princess cruise line laundry

Princess Cruises Laundry Guide 2022

In preparation for your cruise with Princess Cruises there are a number extra things you may want to consider. No one wants to be spending too much precious vacation time doing laundry. Here’s the complete guide to Princess Cruises Laundry with tips and tricks to save you time and money.

Laundry Services on Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises offers two main laundry services on all of its ships:

• Professional cleaning services
• Self-service launderettes

Let’s take a look at both options in more detail.

Professional Cleaning Services

If you don’t want to do your own laundry on your Princess cruise, you can choose to get your clothes cleaned by the onboard laundry service . To do this, simply complete the form and leave it in your cabin for your room steward to collect.

You can opt for laundry service or dry cleaning. Prices between the two options varies and will depend on the item of clothing.

Your clothes will be returned within 48 hours unless you choose the Presto Same Day Service. The Presto Same Day Service costs an extra 50% and will be returned to your cabin by 6pm as long as you hand it to your stateroom steward before 9am that day.

For the Regular Next Day Service , hand your laundry to your stateroom steward before 9am and you should receive it by 6pm the next day. There is no additional charge for this, just the price per item.

Pressing Service

If you simply need your clothes to be pressed after unpacking your suitcase, you can ask for items to be professionally pressed for 80% of the dry cleaning price.

You can choose to have shirts starched at no additional cost.

Free Laundry on Princess Cruises

Passengers who are staying in full suites (Sky, Owners, Vista, Penthouse, Window or Family suites) receive complimentary laundry.

Once you’ve reached ‘Elite’ status on the Princess Cruises loyalty programme (after 16th cruise or 151 days cruising), you can enjoy complimentary laundry.

If you’re not staying in a suite or haven’t made it to Elite status yet, look out for special deals that are sent to your stateroom. Sometimes there is an offer to fill a laundry bag with as much as you can for around $20.

Princess Cruises Self-Service Laundry

Unlike some other cruise lines, Princess Cruises offers guests access to self-service launderettes. You will find them on your stateroom deck.

Each launderette has washing machines, dryers and an ironing station. Machines cost $3.00 per load. Washing machine cycles last 30 to 35 minutes and dryers last 40 to 45 minutes. The token machines accept your Ocean Medallion for payment.

Bronze tokens are used for the washing machines and dryers. Gold-coloured tokens are for the detergent.

It has been known for the token machines to run out of tokens so be aware that you can buy laundry tokens from Guest Services.

Washing powder and dryer sheets can be purchased from a vending machine within the launderette for around $1.50. You may want to bring your own powder or pods.

Fabric detergent can now be order via the Medallion app free of charge and fabric softener sheets are $1.25.

You’re able to use the ironing station at no extra charge but you cannot remove the iron from the launderette because ironing and steaming is prohibited within your stateroom.

Princess Cruises Laundry Tips and Tricks

• Firstly, when choosing a cabin, avoid any near a self-service launderette as the machines will be noisy and there will be lots of traffic
• Bring your own washing powder or pods so you don’t need to worry about buying less familiar ones from the vending machine
• Choose your times to visit the self-service launderette wisely. Before 8am is known to be a quiet time
• Avoid doing laundry on sea days as it’s notoriously busy
• Don’t leave your clothes in machines after the time is up. It’s been known for other passengers to empty your machine to use it themselves. Set an alarm for yourself to get back in time
• If your clothes are a little creased after unpacking your suitcase, it’s easy to pop down to the laundry to give them a quick iron
• If you know when formal night is planned, send any laundry you need as early as possible so that you don’t have to wait until the last minute or pay extra for Presto Same Day Service
• Be weary of sending any delicate or expensive items to be cleaned. Princess Cruises does not take responsibility for colours running, fading or shrinking
• Pack a foldable laundry basket or bag if you’re planning to do a significant amount of laundry yourself
• Alternatively, pack enough clothes so there’s no need to do any laundry on your Princess cruise!

Laura is a UK cruise blogger based in Cornwall, UK. She founded Cruise Lifestyle in 2016 to share useful advice about cruising, destinations and food. Last port visited: Bridgetown, Barbados Next port of call: unknown, but she can’t wait for cruising to resume safely!

Find me on: Twitter

You may also enjoy:

Spectrum of the seas balcony cabin tour …, our comprehensive celebrity edge cabin review, princess cruises drinks package guide 2022.

• Pingback: P&O Cruises Laundry Guide

How do you pay for self service laundry on Princess? Do I need dollars?

You can pay with your OceanMedallion

Thanks you! This information was perfect, as I had thought about bringing a steamer, but see now that they don’t allow that, and I will have access to a iron. I will also pack some detergent pods to since my family uses free and clear products. Glad I found your blog! I will check more of it out now.

Hey Elizabeth thank you for your comment, I’m glad the post about Princess Cruises laundry facilities was useful. We definitely make use of the iron for any crumpled clothes we have. I have lots of Princess info on the blog that will hopefully be of help.

Is there cost by bag laundry service on Princess

Yes, it’s about $20 per bag

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Where to cruise next, cruise destination guide: monaco, san francisco cruise port …, montego bay cruise port …, vilshofen: danube river destination, perfect day at lelepa …, how to visit the …, cruise destination: 12 hours in …, useful tips for your …, stingray city excursion in …, top 6 river cruise destinations (…, barbados cruise port guide (…, the secret cruises you …, best south pacific cruise …, more expedition cruises on …, expedition cruises: things to …, discover more from cruise lifestyle.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry services

Editor's Note

Whether you want to pack light for a longer cruise or you're traveling with little ones who tend to be a bit messy, you might need to wash clothes during your cruise vacation.

Some cruise lines offer self-service launderette facilities for guests to do their own laundry. They often include two or three washers and dryers, as well as vending machines with detergent and fabric softener for purchase.

When it comes to for-fee, valet-type laundry services, your cabin steward will usually handle it, and prices vary by line. Cruise lines often provide a price chart; look for the list and bag hanging in your cabin's closet or in one of the vanity drawers.

Additionally, some cruise lines like Windstar , Paul Gauguin Cruises and Royal Caribbean International offer various laundry packages for the length of your cruise.

Luxury cruise lines like Regent Seven Seas Cruises , Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Oceania Cruises provide either free self-service laundry facilities or complimentary valet laundry services. Also, free or discounted full-service laundry is a perk of elite status with several cruise lines' loyalty programs (more on that below).

If you think you'll need to freshen up your clothes during a cruise, it's good to know what's available. Here's a guide to cruise ship laundry services for several popular mainstream lines.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Carnival Cruise Line laundry

Self-service laundry.

Launderettes: Carnival Cruise Line has self-service laundry rooms on all ships except those in the Excel Class. Although you can pay with your Sail & Sign card on most ships, you'll need coins on Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise. (Staff at the guest services desk can make change for you.)

Soap and fabric softener for sale: Yes

Irons and ironing boards: Yes

Send-out laundry service

Carnival also provides extra-charge valet laundry service, which your cabin attendant will handle. For next-day service, hand in your laundry by 9 a.m. and receive it by 5 p.m. the next day. Express same-day service is also available. (Hand in your laundry before 9 a.m. and get it back by 5 p.m.)

Additionally, the line offers complimentary wash-and-fold services for its VIFP Club loyalty program Platinum-level members (two bags on three- to six-day cruises, three bags on seven- to 13-day cruises and five bags on a cruise 14 days or longer). Diamond-level passengers receive unlimited complimentary wash-and-fold laundry service.

Washing: Yes

Pressing: Yes

Dry-cleaning: On select ships. Carnival utilizes environmentally friendly wet/dry technology on all but the following ships: Carnival Legend, Carnival Pride, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation.

Related reading: Cruise packing list: The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Celebrity Cruises laundry

No self-service laundry facilities are available on Celebrity ships.

Celebrity offers full-service laundry and dry-cleaning services for a fee on all ships. Send out your garments before 9 a.m., and they'll be returned the next day (for regular service). Same-day service is also available for an additional charge.

Washing: Yes. The line also uses eco-friendly Laundry Neutral Detergent from Ecolab.

Dry-cleaning: Yes

Disney Cruise Line laundry

Launderettes: Yes. Pay for the use of washers and dryers with your Disney Key to the World card.

Soap and fabric softener for sale: Yes. Purchase detergent and dryer sheets with your Key to the World card.

Full-service laundry and dry-cleaning services are available for an added cost on all Disney ships. Your cabin includes laundry bags and forms. Give your cabin steward your laundry and form by 9 a.m. for next-day return. Express laundry service is available at an extra charge.

Holland America Line laundry

No self-service laundry facilities are available on Holland America ships.

Holland America offers full laundry and dry-cleaning services on all ships. Laundry bags and price lists are inside the closet of each cabin. Also, one of the perks for Mariner Society loyalty program members with 4-Star Mariner or 5-Star Mariner status is complimentary laundry and pressing service.

