Cruise ships provide complimentary meals, snacks, and drinks across the clock — however there are many good causes you may need to deliver your personal. Whether or not you’re managing a dietary restriction, retaining youngsters stocked with acquainted snacks, or simply need a particular beverage available, it helps to know the foundations earlier than you pack. Right here’s what’s allowed, what isn’t, and the way insurance policies differ by cruise line.
Fast Abstract
- You may deliver snacks on a cruise, so long as they’re shelf-stable and prepackaged
- You may normally deliver as much as 12 cans or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks with you on a cruise
- Distilled water can usually be introduced on a cruise for medical gadgets or child components
- In port, you’ll be able to usually deliver enclosed non-alcoholic drinks and prepackaged snacks on and off the ship
- For those who purchase any bottles of alcohol in port, crew members will retailer them for you and return them to you on the finish of the crusing
- You can not deliver home-cooked or uncooked meals or recent produce on or off the ship
- Nutritional vitamins are allowed, nevertheless it’s advisable that you just deliver them of their authentic container
Desk of Contents
Are you able to deliver snacks on a cruise?
The brief reply as as to whether you’ll be able to deliver snacks on a cruise is sure… and no. You usually can deliver meals on board so long as it’s prepackaged, sealed, and doesn’t require refrigeration. This consists of issues like protein and granola bars, crackers, path combine, sweet, jerky, and chips. It’s also possible to deliver child meals and components.
Take into account that “prepackaged” doesn’t imply you opened a field of goldfish at residence and divided it into ziploc luggage for every of your youngsters. Snacks must be prepackaged from the manufacturing facility; home made or home-packaged meals is just not allowed.
For particular insurance policies from every main cruise line, scroll right down to the final part of this publish.
Are you able to deliver drinks on a cruise?
Although every cruise line’s guidelines will differ, usually you’ll be able to deliver as much as 12 cans or cartons of sealed non-alcoholic drinks. You must carry these drinks with you when boarding; don’t put them in a suitcase that you just’ll hand off to the porters previous to embarking.
For probably the most half, you’re not allowed to deliver any alcohol on a cruise except it’s wine or champagne. Every cruise line has its personal coverage although, which you can dive into here.
Additionally needless to say some cruise strains don’t enable drinks which can be in plastic bottles, and glass is sort of at all times prohibited (not counting wine and champagne).

Are nutritional vitamins allowed on a cruise?
Sure, you might be allowed to deliver dietary dietary supplements on a cruise. Nevertheless, it’s endorsed that you just deliver them of their authentic packaging.
If I’ve a medical gadget that requires distilled water, can I deliver it?
Sure, in case you have a medical use for distilled water, corresponding to a CPAP machine, you might be allowed to deliver distilled water on board. Simply make certain it’s sealed in its authentic container. Many strains additionally require that you just pack it with the gadget it is going to be used for.
Can I deliver meals off the ship in port?
Whereas totally different international locations have totally different laws, right here’s the rule that you just’ll encounter in most locations. Prepackaged meals, such because the snacks you introduced on board, are superb to deliver into port. In actual fact, we’d say that port days are a few of the solely days you’ll even care about having your snacks (as a result of the ship could have loads of treats!). However don’t head off the ship for the day with a chunk of recent fruit from the buffet, it’ll get confiscated if observed. Some locations even use educated canines to smell out produce you is likely to be making an attempt to take ashore with you.
As for drinks, you’re usually allowed to deliver what you’d like into port so long as it’s in a safe container. For instance, you’ll be able to deliver your water bottle or a Gatorade, nevertheless it’s in all probability finest to depart your disposable espresso cup behind.

What about onto the ship from port?
Guidelines are comparable for getting again on board. You can not deliver cooked or baked items, produce, or uncooked meat (who would need to?) onto the ship from port. That signifies that when you’d wish to benefit from the juicy mango you purchased at a neighborhood market, you’ll should eat it earlier than re-boarding. It’s price noting that the identical rule applies to non-edible dwelling issues too, like crops. Sadly, this implies you can’t purchase a bouquet of flowers in port on your stateroom.
You may deliver non-alcoholic drinks you purchased in port on board and preserve them with you. Nevertheless, when you purchase bottles of alcohol in port, they have to be sealed and — on most cruise strains — crew members will take them for safekeeping and return them to you on the finish of the crusing. You aren’t allowed to drink alcohol you bought in port whereas on the ship.

