The Seemingly Harmless Gadget That Could Be Confiscated Before Boarding A Cruise Ship

If you leave the house without at least one electronic device these days, you're in the minority. We're all tethered to so many of them, from cell phones to earbuds to heart rate-monitoring watches. It's difficult to imagine leaving any of it behind. However, if your next vacation involves a cruise ship, there is a seemingly harmless gadget that could be taken away if you try to bring it with you. If you're traveling with a baby or a small child, it may seem benign to bring a baby monitor along to keep an ear and eye out if you have to step out of the room for a bit. Unfortunately, at least one company, Royal Caribbean, has explicitly banned them. If you try to bring the device on board, it may be confiscated for the duration of the cruise. 

While you may be focused on things like bringing enough sunscreen to avoid the health risks of too much sun exposure on a cruise, or wondering if your favorite leisure activity is allowed on board a cruise or not, worrying about a baby monitor is probably not on your radar. However, this isn't arbitrary. There is a legitimate reason baby monitors aren't allowed on board some of these ships.

Royal Caribbean's ban on baby monitors is part of an overall ban on what the cruise line calls "electrical items and electronic equipment not designed for personal grooming," as stated in the company's list of prohibited items. (The list also includes extension cords, multi-plug outlets, HAM radios, and cybersecurity devices.) While the reason baby monitors are banned isn't explicitly stated, the monitors work on frequencies that can interfere with the communication and Wi-Fi networks on the cruise ship. While another company, Disney Cruise Line, doesn't ban baby monitors outright, it does require the devices to be inspected before bringing them on board. Some companies, like Norwegian Cruise Line, don't mention baby monitors in the list of banned items at all. Your best bet if you want to bring one is to call the cruise line you're considering and ask them directly.

However, if you feel like you need a baby monitor because you plan on leaving your child alone, you may want to rethink the trip until your kids are older, according to a thread in Reddit's r/royalcaribbean. The general consensus among cruisers is that you shouldn't leave them in the room at all. If your heart is set on a cruise, note that some companies have babysitters or child care of some sort if you need time alone. Finally, before you start planning your next vacation, make sure you know about the popular U.S. destination that some cruise lines are banning, leaving travelers with fewer options.