MSC Cruises laundry

Self-service laundry facilities are not available on MSC ships.

MSC offers a same-day for-fee laundry service (except on the last day of the cruise).

Norwegian Cruise Line laundry

Norwegian ships do not include self-service laundry facilities.

Norwegian provides valet laundry services on all ships for a fee. Additionally, one of the perks of the line's loyalty program, Latitudes Rewards , is discounted or free laundry. Passengers with Gold tier status receive 50% off one bag of laundry. Platinum, Sapphire, Diamond and Ambassador members receive one free bag of laundry.

Princess Cruises laundry

Launderettes: Yes, all ships in Princess' fleet have self-service launderettes. Tokens are required to use the machines, and passengers can purchase them with their OceanMedallions .

Princess offers onboard laundry, press-only and professional cleaning services for a fee. All laundry is returned within 48 hours or on the same day with express service. Suite guests and Elite level members of the Captain's Circle loyalty program enjoy free complimentary laundry and cleaning service (except same-day service, which incurs a charge).

Royal Caribbean laundry

Royal Caribbean does not have self-service laundry facilities on any of its ships.

The line provides added-cost valet laundry services on all ships. Passengers can pay per item or send a bag of items to be washed and folded for a fixed price by leaving them with their room stewards. Those with Diamond Plus status in the line's Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program receive one free wash-and-fold bag of laundry (on sailings of five or more nights).

Bottom line

Cruise lines offer varied laundry services, so you can choose what works best for your time frame and budget so your clothing stays in tip-top shape while you cruise.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Princess Cruises Laundry Costs

Most modern day cruise ships usually feature a launderette, but if you don’t feel like doing it yourself this post will outline the cost of having your laundry done for you. This is very handy for when you are cruising for longer periods.

The prices quoted below are for a regular next day service, if you require same day service (pick up by 9am returned by 6pm) add 50% to the advertised price.

We also have laundry prices for the following cruise lines, Marella , Celebrity , Virgin Voyages , P&O and Cunard so you can find out how these cruise line laundry prices compare.

How much does it cost to wash and press items on Princess Cruises?

Wash and press –.

Shirts/Blouses  $3.50

Formal Shirts/Blouses  $4.25

Colour/white T shirts  $2.75

Trousers/Jeans/Pants/Slacks  $4.50

Undershirts  $1.50

Undershorts/Panties  $1.25

Slips/Petticoat  $2.25

Brassieres  $1.75

Handkerchiefs  $1.00

Socks  $1.25

Nightgowns/Pajamas  $3.75

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

How much does it cost for dry cleaning on Princess?

Cleaning –.

Evening Dresses  $11.50

Dresses  $9.50

Suit 2 Pieces  $10.00

Jackets  $5.50

Trousers/Pants/Slacks  $5.00

Skirts  $5.00

Coats  $8.25

Shirts/Blouses  $4.00

Sweaters  $5.00

Polo/Golf Shirts  $3.50

Shorts  $3.75

Vests/Waistcoats  $2.75

Ties  $2.75

Also note charges for a press only service are 80% of the cleaning price.

Useful links –.

Sky Princess Cabins

Princess Plus Package

Ocean Medallion – What does it do?

Regal Princess Cruise Ship review – Seacation Vlogs

Princess Cruise Videos

Want early access to our You Tube Videos and be the first to know when we book a cruise?

Join our Patreon Community here

Become a member of our You Tube Channel

Planning a land based holiday, flights, bucket list trip, cruise or honeymoon then we recommend using Dan Hammond of GoCruise&Travel who you can be contacted here by email – [email protected] and telephone 01622 891895 and via their website here.

He has found us some great deals and using a travel agent takes all the anxiety away of booking and coordinating complicated itineraries.

Find our favourite travel, cruise and motorhome accessories in our Amazon Shop.

Book your hotels with Booking.com . here.

Sign up for our NEWSLETTER by completing the box on our  home page .

We are an Amazon Affiliate and this post contains affiliate links which means we may receive a commission if you click a link. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and runnin g!

Do follow us on social media so we can take you along on our future travels!

Share this content with your friends!

Related blogs, travel agent – why we have decided to start using one.

10 Reasons to Cruise on the Anthem of the Seas

Cruise Ship Cabins – How to pick the best one for you!

Laundry on a Cruise: Everything You Need to Know

By: Author Carrie Ann Karstunen

Posted on Published: September 7, 2022  - Last updated: December 4, 2022

Taking care of laundry on a cruise ship doesn’t need to be a hassle! Most cruise ships offer several options to clean your clothes while you cruise.

Doing laundry on a cruise likely isn’t the first thing you think about when you’re planning a dream vacation at sea. But unless you’re taking your entire wardrobe along with you, you’ll probably find yourself wanting to wash and re-wear at least a few key items before the end of your sailing.

Access to laundry is so important if you’re trying to pack light for your cruise !

Thankfully, most ships have several ways to clean your clothes on a cruise—handy retractable clotheslines for drip-drying delicates, self-serve laundry rooms with washers and dryers, wash-and-fold service, even dry cleaning.

Here’s everything you need to know about doing laundry on a cruise .

Self-service laundry on cruise ships

Many mainstream, premium, and even luxury cruise lines offer self-service laundry rooms on most, if not all, of their ships.

Located within easy access of guest rooms (yes, you won’t need to lug a basket of unmentionables clear across the Lido Deck), many ships offer washing machines, dryers, clothes irons, folding tables, and even rinsing sinks.

Although some cruise lines (like Norwegian) have removed DIY laundry rooms from older ships and no longer include them in their new ships, many still offer this budget-friendly amenity.

Princess and Disney have laundry rooms on all vessels, and Carnival offers them for guests on all but their newest ships.

Surprisingly, ultra-premium and luxury cruise lines almost always have laundry rooms for guests! Azamara, Cunard, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, and Silversea all offer this option.

How much is self-serve laundry on a cruise?

On most mainstream and premium cruise lines that offer self-service laundry rooms, there’s a small fee for each wash and dry cycle.

Prices can vary, but expect to pay between $2.50 and $4 (USD) for each wash and dry.

Laundry detergent, bleach, and fabric softener (dryer sheets or liquid) are usually an extra charge, and will be available in the launderette.

Luxury cruise lines usually offer free wash and dry cycles, and include free laundry detergent as well.

How do you pay for self-serve laundry on a cruise?

Historically, self-service laundry rooms on cruise ships were coin-operated, using quarters just like land-based laundromats.

But today, you can pay for most ships’ laundry facilities using your cruise card (or RFID-enabled medallion if your ship has that technology) to charge your onboard account.

Some older cruise ships still have coin-operated machines. If you don’t have enough quarters (or equivalent coins if your ship’s currency isn’t USD), just visit Guest Services for change.

Cruise pro tip: Consider packing a small ziploc bag of powdered detergent and some fabric softener sheets in your luggage. You’ll save money compared to buying overpriced detergent on the ship, and you can choose your favorite brand and scent.

When is the best time to do laundry on a cruise?

Some cruise lines offer 24/7 laundry rooms , and others have specific open hours, often closing when the ship is in port. Check your daily planner for times.

If you’d rather not have to wait for washers, dryers, or irons, cruise ship laundry rooms are busiest on sea days. A sea day afternoon before formal night is prime time in the launderette!

To avoid crowds, plan to do your laundry in the early morning or after dinner.

Wash-and-fold service on cruise ships

If your cruise ship doesn’t offer self-service laundry rooms (or if you’d rather pay someone else to do the task), the wash-and-fold service is a good alternative.

But it can be expensive! The cost per item will be listed on a price list in your stateroom closet, along with a bag to send your laundry out.

Prices vary by cruise line, but expect to pay about $2-3 for underwear, socks, or swimsuits, $3-4 for a t-shirt or top, $5-6 for jeans or shorts, and $8-10 for dresses.

Cruise pro tip: Watch for the daily planner that’s delivered to your stateroom each evening. It will sometimes include a flyer for discounted wash-and-fold service by the bag!

How quickly will my laundry be returned on a cruise?

As a general rule, you’ll get your clean laundry back in your stateroom within 48 hours. Some cruise lines promise a 24-hour turnaround, as long as your laundry bag is picked up by the morning’s cutoff.

Need your laundry back ASAP? Many cruise lines offer same-day express service for an additional fee.

How to get free wash-and-fold laundry service on a cruise

Many cruise lines offer free wash-and-fold laundry to guests who have reached an elite level in their loyalty program.

On Carnival cruises, guests who reach Platinum status are eligible for up to five free bags of laundry, depending on the length of the sailing. Diamond members can take advantage of unlimited free laundry service!

Royal Caribbean doesn’t offer free bags of laundry until you hit the Diamond Plus tier, but they do give discounts for Platinum and above.

