Loading Page...

Do cruise staterooms have shampoo?

Soap and Other Toiletries Most ships are equipped with soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and shower caps.



Virtually every modern cruise stateroom, from budget-friendly interior cabins on Carnival to luxury suites on Regent Seven Seas, provides complimentary shampoo. On most mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean or Norwegian, the shampoo is typically provided in a wall-mounted dispenser inside the shower to reduce plastic waste, often combined as a "2-in-1" shampoo and body wash. While functional, many high-fidelity travelers find these "bulk" products to be somewhat harsh or drying for their hair. If you are staying in a higher-category stateroom or a "Suite Class" cabin, you are much more likely to find individual, premium-branded toiletries from names like Elemis, L'Occitane, or Bulgari. If you have specific hair care needs or prefer a separate conditioner, it is highly recommended to bring your own travel-sized bottles. In 2026, as cruise lines push for greater sustainability, individual plastic bottles are becoming rarer, so don't be surprised if even the luxury lines move toward high-quality, refillable ceramic or glass dispensers in the bathrooms.

People Also Ask

Bring Your Own Toiletries While many cruise lines offer complimentary shampoo and conditioner in stateroom bathrooms, they aren't likely to be the products you use at home. I always bring my own shampoo, conditioner and of course, my hair care products.

MORE DETAILS

Stateroom, cabin, cruise room-- they are all names for your private living accommodations on a cruise ship. Like a hotel room, your stateroom will feature one or more beds, a closet and storage space for your belongings, a private cruise ship bathroom, and in most cases, a desk/vanity and seating area.

MORE DETAILS

Many cruise ships have self-service laundry facilities on each deck, including washing machines, dryers, ironing and detergent. Passengers can also use the ship's valet laundry services for a fee, which includes washing, pressing and dry cleaning. Alternatively, guests can hand wash and dry within their cabin.

MORE DETAILS

Most ships are equipped with soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and shower caps.

MORE DETAILS

Wet wipes are also something you can sometimes flush at home -- depending on the brand and your specific sewer/septic situation -- but can't flush on a cruise ship. These days there are wet wipes for babies, wet wipes for adult bottoms whose arse cheeks are far too sensitive to use toilet paper.

MORE DETAILS

The bathroom is a great place to dry your clothes. You can also hang them in other places around your stateroom. Another option is to bring a clothesline with you on your trip to set up in your cabin and have a dedicated spot to dry your clothes.

MORE DETAILS

Midship staterooms on the lowest passenger deck are the most excellent spot to be on a cruise ship in this instance because you don't feel the vessel sway as much.

MORE DETAILS

Most cruise lines do usually have a fridge of sorts in the cabins. These fridges are really “mini-bars.”

MORE DETAILS

Shampoo and conditioner — as well as and roll-on, aerosol, and gel deodorant — must be travel-sized and fit into one quart-sized, zip-top bag to meet standard carry-on bag requirements. If any of the containers are larger than 3.4 ounces, you will need to pack them in your checked luggage.

MORE DETAILS

While airlines have restrictions on what size of toiletries you can bring on a flight, at least in your carry on or personal bag, cruise lines do not. If you're not concerned about packing space, you can bring full size toiletry items including shampoo and conditioner bottles, shaving cream and other hygiene products.

MORE DETAILS

On embarkation day, a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, energy drinks, juice, and milk), packaged in cans or cartons, may be brought on board and must be in the guest's carry-on luggage.

MORE DETAILS

Shipboard potable water (drinking, bathing, whirlpools, etc.) either comes from a shoreside water treatment plant or is generated on board from seawater via Reverse Osmosis systems or Evaporators. Swimming pool water is typically seawater.

MORE DETAILS

Venice-class: Viking Ocean Cruises Starting with the Viking Star, Viking Ocean Cruises' Venice-class of ships struck gold by offering probably the largest-ever entry-level shower. Veranda Staterooms feature showers, you can actually turn around in, according to Viking Cruises founder and chairman, Torstein Hagen.

MORE DETAILS

Yes. All drinking water is either distilled from seawater or loaded onboard while the ship is in port.

MORE DETAILS

In order to keep the air conditioning working inside the cabin you do have to keep the balcony door closed on the majority of cruise lines. This is one of the reasons that many people do sleep on the balcony because in theory you can't lay in bed and keep the door balcony open.

MORE DETAILS

Your Toiletries Should Go in Your Carry-On As Well Much like having an extra set of clothes readily available, it's also a good idea to stash a few essential toiletries, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant, in your hand luggage so you can freshen up before your checked bags arrive.

MORE DETAILS

DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN toilet paper, or flush so-called flushable wipes. The plumbing system is not like what you have at home. If you clog your toilet, you affect others on you hallway. The TP provided is specific for the system on the ships.

MORE DETAILS

Guests may also bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on boarding day. Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. Milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use are permitted.

MORE DETAILS

Bring a small purse to hold your cruise card and camera when walking around the ship. I always like to have my camera with me so carrying a small purse means I don't have to always have it in hand.

MORE DETAILS

Can you bring snacks, like candy, on a cruise? Shelf-stable snacks like chips, pretzels, protein bars or any other items packaged in sealed wrappers are permitted on every major cruise line.

MORE DETAILS