost between $7 and $8 while a cocktail is between $8 and $13. Most glasses of wine are around $9-11 but some do cost up to $20.

Royal Caribbean does offer a decent selection of drinks for free, though.

You can get a drinks package, but the price varies from between $49 and $89 per day. If you’re paying in the upper limits, it is quite expensive.

Can you take alcohol on Virgin Voyages cruises?

With Virgin Voyages, guests (called “sailors”) are allowed to bring two bottles of wine to enjoy per cabin (so unless you’re a solo traveller, one per person), provided they’re no bigger than 750ml. Wine must be packed in the carry-on luggage – any alcohol in the checked bags will be held until the end of the cruise.

Read the Virgin Voyages alcohol policy. (Search for the question “Can I bring alcohol on board?”)

The drinks on a Virgin ship are a little towards the higher price bracket – beer is OK at $5 to $8 and there are cheap wines for $7 a glass, but some cost as much as $22 a glass. Cocktails vary between $12 and $17.

Virgin Voyages doesn’t offer drinks packages but instead lets you preload your ‘bar tab’ onboard and gives you bonus money – for every $300 that you add, you get $50 extra free.

Sneaking Alcohol On A Cruise

It is possible to sneak your own alcohol onto a cruise ship, but the risk is up to you. If it’s found then it will be confiscated, and you could get in trouble with the cruise line – though serious trouble is very unlikely.

While I can’t condone it, check out the ways you can sneak alcohol onto a cruise ship if you want to know more.

This Umbrella flask is available on Amazon.

Final word

Cruise line drinks can be expensive, so if you like to drink on a cruise, it’s a good idea to take a bottle or two with you – provided you follow the guidelines of what’s allowed.

Be careful because some ships will permanently confiscate any extra, and they will check – so you’re risking throwing money away if you try to get an extra bottle onboard. All you’re doing is topping up the crew’s own bar.

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Cruise Mummy

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.

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Open suitcase with neatly rolled clothes and packing cubes, illustrating cruise packing tips

40 Cruise Packing Tips and Hacks for 2026 (Plus What Not to Pack)

The best cruise packing tips come down to three things: keep everything you need for the first afternoon in your carry-on, leave banned items at home (power strips, irons and spirits are the usual culprits), and pack mix-and-match clothes around your itinerary and the ship’s dress code. Below are 40 practical tips grouped by stage, from choosing your luggage to organising a small cabin once you’re on board.

The rules quoted here come from the cruise lines’ own published policies as of October 2026. Policies change, so check your line’s FAQ in the week before you sail.

Cruise Packing Tips for Luggage: Ship vs Flight Allowance

  1. Your airline is usually the real limit. Mainstream lines don’t publish a strict weight or piece limit. Royal Caribbean, for example, asks guests to bring a “reasonable amount” of luggage and to keep the number of pieces down. If you’re flying to the port, pack to your airline’s checked and cabin allowances, not the ship’s.
  2. Driving to the port? Still pack with restraint. Cabins are small and storage is limited. Two medium suitcases per couple is plenty for a week, and soft-sided bags are easier to slide under the bed.
  3. Use TSA-approved locks. Royal Caribbean states that luggage may only be locked with a TSA-approved lock, because port security may need to open your bag.
  4. Make your bags easy to spot. Hundreds of near-identical black cases come off the ship at once. Add a bright strap or tag, and consider an AirTag or similar tracker so you can see whether your bag has reached the ship.
  5. Print your luggage tags before you leave home. Most lines let you print tags from your online check-in. Attach them at home or at the hotel so a porter can take your bags at the terminal.

Embarkation Day Carry-On: What to Keep With You

Checked bags are handed to porters at the terminal and delivered to your cabin later. Royal Caribbean warns that they may not arrive until later in the afternoon. Pack your carry-on as if your suitcase won’t turn up until dinner.

  1. Passports and documents. Bring your passport (or the accepted ID for closed-loop US sailings), boarding pass, visas and travel insurance details. Never put these in checked luggage.
  2. All medications. Keep prescriptions in your carry-on in their original labelled containers, with enough to last a couple of extra days in case of delays.
  3. Swimwear and a change of clothes. The pools and buffet are open from boarding, and you’ll want something smart enough for dinner if your case arrives late.
  4. Phone, charger and power bank. You’ll use your phone for the cruise app, boarding pass and photos all day.
  5. Wine, if you’re bringing any. Lines that allow a bottle on board (see below) usually require it to be carried on at embarkation, not packed in checked luggage.

