Princess Cruises Luggage Policy: Allowances, Tags, and Cabin Delivery
Planning your cruise vacation requires knowing what you can carry onboard, what you must hand to dockside porters, and what items are banned. Unlike airlines, maritime operators do not charge per-bag fees or penalize you for minor weight variances. However, cruise lines enforce strict safety rules, security scanning procedures, and cabin space guidelines.
The Princess Cruises luggage policy recommends a maximum of two checked bags per passenger (up to 50 lbs or 23 kg each) plus one carry-on bag, free of charge. You hand large suitcases to terminal porters at embarkation for stateroom delivery. Adults may carry on one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne without a fee. Travel irons, garment steamers, and surge protectors are strictly prohibited onboard.
Baggage Allowance Snapshot
Princess Cruises recommends up to two checked bags per passenger at 50 lbs each plus one carry-on bag, all free of cruise baggage charges. All checked luggage must display official Princess stateroom tags before drop-off at the cruise terminal.
What can change: Independent commercial airline rules override cruise allowances if you fly to your departure port. Port terminal security scanners can also vary by homeport location.
Official Source Verification
Baggage rules can vary by itinerary, departure port, and regional maritime regulations. BaggageBase separates verified shipboard rules from practical terminal guidance.
How BaggageBase Checks Cruise Policies
Cruise terminal baggage handling works very differently from airline travel. Cruise ships do not charge fees based on weight, and they do not operate gate-check desks.
Our editorial team tracks official passage contracts, safety notices, and port operations across major cruise lines. We separate safety rules from practical guidelines. For instance, banning garment steamers and surge protectors is a mandatory maritime safety regulation under international fire codes. In contrast, the 50-pound luggage rule is a practical guideline designed to protect shoreside porters and shipboard stateroom stewards from injury.
Where cruise lines do not publish exact linear dimensions for suitcases, we do not invent false measurements. Instead, we explain the physical limits that matter: the size of the terminal security X-ray scanner and the clearance under your stateroom bed.
Quick Facts & Baggage Allowances Overview
On embarkation day, your bags travel along two separate paths. Large suitcases go to terminal porters curbside for loading onto the ship and delivery to your stateroom. Smaller bags stay with you as carry-on luggage through terminal check-in, security, and boarding.
Princess Cruises does not assess fees for your bags. You will never be charged an overweight fee at the cruise terminal. However, stateroom closet space and terminal safety rules create natural limits for what you can comfortably bring.
Princess Cruises Baggage Allowance Overview
| Baggage Category | Recommended Limit | Size & Weight Guidance | Direct Cruise Fee | Handling Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curbside Checked Suitcases | Up to 2 bags per passenger | Max 50 lbs (23 kg) per piece recommended; no strict linear inch limit | $0.00 | Hand to dockside porters outside the terminal. Must have Princess luggage tags attached. |
| Embarkation Carry-On Bag | 1 bag plus 1 personal item | Must fit through terminal security X-ray scanners (approx. 24″ W x 16″ H) | $0.00 | Must stay with you until staterooms open (usually around 1:00 PM). Keep all travel documents inside. |
| Complimentary Wine / Champagne | 1 bottle (750 ml) per adult (21+) | Standard glass bottle up to 750 ml | $0.00 | Must be packed in your carry-on bag. For consumption inside your stateroom only. |
| Additional Wine Bottles | Personal consumption quantity | Standard bottle up to 750 ml | $15.00 USD corkage fee per bottle | Declared at terminal security check. Fee applies whether consumed in cabin or dining rooms. |
| Non-Alcoholic Beverages | Up to 12 cans/cartons per passenger | Max 12 oz (355 ml) per container | $0.00 | Carry-on only. Cans and cartons permitted; commercially bottled water and plastic soda bottles prohibited. |
Embarkation Day: Luggage Drop-Off & Delivery
Knowing what happens between arriving at the cruise pier and settling into your stateroom makes your first day relaxed and stress-free.
Curbside Drop-Off with Porters
When you pull up to the cruise terminal by taxi, rideshare, shuttle, or personal car, you will see luggage drop-off bays outside the entrance. Dockside porters handle all large suitcases here.
- Do not haul large suitcases into the terminal security line. The security queues and document verification areas inside the building are designed only for small hand luggage.
