Cruise Ship Souvenirs Worth Keeping
Cruise ship souvenirs range from logo T-shirts to things that may become collectibles themselves. Today’s keepsakes are tomorrow’s flea-market finds, so it is worth thinking about which ones will still mean something in thirty years.
Printed daily programs
The ship’s schedule for each day, with the ship name and date. Free, flat and easy to keep.
Menus
Especially from formal nights, special voyages or holiday sailings, if your ship still prints them.
Ship photos
Professional photos from embarkation and formal nights, or your own pictures of the ship in port.
Logo items
Mugs, caps, pins and models from the onboard shops. Nice reminders, though made in large numbers.
Milestone pieces
Anything from a maiden voyage, naming ceremony, final season or anniversary sailing tends to be saved and traded later.
Port finds
Local crafts and food from the places you visit. Port Shopper covers where to shop ashore and how customs allowances work.
Keepsakes That Cost Nothing
Some of the best cruise mementos are free: the daily program, a port map from the guest services desk, a luggage tag from embarkation, a ticket stub from a shore excursion, a postcard mailed from the ship. Put them in an envelope labeled with the ship and dates as soon as you get home. A future collector, or your grandchildren, will thank you. Our sister site Cruising Experiences covers the onboard events that make good stories.
Shopping Smart on Board
One more tip: write the ship name and dates on the back of photos and inside the cover of anything printed. Undated souvenirs lose most of their story within a generation.
Onboard shops often run promotions on the last sea day, so if you want a ship-branded item, it can pay to wait. Ship models and branded items sometimes change design between seasons, which is one reason dated pieces become interesting later. Keep receipts with your purchases; they help with customs and they date the item. And if a souvenir is mainly a reminder of a great trip, the next trip may be the better buy: see Wave Season for the year’s big promotions.
Souvenir Questions
Can I take home the menu from dinner?
Often yes, but policies vary by line and many ships now use digital menus. Ask your waiter politely at the end of the meal; many crew are happy to help with a printed copy if one exists.
Are souvenirs from port subject to customs?
Yes. Returning travelers must declare purchases made abroad, and allowances depend on where you return to and where you bought them. Our sister site Port Shopper explains the rules.
Plan the Trip Behind the Souvenir
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