Going on a cruise is an exciting experience, but the meals and snacks offered onboard can get repetitive or expensive after a while. Many cruisers wonder if they can bring their own favorite snacks from home to supplement what’s available on the ship. The answer is yes, you generally can bring snacks with you, but there are some guidelines and restrictions to keep in mind.
General Rules for Bringing Snacks on a Cruise
Most cruise lines will allow you to bring a reasonable quantity of non-alcoholic drinks and shelf-stable snacks onboard in your carry-on luggage. However, they do impose some limits and prohibitions:
- No home-cooked food is allowed for health and safety reasons
- No fresh fruits, vegetables, or anything that could carry pests or disease
- No drinks or liquids over 3.4 ounces except for medical needs
- No alcohol or illegal substances
- Any snacks should be sealed in their original unopened packaging
You’ll go through a security screening where any prohibited items will be confiscated. If you try to sneak banned items onboard, you could face removal from the ship or criminal charges.
Quantity Allowed
Most cruise lines don’t specify an exact number of snacks you can bring, but recommend keeping it to a “reasonable” amount for personal consumption during the trip. A good rule of thumb is no more than one standard-size suitcase filled with sealed, permitted snacks.
Some things not to do:
- Don’t try to bring snacks for your whole group or extras to give away/sell to others.
- Don’t pack suitcases full of heavy items like soda cans that could cause injuries when loading/unloading.
- Don’t bring so many snacks that you don’t have room for your clothing and other necessities.
If you go way overboard with the amount of snacks you’re packing, the cruise line may prohibit you from bringing them onboard.
Types of Snacks You Can Bring
As long as they meet the general guidelines, these are commonly permitted snacks on cruises:
- Packaged crackers, chips, pretzels, granola bars
- Dried fruit, nuts, trail mix
- Packaged cookies, candy, chocolate bars
- Shelf-stable meat snacks like beef jerky
- Bottled water, soda, juice boxes
- Powdered drink mixes (bring your own water bottle)
Make sure all containers are unopened and factory sealed. Inspect for any breaches before packing. Also check expiration dates and don’t bring anything that will go bad before your return date.
Storing and Consuming Your Snacks
Once onboard, you’ll keep your snacks in your cabin. Most ships have mini-fridges, so you can store perishable items like drinks or jerky inside. For non-refrigerated goods, your cabin desk, shelves, and closets work well.
You’re welcome to consume your own snacks anywhere food is allowed on the ship – in your room, at the pool, in lounges, etc. But be aware of these courtesies if snacking in public areas:
- Don’t let your snacks take over pool chairs or tables if others are looking for seats.
- Be tidy and dispose of wrappers properly to avoid pest issues.
- Don’t flaunt prohibited items in front of crew members.
- Offer to share extras if others nearby seem interested.
Restricted Items to Avoid
To summarize, these are some key items to leave at home:
- Fresh produce like fruit, vegetables, herbs
- Meat, seafood, eggs, dairy
- Anything requiring refrigeration
- Home-cooked, homemade, or unpackaged foods
- Alcoholic beverages
- Marijuana, CBD products, illegal drugs
- Weapons
- Flammable materials
Attempting to bring restricted items can lead to confiscation or denial of boarding at the port. Don’t take the risk.
Saving Money with Self-Packed Snacks
One great perk of bringing your own snacks is the cost savings compared to buying onboard. Cruise food is notoriously pricey, so you can preserve your vacation budget with DIY options.
Here’s a comparison of sample snack costs:
Snack Item | Onboard Price | Grocery Store Price |
---|---|---|
Chips, 1 oz bag | $3.50 | $0.50 |
Candy bar | $3.00 | $0.75 |
Bottled water, 12 oz | $3.50 | $0.50 |
Beef jerky, 2 oz | $6.00 | $1.50 |
As you can see, bringing your own snacks from home can save you several dollars per item. Those costs add up fast, especially if you’re feeding kids or family members with big appetites!
Choosing Snacks to Pack
When selecting snacks to pack, keep these tips in mind:
- Focus on non-perishable, shelf-stable items
- Go for individually packaged portions you can grab and go
- Pick a variety – sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy, etc
- Include some healthier snacks like nuts, dried fruits, granola bars
- Bring comfort foods and treats not sold onboard
- Buy in bulk sizes and divide snacks into bags for each day
Shop sales at grocery stores and warehouse clubs leading up to your trip. You can pack snacks in reusable containers, zip top bags, or purchase individual serving packages.
Recommended Snacks to Pack
Based on the rules and tips above, here are some of the best snacks to pack for your cruise:
- Trail mix – mix your own for personalized flavors
- Protein or granola bars – watch for allergens like nuts
- Dried fruit such as raisins, cranberries, apricots
- Pretzels, crackers, pita chips, popcorn, nuts
- Beef jerky or other cured meats
- Packaged nut mixes, seeds
- Packaged cookies, cereal bars, granola bites
- Individually wrapped candy like Jolly Ranchers, Skittles, chocolate
- Chip varieties – potato, tortilla, pita, veggie
- Bottled water, juice, soda, powdered drink mixes
Creativity Counts
Use your imagination when preparing snacks to bring. Some unique ideas include:
- Vacuum-sealed bags of dry cereal, crackers, pretzels
- Homemade trail mix with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, chocolate
- DIY oatmeal packets with dried fruit and spices
- Flavored popcorn mixed with nuts, toffee, cereal
- Freezer breakfast sandwiches sealed in foil
- Hard boiled eggs kept in a cooler bag
- Sliced veggies with hummus or ranch cups
Take advantage of sealable plastic bags, reusable containers, ice packs, and other packing hacks to maximize freshness and portability of your homemade snacks.