- Hand your large bags to the porters at the drop-off area before entering the terminal.
- Princess does not charge for porter services, but tipping dockside porters is customary at cruise ports. A tip of $2 to $5 USD per bag is standard.
- After drop-off, your bags are loaded onto cargo pallets, moved by forklift to the ship's hold, screened by ship security, and delivered to your stateroom hallway.
Printing and Attaching Princess Luggage Tags
Your luggage tags guide your bags to the right stateroom door. Princess uses printable tags generated through the MedallionClass web portal or mobile app.
- When Tags Become Available: You can print your tags through the Cruise Personalizer once your booking is paid in full and your stateroom is assigned, usually 60 to 75 days before sailing. If you booked a guarantee cabin, tags become available as soon as your cabin number is assigned.
- What the Tag Shows: Each tag shows your ship name, sailing date, guest name, deck number, stateroom number, and routing barcodes.
- Printing Instructions: Print your tags on regular paper using color ink if possible, as the deck colors help crew members sort luggage quickly. Fold the sheet along the printed lines to make a sturdy strip.
- Attaching the Tag: Stapling or taping folded paper directly to luggage handles can tear during heavy port handling. Many frequent cruisers place the printed tags into reusable, clear plastic cruise tag holders secured with metal wire loops.
- Missing Tags at the Port: If you cannot print tags at home or your cabin was reassigned on your way to the port, you do not need to worry. Porters at the curb have blank Princess tags and will write your cabin details on them by hand.
Embarkation Carry-On Essentials
Staterooms are usually not ready for guests until 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM on embarkation day. Your checked luggage is sorted and delivered throughout the afternoon and evening, sometimes arriving as late as 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Because you will not have access to your checked bags right away, keep these items with you in your carry-on bag:
- Identification and Boarding Documents: Passports, government photo IDs, entry visas, and physical boarding passes.
- Medallion Devices: Your OceanMedallion (if mailed to your home) or your digital boarding pass on your phone to pick up the device at check-in.
- Prescription Medications: Keep all essential medications with you in their original pharmacy containers. Never pack daily prescriptions in checked luggage.
- Valuables and Small Electronics: Laptops, cameras, tablets, chargers, expensive jewelry, and cash.
- Day-One Essentials: A swimsuit, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a change of clothes so you can enjoy the pool deck and eat lunch without waiting for your stateroom bags.
Size, Weight, and Piece Guidelines
Many first-time cruisers worry about baggage scales and strict airline-style size restrictions. Princess Cruises takes a much more flexible approach to luggage.
Is There a Strict Luggage Limit on Princess?
Princess officially recommends bringing no more than two checked bags per passenger, with each piece weighing up to 50 lbs (23 kg). You may also bring one carry-on piece and a small personal item like a backpack or purse.
This limit is an operational recommendation rather than an absolute rule:
- No Cruise Scales at Curbside: Princess porters do not place your bags on weight scales to collect excess weight fees.
- Baggage Over 50 lbs: If a bag feels significantly heavy, porters will attach a bright "Heavy" warning tag so luggage handlers lift it safely.
- Bringing Extra Bags: If you are taking a long repositioning cruise or a world voyage and need three bags, Princess will not turn your luggage away or charge you an extra bag fee.
- Airline Rules Still Apply: If your vacation involves a flight to or from the port, your airline's baggage rules apply. Commercial airlines strictly enforce their 50-pound limits and second-bag fees, even if you booked your flights through Princess EZair.
Stateroom Storage (Under-Bed Space)
While Princess does not penalize you for packing extra bags, you must store everything you bring inside your stateroom. Cruise cabins make clever use of space, but floor room is limited.
All standard luggage must fit under your stateroom bed once unpacked.
- Bed Clearance: Princess twin-to-queen bed frames provide roughly 12 to 14 inches (30 to 35 cm) of vertical clearance above the carpet.
- Suitcase Dimensions: Standard rolling bags up to 28 inches long and 11 to 12 inches deep slide flat underneath the bed without issue.
- Thick Hard-Shell Bags: Extra-deep clamshell bags may catch on the lower metal frame. You can lift the edge of the bed slightly to slide the bag under, or open the clamshell suitcase like a book and push it underneath flat.
