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This was published 9 months ago

'Walk of shame': Common item you might not be able to bring on board a cruise ship

Jemima Skelley
Jemima Skelley

When packing for a cruise, there are some things you have to bring: swimmers, sunscreen, maybe even magnetic hooks for storage reasons.

But there's also a list of things that you can't bring on board.

One Disney cruise passenger has shared an embarrassing story about an item being removed from her luggage.

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Stockholm, Sweden - August, 03th 2018: Disney Magic Cruiser Ship in the Stockholm Swedish archipelago

Think twice before packing your electronics. Getty

Travel agent Beci Mahnken had her hair dryer confiscated while boarding a Disney cruise earlier this month, she shared on social media, issuing a warning to fellow cruisers.

"Before you set sail… check your blow dryer and hair styling tools," she wrote on Instagram.

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Beci said that after boarding and making her way to her stateroom, she opened her bag to find a note from guest services, saying her blow dryer had been confiscated.

"My trusty blow dryer, the one I've used for years - it probably has Pearl status on its own - got itself confiscated on the Disney Destiny."

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Beci found a note in her bag. Instagram

According to the note in her luggage, the hair dryer "could not make it onboard for safety & security reasons".

She then detailed the "walk of shame" she had to make at the end of her cruise to pick up her confiscated appliance. Beci said she saw at least 30 other blow dryers and steamers among the contraband waiting to be collected.

"Moral of the story: check your tools before you cruise. Avoid the embarrassment, the drama, and the awkward reunion with your overachieving hair gear," she wrote.

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According to the Disney Cruise website, "electrical appliances are restricted and therefore prohibited from being brought on board".

All staterooms have their own hand-held hairdryer for guests to use.

READ MORE: 1 in 5 Aussies guilty of doing this when checking out of a hotel: 'Big no-no'

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - April 4, 2023: Cruise ship MSC Opera. Cruise Line MSC, cruise ship MSC Opera sails from port Sir Bani Yas. Beautiful seascape with big cruise ship. Liner on high seas

Portable speakers are also banned. Getty

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According to the Disney Cruise Line website, only hairdryers that meet certain requirements are allowed to be brought aboard.

"Hairdryers must be 220V/2000 watts max or 110V/1500 watts max," the website reads.

Other cruise lines may offer different rules - for example, Carnival allows personal grooming devices "when used with proper caution".

"If such devices are determined to pose a hazard, they will be removed and returned the last day of the cruise prior to debark," the Carnival website says.

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Carnival Adventure

Check with your own cruise line before you pack.  Supplied

Another common holiday item that has been banned by some cruise lines is a portable speaker.

"All personal speakers, including Bluetooth, portable, and wireless types are banned due to noise pollution and the potential for these devices to interfere with crucial public safety announcements," Carnival's website reads.

Any speaker brought onto the ship will be held by Carnival and returned to you at the end of your cruise, the policy states.

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bluetooth speakers banned on carnival cruises

The bluetooth speakers collected ahead of a recent cruise. Facebook/Carnival Splendor

Earlier this year, a traveller shared a photo in a Carnival Splendor group on Facebook showing a collection of speakers and similar devices that had been confiscated by staff after security screenings before a recent cruise in Australia.

The move was applauded by fellow cruisers.

"When I'm sat on my balcony listening to the sound of the ocean, the last thing I want to hear is music coming from my neighbours' balcony," one person wrote.

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