Princess Cruise Alcohol Policy: What You Can Pack
Princess Cruises allows you to bring alcohol aboard, but only in your cabin and only in specific forms. You can pack up to 750 millilitres (one standard bottle) of wine or champagne per person in your checked luggage or carry-on. You cannot bring beer, spirits, or any other type of alcohol — only wine and champagne are permitted.
The alcohol must stay in your cabin. You cannot bring it to the dining room, pool deck, bars, or any public area of the ship. If you open a bottle in your cabin, you can drink it there, but you cannot take it outside your stateroom. Any alcohol found in public spaces will be confiscated, and you may face additional charges or restrictions on future sailings.
These rules explore to all passengers, including those in suites. The one-bottle limit is per person, so a cabin with two adults can bring two bottles total. Alcohol purchased at the ship's bars and shops can be consumed anywhere on the ship, but it costs significantly more than bringing your own.
Key Takeaways
- You may bring one 750-millilitre bottle of wine or champagne per person in your luggage, but no beer, spirits, or other alcohol.
- Alcohol must remain in your cabin and cannot be taken to public areas like the pool deck, dining room, or bars.
- Any alcohol found outside your stateroom will be confiscated without refund.
- Alcohol you purchase from the ship's bars and shops can be consumed anywhere on the ship.
How Princess Inspects Luggage at Embarkation
When you board the ship, your luggage goes through a screening process. Staff do not open every bag, but they use X-ray machines and physical inspection on a random basis. If they find alcohol that violates the policy — such as beer, liquor, or more than one bottle per person — they will confiscate it at no refund.
The inspection happens quickly, and most passengers pass through without their bags being opened. However, if your bag is flagged, crew members will examine the contents. If you have packed prohibited alcohol, it will be removed before your bag reaches your cabin. You will not see it again, and there is no compensation or credit toward onboard purchases.
Some passengers try to pack alcohol in checked luggage and others in carry-on, thinking it increases the chance of getting through. This does not change the outcome — both are screened, and the one-bottle limit applies to your total alcohol across all luggage.
What Happens If Alcohol Is Found in Your Cabin
If crew members discover prohibited alcohol in your stateroom during a routine cleaning or inspection, it will be removed and confiscated. You will typically receive a notice in your cabin explaining what was taken. There is no refund, and the incident is logged in your passenger record.
Repeated violations or large quantities of alcohol can result in being asked to leave the ship at the next port, with no refund for the remainder of your cruise. While a single bottle of wine found in a cabin is unlikely to trigger this response, it is still against policy and can affect your standing with Princess Cruises for future bookings.
Buying Alcohol Onboard Instead
Princess Cruises operates bars, lounges, and shops throughout the ship where you can purchase wine, beer, spirits, and cocktails. Prices are higher than what you would pay on land — a glass of wine typically costs between $8 and $15, and mixed drinks run $12 to $18 depending on the drink and your cabin class.
If you drink regularly during your cruise, bringing your own wine can save money. However, if you drink occasionally or prefer trying different options, purchasing onboard may be more convenient. Many passengers buy a bottle of wine in their cabin on the first day and drink it over several days, which is permitted as long as it stays in the stateroom.
Princess also offers beverage packages that include unlimited drinks at bars and restaurants. These packages range from about $15 to $25 per person per day depending on the package level and your cabin class. For some passengers, a package is cheaper than buying individual drinks; for others, bringing one bottle of wine is the most economical choice.
Alcohol Rules in Different Cabin Types
The one-bottle-per-person rule applies equally to all cabin types, including inside cabins, balcony cabins, and suites. Suite passengers do not receive an exception or higher limit. However, suite guests do have access to exclusive lounges and restaurants where they can purchase alcohol, and some suite packages include beverage credits.
If you are traveling with a group and some members are in suites while others are in standard cabins, each person's bottle limit is separate. You cannot pool your allowances or store extra bottles in a suite cabin for the group to share. Each stateroom is inspected independently, and alcohol found in any cabin is subject to the same confiscation policy.
International Cruises and Alcohol Rules
Princess Cruises operates ships that depart from ports in the United States, Europe, Australia, and other regions. The alcohol policy described here applies to all Princess ships regardless of departure port or destination. If your cruise visits ports in countries with strict alcohol import laws, those laws do not override Princess policy — the ship's rules are what matter once you are aboard.
Some passengers wonder whether they can purchase alcohol at ports of call and bring it back to their cabin. You can do this, but the total alcohol in your cabin cannot exceed what the policy allows. If you buy a bottle of wine at a port, you are using part of your one-bottle allowance. Any alcohol beyond that limit will be confiscated when you return to the ship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring wine in my carry-on bag when I board the ship?
Yes, wine can go in your carry-on luggage. However, it will be screened during embarkation, and the one-bottle-per-person limit still applies. If you bring more than one bottle across all your luggage, the excess will be confiscated.
What if I have a medical reason to drink alcohol or take a specific type?
Princess does not make exceptions to the alcohol policy based on medical reasons. If you need to bring specific alcohol for health purposes, contact Princess customer service before your cruise to discuss your situation. They may be able to work with you, but there is no may provide.
Can I bring alcohol back to my cabin from a port of call?
Yes, you can purchase alcohol at ports and bring it back to your cabin, but it counts toward your one-bottle limit. If you already have a bottle in your cabin and buy another at a port, the second bottle will be confiscated when you return to the ship.
Do children's alcohol limits count toward the family total?
Children cannot bring alcohol aboard. The one-bottle limit applies only to adult passengers. If you are traveling with minors, only the adults in your cabin can bring wine or champagne.
What if I forgot about a bottle in my luggage and it gets confiscated?
Confiscated alcohol is not returned or credited toward onboard purchases, regardless of whether the violation was intentional. The policy applies equally to all passengers. If you realize you packed alcohol after boarding, do not attempt to retrieve it or bring it to your cabin later.