25+ Things You Should NOT Pack On A Cruise

Wondering what types of things you should not pack on a cruise? Cruise ships have very specific rules and guidelines on what is allowed to be brought on their ships, and I lay it all out for you here. There are slight variations between cruise lines, but for the most part there are consistent rules when it comes to what you can not pack on a cruise.

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So you’ve picked your perfect cruise, and you’ve wisely used my ultimate Caribbean cruise packing list to assist you when prepping for your cruise. However, did you know there are a whole bunch of things you can’t bring on a cruise?

In this article you will learn about all the things you should not pack on a cruise, regardless of your destination or cruise line.

Be sure to read my expert advice and top tips for cruising so you can make your vacation perfect! And definitely don’t set sail without reading my list of 37 cruise travel essentials that you need for your trip!

What Types Of Items Are Prohibited?

Certain items are always prohibited on cruise ships. Generally this includes, but is not limited to:

• Weapons of any sort, including toys or replicas
• Explosives of any sort, including fireworks
• Anything that poses a fire hazard, such as candles, incense, hot plates, irons and steamers, and appliances of any kind (except personal care appliances)
• Drugs, including marijuana
• Surge protectors and extension cords
• Anything with wheels, aside from baby strollers and luggage.

What Happens If You Pack Prohibited Items?

Before you get on your cruise ship, you first have to go through security, much like at the airport. You drop your luggage off, keep your carry-on with you, and head into the security line.

There you go through metal detectors, and your carry on bag is x-rayed. Your checked bag also goes through a security screening, but behind the scenes. Sometimes there are also dogs sniffing around as well.

If you are found to be in possession of any kind of contraband they will confiscate it. Depending on the severity of your prohibited item you may not even be allowed to board at all. If it’s an illegal substance, you may even be at risk of being fined, arrested, and maybe even face criminal charges.

Certain items you may get back at the end of the cruise. I’ve seen tables set up as you disembark, loaded with various confiscated items. Not everything is always returned to you, therefore it is essential that you only pack permitted items on your cruise.

What To Not Pack On A Cruise – Prohibited Items

Weapons (Including Self-Defense Items)

This one should go without saying but we have to say it. Leave behind any and all weapons, even the toy ones. Do not bring real weapons, novelty weapons, hidden weapons, or things that look like weapons. Also do not bring any sort of ammunition.

This includes firearms, knives, mace and pepper sprays, brass knuckles, batons, swords, bows and arrows, and anything else considered a weapon. Toy weapons like Nerf guns are also not allowed.

Handcuffs are another item you may not bring with you. Even novelty ones, wink wink.

Diving knives may be permitted, but typically the cruise line will hold this until you check it out for use during a diving excursion.

Drugs (Including Marijuana)

Illegal drugs of any kind are not allowed. Marijuana is no exception to this rule. Even if it’s legal in your state, or the state that the cruise is leaving from, marijuana is still federally illegal. Therefore, you cannot bring marijuana on board. It will be confiscated, it will not be returned to you, and you may even face charges.

This includes all types of marijuana, including the oils, edibles, and any other forms. This also applies to medical marijuana.

For prescription medications, it’s always a best practice to bring the original prescription bottles with your name.

Explosives

This is another item that shouldn’t have to be listed, yet, it is a prohibited item for a reason. You cannot bring explosives of any sort.

This includes fireworks, flares, and anything else that can explode. You should have more than enough mind-blowing experiences on your cruise!

Candles, Incense, Lighters

As an avid candle and incense burner myself, this one hurts, but makes perfect sense. Nothing with an open flame is allowed on a cruise ship. No one wants to be caught in a fire in the middle of the ocean.

Leave the candles and incense at home. If you want the candles for ambiance, bring flameless battery operated candles.

Lighters are allowed but only regular lighters, not the novelty kind or torch lighters.

Irons or Steamers

You cannot bring irons or clothes steamers on a cruise with you. This is an annoying rule, but they are considered a fire hazard. They will confiscate all irons and steamers. Nor do they provide any in your room for your use.

So the question then becomes, “How do you get the wrinkles out of your clothes?” Some folks hang their clothes in the bathroom while they take a hot shower. Some folks bring a wrinkle release spray to tackle the issue. There are folks who pay to use the ship laundry service. And some folks simply rock the wrinkly look without a care in the world.

Which you choose is up to you! Just know it won’t be using an iron or a steamer.

Extension Cords With Surge Protectors

Generally speaking, extension cords are not permitted on cruise ships. Power strips however, are permitted and I strongly recommend bringing at least one. Some cruise ship rooms have a very limited amount of outlets, so a power strip really will come in handy. Power strips that have both outlets and USB ports are even better.

I bring this power strip with us on our cruises and it works like a charm.

Any power strip you bring must not have a surge protector. If it does, they will confiscate it. You typically will be able to get it back at the end of the cruise once you are off the ship. However, that’s not guaranteed so be sure to bring only a power strip with no surge protector.

Hot Plates and Cooking Appliances

Absolutely nothing with a heating element is allowed on a cruise ship, with the exception of personal care items like hair straighteners and curling irons.

If you attempt to bring anything that heats up it will be confiscated. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Hot plates
• Coffee makers
• Heated blankets
• Humidifiers
• Microwaves
• Kettles
• Toaster ovens

Rollerblades and Other Wheeled Items

Cruise ships are subject to the ocean’s whims, just like any other boat. They rock and pitch, sometimes unexpectedly.

