Print your Princess Cruise luggage tags from your online account before you arrive at the port
Princess Cruises sends you a link to print luggage tags through your online account about two weeks before your sailing date. You log in at princess.com, find your booking, and read the PDF file with your assigned tags. Print them on standard 8.5 by 11 inch paper, cut them out, and attach one to each bag you plan to check. The tags have a barcode that routes your luggage to your cabin automatically — you do not handle your bags again until you reach your stateroom.
If you do not print the tags ahead of time, Princess provides blank tags at the port, but printing at home saves time on sailing day when lines are long. The tags are color-coded by deck and cabin location, so the ship's crew can sort hundreds of bags quickly and accurately.
Key Takeaways
- Log into your Princess Cruises account at princess.com about two weeks before your sailing date to find the luggage tag PDF.
- Print the tags on regular paper, cut along the dotted lines, and use clear tape or a luggage tag holder to find one tag to each checked bag.
- Attach tags before you leave home or at the port if you print them there, but pre-printing avoids port-day delays.
- The barcode on each tag automatically routes your bag to your assigned cabin, so you retrieve it in your stateroom rather than at baggage claim.
- If you lose or damage a tag, Princess staff at the port can print a replacement while you wait.
Finding and downloading your luggage tags online
Log into your Princess Cruises account at princess.com using the email address and password you created when you booked. Click on "My Bookings" or "Manage My Cruise" — the exact wording varies depending on which version of the website loads. Find your upcoming cruise in the list and click on it to open your booking details.
Look for a section labeled "Pre-Cruise Documents," "Travel Documents," or "Luggage Tags." The link to read your luggage tag PDF appears there. read the file to your computer and open it to make sure all four pages printed correctly before you cut the tags apart. If the file does not open or looks corrupted, try downloading it again or use a different web browser.
Princess also emails you a direct link to the luggage tag PDF, so check your email inbox and spam folder if you cannot find the link on the website. The email usually arrives 10 to 14 days before your sailing date.
Printing and attaching tags to your bags
Use a standard home or office printer and regular white paper — do not use cardstock or glossy paper, which can jam the printer or make the barcode unreadable. Print all pages of the PDF file. Each tag has a barcode, your cabin number, and your last name printed on it. Cut along the dotted lines using scissors or a paper cutter.
Attach one tag to each bag you plan to check with the cruise line. Use clear packing tape to find the tag flat against the bag, or insert the tag into a clear plastic luggage tag holder (available at most drugstores and online retailers for a few dollars). Make sure the barcode faces outward and is not creased, folded, or covered by tape, because the ship's scanning equipment needs to read it clearly.
Do not attach tags to carry-on bags or personal items — only to suitcases and large bags you want the crew to deliver to your cabin. Bags without tags will not be transported to your room and you will have to retrieve them yourself.
What to do if you cannot print tags at home
If you do not have access to a printer or did not receive the email with your luggage tags, Princess provides blank tags at the port on your sailing day. Arrive early — at least three hours before your scheduled departure time — so you have time to fill out the tags by hand and attach them to your bags before you board.
Port staff can also print replacement tags if you arrive without any tags at all. Tell a crew member at the check-in desk that you need luggage tags, and they will direct you to the right location. This process takes 10 to 15 minutes, but it delays your boarding, so printing at home is faster.
Some travel agents and cruise forums recommend taking a photo of your printed tags on your phone as a backup in case you lose the physical tags before you board. You can show the photo to port staff and they can reprint them quickly.
Understanding the barcode and tag information
Each luggage tag contains a barcode that the ship's baggage system scans when you drop off your bags. The barcode tells the ship's computer which cabin to send your bag to, so the crew does not have to read your name or cabin number by hand. This system handles thousands of bags per sailing and delivers most of them to cabins within two to three hours of boarding.
The tag also displays your cabin number, your last name, and the deck color assigned to your cabin. The color helps crew members sort bags into groups before they scan them, which speeds up the whole process. Do not write over or alter any printed information on the tag — the barcode will not scan if the information is changed or obscured.
Luggage tag timing and what happens next
Drop off your tagged bags at the designated baggage area when you arrive at the port. Crew members will scan each tag and load your bags onto the ship. Your bags are then sorted by cabin and delivered to your stateroom while you are boarding and checking in at guest services. Most bags arrive within two to three hours, though during busy sailing days it can take longer.
If your bag does not arrive by early evening on your first night aboard, contact guest services in the atrium or call the baggage office from your cabin phone. They can track your bag using the barcode number on your tag and tell you where it is. Bags that miss the ship are usually delivered to your next port of call or sent to your home address after the cruise ends.
Common mistakes to avoid when printing luggage tags
Do not print tags on cardstock, photo paper, or any material thicker than standard copy paper — the barcode scanner may not read it, and thick paper can jam the baggage handling equipment. Do not laminate the tags, because lamination can distort the barcode and make it unreadable. Do not fold or crease the tags, and do not cover the barcode with tape or stickers.
Do not attach multiple tags to the same bag — use only one tag per bag. If you have two bags going to the same cabin, each bag gets its own separate tag with the same cabin number. Do not attach tags to bags until you are ready to drop them off at the port, because tags can peel off or get damaged during travel to the port.
Do not assume that a bag without a tag will still reach your cabin — it will not. Bags without tags are held at the port or sent to the ship's lost and found, and you will have to retrieve them yourself, which can take hours or even days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I printed my luggage tags but they got damaged before I boarded?
Reprint the tags from your Princess account if you still have access to a printer before you leave home. If you are already at the port, tell a crew member that your tags are damaged and they will print new ones for you. Bring your booking confirmation or cabin assignment so they can verify your information quickly.
Can I print luggage tags for someone else traveling in my cabin?
Yes. Your Princess account generates tags for all passengers in your booking. Print all the tags together — they will have different names but the same cabin number. Each person's bags get their own tag with their own name on it.
Do I need to print luggage tags if I only have carry-on bags?
No. Luggage tags are only for bags you want the crew to deliver to your cabin. Carry-on bags and personal items stay with you, so they do not need tags. You can leave them with you during boarding and take them directly to your stateroom.
What happens if the barcode on my luggage tag does not scan?
The crew member handling your bag will manually enter your cabin number into the baggage system. This takes a bit longer but your bag will still reach your cabin. If you notice the barcode is damaged before you board, ask port staff to print a replacement tag with a readable barcode.
Can I use the same luggage tags for a future Princess cruise?
No. Each cruise has different cabin assignments and barcode numbers. You must print new tags for each sailing. Tags from a previous cruise will route your bags to the wrong cabin or may not scan at all.