You can do laundry on a cruise ship in three ways: pay the ship’s laundry service (per item, or a cheaper fill-a-bag wash-and-fold deal), use a self-service launderette if your cruise line has one, or hand-wash small items in your cabin. Carnival, Princess, Disney, Cunard, P&O and Fred. Olsen have guest launderettes. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC and Holland America don’t, so on those lines you either send clothes out or wash them yourself in the sink.
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This guide covers how each option works and what it typically costs. It also has a line-by-line comparison table, the rules on irons and steamers, and the loyalty and suite perks that can get your laundry done for free. Policies and prices below were checked against official cruise line pages and current reporting in October 2026. They do change, so check your own ship’s details before you pack.
Your Three Options for Laundry on a Cruise Ship
1. The ship’s laundry service (per item)
Every major ocean cruise line runs a professional onboard laundry. Your cabin will have a laundry bag and a form: list the items, tick the service (wash and press, pressing only or dry cleaning) and leave the bag for your cabin steward. On most lines, anything handed in by about 9 a.m. comes back the next day. Same-day express service usually costs extra, often 50% more, and a few lines don’t offer it at all.
Per-item pricing is convenient but adds up quickly. Celebrity’s current price list, for example, shows a T-shirt at $5.00 and a pair of socks at $3.75 for laundry. Use per-item service for things that need pressing or dry cleaning, such as a suit, a formal dress or a linen shirt, rather than for everyday clothes.
2. Fill-a-bag wash-and-fold deals
For casual clothes, underwear and swimwear, the flat-rate bag is usually the best value. You get one laundry bag, fill it as full as it will close, and pay a single price. Some examples as of 2026:
- Royal Caribbean: wash and fold at $34.99 per bag, according to its official FAQ (availability can vary, so ask your stateroom attendant).
- Celebrity Cruises: $59.99 per bag for wash and fold, $71.99 for wash and press, or a three-bag package for $149.99.
- Norwegian Cruise Line: generally runs a fill-a-bag promotion on one day of most sailings, typically around $30.
- Cunard: a flat price for a bag of 15 items has been reported at about $52.
- Holland America Line: sells laundry packages before you sail in My Account under Packages, valid for standard voyages.
Bag deals usually stop a day or two before the end of the cruise so everything can be returned in time. Send your bag out mid-cruise, not on the last full day.
3. Self-service launderettes
Some lines give guests their own laundry rooms with washers, dryers and, usually, irons and ironing boards. This is the cheapest choice for families and longer voyages, and you control how your clothes are treated. On some lines it’s free, and on others you pay a small charge per load to your onboard account or with tokens. Launderettes get busy on sea days and the last few days of a cruise, so go early in the morning or while most passengers are at dinner.
Bonus option: hand-washing in your cabin
On ships without launderettes, a lot of passengers wash small items in the cabin sink or shower. Pack a few travel detergent sheets or a small bottle of travel wash (liquids in checked bags), and an elastic travel clothesline or some inflatable hangers. Most cabin bathrooms have a retractable line over the bathtub or shower. Roll a wet item in a dry towel and press down hard before you hang it, and it will dry much faster.
Which Cruise Lines Have Self-Service Laundry? (2026 Comparison)
This is the question most people ask before they decide how much to pack. Here’s how the main lines compare. Facilities can differ from ship to ship within a fleet, especially on older or smaller ships.
| Cruise line | Self-service launderette? | Wash-and-fold / package | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | Yes, on most ships (paid per load) | Bag deals sold onboard | Machines are charged to your Sail & Sign account on most ships. Free bags for Platinum and Diamond Carnival Rewards members. |
| Princess | Yes, on all ships (small charge) | Per-item service; 48-hour return | Tokens are bought with your Medallion. Irons are in the launderette only. Free laundry for full suites and Elite members. |
| Disney Cruise Line | Yes, 24-hour (paid) | Full-service laundry for a fee | Paid with your Key to the World card. Detergent sold onsite. Free use of irons in the laundry room. |
| Cunard | Yes, free | Bag of about 15 items (around $52) | Detergent, irons and ironing boards provided. |
| P&O Cruises | Yes (on many ships, on most passenger decks) | Wash and press bag of 10 items (about £32) | Popular with UK passengers. Bring or buy your own detergent. |
| Fred. Olsen | Yes, at least one per ship | Per-item service | Get a token from Guest Services for a small fee. Detergent, dryers and irons provided. |
| Holland America Line | No | Pre-bookable laundry packages | No ships in the current fleet have guest launderettes. Free laundry for Neptune and Pinnacle Suite guests. |
| Royal Caribbean | No | Wash and fold $34.99 per bag | No self-service “for safety concerns”. No irons in staterooms. |
| Celebrity Cruises | No | $59.99 wash and fold; $71.99 wash and press | Three-bag package $149.99. Top suites have historically included laundry. |
| Norwegian (NCL) | No | Fill-a-bag day, typically around $30 | Free or discounted bag for higher Latitudes tiers. |
| MSC Cruises | No | Per-item service | Same-day service on most days for a fee. |
| Marella Cruises | No | Wash and fold bag (around £17) | UK line with service laundry only. |
Luxury and premium lines are different again. Viking, Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas and Azamara all offer free self-service laundry on their ocean ships, usually with detergent included. On the most expensive voyages, laundry is often included in the fare or the suite perks.
