advice > packing > Carnival Prohibited Items

Shipdetective Cruise Packing Guide

Every cruise line has their own policy but in general most companies prohibit the same items: liquor, flammables and illegal items. Surprisingly clothes irons and steamers are now banned on most cruise ships for "safety reasons" but curling irons and curler machines are still ok.

Holland America Line

Smoking Policy

Holland America Line prohibits weapons, illegal drugs and certain items that could interfere with the safe operation of its ships or compromise the safety and secure environment of its guests and crew.  Holland America conducts security scanning of all luggage and reserves the right to confiscate any item, which in Holland America's sole discretion, is deemed dangerous or can pose a risk to the vessel or its guests. Items will be removed and disposed of and no compensation will be provided.  We suggest all luggage be unlocked before turning it over to the porters in order to avoid any inconvenience or delay in delivering the luggage to your stateroom.  

Before you pack, please take the time to review the following.

Prohibited Items

• Any illegal narcotics/drugs including synthetic, designer drugs, Cannabidiol (CBD) and medical marijuana
• All weapons and any item made, adapted or intended for use as an offensive weapon: firearms (including replicas, imitations and their components), spears or spear guns, crossbows, crossbow bolts and long bow arrows; blunt weapons, including knuckle dusters, brass knuckles, clubs, coshes, batons, flails or Nunchaku; sharp pointed weapons, including throwing stars; air, BB, pellet pistols or rifles, stun devices and tasers, any projectile-weapon, including paintball guns, etc.
• All items containing incapacitating substances, such as gas guns, tear gas sprays, mace, phosphorus, acid and other dangerous chemicals that could be used to maim or disable
• All ammunition
• All explosives, including imitation explosives and devices
• Fireworks, flares, pyrotechnics
• Flammable substances and hazardous chemicals (e.g., petrol, methylated spirits, paint thinners)
• Compressed gas tanks, bottles, cylinders including dive tanks, propane tanks and aerosol cans (Refer to Exemptions)
• Alcohol (hard liquor) and beer
• Wine or champagne beyond the allowable limit of one 750 ml bottle per adult (21 years of age or older)
• Non-alcoholic beverages in containers other than a can or carton; excessive quantities per person (over 12 cans/cartons per person); excessive size per can/carton (over 12 ounces each)
• Electrical and household appliances containing any kind of heating element, such as irons, clothes steamers, immersion heaters, heating blankets, water heaters, coffee machines, hot plates, toasters, heating pads, humidifier, etc. (All Carnival ships provide facilities with ironing boards and irons; fleet-wide valet laundry service is also available for a nominal fee.)
• Knives, scissors and open razors with blades longer than four inches. (Recreational dive knives are allowed, but must be held in the custody of the Guest Services Manager or Chief Security Officer and must be checked out/in by the owner for dive excursions during the cruise.
• Large scissors used by scrapbook and quilting enthusiasts are at times permitted with prior notification from the Security Services Department, but are held on board in the same manner as dive knives.)
• Handcuffs or other restraining devices
• Self-balancing hover boards and air wheels
• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), communication scanners, wideband receivers, satellite phones, transformers, lasers and laser pointers. 
  
• Boom boxes/large radios
  
• Candles and incense
  
• Helium filled balloons 
  
• Inflatable kiddie pool

Shipdetective Tip

People with very small children who can't or won't use the shower bring a small inflatable pool to adapt the shower space. Pretty clever right! This applies to staterooms without bath tubs - many staterooms don't have the tub option. Please remember - kid's pools of any kind are not to be used on deck anywhere, including your balcony.

• Hookahs
  
• Any footwear with wheels, such as, Heely’s type shoes
  
• Kava  
  
• Surfboards, boats and canoes 
  
• Fish of any kind; if fish are caught during an excursion, they must be shipped home

 
Exemptions and other considerations

• Aerosol cans containing personal grooming products are allowed 
  
• Personal grooming devices such as hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons, shavers, and other electrical devices, such as fans (no larger than 12" in diameter), power strips, multi plug box outlets/adaptors, and extension cords (without surge protectors) are allowed when used with proper caution.  However, if such devices are determined to pose a hazard, they will be removed and returned on debarkation morning
  
• Guest must use earphones when listening to music or watching shows/movies on personal devices in public spaces. Bluetooth, portable and wireless speakers are only permitted within your stateroom and must be used respectfully and at a reasonable sound levels and times of day. Large speakers/radios are prohibited on board and will be confiscated.
  
• Medical gas bottles/oxygen cylinders are allowed in connection with a certified medical condition, but cannot be packed in baggage. Oxygen cylinders must be delivered to Guest Services and stored in a designated safe area
  
• CPAP machine will need to be packed in carry-on luggage. Holland America Line carries distilled water, which can be purchased either pre-cruise or on board by contacting Room Service.  Guests bringing their own distilled water, must hand carry along with their CPAP machine
  
• Small, personal-sized coolers no larger than 12” x 12” x 12” for the purpose of housing, small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications are permitted as carry-on luggage
  
• Pets/live animals:  Only qualified service dogs trained to perform a specific task for a guest with a disability are allowed
  
• Flowers and plants:  Only permitted if ordered through Carnival.  Flowers/plants cannot be taken off the ship at any port
  
• Musical instruments: Are allowed, however, if a noise complaint is received, the instrument will be confiscated and returned to the guest on debarkation morning
  Ham radios/amateur radio equipment
  
• Google-type glasses are permitted on board in public areas, but cannot be worn at any gangway operation
  
• Digital Cameras/Camcorders, DVDs/VCRs, USB sticks, iPods, Nintendo/X-Box Play Units cannot be used with the TV in the guest stateroom or suite as the connection ports are disabled
  
• Due to concerns for food safety and contamination prevention, any food items brought on board must be pre-packaged and unopened.  Homemade items or pre-cooked foods are not allowed.  We are unable to provide food preparation, refrigeration or storage for personal food or beverage items
  
• Seashells may be brought on board if they appear to be clean and sanitized and do not have the odor of a living organism

Items for Port Use Only

The following items may be brought on board, but can be used off the ship, while in port only. All items must be stored in the guest’s stateroom. 

Please Note: It is the responsibility of the guest to check the local laws of each port as Holland America Line will not be responsible for confiscated items by foreign governments.

• Drone 
• Snorkel gear
• Segways
• Skateboards
• Golf clubs
• Fishing rods
• Tennis rackets
• Kites
• Roller blades or skates
• Metal detectors
• Beach chair
• Umbrella
• Boogie Boards (maximum 42 inches in length)
• Portable Folding Bicycles (maximum 20 inch tires)
• Floatation devices:  For the comfort of all our guests, rafts, tubes and floatation devices other than those used as life preservers (water wings) cannot be used in the swimming pools on board
• Collapsible wagons - For the safety of our guests, the wagon cannot be rolled onto/off the ship during embarkation and debarkation and cannot be rolled off/onto the ship while in port.

Items that cannot be taken off the ship in the United States

The following items cannot be taken off the ship in the U.S. during the cruise or on debarkation day. U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) performs agricultural inspections to protect the U.S from potential carriers of animal and plant pests or diseases that could cause serious damage to America's crops, livestock, pets and the environment.
Animal products

• Unsealed food items
• Fruits and vegetables
• Agriculture and horticulture products
• Plants/cut flowers
• Ship property

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