Princess Cruise Beverage Policy: What's Allowed in Your Cabin
Princess Cruises allows you to bring your own non-alcoholic beverages into your cabin, but not into dining areas, bars, or public spaces. You can pack soda, water, juice, and other soft drinks in your stateroom without paying extra. The rule exists because Princess makes revenue from their onboard bars and beverage packages, but they recognize passengers want to keep drinks in their private space.
The key restriction is location. Soda you bring aboard stays in your cabin. You cannot carry it to the pool deck, dining room, buffet, or any public area. If staff see you with outside beverages outside your stateroom, they will ask you to return it to your room or dispose of it. This applies even if the soda is unopened.
Key Takeaways
- Non-alcoholic drinks like soda are allowed in your cabin but not in public spaces, dining areas, or on deck.
- You can bring as much soda as fits in your stateroom without paying a fee or declaring it at check-in.
- Alcoholic beverages brought aboard are confiscated at embarkation and returned at disembarkation, regardless of quantity.
- Beverage packages sold onboard cover fountain drinks, specialty coffees, and bottled water at all venues, which some passengers find worth the cost.
How Much Soda Can You Pack?
There is no stated limit on the quantity of soda you can bring into your cabin. You are limited only by your luggage space and what fits in your stateroom. Many passengers pack a full suitcase of 2-liter bottles or cases of cans for a week-long cruise.
Pack soda in your checked luggage, not your carry-on, to avoid baggage weight issues at the terminal. Checked bags are X-rayed but beverages pass through without problem. Bring your own cooler or use the small refrigerator in your cabin to keep drinks cold. Some cabins have mini-fridges; others have full-size refrigerators depending on your cabin category.
What Happens at Embarkation
When you board the ship, your luggage goes through security screening. Staff will see soda in your bags but will not confiscate it. They are looking for alcohol, weapons, and prohibited items—not soft drinks. Your soda will be delivered to your cabin with your other luggage, usually within a few hours of boarding.
If you carry soda in your personal bag as you walk up the gangway, security may ask you to stow it in your cabin rather than carry it through public areas. This is not a prohibition; it is a request to keep beverages out of the corridors and common spaces during the busy boarding period.
Alcohol Is Treated Differently
While soda is welcome in your cabin, alcohol is not. Princess confiscates all alcoholic beverages—beer, wine, liquor, and pre-mixed drinks—at the security checkpoint before you board. This applies to duty-free purchases, bottles you packed, and anything in your luggage. The ship will hold confiscated alcohol and return it to you at disembarkation if you want it back, or you can leave it behind.
The only exception is wine purchased through Princess's wine program, which allows you to order bottles to your cabin for a fee. Passengers cannot bring their own wine aboard, even if purchased at a port of call during the cruise.
Beverage Packages and Fountain Drinks
Princess offers beverage packages that cover unlimited fountain sodas, coffee, tea, and bottled water at all venues. These packages cost extra per day and are optional. If you do not purchase a package, you can order individual drinks at bars and restaurants, which costs more per drink than the package rate.
Bringing your own soda in your cabin is a way to avoid paying for drinks you consume in your stateroom. Many passengers use this strategy to reduce their onboard spending. The trade-off is that you cannot take cabin soda to the pool, dining room, or other public areas, so you will still buy some drinks onboard.
Tips for Packing and Storing Soda
Pack soda in your checked luggage to avoid carrying weight through the terminal. Use plastic bottles rather than glass—they take up less space, weigh less, and are safer if they tip over in your cabin. Two-liter bottles are efficient for cabin storage, but cans are easier to carry if you want to take a few to your balcony (which is technically your private space and allowed).
Your cabin refrigerator has limited space. If you bring a large quantity, you will need to rotate stock and keep some soda at room temperature. Bring a small cooler or insulated bag if you want to keep more drinks cold without filling your fridge. Some passengers also bring a power strip to plug in a small personal cooler, though check your cabin's electrical setup first.
What Happens If You Break the Rule
If staff see you with outside soda in a public area, they will politely ask you to take it back to your cabin or throw it away. This is not a serious violation. You will not be fined, confined to your cabin, or removed from the ship. The crew's goal is to enforce the rule consistently, not to punish passengers.
Repeated violations or attempts to sneak beverages into dining areas may result in a conversation with guest services, but this is rare. Most passengers understand the rule and follow it without incident. The policy is enforced more strictly in formal dining rooms and specialty restaurants than in casual areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring soda to my cabin balcony?
Yes. Your balcony is part of your private cabin space, so soda on your balcony is allowed. You cannot carry it from your balcony into public corridors or shared areas, but enjoying a drink on your own balcony does not violate the policy.
What if I buy soda at a port and try to bring it back to the ship?
You can bring soda purchased at a port back to your cabin without issue. Security screens returning passengers less thoroughly than those boarding at the home port. Soda purchased onboard at ports is treated the same as soda you packed at home—it is allowed in your cabin but not in public spaces.
Do I need to tell Princess I'm bringing soda when I book?
No. You do not need to declare soda or notify Princess in advance. Bring it in your luggage and it will pass through security without question. There is no form to fill out or advance permission needed.
Can I bring diet soda or sugar-free drinks?
Yes. The policy applies to all non-alcoholic beverages regardless of type or brand. Diet soda, regular soda, flavored water, and any other soft drink follow the same rules.
What if my cabin does not have a refrigerator?
Some inside cabins and older staterooms have no refrigerator. You can request a mini-fridge be added to your cabin before you board by contacting Princess in advance, though availability varies. Otherwise, soda will stay at room temperature in your cabin, which is still allowed.