Laundry on Cruise Ships: What They Don’t Tell You

Packing for a cruise can get out of hand fast, especially if you’re travelling with kids.

One ice cream. One pool splash. One bedtime accident. Suddenly that “just in case” outfit pile doesn’t feel so silly anymore.

On longer cruises, it’s almost impossible to pack enough clothes to last the whole trip. And if you try, you’ll either need an extra suitcase… or a chiropractor when you get home.

The good news? You don’t actually need to pack 56 outfits for a two-week cruise.
But how laundry works on board isn’t as obvious as you might expect and it varies more than most people realise.

There’s also one simple laundry trick that can save you a lot of space, money and stress… and hardly anyone talks about it.

Want to know what it is?

You Can (Almost Always) Do Laundry On Your Cruise

Almost all cruise ships offer laundry services with washing, pressing and dry cleaning available for a fee.

In addition, many cruise ships also have self-service launderettes with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. These may be complimentary or have a small charge. Another option is to wash clothes in the sink in your room.

Cruise Ship Laundry Costs

Self-service laundry on a cruise ship is often free, but there may be a charge of up to $3.50 to use the machines and $2 for detergent, depending on the ship.

If you send your clothes away to be professionally cleaned, the fees range from $1 for small items to be washed and pressed up to $20 or more for a three-piece suit to be dry cleaned.

Further down in this guide, there’s a table showing what laundry options are available on each cruise line.

3 Ways to Do Laundry on a Cruise Ship

The best way to do laundry on a cruise ship depends on what items you have to be cleaned, how much laundry you have, and your budget. Here’s an overview of your options…

(It’s important to note that not all options will be available on every cruise ship, but if you scroll down towards the end of this guide, you’ll see a list of what there is on each cruise line.)

1. Laundry Services on Cruise Ships

When it comes to getting clothes professionally cleaned on a cruise you usually have three options – washing and pressing, pressing only or dry cleaning.

Sometimes, wet cleaning is used as a safe and environmentally-friendly alternative to dry cleaning. And sometimes, washing and folding may also be an option.

If professional laundry services are available on your cruise (and they are on pretty much every ship), you should find a price list in your room and there may also be a laundry bag ready for you to use.

On a cruise, laundry can take up to two days to be delivered back to you. It’s usually collected before 9 am and returned to you the following evening. However, if you’re in a hurry, you’ll often be able to request an express service for an extra fee of around 50%.

If you need your clothes to be cleaned but don’t want to waste time doing laundry during your holiday, then professional laundry services can be a great idea. 

Some people only use the laundry service for certain items, such as if they spill soup on a tie. However, others like to get all of their clothes cleaned before the end of a cruise so that they can be transferred straight to the closet at home, avoiding the dreaded post-cruise laundry pile!

Some cruise ships offer laundry packages where you can get unlimited laundry done for the duration of your cruise. This perk is also sometimes given for free to guests staying in the best suites or who have achieved a high loyalty status.

2. Self-Service Laundry Rooms on Cruise Ships

Self-service laundry rooms on cruise ships can be really handy as they offer a cheap (or sometimes free) way to wash, dry and iron your clothes. But, they’re only found on around half of all cruise ships.

Some smaller cruise ships have just one laundry room for everyone, whereas others will have one on almost every deck. Check out the deck plan to find where they are on your ship.

The laundry rooms on cruise ships can get very busy, especially on sea days and the day of a formal evening. As you aren’t allowed to bring your own iron on a cruise ship, you’ll probably find that there’s quite a queue to use the communal ironing equipment in the hours before formal night.

To avoid the queues, I’d recommend putting your laundry in the machine before breakfast and then returning straight after breakfast to put it in the dryer.

Take care not to leave your laundry unattended in the machine for too long, as if someone else is waiting to use the washer, they’ll probably take your wet washing out and dump it on the side.

If you plan to use the self-service launderette on your cruise, it’s a good idea to take your own 2-in-1 detergent and fabric conditioner tablets. While you can buy these on board, you can save a few dollars and possibly a trip to the onboard shop or guest services if you pack your own.

3. Handwashing Clothes on a Cruise

Handwashing clothes on a cruise can be tricky as the only option is to use the shower or sink in your room. Cruise ship bathrooms are usually pretty compact, with no bath and only very small sinks and shower cubicles.

The easiest way to wash your swimsuit at the end of each day is to get in the shower with it as you would do in a hotel. However, if you want to wash anything larger or have clothes with stains that need scrubbing out, this isn’t ideal.

