What You Can’t Bring on a Cruise: Flat Irons, Irons, Alcohol & More

What’s banned on a cruise changes from one cruise line to the next: clothes irons are not allowed on MSC, Costa or Royal Caribbean. Flat irons and hair dryers are allowed on MSC; flat irons are allowed on Royal; on Costa no appliances board at all, only chargers and electric shavers. Alcohol, power strips, candles and medical cannabis are also out (rules checked Oct/2026).

🚢 This article is part of the 2026/2027 Cruise Guide, with ships, ports, costs and onboard rules.

What’s banned on a cruise?

On a cruise, the banned list revolves around two risks: fire and safety. That’s why anything that heats up is out (irons, kettles, bottle warmers), along with open flames (candles, incense, hookahs), firearms and bladed weapons, drugs and, on MSC and Costa, any alcohol brought from outside.

MSC spells this out in item 4.6 of its Terms and Conditions, which bans alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, irons, bottle warmers, hookahs, weapons, knives, scissors and pocket knives. Costa goes further: its official FAQ says that, for safety reasons, no appliances may be brought on board, except chargers (phone, camera, laptop) and electric shavers. Royal Caribbean bans irons, clothes steamers, extension cords, weapons and marijuana, and warns that an item not on the list can also be refused if security deems it dangerous.

Your entire suitcase goes through the X-ray at the terminal, just like at the airport. If you’re building your packing list from scratch, check out the cruise packing checklist too, with clothes, documents and cabin essentials.

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Can you bring a flat iron and hair dryer on a cruise?

Flat irons are allowed on MSC and Royal Caribbean, and not allowed on Costa. MSC writes on its baggage page that “hair dryers and flat irons are excluded from the ban and are accepted on board.” Royal allows flat irons and curling wands for personal use.

On Costa, the “no appliances” rule only makes an exception for chargers and electric shavers, so flat irons and hair dryers stay home. In exchange, every Costa cabin has a hair dryer and the ship offers ironing and laundry service, charged separately.

The hair dryer has a nuance on Royal Caribbean: the cruise line says it may be banned depending on the device’s specifications and reminds guests that there’s already a hair dryer in the cabin. High-powered professional dryers are the most at risk. If your hair depends on a powerful blow dryer, the safest bet is to test the cabin dryer on day one and only bring the flat iron where it’s accepted.

Why the difference? A ship’s cabin has few outlets, limited electrical load and a high risk of fire at sea. Each cruise line draws the line at a different point: MSC only bans items with “heating elements” like irons and kettles; Costa bans every device that isn’t a charger.

Can you bring a clothes iron on a cruise?

No. Clothes irons are banned on MSC, Costa and Royal Caribbean, and Royal also bans portable clothes steamers. It’s the most confiscated item in the luggage of first-time cruisers.

For formal night, the trick is to hang your outfit on a hanger in the bathroom during a hot shower, or use the ship’s ironing service, charged per item. Wrinkle-resistant fabrics (jersey, viscose, polyester) save you that expense.

Can you bring an extension cord or power strip on board?

Extension cords and regular power strips are banned on Costa and Royal Caribbean. Costa only accepts CE-certified extension cords with a thermal switch, dedicated to a single approved medical device such as a CPAP machine. Royal bans extension cords, power strips and multi-outlet adapters.

MSC doesn’t mention extension cords on its baggage page or in item 4.6 of its terms; treat it as “to be confirmed” with the cruise line before bringing one. What usually passes without issue is a multi-port USB charger with no extension cord, but check your ship’s rule. Cabins usually have few outlets, so a charger with two or three USB ports handles your phone, watch and headphones all at once.

Can you bring alcohol on a cruise?

On MSC and Costa, no: both ban bringing beverages bought ashore, alcoholic or not. On Royal Caribbean, each adult may bring 1 sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne at embarkation (rule checked Oct/2026).

