The Two Suprising Items Recently Banned on Cruise Ships

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Unfortunately, that device to hack cruise ship Wi-Fi was just banned by Royal Caribbean. The company announced that it’s banned Wi-Fi routers on cruises. Wi-Fi routers are devices used to split internet access, so you can connect multiple devices to one internet connection. Essentially, they allowed cruisers to buy cruise internet access for just one device, then connect multiple devices to via the Wi-Fi router.

The news was announced by Royal Caribbean blog, as the company itself added routers to the list of banned items without any fanfare. It’s listed under a category called “Cybersecurity and deliberate electronic crime,” along with items like satellite dishes, indicating the company is positioning the ban as a security concern. Routers can sometimes be easier to connect to without permission (i.e. “hack,”) and may also slow the connection speed for other users.

That said, Wi-Fi is a huge moneymaker for the company, and with 68 percent of people reporting that they work on vacation, it’s likely the company is also trying to sell more Wi-Fi packages. Right now, Wi-Fi on board Royal Caribbean ships varies, but will usually cost at least $15 per day, per device, going up to $25 or more per device, per day for high-speed packages that allow streaming.

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Not being able to hack cruise Wi-Fi to save money may be a bit of a disappointment, but there’s another item a different cruise line banned that may make being at sea far more relaxing: bluetooth speakers. They were banned in late November 2024 by Carnival Cruise Lines, which said the ban was for the enjoyment of fellow cruisers. It means you won’t have to hear music blasting from your neighbor’s cabins late into the night, nor will you be bothered if the person on the lounge chair behind you at the pool forgot their headphones.

A Carnival representative told media outlets that any speakers brought on board would be collected and returned at the end of the cruise, which would likely even include devices like white noise machines. (So if use one, consider downloading a white noise app on your phone before you embark). The ban applies to any speakers purchased during shore visits or at the on-board gift shop, so you won’t be able to skirt the ban by buying one in port. Considering 83 percent of people said in 2024 they’re annoyed by having to hear phone noise from people who don’t use headphones in public, it’s probably a welcome addition to the cruise line’s list of banned items.