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If you are preparing for a cruise with Princess Cruises, knowing how much luggage you can bring is an important part of planning your trip. The good news is that Princess Cruises generally allows guests to bring a reasonable amount of personal luggage rather than applying a single strict bag allowance across every cruise.
However, the exact baggage rules can depend on the region, itinerary, and any airline or other transportation included in your journey. For example, Princess materials for Australia and New Zealand recommend no more than two bags per person, with each bag no larger than 140 cm × 60 cm × 40 cm and no heavier than 32 kg (70.5 lb).
For other Princess sailings, the cruise line's passage contract states that guests may bring a reasonable amount of luggage containing personal effects needed for the cruise. If you travel by air or another transportation provider, that provider's baggage rules apply separately.
That distinction is important. Your cruise baggage allowance and airline baggage allowance are not necessarily the same.
Princess Cruises' general passage contract does not establish one universal number of suitcases for every sailing. Instead, it allows a reasonable amount of luggage containing personal belongings needed for the cruise.
Princess also advises guests to keep luggage manageable because it needs to be handled during embarkation, transported to the ship, and stored in the stateroom.
For certain Princess markets, more specific guidance is provided. Current Australia/New Zealand Princess documentation recommends:
These figures are published in Princess' Australia/New Zealand materials and should not automatically be assumed to apply to every Princess cruise worldwide.
Not exactly.
This is one of the most important points to understand when researching Princess Cruises baggage allowance.
Princess' international passage contract uses the phrase "reasonable amount of luggage" rather than giving one universal number of bags and one universal size limit.
At the same time, regional Princess documents can provide specific luggage recommendations or restrictions.
Therefore, before packing, check the luggage instructions associated with your particular sailing, especially if your cruise:
For Australia and New Zealand itineraries covered by Princess' current 2026–2028 brochure, Princess recommends no more than two bags per person. Each bag must be no larger than 140 cm × 60 cm × 40 cm and no heavier than 32 kg.
For other itineraries, you should not automatically treat two bags as a worldwide Princess rule. The applicable Princess booking information and passage contract should be checked for the cruise you are taking.
Princess' U.S./international passage contract also uses baggage liability limits based on the number of bags rather than describing a simple worldwide allowance. For cruises of 14 days or less, the contract refers to a maximum of two bags per guest for baggage liability purposes; for cruises of 15 days or longer, it refers to up to three bags per guest. This is a liability provision, not necessarily a statement that three bags are the standard permitted allowance.
That distinction prevents a common packing mistake: assuming the number of bags mentioned in a liability clause is automatically the same as a baggage allowance.
Princess does not provide one worldwide suitcase-size limit in its general passage contract.
However, specific regional documents can provide dimensions. For example, Princess' Australia/New Zealand 2026–2028 material gives a maximum size of:
That is a useful benchmark for travelers on those applicable itineraries, but passengers on other routes should verify their own cruise documentation.
Even when a cruise line allows a reasonable amount of luggage, oversized suitcases can become inconvenient.
Large luggage may be difficult to:
Packing several medium-sized bags is often more practical than taking one extremely large suitcase.
The answer depends on the applicable Princess itinerary and regional rules.
For Australia and New Zealand materials currently published by Princess, each bag should not exceed 32 kg.
Princess' Australia-related passage-contract documentation also states that, for health and safety reasons, each piece of luggage must not weigh more than 32 kg.
However, airline limits may be lower.
For example, an airline may charge an excess baggage fee when a checked suitcase exceeds its own weight limit. Princess specifically reminds cruisetour guests that airline baggage fees and restrictions are the passenger's responsibility.
Suppose your Princess cruise documentation allows a suitcase weighing up to 32 kg.
That does not mean you can necessarily check a 32 kg suitcase on your flight.
Airlines establish their own:
If your holiday includes a flight, check the airline's baggage rules separately before leaving home.
Princess' packing guidance recommends taking a carry-on bag with the important items you need during the first few hours of your cruise.
Checked luggage may not reach your stateroom immediately after boarding. Princess says checked bags are typically delivered within a few hours, often by early evening, although delivery times can vary.
Your carry-on should therefore contain items you cannot afford to have separated from you.
Princess recommends keeping important items with you, including:
Princess' packing guidance specifically recommends keeping essential, valuable, and time-sensitive items in your carry-on rather than checked luggage.
Medication should not be packed in checked luggage.
