01
Schedule
Book your luggage shipment online or by phone. Tell us when you want your bags delivered and we’ll give you several pickup date and pricing options.
Pack your luggage, gear, and bags for shipment. Read more about preparing your luggage .
DOORSTEP TO DESTINATION™
Cruise Luggage Shipping
WE’LL TAKE IT FROM HERE
Your Trusted Global Luggage Shipping Service
Travel Light
Breeze through the airport and avoid paying extra airline baggage fees. It’s like a travel agent for your bags, so you can carry less and travel light.
Track Your Bags
Once your bags are on their way, our proprietary system monitors key milestones in their journey to ensure everything stays on track. As soon as delivery is complete, we’ll notify you by email so you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your luggage is ready and waiting for you.
On-Time Guarantee
Relax. When you send your luggage with us, it is guaranteed to arrive on time or we’ll refund you double what you paid to ship the bag.
Premium Service
From hassle-free pickups to on-time deliveries, our white glove service ensures your luggage arrives at your destination stress-free, allowing you to focus on your journey.
DOORSTEP TO STATEROOM DELIVERY
Ship Luggage To Any Cruise
Cruise luggage shipping allows you to streamline your cruise travel by sending luggage directly to any cruise ship, including river cruises, anywhere in the world.
How do I ship my luggage to a cruise ship?
To ship your luggage to a cruise ship, book online with Luggage Forward. We arrange pickup at your door and manage delivery to your cruise ship, so your bags are waiting in your stateroom on embarkation day. Every shipment is backed by our on-time guarantee. There is nothing to carry to the airport or the pier.
Any Port Worldwide
Whether you’re cruising from Port of Miami, or Port of Barcelona, Luggage Forward can deliver luggage directly aboard your cruise ship in more than 200 countries and territories. We can also arrange to send your luggage home upon disembarkation.
Any Cruise Line
Luggage Forward specializes in shipping luggage to cruise ships all around the globe. Whether shipping to one of our cruise partners like Seabourn, Viking, or Uniworld, or to any other cruise line, we guarantee your luggage will be delivered aboard your cruise ship.
Our Travel Partners
Luggage Forward partners with leading travel providers to bring the convenience of doorstep to destination luggage delivery to their customers. Luggage Forward has been trusted by many of the world’s most respected travel brands, including:
“Luggage Forward has been in the bags-to-cruise-ship business for about a decade. The company announced that cruise passengers can ship their luggage to 122 ships at 100 ports worldwide using its new online reservation system.”
LOS ANGELES TIMES
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING
Cruise Luggage Shipping Reviews
We have the best clients in the world. Using an independent third-party review site, we gather feedback to see how we’re doing. Read what real users have to say about their experience shipping bags with Luggage Forward.
Customer story
“Professional, very convenient, and worth every penny.”
Pat A., cruise traveler and Luggage Forward customer for years
Pack ahead. Your bags are collected at your door and delivered to your stateroom. When the cruise ends, they are picked up and shipped home.
Get a quote See how it worksRead transcript
How has Luggage Forward made your travel easier?
Luggage Forward has made it a lot more convenient and easier for us, especially as we get older and travel for longer periods. There's a lot of luggage, and it gets harder and harder to manage.
What would you tell someone who is on the fence about shipping their luggage?
It's always a little difficult to justify the number when you see the cost. But once you've used the service and see how professional and accurate it is, and how much easier it makes your life, you will never go back. We've been using them for years, and it's an automatic part of our travel, especially with cruising.
Why would you recommend Luggage Forward to others?
I would always recommend Luggage Forward because I've used it myself. I don't recommend anything I haven't personally used. You can pack comfortably, well in advance, and they pick it up at your door. It's in your room. When you're ready to come home, it's just as easy. They pick it up on the spot, and the next thing, it's at your house.
Describe Luggage Forward in one sentence.
Professional, very convenient, and worth every penny.
ABOUT LUGGAGE FORWARD
The Most Reliable Luggage Shipping Since 2004
Luggage Forward was born out of the simple idea that we should all be able to enjoy the journey as much as the destination and a great vacation does not begin at the baggage carousel. Or worse yet, with lost or late arriving luggage or sports equipment.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US:
- Streamlined Customs
- Double Money Back On-Time Guarantee
- Scheduled Doorstep Pickup
- Complimentary Value Protection
- Luggage Tags Delivered To You
- Excellent Customer Support
HOW CRUISE LUGGAGE SHIPPING WORKS
Cruise Luggage Shipping Is Easy
We've engineered every part of the cruise luggage shipping process to be easy and predictable, making your trip stress-free.
02
Ship
You tell us where and when you want your luggage picked up. We’ll pick up from your home, office, hotel, cruise ship, golf course and more.
We have many luggage pickup options to fit your busy schedule. Read more about luggage pickup .
03
Go
Head to the airport hands-free! Your luggage will be monitored closely by our team of shipping experts as well as by our predictive tracking technology to ensure on-time delivery. Learn more about how your luggage is transported .
Upon delivery, you’ll be notified via email, text or phone that your bags are awaiting your arrival. Read more about luggage delivery .