What Not to Pack for a Cruise: Banned Items

Every bag goes through an X-ray at the terminal, and prohibited items are confiscated. You may get them back at the end of the cruise, or they may be disposed of. These are the items that most often catch people out.

  1. Power strips, surge protectors and extension cords. Royal Caribbean bans “electrical extension cords, including power strips/surge protected strips and multi-plug outlets” as fire risks. Other major lines have similar rules. A USB charging hub without a surge protector is the usual workaround. Royal Caribbean says chargers must carry a recognised US or European safety mark.
  2. Clothing irons and travel steamers. Both are banned on Royal Caribbean, along with candles, coffee makers, hot plates, electric blankets and oil diffusers. Hair dryers, curling irons and flat irons are specifically allowed.
  3. Spirits and beer. Royal Caribbean and Carnival don’t let you bring hard liquor or beer on board. Both allow one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult of legal drinking age, carried on at embarkation. A corkage fee may apply if you drink it in a restaurant or bar.
  4. Speakers on Carnival. Carnival’s safety page says Bluetooth, portable and wireless speakers will be held and returned at the end of the cruise. Bring headphones instead.
  5. CBD and cannabis products. Carnival’s list explicitly includes CBD items, even where they’re legal on land. Ships follow maritime and port-country law, not your home state’s.
  6. Drones. Lines generally don’t allow drones to be flown from the ship, and some won’t let them on board. Check before you pack one.
  7. Wagons on Carnival. Collapsible wagons are allowed through the terminal but must be folded at embarkation and disembarkation, and can’t be used on board.
Item Typical rule Pack instead
Power strip / surge protector Banned (Royal Caribbean and most major lines) Non-surge USB hub with a safety mark
Clothes iron or steamer Banned Wrinkle-release spray or the ship’s pressing service
Hair dryer, straighteners Allowed Your own if you need it; most cabins have a basic dryer
Spirits and beer Banned One bottle of wine per adult, in your carry-on
Bluetooth speaker Held until disembarkation on Carnival Headphones
Magnetic hooks Allowed, and recommended by Royal Caribbean Not applicable
Smartly dressed couple at a dinner table in an elegant restaurant, ready for a cruise formal night
Many cruise lines now treat formal nights as optional dress-up evenings. Photo: Alexandra Kollstrem on Pexels

Clothes and Dress Codes: Cruise Packing Hacks for Your Wardrobe

  1. Pack for the itinerary, not just “a cruise”. A Caribbean week needs swimwear, cover-ups and sandals. Alaska or the Norwegian fjords need waterproof layers, a warm hat and shoes with grip. A Mediterranean sailing needs outfits that cover shoulders and knees for church visits.
  2. Use a capsule formula. A common starting point for seven nights is five tops, four bottoms, three pairs of shoes, two evening outfits and one set of accessories. Choose one colour palette so everything mixes.
  3. Check how formal “formal night” really is. Dress codes have relaxed a lot. Cruise Critic reported in August 2026 that Celebrity and Princess have embraced more relaxed formal-night attire. Regent Seven Seas began allowing “refined denim” and dress sneakers at dinner from 1 August 2025. A dress or smart separates, and a jacket or open-collar shirt, now covers most mainstream formal nights. A tuxedo is optional unless you’re sailing a line like Cunard that still holds black-tie gala evenings.
  4. Bring layers for indoors. Theatres and restaurants are air-conditioned and can feel cold. A light cardigan or overshirt earns its space.
  5. Limit shoes to three pairs. Wear walking shoes on travel day, then pack sandals or water shoes and one pair of evening shoes.
  6. Plan around the laundry options. Many Carnival and Princess ships have self-service launderettes. Royal Caribbean has none and instead sells per-bag laundry deals. If you know you can wash halfway through, you can pack for half the trip.

Plugs, Chargers and Electronics

  1. Check which sockets your ship has. Ships built for the US market mostly have North American (110V) outlets, often alongside a European (220V) socket. UK-focused ships, such as those sailed by P&O Cruises and Marella, typically have UK three-pin sockets. Your line’s FAQ will tell you which type your ship uses.
  2. Cabins rarely have enough outlets. Older cabins may have only one or two sockets near the desk. A compliant USB hub, or a single adapter with several USB ports and no surge protection, solves this without breaking the rules.
  3. Bring a long charging cable. The only socket is often nowhere near the bed. A 2-3m cable lets you charge your phone overnight within reach.

