Your day-one carry-on bag
The short answer
Your checked luggage reaches your cabin hours after you board, sometimes not until evening. Carry on everything you need until then: documents, all medication, a swimsuit and sunscreen, a change of clothes for dinner, chargers and valuables. With that bag, your vacation starts the moment you step aboard.By Kathryn Lyn2 min readReviewed September 2026
Day-one carry-on
0 of 11 packedWhy the carry-on matters
Porters take your checked bags at the curb and the crew delivers them to cabins through the afternoon and evening. The pools, buffet and bars are open from the moment you board. Everything you'd need before dinner belongs in the bag you carry.
What doesn't go in checked bags
- Medication and medical devices.
- Documents.
- Wine or champagne, where your line allows it: most lines require it in hand luggage, and some remove alcohol from checked bags.
- Anything valuable or fragile.
Where the lines require wine to be carried
| Cruise line | What the line says | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival Cruise Line | One sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per guest 21 or older, on embarkation day only | September 21, 2026 |
| Royal Caribbean International | One sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per guest of drinking age, on embarkation day only | September 21, 2026 |
| Disney Cruise Line | One 750ml bottle of wine or 6 beers per adult, carry-on only | September 21, 2026 |
| Celebrity Cruises | One sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per guest of drinking age, on embarkation day only | September 21, 2026 |
| Princess Cruises | One 750ml bottle of wine or champagne per guest | September 24, 2026 |
First-timer questions
Questions, answered.
The questions people ask most. Tap one to open it, or open them all and read straight down.
2 questions on this page
When do you get your luggage on a cruise?
Checked bags are delivered to cabins through the afternoon and early evening of embarkation day. Keep anything you need before then in your carry-on.
Can I bring a carry-on bag on a cruise?
Yes. You carry it on board yourself; there's no airline-style size limit, but you'll be carrying it through the terminal and around the ship until your cabin is ready.