The Best Way to Handwash Clothes on a Cruise Ship

I’ve recently discovered a fantastic solution to cruise laundry called the Scrubba Washbag. This genius handwashing bag makes it so quick and easy to wash clothes on a cruise ship!

Here’s what my Scrubba washbag looks like…

I’ve only heard of this clever device recently and I wish that I’d bought one sooner. That said, my kids still manage to cover themselves in ice cream every single day on a cruise so I’m sure I’ll get a LOT of use out of it in the years to come.

The Scrubba washbag is basically a pocket-size portable washing machine. It allows you to wash your clothes in under five minutes – which is about how long it would take to walk to the ship’s laundry room (if there is one on your ship).

Here’s what the bag looks like when it’s unfolded…

I think that using the Scrubba bag is the easiest way to wash clothes on a cruise ship.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Put the clothes in the bag
2. Add a little water and travel wash
3. Roll down and clip the top
4. Turn the valve to let out the air
5. Rub the clothes for a couple of minutes
6. Tip out the water
7. Rinse with clean water inside the bag
8. Remove the clothes and hang up to dry

Here’s what the bag looks like with clothes inside…

The Scrubba Washbag has some really clever features – like the internal washboard with nobbly bits that help to rub the dirt out of your garments.

I like how the valve makes it easy to expel all of the air and the top clip makes the bag watertight so there’s no need to worry about water going everywhere.

If your clothes have bad stains (as let’s face it most kids’ clothes will do), then you can hang the bag in your bathroom with water and use it to soak the clothes until you’re ready to wash them. This keeps your sink free for washing hands and whatnot.

This is also really handy for any clothes that you wouldn’t want to leave stinking out your suitcase, such as gym clothes or kids’ underwear if they’ve had an accident.

When I’m not using my Scrubba washbag for washing clothes, I’ll keep it in my day bag to put wet swimsuits in, so they don’t make everything else damp. The washbag only weighs as much as a small apple and it folds up really neatly so it takes up no space at all.

How to Dry Clothes on a Cruise

Most cruise ships have retractable clotheslines in the shower where you can hang clothes to dry. Hanging clothes and towels on the balcony isn’t allowed, but you can drape items over the backs of chairs while the ship is in port.

After washing your clothes, wrap each item in a bath towel and squeeze it tightly to remove any excess water before hanging it up.

A clever solution to the problem of drying clothes on a cruise is to invest in a couple of strong magnetic hooks. The walls of cruise cabins are made of metal so it’s easy to rig up a clothesline across your room. 

You can’t rig a washing line on your cruise ship balcony, but if you do it indoors just next to the sliding balcony doors you’ll get better airflow. Just remember to close the balcony doors when you leave the room.

For small items like socks and underwear, you may be able to dry them quickly using a hairdryer on a low setting. Just take care that they don’t overheat and set on fire!

Of course, if your cruise ship has a self-service launderette you’ll be able to put everything in a tumble dryer and get it dry quickly and easily.

How to Iron Clothes on a Cruise

Irons aren’t provided in cruise ship cabins and it’s almost always forbidden to bring your own travel iron or clothes steamer. However, there are many ways you can get the creases out of clothes during your cruise:

• Send your clothes to be professionally pressed
• Use the iron in the self-service launderette
• Use hair straighteners
• Pack crease release spray
• Steam clothes in the bathroom while you take a hot shower
• Spray with water to dampen before drying with a hairdryer

Many cruisers swear by wrinkle remover spray that you can get on Amazon. You just spray your clothes and the wrinkles will disappear, as if by magic!

I purposefully choose dresses that don’t crease to take on a cruise. If something looks creased in the shop, I simply won’t buy it!

When shopping for cruise dresses online, look out for man-made fabrics like polyester and nylon rather than cotton and linen which are naturally prone to creasing.

Read more: How To Iron Clothes On A Cruise

Find What Laundry Services Are Available on Your Ship…

If you’d like to know what laundry facilities to expect on your next cruise, you’ll find the info for every cruise line below…

Azamara

Laundry services on Azamara Cruises

Azamara Cruises offers complimentary self-service laundry rooms on board, including washers, dryers, irons and detergent, which is a big plus on longer sailings.

If you prefer not to do it yourself, professional laundry, pressing and dry cleaning are also available for an extra charge. Prices are set per item and typically range from around $1 for a pair of socks to about $10 to dry-clean a suit.

