How to Choose a Cruise Flask
How to Choose a Cruise Flask (and Stop Paying $15 a Drink)
Short answer: For a cruise, the best pick for most people is a shampoo-bottle flask like the ShamBooze, because it blends right in with your toiletries. For the beach or pool, grab the SunFlask sunscreen flask. For rainy-day outings, concerts and festivals, the BoozeBrella umbrella flask rides along like any other umbrella. Want to keep it cold? Go with the Ice Box flask or the Cooler Flask. All Smuggle Mug flasks are made from food-safe, BPA-free HDPE and designed by Scott, the inventor and owner, here in Utah.
Ever looked at a resort bar tab and thought, "I could've bought the whole bottle for that"? Same. That's why Scott started Smuggle Mug: discreet flasks that look like everyday stuff, so you can enjoy your own drinks and keep more money for the fun part of the trip.
Why our customers trust us
- Proven: Our ShamBooze cruise flasks are rated 4.6 out of 5 stars from more than 1,500 Amazon reviews.
- Patented: The ShamBooze shampoo flasks and SunFlask are protected by U.S. Patent 11,078,003. The Ice Box and Pump Flask are patent pending.
- Safe materials: Every bottle is food-safe, BPA-free HDPE. (Hand wash only. They're not dishwasher safe.)
- Inventor-owned: Designed by Scott, a real inventor in Utah. Not a faceless import brand.
Flask types compared
Shampoo-bottle flask (ShamBooze)
Best for: cruises, hotel stays and any trip where you pack a toiletry bag. A shampoo bottle is the most normal thing in your suitcase, so it blends in with your toiletries. Our ShamBooze line is the cruise favorite, from the ShamBooze Original to the ShamBooze II shampoo-dispensing flask and the ShamBooze Deluxe Cruise Flask Kit. Shop ShamBooze flasks
Sunscreen and lotion flasks (SunFlask, Sunscreen Flask, Lotion Flasks)
Best for: beach days, pool decks and boat days. Nobody blinks at a bottle of sunscreen in a beach bag. The SunFlask is a sunscreen-dispensing hidden flask, protected by the same patent as the ShamBooze II. Shop the SunFlask
Want more room? The Sunscreen Flask 12.8 oz looks like a regular sunscreen bottle and holds 12.8 oz. It comes in 1, 2, 3 and 4 packs with lid seals, a flip-top lid and a speed pourer. Shop the Sunscreen Flask 12.8 oz
Like to travel light? The Lotion Flasks 3 Pack gives you three 100ml (3.4 oz) tubes styled as hand cleaner, lotion and sunscreen. They fit right in your purse or bag and come with a clear quart zipper bag, lid seals and a funnel. Shop the Lotion Flasks 3 Pack
Umbrella flask (BoozeBrella)
Best for: concerts, festivals, sporting events and rainy-day sightseeing. It's an umbrella. Everybody brings an umbrella. That's the whole idea. Shop the BoozeBrella
Ice box and cooler flasks (Ice Box flask, Cooler Flask)
Best for: keeping drinks cold at the beach, campsite, tailgate or pool. These live in your cooler with everything else. The Ice Box flask is totally opaque and patent pending; the Cooler Flask holds 20 oz. Shop the Ice Box flask · Shop the Cooler Flask
Pump-bottle flask (Pump Flask)
Best for: bathroom counters and toiletry kits. Looks like a regular pump bottle on the counter. Patent pending. Shop the Pump Flask
Generic rum-runner bags and plain plastic flasks
Best for: people who don't mind looking like they're sneaking something. Plain pouches and clear plastic flasks are cheap, but they look exactly like what they are. They don't blend in with anything, and many are flimsy. If you want discreet, choose a flask designed to look like something you'd pack anyway.
