All cruise ships have security to ensure the safety of all cruise passengers before boarding the cruise ship. While the extent of the cruise line security isn't that of the TSA, it's still important to know the process. Once you've shown your cruise documents, you'll be sent to the security line.

Cruise ship security shares many similarities with TSA airport security, but it is generally perceived as less intrusive and more focused on specific maritime threats. Just like at an airport, your carry-on and checked luggage must pass through X-ray machines, and you must walk through a metal detector or body scanner before boarding. The primary goal is to prevent weapons, explosives, and illegal drugs from entering the vessel. However, cruise lines have a very specific "contraband" list that differs from airlines: they are extremely strict about fire hazards, meaning items like clothing irons, candles, and "daisy-chained" power strips will be confiscated. They also strictly monitor alcohol; most lines only allow one or two bottles of wine per person, and any hard liquor found in your bag will be held until the end of the cruise. Unlike the TSA, cruise security typically does not require you to remove your shoes, and the "liquids rule" for toiletries (the 3-1-1 rule) does not apply, allowing you to bring full-sized bottles of shampoo or sunblock in your carry-on without issue.