Water, Wine, Beer & Soda: <br />What Beverages Can You Bring On Board?

Onboard drinks are one of the biggest hidden costs of cruising. A cocktail runs $13–$16 on most ships. A bottle of water is $4–$5. A daily drink package can add $85–$120 per person on top of your fare. It's no surprise that figuring out what you can bring from home is one of the most searched cruise questions online.

The problem is that policies vary dramatically by cruise line — and they change. What was true in 2023 may not be accurate today. This guide has been fully updated for 2026 with current policies verified from official cruise line sources, covering wine, beer, soda, water, and medical exceptions for every major cruise line.

2026 Cruise Beverage Policy Comparison — At a Glance

All policies reflect 2026 published rules. Policies change without notice — always verify with the cruise line before sailing.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival has one of the most permissive non-alcoholic beverage policies of any major cruise line, making it the go-to choice for families and soda drinkers.

What you can bring:

• Wine/Champagne: 1 x 750ml bottle per person (21+), carry-on only, embarkation day only
• Non-alcoholic drinks: Up to 12 sealed, unopened cans or cartons of 12 oz (354ml) or less per person — sodas, sparkling water, juice, milk, energy drinks
• At ports of call: A small quantity of non-alcoholic canned or carton beverages may also be brought onboard

What you cannot bring:

• Plastic or glass bottles of any beverage (including water) — this has been policy since 2016
• Beer, spirits, or any other alcohol
• Opened beverages of any kind

Corkage fee:

$15 per bottle if you want to drink your wine in the main dining room, steakhouse, or bars. Free to consume in your stateroom. Note: only wine ordered through Carnival's Fun Shops can be served in the dining room — your brought-aboard bottle cannot be opened there by staff.

Medical exceptions:

Distilled water for CPAP machines and infant formula are permitted with prior approval. Contact specialservices@carnival.com before sailing.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean updated its wine policy — it's now 1 bottle per person (not 2 per stateroom as it was previously). Non-alcoholic beverages are not permitted.

What you can bring:

• Wine/Champagne: 1 x 750ml bottle per person (21+), carry-on only, embarkation day only. No boxed wine.
• Consecutive sailings: 1 bottle per person per sailing — bring documentation for back-to-back bookings

What you cannot bring:

• Non-alcoholic beverages of any kind — no water, soda, or juice
• Beer, spirits, or any alcohol beyond the wine allowance
• Boxed wine or alternative wine containers

Corkage fee:

$15 per bottle in public areas including dining rooms and bars. Free to consume in your stateroom. Pre-pay through the Cruise Planner for convenience.

Medical exceptions:

Distilled or purified water for CPAP machines, and dietary beverages for medical needs, are permitted with prior approval. Contact special_needs@rccl.com.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

Norwegian has one of the strictest policies in the industry. No non-alcoholic beverages of any kind are permitted. Wine is allowed with a corkage fee, but it's not optional — the fee is charged at embarkation when the bottle is inspected.

What you can bring:

• Wine/Champagne: Sealed bottles only, per person (21+). The corkage fee is charged at embarkation — you cannot avoid it by bringing the wine aboard.

What you cannot bring:

• Any non-alcoholic beverages — water, soda, juice, milk — in any container, carry-on or checked
• Beer, spirits, or boxed wine
• Open beverages must be consumed or discarded at the security checkpoint

Corkage fee:

$15 for a standard 750ml bottle. $30 for a 1500ml magnum. Charged at embarkation — if you decline to pay, the bottle is held and returned at the end of the cruise. Corkage fees are waived if you have NCL's Free at Sea beverage package.

Medical exceptions:

Factory-sealed distilled or purified water for CPAP machines, and water for infant formula, are permitted. Contact accessdesk@ncl.com well in advance.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney has the most generous alcohol policy of any mainstream cruise line — and one of the most family-friendly non-alcoholic policies too.

