Did you know that there are items some cruisers bring with them but aren’t actually necessary? For example, I often hear about people who want to bring items that you can already find in a cruise ship cabin.
Before boarding, I often see passengers with huge suitcases carrying half their house.
To make your travel lighter, I’ve created a list of 10 items you shouldn’t bring on a cruise (so don’t pack them).
Your back will thank you, and you will even have some free space to buy souvenirs in the ports you visit!
1. Irons and Vertical Steamers
A thing you shouldn’t bring is definitely an iron. It is not allowed on cruise ships and will be confiscated at boarding, so it’s completely pointless to bring it.
Unfortunately, vertical irons or those that use steam only are not allowed either.
The only thing you can do to avoid creases is to use an anti-crease spray or have your clothes ironed by the laundry service on the ship.
2. Valuables
Never bring valuable items on a cruise! As you know, cruise ships usually change ports every day. If you lose something or it gets stolen, you won’t have time to look for it.
In addition, pickpockets see cruisers as easy targets, so it’s best to avoid wearing gold jewelry, expensive accessories, or carrying pricey electronics like cameras in your backpack.
Bring only the essentials and opt for pants and bags with secure zippers.
3. Food and Drinks
Another thing you shouldn’t bring on a cruise is food and drinks. You will find everything on board both at the buffet and at the ship’s restaurants.
Specifically, bringing food is prohibited due to contamination risks that could pose a health threat to all passengers. Most companies only allow you to bring dry and packaged foods.
Regarding beverages, especially alcoholic ones, you must follow the alcohol policies of your cruise line. Some time ago, I also talked to you about how to sneak alcohol on a cruise ship, but it’s not something I recommend.
4. Soap and Shampoo
You don’t need to bring your own soap and shampoo from home on a cruise. You will find both in your cabin bathroom upon arrival, either as part of a courtesy kit or in dispensers in the shower.
Some people might think that the provided ones are not of good quality. However, I’ve tried both the Royal Caribbean and Carnival ones, and I really liked them.
In addition, leaving soap and shampoo at home will save you a lot of space and avoid the risk of spilling during transport.
If you need more or other toiletries, you can look at the list of things you can request for free from guest service on a cruise.
5. Hair Dryer
Another unnecessary item is the hair dryer. You will find it in all cruise line cabins.
Many of you might think that the provided ones are small and weak, but in reality, their quality has greatly improved over the years.
In the article about cruise ship hair dryers, I showed you that there are different powerful ones on some cruise lines. So, bringing your own from home, in most cases, is not necessary.
6. Pool toys
Cruise lines don’t want you to bring inflatables or pool toys. Usually, the list of toys that are not allowed in public areas includes balls, floating tubes, water guns, and any items that might bother other passengers.
In addition, there’s no real need to bring toys. There’s already plenty to do for children onboard, including the mini-club, board games, and sports games like ping pong and basketball.
7. Bulky suitcases
Here’s an important piece of advice: avoid bringing bulky suitcases.
What I constantly notice is that passengers bring more clothes than needed and often don’t even wear them.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but people no longer dress as formally as before.
Most people dress casually so there’s no need to bring too many clothes. Just remember to bring comfortable clothes and shoes for when you go on an excursion and a few good dresses for the elegant nights.
8. Towels and beach towels
Another thing you should not bring on a cruise are towels and beach towels. You will already find towels in your cabin upon arrival.
Most cruise lines follow a simple rule: if you leave a towel on the floor, it means you want it replaced; if you hang it up or leave it on a shelf, it won’t be changed.
Beach towels are also provided when you visit the pool, spa, or head out on a beach excursion, so there’s no need to pack your own!
9. Sharp or Dangerous Items
Remember not to bring sharp, pointed, or items that can be considered dangerous on a cruise. For example, knives, cutters, awls, and any other items that can become weapons will be confiscated during embarkation.
Also, remember that items that emit flames, smoke, or heat are not allowed. So, no candles, incense, heaters, or electric stoves.
10. Too much cash
The last piece of advice I want to give you is to avoid bringing too much cash.
Some cruisers bring it because they know there is a safe in the cabin, but there’s still the risk of losing it or having it stolen during the trip.
The same goes for other valuables—if you’re exploring a foreign city, losing cash or having it stolen can be a nightmare, and getting it back is nearly impossible.
My advice is to use payment cards instead. Especially if you are traveling abroad, check with your bank to ensure your card works internationally, and if possible, bring more than one for backup.
If you still want to bring cash, remember to put it in the safe as soon as you arrive in the cabin. And always double-check that the safe is securely locked!
If you’re unsure how much cash to bring, check out the article on how much cash is recommended for a cruise.