Check your cruise line’s loyalty benefits to see if you’re eligible for free or discounted laundry on your next cruise.

Will the cruise ship laundry service ruin my clothing?

If you’re very careful with your favorite clothes—you sort them by color and only wash in cool or warm water—I’d avoid the wash-and-fold service for most of your clothes, even if it’s free.

But here’s what I send out for wash-and-fold service on a cruise:

• Boxer shorts / briefs
• Women’s or girls’ plain underwear without any lace trim or embellishment
• Plain cotton jersey camisoles / layering tanks
• Cotton or acrylic socks
• Oversized t-shirts
• Oversized sweatshirts / hoodies
• Oversized PJs or sweatpants

It’s a good idea to avoid sending delicate items or anything that could shrink. If you’d be devastated if the laundry team ruined (or lost) a piece of clothing, don’t send it out.

Dry cleaning on cruise ships

Especially if you’re sailing on a luxury or more traditional cruise line with formal nights, the question of how to take care of dry-cleaning on a cruise ship always comes up.

Do cruise ships offer onboard dry cleaning?

Many cruise lines offer dry cleaning , though most are moving towards more environmentally-friendly professional cleaning services.

You’ll sometimes see this called wet cleaning or wet/dry cleaning. I won’t pretend to be an expert on any of these processes, but they’re the only cleaning service offered on cruise ships for items like suits and formalwear.

I’d never send a super-delicate item to be dry-cleaned on a cruise ship. I’d probably also avoid sending beaded or sequined dresses or tops.

But a basic suit or dress for formal night? Especially if you’ve only packed one dressy outfit and it needs to be cleaned and pressed for the next elegant evening, this is the best option.

Cruise pro tip: I always pack some at-home dry cleaning packets if my ship has a launderette. With just 20 minutes in the dryer, our suits and dresses come out wrinkle-free and smelling fresh.

Ironing clothes on a cruise ship

Many new cruisers are shocked when they realize their stateroom doesn’t include an iron and ironing board, as many hotel rooms do.

Even savvy land travelers who come prepared with a mini travel iron or clothes steamer face a similar shock when security confiscates their tools on embarkation day .

Clothing irons (and even steamers) can be a major fire hazard on cruise ships, so the crew carefully controls how and where guests use irons.

If your cruise ship has a laundry room, there will be an iron and ironing board. Usually they’re very easy to spot, but sometimes they’re a bit hidden!

Cruise pro tip: You can’t take an iron on a cruise, but you can pack a hair straightener! Your styling tool can do double-duty as a touch-up iron to flatten shirt collars and smooth out wrinkly hems.

Once on a Carnival cruise, I spent an entire hour on a sea day trying to iron my dress for formal night. I visited every single laundry room on the ship looking for one with an ironing board.

Convinced that other guests had commandeered all of the ironing boards, I approached a room steward in the hallway and explained my situation. He led me to the nearest launderette and showed me the pull-down ironing board hidden behind a gray door that I had assumed was an electrical panel.

So if the ironing board isn’t in plain view, try exploring the laundry room more to see where it might be hiding.

What if you need an iron and your cruise ship doesn’t have self-serve laundry?

On many cruise lines and cruise ships without self-service laundry rooms (and on some that do!) you can order an iron and ironing board to be delivered to your room.

Just ask your stateroom attendant, or call housekeeping from your stateroom phone.

Read more: How to Prevent Wrinkled Clothes on a Cruise

Hand-washing clothes on a cruise ship

I get it, no one wants to spend their precious cruising time hand-washing clothes in the sink. But there are a few instances where it just makes sense.

If you’re spending lots of time in the pool or hot tub or at the beach, you’ll probably want to rinse all of that chlorine (or saltwater) out of your swimsuits.

Or maybe you’re doing a lot of hiking in port, like I did on my Alaska expedition cruise . Instead of buying seven full sets of wool socks and base layers (that would get expensive), I just packed a couple of each and washed them in the stateroom sink at night.

If you’ve taken my tip to pack a small baggie of powdered detergent, just use a tiny bit of that in the sink. Or in a pinch, you could always use a squirt of body wash or shampoo—cruise lines almost always provide a basic version of these staples.

Then hang your clothes to dry right in your shower. Most cruise ship bathrooms include a retractable clothesline for drip-drying clothes. I recommend packing some clothespins or pool towel clips (gotta love those cruise accessories that serve more than one purpose!)

Cruise pro tip: If you have a balcony, resist the urge to hang your wet items outside. It’s pretty likely that a gust of wind will whip your clothes right out to sea.

How to corral all that dirty laundry on a cruise

In a tiny cruise stateroom (especially in a 150-sq.ft-ish inside cabin ), the dirty clothes situation can quickly get out of control if you don’t have a central location for it.

A pop-up laundry hamper takes up almost zero room in your suitcase, and is a great way to keep your cruise cabin looking tidy.

Cruise pro tip: Reminding your cabin-mates that your room steward will be in once or twice a day to vacuum and make the bed can be an excellent motivator for them to put dirty laundry in the hamper. These hard-working crew members can’t clean if there’s dirty laundry everywhere!

Re-wearing clothes on your cruise

Before I go on about dirty laundry on a cruise, I need to share something really important.

It’s OK to re-wear clothes on your cruise.

Really. No one cares.

Even if you’d never be caught dead re-wearing the same piece in a short time at home, it’s different on a cruise. We’re all living out of a suitcase!

I mean, unless you spill a strawberry daiquiri on your shirt, or you work up a major sweat on a shore excursion, your jeans, sundresses, or cardigans are probably totally fine for a re-wear. Just hang them up and air them out.

Worried about wrinkles or odor? A quick spritz with a travel-sized wrinkle release spray takes care of it all.

Packing clothes away that you won’t wear again during your cruise

Unless you’ve booked a super-long cruise, you’ll probably have some clothes you’ll only wear once and then take back home to wash.

I’m talking underpants, socks, camis—maybe even t-shirts and other tops on a shorter sailing.

I like to hang up a “pack it back in the suitcase” bag, either in the closet or on the back of the bathroom door. You can use a mesh laundry bag , or even re-purpose a large, sturdy plastic shopping bag with handles.

Once it’s full, it goes back inside one of the suitcases I’ve stashed under the bed, ready for my post-cruise laundry session at home. Yippee!

Which cruise lines have laundry options on board?

Almost every cruise line offers at least send-out laundry services on each ship. Many also offer self-service laundry rooms and/or dry cleaning.

See the chart below to find out what laundry options your cruise line offers:

FAQ about laundry on a cruise ship

Many (but not all) cruise lines offer self-service laundry rooms for guests. Popular cruise lines with self-serve launderettes include Carnival, Disney, and Princess.

Many cruise lines offer dry cleaning or wet/dry cleaning on board for a fee per item.

Personal clothing irons and steamers can be a fire hazard on a cruise, so cruise lines will confiscate them at embarkation. But many ships offer pressing services and/or the use of an iron and ironing board.

Have you ever done your own laundry on a cruise ship? Or do you send it out to be washed or dry cleaned? I’d love to hear your opinions in the comments below!

Liked this post? Pin it for later!

• Recent Posts

• Azamara Room Service – Everything You Need to Know - March 19, 2024
• Carnival Corporation Unveils New Solar Park at Amber Cove - March 8, 2024
• Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas Cruise Compass – 7 Days Bahamas + Perfect Day 2024 - March 7, 2024

Related posts:

Home » Cruise Tips » How You Can Do Laundry on Cruise Ships: Tips & Tricks

How You Can Do Laundry on Cruise Ships: Tips & Tricks

Can you do laundry on a cruise and how? The answer is yes, and we cover it all in our guide to laundry on cruise ships.

Share this post:

When packing for a cruise and putting together outfits, you may wonder whether you can pack fewer pieces of clothing and do laundry while on the ship to save space. While the methods of laundry-doing vary based on the ship, the answer is yes — cruise ships have laundry facilities. How can you do laundry on a cruise? We cover it all in our guide to laundry on cruise ships.

Can you do laundry on a cruise?

When it comes to doing laundry on cruise ships, laundry service is an option where you pay a fee for crew members to do your washing and folding for you. Many vessels also include self-service laundry rooms where guests can do it themselves.

On most vessels, there are washers and dryers available on multiple stateroom decks that guests can use. For ships that don’t have self-service laundry rooms — or you don’t want to spend precious vacation time doing laundry — there’s valet laundry service. And we cover the specifics of each below.

EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Get Deals on Your Next Cruise!

Self-Service Laundry Rooms

Not every cruise ship has the option for self-service laundry, but on vessels that do you can expect to find a laundry room on some or all of the decks of the ship that are primarily dedicated to cabins. They include rows of washers and dryers, and usually spots to fold and iron clothes.

