Can You Bring Food on a Cruise?
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Cruise lines offer a wide variety of complementary dining options. Even with the endless dining choices, you might want to bring your food and snacks onboard.
Most cruise lines allow passengers to bring food on a cruise.
Whether you’re a picky eater or prefer to have your favorite snack with you on your cruise vacation, here’s what you need to know about bringing food on a cruise.
Can You Bring Food on a Cruise?
Yes, you can bring food on a cruise, but some specific rules and restrictions vary by cruise line. Common guidelines include:
- Packaged and Non-Perishable Items: Many cruise lines allow sealed, pre-packaged snacks like chips, nuts, or candy. Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, or homemade items are often not allowed due to health regulations.
- Alcoholic Beverages: Most cruise lines have strict policies about bringing alcohol on cruise ships. Most cruise lines allow one or two sealed bottles of wine or champagne, but hard liquor is typically prohibited.
- Special Dietary Needs: Cruise lines are generally accommodating if you have dietary restrictions. You should inform the cruise line in advance about special accommodations.
- Baby Food and Supplies: If traveling with an infant, you can usually bring baby food and formula.
Remember, cruise ships usually offer a wide variety of food options included in your fare, so you might not need to bring much if any, additional food.
You should always check with your cruise line before bringing food on a cruise ship. We’ll cover cruise line food policies below.
Cruise Line Food Policies
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s food and beverage policy states, “you are free to bring non-perishable pre-packaged food in limited quantities.”
The policy is vague, but you shouldn’t have an issue if the items are pre-packaged and non-perishable.
You can also bring up to 12 cans, bottles, or cartons of non-alcoholic beverages as long as they are packed in your carry-on bag.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival’s food/snack policy states, “Food Items must be pre-packaged and unopened; homemade items or pre-cooked foods will not be permitted onboard. Limitations on permitted food items are directly related to concerns for food safety and contamination prevention. We are unable to provide food preparation, refrigeration, or storage for personal food or beverage items.”
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line’s policy says, “Unsealed food items will not be allowed onboard.”
In other words, only bring sealed, pre-packaged items.
Princess Cruises
In our experience, Princess Cruises has food policies similar to those of other major cruise lines. You can pack pre-packaged, sealed, non-perishable food items.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises allows passengers to bring small amounts of pre-packaged, non-perishable snacks onto their vessels.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line’s policy states, “non-perishable snack foods in sealed, original packaging. All items must either be consumed before returning to your home port or remain unopened.”
Additionally, breast milk is allowed in the carry-on only.
Virgin Voyages
If you wish to carry food onboard a Virgin Voyages crew, contact their Sailor Services Crew first for special clearance.
