Cooler as carryone

[Terab85]

Hello fellow cruisers.  Have a question regarding bringing a cooler on board.  I know Carnival used to have it that coolers had to be smaller than a 12x12 I think? Can't find the information on their Q&A page.  We are planning to bring a rolling cooler but using it as our carry on.  Will there be any problems with this?? 

[groundloop]

https://www.carnival.com/help#:~:text=Small%2C personal-sized coolers%2C,permitted as carry-on luggage.

 

 

• Small, personal-sized coolers no larger than 12” x 12” x 12” for the purpose of housing, small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications are permitted as carry-on luggage

[Terab85]

35 minutes ago, groundloop said:

https://www.carnival.com/help#:~:text=Small%2C personal-sized coolers%2C,permitted as carry-on luggage.

 

 

• Small, personal-sized coolers no larger than 12” x 12” x 12” for the purpose of housing, small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications are permitted as carry-on luggage

That's the one I remember but I guess I'm asking is how strict is Carnival with enforcing this?  All the smaller cooler leak when we have ice in it so looking to bring one that is a little better to keep our drinks and wine cold in our stateroom.

 

[groundloop]

Also from that link:

 

Since the screening and movement of large coolers through embarkation is an impediment to the boarding and security screening process, large coolers are not permitted as carry-on or checked luggage. Small, personal-sized coolers, no larger than 12 inches x 12 inches x 12 inches, for the purpose of housing small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications are permitted as carry-on luggage.

 

So it sounds like they won't allow you to substitute a larger cooler for your carry-on luggage.

[BlerkOne]

2 hours ago, Terab85 said:

That's the one I remember but I guess I'm asking is how strict is Carnival with enforcing this?  All the smaller cooler leak when we have ice in it so looking to bring one that is a little better to keep our drinks and wine cold in our stateroom.

 

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Do you feel lucky?  Keep the cooler in the shower if it leaks. Tape the seams. You obviously know what the rule says.

[Terab85]

56 minutes ago, groundloop said:

Also from that link:

 

Since the screening and movement of large coolers through embarkation is an impediment to the boarding and security screening process, large coolers are not permitted as carry-on or checked luggage. Small, personal-sized coolers, no larger than 12 inches x 12 inches x 12 inches, for the purpose of housing small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages and/or medications are permitted as carry-on luggage.

 

So it sounds like they won't allow you to substitute a larger cooler for your carry-on luggage.

Thanks for the response.  I guess I figured it would work since it's not that much bigger than our carry on suitcase (its not one of those huge ones) but it is bigger than the 12x12x12.  We'll just got with a smaller one just to be safe.

[Terab85]

2 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Do you feel lucky?  Keep the cooler in the shower if it leaks. Tape the seams. You obviously know what the rule says.

The one I was hoping to bring was on wheels, so more convenience than anything but I don't want to take the chance, so we'll go with the smaller one.  

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, Terab85 said:

The one I was hoping to bring was on wheels, so more convenience than anything but I don't want to take the chance, so we'll go with the smaller one.  

or pack a collapsible one.

[jb8162]

It depends on security, it is their responsibility to stop it. I wouldn't take the chance unless you park at the terminal. That way you can take it back to your car.

What I do is bring a collapsible insulated one. It folds down and it fits inside the pocket of my large suitcase.

I recommend getting a bucket of Ice from any bar and putting the bucket inside the ice chest without emptying the ice out. It is good for icing a drink and the condensation does get all over the place. Easy to empty and refill.

[sanmarcosman]

4 hours ago, Terab85 said:

That's the one I remember but I guess I'm asking is how strict is Carnival with enforcing this?  All the smaller cooler leak when we have ice in it so looking to bring one that is a little better to keep our drinks and wine cold in our stateroom.

 

Put a couple of fresh waste can liners in your leaky cooler that is the permissible size and you're good. The plastic liners holding your ice and drinks prevents leaking into your cooler. 

[Terab85]

9 minutes ago, sanmarcosman said:

Put a couple of fresh waste can liners in your leaky cooler that is the permissible size and you're good. The plastic liners holding your ice and drinks prevents leaking into your cooler. 

That's a good idea.  I bought a collapsible cooler a couple of years ago to use for cruising (and then covid hit) but we found that the bottom leaks through.  I'll figure something out. 

[sanmarcosman]

Just now, Terab85 said:

That's a good idea.  I bought a collapsible cooler a couple of years ago to use for cruising (and then covid hit) but we found that the bottom leaks through.  I'll figure something out. 

Ours is a collapsible canvas cooler with plastic liner built in made by Coleman, the camping people. Other than the cuts/holes in the original liner it has held up well, zippers work and the shoulder strap is functional and comfortable. Good luck

[JennyD1]

We bring the igloo hard plastic cooler (12 x 12 x 12) on every cruise. The hard plastic ones do not leak. The bartenders ice it up with our beers and waters during the day and our room steward ices it at night.  Much better than the refrigerator.  Icy cold drinks all the time.  The cooler cost $10 in walmart.