Toiletries, Medications and Documents

  1. Decant toiletries if you’re flying. Airport liquid rules still apply to your cabin bag on the way to the port. Most cabins supply soap, shampoo and shower gel, so you may need less than you think.
  2. Pack a small first-aid and seasickness kit. Include motion-sickness tablets or bands, painkillers, antacids, plasters and after-sun. Onboard shops sell these, but at a premium.
  3. Use reef-safe sunscreen where it’s required. Some destinations, including Hawaii and parts of the Caribbean, restrict sunscreens containing certain chemicals.
  4. Carry paper and digital copies of documents. Keep photocopies of your passport, insurance and prescriptions separate from the originals, and save photos of them to your phone.
  5. Bring a pen. Some arrival forms in port countries still have to be filled in on paper.
Straw beach bag with towel, sunglasses and water bottle on a tropical beach during a port day
A light day bag makes port days much easier. Photo: Mikhail Nilov on Pexels

Your Day Bag for Port Days

  1. Use a light, zipped day bag. A cross-body bag or small backpack is safer in busy ports than an open tote. Pack your cruise card, photo ID, a little local cash and a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
  2. Take a refillable water bottle and a dry bag. A dry bag protects your phone on tender boats and beach days. Many lines let you take water bottles ashore and refill them back on board.
  3. Note the all-aboard time and the port agent’s number. Both are in the daily programme or app. Take a photo of them in case your phone battery or signal fails.

Cabin Organisation Hacks

Inside and oceanview cabins are often around 150-180 sq ft, so storage makes a real difference. If you’re still deciding on a cabin, our guide to whether a balcony cabin is worth it over an inside cabin covers how much extra space you actually get.

  1. Packing cubes that double as drawers. Sort cubes by category (day, evening, swim, underwear) and put them straight on the shelves. Unpacking takes five minutes.
  2. Magnetic hooks. Most cabin walls and doors are metal. Royal Caribbean itself suggests heavy-duty magnetic hooks for hats, lanyards and bags.
  3. An over-the-door shoe organiser. Hang it on the bathroom or wardrobe door for sunscreen, chargers, toiletries and small items that would otherwise clutter the desk.
  4. A hanging toiletry bag. Cabin bathrooms have little counter space, and a bag that hooks over the door keeps everything visible.
  5. Extra hangers or a hanging organiser. Wardrobes often come with few hangers. Collapsible or cascading hangers make the space go further.
  6. Zip-lock or wet bags. Use them to keep damp swimwear away from dry clothes on the last day, when you have to pack before the pools close.

Packing for River Cruises, Families and the Last Night

River cruises have smaller cabins, less formal evenings and more walking tours, so pack lighter and focus on comfortable shoes and layers. Our Viking river cruise packing list covers what’s different. Travelling with little ones? See our baby and toddler cruise packing list for nappies, sleep gear and swim essentials.

One thing many packing guides leave out is the last night. On most big ships, checked bags must be outside your cabin by late evening, often around 10-11pm, for porters to collect. Before you sail, set aside a small “last night” bag in your carry-on with your disembarkation outfit, toothbrush, medications and documents, so nothing important ends up in the hold. If you haven’t booked yet, our guide to cruise deals and when to book can help you time it.

To keep everything else on track, use our printable cruise checklist, which runs from booking to disembarkation.

If you want to make the most of your sea days, take a look at our guide to the best books to read on a cruise, from mysteries at sea to books about your destination.

Planning to personalize your cabin? Pack flat magnetic signs in a folder and see our cruise door decoration ideas and rules before you go.

FAQs

What should you not pack for a cruise?

Leave power strips, surge protectors, extension cords, clothes irons, steamers, candles, spirits and beer at home. Most major lines ban them, and Royal Caribbean lists the electrical items and irons as fire hazards. Carnival also holds Bluetooth speakers until the end of the cruise and bans CBD products.

Can I bring my own alcohol on a cruise?

Usually only wine. Royal Caribbean and Carnival allow one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult of legal drinking age, carried on at embarkation. Spirits and beer aren’t allowed, and a corkage fee may apply in restaurants.

Are magnetic hooks allowed on cruise ships?

Yes. Magnetic hooks aren’t on the major lines’ prohibited lists, and Royal Caribbean recommends them because most cabin walls are metal. They’re one of the most useful cruise packing hacks for small cabins.

How much luggage can you take on a cruise?

Mainstream lines don’t set a strict weight limit. They ask for a “reasonable amount”, and carry-on bags must fit through the terminal X-ray scanner. If you’re flying to the port, your airline’s allowance is the limit that matters.

What should be in my carry-on for embarkation day?

Your passport and cruise documents, all medications, swimwear, a change of clothes for dinner, your phone and charger, and any wine you’re bringing. Checked bags may not reach your cabin until the afternoon or early evening.