What if I’ve meals allergic reactions/restrictions? Can I deliver any specialty meals gadgets on a cruise to accommodate that?
Cruise strains are excellent about accommodating allergic reactions and different dietary restrictions, so relaxation assured that you just’re in good fingers throughout your trip. To make sure that the correct persons are knowledgeable, notify the cruise line ahead of time about any allergic reactions or restrictions you’ll have. Then, on the primary day of the cruise, additionally inform the maitre d or your head server within the eating room.
For those who do have specialty meals gadgets that you could deliver on board, you’ll be able to deliver them with out restrictions if they’re prepackaged and don’t require refrigeration. In the event that they don’t meet these tips, contact your cruise line to see if they’ll present an exception to accommodate you.
Pointers By Cruise Line: Bringing Meals and Drinks on a Cruise
Listed below are the rules from every main cruise line on precisely what meals and drinks are and aren’t allowed on board.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line says that “Small portions of non-alcoholic drinks and/or drugs are permitted as carry-on baggage. Because of considerations for meals security and contamination prevention, any meals gadgets introduced on board have to be pre-packaged and unopened. Do-it-yourself gadgets or pre-cooked meals should not allowed.” The road additionally says that it’s unable to offer meals preparation, refrigeration, or storage for private meals or beverage gadgets.
As for alcohol, visitors can’t deliver “wine or champagne past the allowable restrict of 1 750 ml bottle per grownup (21 years of age or older).” “Port, Vermouth, Sherry and different fortified wines, over 15% alcohol by quantity (ABV), can’t be introduced on board even within the allowable restrict.”
Additionally not allowed are “non-alcoholic drinks in containers apart from a can or carton; extreme portions per particular person (over 12 cans/cartons per particular person); extreme dimension per can/carton (over 12 ounces every).”

Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line’s coverage on bringing meals on board states that “unsealed meals gadgets is not going to be allowed onboard.”
As for drinks, “Visitors are prohibited from bringing any drinks — together with liquor, beer and non-alcoholic drinks corresponding to water, pop and juices — on board both as carry-on or checked baggage, excluding purified or distilled water in factory-sealed containers to be used at the side of medical gadgets or for the reconstitution of toddler components; and absolutely sealed and/or corked wine bottles for private consumption onboard that’s topic to screening and a corkage price (for visitors 21 years of age or older).”
Lodging might be made for “visitors who’ve particular wants, medical necessities, or households with infants who require water for components or milk” so long as they contact the entry desk to see if “an exception might be made for his or her beverage and to acquire pre-approval to offer to safety at embarkation.”
Royal Caribbean Worldwide
Regarding meals and non-alcoholic drinks, Royal Caribbean‘s coverage states visitors are “free to deliver non-perishable prepackaged meals in restricted portions.” They’re additionally “welcomed to deliver choose drinks onboard… as carry-on gadgets on boarding day. Non-alcoholic drinks could not exceed 12 commonplace (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. Milk and distilled water introduced on for toddler, medical, or dietary use are permitted.”
As for alcohol, “On embarkation day, every visitor of consuming age could deliver one (1) sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne. Boxed wine and different containers are prohibited. Visitors who buy alcohol bottles onboard, in a port-of-call, or deliver greater than the one permitted bottle on boarding day, could have their gadgets safely saved by the ship. These bottles shall be returned on the final day onboard for enjoyment as soon as residence.”
“For consecutive sailings, visitors of consuming age are allowed to deliver one (1) 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne for every particular person crusing. Further bottles shall be saved by the ship and delivered, one bottle at a time, to the stateroom on the primary day of every new voyage. Visitors bringing a couple of bottle in the beginning of the primary crusing ought to have documentation for any consecutive sailings accessible to share with safety. Alcoholic drinks (beer, seltzer or laborious liquor) seized on embarkation day is not going to be returned.”

Princess Cruises
Together with most different cruise strains, Princess Cruises permits visitors to deliver pre-packaged gadgets onboard. Regarding nutritional vitamins, Princess says that visitors “could deliver a restricted quantity of dietary dietary supplements of their authentic packaging.”
Passengers are “prohibited from bringing water, sodas and different non-alcoholic drinks on board which can be packaged in bottles,” nonetheless “A small amount of non-alcoholic drinks (i.e., glowing water, sodas, juice, milk) packaged in cans or cartons could also be introduced on board on embarkation day, provided that carried on in visitors’ hand baggage (not in checked baggage). A small amount is taken into account a most of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12 ounces every or much less per particular person.”
Regarding particular circumstances, “Purified or distilled water in factory-sealed containers (together with plastic containers) to be used at the side of medical gadget(s) are allowed in checked baggage and have to be full of the gadget(s). Distilled/purified water in a factory-sealed container(s) (together with plastic containers) for the reconstitution of toddler components are allowed in checked baggage for staterooms with toddler bookings.”