I carry it on with snacks in it; crackers, nuts, etc. 

[mondello]

2 minutes ago, JennyD1 said:

We bring the igloo hard plastic cooler (12 x 12 x 12) on every cruise. The hard plastic ones do not leak. The bartenders ice it up with our beers and waters during the day and our room steward ices it at night.  Much better than the refrigerator.  Icy cold drinks all the time.  The cooler cost $10 in walmart.

I carry it on with snacks in it; crackers, nuts, etc. 

I'll assume you drive to the port. Many guests are resigned to bringing collapsible coolers on their flights.

[Terab85]

15 minutes ago, JennyD1 said:

We bring the igloo hard plastic cooler (12 x 12 x 12) on every cruise. The hard plastic ones do not leak. The bartenders ice it up with our beers and waters during the day and our room steward ices it at night.  Much better than the refrigerator.  Icy cold drinks all the time.  The cooler cost $10 in walmart.

I carry it on with snacks in it; crackers, nuts, etc. 

We have one like that too that we normally bring but DH thought the bigger one would be better. I'm not taking the chance of them saying no to the cooler so I'll do something else.

[keels81]

They turned away a handful of people at Port Canaveral last week boarding the Magic that tried to use rolling coolers as luggage, even if they were empty or just holding cases of La Croix/soda.

[Terab85]

1 hour ago, keels81 said:

They turned away a handful of people at Port Canaveral last week boarding the Magic that tried to use rolling coolers as luggage, even if they were empty or just holding cases of La Croix/soda.

That's good to know.  Thank you for the info.  I've decide we'll just bring out smaller cooler and then I don't need to stress about it.

[keels81]

2 minutes ago, Terab85 said:

That's good to know.  Thank you for the info.  I've decide we'll just bring out smaller cooler and then I don't need to stress about it.

 

I did see one person with a soft-sided Yeti tote-style cooler that they were able to carry on, but anything with wheels that wasn't luggage or a stroller/cart they wouldn't let enter.

[Sagittarius traveler]

Just follow the rules instead of going to port disappointed

[NeptunesGoddess]

It's a good choice to just go by the rules. We did a cruise with another couple and they had a cooler on wheels that was slightly bigger than the 12x12 size and they stopped them and were going to not allow it. My friend is very good at persuasion and talked security into letting her take it on, but I really believe they only allowed it because she had medication inside of it that needed to stay cold.

[Purvis1231]

On 8/15/2021 at 1:41 PM, Terab85 said:

That's the one I remember but I guess I'm asking is how strict is Carnival with enforcing this?  All the smaller cooler leak when we have ice in it so looking to bring one that is a little better to keep our drinks and wine cold in our stateroom.

 

I have noticed folks carrying yeti type coolers that are larger than the given demensions- most people just throw some undies and stuff in them. 

[Terab85]

2 hours ago, Purvis1231 said:

I have noticed folks carrying yeti type coolers that are larger than the given demensions- most people just throw some undies and stuff in them. 

 

Sounds like the coolers on wheels, no matter how small is the problem?  We're fine with a smaller cooler.  Would have been nice to use it as a carry on but its fine. 

[nascartim]

I have a 12x12x12 I bought from Walmart, it is a soft sided cooler, but has the hard shell insert so it doesn't leak. I ask the cabin steward to make sure to keep it filled with ice for me. I tip him 1st day. 

Edited August 17, 2021 by nascartim

[halterk]

I had a slightly larger cooler on wheels (like 14 or 16 inches), and I was stopped by security in Mobile.  I tried my argument (polity) that it was a suitcase, since it was on wheels, but I think her words was, lets just call it what it really is, a cooler, and it's to big.  The guard could tell just by looking that it was to big without even measuring it.

Luckily I parked at the port, and just took it back to my car.  They did have a couple walmart bags for me to put our drinks in to carry them onboard.

 

I will say the security guard was friendly and nice about it.  Even showed me the shortcuts, to get out, and back in, and told me where to go to get an escort to the front of the security line to be x-rayed again.

[vamartha]

On 8/15/2021 at 6:35 PM, jb8162 said:

It depends on security, it is their responsibility to stop it. I wouldn't take the chance unless you park at the terminal. That way you can take it back to your car.

What I do is bring a collapsible insulated one. It folds down and it fits inside the pocket of my large suitcase.

I recommend getting a bucket of Ice from any bar and putting the bucket inside the ice chest without emptying the ice out. It is good for icing a drink and the condensation does get all over the place. Easy to empty and refill.

Darn, where have you been for my last ten cruises? I am blonde and not bottle blonde and too stupid for this amazing idea to occur to me.