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14 Sneakiest Ways To Smuggle Booze On To Your Cruise

The price of drinks on some cruise ships will be similar to your local pub, but on other cruises, the drinks prices can be pretty steep with $10 for a glass of wine being the norm.

If you’re on a budget you may be tempted to try to sneak liquor on your cruise ship to save yourself some money.

sneaking booze in pocket

Sneaking booze on a cruise is strictly prohibited. However, a study by Cruzely.com showed that 19% of passengers admitted to smuggling alcohol onto a cruise ship at least once.

You should know that there’s no foolproof way to sneak alcohol on a cruise. However, there are many different ways that people have tried.

Disclaimer: I have never smuggled drinks on a cruise myself and am in no way encouraging you to do it. I am just showing you how others have done it in the past so that you can make your own decisions.

1. Use a disguised umbrella flask

If you hide your booze in a sneaky umbrella flask, there’s pretty much zero chance of anyone suspecting anything. This handy flask holds 9 oz (255 ml) of your favourite drink and is easy to pour out into your glass. It looks and feels like an umbrella rather than a hard bottle.

This type of hidden container isn’t likely to be discovered, particularly on Northern European cruises where rain is likely. Take it to the Mediterranean in summer and it may seem slightly more suspicious!

2. Hide your booze in a fake tampon

If you’d like another virtually foolproof way to smuggle booze on a cruise, then tampon flasks may be it. These fake re-sealable tampon wrappers contain refillable mini flasks. Each one can hold one shot of alcohol.

Even if someone had a really good rummage through your luggage, they’d be unlikely to open a tampon to check in there.

The downside to these is that each one only holds 1 oz (30ml) which is slightly larger than a single measure of spirits. Therefore you’d need a lot of tampons to cover a week-long cruise!

This product may be better for smuggling small amounts of booze into the onboard bars, rather than for bringing a booze haul to drink in your cabin.

3. Re-use shampoo bottles (or buy fake ones)

Putting alcohol in shampoo bottles for cruise holidays sounds like an interesting idea, but it has many flaws. The first is that the design of shampoo bottles makes them very difficult to clean so you’ll never fully get rid of all of the shampoo residue. This will make your drink taste horrible.

The second reason why you shouldn’t use a shampoo bottle to hide alcohol is that shampoo and conditioner bottles aren’t watertight. I once had a bottle of shower gel explode in my suitcase and it was messy. Imagine the same but with red wine. No thanks!

However, you can buy shampoo bottle flasks on Amazon, which are made to conceal alcohol. These leak-proof bottles even include six ‘factory seals’ so that if a security guard opened the bottle, they wouldn’t be able to smell the alcohol.

These are a good option because each bottle fits 8 ounces of liquor. Hidden alcohol bottles are also available to buy in the form of fake sunscreen bottles or deodorant cans.

4. Buy a binocular flask

Some of the things to hide alcohol in for cruise vacations are just genius. This binocular flask would be unlikely to show up as anything suspicious on an X-ray, and even with a manual search, it may go undetected.

Each side of the binoculars holds 8 oz (230ml) of liquor, and it comes with a little funnel that allows you to fill it up without spilling a drop. The two sides aren’t connected, so you could have gin in one half and vodka in the other if you wish to create your own cocktails.

5. Try cleaned-out mouthwash bottles

Another of the popular things to hide alcohol in on a cruise has, for many years, been mouthwash bottles. Mouthwashes such as Listerine come in bottles of up to one litre.

@lasvegas.bartender #fyp #lvbdrinks #lasvegasbartender ♬ original sound – LasVegasBartender (LVB)

The idea is that you would add a clear spirit such as white rum, gin or vodka, and blue or green food colouring to make it look like mouthwash.

In reality, cruise port staff are familiar with this old hack and know that if they find a huge bottle of mouthwash, it’s likely to be suspicious. Because who needs a litre of mouthwash on a one-week cruise?

The first thing they’ll do is open it and smell it to see what’s really inside.

6. Push the limit on wine bottles

This is probably the most common way to sneak wine on a cruise. Most cruise lines allow you to bring one bottle of wine per person on board. So what people do is they put one bottle of wine in their checked luggage and another in their carry-on bag.

The bags are checked at different times by different people, and it’s virtually impossible for cruise ship staff to match them up and see that you’ve brought more than the allowance.

As there’s no limit on how much luggage you can bring on a cruise ship (unless you also have to take a flight), you could easily bring two small cases per person, as well as some more cases for the kids.