Celeb Cruises
Celebrity Cruises says that “doubtlessly hazardous meals and/or meals that requires refrigeration” is just not allowed on board.
Celeb’s web site doesn’t have an official coverage listed regarding drinks, Whereas different cruisers have reported that visitors are allowed to deliver a small quantity of non-alcoholic drinks onboard on embarkation day solely, it’s finest to contact Celeb Cruises instantly to substantiate.
Holland America Line
Holland America says that “sodas, power drinks, and different non-alcoholic gadgets should not allowed on board in any type,” and that “plastic water bottles should not allowed in any amount, together with in ports of name.”
Water is permitted per stateroom inside considered one of these allowances: “6 liters complete, 12 cans or cartons at 500 ml or much less every, or 6 cans or cartons at one liter or much less every. Quantities above the allowance should not permitted. Manufacturing unit-sealed purified or distilled water, together with plastic containers, is allowed in checked baggage when used with medical gadgets, and must be full of the gadget.”
There is no such thing as a official coverage on Holland America’s web site concerning meals.

MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises says that “within the curiosity of well being and security, drinks and meals (together with partially eaten or residence cooked gadgets) is probably not introduced on board.” The road does enable “dry, packaged and commercially produced meals.”
Regarding drinks, “Non-alcoholic drinks, corresponding to water, soda and juices, are prohibited to be introduced on board both as carryon or checked baggage on each embarkation and port days. The one exception is purified or distilled water in factory-sealed containers to be used at the side of medical gadgets or for the reconstitution of toddler components.”
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line’s coverage regarding bringing meals on board says that “Do-it-yourself, precooked, perishable meals, or open meals containers are prohibited. You may, nonetheless, deliver nonperishable snack meals of their authentic factory-sealed packaging. All gadgets have to be consumed earlier than returning to your private home port or stay unopened. You may have this stuff in your checked baggage or carry-on, whichever most closely fits your wants.”
Regarding drinks, the road says that “you might be greater than welcome to deliver factory-sealed, nonperishable non-alcoholic drinks of your personal if there’s one thing specifically you apprehensive gained’t be accessible on board. No matter what kind of beverage you’re packing, you’ll must you should definitely have it in a carry-on bag in your possession once you board moderately than in your checked baggage as any drinks left in your checked luggage shall be eliminated.”

Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages’ meals coverage states that visitors could deliver “pre-packaged, sealed, non-perishable snacks in cheap portions for private consumption.” The road clarifies that “bulk gadgets should not permitted.”
As for non-alcoholic drinks, “Sailors are permitted to deliver a small amount (12 sealed, unopened cans or cartons of 12 ounces or much less) of non-alcoholic drinks, corresponding to water, dietary dietary supplements, non-alcoholic beer, or tender drinks, offered they’re in containers or cans. Please observe that cup or plastic bottles should not allowed, as we goal to keep up a secure and sustainable surroundings at sea.” They have to be packed in hand baggage upon embarkation.
Regarding particular lodging, Virgin says “in case you have a essential merchandise or dietary complement you need to deliver on board, be at liberty to contact our Sailor Providers Crew for particular clearance.”
Margaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea’s meals and beverage coverage states that it “doesn’t allow outdoors meals, alcoholic drinks or non-alcoholic drinks (together with however not restricted to water, soda, and juices) to be introduced on board both as a carry-on or checked baggage on each embarkation and port days.”
Nevertheless, “There could also be exceptions for Visitors with particular wants, as authorized by Margaritaville at Sea previous to the cruise.”
One Ultimate Observe
Cruise line insurance policies can and do change, so it’s at all times price double-checking along with your particular cruise line earlier than you pack. When doubtful, persist with factory-sealed, shelf-stable snacks and canned or carton drinks in restricted portions — and carry them on moderately than checking them. Try this, and also you shouldn’t have any points on the gangway. With the exception: Norwegian, MSC, Holland America, and Margaritaville have extra restrictive insurance policies in the case of non-alcoholic drinks.
Feedback
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The publish Can You Bring Food and Drinks on a Cruise? Here’s What’s Allowed appeared first on EatSleepCruise.com.
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