HAL's embarkation rules differ in a few notable ways from sister line Carnival's. Plastic water bottles are completely banned, the wine corkage fee is $20 (vs. Carnival's $15), and the cabin-smoking penalty is $250 per DAY of violation rather than per incident — a significant cumulative risk on a 30-day world cruise. This guide is the quick reference, drawn from HAL's own policy pages.
At a Glance
Allowed
Wine and champagne up to 750 ml (no published bottle cap, $20 corkage), 6 liters or 12 cans/cartons of non-alcoholic beverages per stateroom (no plastic bottles), sealed snacks, CPAP machines (sealed distilled water OK in checked luggage), curling/flat irons, hair dryers, snorkel gear, mobility scooters up to 23" wide.
Prohibited
Plastic bottles of water, all sodas, hard liquor, beer, irons and clothing steamers, candles, hoverboards, drones, marijuana including medical, knives over 2.5", surge protectors, all bicycles, satellite phones, ham radios.
Check first
Service animals (vaccination records, port permits — submit early), oxygen (certification required, delivered to Purser's Office), CBD (treat as prohibited), vapes (never in cabins or balconies), fishing rods (verify with HAL), wine packages vs. BYO math.
What You Can Bring
Wine and Champagne
HAL allows wine and champagne in bottles 750 ml or smaller, brought aboard at embarkation OR at ports of call. There is no published per-stateroom bottle cap, but quantities considered excessive by ship security may be refused. Corkage is $20 per bottle if consumed in any public dining venue, waived in your stateroom. Wine purchased on a HAL-sponsored shore excursion to a local winery has the corkage waived for one bottle per person. Hard liquor and beer are not permitted in any quantity.
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Per stateroom, choose ONE of three options: 6 liters total, OR 12 cans/cartons of 500 ml or less, OR 6 cans/cartons of 1 liter or less. Plastic water bottles are NOT allowed in any quantity, sealed or not — this is HAL's most distinctive rule. Sodas and energy drinks are not allowed in any form. Sealed distilled or purified water (including in plastic) is permitted in checked luggage when used with medical devices like CPAP.
Food
HAL doesn't publish a detailed personal-food policy. Coolers up to roughly 12" × 12" × 12" are permitted; larger coolers are allowed only for baby food, kosher or special dietary food, or medication. Homemade and perishable food is generally not accepted.
Medications and Medical Equipment
Essential medications must be carried in your possession (carry-on), not checked. CPAP, BiPAP, APAP, nebulizers, ventilators, and personal oxygen concentrators are allowed; bring all supplies because none are stocked onboard. Medical oxygen cylinders require certification and must be delivered to the Purser's Office. Submit the Special Requirements Information (SRI) form at booking — minimum 45 days before departure. Contact: 1-800-547-8493 or [email protected].
Electronics and Personal Grooming
Personal electronics are generally allowed. Power strips and extension cords without surge protection are tolerated; the same items with surge protection are prohibited. Curling irons, flat irons, hair dryers, and electric shavers are explicitly allowed. Safety razors are permitted; straight razors are not.
Mobility and Accessibility
Personal scooters and wheelchairs are welcome and must be stored and recharged inside the stateroom. Recommended scooter specs: maximum 23" width (or collapsible to 23"), maximum 100 lbs without battery, batteries must be Gel, Dry Cell, or AGM only. Fully Accessible, Fully Accessible — Single Side Approach, and Ambulatory Accessible staterooms are available. Segways are permitted ashore for mobility limitations only, not onboard. Submit the SRI form at least 45 days before sailing.
Sports Gear and Coolers
Boogie boards up to 42 inches are permitted. Personal snorkel gear (mask, fins, snorkel) is allowed. Fishing rods are not on the prohibited list and HAL Alaska tours commonly include fishing — verify rod-length and case rules with HAL directly. Coolers up to roughly 12" × 12" × 12" are permitted, with larger sizes allowed only for medical, dietary, or baby items.
What's Prohibited
Plastic Water Bottles and Soda
HAL bans plastic water bottles outright, in any quantity, sealed or not. Sodas and energy drinks of any kind are also prohibited. The non-alcoholic beverage allowance is in cans or cartons only — choose 6 L total, 12 × 500 ml, or 6 × 1 L per stateroom. The medical-CPAP exception (sealed distilled water for the device) is the only carve-out.