From time to time, Azamara may offer special laundry promotions or loyalty perks, such as a set-price laundry bag on certain sailings, (eg $30-$40), but these aren’t guaranteed and can vary by cruise.

Guests staying in suites get one free bag of laundry per stateroom per week, as do Azamara Circle members at Explorer level or above.

Self-service laundry facilities on Azamara

Self-service laundry facilities are available on all Azamara cruise ships. You’ll find the launderette on Deck 7, midship. It’s open from 8 am until 9 pm and detergent is provided free of charge.

In the laundry room, you’ll find a number of washing machines and tumble dryers plus two irons and ironing boards.

This photo of the launderette on Azamara Journey is courtesy of Tripadvisor

Carnival

Laundry services on Carnival Cruises

Laundry, pressing and dry cleaning are available on Carnival Cruise Line ships for an extra cost. Most ships have self-service launderettes with washers, dryers, irons and ironing boards, but these are not free. Expect to pay around $3.50 per wash load and $3.50 per dryer load, with detergent available from vending machines for an additional $2 charge.

On most Carnival ships, the washing machines and dryers are paid for using your cruise card. However, on Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Sensation, the machines are coin-operated. You can get change at guest services if needed.

This photo of the launderette on Carnival Fantasy is courtesy of Tripadvisor

It’s also worth noting that newer Excel-class ships like Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee don’t have self-service washers, only ironing rooms and valet laundry, so options can vary depending on the ship.

Valet laundry is also available, with items priced individually. Costs typically range from around $1–$2 for socks to about $10 to dry-clean a suit. On some sailings, Carnival offers set-price laundry bag deals, such as one bag for around $15 or 5 bags for $50, which can be good value on longer cruises.

Guests who are platinum and above in the VIFP loyalty scheme also get some laundry done for free. This also applies when the cruise line switches its loyalty program to Carnival Rewards in June 2026.

Dry cleaning is only available on these Carnival ships: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Dream, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Magic, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Valor, Carnival Vista and Mardi Gras.

Celebrity Cruises

Laundry services on Celebrity Cruises

On Celebrity Cruises, there are no self-service laundry rooms – you can’t wash your own clothes on board, but full laundry, pressing and dry-cleaning services are available for a fee. A per-item price list on Celebrity’s website shows costs like $3 for socks or undergarments, $4 for a T-shirt or swimsuit, $7–$8 for shirts and pants, and $19 for a suit in regular laundry service. Dry-cleaning is also listed, with items such as a suit for $21, and there are fixed-price options too (for example, a “4-item special” for around $35).

You can also have items pressed only, with prices on the official list like $15 for a suit or $30 for four items. During some sailings you may see bundled offers for multiple items or laundry bags, but these vary by cruise and are promoted through your cruise planner.

Celebrity’s Captain’s Club loyalty programme can offset these costs – depending on status you may receive discounted rates, complimentary laundry bags, or even laundry included throughout your cruise.

You can see a full Celebrity Cruises laundry price list here.

Costa Cruises

Laundry services on Costa Cruises

On Costa Cruises, laundry, pressing and dry cleaning are available for an extra charge. Prices are set per item and typically start at around €2–€3 for small items like underwear or T-shirts, rising to around €14–€16 for larger items such as dresses or suits, depending on the service. If you need your clothes returned the same day, there’s usually a 50% express surcharge, and some ships also charge a small extra fee if you prefer items folded rather than returned on hangers.

On some sailings, Costa may offer a set-price laundry bag deal (often called a “Magic Bag”), which can work out good value on longer cruises, but this isn’t guaranteed and isn’t available on every itinerary.

There are no self-service laundry facilities on Costa ships, so all washing, pressing and dry cleaning is handled by the crew. Prices and offers can vary by ship, so it’s worth checking the laundry price list in your cabin once you board.

Cunard

Laundry services on Cunard

On Cunard Line cruises you can absolutely have your clothes professionally washed, pressed or wet-cleaned (an eco-friendly alternative to traditional dry cleaning) for an extra fee.

Prices vary by item and ship, but typically start at around $3–$4 for socks or underwear, with larger items like dresses or suits costing more depending on the service you choose. Laundry usually takes about 48 hours, but if you need something back the same day you can request express service for a surcharge of around 50%.

Cunard sometimes offers a bag-of-laundry deal in addition to per-item pricing, which can work out better value on longer cruises, although it isn’t available on every sailing.