One thing you do want to be wary of is wine bottles smashing in your checked luggage. If you are planning on putting glass bottles in there, you should always buy inflatable wine bottle protectors.

7. Try classic rum runners

Rum runners, also known as alcohol bags or plastic flasks, are specially-made alcohol containers for cruises. Thousands of cruisers report having had success in using a rum runner to sneak alcohol on cruise ships.

You can buy rum runners on Amazon. They are essentially reusable plastic bags that come with a funnel so that you can decant wine, vodka, tequila or any other liquor that you wish to bring on your cruise. Each one holds up to 32 oz (one litre) of liquid.

The idea behind alcohol bags is that on an x-ray, they don’t look like a bottle, so they won’t be detected when your bag is scanned.

However, if your bag was manually checked for any other reason, it would be obvious what’s inside these booze bags.

8. Give yourself a fake beer belly

An interesting method that may be used to hide alcohol when you embark on your cruise ship is the ‘beer belly canteen’. This polyurethane container looks like a beer belly when worn under clothing and holds 32 oz of booze.

If you wear this, you might have to sacrifice looking slender in your embarkation photos!

9. Boost your bust with a wine rack bra

For women, there’s a similar product to the fake belly, in the form of a bra known as the ‘wine rack bra’, which could actually boost your appearance if that’s what you desire.

If you set off the x-ray scanner with something else, such as your watch, and called over for a pat-down, a wearable flask will easily be detected.

As port staff won’t know whether you’re carrying booze or something much more dangerous, you’ll likely set alarm bells ringing and could get in serious trouble.

10. Wear a boozy bladder

This strange-looking device ties around your waist. There’s a tube that pops out through your fly so that you can refill your glass when nobody’s looking!

This is probably one for the gents rather than the ladies. And you should probably head to a bathroom stall to refill your glass – as you may get some very funny looks from your fellow cruisers otherwise!

The good thing about this device is that it fits a massive one litre of alcohol. If you fill it with spirits, that could keep you going all cruise long.

11. Carry a wine handbag

Now, another one for the ladies – The PortoVino wine purse is a beach tote with a hidden, insulated compartment that holds two bottles of wine.

This stylish handbag comes with a secret zipper with an insulated pouch inside which keeps your wine cool for hours. This bag probably isn’t ideal for bringing booze onto a cruise ship as it may show up solid on the scanner when filled with liquor.

However, it could be an ideal way to enjoy wine from your room by the pool. Whilst some cruise ships allow you to bring your own wine on board, you have to drink it in your room. With this device, you could fill your bag with chilled wine from your in-room refrigerator and sneakily pour it into a glass by the pool using the hidden tap.

12. Hack a box of Capri Sun or water cartons

Here’s a tip from Reddit – why not empty out Capri Sun pouches and refill them with booze?

I poked a hole in the straw opening of capri sun pouches, emptied them, and filled them back up with spirit of choice with a meat syringe. Then resealed the straw hole with gel superglue.

It might be a lot of work but that’s a lot of alcohol you can sneak onboard!

You can even do the same with water cartons – just use a small hole to pour out the water before re-sealing it with glue, without breaking the cap seal.

@jennmerlin They didn’t know! #lifehacks #fyp #sneakalcohol #cruise #travel #adventure #explore ♬ original sound – jennmerlin

13. Replace your contact lens solution

his mother dumped out contact eye solution then refilled the bottle with vodka to sneak it aboard the cruise ship!

I would of course not recommend this if you actually wear contact lenses and need the solution to look after them! I’d rather pay for my drinks and be able to see, after all.

14. Just pack minis

According to one cruise guest, if you just pack miniature bottles and distribute them around your luggage, they won’t be detected and you’ll be able to enjoy them onboard.

@xtothez_23 Protip if you dont wanna spend money on the drink package 🙃 #cruiseship #cruisetok #cruise #alcohol #cruisetips #traveltiktok #lifeontiktok #cruisehacks #traveltiktok #travelhacks #drinkpackage #cruisewithme ♬ Chill R & B with a nostalgic atmosphere(967006) – table_1

I’d be a little wary of this one personally – I’d be surprised if they didn’t check your luggage if they saw a lot of small bottles – but apparently it can work, so it’s up to you if you want to try it.

Where to hide alcohol when you check in

When you’ve decided what type of container to hide your liquor in, your next decision will be where to stash it. Your options are:

  • In your checked luggage
  • In your carry-on luggage
  • On your body

The best place to hide alcohol for a cruise is in your checked luggage. You can drop off checked luggage as soon as you arrive at the port. If something is detected on the scanner and your case is opened, you won’t be around to witness the embarrassment of being called out in public.

