Take Or Leave: 6 Cruise Items You Can Take vs. 7 Items You Shouldn’t
Cruises are known for their luxurious amenities, top-notch service, and endless buffets, but when it comes to souvenirs, not everything on board is fair game. While some items are perfectly acceptable to take home, others could land you in trouble with cruise staff—or even customs officials. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveler, knowing what you can and cannot take from a cruise will help you avoid awkward situations and ensure a smooth disembarkation.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can bring home and what you should leave behind when your cruise comes to an end.
1. Toiletries and Bathroom Amenities
Most cruise lines provide complimentary toiletries in your cabin, such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion. These small bottles are meant for guest use, and just like in a hotel, it’s perfectly fine to take them home if they’re provided for free. These toiletries can be handy for future travel or as a small memento of your trip. However, some modern cruise ships are moving toward eco-friendly dispensers instead of individual bottles to reduce waste. If you see refillable dispensers in your bathroom, it means the toiletries are not for taking. If you enjoy a particular brand used on board, many cruise lines sell full-sized versions in the ship’s gift shop, allowing you to bring home the scent of your vacation the right way.
2. Daily Newsletters and Activity Schedules
Each day, cruise ships deliver newsletters or printed schedules outlining onboard activities, entertainment, and dining options. These can be great keepsakes, especially if you want to remember what shows, themed nights, or excursions you participated in during your trip. Many cruisers like to collect these as souvenirs or use them for scrapbooking, travel journaling, or even planning future cruises. Some ships are moving toward digital schedules through mobile apps, but printed copies are usually still available upon request. If you enjoy reflecting on your cruise experiences, these small paper reminders are definitely worth keeping.
3. Cruise Ship Branded Items (If Given to You)
Many cruises provide complimentary branded souvenirs, such as keychains, lanyards, tote bags, or even commemorative pins. These are often given as part of a loyalty program, a welcome gift, or a special event on board. If an item has been provided to you as a giveaway, you are welcome to take it home. Some cruise lines also hand out small prizes for participating in onboard games, trivia contests, or fitness challenges, which make for fun, unexpected souvenirs. If you’re unsure whether an item is a gift, check with guest services or your cabin steward to avoid any misunderstandings.
4. Unfinished Bottles of Duty-Free Alcohol
If you purchase alcohol from the ship’s duty-free shop, it will often be held for you until the last night or morning of your cruise. Once it’s handed back to you, it’s yours to take home. Cruise lines do this to prevent guests from consuming duty-free liquor on board, as they prefer passengers to buy drinks from the bars. However, once you disembark, you can take the bottles with you. It’s important to be aware of customs regulations in your destination country, as some have limits on how much alcohol you can bring back without paying additional duty. Always check ahead of time to avoid surprises at the airport or cruise terminal.
5. Leftover Cruise Credits and Casino Winnings
If you’ve loaded money onto your cruise account for onboard purchases and have credits left over, check the ship’s policy to see if you can get a refund. Many cruise lines allow you to cash out any remaining funds before disembarking, while others may automatically refund it to your original payment method. The same goes for casino winnings—make sure to cash out before leaving, as unused casino chips and credits typically cannot be exchanged once you disembark. Some cruise lines offer a cashless system where winnings are added directly to your onboard account, so keeping track of your balance is essential to ensure you don’t leave money behind.
6. Towels and Blankets Given as Souvenirs
Some cruise lines host special events where they give away towels or blankets as part of the experience. For example, certain cruise ships provide complimentary beach towels during shore excursions or sell commemorative towels at pool parties. If you receive a towel as part of a special promotion or event, it’s usually fine to take it home. However, regular pool deck towels that are provided for guest use must be returned to avoid being charged. If you’re unsure whether a towel or blanket is meant to be taken home, check with the crew or look for official ship branding, as giveaway towels are often designed differently from regular pool towels.
1. Don’t Take These: Room Towels, Robes, and Bedding
While it may be tempting to bring home a plush cruise ship towel or robe as a memento of your vacation, these items are meant to stay on board. Cruise lines keep meticulous track of their inventory, and if towels, robes, or bedding go missing, passengers may find an unexpected charge on their onboard account. These linens are washed and reused for future guests, and their high quality makes them expensive for the cruise line to replace. Additionally, taking these items can disrupt housekeeping services, as each cabin is stocked with a specific number of linens per sailing.
If you fall in love with the ultra-soft robe or high-thread-count sheets, many cruise lines sell them in the onboard gift shop or online. Purchasing them legally allows you to bring a piece of your cruise experience home without breaking the rules or risking additional fees. Always check with your cabin steward if you’re unsure about what can and cannot be taken from your room.