Snack Restrictions on Other Transport
If you’re traveling to your cruise departure port by plane or other transportation, keep in mind they have their own separate restrictions on what food and drink items you can bring. Make sure any snacks comply with those rules as well. Some key limitations:
- Air travel – Only empty water bottles past TSA, snacks must fit in a quart sized bag
- Trains – No alcohol or unsealed beverages generally permitted
- Rental cars – Only non-messy snacks and drinks allowed
- Buses/shuttles – Limit snacks on board to avoid spills and odors
It’s smart to research each mode of transportation’s policies. Pack part of your snacks in checked luggage to enjoy post-travel or on the cruise itself.
Dietary Restrictions
If you or anyone in your travel group has food allergies or follows a special diet like gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan, packing your own snacks is especially useful.
You can control ingredients and find substitutes for problem foods more easily. Some tips:
- Research cruise dining options for your diet and plan to supplement where needed
- Notify the cruise line ahead of time of dietary issues for accommodations
- Pack safe substitute ingredients – gluten-free oats, dairy-free chocolate, vegan protein powder, etc
- Label specialty snacks clearly so no one else eats them by mistake
- Bring extras of your critical snacks in case they run out or get ruined
With the right snacks packed, you can still enjoy cruising with dietary limitations!
Snack Security Tips
To make sure you don’t lose your precious snacks, follow these recommendations:
- Use hard-sided luggage less prone to tearing
- Place snacks in plastic bags or containers inside suitcase to contain any leaks
- Pack drinks in an insulated cooler bag for added protection
- Put any mess-prone snacks like trail mix or popcorn into spill-proof containers
- Don’t overstuff bags to the point of bursting
- Place ID tag inside and out in case luggage tag gets torn off
- Keep valuables like electronics separate from snack bags
With careful packing and handling, you can get your snacks safely to your cruise cabin and avoid damage in transit.
Saving Space
When packing both clothing/gear and food for your cruise, space in your luggage will be limited. Here are smart ideas for fitting everything:
- Pack outfits that mix and match to need less total pieces
- Roll soft items tightly and use packing cubes for organization
- Wear bulkiest shoes and jacket aboard instead of packing them
- Use zippered plastic bags to compress snacks
- Opt for snack varieties that pack tightly like granola bars over chips
- Transfer bulky packaging like cereal into reusable containers
- Pack drinks in reusable water bottles instead of disposable bottles
With some creative packing skills, you can maximize your luggage capacity for both clothing essentials and delicious snacks!
What Not to Bring
To recap, avoid packing these prohibited or risky snack items for your cruise:
- Perishable foods like fruit, meat, eggs, dairy
- Anything that needs refrigeration
- DIY, homemade, or unpackaged foods
- Alcohol, marijuana, illegal or recreational drugs
- Large cans or heavy multipacks of drinks
- Loose snacks like trail mix, nuts, candy that can spill everywhere
- Sharp objects that could puncture and leak
- Snacks with strong odors that can bother cabinmates
- Too many snacks so there’s no room for regular luggage contents
Stick to shelf-stable snacks in sealed packaging to follow the rules and avoid hassles. And resist packing snacks just for the sake of packing more – focus on your favorites you’ll actually enjoy eating!
Snack Etiquette
When consuming your own snacks onboard, please be considerate with these cruise courtesy tips:
- Keep your cabin tidy and not overly smelly from food
- Dispose of wrappers promptly to avoid attracting pests
- Be willing to share extras if others ask politely
- Don’t flaunt outside snacks in front of crew or other passengers
- Use discretion eating messy snacks in public spaces
- Avoid loud crinkly packages disrupting shows and events
- Don’t overdo it on junk food – save room for great cruise meals!
With some common sense, you can enjoy your packed snacks while still being respectful of other passengers and the ship’s rules.
Snack Suggestions for Kids
If you’re packing snacks for children, their favorites may differ from your own. Some kid-friendly snack ideas include:
- Fruit snacks and pouches
- Animal crackers, teddy grahams
- Goldfish crackers, pretzel sticks
- Mini muffins, cereal/granola bars
- Pudding cups, applesauce pouches
- Squeezable yogurt tubes
- Jellybeans, gummies, hard candy
- Mini chocolate chips, chocolate-covered raisins
- Cheese sticks, peanut butter crackers
Focus on tasty snacks that won’t make a mess! And don’t forget to pack wet wipes and napkins for cleanup.
Conclusion
Bringing your own snacks onboard a cruise can save money and let you customize your eating options for the trip. Just be sure to follow the cruise line’s rules on permitted types and quantities of food allowed. With smart packing and storage, you can enjoy your favorite snacks without hassles or penalties. So raid your pantry and grocery store to create the perfect stash of snacks to accompany you on your upcoming cruise!