The excitement of going on a cruise begins from the time you book a cruise for yourself after sorting through scores of cruise deals. Right from shopping for your cruise vacation to packing your stuff, you go through everything with enthusiasm. However, it is important not to go overboard with your eagerness, especially when it comes to packing for your trip. This is because you cannot pack everything you fancy for your cruise vacation. There are several things that are included in the cruise list of banned items. While there may be slight variations in this list for different cruises, there are several items that are common for all. Here we highlight 25 cruise ship prohibited items.
1. Fireworks and Inflammable Items
Most cruises have fireworks as a part of their celebrations and entertainment. However, it is not something you can take with you as a guest. In fact, most cruises do not allow visitors to get any kind of flammable or inflammable items onboard. These include torch-style lighters, pyrotechnics, incense, candles, etc.; in short everything that can catch fire easily. Similarly, explosives like blasting caps, plastic explosives, gun powder, bomb making components, hand grenades, paint, and realistic replicas of explosives should also be avoided at all costs.
2. Sharp Objects
Any sharp object including knives and scissors are restricted. Any item used for self-defense like concealed bladed knives and martial arts equipment should not be taken on a cruise ship. Flick knives, meat cleavers, sliding blades, box cutters ice picks or ice axes, fencing foils, and more are also included in this list. An exception to this rule is personal grooming items like safety razors for shaving, manicure sets, small scissors for trimming facial hair, metal nail files, cuticle tools, etc.
3. Electrical Items
Several electrical items are included in the banned items on a cruise as they are easily flammable. Things that are included in this list are toasters, microwaves, hot plates, electric kettles, etc. Most cruises offer amenities and services so that you can enjoy coffee anytime during the day or night, and hence there is no need to take your coffee maker with you. Apart from this, you should also avoid taking clothes and steamers with you. If you are worried about wearing creased and crumpled clothes, you must know that cruises usually offer laundry and ironing services.
4. Hoverboards and Segways
Hoverboards and segways (also shoes that have wheels) may look cool but are a complete no-no on cruises. These things require lithium-ion batteries to function. These batteries pose a danger to the ship’s safety as they are highly inflammable. Moreover, ships may not have controlled charging options to recharge these kinds of batteries safely. These are the reasons why cruises prevent the passengers from getting these things onboard.
5. Sports Equipment
Sports equipment is not exactly banned on cruises, but there are certain restrictions regarding the same. You may be allowed to get your sports equipment like baseball bat, cricket bat, golf clubs, skateboards, hockey sticks, bicycles, roller skates, and more onboard. However, at no time during the journey can you get them out of your stateroom. The reason for this is that using this sports equipment can cause chaos on the ship and may harm people or the things inside it.
6. Fresh Food
Fresh or cooked food cannot be taken on a cruise. For instance, if you have leftover food from last night’s dinner in your fridge, you cannot carry it with you onboard. Even if you are someone who only eats homemade food, you cannot pack it when going on a cruise. This also includes fresh fruits and vegetables. The only food you are allowed to take inside the cruise is unopened, non-perishable snacks (in their original packing). Moreover, you do not have to worry about going hungry on a cruise, as it is filled with restaurants to satisfy all kinds of tastes and palettes.
7. Drugs and Illegal Substances
Drugs like marijuana, cannabis, and other recreational drugs are completely banned from a cruise. Even if you use these as your medicine and even if you have a proper prescription for them, you cannot take them on a cruise. The same applies to CBD oil and CBD products. If you are found with these products, you will most likely get off the ship immediately.
8. Baby Monitors and Other Transmitting Devices
If you are cruising with your kids, especially babies and toddlers, you may want to carry a baby monitor. This is especially true if you have booked a suite, and the kids are going to sleep in a separate room. But the radio signals of the baby monitor may disrupt the ship’s navigation and communication systems. Hence, they are also usually mentioned in the prohibited list. Other transmitting devices are also not allowed, except two-way radios with maximum 5 watts power and not more than 10-mileage coverage.
9. Musical Instruments and Boomboxes
You may be an expert guitarist, but it is best to keep your guitar at home. The same goes with other musical instruments and even speakers and boomboxes. All these instruments can cause disturbance to the others on the cruise and hence should not be brought onboard. Another reason for not allowing people to use Bluetooth speakers and boomboxes in their staterooms is because it may prevent people from listening to announcements on the cruise.
10. Pets
Domesticated pets are not allowed on any cruises. The only exception to this rule is service dogs. Even in this case, you need to inform the cruise line beforehand. The cruise usually allows dogs that aid humans physically. Emotional support dogs are generally not allowed. Cunard Line allows passengers to transport cats and dogs during transatlantic sailings. However, these pets are to remain in the kennel area and cannot be taken to the guest’s room.
11. Pool Toys
A swimming pool has become a norm on most cruises, with some of them having multiple pools on different decks. In this case, you may want to take some inflatable pool toys and pool noodles with you, especially for your kids. But most cruises do not allow these, as swimming pools on cruises are usually small, and inflatables can take up too much space. You can use safety jackets provided by the cruise for your kids.
12. Extension Cords and Surge-Protected Power Strips
Almost all cruises do not permit passengers to carry extension cords, as charging too many electronics through one outlet at the same time can cause a short circuit. Similarly, power strips with surge-protection can also not be used on the cruises, although a non-surge power bar may be allowed. It is best to get a power adapter and use the available electrical plugs onboard. Most new vessels will have plenty of electrical outlets in their cabins.
