First-Time Cruisers

Princess Cruises Alcohol Policy: What You Can Bring On Board

Published 9 September 2026 · 2 min read · Cruise Questions Canada editorial team

Quick answerPrincess allows one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult free at embarkation (recent policy — confirm current terms), with additional bottles charged a corkage fee of around $20 each at boarding, and prohibits beer, spirits and liqueurs, holding any found until disembarkation.

Princess Cruises's alcohol rules follow the industry pattern — a modest wine allowance at embarkation, corkage if you drink it in public venues, and no spirits or beer — with the details below.

What's allowed at embarkation

One 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult, free, in carry-on at embarkation. Additional bottles may be brought on but are charged a corkage fee at boarding.

Corkage

The first bottle per adult is free anywhere on the ship; extra bottles pay roughly $20 corkage at boarding, which then covers drinking them in any venue. Wine consumed in your stateroom carries no fee.

Beer, spirits and liqueurs

Not permitted in luggage. Security holds bottles found in checked or carry-on bags and returns them on the final night. Duty-free purchases from the ship's shops and bottles bought in port are held the same way.

Why the rules exist

Bar revenue is part of every line's economics, and responsible-service rules apply on board — the allowance is a courtesy, not a loophole. The general picture across lines is in Do Cruise Ships Have Laundry and What Does It Cost, which also covers bringing water.

Drink packages instead

If you'd rather not carry wine, Princess Cruises's drink package is the alternative — the break-even maths are in Are Drink Packages Worth It on Your First Cruise.

Policies change

Allowances and corkage fees are revised periodically; confirm the current figure for your sailing before packing.

More Princess policies

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Sorting this before you pack

Whether to carry your allowance, buy a package or pay as you go is a small decision that a consultant who knows Princess Cruises's current rules can settle in a sentence when you book.

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Frequently asked questions

How much wine can you bring on Princess Cruises?

One free 750 ml bottle per adult at embarkation; additional bottles are allowed but charged corkage (around $20 each) at boarding, at recent policy.

Can you bring beer or spirits on Princess Cruises?

No — like every major line, Princess Cruises prohibits beer, spirits and liqueurs in luggage; bottles found at security are held and returned at the end of the cruise, and anything bought in port or in the ship's shops is stored until disembarkation.