One thing that makes Cunard different from many other lines is that self-service launderettes are available on board and are complimentary.

These launderettes have washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards, and Cunard even provides detergent so you can wash and dry clothes yourself for free – which is a brilliant way to pack lighter on longer sailings. You’ll find them on multiple decks depending on the ship, and they’re typically open from early morning until the evening.

• Queen Elizabeth – Decks 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
• Queen Victoria – Decks 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
• Queen Mary 2 – Decks 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11
• Queen Anne – Decks 1, 4, 7, 8, 10

This photo of the laundry room on the Queen Mary 2 is courtesy of Tripadvisor

Disney Cruise Line

Laundry services on Disney Cruises

Laundry and dry cleaning services are available on all Disney Cruise Line ships. Laundry is priced per item, ranging from $1.20 for a handkerchief to $4.80 for a blouse. Dry cleaning starts at $3 for a tie to $13.20 for a three-piece suit.

The laundry is returned the next day. However, you can request a same-day service for a 50% surcharge or get your laundry back in just three hours for a 100% surcharge. Pressing only is 50% of the dry cleaning price.

You can see DCL’s laundry price list in the photo below.

Self-service laundry facilities on Disney cruise ships

Each Disney cruise ship has a self-service laundry room with washers, dryers, irons and ironing boards. Use of the washers and dryers is $2 each, while detergent and use of the ironing equipment are free of charge. Payment is made using your cruise card.

The laundry rooms on Disney cruise ships are open 24 hours per day. You’ll find them on the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic on decks 2, 6 and 7, and on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy on decks 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

On Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, you instead get one centralised laundry room instead of lots of smaller ones. It’s located on Deck 8 and has 26 washing machines, 30 dryers and 8 ironing board stations.

Fred. Olsen

Laundry services on Fred. Olsen Cruises

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line offers laundry, pressing and dry-cleaning services on all its ships, and these are charged per item.

Current laundry price lists typically start at about £1.30–£1.50 for small items like socks or handkerchiefs, around £3.75–£4.00 for a shirt washed and pressed, and about £6.50–£7.00 for a jacket. Dry-cleaning usually ranges from roughly £3–£4 for ties up to around £13–£15 for evening dresses or suits, depending on the ship and sailing.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line also offers a bag-of-laundry option in addition to per-item pricing, which can work out better value if you’re sending a lot of laundry, though availability and pricing vary by sailing.

Laundry dropped off before midday is normally returned the next day, and you can request same-day service for a 50% surcharge if you need items returned sooner.

Prices do vary slightly by vessel and itinerary, and the list below was taken on Borealis in 2023 – so think of those amounts as a helpful guide rather than an exact guarantee.

Self-service laundry facilities on Fred. Olsen Cruises

Each Fred. Olsen cruise ship has at least one laundry room on board where you’ll find self-service washing machines, tumble driers, irons and ironing boards. Laundry costs £2 (inclusive of detergent and softener). You’ll need to buy a token at guest services.

Holland America Line

Laundry services on Holland America Line Cruises

Every Holland America Line ship offers a full laundry, pressing and eco-friendly dry-cleaning service. You can pay per item, by the bag, or choose an unlimited laundry package for the duration of your cruise.

Typical pricing is as follows:

• Per-item laundry starts from around $2 for small items
• Laundry by the bag costs around $25 per bag in North America and around $30 per bag in Europe
• The unlimited laundry and pressing package costs around $8 per stateroom, per day in North America and around $9 per day in Europe

If you pre-purchase the unlimited laundry package before your cruise, you can usually lock in the lower North American price even on European sailings, which makes it much better value on longer trips.

Guests staying in Neptune and Pinnacle suites get laundry included free of charge, which is a nice perk if you’re sailing in a suite.

Laundry is normally returned within 48 hours, but you can request same-day service for a 50% surcharge if you need something back quickly

Self-service laundry facilities on Holland America Line Cruises

Holland America Line no longer offers self-service launderettes on any of its ships.

Older ships such as Amsterdam and Maasdam did have guest laundry rooms, but these vessels have now left the fleet. On the current Holland America ships, all washing, pressing and dry cleaning is handled by the crew, although irons and ironing boards are available in designated areas.

Marella

Laundry services on Marella Cruises 

Guests cruising with Marella can get clothes professionally cleaned and pressed on board. The price is £16.95 for a bag of laundry or you can pay per item. Prices range from 95p for underwear to £4.40 for a dress to be washed and folded, with an additional charge for pressing.

