Royal Caribbean Rewrites Its Banned Items List — and the Details Actually Matter
Royal Caribbean overhauled its prohibited items policy with new sections on snacks, pets, smart glasses, and Mexico smoking laws — restructuring the entire document in a way that sets a new standard for cruise line transparency.
Royal Caribbean quietly updated its prohibited items policy this week, and the changes are more significant than a typical housekeeping refresh. As reported by Royal Caribbean Blog on February 27, 2026, the cruise line did not merely add a few new items to an existing list — it restructured the entire document, rewrote the language, and introduced categories that have never appeared in the official policy before.
For millions of guests who board Royal Caribbean ships each year, this is genuinely worth reading before you pack.
What Actually Changed
The most notable shift is not just about what is banned — it is about how the policy is presented. The previous list was a relatively bare catalogue of prohibited items. The new version includes explanations, context, and — crucially — descriptions of what is permitted, addressing confusion that has persisted for years among passengers who were unsure exactly where the lines fell.
Here are the key additions and changes:
Snacks get their own section. For the first time, snacks are explicitly addressed. The policy now reads: “You can bring on a sensible amount of your favorite pre-packaged sealed snacks.” This is an important clarification for the large number of guests who routinely pack food for dietary, budgetary, or preference reasons. The phrase “sensible amount” is admittedly vague, but the fact that Royal Caribbean is now explicitly acknowledging snacks as permitted — rather than leaving it in a grey zone — is a meaningful update.
Pets are now explicitly banned. This one reflects an unfortunate real-world trend. Royal Caribbean has added a clear prohibition on pets, except for documented service animals. According to the policy, this change was driven by increasing attempts by passengers to bring pets onboard disguised as service animals — a pattern that has become common enough to warrant a dedicated policy entry.
Smart glasses face new location-specific restrictions. Wearable AR and camera-enabled smart glasses are now prohibited in specific areas of the ship: the casino, spa service areas, restrooms, locker rooms, medical facilities, security screening locations, youth facilities, and crew areas. Violators can have their devices confiscated. This is a sign of the times — these devices were barely mainstream when the previous policy was written, and Royal Caribbean is catching up to the privacy implications.
The Mexico smoking update carries real legal weight. The policy now explicitly references Mexico’s 2023 nationwide public smoking ban, warning guests that violations on Mexican soil can result in fines or jail time. Vaping and e-cigarettes are also completely banned in Mexico under this law. This is not a Royal Caribbean rule — it is a sovereign law — but the cruise line is now making it much clearer to passengers that compliance is not optional and the consequences can follow you ashore.
Luggage gets a clarification. There is no limit on how many bags guests can bring, though all bags will be scanned. This seemingly mundane addition addresses a common question and removes a persistent myth that bag counts were restricted.
Why the Format Change Matters As Much As the Rules
The structural redesign of this policy is actually the bigger story here. Royal Caribbean’s previous prohibited items list was, by most accounts, a passive document — something guests might glance at before embarkation, mostly to check whether their wine bottle qualified. The new format is more conversational and proactive. It anticipates common misconceptions, addresses what is permitted alongside what is not, and even notes included perks (like complimentary beverages that come with the fare) to reassure guests that restrictions are not designed to diminish the vacation experience.
This kind of proactive, plain-language policy design is a meaningful step forward for the industry. Cruise line policies have long been notorious for legalese buried in lengthy terms and conditions that most passengers never read until something goes wrong. A well-structured, clearly written document — one that answers questions rather than just issuing prohibitions — reduces friction, reduces disputes, and reduces the uncomfortable dockside confrontations that happen when guests show up with something they did not know was banned.
What Cruisers Should Do Before Their Next Sailing
The practical takeaway is straightforward: if you have a Royal Caribbean sailing coming up, review the current prohibited items page on their website before you pack. Even if you have sailed with them before, the language and categories have changed enough that a familiar assumption might now have a different answer.
Pay particular attention to the Mexico-specific smoking and vaping rules if any of your ports of call are in Mexican waters. And if you are planning to bring smart glasses or AR wearables, know that you will need to remove them in a wider range of spaces than you may have expected.
Royal Caribbean has framed this as a living document, one that will continue to evolve as cruise culture, technology, and regulation change around it. That framing suggests we should expect further updates as the 2026 season unfolds — particularly around technology-related restrictions, which are moving faster than any policy cycle can comfortably track.
For now, reading the fine print before you sail is the best insurance against a surprise at the gangway.
Source: “Royal Caribbean Overhauled Its List of Banned Things You Can’t Bring on a Cruise Ship,” Royal Caribbean Blog, February 2026.