Hard Liquor and Beer
Spirits and beer cannot be brought aboard. Alcohol violating the policy will be confiscated. Wine over what security deems reasonable will also be refused at embarkation.
Irons and Clothing Steamers
No exceptions. Clothing irons, garment steamers, immersion heaters, heating blankets, water heaters, coffee machines, kettles, and anything containing a heating element are prohibited.
Cannabis, Medical Marijuana, and Synthetic Drugs
Marijuana — including medical marijuana — is treated as an illegal drug. Synthetic and designer drugs are explicitly prohibited: lysergamides, opioids, methoxetamine, synthetic cannabis, betel nuts, kava. Prescription Marinol is permitted as an alternative. CBD is not specifically addressed, but treat it as effectively prohibited under the cannabis rule.
Open Flame and Fire Hazards
Candles, incense, strike-anywhere matches, hookahs, fireworks, sparklers, flares, lighter fluid, propane, paint thinners, methylated spirits, and spray paint are prohibited.
Weapons and Sharp Items
Firearms (including non-firing, replica, and decommissioned), ammunition, propellants, projectiles, air and pellet guns, stun guns, Tasers, electroshock devices, archery and crossbow gear, martial arts weapons, knuckle dusters, brass knuckles, and handcuffs. Knives with blades over 2.5 inches are prohibited; scissors with blades over 4 inches are prohibited; straight razors are prohibited; chef and cooking knives are prohibited.
Drones and Lasers
All drones, UAVs, and remote-controlled aerial devices are prohibited (exception: HAL-sponsored events approved in advance). Lasers and laser pointers are also banned.
Hoverboards, Bicycles, and E-Bikes
Hoverboards, Heely shoes, bicycles, and electric bicycles are prohibited.
Surge-Protected Power Strips and Extension Cords
Power strips, extension cords, and fans with surge protectors are prohibited as a fire hazard. Non-surge versions are tolerated with caution.
Other Prohibited Items
Communication gear: EPIRBs, ham radios, communication scanners, wide-band receivers, satellite phones, satellite dishes, routers. Tools over 7 inches: screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, hammers, drills, drill bits, crowbars, saws. Sports gear: baseball bats, hockey sticks, cricket bats, lacrosse sticks, pool cues, ski poles, skateboards, surfboards. Boats, canoes, and kayaks. Compressed gas cylinders, propane tanks, and dive tanks (full or empty).
Gray Area — Bring It But Check First
Service Animals
Allowed if individually trained to assist a person with a disability. Therapy, emotional-support, and companion animals are not permitted. Current vaccination records must be submitted to Guest Accessibility before departure; carry immunization records aboard for port-of-call inspections. Some ports require additional government documentation — the guest is responsible for those. The animal cannot be left unattended in the stateroom or onboard at any time.
Medical Devices and Long Voyages
CPAP, BiPAP, APAP, ventilator, nebulizer, and oxygen concentrator are permitted — bring all supplies because none are stocked onboard. Medical oxygen cylinders require certification and Purser's Office delivery. Submit the SRI form a minimum of 45 days before departure. The 45-day window is critical for HAL's longer and more remote itineraries (world cruise, Alaska, Antarctic positioning) where supply chains are far less forgiving.
Vapes and E-Cigarettes
E-cigarettes, personal vaporizers, and electronic nicotine delivery systems are not permitted in staterooms or balconies. Permitted only in designated smoking areas. Violations trigger a $250 cleaning fee per DAY of violation — a significant cumulative cost on a long voyage. Repeat violators may be removed from the ship without refund.
Distilled Water for CPAP
Allowed in checked luggage when factory-sealed and used with a medical device — this overrides the general no-plastic-bottles rule. Standard sealed pharmacy or supermarket bottles are accepted.
Outside Cakes
HAL has no published policy on outside cakes brought aboard. Verify with Guest Services or Ship Services in advance if you have a specific celebration planned.
Snorkel and Dive Gear
Personal masks, fins, and snorkels are allowed. Dive tanks (full or empty) and spear guns are prohibited. Cold-weather gear, dry bags, layered clothing, and binoculars are unrestricted — useful for Alaska itineraries.
