Prohibited items on a cruise ship can land you in hot water if you forget to check what’s allowed and what is not. SO, don’t forget to check the specifics of your cruise line before you head to port.
Some cruise ship prohibited items are completely obvious to most of us. I mean logically most people know not to bring any sort of weapon, however there are some items that might surprise you.
When traveling, knowledge is power, and it’s just as important to know what not to bring on board a cruise ship as it is to know what you shouldn’t leave home without. So, today, because I share a lot of cruising content here, I figured it was time to discuss prohibited items. Some of these items are surprising, so use this for your reference guide whether you are a first time cruiser or returning after a few years absence.
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Don’t Let Anything Ruin Your Trip
We’ve been on a few cruises over the years. Cruising is one of my favourite ways to travel with family and also one of the most affordable ways to see a lot of countries. For me the magic of waking up somewhere brand new every morning on a trip is untouchable. I can’t get enough of that.
When you are on a cruise you don’t want anything spoiling your dream trip, so be prepared. Do what you can before you set sail to make the best of your time away.
Prohibited Items
The first part of this will feel like common sense to you. Items such as weapons and fireworks are no-brainers, but later down the list, you’ll see things like heating pads, which surprised me. So let’s take a look at the quite extensive list of no-no items on cruise ships.
- Illicit drugs as well as medical marijuana
- Firearms, functioning or replica
- BB or pellet pistols/rifles
- All projectile weapons such as paint ball guns
- Ammunition
- Explosives
- Fireworks and flares
- Sharp pointed weapons
- Open razors or scissors with a blade exceeding 4 inches
- Spears or spear guns
- Crossbows, crossbow bolts, and long bow arrows
- Boom boxes and large radios (Hallelujah…I hate hearing other people’s music at the pool)
- Blunt weapons such as knuckle clusters, brass knuckles, clubs, batons, etc.
- Incapacitating items such as gas guns, tear gas sprays, mace, acid, etc.
- Flammable substances and hazardous chemicals
- Any item made or adapted for use as an offensive weapon
- Stun devices
- Handcuffs
- Large batteries
- Any items not supplied by the ship which have any kind of heating element (heating blankets, flat irons, etc.) This is an important one. Anything that could potentially cause a fire on the ship is not allowed for safety reasons.
- Remotely controlled toys or drones
- Self-balancing hover boards, scooters, Segways, etc.
- Compressed gas tanks such as propane tanks or aerosol cans
- Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons, ham radios, satellite phones, laser pointers
- Clothing irons and steamers
- Appliances such as coffee makers, hot plates, and toasters
- Alcohol – Don’t even try. It’s really not worth it
- Large coolers
- Candles and incense
- Bicycles
- Surfboards, boats, and canoes
- Inflatable kiddie pools
- Any footwear like Heely’s shoes
- Kava
- Multi-plug box outlets and power boards
Exempted Items
While the list of prohibited items on a cruise ship is quite long and contains some surprising entries – I can’t believe someone has to be told not to bring an inflatable kiddie pool – there are exemptions should you be worried about looking your best or not having your service dog with you.
- Hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons, shavers, etc. after inspection
- Aerosol can for personal grooming (hairspray)
- Laptops, cameras, cell phones, etc.
- Medical gas cylinders for oxygen
- CPAP machine
- Small coolers
- Live animals (service animals only)
- Musical instruments
- Ham radios or amateur radio equipment (after inspection)
- Google Glass (prohibited at gangway operation)
- Flotation devices (water wings only)
- Wrapped gifts (gift may be unwrapped upon request)
Exempted Items for Port Use
Some of these items are in the prohibited items category while on board, but can be stored on the boat for use while on excursions.
- Snorkel gear
- Skateboards
- Golf clubs
- Fishing rods (catch and release only)
- Tennis rackets
- Kites
- Roller blades and skates
- Collapsible wagons
- Metal detectors
- Boogie boards
- Beach chairs
- Umbrellas
- Segways
Safety First
It helps to remember safety is the most important thing when cruising. So, if something you are considering packing rings a bell for you and you have a question about whether or not it is permitted then check with your cruise line. One key thing to remember is that anything that heats or could potentially create a fire is not allowed. Remember that and you will alleviate some of the worry over packing things that are not allowed.
Know Your Prohibited Items on Cruises
It’s important to know what you can and can’t take onto a cruise ship. Some things are outright prohibited, while some are initially disallowed but can be brought with certain exemptions. It can be confusing, to say the least. Hopefully, this extensive list of prohibited items and exemptions will help you with your packing and planning so you have a worry and hassle-free trip on your next cruise.
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