What Luggage is Allowed on a P&O Cruise? — The Complete UK Guide (2026)

How much luggage can you take on a P&O cruise departing from the UK? The answer depends on whether you have booked a cruise-only holiday, a fly-cruise, or a coach transfer. Here is how to plan your bags without overlooking the weight limit.

P&O Cruises luggage allowance for cruise-only holidays

According to P&O Cruises’ baggage guidance, last updated 22 May 2025, you can bring as many bags as you can comfortably fit into your cabin on a cruise-only holiday, but each item of luggage should weigh no more than 23kg for safety and handling. Bags are weighed at embarkation. If an item exceeds 23kg, you may be called back to the terminal to remove items or repack it, and an overweight bag may be delayed at disembarkation.

Travelling to Southampton with P&O’s Cruise Connect coach partners? Their limit is two medium cases per guest, each weighing no more than 23kg. A fly-cruise has separate flight baggage rules, including restrictions on hand-luggage weight and liquids. Do not assume the cruise-only allowance applies to your flight.

Before choosing or packing luggage, check your P&O booking and the latest P&O baggage guidance. If you are flying or using a coach transfer, check those allowances too. Weigh each packed case before travelling.

What size suitcase should you choose?

For a shorter cruise, a medium case may be a practical starting point; for a longer sailing, you might prefer a larger case or more than one bag. Choose based on your own packing needs and cabin space, rather than an assumed number of bags or an assumed under-bed fit. Whatever size you choose, keep each item at or below 23kg on a cruise-only holiday, and follow any stricter limits for other parts of your journey.

Our selection of medium and large cases is worth considering if you want room for different outfits and shoes. Check each product’s measurements and features before ordering; suitcase dimensions alone do not tell you what a packed case will weigh.

Can you bring hand luggage on board?

Yes. P&O recommends carrying first-day essentials because your suitcases may take a few hours to reach your cabin. Consider keeping your passport and travel documents, medication, basic toiletries, sun cream, a change of clothes, swimwear and valuables with you. A comfortable backpack or carry-on can also be useful for days ashore.

P&O says there are no hand-luggage weight or liquid bottle-size restrictions for cruise-only holidays, though its alcohol policy still applies. Fly-cruise flight restrictions are different, so check the airline and your booking before packing liquids or choosing a carry-on bag.

Our luggage suggestions for a P&O cruise

A medium suitcase is one option if you prefer to keep your main bag manageable; a large suitcase may suit a longer trip if you can keep the packed case within the 23kg per-item limit. A backpack can keep first-day essentials close while you wait for your main bag. If travelling as a couple, a luggage set may offer a choice of case sizes, but check each bag’s measurements and your transport allowances before deciding what to take.

Look at the product details for material, wheels, locks and capacity rather than assuming a case will fit under a particular cabin bed or suit a specific embarkation terminal. Choose the bags that suit your journey, not just the longest part of it.

Practical packing tips

• Weigh every packed bag separately. The cruise-only 23kg guidance applies to each item, not as a combined allowance.
• Keep essentials with you. Your main case may arrive at your cabin a few hours after you board.
• Label your cases. Follow the luggage-label instructions provided for your sailing.
• Check every leg of the trip. Cruise Connect coach transfers and fly-cruise flights have different restrictions.
• Leave room in the cabin. P&O’s cruise-only bag quantity is limited in practice by what you can comfortably fit there.

Choose luggage for your trip

If you’re comparing options, browse our cabin-size luggage selection for a carry-on. Check the individual product measurements and your booking requirements before you buy. For a cruise-only sailing, remember the 23kg limit for each main bag; for a fly-cruise, follow your airline’s rules as well.

Travel Smarter with Neil's Luggage Store.

— Neil White, Neil's Luggage Store