Print your luggage tags from your Princess Cruises account before you arrive at the port

Princess Cruises sends luggage tags to you by email before your sailing date. You print them at home, attach them to your bags, and the cruise line handles the rest at check-in. The tags tell the ship's crew where your luggage should go once it's loaded aboard. You do not need to do anything special—the tags arrive automatically once your booking is confirmed—but printing them ahead of time saves time at the terminal.

Tags usually arrive 30 to 45 days before your departure date. If you have not received them by two weeks before sailing, you can print them yourself from your Princess account online. The process takes about five minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Princess Cruises emails luggage tags to your registered email address automatically, usually 30 to 45 days before your sailing date.
  • You can print tags yourself from your Princess account at princess.com by logging in, finding your booking, and selecting the print option.
  • Attach one tag to each piece of checked luggage using the plastic loop or adhesive strip provided.
  • Bring printed tags with you to the port, or print them at the terminal if you did not print them at home.

Finding and printing tags from your Princess account

Log in to your Princess Cruises account at princess.com using your username and password. Click on "My Bookings" or "Manage My Cruise," then select the cruise you are sailing on. Look for a section labeled "Luggage Tags," "Pre-Cruise Documents," or "Cruise Documents"—the exact name varies depending when your booking was made.

Click the link to view or read your luggage tags. A PDF file will open showing all the tags for your party. The tags are color-coded by cabin number and include a barcode that the ship's system reads at check-in. Print the PDF on standard 8.5 by 11-inch white paper. You do not need special paper or cardstock—regular printer paper works fine.

If you cannot find the tags in your account, check your email inbox and spam folder for a message from Princess Cruises with the subject line "Luggage Tags" or "Pre-Cruise Documents." The email contains a link to read the tags as a PDF. If the email is not there and your sailing is within two weeks, contact Princess Cruises directly at 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) and ask them to send the tags again or print them for you at the terminal.

Cutting and attaching tags to your luggage

After printing, cut out each tag along the dotted lines. Each tag is a small rectangle, roughly 4 by 2 inches. Most printed tags have a plastic loop or string attached to the back, or you can use the adhesive strip on the back to stick the tag directly to your bag.

Attach one tag to the handle of each piece of checked luggage. If you are checking multiple bags, each bag gets its own tag. Make sure the barcode and cabin number are facing outward and are not covered or creased. The barcode must be readable for the ship's baggage system to sort your bags correctly.

Do not attach tags to carry-on bags. Luggage tags are only for checked baggage that you will hand over at the port terminal.

What to do if you forget to print tags at home

You can print luggage tags at the cruise terminal on the day you board. Arrive early enough to allow time for printing—most terminals have a printer station or information desk where staff can print tags for you. Bring your booking confirmation number and a photo ID. The process takes about 10 minutes, but lines can be long during peak boarding times, so printing at home is faster.

If you arrive at the terminal without tags and the printer station is closed or unable to help, tell the check-in agent. They can issue temporary tags or attach a handwritten label to your bags with your cabin number. Your luggage will still reach your cabin, though it may arrive later than bags with printed barcodes.

Understanding what the tags do

Luggage tags are a routing system. When you hand your bags to the check-in agent, they scan the barcode on your tag. The ship's computer reads your cabin number and sends your bags to the correct deck and hallway. Without a tag, baggage handlers have to manually sort your luggage, which takes longer and increases the chance of a bag going to the wrong cabin.

The tag stays on your bag throughout the voyage. You do not remove it when you board. When you disembark at the end of the cruise, you leave your bags outside your cabin the night before, and the crew uses the same tags to sort them for the port terminal.

Printing tags for group bookings and multiple cabins

If your booking includes multiple cabins or a group of travelers, Princess sends one PDF file with all the tags for your entire party. Each cabin gets its own color-coded set of tags. Print all the pages and cut out the tags for each cabin separately. Make sure each person in your group has their own tags attached to their bags.

If you are traveling with family members who have separate bookings, each person receives their own email with their own luggage tags. Print and use only the tags that match your booking confirmation number.

Troubleshooting common tag problems

If your printed tags are hard to read or the barcode is faded, print them again. Do not use a tag with a barcode that is smudged, torn, or partially covered. A barcode that the scanner cannot read will cause delays at check-in.

If you printed tags but they do not match your cabin number, check your booking confirmation. Your cabin number is assigned closer to your sailing date, usually 30 to 45 days before departure. If your tags show a different cabin number than your confirmation email, log back into your account and print the updated tags. Do not use old tags with an incorrect cabin number.

If you lose your printed tags after you cut them out, you can print them again from your account or ask the check-in agent to print new ones at the terminal. There is no charge for reprinting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo of the luggage tags instead of printing them?

No. The barcode must be scanned by a physical reader at check-in, so you need a printed tag attached to your bag. A photo on your phone will not work. Print the tags on paper and cut them out.

What if I have more bags than the tags I printed?

You received one tag per person in your booking. If you are checking more bags than the number of tags, contact Princess Cruises before your sailing date and ask for additional tags. You can also ask the check-in agent to print extra tags at the terminal.

Do I need to print tags for carry-on luggage?

No. Luggage tags are only for checked bags. Carry-on bags do not get tags and go directly to your cabin with you when you board.

What happens if the barcode gets wet or damaged?

If your tag gets wet or the barcode becomes unreadable, print a new one or ask the check-in agent to issue a replacement. Bring your bags to the check-in counter and explain that the tag is damaged. They will attach a new tag before your bags are loaded.

Can I print tags before my cabin number is assigned?

Yes, but they may show a temporary cabin number. Once your final cabin is assigned (usually 30 to 45 days before sailing), log back in and print updated tags. Use the updated tags, not the temporary ones.