The Short Answer for Princess Cruises Passengers
Every Princess Cruises ship has self-service launderettes, professional valet laundry, and dry cleaning. Captain's Circle Elite members get standard laundry at no extra charge for the whole voyage.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide is for first-time Princess Cruises passengers who want to know exactly how laundry works onboard before they pack. Whether you are figuring out how much a valet shirt costs on day five or whether you actually need two full weeks of clothing, this covers every option. It also covers the Captain's Circle Elite perk that repeat Princess sailors consistently call the program's best benefit.
At a Glance
Service | Cost | Turnaround | Available |
|---|---|---|---|
Self-service washer | $3 per load | Same day | All ships |
Self-service dryer | $3 per load | Same day | All ships |
Detergent (vending) | ~$1.50 | Immediate | All ships |
Iron and ironing board | Free | Immediate | Launderette only |
Full-service valet | Varies by item | ~24 hours | All ships |
Same-day valet surcharge | +50% | By 6 p.m. | Submit by 9 a.m. |
Dry cleaning | Varies by item | ~24–48 hours | All ships |
Elite complimentary laundry | Free | Next-day only | All ships |
Key Takeaways
Every Princess ship has self-service launderettes with washers, dryers, irons, and ironing boards. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian have none.
Self-service costs $3 per wash and $3 per dry, paid via OceanMedallion with no coins needed on most ships.
Same-day valet service costs 50 percent more; items must be submitted before 9 a.m. for return by 6 p.m.
Captain's Circle Elite members get complimentary next-day laundry for the entire voyage, with same-day and dry cleaning excluded.
Pack your own detergent pods or flat laundry sheets to skip the $1.50 vending charge and ensure a hypoallergenic option.
Table of Contents
Why This Guide Exists
Princess offers more laundry options than most mainstream cruise lines, and more confusion to go with them. Per-item valet pricing catches first-timers off guard, the same-day surcharge is steep, and the Elite laundry perk has a specific exclusion that surprises passengers who skip the fine print. This guide resolves all of it before you board.
The Self-Service Launderettes
Machines, Layout, and Payment on Princess Ships
Self-service launderettes are placed on multiple cabin decks on every ship in the Princess Cruises fleet. Most are accessible around the clock and located midship. Each room contains washers, dryers, an ironing board, and a wall-mounted iron. Most Princess ships have transitioned to OceanMedallion payment, eliminating the need for quarters or coins.
Cruise 101: The OceanMedallion
The OceanMedallion is a quarter-sized wearable device Princess issues to every passenger before sailing. It serves as your stateroom key, onboard payment tool, and identity credential. In the launderettes, you tap it to pay for wash and dry cycles. Tokens are also available at Guest Services if you prefer.
What the Launderette Costs Per Load
A wash cycle costs $3. A dry cycle costs $3. Detergent and fabric softener from the vending machine run approximately $1.50. Irons and ironing boards are free. A full load with shipboard detergent costs about $7.50, or $6 if you bring your own pods.
Personal Irons in Staterooms: The Rule
Princess Cruises prohibits personal irons and clothes steamers in all staterooms due to fire risk. Irons are available only in the launderette rooms. Do not pack a travel iron expecting to use it in your cabin.
When Princess Launderettes May Close
On itineraries where environmental regulations limit water use, including some Norwegian fjord and protected-waters routes, launderette hours may be reduced or temporarily suspended. Princess Cruises notes this exception on its official onboard FAQ. Check onboard messaging the first sea day if your itinerary involves those destinations.
Full-Service Valet Laundry and Dry Cleaning
How Princess Valet Laundry Works
A laundry bag and itemized price list are placed in your stateroom closet at the start of every sailing. Fill out the form, mark each item, and leave the bag for your stateroom steward. Standard turnaround is next-day. Charges are billed to your onboard account and payable at voyage end.
Princess Valet Prices by Garment
Princess charges per item. Approximate current rates from passenger reports and industry sources:
Shirts and blouses: $3.50–$5.00
Trousers and pants: $4.00–$6.00
Underwear and socks: $2.00–$3.50
Dresses: $5.00–$8.00
Pressing only: $2.50–$4.00
Dry cleaning (shirts/blouses): $5.00–$10.00
Dry cleaning (formal wear): higher, varies by garment
Same-day service carries a 50 percent surcharge fleet-wide. The 9 a.m. cutoff is firm. Miss it and you wait until the next day at standard pricing.
Valet pricing listed here reflects passenger-reported figures from 2024–2025. Princess Cruises does not publish a current per-item laundry menu publicly. Confirm exact rates with your stateroom steward or Guest Services once onboard.
Captain's Circle Elite Complimentary Laundry
What the Elite Perk Covers and What It Excludes
Captain's Circle Elite, Princess Cruises' top loyalty tier, comes with complimentary laundry for the entire voyage. It covers standard next-day wash and press. The Points Guy and multiple cruise loyalty reviewers identify it as the single best practical benefit in the Captain's Circle program, particularly on voyages of 10 nights or more. The perk does not cover dry cleaning or same-day express service. Request same-day or dry cleaning and standard pricing applies.
