Carnival Cruise Luggage Size & Weight Restrictions 

You are ready to go on a Carnival Cruise and have an amazing adventure. But before you get on the ship, you think about what you can bring with you and find yourself overwhelmed with questions about Carnival Cruise luggage size and weight restrictions. 

Carnival Cruise Line has different luggage rules compared to other cruise lines. The Carnival luggage policy allows you to bring as many bags as you want, but there are rules about the weight and size of your suitcases. 

Carnival Cruise Luggage Size and Weight limits 

When it comes to packing for a Carnival cruise, knowing how much luggage to bring can make or break your vacation experience. Generally, it is recommended to bring one piece of luggage for a 3–5-night cruise and 2 pieces for a cruise that lasts 6 days or longer.  

This guideline ensures that you have enough space to pack all your essentials without overpacking and dealing with bulky suitcases. Passengers should bring a carry-on bag on embarkation day. The bag should have boarding documents, medications, personal items, and other things. 

To make sure your room can fit your luggage, your bags must be within a certain size limit. The maximum allowed size measurements are 16 inches in height and 24 inches in width (or approximately 140cm x 60cm x 40cm).  

The weight of your luggage should not exceed 70 pounds (equivalent to 32 kg). Luggage should be unlocked for security reasons. 

Carnival Luggage Size & Weight Rules 

Three Carnival Cruise Luggage Rules You Must Know 

You Can Take as Many Bags as You Want 

Carnival Cruise Line recommends bringing only 1 bag per person for shorter cruises and no more than 2 bags per person for longer cruises. You can bring as many bags as you want on Carnival cruises because there are no Carnival luggage limits 

You decide if you want to bring fancy clothes for a Carnival cruise. Many people don’t, so two bags per person should be enough even for a long trip.  

If you bring more bags, they might not fit under the bed. If you have a lot of luggage, using suitcases of different sizes will let you fit the smaller one inside the larger one. 

Each Bag Must Weigh Less Than 70 Lbs 

If you plan to embark on a Carnival cruise, ensure that the weight of each of your bags does not exceed 70 pounds (32kg) so that porters can handle them without any risk.  

In case you have more luggage than the allowed weight, it is advisable to split your luggage into two smaller bags. It is worth noting that although the chances of a weight inspection are slim, keep in mind that Carnival has this rule on their website.  

Numerous individuals have shared their experiences that they packed heavier bags and had encountered no issues. 

Bags Must Not Be Too Large 

To comply with Carnival cruise regulations, bags must be able to fit underneath the bed and pass through the x-ray machine. The maximum size limits permitted are 16 inches in height and 24 inches in width, with no restrictions on length. 

How To Measure Luggage for Carnival Cruise 

When it comes to packing for a Carnival cruise, one key aspect that often leaves people scratching their heads is the measurement of their luggage. After all, 16 inches doesn’t sound like a lot, right? It is important to make sure that your suitcase is positioned flat, like it would fit under the bed, not standing upright like when you pull it. 

Remember to Attach Carnival Luggage Tags

How to Fold Carnival Cruise Luggage Tags 

Once you have printed your luggage tags, the next step is to follow instructions to fold the tags provided on the paper. While this may seem like a trivial task, properly folding your tags is essential to ensure they stay intact throughout your journey.  

Luggage tags are made of paper and can come off, especially when flying to the cruise port or in rainy weather. It’s best to wait until you’re at the port to attach the tags. Use staples or tape to attach the tags to your bags. 

If your luggage tags fall off, your luggage might be delayed. If your luggage doesn’t arrive in your room, go to guest services to find out what happened. 

Carnival Cruise Luggage Tag Holders 

During a cruise, it can be frustrating when you find out your paper luggage tag has fallen off and you don’t know where your bags are. Luckily, Carnival Cruise has a solution to this problem-Carnival Cruise Luggage Tag Holders. These holders keep your paper tags attached to your luggage, so you don’t have to worry about losing your bags. 

Investing in luggage tag holders is a smart and affordable choice. They are cheap, waterproof, keep your tags secure and provide peace of mind. Tags are durable. You can reuse these holders on every cruise, saving you from the stress of lost or misplaced bags. 

Luggage tag holders make it easy to attach tags without using tape or staples. Each cruise line has different tag sizes, with Carnival luggage tags being wider than Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises. 

Can you Bring your own Luggage on a Carnival Cruise? 

You can bring your own luggage on a Carnival cruise if you want. But it’s better to let the porters take it to your room for you. If you arrive less than two hours before the ship leaves, you will not be able to utilize the baggage service and will be responsible for carrying your bags onto the ship yourself. 

What can you Bring on a Carnival Cruise

Carnival Cruise Line has rules about what you can bring on their ships. It’s important to know what you can’t bring because they check luggage and take away anything that’s not allowed. 

Carnival Snacks Policy

When going on a Carnival cruise, people often worry about what food they can bring. The good news is that you can bring your own snacks if they come in pre-packaged and unopened form. Also, there are no restrictions on bringing candy and potato chips. 