On some premium and luxury cruise lines, such as Cunard and Viking, self-service laundry is completely free — all the way down to the detergent. But most cruise lines charge separate fees for detergent and use of the washers and dryers. Guests can pay these fees in the laundry room usually using their cruise card (but you might find ones that accept change, as well).

Keep in mind that the number of washers and dryers is extremely limited and you should strategically plan when to do laundry to find an open washer. On a recent Disney cruise, I had to give up on finding an open washing machine for a while and come back later because they were all full — and when I did find one, it was many decks away from my cabin. Once you do find a washer, be sure to go back to the laundry room as soon as your clothes are done so that you can keep things moving for others.

Cruise Ship Laundry Service

For those who want their laundry done for them (you are on vacation, after all!) or your ship doesn’t have self-service laundry rooms, the ship offers wash and press laundry service and likely dry cleaning services as well.

To take advantage of this service, you put the articles of clothing that you want washed in the laundry bag provided in your cabin and then leave it out on your bed for your cabin attendant to pick up next time they clean your room.

Most cruise lines charge by article of clothing, with different pricing for different types of garments. Some lines let you fill the bag as full as you can and then charge a flat rate for the entire bag. Dry cleaning services are also available using the same pick-up method. Pricing details are usually on a piece of paper hanging in your stateroom closet. Clothes will typically be cleaned, folded, and back in your stateroom within a couple of days.

If you are building loyalty with a specific cruise line, look into whether laundry service is one of the perks of the higher tiers. Some cruise lines offer things like one free bag of laundry per cruise for those who have high loyalty status.

Can you bring your own laundry detergent on a cruise ship?

When utilizing the self-service laundry option, you are free to bring and use your own laundry detergent if you wish. This is a particularly helpful option for those who are sensitive to traditional detergent that is available for use in the laundry room.

Which cruise lines have laundry facilities?

While pretty much every cruise ship offers some level of laundry service done by the crew, not every ship has self-service laundry rooms. Furthermore, on many cruise lines the answer to this question is mixed: some lines’ ships might have self-service launderettes while others in the fleet do not.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, look up the laundry services that are available on your specific ship prior to sailing. As an overview, these cruise lines have self-service laundry rooms on at least some of their ships:

• Azamara (complimentary)
• Carnival Cruise Line (fee)
• Cunard (complimentary)
• Disney Cruise Line (fee)
• Holland America Line (fee)
• Oceania Cruises (fee)
• Princess Cruises (fee)
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises (complimentary)
• Seabourn (complimentary)
• Silversea Cruises (complimentary)
• Viking Ocean (complimentary)

Notably, lines that do not have self-service laundry rooms include Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, and MSC Cruises.

Washing laundry on cruise ships by hand

As a third option for doing laundry on cruise ships when you’re in a pinch or don’t want to pay for washing machines or laundry service, you can always hand-wash items in your stateroom sink or shower.

You can bring detergent for this, or use some of the provided bar soap or shower gel if needed. This is a good option if you get food on a piece of clothing and want to wash it out as quickly as possible, or if you just have a few pieces you want to wear again later during the voyage and don’t want to go through the hassle and cost of laundry service.

Speaking of getting food on your clothes, it’s good to know how to remove common stains from clothes while traveling. An effective and easy option is to buy the Tide – To Go stain stick or the Shout Wipe & Go stain remover and spot treat stains as they happen. For many stains, things like baking soda or dish soap are also effective; if you/your family are prone to stains consider packing small travel sizes. If you get blood on your clothes, remember that cold water is best for getting it out.

How to dry clothes on a cruise ship

There are a few options for drying clothes while on a cruise ship. If you’re using the self-service laundry room, the obvious answer is to use a dryer once your clothes are done in the washing machine.

If you have articles of clothing that you don’t want to shrink and would rather they hang dry instead, the bathroom in your cabin should have a retractable laundry line that you can pull out and hang your clothes there. You can also hang wet swimsuits after a day in the pool or on the beach.

It may be tempting to drape wet towels and clothes over your balcony railing or across your balcony furniture to dry in the fresh ocean breeze. However, this is not recommended and many cruise lines have rules against it — and to enforce the rule, your cabin steward will bring them inside. This is because it’s easy for the wind to pick up things left out on the balcony and blow them off the ship or to a deck below, and no one wants belongings ending up in places they shouldn’t be.

How to iron clothes on a cruise ship

One of the worst things about traveling where clothes are concerned is how wrinkly some of them are by the time you get there. Being packed tightly in a suitcase is not conducive to freshly-pressed looking shirts and pants!

First thing’s first on ironing aboard a cruise ship: you can’t bring your own iron or clothing steamer. If you try, security will confiscate it, and you won’t get it back until you get off the ship at the end of the sailing. Thankfully, you do have options that prevent you from walking around looking like you slept in your clothes the night before.

For ships that have the self-service laundry rooms, you should find an ironing board there along with an iron that’s free for guests to use. Unlike in a hotel, there isn’t an iron in every cabin on a cruise ship; there are far fewer irons than that and they’re usually in a communal space for fire safety purposes. If you want to utilize the valet laundry service option, your clothes will come back to you freshly pressed and ready to wear.

If you don’t really want to bother with laundry during your trip and don’t need your clothes to be perfectly crisp, pick up a small bottle of Downy wrinkle release spray. You just hang the piece of clothing, spray it all over, and let it dry. You can also hang wrinkly clothes in the bathroom while you take a shower, allowing the steam to hopefully release some of the worst wrinkles.

How does laundry work on a world cruise?

Laundry on cruise ships becomes more of a concern the longer a voyage is — especially if it’s a months-long sailing like a world cruise . Cruise lines that offer world cruises generally choose ships for those sailings that include self-service laundry rooms. In many cases, they make self-service laundry free — even if it usually incurs a fee on that line’s other shorter cruises. Sometimes laundry service is even part of the world cruise fare.

For example Royal Caribbean, which does not have self-service laundry on its ships, is currently on its first world cruise. To accommodate the special sailing, they outfitted the ship that’s operating the itinerary (Serenade of the Seas) with self-service laundry facilities that guests can use for free — they just have to provide their own detergent which is available to buy in the shop onboard. They are also giving world cruise passengers the perk of three free bags of laundry service per week.

BOOK NOW: Get the Top Cruise Deals!

Do you typically do laundry on cruise ships? Do you like when cruise lines have self-service facilities or do you prefer to use the for-fee laundry services? Drop us an anchor below to share whether you typically take time to do laundry on a cruise.

Related Posts

Cruiseline module – Remove Title

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up to our newsletter!

DB & The Princess

Welcome Aboard! We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Are you ready to embark on your journey to “sea the world, one port at a time”?

What’s Trending

Contact Us: [email protected]

• WHERE TO GO
• CHERRY BLOSSOMS
• FALL COLORS

Diamond Princess laundry room! (how to do laundry on your own)

Princess cruise ships have laundry rooms so you can do laundry on your own.

It’s also possible to send your clothes through the laundry service so you don’t need to do laundry on your own.

But this will focus on how to do laundry on your own.

So when you are on a Princess cruise, you can wash your clothes and dry your clothes in the laundry room.

It’s basically token-operated laundry that you can do on your own at any time.

It’s easy to get tokens, and you will get these tokens in the laundry room at the time you want to do laundry.

You will use your Princess medallion to get the tokens.

The Princess medallion is like a room key that you’ll get before you get on your cruise, and you can use it to pay for laundry too.

If you want to know exactly where your nearest laundry room is before you get on the ship, you can search for the deck plan for the cruise ship you will be on.

For example, here is the Diamond Princess deck plan . Click on “staterooms” and search for the deck your cabin is on, and see where the “laundromat” is located.

Laundry rooms aren’t on every deck.

So if you don’t see one on the deck of your cabin, you can then search for another deck that’s directly above and below yours to see where the nearest laundry room is.

More for your Princess cruise:

• Princess cruise breakfast room service
• Desserts on a Princess cruise
• Juice bar on a Princess cruise

How to do self-service laundry on a Princess cruise ship (on your own)

• Go to the nearest laundry room
• Buy tokens for the washing machine, dryer, and laundry detergent
• Place your clothes and laundry detergent in the washing machine, insert the tokens, and start the laundry machine!
• Wait 35 minutes for the washing machine to finish
• Place your clothes in the dryer, insert the tokens, and start the dryer!
• Wait 55 minutes for the dryer to finish
• You have clean clothes!

I did laundry on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in March 2023. Your experience may vary!

So when it’s time to do laundry, you will go to the nearest laundry room.

You can just walk right into the laundry room.

You’ll see the token machine, the machine to buy laundry detergent.

Yes there is laundry detergent on the cruise ship so you don’t need to pack that either! You might want to pack a few dryer sheets in a ziplock bag, though!