Guests staying in suites with ‘Premier Service’ get free pressing of up to three items per person in the first 24 hours on board.

There is no dry cleaning available on Marella cruise ships.

You can see a full Marella laundry price list below, though it’s a little out of date now – prices are between 10p and 50p more per item. It still gives you a good idea of what you’ll pay.

Self-service laundry facilities on Marella Cruises

Marella cruise ships do not have any self-service laundry facilities on board. This is because the ships were originally built for Royal Caribbean – a cruise line that doesn’t offer self-service laundry.

Marella Cruises is one of the few cruise lines that allows guests to bring a travel iron on board. However, the website states that if the device is determined to post a hazard it will be removed.

MSC Cruises

Laundry services on MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises offer a washing, ironing and dry-cleaning service. You can request your laundry to be returned folded or on a hanger, with either a next-day or same-day service available.

On MSC Cruises ships, laundry is priced by item and typically costs around €2 for small items such as underwear to be washed and ironed, rising to around €9 for a dress and around €7.50 for a jacket. Dry cleaning is available, with items such as suits costing around €15. There is a 50% surcharge for express delivery.

MSC Cruises also offer laundry packages, which are often better value if you have a lot to wash. Current packages are usually priced at around €15 for 10 items, €25 for 20 items, or around €54 for 40 items. If you book a laundry package online before your cruise, you can usually save around 15% compared to onboard prices

Self-service facilities

MSC Cruises ships do not offer any self-service laundry rooms. Instead, guests are invited to send their clothes to be professionally cleaned for a fee.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Laundry services on Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a valet laundry service on board its fleet of ships. The price per item typically ranges from around $2.50 for underwear to be cleaned to around $20 for an evening dress to be dry cleaned. Pressing only usually costs around half the price of full laundry.

Your items will normally be returned the next day, or you can request an express same-day service for a 50% surcharge.

Midway through the cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line often runs a special offer where you can fill a paper bag of clothes, which will be laundered for around $25 to $30, depending on the sailing.

Members of the Latitudes Rewards loyalty programme may receive free or discounted laundry. Gold members usually get 50% off one bag, while Platinum, Platinum Plus and Ambassador members typically receive one free bag of laundry per person per cruise.

Self-service laundry facilities on Norwegian Cruise Line

There are no self-service laundry facilities on Norwegian Cruise Line ships. Instead, guests are invited to send their dirty laundry to be professionally cleaned on board. You can, however, request to borrow an iron and ironing board by telephoning guest services. This will be delivered to your stateroom and you can use it for an hour.

P&O Cruises

Laundry services on P&O Cruises 

A washing, pressing and specialist wet cleaning service is available on all P&O cruises ships. P&O charge for laundry per item, with prices now slightly higher than older published lists. Small items such as socks and handkerchiefs typically cost around 60p to £1 to be washed and pressed, while larger items increase in price depending on the cleaning method. An evening dress usually costs around £17 to £18 to be specially cleaned.

P&O Cruises charges per item for laundry and doesn’t have a regular laundry bag bundle option like some other lines.

As a guide, trousers currently cost around £4.75 to £5 to be washed and pressed, around £6 to be specially wet cleaned, or around £3.50 for pressing only.

Laundry is normally returned within two days, and there is no option to request an express service. You can use any onboard spending money you may have to pay for laundry and specialist cleaning.

You can see a full P&O Cruises laundry price list below. These prices are from a cruise I took, and while they may have increased since, they still give a good indication of what you can expect to pay.

Self-service laundry facilities on P&O Cruises

Each P&O Cruises ship has several self-service launderettes, with washing machines, dryers and ironing stations. These are usually open from around 8am until around 10pm.

You’ll need to provide your own detergent, or you can buy Bold 3-in-1 detergent tablets from the onboard shop, typically costing around £1 to £1.25 per tablet.

On P&O Cruises the launderettes are in the following locations:

• Arcadia – Decks C, D & E
• Aurora – Decks A, C & F
• Azura – Decks Riviera, A, B, C, D, E & P 
• Britannia – Decks A, B, C, D, E, F & G  
• Ventura – Decks Riviera, A, B, C, D, E & P
• Iona – Decks 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 & 15

These photos of the laundry room on board Iona were kindly provided by Sanna from VeganCruiser.co.uk

Princess Cruises

Laundry services on Princess cruises

Princess cruises offers a professional laundry service, including clothes washing, pressing and dry cleaning. Prices are charged per item and typically range from around $1.50 for small items such as handkerchiefs to be washed, up to around $12 to $13 for an evening dress to be dry cleaned. Laundry is usually returned the next day, or you can request a ‘Presto’ same-day service for a 50% surcharge.

