With its contemporary vessels, child-friendly environment, and a multitude of dining options, Royal Caribbean Cruises has secured its spot among the most sought-after cruise lines worldwide. If you hire cabins on the ship, you will be provided with food and drinks of various kinds during your cruise and most of it will be covered by the cost of your cruise.
However, a lot of people—especially families, those who travel on a strict budget, or guests who have dietary restrictions if they could go with their food and drinks to the ships. The brief answer is affirmative, but it is done under certain regulations only. The response is "yes", but it is subject to certain limits. Knowing the regulations beforehand can not only save you some time but also help you to start your holiday without any stress.
In this guide, we will cover all the aspects of bringing food and drinks on a Royal Caribbean cruise, what is allowed and what is prohibited, the reasons for the rules, and some practical packing tips to make it easier for you.
Royal Caribbean’s Food and Drink Policy Explained
The policies of Royal Caribbean are designed to benefit not only the guests but also the sanitation and safety adhere to international port regulations. The cruise line, which has many food and drink options, realizes that the guests might still desire to have their own snacks, drinks, or baby stuff.
The policy is established on three basic foundations:
- To maintain the safety of the food during the cruise.
- To comply with the customs and agricultural laws of the ports where ships stop.
- To prevent the loss of goods, damage, or delays due to improper luggage handling.
What Items Can You Take to a Royal Caribbean Cruise?
Non-Perishable Foods and Snacks
The ship allows visitors to bring non-perishable, pre-wrapped food products. These products should be produced sealed and kept in their primary packing. Families with babies, people with some dietary limitations, and others with special snack preferences will be more attracted to this.
Here are some of the most recognized ones:
- Chips and pretzels
- Crackers
- Cookies
- Granola or protein bars
- Packaged candy
They don't allow home-cooked food or do-it-yourself edible items if they ban snacking items not eaten in food wrap baggage.
Wine and Champagne
Royal Caribbean accepts that passengers can take wine or champagne; nevertheless, the quantity of bottles per cabin is extremely small. Only:
- Two unopened bottles of wine or champagne at the most
- Only on the day of embarkation
Bottles must be packed in the hand luggage and extra care should be taken to avoid breaking.
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
It is allowed per person in small amounts. Each room is allowed to have the following number of drinks:
- The 12 standard cans or the same amount of other non-alcoholic drink
The drinks have to be brought into the ship and cannot be placed in the checked luggage. Non-alcoholic drinks in sealed plastic bottles or cartons can go as well.
Baby Food, Formula, and Breast Milk
Royal Caribbean treats families with babies and small children very nice in terms of policies.
- Baby food in packets
- Formula in either powder form or ready to feed
- Breast milk
These items can be stored in the cabin fridge, thus allowing the feeding routine onboard to go smoothly.
Bottled Water and Milk
At the time of embarkation, it is permitted for the passengers to bring water in a bottle, if it is in their hand luggage. Moreover, distilled water may be imported for health or culinary requirements. Also, milk is accepted, mainly for families with infants.
Also Read: Royal Caribbean Dining Package, Menus & Cost Comparison
What You Cannot Bring on a Royal Caribbean Cruise
Perishable and Homemade Foods
Perishable food items are not always allowed on board, and for safety and sanitation reasons the latter is the reason why. These foods comprise:
- Fresh fruits
- Vegetables
- Meat
- poultry
- seafood
- Dairy products (except for those needed by babies)
- Homemade meals or baked goods
These foods can go bad quickly and may also be subject to customs restrictions at certain ports.
Also Read: What is included in a Royal Caribbean cruise?
Alcoholic Beverages with Restrictions
Just wine and champagne in limited amounts are allowed on board. Guests are advised against the following:
- Beer
- Strong alcohol or spirits
- Alcoholic seltzers
- pre-mixed drinks
The items may be confiscated at boarding time and held till the time the cruise is over.
Also Read: Royal Caribbean Loyalty Program: Crown & Anchor Society Benefits Explained
Royal Caribbean Has Food and Drink Rules for Good Reasons
The main intention behind the beverage and food rules is not to make the customers' lives difficult. These rules are, however, helpful in many fronts:
- Health and safety: Preventing damage to food and health by taking proper measures
- Customs compliance: Import bans on some farm products in specific nations
- Operational efficiency: Reducing spills, damage, and inspection time
Royal Caribbean can offer a good quality experience to its visitors and, at the same time, ensure the safety of their ships.
Also Read: Royal Caribbean Diamond Benefits: Complete Perks Guide
Cruise Tips for Bringing Your Own Food and Drinks
- Always put food and drinks in the cabin luggage if they are allowed
- Keep the products unopened and in original packaging
- Only bring what you are going to consume
- Look for the latest cruise policy before sailing
- If it applies, clearly label baby food and medical items.
Just keep in mind that food and drinks are easily accessible on the ship hence it is best to pack less.
Conclusion
Allowing you to bring your own food and drinks on a cruise with Royal Caribbean could be a wise way to save and remain comfortable especially if you are going with kids or your dietary requirements are different from the rest. It is very simple and a hassle-free process if you comply with the cruise line's rules.
With restaurants open all the time and many Drinks included in your cruise ticket, you will usually not have to bring much. A mix of the few snacks and drinks allowed is generally enough to go with the fantastic ones on board and help you enjoy a peaceful, unforgettable cruise experience.