And then of course you’ll see the washing machines and dryers.

• Samurai training
• Japanese calligraphy class
• Traditional tea ceremony + you get to wear a kimono!
• Ninja lesson
• Make ramen from scratch!
• Sushi making experience
• Sumo training!

There’s also an ironing board.

There was also a chair if you want to stay in the laundry room while you wait for your clothes to wash and dry, with a TV to entertain you. (There are a few live channels.)

So when you are ready to do laundry, you’ll go to the token machine.

To get started, you’ll touch the screen.

Basically you just follow the prompts.

You’ll input what you want tokens for.

You can buy the tokens for washer, dryer, and laundry detergent all at the same time.

The laundry detergent is a “vended product.”

I bought just the washer and laundry detergent first so I wouldn’t have to keep track of the extra token for the dryer. 🤣

Then you’ll “purchase now” to be taken to the next screen.

This is where you’ll place your Princess medallion on the spot.

And just like that, you’ve paid for your laundry and you’ll receive the tokens!

So now that you have your token, next you can buy the laundry detergent from the machine that is right next to the token machine.

The tokens for the washer and dryer are the same, but the token for the laundry detergent are different from the washer/dryer.

So you can try one and if that doesn’t work then try the other.

And then you have your laundry detergent!

So now that you have your detergent, you will place your clothes and laundry detergent in the washing machine.

Then you’ll place the token in the slot, and then press the type of washing cycle you want!

Then, you can set the timer on your phone for however many minutes the washing machine shows is remaining!

Then… go for a walk around the cruise ship while you wait for it to finish!

So once I returned back to the laundry room, I bought another token for the dryer that I didn’t buy before.

Once again, you’ll insert the token in the slot, and then this time press the dryer cycle you want!

Then, you can set the timer on your phone for however many minutes the dryer shows is remaining!

Then once again you can leave and come back once it’s finished!

And now you’ve finished your laundry on a cruise ship!

How much does laundry cost on Princess cruise ships?

The cost of the washing machine was $3.

The cost of the dryer was $3.

The cost of the laundry detergent was $1.50.

So the total cost to do one load of laundry on a Princess cruise ship is $7.50.

The iron is free.

This is how much it cost me on the Diamond Princess in March 2023!

HAPPY DOING LAUNDRY ON A PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP!

Prep for a Princess cruise:

• Princess cruise food (+ MDR dinner menu)
• Desserts menu
• How to make dining reservations
• Breakfast room service
• Premium desserts
• What to watch on your stateroom TV  (really!)
• Inside a cruise ship bathroom
• Checking in:  cruise boarding time
• When you’re on the ship:  Future cruise deposit
• Princess cruise daily onboard activities

Is a JR pass worth it?!

• Google maps can make it easy to figure out whether or not you should get a JR pass!
• In google maps, type in your departure and arrival city, and choose the transit icon. The route will come up, and so will the estimated cost at the bottom!
• Here is an example of a train route with cost on google maps.
• So do that for all of your long distance routes to figure out how much it might cost.
• Next, go here to see how much a JR pass costs from an official JR pass vendor (and partner of this website).
• And compare!
• Not all forms of public transportation are JR, but long distance shinkansen bullet trains are, and that's where the most cost savings will come.

Best of Kyoto (and Japan!)

• Best temples to visit in Kyoto
• Japanese gardens in Kyoto

Is There Laundry on a Cruise Ship?

While it depends on which cruise line you’re traveling with, it’s always good to know whether there are laundry facilities on board should you need to clean any of your or your family’s clothes.

This is especially helpful if you have younger kids who can get through multiple outfits a day and occasionally mess your own up!  This is on top of changing your clothes multiple times a day, whether it be swimwear, sportswear, and dressing for dinner.

Knowing the onboard services before you set off can help you decide what to pack when you know whether you can wash it yourself using self-service laundry or the laundry facilities provided by the ship.  

It can also help in needing to pack fewer clothes and save on baggage costs, as well as making embarking and disembarking easier all around with less luggage.

Below we have thoroughly researched which cruise lines offer self-service and what you can expect to pay for those that charge for laundry services.

Can You do Laundry on a Cruise?

Most cruise lines offer a laundry service for which you are usually expected to pay a fee.

Some cruise lines of the additional option of self-service laundry facilities, so you can opt to wash and dry your clothes yourself using the facilities provided.    Most of these also typically incur costs for usage.

You’ll typically find a labeled laundry bag in your stateroom when using the cruise ship laundry service.  Simply fill it with the clothes you want to be washed and dried, and it will be collected by your cabin steward and returned once finished.

For an additional fee, you can also pay to have your items of clothes pressed, especially as most cruise lines do not allow guests to use or bring irons on a cruise ship or clothes steamers on cruises .

Do Cruise Ships have Laundry Rooms?

While most cruise lines offer laundry service, they don’t all have laundry rooms available for public use.  If you intend to do your laundry while on the cruise, it’s best to check in advance that laundry facilities are available.  

We cover what the leading cruise lines offer below.

Which Cruise Ships have Self-Service Laundry?

Many cruise lines do office self-service laundry facilities, including the main lines listed below:

• Carnival Cruises
• Crystal Cruises
• Disney cruises
• Holland America cruises
• Oceania Cruises
• P&O Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas
• Viking Ocean Cruises

The cruise lines listed below do not offer self-service laundry facilities:

• Celebrity Cruises
• Costa Cruises
• MSC Cruises
• Norwegian cruises
• Royal Caribbean Cruises

It is also rare to find self-service laundry facilities on most river cruise lines.

How Much Does it Cost to Have Laundry Done on a Cruise Ship?

Laundry costs will vary between cruise lines and ships, and whether you choose to have your laundry done for you or do it yourself using the self-serve laundrettes.   Wash and press prices range from $1 for socks to $12  for a dress.  Some lines offer the option to pay by the laundry bag full at a cheaper rate, for example, $35.

Below we take a closer look at the prices for individual cruise line’s laundry services.

Cost of Self-Service Laundry on a Cruise

The cheaper option is to use the self-service washing machines and dryers, you can expect to pay in the region of $3.50 per load, $7.00 in total if you use a washer and dryer for one load.

Most cruise line self-serve laundry rooms will have a detergent dispenser where you can buy your detergent.

Typically soap, bleach, and softeners will cost around $1.50 to $2.00 each.

Consider taking your detergents and fabric softeners onboard if you want a cheaper option. 

Carnival Cruise Laundry 

Carnival Cruise lines offer both self-service and valet laundry services.

Does Carnival Cruises Have Self-Serve Laundry Room?

Carnival Cruise ships have self-service laundry rooms, which can typically be found on decks that are predominantly staterooms.

The video below shows how quick and easy it is to get started using the self-service washing machines.

If you don’t have any of your own, purchase some detergent and softener using your Sail and Sign card.

Select a machine or dryer for your washing.

Pay and start the wash or dryer quickly and easily via the Laundry Room Controller Machine using your Sail and Sign card.   

Exceptions: Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee, and Mardi Gras do not have any washers or dryers.  They do have designated ironing rooms.

Carnival Luminosa also does not have any washers or dryers and also doesn’t have any ironing rooms.

Do Carnival Cruise Ships have Laundry Facilities? 

Instead of doing your laundry yourself, you can use the onboard valet services.

On Carnival Cruises, you can use the carnival laundry bags you find in your cabin, which you can then have collected by your cabin steward for a fee.

The standard turnaround for Carnival laundry is 48 hours. Although there is an option to Express 1-day service, you’ll have to pay 50% more.

You can pay for individual items opting for wash and fold, wash and press or, on select ships, wet-dry cleaning technology.

Members of the Carnival VIFP program may be entitled to Complimentary Wash & Fold laundry services,  which currently offers Platinum Members  “ 2 bags on 3 – 6 day cruises, 3 bags on 7-13 day cruises, 5 bags on a 14+ day cruises ”, as one of its many Platinum benefits, see the rest here .

Passengers staying in the Carnival Excel Suites are also entitled to a complimentary laundry service. 

You can find the current Carnival Cruise self-serve and Valet laundry price list here , but note prices may vary depending on which ship of the fleet you are traveling on.

If you have several items, it’s worth checking out the laundry specials.

Royal Caribbean Laundry Services & Prices

Royal Caribbean does not offer any self-service laundry facilities.

You can pay to use the wash and press and dry cleaning services for which you can pay per item.  

For a 50% surcharge, you can opt for the Express Service.  Clothes need to be picked up before 11 am and will be returned by 5.30 pm.

You may be entitled to it two complementary pressing formal nights if you are a passenger in a Grand Suite. 

Guests staying in Star class suites may also be entitled to complimentary laundry and pressing facilities. 

You can find the Royal Caribbean laundry price list here .

What is the Royal Caribbean Laundry Bag Size?