The rule also applies to water and soda on MSC, which lists non-alcoholic beverages in the same item of its terms. The full rules, with corkage fees, packages and drink limits, are in the guide can you bring alcohol on a cruise.

Can you bring a drone on a cruise?

On MSC, you can bring a drone, but it stays stored in the cabin: flying a drone on board is prohibited. The cruise line allows use off the ship, on land, wherever local law permits, and bans flying at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the private island in the Bahamas.

Costa and Royal Caribbean don’t detail drones on the pages consulted in Oct/2026; confirm with the cruise line before boarding. In Brazilian ports, flying in a port area requires authorization from the authorities, so plan your aerial shots for beaches and viewpoints at the stops.

Can medical cannabis and medication board?

Medical cannabis is banned on board all three cruise lines, even with a prescription and Anvisa authorization. Costa writes that “cannabis for medical use and other illegal drugs are prohibited on board”; Royal bans marijuana “regardless of medical authorization or local legality”; MSC lists plants for medicinal or therapeutic use, such as cannabis, in item 4.6 of its terms.

Common medications board without issue in your carry-on, in their original packaging. For narcotics and methadone, Costa asks that you always carry your prescription, since ports and airlines may have restrictions. CBD doesn’t appear on the pages consulted: if you use it, ask the cruise line in writing before booking the trip.

Cigarettes and vapes board, but can only be used in smoking areas: see where each one is and the fee for smoking in the cabin in the guide can you smoke on a cruise.

What changes between MSC, Costa and Royal Caribbean?

MSC is the most flexible with hair appliances and the strictest with alcohol; Costa is the strictest with any electrical device; Royal is the only one that allows a bottle of wine per adult.

Sources: MSC baggage page and Terms, Costa FAQ and Royal Caribbean’s list of prohibited items, all consulted in Oct/2026.

If you’re still choosing a cruise line, you can use this table as a criterion: if the flat iron is non-negotiable, MSC or Royal will do; if the idea is to bring wine to the cabin, only Royal allows it. To see ships from all three along the Brazilian coast and abroad, compare the domestic cruise departures on Logitravel before you finish packing.

What happens if security finds a banned item?

The banned item is held by security at embarkation. Beverages bought at ports of call, according to Costa and Royal rules, are stored and returned at the end of the trip; banned devices found in the cabin may also be collected and returned at disembarkation.

The real hassle is the time: a suitcase held for inspection arrives later at the cabin, sometimes only at night. So it’s worth keeping your flat iron, medications and a change of clothes in your carry-on, which stays with you from check-in.

Frequently asked questions

Can you bring a flat iron on an MSC cruise?

Yes. MSC states on its baggage page that hair dryers and flat irons are accepted on board, while clothes irons and kettles remain banned (rule checked Oct/2026).

Can you bring a flat iron on a Costa cruise?

No. Costa Cruises doesn’t allow appliances on board, except chargers and electric shavers. Every Costa cabin has a hair dryer, and the ship offers paid ironing service.

Why can’t you bring a hair dryer on a cruise?

The reason is fire risk and the cabin’s limited electrical load. On Costa, hair dryers are banned and already provided in the cabin; on Royal Caribbean, it depends on the device’s specifications; on MSC, hair dryers are accepted.

What happens if you bring a banned item on a cruise?

Terminal security holds the item at the luggage X-ray. Beverages bought at Costa and Royal ports of call are stored and returned at the end of the trip, and an inspected suitcase may arrive later at the cabin.

Conclusion

Before you finish packing, check the cruise luggage weight limit and three more things: which cruise line your ship belongs to, whether flat irons and hair dryers are allowed on it, and whether there’s no iron, extension cord or alcohol in your luggage. With that, your suitcase arrives at the cabin in one piece. For the rest of your prep, follow the what to pack for a cruise guide and the Voyage Voyage Cruise Guide. Pets are also off the packing list: see whether you can bring a dog on a cruise.