- Nesting Luggage: Place your empty carry-on bag inside your large empty suitcase before pushing it under the bed. This keeps your cabin closet and living space clear.
Alcohol, Beverages, and Food Items
Princess has clear rules regarding what drinks you can bring onboard. These rules keep security lines moving smoothly and maintain shipboard safety.
BEVERAGE EMBARKATION RULES
Curbside Checked Suitcases:
- Zero alcohol or non-alcoholic drinks permitted.
- Packed liquid containers trigger security screening delays.
Carry-On Baggage (Carried personally through security):
- Beer, spirits, and liquor: STRICTLY PROHIBITED (confiscated at security).
- Wine or champagne (Adults 21+):
- 1st bottle (750 ml): FREE (for stateroom use).
- Additional bottles: $15 USD corkage fee per bottle.
- Non-alcoholic drinks:
- Up to 12 cans or cartons per person (max 12 oz each).
- Plastic bottles of water or soda are PROHIBITED.
Wine and Champagne Allowance
Guests of legal drinking age may bring wine and champagne onboard on embarkation day only:
- Complimentary Allowance: Each adult guest of legal drinking age may bring one standard bottle of wine or champagne (up to 750 ml) onboard free of corkage charges. This bottle is for drinking inside your stateroom. If you take this bottle to an onboard dining room, specialty restaurant, or lounge, you will be charged an onboard corkage fee.
- Additional Bottles: You may bring additional 750 ml bottles of wine or champagne by paying a $15 USD corkage fee per bottle at the security checkpoint, regardless of where on the ship you plan to drink them.
- Carry-On Requirement: You must keep all wine and champagne inside your carry-on luggage. Never pack bottles of wine in checked suitcases. Bags showing liquid shapes on X-ray scanners are held in security, requiring you to visit the security office in person to open your bag.
- Banned Alcohol Types: Beer, hard seltzers, boxed wines, and hard liquors (such as rum, whiskey, and vodka) are completely prohibited. Any prohibited alcohol found during terminal screening will be confiscated and discarded without compensation.
Water, Soda, and Non-Alcoholic Drinks
While some cruise operators ban all outside drinks, Princess lets you bring a limited personal supply of non-alcoholic beverages:
- Container Type: Outside drinks must be in cans or cartons. Princess does not allow commercially bottled water or plastic soda bottles in carry-on or checked baggage to cut down on single-use plastics and stop hidden alcohol.
- Quantity Limits: Each guest may bring up to 12 cans or cartons of non-alcoholic drinks on embarkation day. Each container cannot exceed 12 oz (355 ml).
- Must Be Carried On: Just like wine, you must bring all canned drinks onboard in your hand luggage.
- Drinking Water Onboard: Princess ships produce their own fresh drinking water using advanced reverse osmosis and distillation plants. Shipboard tap water meets strict US Public Health drinking water standards, making packaged bottled water unnecessary.
Prohibited Items and Stateroom Restrictions
Maritime safety falls under strict international standards, including the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) treaty. Fire is the single greatest hazard aboard a ship, so electrical devices with heating elements are closely controlled.
Electrical Appliances (Irons, Steamers, Surge Protectors)
Cruise ship electrical grids run on isolated generators that do not handle electrical surges the same way land-based buildings do. Because of this, certain everyday items are barred from staterooms:
- Travel Clothes Irons and Garment Steamers: Strictly prohibited. Handheld garment steamers and small travel irons will be confiscated by security and held until the end of the cruise.
- The Princess Launderette Advantage: Many cruise lines offer no way to iron clothes yourself. However, almost all Princess ships feature self-service passenger launderettes on cabin decks. These rooms include commercial irons and ironing boards that guests can use free of charge.
- Surge Protectors: Power strips and extension cords with built-in surge suppression (MOV devices) are banned on cruise ships because they can damage shipboard electrical systems and cause fires. You may bring basic multi-port USB hubs or power strips without surge suppression.
- Heating Appliances: Electric heating pads, hot plates, coffee makers, electric kettles, and candles are prohibited. Stateroom stewards will remove unauthorized heating appliances found in cabins.