Princess recommends that passengers bring additional prescription medication for at least two weeks beyond the length of the cruise in case unexpected travel delays occur.
This is particularly important for medicines that you take every day.
Your checked bags are better suited to clothing and other items that you will not immediately need.
You might pack:
Avoid placing your most important documents or valuables in checked luggage.
Princess specifically recommends hand-carrying essential medicines, travel documents, valuables, and breakable items.
You can travel with personal valuables, but Princess recommends keeping them under your personal control.
The cruise line advises guests to hand-carry valuables and breakables such as:
Princess also states that it is not responsible for certain items that guests retain in their personal control.
For this reason, expensive jewelry and important documents should never be casually placed in a checked suitcase.
Yes. Princess recommends using sturdy identification tags on your luggage.
The cruise line advises passengers to ensure that every bag has a durable personal identification tag that can withstand normal airport and luggage-handling conditions.
Princess' OceanReady checklist also includes printing luggage tags as part of getting ready for the cruise.
Your cruise luggage tag should clearly identify your luggage according to the instructions supplied by Princess for your sailing.
Before traveling, make sure:
A small personal identification tag can also help if the exterior cruise tag becomes damaged.
After you arrive at the cruise terminal, your checked luggage is normally handed over for delivery to the ship and eventually to your stateroom.
Because your bags may arrive after you board, it is important not to put essential first-day items inside your checked luggage.
Princess recommends carrying the items you will need immediately because checked luggage is typically delivered to your cabin a few hours after boarding.
Keep these items in your carry-on:
This way, you can enjoy the ship even if your checked bags have not yet arrived.
This is especially important if you are flying to your cruise departure port.
Your airline's baggage rules are separate from Princess Cruises' luggage rules.
Princess explicitly states that when a guest travels by air or another form of transportation, the terms and conditions of that transportation provider apply to that portion of the journey.
For Princess cruisetours, the cruise line also tells passengers to check directly with their airline for luggage restrictions and allowances.
Cruisetours can involve additional luggage considerations because your vacation may include hotels, motorcoaches, trains, flights, and the cruise itself.
Princess states that its cruisetours include luggage-handling services during the land portion, with luggage transported between locations in accordance with the itinerary.
Some specific cruisetours also have separate baggage rules for internal flights.
For example, Princess' published cruisetour information gives different baggage allowances for certain flights within South America, demonstrating why travelers should not apply one baggage figure to every Princess itinerary.
Alaska cruisetours can also have separate luggage arrangements.
Princess' 2026 Alaska Cruisetour information recommends a small hand-carry tote or backpack for essential items and suggests a soft-sided bag no larger than 17 × 14 × 4 inches for the land-tour portion.
The luggage requirements for a land tour may therefore be different from what you would normally use on the cruise itself.
Alcohol has separate rules from the general baggage allowance.
Princess currently states that, on embarkation day, guests may bring one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per voyage. That bottle is not subject to a corkage fee when consumed in the guest's stateroom. Additional wine or champagne bottles may be permitted subject to the applicable corkage fee, while liquor, spirits, and beer are not permitted under the stated policy.
These alcohol rules are separate from how many suitcases you can bring.
Do not assume that because an item physically fits inside your luggage, it is automatically permitted onboard.
Princess prohibits a range of items for safety and security reasons.
Its current pre-cruise guidance lists prohibited items including firearms, certain weapons, illegal drugs, hoverboards, certain communication devices, cooking equipment, and other potentially hazardous items.
The exact prohibited-item list can change, so passengers should review the current Princess rules before packing.
Depending on the current Princess rules, restrictions can apply to items such as:
Princess' passage contract also gives the cruise line authority to inspect luggage and personal effects where permitted under its terms.
Princess' current pre-cruise guidance states that coolers are generally limited to approximately 12 × 12 × 12 inches, suitable for holding around 6–12 cans of non-alcoholic beverages.
Larger coolers may be refused at embarkation. Princess makes exceptions for certain coolers containing baby food or formula, kosher food, special dietary food, or medication, which must be hand-carried.
Coolers cannot be accepted as checked baggage under that guidance.
The easiest way to avoid luggage problems is to divide your belongings into three groups:
Keep immediately necessary items with you:
Use checked luggage for items you can wait for:
Before closing your suitcase, check Princess' current prohibited-items list.
Do not rely on an old packing list because cruise-line restrictions can change.
You do not necessarily need to use every available baggage allowance.
