If you’ve never sailed before, packing for a cruise can be a bit daunting. That’s because a cruise is a unique vacation. Where else do you have to pack for the pool, the theater, formal dining, and walking around in port?
At the same time, you have to pack anything you might need for your entire time on the ship. After all, it’s not easy to run out to grab something you forgot when you’re hundreds of miles from the nearest shore.
To help you pack, we’ve covered important things to bring here and have an entire cruise packing checklist here.
But sometimes, packing for a cruise is also about what not to pack. There are some common things you might consider bringing that you should NEVER bring with you. Still, many people make the mistake of taking them along.
Marijuana & Derivatives
It makes sense that if you’re going on vacation to relax, bringing along a little something to smoke (or a gummy) would help out. Meanwhile, marijuana is legal in lots of states, including several that cruises sail from. That means, you can bring it along, right?
In fact, with marijuana illegal at a federal level — not to mention the countries where your cruise might sail. For that reason, cruise lines ban it from their ships. That even goes if you’re sailing from a spot like Washington to Alaska, both of which are legal states.
Still, lots of people do try to bring it onboard. It’s gotten to the point where some lines like Carnival will have drug-sniffing dogs at check-in to alert to the smell. Just know that it’s not allowed on the ship, so don’t pack it.
Outlet Adapters (Royal Caribbean)
If you sail a ship that’s more than 15 years old, you might find that it wasn’t really built with modern life in mind. Specifically, while we all have tons of electronics, older ships may have as little as a single plug outlet. Thankfully, newer ships come with lots more plugs.
But if you’re sailing older ships, then you might want to pack a multi-plug outlet adapter. And most lines are fine with that… except one major carrier. Specifically, Royal Caribbean updated their prohibited items list to add in outlet adapters as something you can’t bring anymore.
Typically most cruise lines only outlaw extra plugs if they have a surge protector. Royal Caribbean says even if they don’t, the multi-plugs are not allowed.
Bluetooth Speakers (Carnival)
You remember that time you played your music in a public place and everyone else loved hearing it? That’s right, it’s never happened. That’s because no matter how good you think your music is, strangers don’t want to hear it.
So while you might want to pack that speaker to play some tunes, think twice. At least Carnival has banned all Bluetooth speakers from the ship to combat the problem. Even if you wanted to pack it just so you could play some music in the cabin while you’re hanging out, it’s not allowed.
Most lines, however, will still let you bring them on. Just please don’t play them in public spaces.
Liquor & Beer
If you’re taking a cruise, you can pack a bottle of wine or champagne. Packing other alcohol, however, is a no-go.
Selling beer and liquor is big business on a cruise ship. Prices can run $8 for a beer and $14 for a cocktail. It’s only natural to want to bring on your own. That’s simply not allowed. Cruise lines have strict rules against packing beer and liquor with you when you sail.
If you try to pack beer or liquor with you at embarkation, it will be confiscated. Some lines simply toss the stuff. Others may hold it until you return. And if you try to sneak it on, it’s possible, but there aren’t many tricks that security hasn’t seen.
That said, if you are in port and buy local beer or alcohol (e.g. a bottle of tequila in Mexico) you can bring in onboard with you. It will be tagged and held by the staff, then returned to you on the last night of the cruise.
Too Much Luggage
Cruise lines have a major advantage over flying in that you can essentially pack as much as you want without any baggage fees. One thing you shouldn’t do is take advantage to the extreme.
We’ve seen passengers come aboard with multiple massive suitcases for a 7-day cruise. Really all you need is a carry-on if you’re headed to the Caribbean. Yet, we see people with huge suitcases all the time.
The problem with packing too much is that you have to manage all of it. That means lugging it to the port (especially if you’re flying to the port), dealing with large suitcases in a small cabin, and then having to carry them back home.
It’s much easier just to simply pack an appropriate amount.
Oversized Liquids (Even Though You Can)
Similar to how you can pack large suitcases on a cruise, another perk is that you don’t have to worry about the size of the liquids you bring. You can bring entire shampoo bottles if you want, or entire containers of sunscreen or toothpaste.
For multiple reasons, we’d suggest never packing full-size liquids.
First, if you’re flying you still have to deal with airline rules that limit you to containers with three ounces of liquid or less. (You can pack more if you check your luggage.)
Second, unless sailing for a long trip you don’t need full-sized containers. By packing them, you’re just adding weight and taking up space in your luggage. Putting what you need in smaller containers is much more efficient.
Finally, the more liquid you pack, the bigger the risk if something spills. If a bottle of shampoo were to open in our luggage, we’d much rather it be just three ounces than thirty ounces.
Birth Certificate (Use a Passport Instead)
Finally, you’ll find that tons of people pack their birth certificate to cruise. We’d suggest never doing that and opting for a passport instead.
It’s certainly convenient to sail with only a birth certificate and ID in that you don’t have to go through the cost and the hassle to get a passport. But the passport gives you much more flexibility.
Should something come up during your cruise and you need to fly home from a port of call, it’s much easier to do with a passport as your travel document.
But we like it because it’s easier to get out of the port at the end of the trip. Passport holders typically just have to take a photo and then they are on their way out the door. Birth certificate holders often have to wait in line to meet with a border agent, which can take a lot longer.