2. Glassware, Cutlery, and Dining Room Tableware
Those elegant wine glasses, fine china, and polished silverware that make your dining experience feel luxurious? They stay on the ship. While you might think slipping a glass into your bag as a souvenir is harmless, cruise lines consider this theft, and you may be charged for missing tableware. Every piece of dining equipment is accounted for, and missing items can create inventory shortages that impact service for other guests.
If you truly love the look of the ship’s tableware, some cruise lines offer branded glassware, mugs, and even dinnerware sets for sale in the gift shop. Taking items from the dining room not only violates cruise policy, but it could also result in embarrassment if you’re caught. If you want a souvenir from your dining experience, consider keeping a menu (if permitted) or taking a picture of your beautifully plated meal instead.
3. Liquor and Wine Purchased Onboard (Until Cleared by Customs)
If you purchase a bottle of wine or liquor from an onboard bar or restaurant, you’ll need to finish it during your cruise, as these beverages are not intended for off-ship consumption. Unlike duty-free purchases, bottles bought for immediate enjoyment are typically meant to stay on the ship. Some cruise lines allow guests to bring a limited amount of wine or champagne at embarkation, but any additional alcohol purchased onboard is usually held by the staff until the end of the trip.
Duty-free alcohol, purchased in the ship’s liquor store, is also held until the last night or morning of your cruise to discourage in-room consumption and ensure compliance with ship policies. If you plan to bring alcohol home, always check the customs regulations of your final destination. Many countries have strict limits on the amount of alcohol you can bring back, and exceeding those limits could result in hefty duties or confiscation.
4. Life Jackets and Safety Equipment
Every cruise cabin is equipped with life jackets and emergency safety gear, but these items are strictly for onboard use and should never be taken as souvenirs. Cruise ships conduct rigorous safety inspections before every voyage, and missing life jackets or other safety devices could create serious compliance issues. Taking a life jacket may also result in fines, and it could impact safety procedures for future passengers.
These essential safety tools are part of the ship’s mandatory emergency preparedness and must remain accessible in case of an onboard emergency. If you find yourself fascinated by the look of a cruise ship life jacket, you may be able to purchase a novelty version from the gift shop—but under no circumstances should you attempt to take the real thing home.
5. Food and Fresh Fruit from the Ship
Most cruise ships prohibit guests from taking perishable food items off the vessel due to strict customs regulations enforced by ports and countries around the world. This includes fresh fruit, sandwiches, and buffet items. Many countries have strict agricultural laws designed to prevent the introduction of non-native plants, insects, and diseases, and bringing fresh food from a cruise ship could result in hefty fines at customs.
Some packaged snacks, such as sealed candy, chips, or unopened granola bars, may be allowed, but it’s always best to check the regulations of your final destination before disembarking. If you’re heading to an excursion that permits packed food, consider asking the ship’s dining staff if they offer pre-packaged options. Some cruise lines provide designated to-go meals for excursions that comply with local regulations.
6. Artwork from Galleries or Decorations from Public Spaces
Cruise ships are often adorned with beautiful paintings, sculptures, and other forms of art that enhance the onboard atmosphere. Some vessels even host art auctions where guests can bid on collectible pieces. However, decorations and framed artwork displayed in hallways, lounges, or dining areas should never be taken.
These pieces are the property of the cruise line, and removing them is considered theft. Even small decorative items, such as vases, themed table centerpieces, or wall ornaments, are part of the ship’s design and should not be removed. If you fall in love with a particular piece of artwork onboard, consider attending an onboard art auction or checking the ship’s gift shop, where replicas or similar styles may be available for purchase.
7. Pool Deck Towels (Unless They’re a Gift)
Cruise ships often provide towels for guests to use by the pool or on shore excursions, but these need to be returned at the end of the day. Many cruise lines track towel usage by requiring passengers to check them out using their stateroom key card. If you fail to return a towel, the cruise line may charge your account for the missing item, sometimes at an inflated price.
To avoid unexpected fees, always return borrowed towels to designated collection areas on the pool deck or near the gangway after a shore excursion. If you really want a towel as a keepsake, check the ship’s onboard store—many cruise lines sell high-quality, branded towels that you can legally take home. Some cruises even host special events where they give away souvenir towels as part of a package deal or themed party. If you receive a towel as an official gift, it’s yours to keep, but standard pool towels must always be returned.