Checked bags can be tossed around so always make sure that whatever you’ve packed in there is properly protected from damage.

Sneaking alcohol onto a cruise on your body

Sneaking alcohol on your body is the riskiest way to do it. You’ll have to remove any bulky items and walk through an X-ray scanner. If it beeps for any reason (including for a random check), then you’ll be patted down, and your stash will be discovered, no matter how well it’s disguised.

Bringing alcohol on board in foreign cruise ports

Bringing alcohol on board midway through your cruise is easier than trying to sneak it on as you embark.

When you get back on board the ship you’ll have to pass your bags through a scanner. However, if you have a bottle of something which looks like water, even if it has been opened, it’s very unlikely that anyone would inspect it more closely.

Getting caught with alcohol when boarding a cruise

If you’re caught bringing alcohol on a cruise, the worst-case scenario is that you could be denied boarding.

Royal Caribbean’s policy states:

“Alcoholic beverages seized on embarkation day will not be returned. Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol. Guests who violate any alcohol policies, (over-consume, provide alcohol to people under the legal drinking age, demonstrate irresponsible behaviour, or attempt to conceal alcoholic items at security and or luggage checkpoints or any other time), may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with our Guest Conduct Policy. Guests who are under the permitted drinking age will not have alcohol returned to them. “

However, other cruise lines simply state that if you are caught with prohibited alcohol they will confiscate and discard it.

Carnival’s policy states:

“Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages on board with the following exception – at the beginning of the cruise during embarkation day only, guests (21 years of age and older) may bring one 750 ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or champagne, per person, in their carry-on luggage. Outside this exception, all liquor, beer, other forms of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage and such items will be confiscated and discarded and no compensation will be provided.”

Suggested read: Carnival Cruise Luggage Restrictions

Even when cruise lines reserve the right to refuse embarkation, that doesn’t mean that they will do that in practice.

What REALLY happens when you get caught smuggling booze on a cruise

There are many online cruise forums where people have discussed their experiences in getting caught sneaking alcohol on a ship.

Here, I’ve seen numerous photos of orange confiscation slips inside suitcases in place of missing alcohol. As far as I could see during my research, nobody has reported that they weren’t allowed to board the ship. Interestingly, many people reported that they were even allowed to pick up their confiscated alcohol at the end of the cruise!

How to sneak whiskey on a cruise

Cruise lines don’t allow guests to bring spirits on board. If you want to bring whiskey on board then you’ll need to disguise it. Many people use a rum runner, a rinsed-out tinted bottle of mouthwash, or just decant whiskey into a wine bottle, where wine is permitted.

How to fill a sealed water bottle with alcohol

To fill a sealed water bottle with alcohol:
• Cut the neck off a bottle
• Place it in boiling water until soft
• Pull off the intact cap and ring
• Open a second water bottle and cut off the plastic ring
• Swap the water for clear alcohol
• Screw the intact sealed cap onto the bottle of alcohol

Alcohol allowances on cruises

Many cruise lines allow you to bring a certain amount of alcohol on the ship.

The following table shows the alcohol allowance for each cruise line.

Cruise Line Alcohol allowance per passenger
Carnival One bottle of wine
Celebrity One bottle of wine
Costa Not allowed
Cunard One bottle of wine
Disney Two bottles of wine or six beers
MSC Cruises Not allowed
NCL Unlimited wine – $15 fee per bottle
P&O Cruises One litre of wine or Champagne
Princess Cruises One bottle of wine for free. ($15 per additional bottle)
Royal Caribbean One bottle of wine (or two bottles per stateroom)

Click here to read more about taking drinks on a cruise including which cruise lines allow you to take water and other non-alcoholic drinks on board.

Most cruise lines also offer drinks packages which can be great value for money. And wouldn’t you much rather have a freshly-made cocktail than try to sneak your own spirits into soft drinks?

If you’re undecided about whether to buy a drinks package or not, my free calculator will work out whether it’s good value for money, based on what you like to drink.

Cruise lines will check for alcohol (and other things)

All cruise lines will check luggage for alcohol as well as drugs, weapons, irons, drones and other prohibited items during the embarkation process. They will check all checked and carry-on luggage with scanners as well as manual spot checks.

In fact, they’re wising up to some of the hacks on this list. There’s one that I haven’t included in the list above because cruise lines caught onto it very quickly, even though it was quite a clever hack.

It involved taking a multipack of soda, opening the cardboard carefully, swapping out some cans for alcoholic cans, then re-sealing the box using super glue so it doesn’t look tampered with.

