Cruise ships have very strict rules about what you can bring onboard. In some cases, that's a question of safety.
You can't pack a gun, hunting knife, or anything else that would count as a weapon. You also can't bring on anything with a heating element, aside from a hair iron. Regular irons, coffeemakers, and any other appliances are banned.
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In addition, the safety rules don't allow passengers to bring candles onboard. You can, however, bring matches or lighters for smoking, but only in designated areas. Cannabis in all its forms and CBD are banned onboard as well even if it's legal in the state you live in and you have a prescription for it.
Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean do allow passengers to bring a small selection of beverages onboard. Here's how Carnival explains its policy:
"On embarkation day, a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, energy drinks, juice, and milk), packaged in cans or cartons, may be brought on board and must be in the guest's carry-on luggage," Carnival says on its website. "A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12-ounces/354-ml each or less, per person."
You can't bring plastic bottles, so that means that most people don't bring water onboard.
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Passengers are angry about Carnival's water prices
Carnival sells a package of large water bottles that you can book before your cruise. It's a 12-pack of bottled water (16.9-ounce bottle/500-ml bottle) for $14.95.
"This is the third price increase on this popular beverage product since November 2022," Cruise Hive reported. "Initially, the 12-pack was $4.95 ($0.42 per bottle), but at that time, it was doubled to $9.95 ($0.83 per bottle). Then, in December 2023, the price was increased again, to $11.95 per 12-pack (a drop under $1 per bottle)."
Many Carnival customers are angry at the current price and pushed back on comments Brand Ambassador John Heald made in a recent video.
"You’ve got a pretty short memory! When Carnival stopped letting people bring water on board, you stated on your Facebook page that Carnival would keep it very affordable to purchase on the ship, and it was at first. What happened? It is not 'an affordable deal' at all," wrote Rob Chastain.
Many of the commenters on his video complained because they can't, in their words, drink the ship's water.
"If my lovely wife drinks ship's water her ankles and legs swell up horribly. When she sticks to the bottled stuff the swelling doesn't happen. So for us, the increase in cost is just a part of cruising! Of course, we think it's too much but cruising is worth it to us," posted John Hendrickson.
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Carnival's Heald defends its water price
A single bottle of water on Carnival's ships purchased from a bar will set you back between $3 and $5. That makes buying the 12-pack before you cruise a deal.
Heald tried to defend the current pre-order pricing on the 12-pack.
"We've been talking a lot about water because people have been rather, uh, I guess, adamant, that we charge too much for bottled water," Heald said. "Well, it's just over $1 a bottle."
Heald called that price "the most affordable in the industry and compared to airports, resorts, etc. It's still a great affordable deal.
The Brand Ambassador also made it clear that ship water was drinkable, a point he illustrated by drinking some.
"I'm drinking ship's water and so can you," he added.
Many people posted that drinking the ship's water caused swelling.
"I’ve tried multiple times, but can not drink ship's water. Only bottled water for me, even brushing my teeth. If I drink ship's water, my feet swell so badly that I can’t get my shoes on. You may desalinate your water, but not enough of the salt is removed for me," shared Loretta Kretzcshmar.
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Some posters suggested a water hack.
"On my most recent cruise, I brought along a water bottle with a filter in it, and I kept it full in our refrigerator. It was lovely to always have cold, double-filtered water in our room," wrote Melanie Boyce. "I’m a light packer, but this is an item that I will be bringing in the future."
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