What Not to Pack for a Cruise

Fire is the biggest safety concern at sea, and that drives most cruise-line packing restrictions. Security at the terminal scans every bag, and items on a line’s prohibited list are usually confiscated or held until the end of the cruise. Each cruise line publishes its own list, and the lists change — check yours before you pack. These are items that are commonly restricted.

Commonly Prohibited Items

• Clothes irons and steamers — a fire risk in cabins. Some ships have self-service launderettes with irons, or offer pressing as a paid service.
• Surge protectors — widely banned because shipboard electrical systems differ from homes. Some lines also restrict power strips and extension cords; others allow non-surge-protected strips. Check your line’s exact wording.
• Candles, incense and anything with an open flame.
• Hot plates, coffee makers and similar heating appliances.
• Weapons, including replicas, and many sharp items beyond small personal-care tools.
• Illegal drugs, including substances legal in some U.S. states but not under federal law; this commonly includes marijuana and many CBD products.
• Drones — many lines prohibit flying them from the ship or restrict them altogether.
• Hoverboards and similar personal transport, other than approved mobility devices.
• Alcohol beyond the line’s allowance — many lines allow a limited amount of wine or champagne at embarkation and prohibit spirits; the rules vary widely.

Better Alternatives

Official lists are on each cruise line’s website, usually in the FAQ or “before you sail” section. When in doubt, leave it out.

Bringing Things Back From Port

The same rules apply when you return from a day ashore. Security scans bags at the gangway, and items on the prohibited list bought in port — local spirits and souvenir knives are common examples — are usually held by the ship and returned on the last night or at disembarkation. Fresh fruit and other food from ashore may also be refused under agricultural rules. If you buy something unusual, ask the shop to wrap it and expect it to be checked.