Can you bring soda on a cruise?
It depends on your cruise line. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess and Virgin Voyages allow it with limits. Norwegian, Celebrity, MSC and Holland America ban it. Disney doesn't say.
Pick your cruise line
Each guest can bring up to 12 sealed cans or cartons, 12 oz or smaller, in a carry-on on boarding day. The same limit applies when you come back from a port. Drinks in glass or plastic bottles are not allowed.
All 9 lines side by side
- Allowed with limits Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Virgin Voyages
- Not allowed Norwegian, Celebrity, MSC, Holland America
- Not stated Disney
| Cruise line | Status | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | Allowed with limits | Each guest can bring up to 12 sealed cans or cartons, 12 oz or smaller, in a carry-on on boarding day. The same limit applies when you come back from a port. Drinks in glass or plastic bottles are not allowed. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Royal Caribbean | Allowed with limits | You can carry on up to 12 cans, bottles or cartons (17 oz or smaller) on boarding day. The limit is per cabin, not per guest. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Norwegian | Not allowed | No soda, juice or other drinks can come onboard, in carry-on or checked bags, on boarding day or port days. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Princess | Allowed with limits | Bottled soda is not allowed. On boarding day only, each person can hand-carry up to 12 sealed cans or cartons of 12 oz or less. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Celebrity | Not allowed | Celebrity's banned list includes non-alcoholic drinks. Its onboard FAQ says you can bring soda on boarding day, as much as you can carry. Check with the line before you pack it. 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 say whether you can carry soda on. They do say a cooler holding soda or snacks can't come aboard. Ask the line before you pack it. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| MSC | Not allowed | Soda, juice and other non-alcoholic drinks can't be brought aboard. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Holland America | Not allowed | Sodas, energy drinks and other non-alcoholic drinks are not allowed onboard in any form. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Virgin Voyages | Allowed with limits | Soft drinks in cans or cartons are allowed in carry-on bags only. Each guest may bring up to 12 sealed cans or cartons, 12 oz or smaller. Drinks in glass or plastic bottles are banned. Soda is free on board. | 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.
Four lines allow soda
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess and Virgin let you carry soda on in limited amounts. Norwegian, MSC and Holland America ban it. Celebrity shows as not allowed because its own pages disagree. Disney's pages don't say, though Disney bans a cooler filled with soda or snacks.
Per guest or per cabin?
Read the limit carefully. Carnival, Princess and Virgin count 12 cans or cartons per guest. Royal Caribbean counts 12 per cabin, so a cabin of four still gets 12. Lines that allow soda usually want cans or cartons, not bottles.
Carnival's soda rule
Each Carnival guest can bring up to 12 sealed cans or cartons, 12 oz or smaller, in a carry-on on boarding day. The same limit applies each time you come back from a port. Soda in glass or plastic bottles isn't allowed.
Royal Caribbean's soda rule
Royal Caribbean allows up to 12 cans, bottles or cartons of 17 oz or smaller, carried on at boarding. It's the only line in our list that allows plastic bottles, but the limit covers the whole cabin, and bottled water counts toward the same 12.
Lines that ban it
Norwegian bans soda, juice and other drinks in carry-on and checked bags, on boarding day and port days. MSC bans soda and other non-alcoholic drinks. Holland America bans sodas and energy drinks in any form. Virgin, which allows 12 cans per guest, also says soda is free on board.
Questions people ask
How much soda can I bring on Carnival?
Up to 12 sealed cans or cartons per guest, 12 oz or smaller, in a carry-on on boarding day. No bottles.
How much soda can I bring on Royal Caribbean?
Up to 12 cans, bottles or cartons of 17 oz or smaller per cabin, not per guest, carried on at boarding.
Can I bring soda back from a port stop?
Carnival says the same 12-can limit applies when you come back from port. Norwegian and MSC ban drinks on port days too.
Can I bring energy drinks?
Holland America bans them by name. On other lines, treat them like soda and follow the same limit.
Why does Celebrity show Not allowed?
Celebrity's own pages disagree. Its banned list includes non-alcoholic drinks, but its onboard FAQ says you can bring soda on boarding day. We show the stricter rule. Ask Celebrity before you pack it.