Unfortunately, clips of the hack went viral and so cruise lines quickly learned to check the boxes!

@iamgrindface This guy messed it up for ALL OF US🤬🤦‍♂️ #cruise FB/ Melonie Rogers #grindface ♬ original sound – GrindFace The Creator

Trying to sneak alcohol or weed onboard is one of the many things you should never do on a cruise. So please don’t. It’s just not worth it.

How alcohol appears on scanners

Cruise ship scanners usually have no problem detecting alcohol hidden in luggage. Liquid appears dark on an x-ray and the shape of bottles are easy to detect.

If bottles, cans or other containers are detected on the x-ray scanner, port staff will open the bag to have a closer look.

Some cruise lines, including Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line prohibit all drinks including water (unless it’s needed for medical reasons) to be brought on-board. This speeds up the process of having to check every bottle to see if it’s water, soft drinks or alcohol.

The last word

Of course, I’m not recommending that anyone try to sneak alcohol, or anything else, onto a cruise ship. Selling drinks on board is one of the ways that cruise lines cover their costs and if everyone tried to cheat the system by sneaking alcohol on board they would inevitably have to put up the ticket prices.

Plus, getting caught with alcohol is embarrassing. Whilst you may be lucky enough to get away with finding a ticket in your case, if your case is locked, you’ll be summoned to a location on the ship and asked to open it.

If you get caught with excess booze in your carry-on bag, you’ll have to suffer the humiliation of all the passengers in the line behind you, seeing you get busted.

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

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.

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16 Things Pro Cruisers Pack That You Won’t Have Thought Of

You probably won’t know it, but there are some unusual things that regular cruisers never travel without.

A man in a hat, carrying a suitcase and bag, walks towards a docked cruise ship. The scene is vibrant with palm trees, people strolling, and a bustling seaside town atmosphere, with clear skies and a jet flying overhead.

I asked my Facebook fans what they thought were essentials that other cruise guests wouldn’t think to pack.

Here’s that list – maybe some of these will find their way into your suitcase for your next cruise?

1.  Bleach wipes

Cabin attendants on a cruise ship are extremely hardworking, and generally do a great job of keeping cabins clean and tidy for all guests.

But I know that some guests prefer to take bleach wipes with them for the start of their cruise, to give certain areas a deeper clean that might’ve been missed.

Some people like to make sure the toilet, in particular, gets a thorough clean, especially underneath the rim. Whether you need bleach wipes or not splits opinion – you could just ask the cabin attendant to clean the toilet for you if you think it needs it.

Just be sure to never flush wipes on a cruise ship.

2.  Bathroom air freshener

Another bathroom one, but it could be very useful. A lot of pro cruisers like to pack an air-freshening spray for their cabin bathroom. Cabins are often small and so the windowless bathroom, and any odours left in there, can easily impose on the rest of the room.

Having a spray just to freshen things up can make your cabin a much more pleasant space to unwind.

3.  Crease release spray

There’s another spray that you might want to pack in your suitcase for a cruise – one that helps to get the creases and wrinkles out of your clothes.

There are always ironing services available if you want your clothes to be pressed, but often it’s easier just to hang your outfits in the bathroom, spray on a little bit of this loosening spray, and let the steam from the shower do the job for you.

4.  Post-it notes

This is a great little tip for anyone cruising – it takes up barely any space in your suitcase but could be really handy. A set of post-it notes can make it much easier to communicate with your cabin attendant.

It might seem a little impersonal, but you don’t know when they’re going to be tackling your room and you don’t always want to wait around for them. You have cruise things to go and enjoy! So a set of post-it notes can make it much easier to leave requests.

It’s also handy if your party is likely to split up – leaving notes in the cabin for each other can be a simple way of communicating without using expensive phone data or WiFi.

5.  Ear plugs

Even if you’ve done all your research on choosing your cabin, making sure to avoid one directly under the pool deck or above the ship’s theatre, sometimes there’s noise that can’t be avoided.

Packing a set of ear plugs is always a good idea, just to help you get that good night’s sleep you need, especially if you’ve got a walking tour booked for the next day and you need your energy.

6.  White noise machine

You can buy small white noise machines that produce a gentle, soothing noise for your cabin, and a lot of pro cruisers swear by them.

It’s not necessarily to cover the noise of the ship, but just to provide some kind of background noise. If you get a quiet cabin, then you might be surprised by just how quiet it is – and white noise can just take the edge off the silence.

They definitely aren’t right for everyone – I know plenty of people who prefer no noise at all – but one to consider.