One thing many guides miss: Holland America no longer has launderettes
Older articles still list Holland America as a line with coin-operated launderettes. Those were on ships that have since left the fleet. Holland America’s own FAQ now says none of its ships have self-service laundry rooms. If you’re sailing on the Koningsdam, Rotterdam or any other current ship, plan on the laundry service or a pre-purchased package.
How Much Does Laundry on a Cruise Cost?
As a rough guide for mainstream US lines in 2026:
- Self-service: free on Cunard and most luxury lines, and a few dollars per wash or dry on Carnival, Princess and Disney. Detergent is sometimes included and sometimes sold separately.
- Wash-and-fold bag: about $30 to $60 per bag depending on the line, often the best value for a week’s casual clothes.
- Per-item service: about $3 to $8 for everyday items, and more for dry cleaning and formalwear.
- Express (same-day): usually a 50% surcharge on top.
If you’re travelling as a family on a 7-night cruise without launderettes, two bag deals mid-cruise often cost less than packing a second suitcase and paying airline baggage fees.
Free Laundry: Loyalty Tiers and Suite Perks
Before you pay, check whether you already qualify for free laundry:
- Carnival Rewards: Carnival’s new loyalty program replaced VIFP on September 1, 2026, and the laundry perk has been cut back. Platinum members now get 1, 2 or 4 complimentary bags (on 3-6, 7-13 and 14+ day cruises), and Diamond members get 2, 3 or 5 bags. Diamond previously had unlimited laundry. Read more about how Carnival reduced its complimentary laundry bags under the new loyalty scheme.
- Princess: full-suite guests and Elite Captain’s Circle members get free laundry and professional cleaning (same-day service still costs extra).
- Holland America: Neptune Suite and Pinnacle Suite guests get free laundry, dry cleaning and pressing.
- Norwegian: upper Latitudes tiers have received a free or half-price laundry bag. Check your current tier benefits, as these have changed over time.
- Royal Caribbean and Celebrity: top loyalty tiers and top suite categories have included laundry perks. Check the current benefits for your tier or suite before you sail.
Irons, Steamers and Wrinkles: The Rules
Clothes irons are banned in cruise cabins on all the major lines because they’re a fire risk. Most lines also ban garment steamers in cabins. Holland America’s FAQ specifically lists travel irons, steamers and kettles as not allowed in staterooms, and Princess says ironing and personal steamers aren’t permitted in any stateroom. If security finds one in your luggage, it will usually be held until the end of the cruise.
Ways to deal with creases:
- Use the irons in the launderette, if your ship has one (Princess, Disney, Cunard, Fred. Olsen and others provide them).
- Send items for pressing only, which is cheaper than wash and press.
- Pack wrinkle-release spray and hang creased clothes in the bathroom while you shower.
- Choose knits, jersey and travel fabrics that don’t need ironing.
- On some lines without launderettes, you can ask your cabin steward or guest services whether an iron can be borrowed for supervised use.
Practical Tips for Doing Laundry on a Cruise
- Check your ship before you pack. A launderette onboard means you can pack for half the cruise and wash once. Our packing tricks for cruising with just a carry-on work best when you know you can do laundry mid-voyage.
- Do it early. Send out laundry or use the launderette by day 3 or 4 of a 7-night cruise. Bag deals and express service often stop near the end of the voyage.
- Go when it’s quiet. Launderettes are busiest on sea days. Early morning and port days are usually calmer, but some washers are switched off in port on some lines, so check the posted hours.
- Bring a few supplies. Detergent sheets or pods, a small mesh bag for socks, and a few clothes pegs cover most needs.
- Roll, don’t fold, for bag deals. Rolling clothes lets you fit more into a fill-a-bag offer. Check the line’s rules first, though, as some limit the number of items.
- Keep valuables and delicates out. Cruise line liability for damaged items is limited, so wash anything delicate or expensive by hand.
- Don’t drape clothes on the balcony. Wet towels and swimwear can blow overboard, and most lines don’t allow it. Use the bathroom clothesline instead.
- Look at the price list on day one. It’s usually in your closet or on the cruise app, and it often shows one-day promotions.
FAQs
How do people do laundry on cruise ships?
Most passengers either send clothes to the ship’s laundry service (per item or with a flat-rate wash-and-fold bag) or use the self-service launderettes on lines such as Carnival, Princess, Disney and Cunard. On ships without launderettes, many people also hand-wash small items in the cabin sink.
How much does it cost to get laundry done on a cruise?
A wash-and-fold bag typically costs about $30 to $60 depending on the cruise line. Per-item service runs about $3 to $8 for everyday clothes. Self-service machines are free on Cunard and many luxury lines, and cost a few dollars per load on lines like Carnival, Princess and Disney.
Does Royal Caribbean have self-service laundry?
No. Royal Caribbean doesn’t provide self-service laundry rooms for safety reasons. It offers washing, pressing and dry cleaning, plus a wash-and-fold bag for $34.99.
Can I bring an iron or steamer on a cruise?
No. Irons are banned in cabins on all major cruise lines, and most lines, including Princess and Holland America, ban personal steamers too. Use the irons in the ship’s launderette if there is one, or pay for pressing.
Is cruise ship laundry free for anyone?
Yes, for some guests. Suite guests and top-tier loyalty members on lines such as Princess, Holland America and Carnival get free laundry or a set number of free bags. Cunard and most luxury lines also have free self-service launderettes.
