What each cruise line actually lets you bring aboard
Dress codes, alcohol and soda allowances, prohibited items, luggage timing and arrival windows differ more between lines than most people expect, and the differences are the part that catches you at the security scanner. Every rule on these pages was read on the line’s own policy page and carries the date it was read. They compare published policy and the embarkation-day experience — not food, entertainment or price, which this site has no evidence for.
Provenance: Policy research · Source wording can change; recheck current official guidance.
By line
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean's own rules from royalcaribbean.com: three dress levels and the formal night counts, one…
Carnival
Carnival's own rules from carnival.com: one bottle of wine, 12 cans per person and no bottles, Cruise Casual…
Norwegian
Norwegian's own policies from ncl.com: no formal night under Freestyle, no outside beverages at all, wine…
Margaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea allows no outside beverages at all — no wine, soda or bottled water. Casual chic…
Head to head
Royal Caribbean vs Carnival
Read off both lines' own sites: wine and drink allowances, dress codes, arrival windows, luggage limits, the…
Royal Caribbean vs Norwegian
Royal Caribbean and Norwegian on what each line publishes: dress code, formal nights, alcohol, what you may…
Carnival vs Norwegian
Carnival and Norwegian on what each line publishes: dress code, alcohol and corkage, what you may carry…