- Hair Styling Tools: Regular curling irons, flat hair straighteners, and standard hair dryers are permitted as long as their cords are in safe working condition. A standard hair dryer is also built into every Princess stateroom vanity.
ITEMS PROHIBITED ON PRINCESS SHIPS:
- Garment steamers (all styles)
- Travel clothes irons (use onboard launderettes)
- Surge-protected power strips
- Beer, spirits, and boxed wine
- CBD products and marijuana (medical cards not recognized)
- Candles, incense, and open-flame items
- Drones (prohibited from use onboard)
- Knives with blades longer than 2.5 inches
Medical Devices and Mobility Equipment
Princess accommodates guests traveling with medical conditions and mobility needs:
- CPAP and BiPAP Equipment: Breathing machines are permitted onboard. You should always bring your CPAP equipment in your carry-on bag. Bring a heavy-duty, non-surge 6- to 9-foot extension cord, as cabin power outlets are usually located at the desk vanity rather than next to the bed.
- Distilled Water: You can request distilled water for your CPAP machine through the Princess Cruise Personalizer before your trip or ask your stateroom steward for a gallon jug once onboard.
- Mobility Scooters and Wheelchairs: All mobility aids must fit through your stateroom door and be parked inside your cabin at night. Maritime safety regulations strictly forbid leaving scooters, wheelchairs, or walkers in passenger hallways, which serve as emergency exit paths.
Disembarkation Luggage Procedures
At the end of your cruise, you can choose between two luggage handling options: standard tagged baggage collection or independent walk-off.
Standard Tagged Luggage Collection
Standard collection is the traditional disembarkation option where the ship's crew moves your heavy bags off the ship for you:
- Tag Delivery: Two days before the cruise ends, your stateroom steward delivers color-coded luggage tags with assigned departure numbers based on your travel plans.
- Packing the Final Night: Pack your main suitcases on the last evening and securely attach the numbered tags.
- Placing Bags in the Hallway: Place your tagged suitcases outside your cabin door by the stated deadline, usually between 9:00 PM and 10:30 PM.
- Overnight Offloading: Shipboard crew collect the bags, pack them into secure shoreside bins, and transfer them off the ship to the terminal baggage claim area the next morning.
- Collecting Your Luggage: After walking off the ship and clearing border control, head to the baggage hall. Look for the zone matching your tag's color and number to claim your suitcases.
Important Packing Reminder: Keep your passport, Medallion, wallet, keys, morning medications, and the clothes you plan to wear off the ship inside your cabin. Do not put them in the hallway, as you cannot get your checked bags back until you reach the terminal building.
Independent Walk-Off (Self-Assist)
If you have an early flight or want to leave the ship as quickly as possible, Princess provides an independent self-assist departure:
- How It Operates: You keep all your luggage inside your stateroom overnight instead of setting it in the hallway.
- Earliest Exit: Self-assist guests are the first group allowed off the ship once port authorities grant customs clearance, usually between 7:00 AM and 7:30 AM.
- Physical Requirement: You must be able to carry, wheel, and handle every single piece of luggage on your own without crew assistance. You will have to walk through crowded hallways, use stairs or elevators, and navigate steep gangway ramps safely.
How Princess Compares to Other Cruise Lines
While all major cruise lines follow standard maritime port security rules, beverage allowances and onboard laundry facilities differ across contemporary fleets.
Cruise Line Baggage Policy Comparison
| Cruise Line | Curbside Checked Allowance | Free Wine Allowance (per Adult) | Non-Alcoholic Beverage Allowance | Self-Service Guest Laundromats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Cruises | 2 bags recommended (50 lbs / 23 kg each) | 1 bottle (750 ml); $15 corkage for extras | 12 cans/cartons (max 12 oz each); no plastic bottles | Yes, free self-service launderettes with irons on almost all ships |
| Royal Caribbean | 2 bags recommended (50 lbs / 23 kg each) | 1 bottle (750 ml) (max 2 per cabin) | 12 cans/cartons/bottles (max 17 oz each) | No, laundry send-out service only; irons strictly banned |
| Carnival Cruise Line | 2 bags recommended (50 lbs / 23 kg each) | 1 bottle (750 ml); $15 corkage for extras | 12 cans/cartons (max 12 oz each); zero plastic bottles | Yes, self-service launderettes available fleet-wide |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | 2 bags recommended (50 lbs / 23 kg each) | Unlimited bottles, but all bottles incur corkage | Zero, outside beverages strictly prohibited | No, laundry send-out service only; irons strictly banned |
- If you review the Royal Caribbean luggage policy and the Norwegian Cruise Line luggage policy, both enforce a similar 50-pound checked bag guideline. However, neither line offers guest laundromats. If you want clothes pressed on those ships, you must pay for commercial pressing services.
