Princess is part of Carnival Corp but their bring-aboard rules differ enough to matter — wine corkage is $20 (vs. Carnival's $15), the OceanMedallion adds tech-specific considerations, and the older-skewing demographic means accessibility planning is more central than on shorter mass-market sailings. This guide is the quick reference, drawn from Princess's own policy pages.
At a Glance
Allowed
One free 750-ml bottle of wine or champagne per drinking-age guest in cabin (no corkage), additional bottles with $20 corkage, 12 sealed cans/cartons (12 oz max) of non-alcoholic drinks per person, sealed snacks, CPAP machines (free distilled water on request), curling/flat irons, hair dryers, mobility scooters up to 22"–31".
Prohibited
Hard liquor, beer, plastic or glass bottles of water/soda/juice, irons and clothing steamers, candles, hoverboards, drones, cannabis or CBD, surge protectors, knives over 4", spear guns, all bicycles, kava, kratom, betel nuts.
Check first
Service animals (port permits, no ESAs), oxygen and dialysis (Mobility Questionnaire 60+ days out), drones (full ban — not even shore use), vapes (never in cabins or balconies), dive knives (held by Security with valid certification).
What You Can Bring
Wine and Champagne — The Famous Princess Allowance
Each drinking-age guest gets one bottle of wine or champagne (750 ml or smaller) per voyage, free in cabin — no corkage. Additional bottles beyond the one-per-guest allowance carry a $20 USD corkage fee per bottle. Corkage also applies if you take your "free" bottle into a public dining room or bar instead of drinking it in-cabin. Hard liquor and beer brought aboard are prohibited and confiscated. Duty-free liquor purchased through The Shops of Princess or in port is held for safekeeping and returned to your stateroom on the last night.
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Up to 12 sealed, unopened cans or cartons of 12 oz or less per person, in carry-on, on embarkation day. Bottles of any size — glass or plastic — are not allowed for water, soda, or other non-alcoholic drinks. Open beverages in plastic containers must be discarded before boarding. Princess's Plus and Premier packages include onboard drinks but don't change the BYO rule — you can still bring your one free bottle even with a beverage package.
Food
Sealed, store-bought, non-perishable, factory-packaged snacks: granola bars, protein bars, cereal bars, cookies, crackers, nuts, chips, popcorn, and beef jerky are typically accepted. Homemade food, perishables, and anything requiring refrigeration or cooking are not allowed.
Medications and Medical Equipment
Prescription medications travel in carry-on; declare in advance if controlled. CPAP machines are allowed and Princess provides complimentary distilled water on request through the dietary coordinator. Purified or distilled water in factory-sealed containers (including plastic) is permitted in checked luggage when packed with a medical device. Personal oxygen is allowed but you must contact [email protected] pre-sail. Princess does not rent medical equipment but partners with vendors who deliver to the ship.
Electronics and Personal Grooming
Hair dryers, electric razors, phone/tablet/laptop chargers, curling irons, and flat irons are allowed. Power strips and multi-plug adapters WITHOUT surge protection are permitted (and may be inspected for safety). Non-surge "cruise approved" power bars are the recommended option. Surge protectors are banned (see Prohibited).
Mobility and the OceanMedallion
Wheelchairs, walkers, and mobility scooters are welcomed. Scooter dimensions: width must not exceed 22 inches for a standard cabin or 31 inches for an accessible cabin. Combined weight of scooter plus user cannot exceed 600 lbs. Batteries must be dry-cell, gel, or lithium-ion. Storage and recharging happen in the stateroom. The Mobility Questionnaire must be returned at least 60 days before sailing. The OceanMedallion (Princess's wearable cruise tech) is provided free, waterproof, and heat/sand/sun resistant — but must be kept at least 9 inches from implantable pacemakers and ICDs per manufacturer RF guidance.
