Do Cruise Ships Have Laundry and What Does It Cost
Yes, every cruise ship can wash your clothes, which means you can pack for about half the trip and do one laundry round midway. That's especially useful for fly-cruisers juggling airline baggage limits, or anyone packing bulky layers for Alaska. Here's what it costs, plus the rules on bringing your own wine and water.
What are your laundry options on a cruise?
| Option | Typical cost (recent prices) | Where you'll find it |
|---|---|---|
| Per-item laundry service | About US$3–8 per item | Every line |
| "Fill the bag" flat rate | About US$25–40 per bag | Most lines, often promoted mid-cruise |
| Pressing only | A few dollars per item | Most lines |
| Self-service launderette | A few dollars per wash or dry | Most Carnival, Princess, Holland America and Disney ships |
| Free laundry as a perk | Included | Some suites and top loyalty tiers |
Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Norwegian generally don't offer self-service laundry on their ships, so plan on the bag deal there. Prices are charged to your onboard account in US dollars.
How the bag deal works
Your cabin attendant leaves a laundry bag and a form. Fill the bag with as much as fits, tick the bag-deal box, and leave it out in the morning. It usually comes back folded within a day or two. Many ships run the best bag offer on a particular day, often around the middle of the cruise, so check the daily programme.
Using a self-service launderette
Launderettes sit on cabin decks and get busy on sea days and the last two days. Go early in the morning or during dinner. Machines take your cruise card or tokens, and detergent is either provided or sold nearby. The self-service laundry walkthrough covers the process step by step.
A packing plan built around laundry
- Pack for four or five days on a 7- to 10-night cruise.
- Book one laundry round, ideally on a sea day.
- Choose quick-dry, wrinkle-resistant fabrics.
- Bring a few clothes pegs or a travel line for swimwear in the shower.
- Leave the iron and steamer at home.
Can you bring your own wine?
Most lines allow a small amount of wine or champagne at embarkation, carried in your hand luggage. Beer and spirits are banned on almost every line, and anything over the limit is held until the last night. On most lines, drinking your own wine in your cabin is free and a corkage fee applies in a restaurant or bar; Norwegian charges corkage on every bottle as it comes aboard.
Can you bring water and soft drinks?
Tap water on board is safe and free, so most people don't need to bring any. If you prefer bottled water, some lines allow a limited number of sealed cans or cartons of non-alcoholic drinks at embarkation, often around a dozen. Others restrict it or ban it. Check your line's current rules before hauling a case to the terminal, and see what drinks are included in your fare for what you'll get free on board.
Alcohol rules by cruise line
Wine allowances and corkage fees differ more than most people expect: MSC's is the strictest, Norwegian sets no fixed limit but charges corkage on every bottle, and Disney's, once the most generous, was cut in June 2026 to one bottle of wine or six beers per adult. The full line-by-line table is in Cruise Line Alcohol Policies Compared, and each line's rules are here: Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, MSC, Disney.
Have a question about this? A licensed cruise expert can answer it for free — no booking required, no pressure.
Ask a cruise expert →Packing smart for a longer sailing
One planned laundry day and a clear idea of what you can bring aboard make a week-plus cruise much easier to pack for. For the full list, try the printable cruise packing list for Canadians, and confirm your line's current policies before you start filling a suitcase.
Want this priced up for your dates? Speak to a licensed cruise expert — same price as booking direct, plus perks like onboard credit and prepaid gratuities the websites don't show. No fee, no obligation, and you can book online if you'd rather.
Get a quote or book online →Frequently asked questions
How much does laundry cost on a cruise ship?
Per-item laundry service runs roughly US$3–8 a piece at recent prices, while "fill a bag" deals cost around US$25–40 for whatever fits. Self-service launderettes, where available, charge a few dollars per wash or dry.
Can you bring your own alcohol on a cruise ship?
Most lines allow a limited amount of wine or champagne, commonly one or two bottles per adult or per cabin, carried on at embarkation. Beer and spirits are banned on almost every line, and a corkage fee applies if you drink your own wine in a restaurant or bar.
Can you bring an iron or a steamer on a cruise?
No. Irons and clothes steamers are banned on virtually every line as a fire risk and are confiscated at security. Use the ship's pressing service, hang clothes in a steamy bathroom, or pack wrinkle-resistant fabrics.
More questions you might have
- What Drinks Are Included in Your Cruise Fare by DefaultBefore deciding on a drinks package, knowing exactly what's already free — the basics included on virtually every mainstream line.
- Disney Cruise Line Dress Code: Cruise Casual, Pirate Night and Optional FormalDisney's evenings are casual by default — plus a pirate night the whole ship dresses up for.
- Is Norwegian Cruise Line Right for You: A Canadian's Honest GuideThe freestyle-dining pioneer explained — no fixed dining times, no formal nights, and who genuinely benefits from that flexibility versus who misses tradition.
- What Not to Pack for a CruiseThe prohibited and simply unnecessary items experienced cruisers leave at home — a practical do-not-pack list.
- Anchorage vs Whittier vs Seward: Where One-Way Sailings EndThe three names that confuse every first-time one-way Alaska cruiser — what each actually is, and which matters most for your flight home.
- Japan Cruise for Canadians: What to KnowPorts, cherry-blossom timing, flights from Western Canada and the one season to book a year ahead — a Japan cruise guide written for Canadians.
Booking essentials: Is It Cheaper to Book a Cruise Through a Travel Agent · What Are Expedia Extras on a Cruise Booking · Onboard Credit Explained and How to Get More · Cruise Line Policies Compared: 8 Lines Side by Side (2026)