Cruise door decorations: what each line allows
Carnival, Disney and Royal Caribbean let you decorate your cabin door, and all three allow magnets. Virgin Voyages says no. The rest are strict, quiet or want you to ask first. Here's each line's rule.
The rules, line by line
- Allowed with limits Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Disney
- Not allowed Virgin Voyages
- Not stated Princess, MSC, Holland America
| Cruise line | Status | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | Allowed with limits | Decorations must be made of fire-retardant material. Items sprayed with fire-retardant spray don't count. Put them on the door only, not the frame, walls or railings. Magnets and Command Strips are OK, but no tape or glue. Over-the-door organizers must hang inside the cabin, be fire-retardant and not damage the door. No decorations on balconies, nothing over light fixtures, and no string lights. Designs must be family friendly. Anything that breaks these rules is removed with no refund. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Royal Caribbean | Allowed with limits | You can decorate your cabin door with light decorations that don't use power. Magnets work best. No tape, glue, stickers, Velcro or stick-on hooks, nothing on the door frame or peephole, and no lights or paper garlands. Housekeeping can remove anything unsafe. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Norwegian | Allowed with limits | Paper door decorations are not allowed because they can catch fire. Magnets and other kinds aren't named, so ask the line first. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Princess | Not stated | Princess's pages don't say whether you can decorate your cabin door. Ask Princess before you pack decorations. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Celebrity | Allowed with limits | The conduct policy says you can't place materials anywhere inside the ship, including cabin doors and corridors, without the ship's permission. Ask the ship's staff before you decorate. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Disney | Allowed with limits | Tasteful magnetic signs are welcome on your stateroom door. No tape or adhesives of any kind, including gel. No over-the-door organizers, nothing with sound or video, and don't cover the peephole. Nothing goes on corridor walls or ceilings. Damage is charged at $100 per incident. On the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, Concierge doors are wood, so magnets won't stick. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| MSC | Not stated | MSC's pages don't mention decorating your cabin door. Ask the line before you pack decorations. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Holland America | Not stated | Holland America's pages don't say whether you can decorate your cabin door. Ask the line before you pack decorations. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Virgin Voyages | Not allowed | Virgin's cabin FAQ answers no to decorating your cabin door. It says door decorations damage the ship. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
Rules checked on Nov 6, 2026. Independent guide. Not affiliated with any cruise line. Rules change, so confirm with your cruise line before you sail. Security staff have the final say at the terminal.
What the lines that allow it agree on
Carnival, Disney and Royal Caribbean each wrote their own door rules, and they land in the same place. Magnets are the one way all three allow to hang things. Tape and glue are out on all three. Each also keeps decorations on the door itself: Carnival bans the frame, walls and railings, Disney bans corridor walls and ceilings, and Royal Caribbean bans the frame. Disney and Royal Caribbean also say not to cover the peephole.
Lights are out too. Carnival bans string lights of any kind, and Royal Caribbean bans lights on doors. Disney's verandah rules ban seasonal and celebration light strings, and its door rules ban anything with sound or video.
Fire is a big reason. Norwegian bans paper door decorations because they can catch fire, Carnival only allows fire-retardant material, and Royal Caribbean bans anything that's a fire hazard.
Carnival has the most detailed rules
Carnival spells out more than any other line. Decorations must be made of fire-retardant material, and something you sprayed with fire-retardant spray doesn't count. Magnets and Command Strips are fine. Tape and glue are not.
Over-the-door organizers are allowed only if they hang inside the cabin, are fire-retardant and don't damage the door. Nothing goes on balconies or over light fixtures. Designs must be family friendly. Carnival removes anything that breaks the rules, with no refund. Carnival says the decorations it sells through its online Fun Shops are fire-retardant.
Disney: magnetic signs, no adhesives
Disney welcomes tasteful magnetic signs on stateroom doors. It bans tape and adhesives of every kind, including gel, and it bans over-the-door organizers. Don't cover the peephole, and keep everything off the corridor walls and ceiling.
Damage is charged at $100 per incident. One catch: on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, Concierge doors are wood, so magnets won't stick. Disney's separate decorations page also bans hanging flags, banners or signs from any part of the ship, including verandahs (Disney's verandah decorations FAQ).
Royal Caribbean: light decorations, magnets work best
Royal Caribbean allows light decorations that don't use power, and it says magnets work best. It bans tape, glue, stickers, Velcro and adhesive hooks such as Command hooks, and nothing goes on the door frame or peephole. Lights and paper garlands are out. Housekeeping can take down anything unsafe.
Royal Caribbean's conduct policy says nothing may go on cabin doors without the ship's permission. Its door decorations FAQ gives that permission, as long as you follow the rules above.
Lines that are strict, quiet or say no
Norwegian bans paper door decorations as a fire risk. It doesn't name magnets, so ask before you pack them. Celebrity says you can't put anything on your door without the ship's permission, so ask the crew once you board.
Holland America, MSC and Princess don't mention door decorations on any page we read. That isn't a yes. Ask the line before you buy anything.
Virgin Voyages answers no in its cabin FAQ. It says door decorations lead to damage on the ship.
How to make decorations that pass
Start with magnets. They're the one thing Carnival, Disney and Royal Caribbean all allow, and they come off easily. Flat magnetic signs or a magnetic banner work well. If you make your own, keep paper off the list for Norwegian, and use fire-retardant material if you sail Carnival.
Skip anything that plugs in, lights up, plays sound or needs tape. Keep it to the door itself. Take everything down before you leave the ship, so you don't pay for damage.
See magnetic cabin door decorations on Amazon (sponsored). Only for lines whose rules allow magnetic door decorations: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Want hooks inside the cabin too? See magnetic hooks for a cruise.
Questions people ask
Can you decorate your cruise cabin door?
On Carnival, Disney and Royal Caribbean, yes, within each line's rules. Norwegian bans paper decorations. Celebrity wants you to ask the ship first. Virgin Voyages says no. Holland America, MSC and Princess don't say, so ask them before you pack anything.
Are magnets allowed on cruise cabin doors?
Carnival, Disney and Royal Caribbean all allow magnets, and Royal Caribbean says they work best. On the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, Concierge doors are wood, so magnets won't stick there.
Can I use tape or Command Strips?
Carnival allows Command Strips but bans tape and glue. Disney bans every kind of tape or adhesive, including gel. Royal Caribbean bans tape, glue, stickers, Velcro and adhesive hooks such as Command hooks.
Can I put lights on my cabin door?
Not on the lines that address it. Carnival bans string lights of any kind, Royal Caribbean bans lights on doors, and Disney's verandah rules ban seasonal light strings.
Can I decorate my balcony?
Carnival bans all balcony decorations. Disney bans flags, banners and signs on any part of the ship, including verandahs. Keep decorations on the door.