Royal Caribbean offers a laundry bag offer for smaller items of clothing, currently priced at $34.99. 

The  Royal Caribbean laundry bag is 13.5 inches wide by 23 inches in length.   It’s a good size, and you can fit quite a large amount of clothes in it.  This is handy to know if you are paying by bag.

Norwegian Cruise Laundry Services

Norwegian Cruise lines do not provide any self-service laundrettes.  Passengers can use the onboard wash and press and dry cleaning services.

How Much is Laundry Service on Norwegian Cruises

Fees are charged per item type, and there’s also the option to opt for a laundry bag full for approximately $35.

Some passengers may also benefit from Norwegian’s Latitudes Rewards Program and receive discounts or a complimentary bag of laundry per set number of reward points.

Disney Cruise Laundry

Disney cruise ships offer self-service laundry facilities and onboard laundry and dry cleaning services.

Disney Self-Service Laundrette Facilities  

Self-service washers and dryers cost $3 each a cycle,  and detergents and softeners cost $1. 

After loading the self-service washing machine and dryers, you can use the Disney App to let you know when your laundry cycle has been completed.

Depending on your Disney ship, you can expect between 3 to 7 self-service launderettes, each on different decks.

Disney Paid Laundry Pick-Up Service

Using the onboard laundry services, you can arrange a pick up from your cabin in the laundry bag provided if you let your host or guest Services know by 9. am.  Your laundry will be returned the following day.

You can expect to pay between $3 to $5.00 per item of clothing.  Smaller garments, such as socks, underwear, and handkerchiefs, from $1.20  to $2.10.   Simply fill out the laundry sheet and place your items in the laundry bag.

Disney cruises do not offer any discounts for bulk loads of laundry, they operate on a simple price-per-item basis.

You can expect to have your laundry back by 5:30 the following day.  If you need your clothing sooner, Disney offers two further options.

A same-day 5.30 pm return for items collected by 9 am for a 50% extra charge on listed prices.

An express service where you can have items returned within 3 hours.  This will cost an extra 100%.

Princess Cruises Laundry Rooms

Princess Cruises offer both self-service laundry rooms and wash and press paid services.

The self-service laundry is $3 for a washer and a dryer.   You can pay with your Ocean Medallion.   There’s also the option can buy detergents and fabric sheets for $1.25 and washing powder and dryer sheets for $1.50.

Alternatively, you can pay per item to have your clothes washed and pressed.  Each item is priced individually.   You must pay 50% extra if you want a same-day turnaround.

There’s also the option of paying for a laundry bag for around $25.

Captain’s Circle Elite members are offered complimentary laundry services as part of the membership.

Celebrity Cruises Laundry Services

Celebrity Cruises do not offer any self-service laundry facilities.  They offer a laundry service based on a per-item fee which varies depending on whether you want to wash and press only all the garment dry cleaned.

Simply place your clothes in the Celebrity laundry bag and fill in the form to confirm your clothing items.

Passengers staging in Royal Suite staterooms or other staterooms above this level qualify for the complimentary laundry service. 

An additional option of same-day return service is available for a 50% extra fee. 

Celebrity Cruise Captains Club  Loyalty Program members may be entitled to order 2 complimentary bags of laundry cruises based on their tier level and the number of points they have earned.

Celebrity Cruise Laundry Price List 2023

You can double check current price on the Celebrity Cruise web site here , as well as see full list of Dry CLeaning and Pressing Only prices.

Holland America Laundry Services

Self-service laundrettes are only available on a select few Holland America cruise ships, namely:

• Prinsendam 

Paid laundry services are available on Holland America cruise ships.  The up-to-date price list can usually be found in the stateroom closet.

There are several packages offers that might be worth considering taking advantage of depending on how long you are cruising for:

• Laundry Bag $30
• Unlimited Laundry on a 7-day cruise $63
• Unlimited Laundry on a 14-day cruise $126
• Unlimited Pressing on a 7-day cruise $35
• Unlimited Pressing on a 7-day cruise $70

Typically laundry takes 48 hours to process.

The Holland America Mariners Society Loyalty Program participants may qualify for complimentary laundry and pressing if they meet the 4 and 5-star cruise day credits.

 Also, passengers in category PS-SB may qualify for Complimentary laundry pressing and dry cleaning.

P&O Self-Service Laundrettes

P&O self-service laundrettes washers and dryers are free to use for all passengers, although you will have to buy your detergent.

Alternatively, you can opt To pay for the on-board laundry service fee charged at a fee per item.  This also applies to dry cleaning.

Tips for Doing Your Laundry on Cruise Ship

Take Laundry Bag: If you intend to do your laundry using the self-service facilities, it can be handy to pack your own laundry bag, which also helps you to take your clothes to the laundry room as you simply pick and take it. For it’s our list of top cruise essentials . 

Wrap in A towel: If you forget to take a laundry bag of your own and don’t just want to walk down to the laundry facilities with a bundle of clothes in your arms,  you could wrap them in a large beach towel.  Simply lay a towel flat on a bed and dump your clothes in the middle of the towel and then pull the four corners together to make a bundle you can carry over your shoulder.  

Alternatively, you could use one of your luggage bags to transport your laundry to the laundry room.

Take Your Own Detergent and Softeners: It is much cheaper to take your own detergent and softeners.  As well as saving money, if you prefer particular brands or scents, you can stick with what you are used to and prefer.  Plus, avoid any that may trigger an allergic reaction if that is a possible issue.

Quarters/Change: You might need loose change to operate some washing machines in the laundry rooms, so it may help to save up a few coins in advance.   Or you collect some change at guest services.  

Although more and more cruise lines are moving to cashless, for example, on Carnival, you could use your “Sign and Sail” card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there washing machines on cruise ships.

If there are self-service laundry rooms on your cruise ship, you can expect to find washing machines and dryers in this location. Usually, you’ll have to pay to use them by using change for some form of payment card.

How long Does It Take For Laundry To be Done on a Cruise?

Laundry is typically collected and returned within 48 hours, usually returned the next day.  Most cruise lines also offer a same-day Express laundry service for a higher fee.

What If Your Clothing Is Damaged?

If any of your clothing is returned damaged or discolored, inform your cabin steward of your complaint.  

Typically your clothes are treated with great care, and complaints about the laundry services of any cruise line are extremely rare.   We have never had any issues ourselves.

Some cruise lines will pay up to x10 the cost of the wash and or press fee. Others will have terms that limit refunds to a much lower level.   Royal Caribbean, for example, offers seven times the charged amount.

Cruise lines generally have terms stating they will not be responsible for any shrinkage, broken zippers, color changes, and any items left in or on the clothing.

Related Posts

Can You Bring a Vape on a Cruise?  (2024)

Can You Bring Curling Irons On a Cruise Ship?

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Princess Cruises’ Captain’s Circle loyalty program: Everything you need to know

Among the world's biggest cruise lines, Princess Cruises has one of the more modest loyalty programs.

Unlike rivals Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line , Princess doesn't offer its loyalty club members a free cruise after reaching the top tier. There are no onboard credits for top-tier members like some lines offer (although a change in 2021 did bring discounts for shore excursions and spa treatments at top tiers).

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter.

However, the Captain's Circle, as the Princess Cruises loyalty program is called, does bring a few valuable perks at its higher-level tiers, including discounted internet service and complimentary laundry services.

The Princess Cruises Captain's Circle loyalty program is also one where it is relatively easy to reach a high-level tier. If you love Princess, pay attention to points earning. This way, you can rise through the ranks and snag the best Captain's Circle loyalty program benefits.

Ways to earn points

The points-earning system for the Princess Cruises Captain's Circle loyalty program is a bit convoluted, as it involves two separate tracks — either of which will allow you to rise through its tiers.

For starters, members earn 1 "cruise credit" for each cruise they take. Members also earn 1 "cruise day" for every night spent on a ship. So, on a typical seven-night cruise, you would earn 7 cruise days in addition to 1 cruise credit.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries

Just to make things a little bit more complicated, Princess also doubles your cruise credit earnings if you sail in a full suite (mini-suites, Club Class suites and upgrades to suites are excluded) or sail solo. However, it doesn't double your cruise day count.

So, on a seven-night cruise, you would earn 2 cruise credits and 7 cruise days if you sail in a suite.

While complicated, this system actually works to your advantage, as you have two ways to reach higher tier levels in the Captain's Circle loyalty program. As we'll explain below, you can qualify for elite status either via your cruise credit count or your cruise day count, whichever number gets you to your goal first.

Princess Cruises loyalty levels

There are four tiers to the Captain's Circle program:

• Gold (after your first completed cruise)
• Ruby (from your fourth cruise credit, or 31 to 50 cruise days)
• Platinum (from your sixth to 15th cruise credit, or 51 to 150 cruise days)
• Elite (from your 16th cruise credit on, or 151-plus cruise days)

Getting to the first tier of the program, Gold, is simple. You just have to complete one cruise. It doesn't matter how many cruise credits or cruise days you earn on that first sailing.