Sports Gear
Snorkeling masks, snorkels, and fins are allowed. Recreational dive knives are allowed only with other dive gear AND a valid dive ID/license; they're held by Security and checked out for excursions with 24 hours' notice.
Coolers
Personal coolers approximately 12" × 12" × 12" or smaller (holds about 6–12 cans) are allowed for non-alcoholic use. Larger coolers must be returned to your vehicle.
What's Prohibited
Hard Liquor and Beer
Spirits and beer cannot be brought aboard. Excess wine and champagne beyond what security deems reasonable will also be refused. Liquor purchased onboard or in port is held for safekeeping and returned to your stateroom on the final night.
Bottled Water and Soda
Bottles of water, soda, juice, or other non-alcoholic drinks are not allowed in any container — glass or plastic. The 12-can rule is the only carry-on beverage allowance.
Irons and Clothing Steamers
No exceptions. Personal clothing irons and garment steamers are not permitted in staterooms as a fire hazard. Self-service launderettes onboard provide irons and ironing boards.
Cannabis, CBD, and Synthetic Drugs
Zero-tolerance fleetwide. All forms — flower, edibles, vapes, oils, CBD, medical marijuana — are prohibited regardless of source-state legality. Synthetic cannabinoids, methoxetamine, opioids without prescription, kava, betel nuts, and "legal highs" are also banned.
Drones
Prohibited entirely. Princess does not allow UAVs, RPAs, or remote-controlled aerial toys onboard, except for company-sponsored events approved in advance by Fleet Security. Like NCL, Princess is one of the lines that bans drones for any use, including stored-only shore use.
Open Flame and Fire Hazards
Open-flame candles and incense are prohibited fleetwide. Battery-operated and electric flameless alternatives are allowed. Hookahs, fireworks, and propane are also banned.
Weapons and Sharp Items
Firearms (including non-firing replicas), all ammunition, explosives, propellants, projectiles, and cartridges. Stun guns, Tasers, electroshock devices. Truncheons, batons, clubs, ASPs, blow pipes, nightsticks. Crossbows, archery equipment, bolts. Martial arts weapons: nunchaku, throwing stars, flails, Bo staff, Ku batons. Scissors with blades over 4 inches. Spears and spear guns.
Hoverboards, Bicycles, and E-Scooters
Hoverboards, electric scooters, electric bicycles, and bicycles in general are prohibited. Surfboards are also prohibited.
Heating Appliances
Coffee makers, kettles, hot plates, toasters, and rice cookers are prohibited as fire risks.
Surge Protectors and Power Strips with Cords
Any device with surge protection circuitry is prohibited as a fire hazard on a ship's electrical system. Power strips that include extension cords are also prohibited. Use a non-surge multi-outlet adapter or a USB-only multi-port charger as the alternative.
Communication and Transmitting Equipment
EPIRBs, ham radios, communication scanners, wide-band receivers, satellite phones, personal satellite dishes or receivers, routers, and transformers are prohibited.
Gray Area — Bring It But Check First
Service Animals
Trained service animals (per ADA) are welcomed for visual, hearing, and other defined disability needs. Emotional Support Animals are not recognized or permitted. The guest is responsible for current health, travel, and vaccination documents for each port; some ports do not allow animals ashore at all. Guest provides food and is responsible for hygiene and cleanup.
Medical Devices and the OceanMedallion
CPAP, BiPAP, nebulizers, oxygen concentrators, and dialysis machines are allowed; pre-arrangement is strongly encouraged through the Access Office ([email protected]). Medical equipment, extension cords, and power banks may be inspected for electrical safety before use. Devices needing power should arrive with fully charged batteries and a non-electric backup option. The OceanMedallion uses RF and must be kept at least 9 inches (23 cm) from implantable pacemakers and ICDs per manufacturer guidance.
Vapes and E-Cigarettes
Allowed onboard but only usable in designated smoking areas. Smoking or vaping (including e-cigarettes) in staterooms or on balconies triggers a $250 fine per occurrence on the folio.
