10 Items You Might Not Know Are Banned On Many Cruise Ships

How to find the best price, perks when booking a cruise

Find the cruise that works for your budget with these tips.

• Cruise lines prohibit certain items onboard, including candles, CBD products, and certain electrical appliances.
• Alcohol like hard liquor and beer are typically banned, while wine may be permitted in limited quantities.
• Travelers should consult their specific cruise line's website for a comprehensive list of banned items as they can vary.

Certain items are staples of almost any cruise vacation packing list, from sunscreen to bathing suits. But there are some you should be sure to leave at home.

Cruise lines maintain lists of banned items that are not allowed onboard. Passengers who pack them anyway may find they’ve been confiscated by security during the boarding process – though in most cases, they’ll be returned to the guests following their trip.

Some entries on those lists, such as firearms, may be obvious even to newer cruisers, while others could come as a surprise. Here are 10 types of items you may not have known are banned on cruises.

The following are banned on many cruise ships:

• Candles
• CBD products
• Electrical appliances with heating elements like irons or coffee makers
• Footwear with wheels (like Heelys)
• Hard liquor and beer, though wine is typically permitted in limited quantities
• Hoverboards
• Laser pointers
• Scissors, with some exceptions like small personal grooming scissors
• Travel internet routers

Travelers can find comprehensive lists of banned items on cruise line websites. Those can vary by operator, so it’s important to check before you leave home. 

If you don’t see an item listed, it’s worth reaching out to the cruise line to avoid any hiccups. For example, Royal Caribbean International warns guests on its website that certain “items that are not specifically on the list may be prohibited if they are deemed questionable by the Staff Captain and Security Officer.”

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.