Do cruise lines search luggage before boarding? (2023)

FAQs

Do they check your bags before a cruise? ›

No. There is no rule that you have to check luggage. However, keep in mind that you will have to lug your carry-on items around the ship until your room is ready. If you check in early, that could be a couple of hours.

Boarding a cruise ship is similar to boarding an airplane. You can check your luggage and it will be delivered to your stateroom in a couple of hours. During the process, your carry-on baggage will go through a scanner just like the airport and anything prohibited will be confiscated.

When you board a cruise ship, your bags will be x-rayed to check for alcohol and weapons. At many ports, the luggage is also checked by a sniffer dog who may be trained to detect drugs and explosives.

Upon entering the terminal, you'll need to show your cruise documents and go through a security line. You will need to pass through an x-ray machine and have your carry-ons scanned, but the process is not as rigorous as at the airport. (You likely won't need to remove your shoes, for example.)

Anti-Terrorism Measures: Cruise lines have security checks of all passengers, carry-on parcels and checked baggage. Unlike the airlines, which only x-ray 10 to 20 percent of all checked baggage, cruise lines thoroughly x-ray every bag that goes on to the ship.

Cruise Ship Travel

All weapons are prohibited on cruises due to cruise ship security regulations. Guns are not allowed, with or without a concealed carry permit. Mace, pepper sprays and knives of any type are prohibited.

Much like a hotel or plane, cruise lines in the U.S. are not required by law to do criminal background checks, or block passengers who may be registered sex offenders. Published policies for cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian do not state any restrictions on passengers with a criminal history.

All staterooms and suite accommodations, including outside balconies, are NON-SMOKING. This policy applies to all forms of smoking, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vaporizers, electronic cigarettes and marijuana.

When your cruise ship arrives at its disembarkation port, local immigration officials need to clear the ship before anyone can disembark. Ships that terminate in U.S. ports may require passengers to fill out Customs forms and show their passports to border control in the cruise terminal.

Can you bring water guns on a cruise? ›

However, even firearm replicas — non-firing guns, imitations, toys and their components — are prohibited aboard cruise ships. That includes water guns.

However, cruise ships have thorough procedures to protect themselves from pirates, particularly in areas known for high rates of attacks. There were only six reports of pirates attempting to attack cruise ships over the last 10 years. – in fact there has never been a successful pirate attack on a cruise ship.

According to CruiseJunkie.com, a website run by Canadian sociologist Ross Klein, more than 300 people went overboard while on cruises between 1995 and 2019. More than a third of those who were reported missing, while others were reported as suicides and jumps.

Can you take your vape on a cruise? There usually aren't restrictions on devices or liquids in personal luggage on cruise ships, although it's always best to check with the travel company prior to your trip.

Can I Bring CBD on a Cruise? Since cannabis is still illegal at a Federal level, many cruise lines have prohibited CBD on board their ships. Carnival Cruise Lines and Disney Cruise Lines are both examples of lines where CBD is not tolerated.

E-cigarettes are allowed in designated smoking areas, as well as inside passenger staterooms (but not on balconies).

Never, unless you are vaping — and only a handful of ships permit that. Are you allowed to smoke on cruise ship balconies? Definitely not; it's a fire hazard. (The exception is Costa Cruises, which does allow smoking on outdoor balconies.)

There're no special places for vaping. You will vape in the designated areas where smoking is allowed. The big three cruise lines — Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian — all adopt this policy. Other lines including MSC, Disney, Celebrity, and Virgin also follow this rule.

Can you smoke on a cruise ship? You may smoke on a cruise ship, but only in designated smoking areas. On most ships operated by U.S. cruise lines, all indoor public spaces are off-limits with the exceptions being the casino (or part of the casino), a cigar lounge (if the ship has one) and one or two other lounges.

Does Royal Caribbean allow vape pens? ›

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are only permitted within the designated smoking areas. Royal Caribbean International kindly asks all guests to please observe the smoking policy. These requests are made to provide a comfortable cruise for everyone.

MSC Cruises Bottled Water Policy

MSC Cruises, like several other cruise lines, has also completely banned guests from bringing their own bottled water onto its ships. This is most likely a part of their effort to prevent alcohol smuggling and speed up the embarking process for its guests.

Bring a small purse to hold your cruise card and camera when walking around the ship. I always like to have my camera with me so carrying a small purse means I don't have to always have it in hand.

Anti-Terrorism Measures: Cruise lines have security checks of all passengers, carry-on parcels and checked baggage. Unlike the airlines, which only x-ray 10 to 20 percent of all checked baggage, cruise lines thoroughly x-ray every bag that goes on to the ship.