If you want to hide alcohol, simply empty a tube or bottle of lotion and refill with booze. Or if you want to be really crafty, and probably safer, put your booze in a food bag and push to the bottom of the bottle.

While "hacking" to hide alcohol is common for cruises and festivals, it is important to note that most major operators in 2026 have upgraded their security with density scanners and artificial intelligence. Popular "hacks" include using disguised flasks (shaped like sunscreen bottles, umbrellas, or hairbrushes) or "rum runners" (collapsible plastic pouches that don't have the distinct silhouette of a bottle on X-rays). Another common method is replacing the contents of a sealed mouthwash bottle with clear spirits and a drop of food coloring, or using "resealable" wine bottle caps to replace wine with hard liquor. However, security staff are increasingly trained to look for factory seals that have been tampered with or "unusually heavy" items. If caught, the alcohol is almost always confiscated, and on cruise lines, it can lead to being denied boarding or fines, so it is often safer to utilize the "bring your own wine" policies many lines offer.