Distilled Water for CPAP
Allowed in checked luggage in factory-sealed containers when packed with the medical device. Princess will also supply distilled water free of charge if requested in advance through the dietary coordinator.
Outside Cakes
Sealed, store-bought, factory-packaged cakes are typically permitted under the general non-perishable food rule. Homemade cakes are not permitted. Princess offers an in-house celebration cake program — contact Princess directly for special-occasion arrangements.
Dive Knives
Allowed only with full dive kit plus valid certification card. Held by Security between excursions and require 24 hours' notice for check-out. Dive tanks (full or empty) are prohibited.
What Happens at the Scanner
All luggage passes through security scanning at embarkation. When something prohibited is detected:
Bags are X-rayed at the embarkation terminal. Excess wine, hard liquor, beer, and duty-free purchases are taken at the gangway and returned to the stateroom on the final night.
Surge protectors and unsafe electronics may be removed and returned at debarkation.
Dive knives without proper certification are confiscated and not returned.
Larger coolers (over 12" cube) are sent back to the guest's vehicle at the terminal.
Smoking or vaping in a stateroom or balcony is a $250 fine per occurrence on the folio.
Cannabis or CBD discovery is treated as zero-tolerance: possession can result in disembarkation, refusal of future cruises, and reporting to local authorities at the next port.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Princess's wine policy different from other lines?
Each drinking-age guest gets one bottle of wine or champagne in cabin for free — no corkage. Additional bottles or bottles consumed in public venues carry a $20 corkage fee. This is more generous than Carnival ($15 corkage from the first bottle), Royal ($15 corkage from the first bottle), and Celebrity ($35 corkage from the first bottle).
Can I bring bottled water on Princess?
No. Princess prohibits all bottled water, soda, and juice in any size container. The only outside non-alcoholic allowance is 12 sealed cans or cartons of 12 oz or less per person on embarkation day. Sealed distilled water for medical devices is the only exception.
What's the smoking penalty?
$250 per occurrence on your onboard folio for smoking or vaping in any stateroom or balcony. Repeat or severe violations can result in disembarkation and reporting to authorities.
Are non-surge power strips really allowed?
Yes — Princess allows non-surge power strips and multi-plug adapters and may inspect them for safety. Surge-protected versions and power strips that include extension cords are explicitly prohibited.
I take a CPAP — what's involved?
Pack the machine in your carry-on. Contact [email protected] to request complimentary distilled water through the dietary coordinator. You can also bring sealed distilled water in checked luggage as a medical-device exception.
How does the OceanMedallion work with a pacemaker?
The OceanMedallion uses RF. Manufacturer guidance for implantable pacemakers and ICDs is to keep RF transmitters at least 9 inches (23 cm) away. Wear or stow the medallion accordingly — staff will help arrange it during check-in.
Can my mobility scooter fit through the cabin door?
Standard cabins fit scooters up to 22 inches wide. Accessible cabins fit scooters up to 31 inches wide. Combined weight of scooter plus user cannot exceed 600 lbs. Submit the Mobility Questionnaire at least 60 days before sailing.
Can I bring CBD?
No. Princess prohibits all CBD and medical marijuana regardless of state legality or medical authorization — there is no medical exception.
Sources
All policies above are drawn from Princess Cruises's published help pages. For the latest rules, including any updates after this guide was written:
Princess Cruises FAQ hub — https://www.princess.com/faq
Princess pre-cruise FAQ — https://www.princess.com/faq/pre-cruise
Princess onboard experience FAQ — https://www.princess.com/faq/onboard-experience
Princess MedallionClass FAQ — https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/princess-medallionclass/ocean-faq
Princess Mobility Questionnaire — https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/faq_answer_legal/Princess-Mobility-Questionnaire.pdf
Princess Mobility Device Form — https://www.princess.com/mobility-device-form
Princess comprehensive packing list — https://www.princess.com/blog/cruise-packing-list
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