However, starting with the second tier, Ruby, you'll need to monitor your progress in accumulating both cruise credits and cruise days. Depending on what type of cruises and cabins you book, you may rise through the ranks faster using one metric or the other.

Related: A beginner's guide to cruise line loyalty programs

Princess Captain's Circle benefits

As is typical for cruise line loyalty programs, the entry-level Gold tier of the Captain's Circle loyalty program doesn't bring all that much in terms of truly valuable rewards. The most alluring benefits at this level are the Preferential Pricing Offers for select sailings that the line extends to Captain's Circle members and early booking discounts known as Captain's Circle Launch Savings.

Additionally, Gold members get:

• Invitations to members-only onboard events
• Access to a Captain's Circle onboard host
• A recognition pin

Upon reaching the Ruby tier, you receive a few more perks. Yet this tier is a bit ho-hum, too. In addition to the Gold-level rewards, you get a new recognition pin, access to a shoreside Captain's Circle Help Desk phone line and an upgrade to Princess' Platinum Vacation Protection plan when you purchase a Princess travel insurance plan at the standard rate.

The latter may seem interesting, but here at TPG, we don't recommend you buy travel insurance through your cruise line. We prefer policies bought through third-party insurers , which often cover things that cruise line policies don't. As a result, we don't put any value on that last benefit.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Princess cruise

You can reach the Ruby level in as few as one cruise if it lasts 31 days or more. However, a more typical cruiser sailing seven-night trips in standard cabins would need to take four cruises to reach the Ruby level.

The elite level that makes a difference

Being loyal to Princess finally starts paying off in a meaningful way once you reach the Platinum level of the Captain's Circle program. Even here, though, the rewards are still relatively modest.

The Platinum level comes with five solid perks:

• Priority boarding
• 50% off MedallionNet internet packages
• 10% off spa treatments
• 10% off photos taken by ship photographers
• Early access to Dine My Way reservations

Priority boarding is a great perk as it means you don't have to wait with the tourist hordes upon arriving at a ship; in theory, this means you can board more quickly and increase the amount of time you have to enjoy the vessel's offerings on the first day. We're just a little surprised that Princess doesn't offer this perk until the third tier of its loyalty program.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

We also really like the 50% discount on internet packages. This is a new perk added in 2021; it replaced an old perk that brought Platinum and Elite members a set amount of complimentary minutes of internet service (150 to 500, depending on the cruise length). The new discount allows Platinum and Elite members to buy a pricey length-of-cruise internet package at half the normal cost.

Some longtime Princess fans were upset with the internet perk change in 2021. They preferred having a limited number of free minutes to having a discount of 50% off a broader, length-of-cruise internet package. However, for anyone who likes their Wi-Fi "always on" so that emails and texts arrive in real-time, the discount on a length-of-cruise package will prove more valuable.

Platinum status also brings access to a disembarkation lounge on the last day of the cruise, where you can have a beverage and light breakfast as you wait to leave the ship.

Additionally, at the Platinum level, you'll receive a special Platinum-level pin.

As is the case with the Ruby level, you can reach the Platinum level in as few as one cruise, though it's not easy. You would need to take an initial sailing of 51 nights or longer. That's quite long, we know, but Princess does offer some very long sailings, including around-the-world trips that extend beyond 100 days.

For a more typical cruiser sailing seven-night trips in standard cabins, it would take six sailings to reach the Platinum level.

Related: The 3 classes of Princess ships, explained

Best Princess Captain's Circle Elite benefits

Alas, there isn't a "wow" perk in the entire Captain's Circle menu. As noted above, unlike some lines, Princess doesn't award top-tier members truly valuable perks such as a free cruise or onboard credits that can be used for any type of onboard spending. (The line used to offer onboard credits based on the number of cruises taken, but it revoked this perk in 2021.) Still, the Captain's Circle's top Elite status tier does come with a few enticing benefits.

Our favorite, by a hair, is the complimentary laundry service that comes with Elite-level status, something that can come in handy (and save you a lot of money) on longer voyages. Note that this complimentary laundry service excludes same-day service.

Elite status also brings:

• Early access to preview and book new itineraries
• 10% discount on shore excursions
• 10% discount at The Shops of Princess
• Priority access to ship-to-shore shuttles
• Priority disembarkation
• A complimentary minibar setup
• Complimentary shoe shines
• In-room canapes on formal nights
• Complimentary afternoon tea in your cabin (schedule this at least six hours in advance)
• Free admission to an onboard wine-tasting event (one per cruise)
• An Elite member pin

You'll have to take 16 seven-night cruises to reach the Elite level, assuming you stay in standard cabins. If you stay in suites, you could reach Elite status in just eight sailings. However, in theory, you also could reach Elite status in just two sailings if they were among the longest sailings on the Princess schedule. You need 151 cruise days to get to the Elite level.

Related: A beginner's guide to picking a cruise line

Note that, as is often the case with cruise line loyalty programs, Princess customers do not have to requalify for status each year. Captain's Circle members keep their points at the end of each year and continue to accrue points indefinitely. That means that someone who hits Elite status will remain at that top tier level forever (or until Princess makes a change to the program).

Such "forever status" is one of the great allures of cruise line frequent cruiser programs. Many airline frequent flyer programs, by contrast, require loyalty members to requalify for status each year.

Bottom line

The Princess Cruises Captain's Club loyalty program offers a few decent perks in the top two of its four tiers, including heavily discounted internet service and complimentary laundry service.

However, the Captain's Circle program is not nearly as robust a frequent cruiser program as those offered by such rivals as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. This is a bit of a surprise to us, as we know that Princess has a lot of very loyal fans who have sailed with the line dozens of times. As we've written about before, the line has some customers who have spent years at sea on Princess ships .

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 15 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Matador Original Series

The Cheapest Ways to Get Your Laundry Done During a Cruise

P acking your suitcase with more clothes is hardly the best way to avoid spending money on laundry during a cruise. What you’ll pay in extra weight and luggage fees at the airport could easily cover the price of getting most of your items of clothing washed. There are affordable ways to get your clothes cleaned and pressed while cruising, so that you can keep your luggage light, can continue wearing all your favorite items of clothing during your trip, and won’t need to haul dirty, stinky clothes in your suitcase all the way back home.

We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to make a purchase.

Look for the onboard laundromat

Some cruise lines, Oceania Cruises and Princess Cruises among them, offer self-service laundromats, equipped with washing machines, dryers, ironing boards, and irons. While some cruise lines offer the use of the laundromats for free, detergent included, others require the purchase of tokens for both the use of the machines and the soap.

While nobody wants to be doing laundry or ironing while on vacation, using the onboard laundromats when available is the cheapest way to get your clothes clean and pressed. Even if you have to pay for a few tokens to wash and dry your clothes, it’ll cost you a lot less than using the onboard laundry service.

Before embarking on a cruise, it’s always a good idea to look closely at the ship’s deck plans to see if there are any laundromats on board. That way, you can pack accordingly by bringing fewer items of clothing with you and even include some easily packable laundry detergent or fabric softener strips if you want to save a few bucks.

The best times to use the onboard laundromats are on sea days, but that’s also when the facilities are at their busiest. Look at the hours of operation and be there at opening time, setting a timer on your phone for when your load ends so you can transfer it all into a dryer and free the washing machine for a fellow cruiser.

Don’t try to wash your clothes by hand

There may be a retractable clothing line in your cabin bathroom, but you should really only use it to dry your damp bathing suit, or hang a humid rain jacket. Washing clothing by hand and hanging it in the windowless bathroom will only result in perpetually dank, mildew-smelling garments. If you have a balcony, don’t attempt to dry hand-washed clothes on the outdoor furniture, there’s a good chance they’ll get blown away and contribute to polluting the world’s oceans.

Examine all the laundry options at your disposal

The cruise lines that don’t offer self-service laundromats usually have a laundry service. A laundry slip hanging in your cabin closet displays all the options at your disposal which generally go as follow:

• Per-clothing-item dry cleaning
• Per-clothing-item laundry
• Laundry by the bag or by the bundle

In my cruising experience, laundry by the bag is the most cost-effective option. Depending on the cruise line and the destination, laundry by the bag costs between $20 and $40 and includes pressing.

On Holland America ships, per-clothing-item laundry charges $2 for a bra and a piece of underwear, $3 for a swimsuit, and $4 for a pair of jeans, while you can get an entire bag of dirty clothes cleaned and pressed for $25 ($35 on high-demand sailings.) Note that there are no self-service laundromat on any of Holland America’s ships, but that unlimited laundry and pressing packages are available.

