How Many Bottles of Wine and Cans Can You Bring on a Cruise?

Packing a favorite bottle of wine or a few cans of soda can be a good way to personalize your cruise—but there is no universal rule. Some lines allow a bottle per adult and a 12-pack of soda. Others permit wine but no soft drinks, or prohibit outside beverages altogether.

This guide covers the current published policies for major cruise lines serving North American travelers. These limits normally apply on embarkation day, and a policy may differ by ship, departure country, or itinerary. Check the linked policy for your exact sailing shortly before you travel.

At-a-Glance Drink Allowances

Cruise line	Wine or champagne	Non-alcoholic cans and drinks
Carnival	1 sealed 750 ml bottle per adult	12 sealed cans/cartons, up to 12 oz each, per person
Royal Caribbean	1 sealed 750 ml bottle per drinking-age guest	12 cans, bottles, or cartons, up to 17 oz each, per stateroom
Celebrity	1 sealed 750 ml bottle per drinking-age guest	What each guest can hand-carry; no published numeric limit
Norwegian	Sealed bottles permitted; no published bottle-count limit, corkage applies	None, except approved medical or infant needs
MSC Cruises	None	None
Princess	1 bottle up to 750 ml per drinking-age guest; additional bottles are subject to a fee and approval	12 sealed cans/cartons, up to 12 oz each, per person
Holland America	Permitted, but excessive quantities may be refused	Water only: 6 L total, including 12 cans/cartons up to 500 ml, per stateroom
Virgin Voyages	2 sealed 750 ml bottles per cabin	12 sealed cans/cartons, up to 12 oz each, per person
Disney Cruise Line	2 unopened bottles up to 750 ml per adult	No numeric allowance published on Disney's beverage-policy page; confirm before packing
Cunard	1 bottle up to 750 ml per drinking-age guest	Water and soft drinks are permitted; no published numeric can limit

Carnival: One Bottle and 12 Cans Per Person

Carnival allows guests age 21 and over to bring one sealed, unopened 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne in carry-on luggage on embarkation day. Each guest can also bring up to 12 sealed cans or cartons of non-alcoholic drinks, including soda, sparkling water, energy drinks, juice, or milk. Each container must be 12 ounces or smaller. Bottled water and soda, whether glass or plastic, are not allowed. See Carnival's Liquor & Beverage Policy.

Royal Caribbean: Wine Per Guest, Drinks Per Cabin

Royal Caribbean permits one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne for each drinking-age guest. Its non-alcoholic allowance is by stateroom rather than by traveler: up to 12 standard cans, bottles, or cartons, each no larger than 17 ounces, may be carried on at embarkation. That distinction matters for families and groups sharing a cabin. Read Royal Caribbean's official policy.

Celebrity: One Bottle Plus What You Can Carry

Celebrity allows one 750 ml bottle of wine per drinking-age guest. It also allows non-alcoholic drinks on embarkation day, limited to what each individual can hand-carry; it does not publish a fixed can count. Wine consumed in a restaurant, bar, or dining venue may carry a corkage fee. See Celebrity's onboard FAQs.

Norwegian and MSC: The Strictest Soft-Drink Rules

Norwegian Cruise Line does not allow guests to bring water, soda, juice, beer, or liquor aboard. Sealed wine and champagne are exceptions, subject to screening and a corkage fee. Norwegian does not state a maximum number of wine bottles in its published policy. Review NCL's alcohol and beverage policy before you pack.

MSC Cruises is stricter still: its U.S. guest policy prohibits outside alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in both carry-on and checked luggage. Guests with medical or infant needs should seek an exception in advance. Read MSC's Guest Conduct Policy.

Princess and Holland America: Read the Fine Print

Princess permits one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per drinking-age guest, per voyage. It permits 12 sealed cans or cartons per person, up to 12 ounces each, on embarkation day. Additional wine may be accepted with a corkage fee, but large quantities can be refused. See Princess's beverage FAQ.

Holland America allows wine and champagne but does not publish a fixed bottle count; security can refuse an excessive quantity. Its can allowance is for water only, not soda or energy drinks: a stateroom may bring six liters of water, including 12 cans or cartons of 500 ml or less. Details are in Holland America's beverage policy.

Virgin Voyages and Disney: Generous Wine Allowances

Virgin Voyages allows two sealed 750 ml bottles of wine or champagne per cabin, regardless of how many adults are in it. Each guest may also bring 12 sealed cans or cartons of non-alcoholic drinks, each 12 ounces or smaller. See the Virgin Voyages ticket contract.

Disney Cruise Line allows each eligible adult to choose up to two unopened 750 ml bottles of wine or champagne, or six beers up to 12 ounces. Disney's published alcohol page does not state a separate numeric allowance for canned non-alcoholic drinks, so contact Disney before bringing a case aboard. Read Disney's alcohol policy.

Cunard: A Simple Wine Rule

Cunard allows one bottle of wine or champagne, up to 750 ml, for each guest of drinking age. It also welcomes water and soft drinks, but does not set a published can count. As with every cruise line, pack drinks sensibly and carry them onboard yourself. See Cunard's pre-cruise FAQ.

Three Rules to Remember Before You Pack

• Use carry-on luggage. Drinks in checked bags may be removed, discarded, or cause a delay while your luggage is inspected.
• Wine does not mean all alcohol. Beer, liquor, hard seltzer, boxed wine, and fortified wine are commonly prohibited even when wine is allowed.
• Expect corkage outside your cabin. Several lines charge a fee if you drink a personal bottle in a restaurant, bar, or public space.

Bottom line: Carry any permitted beverages in their original, unopened containers, stay within the appropriate guest or stateroom allowance, and recheck the linked official page shortly before sailing. Policies can change, and a quick check can save you from surrendering drinks at the terminal.