A lighter suitcase can make your trip easier, particularly when your journey involves flights, taxis, trains, hotels, or shore excursions.
Consider:
Princess itself recommends packing practical clothing appropriate for the destination and cruise conditions.
Report missing or damaged luggage as soon as possible to the responsible party.
Princess states that guests should report loss or damage caused by Princess or an airline immediately to the responsible party.
The passage contract also establishes limitations on Princess' liability for baggage. For certain international sailings, the contract specifies limits based on the number of bags and cruise length.
This is another reason not to place irreplaceable valuables, important documents, or expensive personal items in checked baggage.
Yes. Princess offers Princess Luggage Valet, a service designed to transport luggage from a guest's home or office to the stateroom and back home after the vacation.
Princess says the service is offered in partnership with Luggage Forward and is available to and from more than 170 ports, subject to the service's terms and availability.
This can be useful for travelers who want to avoid handling heavy suitcases through airports and cruise terminals.
| Baggage question | Princess Cruises guidance |
|---|---|
| General number of bags | A reasonable amount of luggage; exact rules can vary |
| Australia/New Zealand recommendation | Up to 2 bags per person |
| Australia/New Zealand bag size | 140 × 60 × 40 cm per bag |
| Australia/New Zealand bag weight | Maximum 32 kg per bag |
| Carry-on | Bring essential items needed before checked luggage arrives |
| Medication | Keep in your carry-on |
| Passport/travel documents | Keep with you |
| Valuables | Hand-carry them |
| Airline baggage | Airline rules apply separately |
| Cruisetour baggage | May have additional rules depending on itinerary |
| Prohibited items | Must comply with Princess' current prohibited-items list |
The regional figures in the table should not be treated as a universal allowance for every Princess cruise. The most important step is to verify the requirements for your specific itinerary.
Princess' general passage contract allows a reasonable amount of luggage rather than establishing one universal suitcase limit. For Australia and New Zealand, current Princess materials recommend no more than two bags per person.
For Australia/New Zealand documentation, the maximum is 32 kg per bag. Other itineraries may have different applicable requirements, so check the documents for your sailing.
Yes, two bags per person are specifically recommended in Princess' Australia/New Zealand materials. For other regions, confirm the baggage guidance for your individual cruise rather than assuming the same rule applies worldwide.
Princess recommends bringing a carry-on containing the essentials you need while waiting for checked luggage to reach your stateroom. Important documents, medication, valuables, electronics, and other immediate necessities should remain with you.
No. Princess recommends keeping passports and other important travel documents with you rather than placing them in checked luggage.
Yes, but essential medication should be carried with you rather than placed in checked baggage. Princess also recommends carrying additional prescription medication beyond the scheduled cruise length in case of travel delays.
No. Airline baggage rules and Princess cruise baggage rules are separate. If your vacation includes air travel, you must comply with the airline's baggage restrictions as well as the cruise line's requirements.
Princess currently permits one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per guest per voyage on embarkation day, subject to its stated policy. Liquor, spirits, and beer are not permitted under that policy.
Princess' current guidance generally limits coolers to approximately 12 × 12 × 12 inches. Larger coolers may not be accepted, although exceptions apply for certain medical, baby-food, or special-dietary needs.
Keep your passport, travel documents, medication, valuables, electronics, phone, charger, and anything else you need immediately after boarding. A change of clothes and swimwear can also be useful because checked bags may arrive later.
Yes. Princess Luggage Valet can arrange transportation of luggage from home or an office to the stateroom and back, subject to its terms and availability.
It can be. Cruisetours may involve flights, hotels, motorcoaches, trains, and other transportation, so additional luggage restrictions can apply. Princess provides itinerary-specific guidance for some cruisetours.
Princess Cruises generally takes a flexible approach to cruise luggage, but there is no single worldwide baggage allowance that should be applied to every Princess sailing. The general passage contract refers to a reasonable amount of luggage, while regional Princess documents can establish more specific recommendations or limits.
For Australia and New Zealand, current Princess materials recommend no more than two bags per person, with each bag measuring no more than 140 × 60 × 40 cm and weighing no more than 32 kg. Other itineraries may have different requirements.
The safest approach is to check your exact cruise documentation, keep passports and medication in your carry-on, protect valuables by keeping them with you, and separately verify the baggage rules for any airline or transportation provider used during your journey. This helps prevent excess-baggage charges, delays, and problems at embarkation.
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