Can you bring bottled water on a cruise?
It depends on your cruise line. Royal Caribbean, Princess and Holland America allow it with limits. Carnival, Norwegian, Celebrity, MSC and Virgin Voyages ban it. Disney doesn't say.
Pick your cruise line
Bottled water is banned. Canned or boxed water, like sparkling water, counts toward the 12-can soda limit. You can pre-order bottled water to your cabin or buy it onboard.
All 9 lines side by side
- Allowed with limits Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America
- Not allowed Carnival, Norwegian, Celebrity, MSC, Virgin Voyages
- Not stated Disney
| Cruise line | Status | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | Not allowed | Bottled water is banned. Canned or boxed water, like sparkling water, counts toward the 12-can soda limit. You can pre-order bottled water to your cabin or buy it onboard. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Royal Caribbean | Allowed with limits | Bottled water counts toward the same limit as soda: 12 containers (17 oz or smaller) per cabin, carried on at boarding. Distilled water for a baby, medical or diet need is allowed on top of that. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Norwegian | Not allowed | Bottled water is banned, including on port days. The one exception is factory-sealed purified or distilled water for a medical device or baby formula. Email the Access Desk for approval first. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Princess | Allowed with limits | Bottled water is not allowed. On boarding day only, each person can hand-carry up to 12 sealed cans or cartons of 12 oz or less, such as canned water. Sealed distilled water for medical devices or baby formula can go in checked bags. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Celebrity | Not allowed | Celebrity's banned list includes non-alcoholic drinks. Its onboard FAQ says you can bring water on boarding day, as much as you can carry. Security may check water bottles for hidden alcohol. Pages disagree: The What Not to Pack list bans "Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages." The While On Board FAQ says yes to soda and water on boarding day only, limited to what each guest can hand-carry. We show the stricter rule. We show the stricter rule. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Disney | Not stated | Disney's pages don't mention bringing bottled water. Ask the line before you pack it. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| MSC | Not allowed | Bottled water can't be brought aboard. The one exception is factory-sealed purified or distilled water for a medical device or baby formula. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Holland America | Allowed with limits | Water in plastic bottles is not allowed at all. Each cabin can bring one of these: 6 liters total, 12 cans or cartons of 500 ml or less, or 6 cans or cartons of 1 liter or less. Sealed distilled water for medical devices or baby formula can go in checked bags. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Virgin Voyages | Not allowed | Drinks in glass or plastic bottles are banned. The banned list allows small amounts of water. The ship has free filtered water stations. | 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.
Plastic bottles are out on most lines
Carnival, Norwegian, Celebrity, MSC and Virgin don't allow bottled water. Princess and Holland America don't allow plastic water bottles either, but they allow water in cans or cartons within a limit. Royal Caribbean is the one line that allows bottles, up to its per-cabin limit. Disney's pages don't mention it.
Carnival: cans or cartons only
Carnival bans water in glass or plastic bottles. Canned or boxed water, like sparkling water, is fine, but it counts toward Carnival's limit of 12 cans or cartons per guest, 12 oz or smaller, carried on at boarding.
If you want bottled water on board, Carnival lets you pre-order it to your cabin or buy it on the ship.
The lines that allow some water
Royal Caribbean counts bottled water toward the same limit as soda: 12 containers of 17 oz or smaller per cabin, carried on at boarding. Princess allows 12 sealed cans or cartons of 12 oz or less per person, on boarding day only.
Holland America gives each cabin one of three choices: 6 liters total, 12 cans or cartons of 500 ml or less, or 6 cans or cartons of 1 liter or less. Water in plastic bottles isn't allowed in any amount.
Medical and baby needs
Several lines make room for distilled water. Norwegian and MSC allow factory-sealed purified or distilled water for a medical device or baby formula, and Norwegian wants you to email its Access Desk for approval first. Royal Caribbean allows distilled water for a baby, medical or diet need on top of its limit. Princess and Holland America let sealed distilled water for medical devices or formula go in checked bags.
Drinking water on board
You won't go thirsty. Ships have drinking water at the buffet and drink stations, and Virgin says its ships have free filtered water stations. An empty reusable bottle isn't on any banned list we read, so you can bring one and fill it on board.
What to pack instead
- A reusable water bottle. Bring it empty and fill it at the ship's drink stations. An empty bottle isn't on any banned list we checked. See options on Amazon
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Questions people ask
Can you bring bottled water on a Carnival cruise?
Not in plastic or glass bottles. Canned or boxed water counts toward Carnival's 12-can limit per guest. You can also pre-order bottled water to your cabin.
What about distilled water for a CPAP or baby formula?
Norwegian and MSC allow factory-sealed distilled or purified water for a medical device or baby formula. Royal Caribbean allows distilled water for a baby, medical or diet need. Check your line's rule.
Can I bring a case of water?
Not on any line that gives a limit. Royal Caribbean's limit is 12 containers per cabin, and most other lines ban plastic water bottles.
Why does Celebrity show Not allowed?
Celebrity's pages disagree. Its banned list includes non-alcoholic drinks, but its onboard FAQ says you can bring water on boarding day. We show the stricter rule. Ask Celebrity first.
Is there free water on the ship?
Yes. Ships have drinking water at the buffet and drink stations. Virgin says its ships have free filtered water stations. Bring a reusable bottle empty and fill it on board.