13. Helium Balloons
You may want to take helium balloons for celebrating special occasions on your cruise holiday. But these are not permitted for two reasons. One is that helium balloons are flammable, thus becoming a major safety hazard onboard. The other reason is that they can become harmful for the living beings in the ocean. Helium balloons can fly away if not tethered properly, and when they deflate or pop eventually, they become plastic waste polluting the ocean and its inhabitants.
14. Drones
Taking some aerial pictures of your cruise may seem tempting. But a drone is a prohibited item on most cruises. There are numerous reasons for the same. Drones can hamper the operations of a ship, while being a safety hazard as well. Moreover, it can encroach on the privacy of your fellow passengers. Some cruise lines allow guests to bring drones onboard but only to be used on ports. Check out the rules of your cruise line before thinking of carrying your drone on your cruise. The same rule goes for remote-controlled toys.
15. Guns and Firearms
This is obvious as guns are dangerous weapons. Hence, you cannot take rifles, shotguns, revolvers, pistols, and any such kind of ammunition. But the list is not restricted to these items only. Even toy guns, including paint ball guns, water guns, non-firing guns, imitation guns, etc., are also included in this list of prohibited items. Flare guns, gun parts, gun lighters, starter pistols, pellet guns, spear guns, etc., are also a part of the restricted items list.
16. Cabin Door Decorations
Several people, especially ones traveling with kids, love to decorate their staterooms while extending these decorations on the cabin door as well. However, there may be prohibitions regarding the same. Restrictions regarding cabin door decorations are different for different cruises. Some cruise lines let guests decorate the door using command strips and magnets while banning glue and tape. On the other hand, some cruise lines may ban these decorations entirely. Using string lights is also not allowed. If you plan to decorate your cabin door, enquire with your cruise line before including these in your cruise holiday packing.
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17. Hand and Power Tools
Hand and power tools are not allowed on cruises, mainly for safety purposes. Moreover, these tools have no business on a cruise. So, it is best to keep your tools, including hammers, screws, screwdrivers, drills, wrenches, saws, sanders, crow bars, etc., at home while you are going on a cruise holiday.
18. Fresh Flowers and Plants
You may like to wake up to the sight of potted plants and fresh flowers every day. But think twice before replicating this in your cruise cabin. Fresh flowers and plants are not allowed on the cruise. The reason being the fear of spreading agricultural diseases through its pollen and seeds. If you still want flowers in your cabin or want to give them to someone on the cruise, you can contact the gifts department onboard, and they can arrange it for you.
19. Beverages
One of the cruise myths is that you can carry beverages, even alcohol on your cruise. Although it is not entirely false, most of it is true. Several cruises allow their guests to get a bottle of wine or two on the day of embarkation. But you cannot buy a bottle of wine from the port city and take it with you on the cruise. Moreover, cruises do not allow guests to get their own hard drinks like beer, whiskey, etc. Apart from these, non-alcoholic drinks like soda, water, juices, etc., are also generally not allowed, to encourage guests to buy these beverages onboard.
20. Liquor Chocolates
The ban on alcohol is not restricted to beverages. Cruise lines may also ban people from carrying liquor chocolates for several reasons. One of these is safeguarding their own revenue. Cruise lines would want guests to buy liquor chocolates from the bars and duty-free shops onboard. Apart from this, a few ports may have strict alcohol import and export laws and may cause issues in case they found liquor chocolates in your possession. However, this rule may not be the same for all cruise ships.
21. Fishing Equipment
As you would be spending a lot of time sailing on the ocean, the idea of fishing may appeal to you, making you pack your fishing gear. However, not only is fishing on the cruise a banned activity, but most cruise lines also prohibit guests from getting fishing gear, including bait, rods, and hooks onboard. These can cause harm to the fellow passengers as well as to the vessel. If you chose a fishing activity during one of your port excursions, you would be provided with fishing equipment.
22. Metal Detectors
Kids love to carry a metal detector when visiting beaches to search for some hidden treasures. However, you cannot get a metal detector on a cruise. As the ship is also made of metal, the working of the metal detector would meddle with the electromagnetic signals of the communication and navigational equipment used on the ship. While some cruises do allow the basic metal detectors that help in search of coins, it is best to leave such kind of devices at home.
23. Hookah
Almost all cruises have designated smoking areas, so it is fine to carry your own cigarettes onboard. But the same cannot be said about hookah and shisha pipes. Most cruises have banned these items for safety purposes. One of the reasons is that these are a fire hazard and can be dangerous in an enclosed area like a ship. Moreover, hookahs have a thicker smoke and stronger fragrance, which can be uncomfortable for the other passengers.
24. Disabling Chemicals
Disabling chemicals can be dangerous for your fellow passengers and for the vessel as well. Hence, you should avoid carrying dangerous chemicals like bleach, chlorine, tear gas, spray paint, spillable batteries, transformers, compressed gas cylinders, pesticides, insecticides, ammonia, fire extinguishers, etc.
25. Kites
Just like drones, even kites are not allowed on a cruise. Even if you carry a kite with you, you cannot launch them while on a cruise. Flying items like kites or any other flying toy can interfere with visibility for the captain and the other crew who are responsible for the safety of the vessel and its inhabitants. Moreover, if the kite gets detached from the string, it can be the cause of ocean pollution.
With so many cruise ship dos and don’ts, going on a cruise holiday may seem overwhelming. However, it need not be. All you need to do is be mindful about the things you are taking with you on the cruise. If the staff does not allow certain items inside the cruise, gracefully accept your mistake and take it off your luggage. It is important to remember that if you are caught with any of the prohibited items on a cruise, you will not only be asked to leave the cruise at the next port but will also earn a permanent ban from the cruise line.