Because of this, you may not bring any type of wheeled item on board with you, with the exceptions of your luggage, wheelchairs, motorized scooters, and baby strollers.

Do not bring the following items:

• Rollerblades
• Wheeled shoes (like Heely’s)
• Segways
• Skateboards
• Bicycles
• Hoverboards
• Scooters

Drones

The vast majority of cruise lines do not permit you to take drones on board. Drones and other flying objects, such as kites, pose risk to others onboard. As such, they are not allowed on board.

In fact, many ports and cities around the world also have banned the use of drones. Their reasons vary from safety to privacy to the protection of certain animal species.

So although drones are a fun and fascinating piece of equipment, you are better off leaving them home and not packing them on your cruise.

Food

Whether you made it yourself or it’s leftovers from a restaurant, no open outside food is allowed on board. You can bring reasonable amounts of unopened, prepackaged foods, but if it’s open they’ll make you throw it away.

This also includes when you’ve been at a port and want to get back on the ship. Don’t bother bringing your leftover lunch with you, as you will be required to finish it or discard it before they’ll let you back on the ship.

Typically, you don’t need to bring food with you anyway – it’s all included on board!

Alcohol

Cruise ships want you to purchase your alcohol through them. Therefore, they typically do not allow you to bring your own alcohol from home.

However, certain cruise lines do allow you bring a limited number of bottles of wine onboard with you. These bottles are allowed on the first day you board the ship, and must be in your carry-on bag.

For example, Royal Caribbean allows 2 unopened bottles of wine per stateroom.

Carnival allows adults age 21+ to bring 1 unopened bottle of wine per person.

Norwegian allows guests to bring unopened bottles of wine onboard, yet those bottles are subject to corkage fees according to their sizes. A 750 mL bottle will cost you $15 and a 1,500 mL bottle will cost you $30.

If you purchase bottles of alcohol either on the ship itself, or in the ports, your bottles will be taken and stored safely. At the end of your cruise your bottles will be returned to you.

What To Not Pack On A Cruise – Unnecessary Items

Now that we’ve covered the items that are strictly prohibited on cruise ships, let’s dive into the other items you should not pack on a cruise.

These items aren’t necessarily prohibited, rather, you just shouldn’t bother to bring them with you. Space is valuable and limited on cruise ships, so bringing certain items will be more of a hindrance than a help.

Towels

Towels are going to take up entirely too much room in your suitcase. The cruise will provide plenty of towels, both for your use in your room and around the ship. They also will allow you to check out towels on port days.

Be aware that if you check out towels and do not return them, you may be subject to a fee at the end of your cruise.

Huge Amounts Of Clothes

If you’re anything like me, you tend to be a little over enthusiastic about outfits on vacation. Trust me when I tell you, you do not need as many outfit changes as you think you do.

At most you need a day time outfit and a night time outfit per day. Throw in a few swimsuits, your typical undergarments, and whatever you wear to bed.

Generally, there will be a formal night or two, and on those nights you can dress up as extensively as you wish.

Expensive Jewelry

No matter where your vacation of choice is, I never recommend bringing expensive jewelry with you, and cruise ships are no exception. Although there are safes in your room, and I’d like to say thefts never happen, the truth is, it does happen. Things go missing, or get left behind, or get misplaced.

It’s never a good idea to be in foreign places showing off your bling. You very well may find yourself the center of unwanted attention, and it’s just not worth the risk.

Leave the expensive jewelry at home. You can always get inexpensive vacation substitutes, but you can’t always replace your originals.

Hair Dryer

Cruises provide hair dryers in your rooms, so unless you have a very specific hair dryer that you just cannot live without, you do not need to bring one from home.

You can bring other hair care appliances like straighteners, curling irons, etc, however. Hair dryers are just something you generally should not pack on a cruise.

Clothes Hangers

Since you can’t bring irons or steamers, it stands to reason you’ll want to hang up as many clothes as possible to help with the wrinkles situation. But don’t waste the space in your luggage by bringing hangers from home.

Typically, you’ll already have plenty of hangers in your room, but if you don’t, simply ask your stateroom attendant for more. They are more than happy to oblige!

What To Not Pack On A Cruise – Specific Cruise Lines

Although I keep my list as up-to-date as I can, I’m only human and make mistakes. So always check on your cruise line’s website for their updated lists of prohibited items on cruise ships.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean has their list of prohibited items that you should read.

Carnival

Check Carnival’s website for their specific rules and regulations for what you may and may not pack on your cruise.

Norwegian

You should familiarize yourself with Norwegian’s list of prohibited items as well.

Disney Cruise

Disney has a lengthy web page detailing all the items you may not pack on a Disney cruise

Celebrity

Read Celebrity’s Conduct Policy which outlines their prohibited items.

Princess

Princess Cruises detail their prohibited items list along with many other FAQ.

Important Legal Information About Camouflage

In many Caribbean locations it is illegal to wear anything camouflage. This includes all clothing and accessories, including hats, shoes, and bags.

If you wear camo you will be detained and possibly fined. Even children have to follow this rule.

They may tell you to remove the item or risk being sent home. You might even face jail time. Do yourself a favor and leave all camouflage clothing or accessories at home.