Carnival Drinks Policy 

Each person on a Carnival cruise can bring just one 750 ml bottle of wine and 12 cans or cartons (excluding bottles) of soft drinks or soda.  

Note: Bringing any other beverages is strictly prohibited. 

Carnival Alcohol Policy 

Guests on a Carnival cruise who are 21 or older can bring one 750ml bottle of wine or Champagne. The wine must be in your carry-on luggage and can only be consumed in your stateroom. If you want to drink it in a dining room or bar, there is a $15 corkage fee per bottle. 

Note: Beer and liquor are prohibited. 

Carnival Wine Policy 

Passengers over 21 can bring one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne on their Carnival cruise. It must be sealed and in a carry-on bag for the first day. Passengers on back-to-back cruises can bring two bottles, but the extra bottles will be stored at the start of the cruise. 

Note: Remember to stow this item in your carry-on baggage rather than placing it in your checked luggage. 

Carnival Soda Policy 

Carnival cruise line doesn’t allow guests to bring bottled soda on their ships. But passengers can bring a small amount of canned soda in their bags on the first day. Guests can bring a 12-pack of soda. The soda should be in cans or cartons 12 ounces (350ml) or smaller.  

They can also buy soda and soda packages (Bottomless Bubbles) before or during the cruise. 

Carnival Water Policy 

Passengers on a Carnival cruise cannot bring their own bottled water. They have options to get bottled water by buying it beforehand or during the trip. If they buy water before the trip, it will be delivered to their room on the first day. They can also buy water at the bars or ask Room Service for help.  

Guests can buy 12 bottles for $9.95. It will be delivered to your room. If you need distilled water for medical or baby reasons, you can bring it in your carry-on or buy it from room service for $3.00 per gallon. 

You can purchase bottled water here: https://www.carnival.com/funshops

Carnival Weed Policy 

Carnival Cruise Line does not allow any form of marijuana, including medical marijuana with a prescription and CBD. If passengers attempt to bring CBD products on board, they will be permanently banned from future cruises. 

Carnival Vape Policy 

Passengers on Carnival cruises can bring a vape or vape pen with them. But smoking is only allowed in certain areas like the casino and outdoor section of the Lido Deck. These areas will be clearly marked. Smoking is not allowed in cabins, on balconies, or in other public areas. 

Carnival Cooler Policy 

Carnival allows guests to bring a small cooler onboard their ships, no larger than 12 inches x 12 inches x 12 inches. This opportunity allows people to easily get different non-alcoholic drinks and important medications throughout their entire trip. 

You can bring a fan on a Carnival cruise. The rooms have air conditioning, and your room steward can give you a fan if you ask. But if you want to bring your own fan from home, that’s fine too. 

Carnival Iron Policy 

When you pack for your Carnival cruise, don’t bring clothing iron or travel iron because they’re not allowed. But don’t worry, you can still bring flat irons for straightening, curling hairs and a hair dryer is allowed.  

Note: Just be careful when using them. If the cruise line thinks these devices are dangerous, they will take them away and give them back to you on the last night of the cruise. Carnival also has hairdryers in the cabins that are like the ones in hotels. 

Carnival Steamer Policy 

If you’re going on a Carnival cruise, don’t bring a clothes steamer or any other heat-producing electrical appliances. They are not allowed on the ship for safety reasons. If you want to steam your clothes, you can either iron them in the laundry room or have them professionally cleaned. 

Carnival Corkscrew Policy 

You can bring a corkscrew on a Carnival cruise in your checked luggage or carry-on bag. You can bring it to open your wine bottles in your cabin and avoid paying a corkage fee in the main dining room. If you forget your corkscrew, just ask your stateroom attendant for one. 

What Is the Corkage Fee on a Carnival Cruise? 

If you bring your own wine or champagne to the dining room or specialty restaurants, you must pay a $15.00 fee per bottle. Some guests try to avoid this fee by packing a corkscrew in their checked luggage. If the wine or champagne is poured before entering the dining venue, the cruise line won’t charge extra for corkage. 

Carnival Drone Policy 

Starting in May 2022, Carnival cruise ships no longer allow drones. Previously, passengers could bring drones on Carnival Cruise Lines in their luggage and can only be used when the ship is in a port, not at sea. Nowadays you must check your drone with the Chief Security Officer. 

Before flying your drone in a cruise port, it’s important to research the drone regulations in that specific port. Some cruise ports have banned drones and there are strict fines and penalties. Check the current rules and regulations on the Carnival website before bringing a drone on your cruise. 

Your Own Cup 

You can bring your own cup or water bottle on a Carnival cruise. Any size is okay, and you can use it to drink anything you want. If you fill your cup from a public water or coffee machine, please use a clean cup first for hygiene reasons. 

A Pocket Knife 

Carnival Cruise Line has made a new rule: no knives allowed on board, no matter how small. Scuba diving knives are the only exception. You need to check them in at the security department and check them out when you visit a port. 

Some people may think this is too strict and takes away personal freedom. But it’s important to think about safety. Having any kind of weapon on a cruise ship can be dangerous. Even a small pocketknife can be a threat, especially in crowded areas.