How to Reach Captain's Circle Elite
Elite requires 15 completed Princess Cruises sailings or 150 cumulative sailing days. Passengers enroll in Captain's Circle automatically after their first Princess sailing. Status is permanent, with no annual requalification required, so Elite members keep their tier indefinitely.
How Princess Compares to Other Mainstream Lines
Feature | Princess | Royal Caribbean | Carnival | Norwegian | Disney |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Self-service launderette | All ships | None | Most ships | None | All ships |
Washer/dryer cost | $3 each | N/A | $3.50 each | N/A | $3 each |
Iron in launderette | Free | N/A | Available | N/A | Available |
Same-day surcharge | +50% | +50% | +50% | +50% | Varies |
Top loyalty laundry perk | Elite (free) | Diamond Plus (discount) | Diamond (free bags) | Platinum (1 bag) | N/A |
Scenarios: Which Option Fits Your Princess Cruise
7-night Caribbean sailing: Self-service handles most needs. One launderette run mid-voyage covers a week of basics. Reserve valet for items you need pressed before formal night.
14-night or longer sailing: Most experienced Princess passengers use a mix, with self-service for everyday basics and valet for dress clothes and anything requiring pressing. Pack lighter than you think; the launderette is always there.
Captain's Circle Elite members: Pack lighter. Complimentary next-day laundry removes the cost calculation from standard send-away service entirely. Submit laundry on sea days when the operation is least rushed.
Formal wear and delicates: Use dry cleaning for structured garments that cannot go through a launderette machine. Submit on day one or two of the sailing to avoid the pre-formal-night rush.
What Princess Passengers Say About the Laundry Facilities
One reason Princess laundry service receives positive reviews is the availability of self-service laundromats on their ships.
Princess is one of the few major cruise lines that still offers self-service laundry rooms with washers, dryers, ironing stations, and detergent available for purchase. The cruise line also offers valet laundry and dry-cleaning service, while Elite Captain's Circle members and full-suite guests receive complimentary laundry benefits.
A frequently cited benefit among repeat Princess cruisers is the ability to wash clothing mid-voyage without relying entirely on paid laundry service.
Laundry is one of the big benefits of the Princess brand. They have full laundry rooms with washer, dryer, sink, ironing board, and detergents you can buy.
For passengers on longer sailings, onboard laundromats can reduce packing needs, avoid airline baggage fees, and provide an alternative to per-item laundry charges. Multiple Princess passengers report using the self-service facilities regularly, particularly on voyages lasting 10 days or longer.
Many experienced Princess cruisers recommend bringing your own detergent rather than purchasing it onboard.
I packed laundry sheets for detergent. They traveled and worked great. I wish every line had laundromats!
Another passenger recommended detergent sheets specifically because they take up little space and eliminate the risk of spills in luggage:
I like to bring the arm and hammer power sheets to wash with. You don't have to worry about them leaking (like the pods).
For passengers taking 10-day, 14-day, or longer cruises, bringing detergent sheets can make it easier to use the self-service laundromats while packing fewer clothes. Multiple Princess cruisers report using onboard laundry facilities specifically to travel with lighter luggage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Princess Cruises ship have self-service laundry?
Yes. All Princess ships have self-service launderettes with washers, dryers, irons, and ironing boards on multiple decks.
How much does it cost to use the Princess Cruises launderette?
$3 per wash and $3 per dry. Detergent from the vending machine costs approximately $1.50. Bringing your own detergent pods cuts the full-load cost to $6.
Can I pay for Princess laundry with my OceanMedallion?
Yes. Most Princess ships accept Medallion payment in the launderettes. Tokens can also be purchased at Guest Services.
What is the same-day laundry cutoff time on Princess Cruises?
9 a.m. Submit before 9 a.m. for return by 6 p.m. with a 50 percent surcharge added to standard rates.
Do Captain's Circle Elite members get free dry cleaning on Princess?
No. The Elite complimentary laundry covers standard next-day wash and press only. Dry cleaning is billed at full price.
Are personal irons allowed in Princess Cruises staterooms?
No. Princess prohibits irons and steamers in all staterooms. Free irons are available in the launderette rooms only.
Do Princess cruisers actually use the self-service laundromats?
Yes. Many repeat Princess passengers consider the onboard laundromats one of the brand's most useful amenities. Princess ships offer self-service laundry rooms with washers, dryers, ironing stations, and detergent available for purchase, making them especially popular on longer voyages
What detergent should I bring for Princess Cruises laundry rooms?
Laundry detergent sheets. Many Princess cruisers recommend laundry detergent sheets because they take up almost no luggage space and cannot leak like liquid detergent or pods. Several passengers report bringing detergent sheets specifically for use in Princess laundromats rather than purchasing detergent onboard.
What This Means for You
First-time Princess cruisers: Pack lighter than you think. Launderettes on every ship mean you do not need a fresh outfit for every day of a 10-night sailing. Bring four to six detergent pods or flat laundry sheets. Skip the travel iron.
Passengers building toward Elite status: The complimentary laundry perk is the Captain's Circle program's most practical benefit on sailings over seven nights. Submit laundry on sea days. Track your cruise count, because the 15-sailing threshold arrives faster than most passengers expect when mixing short and longer trips.
Guests with formal wear or delicates: Submit structured garments for dry cleaning on day one or two. Do not wait until the evening before formal night.