Can you bring beer on a cruise?
It depends on your cruise line. Disney allows it with limits. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, MSC, Holland America and Virgin Voyages ban it.
Pick your cruise line
Beer is banned in carry-on and checked bags. Carnival throws it away with no refund.
All 9 lines side by side
- Allowed with limits Disney
- Not allowed Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, MSC, Holland America, Virgin Voyages
| Cruise line | Status | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | Not allowed | Beer is banned in carry-on and checked bags. Carnival throws it away with no refund. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Royal Caribbean | Not allowed | Beer is banned. Sealed beer taken at boarding is given back at the end of the cruise. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Norwegian | Not allowed | Beer is banned. Wine and champagne are the only alcohol you can bring. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Princess | Not allowed | Beer is not allowed. Alcohol outside the wine allowance is taken and thrown away, with no refund. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Celebrity | Not allowed | Not named, but Celebrity bans all alcohol except one bottle of wine or champagne. Alcohol taken at boarding is not returned. Not named on the page; this comes from a general rule. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Disney | Allowed with limits | Guests 21 and older (18 on round-trip Singapore sailings) may bring 6 beers, 12 oz or smaller, instead of the wine allowance. They must be sealed and in a carry-on bag. You can't drink them in lounges or public areas. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| MSC | Not allowed | You can't bring beer or any other alcohol aboard unless security or crew allow it. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Holland America | Not allowed | Not named, but Holland America doesn't allow drinks for personal use beyond its wine and water allowances. Not named on the page; this comes from a general rule. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Virgin Voyages | Not allowed | Beer is banned by name. Pages disagree: The prohibited items list says alcohol found in checked bags is collected and returned when the voyage ends. The ticket contract says alcohol that isn't allowed is taken and thrown away with no refund. It may not come back. We show the stricter rule. | 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.
Disney is the only yes
Guests 21 and older on Disney can bring six beers, 12 oz or smaller, sealed and in a carry-on. That's instead of the one bottle of wine, not on top of it. On round-trip Singapore sailings the age drops to 18.
You can't drink your Disney beer in lounges or public areas. Beer over the limit is thrown away before boarding, and alcohol in checked bags is removed and not returned.
Every other line bans beer
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, MSC and Virgin ban beer by name. Celebrity and Holland America ban it under their rule that wine is the only alcohol you can bring.
What happens to beer found at boarding depends on the line. Royal Caribbean gives sealed beer back at the end of the cruise. Carnival and Princess throw it away with no refund. Celebrity doesn't return alcohol taken at boarding. Virgin's pages disagree on whether you get it back.
Hard seltzer and other drinks
Royal Caribbean lists hard seltzer among the drinks it takes at boarding. On lines that ban beer, treat hard seltzer, hard cider and canned cocktails the same way.
Questions people ask
How much beer can I bring on Disney?
Guests 21 and older can bring six beers of 12 oz or less, sealed and in a carry-on, instead of the one bottle of wine.
Can I bring both wine and beer on Disney?
No. Disney's allowance is one bottle of wine or six beers, not both.
Does hard seltzer count as beer?
Royal Caribbean lists hard seltzer among the drinks it takes at boarding. Treat it like beer on every line.
Can I bring beer back from a port stop?
Lines hold alcohol you buy in port and return it near the end of the cruise. See our liquor page for each line's timing.