Hello, fellow cruisers! I’ve been on more cruise ships than I can count, and let me tell you, some of the rules still surprise me.
You think you know the drill: pack your swimsuit and sunscreen, maybe a nice dress or two… but nope. There are weird policies that even seasoned travelers miss.
For example, did you know that only certain Texas-certified liquor is allowed on Galveston sailings? I sure didn’t, so listen to these wild rules so you won’t be caught off guard!
Strict Booze Limits on Texas Departures
If your cruise ship leaves from Galveston, Texas, expect a shocker at happy hour.
Texas law says the only alcohol you’re allowed to drink that first night is wine, beer or spirits approved for sale in Texas.
In practice, that means the bar’s drink menu is oddly sparse until the ship hits international waters.
Even if you’ve prepaid for an unlimited drink package, most lines won’t let you use it until you’re offshore.
Don’t Shake the Captain’s Hand
I don’t think this is the same on all ships, but I’ve had a couple of occasions where the crew didn’t want passengers to shake hands with the captain.
Why? Well, as you can imagine, it’s a matter of germ spread.
Unfortunately, viruses spread quite frequently on cruise ships, and since the captain holds absolute authority over all operations, they try to protect his health.
So, if you bump into the captain, give a salute or a thumbs-up, but don’t be upset if they refuse to shake your hand.
Bring Your Own Soda
You might expect a cruise mini-fridge to overflow with your favorite sodas or bottled water.
In reality, many cruise lines limit how many pre-purchased beverages you can stash in your cabin.
For example, Royal Caribbean and Princess each cap you at 12 cans or bottles per person on embarkation day.
Be very careful because Carnival doesn’t allow any non-alcoholic beverages on board that are packaged in bottles; only 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12 ounces (ca. 350 ml) each, or less, per person.
The rest you have to buy on board at bar or buffet prices. So if you’re a Diet Coke fiend, it’s better to opt for a beverage package.
One thing that many people don’t mention is that you should always buy your drinks package before departure, as it is much cheaper than buying it on board. I mentioned this in the article with 20 tips for saving money on a cruise.
High-tech Equipment
Almost every cruise line has strict drone policies to avoid accidents or privacy issues. In fact, only a couple of lines even let you keep your drone on board (and only for use when you’re not at sea).
On Carnival, you have to hand over your drone to the crew when you board, then they’ll give it back in port.
Royal Caribbean lets you bring it, but you can only fly it outside the ship and never at sea. Disney, P&O, Viking and many others outright ban drones entirely.
Other banned high-tech equipment usually includes satellite internet gear, personal Wi-Fi devices, HAM radios, and other powerful transmitting devices that can disrupt navigation.
No Homemade Snacks
Homemade food is usually forbidden on cruise ships. Customs rules apply: the ship is basically an international voyage, so they worry about bringing in mold, pesticides, or mysterious preservatives.
I once tried sneaking in a Tupperware of home-baked cookies as a surprise birthday treat. The security noticed them and basically said, “Throw it out or eat it now.”
Only store-bought, factory-sealed snacks are usually fine. The positive thing is that you can order a custom cake through the cruise line for your celebration.
They’ll even do it room delivery for a better surprise. Check the full list of things a cabin steward can bring to your room for free.
Baby Monitors Are a No-Go
Now, an important thing for parents. Most ships ban baby monitors. Why? Because baby monitors are like little radio towers and can interfere with the ship’s navigational communications.
In plain terms, that blinking signal could play havoc with the captain talking to the harbor.
Disney Cruise Line is one rare exception (they’ll let you bring one if it’s inspected), but otherwise they’ll confiscate your monitor at boarding.
Hair Irons and Steamers
Ladies (and gents with luscious locks) leave the curling irons, straighteners, and travel steamers at home.
These gadgets are usually banned because they generate heat and can trigger a fire alarm or hazard.
Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and others explicitly forbid them (they do provide hair dryers in cabins, but no irons.)
The same goes for travel steamers you might bring to de-wrinkle your clothes. Ships don’t trust passengers not to forget them on. As a result, it’s often safer to pack wrinkle-resistant clothing or plan on using the ship’s laundry service.
For all the other items, check the list of things that are always confiscated during cruise ship boarding.
Oh, and please avoid using creative strategies to sneak them on board. Some people have been banned for life from the cruise line for doing so.
Balloons and Door Decorations
Got a special occasion? You’ll have to celebrate without helium balloons or even your fun cabin banners. Many lines explicitly confiscate balloons and certain decorations.
Carnival and Disney are especially strict, even non-helium balloons can be taken away because of cleanup issues.
I once tried bringing a “Happy Anniversary” banner for my parents‘ door; it looked innocent, but the crew insisted it had to be taped with only magnets or special strips to avoid damage.
Deck Chairs Are First-Come, First-Served
Okay, this one’s a bit of etiquette, but it’s enforced like a rule: you cannot save pool or deck chairs for long periods.
On many ships, if you leave your towel on a chair and disappear for more than about 30 minutes, the crew will clear everything off it!
I witnessed a guy come back after breakfast to find all his beach read and sunglasses gone, and a staff member politely pointing out, “We need chairs for other guests.”
Over the years, I have noticed that some cruise lines are stricter about this, while others are more flexible.
In any case, you can check out my 7 smart strategies to outsmart chair hogs on cruise ships. They work every time!
Throwing Food Off The Balcony
I think we all know that it is forbidden to throw things from the balcony of a cruise ship, especially dangerous or polluting objects such as metals and plastics.
However, not everyone knows this, and many are surprised to learn that throwing food is also prohibited.
Some passengers, especially those with children, think it might be fun to feed the fish and birds, but this is absolutely forbidden.
Modern cruise ships operate under international environmental laws, and they take them seriously.
Food waste isn’t handled casually. Ships have entire systems onboard that grind, treat, and process food before it’s released at sea in approved zones far from the coast.
Passengers tossing food over the rail completely bypasses that system, which is why cruise lines treat it almost like a safety violation.
Some lines mention this rule during the safety briefing, while others quietly enforce it, but trust me, they are watching. The ocean stays cleaner, and everyone stays out of trouble.
Don’t forget to check the 7 big cruise ship changes in 2026 (some will shock you).
