Holidaymakers planning a cruise in 2026 are being urged to scrutinise their packing lists, as major cruise lines continue to expand prohibitions on common travel items. The crackdown, which gained momentum throughout 2025, targets everything from tech gadgets to quirky accessories, with strict enforcement risking confiscation at boarding.
Tech Hacks That Could Cost You
The drive to avoid expensive onboard WiFi has led to a passenger tech arms race, but cruise companies are fighting back. Devices like the Starlink Mini satellite internet kit are now explicitly banned by operators including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian. While some ships use Starlink for their own paid service, lines warn passenger-owned units could interfere with vessel systems and network stability.
Similarly, a once-popular money-saving trick is being stamped out. Travel routers, used to share a single-device WiFi package across multiple phones or laptops, are facing confiscation. Cruise lines cite potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and social media groups are filled with reports from passengers who have had their routers taken away.
Bans for Peace, Quiet, and Decorum
Beyond technology, the new rules aim to manage onboard atmosphere and safety. Bluetooth speakers are prohibited on lines like Celebrity, Carnival, and MSC, primarily over noise complaints and concerns they could drown out critical safety announcements. The ban extends to cabin balconies, dashing hopes of a private soundtrack to ocean views.
In a more niche ruling, Carnival Cruises has banned paper clack fans from indoor dance floors and nightclubs. This move directly responds to a TikTok dance craze sparked by the 2024 song 'Boots on the Ground', which uses the fans as a prop. The line permits them on open decks but removed them from crowded indoor spaces over safety fears.
Symbolic Decorations Under Scrutiny
Even cabin door decorations are not immune from the regulatory push. Carnival has confirmed it will remove upside-down pineapple stickers, a symbol sometimes associated with swinging, from stateroom doors. The line's brand ambassador, John Heald, explicitly stated they are "definitely no longer allowed".
General guidelines for door decor now forbid items with messages considered offensive or containing nudity, profanity, or sexual suggestions. This underscores a broader effort by cruise lines to control the onboard environment and pre-empt conflicts between passengers.
With regulations evolving rapidly, the advice for anyone booking a cruise for 2026 is clear: always check your specific cruise line's prohibited items list before you pack. What was acceptable on a sailing a few years ago may now see your belongings held by security, putting a damper on your holiday before it even begins.
