Bring a cup. Yes, yes, of course the ship will have plenty of glasses for you to drink from. But they tend to be pretty small… especially in the buffets. So why not save yourself a few trips to the water cooler by bringing your own, larger cup or, better still, one of the wildly popular Yeti tumblers!

Yes, you are absolutely allowed to bring your own cup, tumbler, or reusable water bottle on a cruise ship in 2026. In fact, many frequent cruisers recommend bringing a large, insulated brand like a Stanley or Yeti to keep drinks cold while lounging on the pool deck. However, there are specific hygiene protocols you must follow: for health and safety reasons, you are not permitted to refill your personal cup directly from the communal water, soda, or coffee dispensers in the buffet area. Instead, you must use a clean, ship-provided glass or plastic cup to transfer the liquid into your personal container. This prevents the rim of your used cup from coming into contact with the dispenser nozzles, helping to mitigate the spread of germs like norovirus. Additionally, while you can bring a cup for water or non-alcoholic beverages, most cruise lines have strict rules against using personal containers to sneak large amounts of alcohol into public areas, and any personal cup used at a bar will typically be filled via a standard service glass rather than directly.