What you can bring:

• Wine/Champagne: 2 x 750ml bottles per person (21+)
• Beer: 6 x 12oz cans per person (21+)
• Both wine/champagne and beer allowed on embarkation day and at ports of call
• Non-alcoholic beverages: Not explicitly restricted — canned soda, juice, and water in unopened containers are generally permitted based on consistent guest reports

Corkage fee:

$25 per bottle if consumed in dining rooms. Free in your stateroom. Note: alcohol cannot be consumed in public areas outside of dining rooms.

Port purchases:

Unlike most lines, Disney disposes of excess alcohol purchased in ports rather than storing it. Plan accordingly.

Medical exceptions:

Distilled water and medical dietary beverages permitted with prior approval. Contact specialservices@disneycruise.com.

Holland America Line

Holland America allows unlimited wine (within reason) and has a structured water allowance — making it one of the better lines for bringing your own beverages.

What you can bring:

• Wine/Champagne: 750ml bottles per person — unlimited quantity, though "excessive" amounts may be refused at security's discretion
• Water: Up to 6 litres per stateroom, in cans or cartons only (no plastic bottles). Options: 12 cans/cartons of 500ml or less, or 6 cans/cartons of 1 litre or less
• Winery excursion perk: Wine purchased on HAL-sponsored winery shore excursions is exempt from corkage fees — one bottle per person

What you cannot bring:

• Sodas, energy drinks, or other non-alcoholic beverages (only water is allowed)
• Plastic water bottles in any form
• Beer or spirits

Corkage fee:

$20 per bottle in public areas. Free in your stateroom. Pre-arrange through guest services if you plan to bring wine to the dining room.

Medical exceptions:

Distilled or purified water for CPAP machines and infant formula permitted with prior approval. Contact guestservices@hollandamerica.com.

Princess Cruises

What you can bring:

• Wine/Champagne: 1 x 750ml bottle per person (21+), carry-on only, embarkation day

What you cannot bring:

• Non-alcoholic beverages in bottles (including water)
• Beer, spirits, or any alcohol beyond the single wine bottle

Corkage fee:

$20 per bottle in public areas (updated from the previous $15 — verify current rate before sailing). Free to consume in your stateroom.

Medical exceptions:

Distilled water for CPAP and dietary beverages permitted with prior approval. Contact accessdesk@princesscruises.com.

Celebrity Cruises

What you can bring:

• Wine/Champagne: 2 x 750ml bottles per stateroom (21+), not per person — embarkation day only

What you cannot bring:

• Non-alcoholic beverages of any kind — no water, soda, or juice
• Beer or spirits

Corkage fee:

$25 per bottle in dining rooms or bars. Waived if you have a Classic or Premium Beverage Package. Free in your stateroom.

Medical exceptions:

Distilled water and medical dietary beverages permitted with prior approval. Contact specialservices@celebritycruises.com.

MSC Cruises

MSC operates one of the strictest beverage policies in the cruise industry — no exceptions for non-alcoholic beverages, and no alcohol permitted either.

What you can bring:

• Nothing — no alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages are permitted on embarkation day

Medical exceptions:

Doctor-prescribed dietary beverages are permitted with prior approval from specialneeds@msccruisesusa.com. This requires documentation.

Costa Cruises

Like MSC (its sister company under Carnival Corporation), Costa does not permit any beverages onboard — alcoholic or non-alcoholic.

What you can bring:

• Nothing — no beverages permitted, with medical exceptions only

Medical exceptions:

Doctor-prescribed beverages permitted with prior documentation. Contact Costa's special needs team before sailing.

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages includes Basic Wi-Fi and has a reasonable bring-your-own-wine policy for its adults-only ships.

