A surprising number of items are not allowed to be taken on ships, but there is one item which travellers always pack..

Bizarre items which cannot be taken include a skateboard or roller skates which are banned aboard a Princess ship. Another liner operator lists tattoo-making kits among its banned items. Other items such as balloons or handcuffs cannot be taken aboard a ship.

Many of the banned items are outlawed for health and safety reasons. And cruise operators aim to stop fire, accidents and even violent incidents. This explains why baseball bats are certainly not permitted on board because they fall into an offensive weapons category

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There are also restrictions on personal alcohol which can be brought aboard, but many believe this is more about the operator wanting to make money in the cruise ship's bars. Bags are scanned before being delivered to your cabin. Items which have been blacklisted will be confiscated and luggage access delayed. Worse still, you could be prevented from boarding.

Rules on cruise lines and can change quickly and each operator's list of banned items varies. Royal Caribbean has now said no to multi-plug outlets in a new restriction. It's vital to check with the cruise line if unsure.

Weapons are obviously banned, but toy guns and water pistols or sharp items such as knives or swords and even 'blunt instruments are in this category. But Disney Cruises say they will permit “store-bought light sabres”

Other personal items such as grooming tools, small scissors and capsule razor blades are, however, allowed on ships. But all drugs including medically prescribed cannabis and CBD products such as oils and gummies are not permitted.

Items which require heating are banned because they are a fire hazard. They include irons, steamers, kettles and coffee-makers. Extension leads are also not allowed but hair-styling appliances are usually accepted, but power tools are not allowed,

Vapes and electronic cigarettes are usually permitted, but you should check official country advice on this. Royal Caribbean and Azamara have banned power strips and multi-plug adaptors. But some operators allow them if they do not have a surge protector.

Lighter fluid, fireworks or anything with chemicals are not allowed. These includes bleach and pepper spray and join any naked flames or “torch” lighters and scented candles in the banned list. Anyone intending to to scuba dive cannot take take oxygen cylinders, but medical types are allowed. The only aerosols permitted are small personal care sprays. Finally paint is not allowed on all ships. But travellers should be permitted to take water-based paints with them,.

Bringing hooks to hang up your clothes is more likely to be acceptable if they are magnetic Norwegian Cruise Line bars, meanwhile do not permit any form of “door decorations” in case they are flammable. Anything homemade or perishable is forbidden because of contamination concerns. This includes food stuffs and flowers and plants. And aerial drones also make the banned list on many operators' lists.

Toys which are radio-controlled can't be used on deck in case of trip hazard. Laser pointers should also be left at home at home for safety reasons. Inflatables cannot be brought on board for use in the ship’s pool. But children’s swimming armbands are permitted.

You may ask why someone would bring a surfboards on board a cruise ship, but they are also banned, The operator Holland America, however, allows a small boogie board for onshore use. Some ships also have a ban musical instruments altogether. But others will restrict them to cabin use.

Nearly all ships allow a bottle of wine or Champagne per adult. But some operators including Fred Olsen or Hurtigruten, have a total ban on bringing alcohol aboard

Soft drinks or water in plastic or glass bottles are also not permitted because of people smuggling alcohol on board. Drinks bought as gifts during the cruise will be stored by the crew and can be collected before disembarking the vessel.

Human stowaways are of course banned but a regular Saga Cruises guest always brings several teddy bears with her and the captain displays the soft toys on the bridge during the cruise. A Saga spokesman said: “They’ve become something of a feature when she travels and we’re always glad to see them.”