You can see a full Princess Cruises laundry price list below. These prices may have increased since, but they still give a good indication of what you can expect to pay.

Self-service laundry facilities on Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises ships each have self-service launderettes with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. It typically costs around $3 to $3.50 to use each washing machine or dryer, while detergent, bleach and fabric softener usually cost around $1.75 to $2 each.

You use your Medallion to purchase tokens for the machines. There is no charge to use the ironing equipment.

These photos of the laundry room on board Royal Princess were kindly provided by Sanna from VeganCruiser.co.uk

Royal Caribbean

Laundry services on Royal Caribbean cruises

Royal Caribbean International offers washing, pressing, steaming and dry-cleaning services. Laundry is charged per item, with prices now typically ranging from around $1.99 for underwear and socks to be washed and pressed, up to around $14.99 for a suit to be dry cleaned.

Most cruises also offer a ‘wash and fold’ special part way through the voyage. With this deal, you can send a bag of laundry to be cleaned for around $35 to $40, depending on the sailing.

On Royal Caribbean cruise ships, laundry is usually returned the next day, although you can request an express same-day service for a 50% supplement.

You can see the full Royal Caribbean laundry price list here.

Self-service facilities

There are no self-service laundry facilities onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships and irons are neither provided nor allowed on board. Instead, guests have the option to use the professional laundry and pressing service for a fee.

Virgin Voyages

Laundry services on Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages offers a full laundry service with options for wash and fold, wash and press, press only or eco cleaning (which is similar to dry cleaning).

Laundry prices on Virgin Voyages are set per item, rather than by garment type. Current prices are typically $4 per item for pressing only, $5 for wash and fold, $6 for wash and press, or $7 for eco cleaning. Alternatively, you can have a full bag of laundry washed and folded for around $30.

The flat pricing per item means that you pay the same regardless of what the item is, so you’ll pay $5 to have an evening dress washed, but also $5 for a pair of socks. If you have lots of smaller items, the by-the-bag option usually works out to be better value.

Clothing sent to the laundry on Virgin Voyages ships is normally returned by 5.30pm the next day. You can request a same-day service for an additional fee, which is typically around $20.

Self-service facilities

Virgin Voyages does not offer any self-service laundry facilities. If you need clothes washing or ironing, there is a laundry service available for a fee.

How Cruise Laundry Prices Compare

Here’s a table that compare the laundry services for each cruise line so you can see at a glance what is available on each ship.

Cruise Line	Professional Laundry Service	Wash & fold bag offer	Express / same-day service	Self-service launderette	Iron available
Azamara	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes – free	Yes
Carnival	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes – not all ships	Yes
Celebrity Cruises	Yes	Sometimes	Yes	No	No
Costa Cruises	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Cunard	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes – free	Yes
Disney Cruise Line	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Holland America Line	Yes	Yes – also unlimited package	Yes	No	Yes
Marella Cruises	Yes but no dry cleaning	Yes	Yes	No	No but they do allow travel irons
MSC Cruises	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Norwegian Cruise Line	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
P&O Cruises	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Princess Cruises	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Royal Caribbean	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Virgin Voyages	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

The Bottom Line

Doing laundry on a cruise ship is sometimes unavoidable, especially on longer sailings, back-to-back cruises or when travelling with a baby or children.

If money is no object, the easiest option is to send everything off to be professionally cleaned. It’s convenient, but it can be surprisingly expensive unless it’s included as a perk with your cabin or loyalty status.

Self-service launderettes are usually the cheapest option, but they can be busy and aren’t available on every ship. If you plan to use them, timing is everything – early mornings are usually best.

Personally, I do most of my laundry by hand in the cabin. Using a Scrubba washbag makes it quick, easy and stress-free, and it means I can pack lighter without worrying about running out of clean clothes.

Whichever option you choose, knowing what laundry facilities are available on your ship before you sail makes packing far easier – and saves you from hauling home a suitcase full of dirty clothes.

Related Posts:

• Cruise Essentials Packing List
• What Can You NOT Bring On a Cruise?
• 35 Must-Know Cruise Packing Tips and Tricks
• What To Wear On A Cruise: The Ultimate Guide