Experience Cruise - USA TODAY ~ StrictlyCome

What not to pack on a cruise

By Fran Golden

There are obvious things that you can't pack in your suitcase when you take a cruise vacation – such as weapons, illegal drugs and flammable liquids – or anything else that could potentially be a safety hazard (including candles, incense and most small electrical appliances). But after that each cruise line has its own particulars.

I first came across the nuances when cruising with a friend who wanted to bring along his clarinet.

The rules vary. Disney Cruise Line ^[1] , for instance, bans musical instruments. Carnival states that a musical instrument is allowed but "if a noise complaint is received it will be confiscated by shipboard security and returned to the guest on the morning of debarkation."

We cruised on Celebrity ^[2] , my friend practiced his clarinet in the cabin and there were no complaints from the neighbors.

But it's important to read all the rules to make sure you know in advance what you can or can't bring onboard your particular ship. You don't want to run into problems with security at embarkation.

Some of the stuff may surprise you. For instance, Royal Caribbean ^[3] specifically bans, among a bunch of things, HAM radios, along with baseball bats, hockey sticks, cricket bats, skateboards and surfboards. Leave your martial arts gear at home. No handcuffs allowed either.

Carnival Cruise Lines ^[4] has a long list of prohibited items, among them shoes with wheels and "telescopic or regular batons."

Three years ago, Carnival caused quite a stir when the line tried to ban 700 watt-plus hair dryers and curling irons. Passengers complained and the line pulled back. But if you forget to unplug your curling iron, the rules clearly state it can be confiscated.

CRUISE 101: What to pack ^[5]

No surfboards are allowed on Carnival ships (though you can bring along a smaller Boogie Board). If you usually travel with a laser or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon leave it at home, as those are prohibited too. You can bring along skateboards and other stuff to use in port such as fishing rods (packed), tennis rackets, kites (packed), rollerblades/skates and metal detectors, but they need to stay in your cabin until you get to port.

Disney Cruise Line not only has musical instruments and sports equipment on its substantial list of banned items, but also kites, balloons, inflatable floats and wagons. If grandma has a culinary specialty, don't bring it along on a Disney ship because also banned is "Homemade, pre-cooked or other perishable food items plus any open snack containers." Metal detectors are prohibited by Disney both shipboard and on the line's private island of Castaway Cay.

Note: The cruise lines also have varying policies on whether or not you can bring your own alcohol and soft drinks onboard and in what quantity. Large coolers are typically banned.

SEE MORE: Packing for Alaska ^[6]

--Fran Golden is the Experience Cruise expert blogger and a contributing editor of Porthole Magazine. She is the co-author of Frommer's Alaska Cruises and Ports of Call.