- The Carnival Cruise Line luggage policy shares Princess's container restrictions: both ban plastic water bottles in carry-on bags to stop alcohol smuggling and reduce plastic waste, restricting guests to 12 cans or cartons.
Princess Cruises Packing and Embarkation Checklist
Use this checklist before leaving home to ensure smooth boarding at the cruise terminal.
- Print and attach cabin tags. Print your tags from your Princess booking account and secure them inside clear plastic tag sleeves on all large suitcases.
- Keep critical items in your carry-on. Pack your passport, government ID, Medallion, electronics, daily medications, and an extra change of clothes in your hand luggage.
- Confirm your baggage weight. Keep large bags near 50 lbs (23 kg) to ensure safe lifting for terminal porters and avoid excess airline baggage fees during your flights.
- Leave prohibited appliances behind. Do not pack garment steamers, clothes irons, heating pads, or surge-protected power strips, as security will confiscate them.
- Pack permitted drinks in carry-on bags. Keep your single 750 ml bottle of wine and up to 12 cans of non-alcoholic drinks in your hand luggage, not in curbside bags.
- Have small cash ready for porters. Keep small bills ($2 to $5 per bag) handy in your pocket to tip terminal porters when dropping off your large suitcases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bags can you take on a Princess cruise?
Princess Cruises recommends up to two checked bags per passenger, each weighing up to 50 lbs (23 kg), plus one carry-on bag and a personal item. Princess does not charge fees if you bring an extra bag, as long as your luggage fits inside your stateroom without blocking doorways or safety paths.
Does Princess Cruises charge baggage fees?
No, Princess Cruises does not charge fees for checked suitcases or carry-on bags. Luggage handling from the terminal curb to your stateroom door is included in your cruise fare. Keep in mind that airlines charge baggage fees independently if you fly to your cruise port.
Can I bring an iron or clothing steamer on Princess Cruises?
No, travel clothes irons and garment steamers are strictly prohibited on all Princess ships because they are fire hazards. Ship security will confiscate them if found in your bags. However, almost all Princess ships feature self-service passenger launderettes with irons and ironing boards you can use for free.
Can I carry beer or hard liquor onto the ship?
No, Princess Cruises strictly bans beer, hard seltzers, boxed wines, and distilled liquor from passenger luggage. Any beer or liquor discovered during terminal security screening will be confiscated and permanently discarded without financial compensation.
What size can my embarkation carry-on bag be?
Princess does not list strict dimensional limits for carry-on luggage, but your bag must fit through the port terminal security X-ray scanner. Standard carry-on rolling bags measuring 22" x 14" x 9" and medium duffel bags pass through the scanners easily.
Where do you store luggage inside a Princess cabin?
You store your luggage flat underneath your stateroom bed. Princess twin-to-queen beds have roughly 12 to 14 inches of open clearance underneath, which fits standard rolling suitcases up to 28 inches long.
What happens to my luggage on the last night of the cruise?
If you use standard disembarkation, you attach the provided color-coded tags to your large bags and set them outside your cabin door between 9:00 PM and 10:30 PM on the final night. Ship crew collect the bags overnight and move them to the terminal baggage hall for you to pick up after clearing customs.
What should I do if my checked bag does not arrive at my stateroom?
Most bags arrive outside stateroom doors by 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on embarkation day. If your bag is missing by early evening, check with nearby stateroom doors along your corridor. If it is still missing, visit the Guest Services Desk; your bag may have been held in the ship security room for physical inspection if it contained liquids, electronics, or lost its paper tag.
Baggage rules, terminal handling procedures, and beverage allowances can vary based on departure port regulations, ship itinerary, and local customs laws. The operating cruise line's official passenger contract and shoreside terminal notices always represent the controlling legal rules.