Wine Packages vs. BYO
On longer voyages, HAL's Cellar Master, Connoisseur, and Sommelier Suite Cellar packages often beat the math of paying $20 corkage per bottle. The Cellar Master Connoisseur package includes two tasting events, a Pinnacle Grill dinner, five vintage bottles, and a commemorative bottle. These packages are excluded from Mariner Society loyalty discounts but can be a better total value than BYO for 14+ day sailings.
What Happens at the Scanner
All luggage passes through security scanning at embarkation. When something prohibited is detected:
All checked and carry-on luggage is scanned. Prohibited items are removed, confiscated, and discarded. HAL assumes no responsibility for loss.
Plastic water bottles, soda, and energy drinks are pulled at the scanner — HAL's no-plastic rule is enforced strictly even for sealed bottles.
Excess alcohol is refused at the gangway and confiscated; port-purchased liquor and onboard duty-free are held in the alcohol locker and returned the last evening before debarkation.
Smoking or vaping in a stateroom or on a balcony is a $250 cleaning fee per DAY of violation. On a 30-day cruise, repeated violations can run into thousands of dollars.
Repeat smoking violations result in removal from the ship at the guest's cost, with no refund.
Cannabis or marijuana discovery results in immediate disembarkation and reporting to law enforcement.
The Ship Security Officer and Staff Captain have final professional judgment on any item.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does HAL ban plastic water bottles?
It's an environmental and waste-management policy specific to HAL. The non-alcoholic beverage allowance is structured around cans and cartons only. Sealed distilled water for medical devices is the only plastic-bottle exception. HAL's onboard filtered-water stations and cabin water service are the alternative.
How does the corkage fee work?
$20 per bottle if consumed in any public dining venue. No fee in your stateroom. One bottle is corkage-free if purchased on a HAL-sponsored shore excursion to a local winery.
Why is the smoking penalty per DAY?
HAL's policy is explicit that the $250 cleaning fee applies per day of violation, not per incident. On a 14- or 30-day cruise, the cumulative risk is much higher than on shorter voyages.
Can I bring CBD?
HAL doesn't specifically address CBD on its prohibited-items page, but cannabis-derived products are at risk of confiscation under the cannabis rule. Treat CBD as effectively prohibited and verify with Guest Accessibility before sailing if you have a specific medical need.
What's the maximum scooter width?
23 inches (or collapsible to 23"). Maximum 100 lbs without battery. Batteries must be Gel, Dry Cell, or AGM only. For wider devices, contact Guest Accessibility before booking.
Can I bring fishing gear for an Alaska itinerary?
Fishing rods are not on HAL's prohibited-items list and HAL Alaska tours commonly include fishing. HAL doesn't publish explicit rod-length or case rules — verify with HAL directly before packing a multi-piece rod.
I take a CPAP — what's involved?
Pack the machine in your carry-on. Bring all supplies including filters and tubing because HAL doesn't stock them onboard. Sealed distilled water in plastic is allowed in checked luggage as a medical-device exception. Submit the SRI form 45+ days before sailing.
Are wine packages worth it?
On longer voyages, often yes. The Cellar Master Connoisseur package includes wine tastings, a Pinnacle Grill dinner, and five vintage bottles — typically a better total value than paying $20 corkage on multiple bottles for a 14+ day itinerary. The packages are excluded from Mariner Society loyalty discounts.
Sources
All policies above are drawn from Holland America Line's published help pages. For the latest rules, including any updates after this guide was written:
Holland America prohibited items — https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/faq/cruise-planning/packaging-and-luggage/prohibited-items
Holland America beverage policy — https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/faq/cruise-planning/general-information/alcoholic-non-alcoholic-beverages-brought-onboard
Holland America smoking policy — https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/faq/cruise-planning/general-information/smoking-policy
Holland America service animals — https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/faq/accessibility/are-service-animals-permitted-on-board
Holland America mobility devices — https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/faq/accessibility/can-i-use-my-personal-mobility-equipment-on-board
Holland America Special Requirements form — https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/faq/accessibility/special-requirements-notification
Holland America oxygen and medical — https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/faq/health-and-safety/health-and-medical/oxygen-concentrator-or-breathing-device-onboard
Plan Your Holland America Cruise with Pride Travelers
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