If you’ve ever boarded a Carnival cruise, you’ve probably noticed passengers carrying 12-packs of soda onto the ship. It’s one of the most common embarkation-day sights, and one of the easiest ways cruisers save money.
With onboard drink prices much higher than what you’d pay at home, many guests prefer to bring their own soda to enjoy in their cabin or around the ship. It’s a simple strategy that adds convenience, variety, and real savings over the course of a cruise.
The good news is that yes, you can bring a 12-pack of soda on a Carnival cruise, but only if you follow Carnival’s rules closely.
Here’s everything you need to know about Carnival’s drink policy for bringing your own 12-pack of soda aboard your cruise.
Carnival’s soda policy explained
According to Carnival Cruise Line’s Liquor and Beverage Policy, guests are allowed to bring a limited amount of non-alcoholic beverages onboard at the start of their cruise, as long as they follow a few simple guidelines.
On embarkation day, each guest may carry onboard up to 12 sealed, unopened non-alcoholic drinks, provided they are packaged in cans or cartons rather than bottles.
Each drink must be 12 ounces or smaller, and all beverages must be placed in your carry-on luggage.
This allowance applies to popular items like soda, sparkling water, juice, milk, and energy drinks. As long as your beverages are canned, unopened, and brought onboard with you on embarkation day, they are fully permitted under Carnival’s policy.
What Carnival does not allow
Carnival is strict about what guests cannot bring onboard. Bottled water and bottled soda are not allowed, even if they’re still sealed.
Drinks placed in checked luggage are also prohibited. If security finds non-permitted beverages during screening, they’ll be confiscated and discarded, with no reimbursement provided to guests.
This is why you’ll often see guests carefully carrying 12-packs of canned soda onboard during embarkation day rather than bottles.
Can I bring alcohol on a Carnival cruise?
Carnival allows a limited alcohol exception at the start of the cruise.
Guests who are 21 or older may bring one 750-ml bottle of wine or champagne per person on embarkation day only. The bottle must be sealed and carried onboard by hand. Fortified wines, such as port or vermouth with an alcohol content over 15%, are not permitted.
Outside of this exception, all other alcohol, including beer and liquor, is prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage. Guests sailing back-to-back cruises are allowed the same wine allowance per sailing, with additional bottles held by the ship and returned at the start of each cruise.
Here’s what your Carnival cruise fare includes for beverages
Even if you don’t bring soda onboard, Carnival does include several complimentary beverages in your cruise fare. Throughout the ship, particularly in the buffet and Main Dining Room, you’ll find:
Complimentary drinks include:
- Tap water
- Lemonade and non-flavored iced tea
- Hot tea and regular drip coffee
- Milk and hot chocolate
Soda, bottled water, specialty coffees, energy drinks, and alcohol are not included unless purchased individually or through a drink package.
Buying bottled water from Carnival instead
If you prefer bottled water, Carnival offers the option to pre-purchase water before your cruise, with delivery directly to your stateroom on embarkation day.
As of 2026, typical pricing includes:
- $19.20 for a 12-pack of 16.9-ounce bottles
- $5.40 for one 1.5-liter bottle
- $29.94 for an eight-pack of 1.5-liter bottles
These prices include the delivery fee. Bottled water purchases are non-refundable, though unopened bottles may be taken home.
Carnival does make accommodations for guests who require distilled water for medical devices such as CPAP machines.
Distilled water can be purchased before the cruise or once onboard through Room Service. Guests may also bring their own distilled water, but it must be hand-carried along with the CPAP machine.
