Cruise luggage rules work almost the opposite way round to flying. There is generally no limit on how many bags you bring, and a firm limit on what each one weighs.
This guide covers the allowance, the liquid and alcohol rules that surprise people coming from air travel, and the one situation where none of it applies.
How Many Bags
On a cruise-only sailing there is usually no cap on the number of cases. P&O’s wording is that you can bring as many bags as you can comfortably fit into your cabin.
Cunard, Princess and Royal Caribbean take a similar approach on their own sailings, framing it around what your stateroom will hold rather than a fixed number. The practical limit is the cabin, and cabins are small.
Storage under the bed and in the wardrobe is what decides this. Four large cases in an inside cabin is a problem you create for yourself.
The Weight Limit
This is where the real rule sits. P&O sets a limit of 23kg per item of luggage for safety and handling, and states that bags are weighed at embarkation.
Going over has a specific consequence. P&O says you will be recalled to the terminal and asked to remove items or repack, and that your baggage may also be delayed at disembarkation. Being called back once the ship is boarding is a bad start to a holiday.
P&O notes that travelling to Southampton on a Cruise Connect coach transfer brings a restriction of two medium cases per guest, each within the same 23kg. The coach caps the number even though the ship does not.
Liquids Are Not Restricted
Anyone used to airport security finds this hard to believe. P&O states that there are no restrictions on liquid bottle sizes in hand luggage for a cruise-only holiday.
Full-size toiletries, sun cream and shampoo can go in the bag you carry aboard. There is no clear plastic bag, no 100ml rule and no security queue built around it.
Browse our full library of cruise guides, port tips, and advice articles to make the most of every sailing.
Bringing Alcohol Aboard
The liquid freedom stops at alcohol, which has its own policy. P&O allows you to embark with a bottle of wine or champagne limited to one litre.
Anything beyond that is where a line’s alcohol policy takes over, and policies differ. Drink bought ashore during the cruise is typically held until the end of the voyage, so check what your own line does before planning around it.
What Goes in Hand Luggage
Hand luggage matters more on a cruise than most people expect, because of the gap between handing your cases to the porters and seeing them again.
P&O warns that suitcases may take a few hours to reach your cabin, and recommends carrying what you need for the first day. Its own list is passport, basic toiletries, sun cream, a change of clothing, and swimwear so you can use the pool while you wait.
Prescription medicine, travel documents and anything you cannot replace belong in the bag you keep with you, not in a case that disappears onto a belt.
Fly-Cruises Change Everything
Everything above applies to cruise-only sailings. Fly-cruises follow the airline’s rules, and airlines are stricter on all of it.
P&O states directly that while there are no weight or liquid restrictions on hand luggage for cruise-only holidays, both apply on fly-cruise holidays. On a Marella package flying with TUI Airways, the airline allowance governs what you can bring rather than anything the ship sets.
Reading a cruise-only luggage allowance and then flying out is the mistake this section exists to prevent. The flight sets the limit on a fly-cruise.
Frequently Asked Questions
On a cruise-only sailing there is usually no cap. P&O’s wording is that you can bring as many bags as you can comfortably fit into your cabin.
P&O sets 23kg per item for safety and handling, and bags are weighed at embarkation. Limits vary by line, so check the one you have booked.
P&O says you will be recalled to the terminal and asked to remove items or repack. It also warns that your baggage may be delayed at disembarkation.
Yes. P&O states there are no restrictions on liquid bottle sizes in hand luggage for cruise-only holidays, so full-size toiletries are fine.
P&O allows embarking with a bottle of wine or champagne limited to one litre. Anything beyond that falls under each line’s alcohol policy.
P&O recommends your passport, basic toiletries, sun cream, a change of clothing and swimwear, because suitcases may take a few hours to reach the cabin.
Yes. P&O states that weight and liquid restrictions apply on fly-cruise holidays even though they do not on cruise-only sailings, because the airline allowance governs.
P&O notes that its Cruise Connect coach transfers restrict you to two medium cases per guest, each no more than 23kg, even though the ship itself sets no number.
The number of bags rarely matters on a cruise-only sailing and the weight of each one does. Check them individually before you leave home, because they are checked again at the terminal.
How We Verify This Advice
We aim for practical, low-risk guidance. Before publishing and during updates, we check core planning details against official sources and current operator information.
What We Check
- Berth and terminal details, including whether the port is walkable or requires a transfer
- Transport options and realistic return timing for different port types
- Details that change frequently, such as fares and schedules, with up-to-date notes where relevant
Typical Sources
- Official port authority and terminal updates
- Cruise line port notes and day-of-call instructions
- Local transport operators and official tourism resources