Quick comparison table
| Flask type | Smuggle Mug pick | Best for | Blends in as | Patent status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shampoo bottle | ShamBooze | Cruises, hotels | Toiletries | U.S. Patent 11,078,003 |
| Sunscreen bottle | SunFlask | Beach, pool, boat | Sunscreen | U.S. Patent 11,078,003 |
| Sunscreen bottle (12.8 oz) | Sunscreen Flask 12.8 oz | Beach, pool parties, festivals | Sunscreen | — |
| Lotion tubes (3 x 100ml) | Lotion Flasks 3 Pack | Purses, small bags, festivals | Hand cleaner, lotion, sunscreen | — |
| Umbrella | BoozeBrella | Concerts, festivals, games | An umbrella | — |
| Ice box / cooler | Ice Box flask, Cooler Flask | Tailgates, camping, beach | Cooler gear | Ice Box: patent pending |
| Pump bottle | Pump Flask | Toiletry kits | Pump bottle | Patent pending |
| Generic bag / plastic flask | — | Not recommended | Nothing; looks like a flask | — |
How to Use Your Cruise Flask
- Wash it first. Hand wash your bottle before the first use.
- Do the leak test. Fill it with water or alcohol and lay it on its side for 1 hour. That way you know the lid is secure and nothing leaks before it goes in your bag.
- Pack it in your CHECKED LUGGAGE. Tuck the bottles in with the rest of your toiletries.
- One set per bag. Don't put more than one set in any piece of luggage.
- Cheers in your stateroom. Once your luggage reaches your stateroom, kick back and enjoy responsibly. (And enjoy all the money you didn't spend at the bar.)
- Clean up and save it. Hand wash when you're done and save it for your next cruise.
Which one is right for you?
- Going on a cruise? Start with a ShamBooze shampoo flask. Add a SunFlask for pool days.
- Heading to the beach or pool? SunFlask, plus an Ice Box flask or Cooler Flask to keep things cold.
- Need more for a big pool day? The Sunscreen Flask 12.8 oz.
- Packing light or carrying a purse? The Lotion Flasks 3 Pack.
- Concert, festival or ball game? BoozeBrella.
- Tailgate or camping trip? Ice Box flask or Cooler Flask.
- Not sure? Grab a ShamBooze. It's our best-reviewed cruise flask.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best flask for a cruise? For most cruisers, a shampoo-bottle flask like the Smuggle Mug ShamBooze. It blends in with your toiletries, it's made from food-safe, BPA-free HDPE, and it's protected by U.S. Patent 11,078,003. ShamBooze cruise flasks are rated 4.6 out of 5 stars from more than 1,500 Amazon reviews.
What is a shampoo bottle flask? It's a flask designed to look like an ordinary shampoo bottle so it fits right in with the rest of your toiletries. Smuggle Mug's ShamBooze is the original inventor-designed version, made by Scott in Utah.
How can I bring my own drinks on a cruise discreetly? Pick a flask that looks like something you'd pack anyway, like a shampoo bottle or sunscreen bottle. Just know and follow your cruise line's rules, since policies vary by line and ship.
How do I pack my flask for a cruise? Hand wash it, fill it, and lay it on its side for an hour to make sure the lid is secure and doesn't leak. Then pack it in your checked luggage with the rest of your toiletries, with no more than one set per piece of luggage. Once your luggage reaches your stateroom, enjoy responsibly, and know and follow your cruise line's rules.
What's the best flask for the beach or a concert? For the beach or pool, the SunFlask sunscreen flask. For concerts, festivals and games, the BoozeBrella umbrella flask.
Are Smuggle Mug flasks safe for alcohol? Yes. Every bottle is made from food-safe, BPA-free HDPE. Hand wash them, because they are not dishwasher safe.
Where can I buy Smuggle Mug flasks? Right here at smugglemug.com. Shop the full lineup, or read our FAQ and Our Story.
Please know and follow the rules of your cruise line, venue or destination. Smuggle Mug doesn't guarantee any product will be allowed. Drink responsibly. For adults 21+ only.