Can I use magnets on a cruise ship?

Space is often limited in a cruise ship cabin. Fortunately, many walls, doors, and in some cases ceilings can serve as mounting surfaces for magnets. For example, you can attach magnetic hooks to hang jackets, swimwear, towels, or bags, and reposition them when needed. On this page, we will show you which magnets are suitable for this purpose and possible application areas.

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Are magnets allowed on cruise ships?

Yes, many cruise lines permit the use of magnets and magnetic hooks on board. However, the rules may vary depending on the cruise line and the ship. Therefore, find out about the applicable regulations before your trip and be careful not to damage any surfaces or fittings in your cabin with the magnets.

Can magnets be carried in hand luggage?

Whether you are allowed to carry magnetic hooks in your hand luggage depends on their magnetic field strength. Magnets with a low magnetic field strength intended for personal use are generally permitted. Make sure you check your airline’s regulations.

What are the advantages of using magnets in a cruise cabin?

On cruise ships, magnetic hooks prove to be a useful accessory for making the most of the space in your cabin. Most cruise ships have cabin walls and ceilings made of metal, thus providing a ferromagnetic surface for magnets. Here are some examples of how you can utilise them:

Create more storage space: Use the magnetic hooks to hang clothes, bathrobes and bags so they are within easy reach. It’s a great way to make sure nothing gets lost.
Keep important items close at hand: Keep excursion tickets, schedules or your ship pass nearby at all times. This saves you from having to search for them when you are in a rush.
Create extra storage in the bathroom: Use magnetic hooks in the bathroom to hang up wet swimwear or bathrobes, allowing them to dry without taking up valuable space.

Use the magnetic hooks to hang up clothes, bathrobes, bags and more.

Always keep excursion tickets, schedules or your ship pass handy.

Use magnetic hooks to hang up your wet swimwear in the bathroom.

Which magnets are suitable for use on a cruise ship?

Rubberised neodymium magnet systems, neodymium hook magnets paired with rubber caps, and magnetic hooks from Gator Magnetics are all suitable for use on a cruise ship. The right choice depends primarily on what you want to hang up. The following table shows you suitable magnetic hook systems as a quick guide.

Cruise items	Rubberised neodymium magnet system	Neodymium hook magnet	Gator Magnetics magnetic hook
Lightweight travel gear (hats, lanyards, sunglasses)	holds on the wall approx. 1.8 kg BD-FTNG-22	holds on the wall approx. 1 kg BD-FTN-13	holds on the wall approx. 6.8 kg GAT-MIN-01
Wet clothes or swimwear, bath towels and jackets	holds on the wall approx. 2.4 kg BD-FTNG-31	holds on the wall approx. 1.6 kg BD-FTN-16	holds on the wall approx. 11 kg GAT-MID-03
Heavy travel items (backpacks, filled bags, etc.)	holds on the wall approx. 3 kg BD-FTNG-43	holds on the wall approx. 2.6 kg BD-FTN-20	holds on the wall approx. 20 kg GAT-MEG-03

Please note that the adhesive force of your magnets may vary depending on the mounting surface. For more information on factors affecting the adhesive force, please refer to our FAQ page What factors affect the adhesive force and strength of a magnet?

Can magnets damage the walls of ship cabins?

Yes, magnets that are not rubber-coated can scratch the walls of cruise ship cabins if they are dragged across a metal surface. For safe use with strong magnets, we recommend rubberised magnet systems or our neodymium hook magnets in combination with a rubber cap.

Recommendation from the supermagnete team: As a general rule, avoid sliding magnets across the surface when removing them; instead, tilt them off. Sliding across the surface may damage the rubber coating. For easy tilting, combine the rubber-coated magnetic system or the neodymium magnet with our plastic handles.

Do magnets adhere to any wall in a cruise ship cabin?

No, magnets only adhere to ferromagnetic surfaces. Many cabin walls, doors and ceilings on cruise ships contain steel and therefore provide a suitable mounting surface. However, there are exceptions depending on the cabin’s construction and wall coverings. Test which surfaces are suitable once you are on board.

Do magnetic hooks hold equally well on walls and ceilings?

No, magnetic hooks can support more weight on a ceiling than on a wall. On a ceiling, the load acts perpendicular to the holding surface. When attached to a wall, however, the load acts parallel to the contact surface. In this case, the shear force is 15% to 25% lower than the adhesive force of a magnet. So if the magnet has to support too much weight on a wall, it will slide down. The thickness of the ferromagnetic surface also plays a crucial role in determining the adhesive force and shear force of a magnetic hook. Find out more about adhesive force and shear force on our FAQ page What is the difference between adhesive force and displacement force/shear force?.

Note from the supermagnete team: Do not hang heavy, fragile or valuable items from magnetic hooks on the ceiling. If they fall, they may cause injury and/or damage.

Why does my magnetic hook fall off the cabin wall or ceiling?

There are various reasons why your magnetic hook might not stay in place. For example:

Insufficient adhesive force: Choose a magnet with a sufficiently high displacement force or adhesive force. A rubber coating will increase friction and is an additional measure to prevent the magnet from sliding on smooth surfaces.
Paint and wallpaper reduce the adhesive force: The steel walls on cruise ships are usually painted, coated or wallpapered. This creates a small gap between the magnet and the metal. Even a small separation like that can significantly reduce the adhesive force.