Cruises: Can you take candles on board on a cruise ship? Luggage rules explained

Cruise ships have a huge range of luggage rules and restrictions which many passengers may not be aware of. For safety reasons, there are a plethora of items that cannot be brought on board. If they are, taken onto the cruise ship, at the very least they will be confiscated. So are candles on the list of prohibited things  - can you take them on board?

However, this is absolutely not allowed - candles are considered a prohibited item onboard cruise ships.

This is due to the risk of a fire - which is one of the greatest potential dangers on board a vessel.

“Candles were strictly forbidden because an open flame was an active fire waiting to spread,” former cruise ship worker Jay Herring said in his book The Truth About Cruise Ships.

“If the ship listed, the candles could fall over or something could fall into it.”

Royal Caribbean explained on their website: “Items that could interfere with the safe operation of the ship or the safe and secure environment of our guests and crew are prohibited.

“The following are examples of items that guests are not allowed to bring onboard. These and other similar items will be confiscated upon being found.”

Among the lengthy list of banned objects were candles and any “items that generate heat or produce an open flame.”

This also included incense, coffee makers, clothes irons, travel steamers, heating pads and hot plates.

Carnival also detailed candles as being banned. “In order to maintain a safe and secure environment, Carnival Cruise Line additionally prohibits the following items from being brought on board,” the cruise company said on its website.

“Additionally, we reserve the right to confiscate or dispose of any articles that in our discretion are considered dangerous or pose a risk or inconvenience to the safety and security of the ship, or our guests, and no compensation will be provided.”

Fire should not be ignored as a hazard on a ship, no matter how modern it is. “The most dangerous and likely thing to go wrong is an onboard fire,” Herring wrote in his book. 

However, cruisers do need to worry too much as he adds “major incidents are extremely rare.”

Herring said: “Ships employ dedicated firemen, who, in the event of an onboard fire, don full protective clothing complete with masks and air tanks.”

Restrictions and precautions are also in place on board cruise ships, the former officer explained.

“Laundry areas were the only places where passenger clothing irons were permitted. With tile floors and metal walls, the laundry areas were less combustible than the cabins which had carpet, drapes, and bedding.”

Fortunately, the clothes iron ban doesn’t mean cruise passengers have to walk around looking crumpled. Many cruise lines offer laundry services to help their customers beat the creases.

All Fred Olson and P&O Cruises, as well and some Thomson Cruises, offer self-service launderettes with ironing boards, according to Cruise Critic. Carnival also offers self-service laundrettes.

Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian do not offer these facilities, however. On these ships, passengers’ best bet is to use the ships’ pressing services - although these can be expensive.