What you can bring:

• Wine: 2 x 750ml bottles per cabin (not per person)
• Wine must be consumed in the stateroom — no public area consumption

What you cannot bring:

• Non-alcoholic beverages — no soda, juice, or water from outside
• Beer or spirits

CPAP Users and Medical Beverage Needs

This comes up constantly in cruise forums and deserves its own section. If you use a CPAP machine that requires distilled water, or have a medical condition requiring specific beverages (electrolyte solutions, infant formula, etc.), virtually every cruise line accommodates this — but you need to request approval in advance.

The process for every line:

1. Contact the cruise line's special needs or access desk via email (addresses listed in each section above)
2. Briefly explain your medical need and what you need to bring aboard
3. Receive written confirmation — bring a copy on embarkation day
4. Declare the items at the security checkpoint and show your approval

Do this at least 2–3 weeks before sailing. Don't show up at the port without prior approval and hope for the best.

Universal Tips for Bringing Drinks on a Cruise

• Always carry-on, never check — Checked luggage is scanned and prohibited beverages are confiscated without warning. Your carry-on is your best protection.
• Verify before you sail — Policies change. Check the official cruise line website within 2–3 weeks of departure, not just when you book.
• Cans beat bottles — For the lines that allow non-alcoholic beverages, cans are almost always permitted while plastic and glass bottles are not. Pack accordingly.
• Pre-purchase water packages — For lines with no bring-your-own policy (Royal Caribbean, NCL, Princess), ordering a water package through the Cruise Planner before sailing is almost always cheaper than onboard pricing.
• Ports of call — At most ports, you can pick up sealed non-alcoholic beverages and bring a small quantity back onboard. Useful mid-cruise if you run out of your carry-on supply (check your specific line's port policy).
• Budget for it — If you're on a line that doesn't allow outside beverages and you drink a lot of water or soda, factor that cost into your cruise budget. A daily water package or soda package is almost always worth it over buying individual bottles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you bring water on a cruise ship?

It depends on the cruise line. Carnival allows up to 12 cans or cartons of non-alcoholic beverages per person — including canned water. Holland America allows 6 litres of water per stateroom in cans or cartons. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, MSC, and Costa do not permit outside water in any form, though medical exceptions are available with prior approval.

Can you bring soda on a cruise?

Carnival is the most permissive, allowing 12 cans per person. Disney also appears to permit canned sodas based on consistent guest reports. Most other major lines do not permit outside soda. Always pack in cans — plastic and glass bottles are prohibited on virtually every line that allows non-alcoholic beverages at all.

How much wine can you bring on a cruise?

It varies: Carnival and Royal Caribbean allow 1 bottle per person. Celebrity allows 2 bottles per stateroom. Disney allows 2 bottles per person. Holland America allows unlimited bottles (within reason). Norwegian allows wine but charges a mandatory corkage fee at embarkation. MSC and Costa allow no wine at all.

What is a corkage fee on a cruise?

A corkage fee is charged when you bring your own wine or champagne and want to drink it in a public area of the ship — dining rooms, bars, or lounges. It typically ranges from $15–$25 per bottle depending on the cruise line. Drinking your own wine in your stateroom is always free of charge on lines that permit it.

Can you bring beer on a cruise?

Disney is the only mainstream cruise line that explicitly permits guests to bring their own beer — up to 6 x 12oz cans per person. All other major lines prohibit outside beer. Craft beer purchased in port is typically held until disembarkation.

What happens to alcohol confiscated at embarkation?

It depends on what it is and which line. Wine and champagne brought in excess of the allowed quantity are generally stored and returned on the last night or morning of disembarkation. Beer, spirits, and other alcohol are typically returned at the end of the cruise if sealed, or disposed of if opened. Non-alcoholic beverages that violate the policy are usually discarded with no compensation.

Can I bring a case of water to the ship?

Only on lines that permit non-alcoholic beverages — Carnival (up to 12 cans/cartons per person) and Holland America (6 litres per stateroom). On all other major lines, a case of water will be confiscated. You'll be directed to leave it at your vehicle or it will be discarded if you have no vehicle onsite.