Bringing Food Aboard

[Traveler4Life]

If we bring snacks onboard do they have to be in the original packaging and unopened? For example, can I pour some snack mix in a container to bring onboard or do I have to bring the whole box, unopened as if I just purchased it from the store?

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

It is supposed to be in a new, unopened package. Whether they would make a fuss about a small container of snack mix, I would not know.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Here's what DCL's FAQ says:

What food or food storage containers are not permitted?
Answer
Food coolers containing personal snack foods and drinks may not be brought onboard. They are only permitted if needed for medications, baby food or items related to special dietary needs.

Homemade, pre-cooked or other perishable items plus any open snack containers cannot be brought on board. Limitations on permitted food items are directly related to concerns for food safety and contamination prevention.

Disney Cruise Line regrets that the crew members on board are unable to provide food preparation, refrigeration or storage for personal food or beverage items. Disney Cruise Line cannot verify the cleanliness of the environment in which pre-cooked or homemade food items were prepared, and so for the safety of all Guests and crew, these items are not permitted aboard the ship.
.

 

[Traveler4Life]

Here's what DCL's FAQ says:

What food or food storage containers are not permitted?
Answer
Food coolers containing personal snack foods and drinks may not be brought onboard. They are only permitted if needed for medications, baby food or items related to special dietary needs.

Homemade, pre-cooked or other perishable items plus any open snack containers cannot be brought on board. Limitations on permitted food items are directly related to concerns for food safety and contamination prevention.

Disney Cruise Line regrets that the crew members on board are unable to provide food preparation, refrigeration or storage for personal food or beverage items. Disney Cruise Line cannot verify the cleanliness of the environment in which pre-cooked or homemade food items were prepared, and so for the safety of all Guests and crew, these items are not permitted aboard the ship.
.

Really????? I've read all over this board about folks bringing snacks, water, etc onboard in their carry-on. This is my first cruise so can anyone explain......

 

[Msmit002]

Really????? I've read all over this board about folks bringing snacks, water, etc onboard in their carry-on. This is my first cruise so can anyone explain......

Yes, they do. All of those items you mentioned are sealed and not *Homemade*. That is the distinction. For example, you can bring an unopened box of Little Debbie snack caked on board, but not the homemade cookies you baked in your kitchen. Does this make sense?

For those of us that have major food allergens, we live by being able to eat snacks that are safe for us. When cruising, I just make sure to bring commercial snacks, unopened in their original packaging and save my homemade goods for WDW.

 

[lanejudy]

Really????? I've read all over this board about folks bringing snacks, water, etc onboard in their carry-on. This is my first cruise so can anyone explain......

Absolutely DCL allowed you to bring snacks and bottled water, but they must be store-bought and unopened. And you are correct that they must be carried on, not with your checked luggage.

Maybe you got confused by the statement about "food coolers" - coolers are not allowed except for medical reasons and will be confiscated, returned at the end of the cruise. The Dream and Fantasy have mini-fridges, the Magic and Wonder have cooling boxes that keep items quite well with a bucket of ice.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[ktb2002]

Really????? I've read all over this board about folks bringing snacks, water, etc onboard in their carry-on. This is my first cruise so can anyone explain......

You can bring on pre packaged, sealed food and snacks. It cannot be opened, for example a box of factory made fruit snacks, granola bars, crackers, etc it just has to be factory sealed. Liquids must be carried on, but you can put snack type items in checked bags.

 

[mgpan]

Only unopened prepackaged commercially prepared items may be brought aboard. A small amount of snack mix might slip by but a large ziplock container probably would not if seen. The section about Disney personnel not being able to store or prepare only refers to the fact they can't whip up a sandwich or baby treat out of things you've brought onboard. Cases of water or cases of m&M's for that matter are ok (unopened of course!). You'll notice they do make exceptions for baby food.

 

[Traveler4Life]

Absolutely DCL allowed you to bring snacks and bottled water, but they must be store-bought and unopened. And you are correct that they must be carried on, not with your checked luggage.

Maybe you got confused by the statement about "food coolers" - coolers are not allowed except for medical reasons and will be confiscated, returned at the end of the cruise. The Dream and Fantasy have mini-fridges, the Magic and Wonder have cooling boxes that keep items quite well with a bucket of ice.

Enjoy your vacation!

Thank you!!!! One more question - can you get ice onboard?

 

[IrenicMom]

Absolutely DCL allowed you to bring snacks and bottled water, but they must be store-bought and unopened. And you are correct that they must be carried on, not with your checked luggage.

Maybe you got confused by the statement about "food coolers" - coolers are not allowed except for medical reasons and will be confiscated, returned at the end of the cruise. The Dream and Fantasy have mini-fridges, the Magic and Wonder have cooling boxes that keep items quite well with a bucket of ice.

Enjoy your vacation!

Would like to clarify - the bolded statement is not true - at least, not true all the time.

We have brought on a rolling cooler (collapsible side type - frequently sold at Costco/Sams) multiple times. It just needed to go through the scanner like any other carry on luggage.

And to the other question - yes, ice is available onboard. Ask your room steward.

 

[lanejudy]

Would like to clarify - the bolded statement is not true - at least, not true all the time.

We have brought on a rolling cooler (collapsible side type - frequently sold at Costco/Sams) multiple times. It just needed to go through the scanner like any other carry on luggage.

And to the other question - yes, ice is available onboard. Ask your room steward.

When was your last cruise? Just this past fall (maybe Oct-2012) they started enforcing the "no coolers" rule and it does apply to soft-sided rolling coolers as well. They DO confiscate now. If you haven't cruised since they started enforcing this, here's a heads-up to plan accordingly!

 

[IrenicMom]

interesting.

We were last summer (june/july) - but friends of ours were over Christmas break and had no issue whatsoever.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, it is just recently that they have started enforcing the "no coolers" policy.

 

[IrenicMom]

Well. Learn something new every day.

 

[Traveler4Life]

Yes, it is just recently that they have started enforcing the "no coolers" policy.

I called and asked if I could bring my son's lunchbox onboard with some "cooler items" and they said it was ok. Just not rolling coolers or large coolers. Anyon have experience bringing lunchbox size "cooler" onboard?

 

[lanejudy]

I called and asked if I could bring my son's lunchbox onboard with some "cooler items" and they said it was ok. Just not rolling coolers or large coolers. Anyon have experience bringing lunchbox size "cooler" onboard?

Reports have varied. If you want to be able to bring it with you on excursions - maybe pack it in the checked luggage, folded flat, with the food separate. There have been reports of even smaller coolers confiscated during security, but not always. If you don't want to risk it, fold it into your checked luggage. Not sure what "cooler items" you mean - probably not an ice pack/cold pack. Yogurt and such are available at the buffet onboard.

Enjoy your cruise!