7.  Sensor lights for bathrooms

If you wake up in the middle of the night on your cruise, needing a visit to the bathroom, the last thing you want to do is put on the main bathroom light. It’ll not just wake you up, but it’ll often fill a lot of the bedroom space with light too, waking up your other guests.

Instead, take a small sensor light with you – one that emits a gentle glow and is activated by motion. This will give you a much dimmer light that still does everything you need for your bathroom visit, without blinding you or causing your partner to wake up grumpy.

8.  Magnetic hooks

A staple of many pro cruisers’ luggage is magnetic hooks. Cruise ship cabin walls are made of metal, and so magnetic hooks will stick to the walls and massively improve your storage space.

You could use them to hang anything – decorations, lanyards, coats and jackets. Just make sure you read the weight limit for them, especially if hanging clothing on them, or they might not work.

9.  Extension leads

If you’re someone who likes to pack a lot of electrical items for your cruise, then you might want to consider packing an extension lead or power strip to give you more outlets.

As a rule, the older the ship, the fewer plug sockets you’ll find in your cabin. While new ships often have USB sockets by the bed, older ones definitely don’t, so an extension cord can help with that.

Check your cruise line’s luggage policy though as some don’t allow them. And also, you’re more likely to have a surge-protected extension lead confiscated than a regular one. While that might sound counterintuitive, it’s because surge-protected ones can mess with the ship’s electrical systems.

10. Fairy lights

If you want to decorate your cruise cabin and make it feel more homely, there are a lot of options, and as long as you don’t leave any permanent damage or use anything that’s a fire hazard, such as a candle, then you should be fine.

Battery-powered fairy lights are a regular go-to option for pro cruisers who want a nicer ambience in their room. They’re cheap, can be hung with magnetic hooks and just give a nicer glow for your room than the main light would.

11. Workout clothes

It’s very easy to overlook workout clothes when packing your luggage, either accidentally or ‘accidentally’. But it definitely makes sense to pack them, because you never know when the mood will take you.

Pretty much every cruise ship has a gym that’s free to use, along with a running track. I quite enjoy a run around the ship – the view is great, and my Strava tracker tells me I’ve run twice as far as I actually have while the ship is moving, haha!

But seriously, it’s worth having them with you, because by the second half of your cruise, you might feel the need to start working off that buffet and those cocktails.

12. Clock

It’s often tricky to tell what time it is when you’re in a cruise ship cabin, especially if it’s an inside cabin without any windows.

Obviously you could check your phone, but that so easily leads to checking other things on your phone and suddenly it’s 4 am, you’re doom-scrolling Instagram and you’re exhausted for the rest of the day.

Consider taking a cheap clock with you. It’ll make it easy to roll over, see the time without blasting your eyes with light, so that you know whether it’s time to get up and get to breakfast or you’ve a few hours still to rest.

13. Pop-up laundry basket

It’s handy to have somewhere in your cabin to store your dirty clothes during the cruise, so that there’s no mess and you’re not risking mixing your clean stuff with things you’ve worn. A lot of people use their suitcase – unpack, and then throw dirty stuff in there.

But if you’d rather leave your suitcase tucked away for the cruise, you could try a pop-up laundry basket.

They are super cheap, and are especially useful if you plan on doing laundry on the ship, since you can just carry the basket to the laundry room when it’s full.

14. Basic medicine

While most people will remember their important prescription medication for their cruise, a lot of people forget to pack the basics that you might need – things like paracetamol, Sudocrem, Lemsip, or Calpol for the kids.

It can be much more expensive to buy these on the ship so it’s always worth remembering them, and hopefully, you don’t need to use them.

But if you catch a bug or get a bit of sunstroke, they might be just what you need to keep you powering through.

15. Portable fans

A small, portable fan should be allowed on most cruise ships and can be very handy for staying cool by the poolside or when you’re off visiting ports of call.

Your cabin should be fine – you’ll have air-con, though don’t be afraid to ask for a fan from your attendant if it’s still hot or you like the moving air.

Take a portable one though, so you’ve got something with you, especially on cruises to hot places like the Caribbean.

16. Pineapple door magnets

Is this essential? Definitely not, but when I asked my Facebook fans for suggestions, this came up!

Likely a joke, but if you did want to enjoy a certain type of cruise, with intimate liaisons with other guests, then magnets could help signal your intent!

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Final word

It’s good to see that there’s some crossover between the recommendations of my Facebook fans and my own list of must-have cruise essentials.

Between these guides, you shouldn’t forget anything that’ll make your cruise go smoothly – but if you have any other recommendations then please do add them below!

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Cruise Mummy

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.

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