Most items banned on cruise ships make sense they tend to be banned industry-wide.
Nobody questions, for example, why Royal Caribbean bans swords, axes, and other bladed weapons onboard. The same goes for guns of all types.
Related: Royal Caribbean ship springs a leak during Bahamas cruise
Even replica weapons are not allowed for obvious reasons. A kid playing with a toy could easily be mistaken for someone brandishing a weapon, especially when you add in that some people might be drinking.
There are other cruise line bans that take a little more explaining. A candle, for example, seems harmless, but fire may be the biggest possible danger on a cruise ship. All forms of flamed items are not allowed on any cruise ships with basic lighters being an exception.
Royal Caribbean is very specific in this area and even bans some items (including irons) that may not seem like a threat.
“All items with open flames or heating elements are strictly prohibited; the exception of hair curling irons, straightening irons (flat irons), and hair dryers, which are permitted onboard,” it shared on its website.
Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.
Royal Caribbean only allows plugs with USB ports, not more plugs.
Image source: Daniel Kline/ComeCruiseWith.com
Not all banned items, however, are obvious.
The banned item list gets confusing when Royal Caribbean outlaws items that are allowed on its sister cruise lines. Royal Caribbean, for example, recently modified its banned item list to outlaw all devices that give you more outlets.
It used to allow power strips and power blocks as long as they did not have surge protection. That’s a common rule across all cruise lines.
Royal Caribbean, however, recently changed its rules to only allow power blocks that create added USB and USB-C ports, not power outlets. The banned items list now contains this language:
“Electrical Extension Cords — including power strips/surge protected strips and multi-plug outlets. We do allow consumer-type power conversion device USB chargers (multi-plug blocks on which the outputs are for USB cables),” it shared.
More Royal Caribbean:
Royal Caribbean has a beverage package policy you won’t likeRoyal Caribbean adds a partner passengers should be happy aboutRoyal Caribbean shares a key warning to passengersPopular Royal Caribbean and Carnival port on ‘reconsider travel’ list
That’s confusing because Celebrity Cruises, which is owned by Royal Caribbean, allows power blocks that add outlets. Rival cruise lines, including Carnival, Norwegian, MSC Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line, allow those as well.
Royal Caribbean has another unexpected ban
Carnival Cruise Line recently banned portable speakers. They used to be allowed, but only for use in your cabin.
Too many passengers used them in public places, so they were banned outright. That ban also includes white noise makers, which some passengers use to help them sleep.
Royal Caribbean makes no mention of speakers on its banned items page. It does, however, specifically outlaw certain types of communications.
“HAM Radios or other transmitting devices are strictly prohibited due to potential interference with the ship’s onboard communication systems,” it posted.
That makes sense, but parents might be very surprised about the banned item that’s right below HAM Radios.
“Baby monitors are not allowed to be used onboard our vessels as their radio signal could interfere with ship communication and/or navigation systems,” the cruise line shared.
In theory, parents probably should not be leaving an unattended baby in their cabin in the first place, but if they did, a baby monitor would, in theory, be more responsible than simply leaving the child there. Royal Caribbean does not have a specific policy about leaving children of any age unattended in their cabin.
If you bring a baby monitor onboard, it will be confiscated and returned at the end of the cruise on the “confiscated items” table in the cruise terminal.
ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise
Families, however, are allowed to keep in touch using a different type of technology.
“Guests are allowed to have two-way radios, more commonly known as walkie-talkies, for onboard personal communications. Basic specifications are as follows: Up to 10-mile coverage range, Up to 5 watts power, Internal Voice, Operated Transmission, No external mounting antenna,” Royal Caribbean posted.
Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.