The laundry bags provided by cruise lines are usually either cotton bags with a draw string or stiff paper bags, measuring around 15 inches in width and 23 inches in length. You can pack as many items of clothing as you wish, as long as they fit inside the bag.

MSC Cruises has a different system, offering a variety of Back Home Clean packages which range from $31 for 10 items to $54 for 40 items. MSC’ laundry package can be booked in advance of the cruise. MSC’s ships do not have laundromats on board.

How to pack a cruise laundry bag in the most cost-saving way

I like a challenge, especially when it comes to saving a few dollars, and I’ve developed a technique to fill cruise laundry bags à la Mary Poppins. First, lay all your items of clothing flat and pile the similar ones on top of each other, i.e. underwear, boxer shorts, t-shirts, pants, etc. Once you have a flat pile of 10 shirts or 15 underwear, fold it up very tightly. Then, stuff the laundry bag with the bigger items first, and add the smaller ones like balled-up socks, underwear, etc. in the nook and crannies that are left. I have packed over 65 items in one single bag in this manner, saving myself the price of another load of laundry.

Be rewarded for your patience

It is very common for cruise lines to offer a laundry-by-the bag deal midway or late in the cruise, reducing the price by $5 or more. If you’re patient enough but act fast when the offer pops up, you can save even more of your hard-earned dollars.

Pack a garment steamer

If your problem is not clean clothes but wrinkle-free clothes but there’s no laundromat on board and you don’t want to pony up for the outrageous pressing fees that cruise lines charge, consider packing a garment steamer with you. Just make sure the cruise line you’re traveling with allows it as some consider such items fire hazards. If not, purchase a bottle of wrinkle-release spray .

Purchase a STNKY laundry bag

More like this

Trending now, this cruise line started its own traveler book club, and you can join for free, this world cruise to 140 countries will set you back as much as $839,999, at $89 a day, this 3.5-year cruise is cheaper than living in most us cities, africa cruises: what to know about the growing cruise destination, 9 new cruise ships launching in the next few years you’ll want to know about, discover matador, adventure travel, train travel, national parks, beaches and islands, ski and snow.

• Princess Cruises

Laundry on Island Princess

By jsumomma , May 13, 2017 in Princess Cruises

Recommended Posts

Does Island Princess have a laundry package where you can pay one price for the week?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Forums mobile app

Link to comment

Share on other sites, magellan321.

No. Pay by the piece or use self service laundry facility.

Colo Cruiser

I have never heard of this on Princess.

Once in awhile they offer a bag full for $20.

Just got off the Island Princess. If you are interested, self service laundry is $3 to wash and $3 to dry. Laundry room hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. We did laundry on a sea day and actually got there a little before 8 so we didn't have to wait for a washer since our cabin was forward and it was quite a hike to the laundry room. This is the first cruise where I brought collapsible folding laundry bags (one for lights, one for darks) and loved having it.

Does Island Princess have a laundry package where you can pay one price for the week?   Sent from my SM-G950U using Forums mobile app

Princess doesn't offer this.

Yep, we love our mesh hamper too! Ours is rectangular with handles. Under $4, has been on 4 cruises with us & still perfect! It sure makes laundry a nicer experience vs a garbage bag or using a suitcase (before I'm forced to :eek: ) Lol! I also like to use the 3-in-1 Wash-Eez laundry sheets. They work great!

Happy Sailing!!

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail Beyond the Ordinary with Oceania Cruises
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 15 hours ago

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 07:36 PM

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 12:53 AM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 07:17 PM

LauraS · Started Monday at 10:08 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

This is the announcement bar for Poornima to test the Close Button.  It will expire May 31 2024.

• Pre-Cruise FAQ
• Onboard FAQ
• Post-Cruise FAQ
• Cruisetours FAQ
• Special Offers Sign Up
• Cruise Deals

You have been logged out

Your window will update in 5 secs

Princess and Brightline Unveil New ‘Rail & Sail’ Program Offering Affordable, Convenient Transportation and Luggage Express Service for Guests Sailing from Florida Ports

New customized train wrap design, special limited time offer herald new partnership.

By downloading this image you agree to the Princess asset use terms and conditions

ORLANDO (April 5, 2024) – Princess Cruises, the world’s most iconic cruise brand, and Brightline, the intercity passenger rail seamlessly connecting travelers to top destinations and major events in Central and South Florida, have joined forces to introduce the innovative Rail & Sail program, offering guests swift and hassle-free access to Princess cruise ships departing from two popular Florida homeports – Fort Lauderdale and Orlando (Port Canaveral).

With Rail & Sail, guests enjoy a seamless journey in luxurious comfort, arriving at their preferred homeport in significantly less time than traditional travel methods.

The announcement also included the debut of a train with four custom-designed cars adorned with Princess’ iconic Love Boat branding, complete with its signature seawitch logo and depictions of popular ports of call. Princess’ branding will also be featured within Brightline’s five terminals throughout Florida.

Also announced was a value-added luggage express service offering guests the ultimate convenience as their bags are checked at their Brightline station and are waiting for them securely in their stateroom upon arrival to the ship.

Princess guests can also enjoy special discounts of up to 15% when booking Smart and Premium Rail & Sail packages through Brightline’s web site. And for a limited time only, guests who book a Princess cruise through May 5 will receive a Brightline credit of up to $150 per person for its signature Smart and Premium class service based on stateroom type.

“A Princess cruise is already the best value in travel and this new partnership with Brightline makes it even easier and more enjoyable to sail with us from the top-rated ports in South and Central Florida,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “Our guests can just sit back, relax, and let us do the rest, including delivering their luggage directly to their stateroom.”

“Brightline has been connecting travelers to South Florida ports since we began operations in 2018 and cruisers from the beginning have found our train to be the easiest way to start their vacation,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “Today’s partnership with Princess Cruises and this train wrap with the iconic Love Boat branding is yet another example of the connection between cruisers and Brightline.”

One-of-a-Kind ‘Rail & Sail’ Service

Princess guests will have access to Brightline’s full schedule of convenient trains departing daily with 16 round-trip transits between Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. Options include:

• Southbound from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale (with stops at West Palm Beach and Boca Raton) 
• Northbound from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando (with stops at Boca Raton and West Palm Beach) 
• South Florida residents can also take Brightline from its downtown Miami and Aventura terminals with stops in Fort Lauderdale or Orlando.

Princess will also provide guests with complimentary motorcoach service between Brightline’s Orlando and Fort Lauderdale stations and their embarkation terminal.

Special Discount Offer, Convenient Luggage Express Service

With the convenient new luggage express service guests can check their bags upon arrival at their Brightline station and their luggage will be automatically delivered to their stateroom, making their cruise experience seamless and hassle-free and saving valuable time and effort. The cost is $35 per bag. Luggage express will be initially available on Orlando-to-Fort Lauderdale trains with plans to add the service to Fort Lauderdale-to-Orlando trains ahead of Caribbean Princess’ arrival and homeport at Port Canaveral in November.

For a limited time only, Princess guests who book a cruise through May 5 will receive a credit that can be used toward Brightline’s signature Premium and Smart class:

• Interior/Oceanview stateroom – $50 per person Brightline credit
• Balcony/Deluxe stateroom – $100 per person Brightline credit
• Mini-Suite/Suite – $150 per person Brightline credit

Brightline’s Smart service includes hand-stitched leather seats, complimentary WiFi and multiple power and USB connections at each seat while Premium service adds complimentary snacks and beverages and access to a Premium Lounge.

Love Boat Sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Space Coast

• Fort Lauderdale:   Princess is one of Port Everglades’ largest cruise operators with seven ships – nearly half its fleet – sailing from Fort Lauderdale. Voyages include week-long getaways to the Caribbean to longer length 10- to 20-day cruises offering guests a chance to explore a host of tropical island destinations, including through the Panama Canal.
• Port Canaveral: Caribbean Princess will inaugurate Love Boat cruises from Port Canaveral November 27, 2024, with a series of four- to 14-day sailings visiting some of the western Caribbean’s most picturesque locales, including Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas, San Juan, Belize, Amber Cove (Dominican Republic) and Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan). The program runs through April 2025.

Additional information on the new Rail & Sail service is available at princess.com/Brightline or gobrightline.com .

Media Contacts

Contact information for members of the media

Negin Kamali, +1 661-753-1539, [email protected]

Briana Latter, +1 661-753-1538, [email protected]

About Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world’s most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that offer elite service personalization and simplicity customary of small, yacht-class ships. Well-appointed staterooms, world class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless activities blend with exclusive Princess MedallionClass service to create meaningful connections and unforgettable moments in the most incredible settings in the world - the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).

Additional media information is available at princess.com/news

Not a member of the media? 

Contact us at: 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) or 1-661-753-0000

More contact information is available on our Contact Us page