CRUISE LINE LUGGAGE RULES
Cruise Luggage Policies By Cruise Line
Every cruise line publishes its own baggage rules: bag count, weight, size, and what's flat-out prohibited at embarkation. Check yours before you pack.
| Cruise line | Bags per guest | Weight limit | Size limit | Carry-on | Prohibited highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | 2 suggested | 50 lbs / 23 kg | 28 × 22 × 14 in | 1 carry-on, 23 × 14 × 9 in | Weapons, hoverboards, irons, illegal drugs, candles, large coolers |
| Carnival | 1 (3–5 day) / 2 (6+ day) | 50 lbs / 23 kg | 16 in high × 24 in wide laid flat | Small cooler up to 12 × 12 × 12 in allowed | Weapons, irons, candles, marijuana (incl. medicinal), large coolers |
| Norwegian (NCL) | 2 suggested | 50 lbs / 23 kg | Not published (must fit through ship scanners) | 1 carry-on per guest | Weapons, irons, candles, hoverboards, illegal drugs, drones (case by case) |
| MSC | 2 suitcases + 2 carry-ons | 51 lbs / 23 kg per bag (220 lbs / 100 kg cabin total) | 35 × 30 × 17 in (90 × 75 × 43 cm) | 22 × 18 × 10 in (56 × 45 × 25 cm), 23 kg | Weapons, irons, candles, drones, hoverboards, hazardous materials |
| Princess | 2 suggested | 50 lbs / 23 kg | No strict measurement (must fit in cabin) | 1 carry-on, must clear ship scanners | Weapons, irons, candles, hoverboards, marijuana, large coolers |
| Holland America | 2 suggested | 50 lbs / 23 kg | Not published (soft-sided preferred) | 1 carry-on + 1 personal item | Weapons, irons, candles, hoverboards, drones, hazardous materials |
| Viking | 1 checked bag | 44 lbs / 20 kg | 39 × 23 × 16 in (100 × 60 × 40 cm) | 22 × 14 × 9 in, 15 lbs / 7 kg | Weapons, irons, candles, hoverboards, drones, hazardous materials |
| Celebrity | 2 suggested (Xpedition: 1) | 50 lbs / 23 kg (Xpedition: 44 lbs / 20 kg) | Not published (must fit in stateroom) | 1 carry-on, 22 × 14 × 9 in | Weapons, irons, candles, hoverboards, marijuana, drones |
These are cruise-line allowances enforced at embarkation, not Luggage Forward service limits. We routinely ship beyond what's published above for guests with extra bags, heavier cases, or oversize equipment, especially on Viking sailings. If your trip needs more than your cruise line lists, contact us for a quote. Expedition, river, and charter itineraries may apply stricter limits; confirm with your cruise line before booking shipping.
HONEST COMPARISON
Should You Ship, Carry, Or Check Your Cruise Luggage?
There’s no one right answer. Here’s when each option actually makes sense, including the cases where carrying your own bags wins.
| Ship with Luggage Forward Door-to-stateroom delivery | Carry it yourself Airport + port hand-off | Airline checked bag Standard travel-day path | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost (per bag, one-way) | Domestic starting at $139, international starting at $249 | $0, but factor in airline fees plus airport transfers | $35–$60 first bag, $75–$150 second, oversize fees extra |
| Time & effort | Hand bags to driver at home; nothing to schlep through airports or terminals | Lowest effort if you live near port and have minimal luggage; high effort with connections | Check at airport, claim at destination, taxi to port; tight for tight connections |
| Weight limits | No per-bag weight surcharge; flat rate by category | Whatever you can lift, push, and roll yourself through transit | 50 lbs standard; $100–$200 overweight fee at 51–70 lbs |
| Risk of loss or damage | End-to-end tracking, $500 complimentary value protection | Lowest risk, but no protection if a wheel breaks at the curb | Roughly 5–7 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers industry-wide |
| What if it’s late | On-time guarantee; shipping cost refunded if window is missed | It’s with you, so the only delay risk is your own travel chain | Airline may deliver to ship at next port; you wait without your gear |
| Best for | Longer cruises, multi-leg trips, formalwear, golf clubs, mobility equipment | Short close-to-home cruises with a single small carry-on | One bag per traveler, direct flight, no connections |
Airline figures reflect typical economy-cabin fees on U.S. carriers as of 2026. Shipping prices vary by origin, destination, bag size, and delivery speed. See Luggage Forward’s instant quote for your exact route.
WHAT AFFECTS YOUR PRICE
Cruise Luggage Shipping Starts At $139. Here’s How It Scales
Pricing is all-inclusive. No fuel surcharges, no oversize fees, no port handling add-ons. Five things move the number up or down.
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Distance
U.S. domestic cruise routes start at $139 per bag for a small bag. Caribbean, Alaska, and Hawaii itineraries run mid-range. Transatlantic, Mediterranean, and Asia-Pacific sailings sit at the top of the range because of customs handling and ocean freight.
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Bag size and weight
Luggage Forward uses flat-rate categories (small, standard, large) instead of per-pound pricing. There are no overweight surcharges. Golf clubs, skis, and oversize trunks have their own published flat rates so you know the number before you book.
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Delivery speed
Standard service is the baseline price. Express service shortens transit by two to three business days for an additional fee. Plan ahead: booking at least seven days before pickup unlocks our lowest rates for any route.
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Port location
Major U.S. embarkation ports (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, Seattle, NYC) carry standard pricing. Remote turnaround ports like Reykjavík, Ushuaia, Papeete, or a one-off river-cruise pier in Europe add modest port-handling adjustments.
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Time of year
Peak cruise seasons (Christmas through New Year, spring break, mid-summer Mediterranean) can carry capacity-driven uplifts. Off-peak windows offer the best value. Shoulder seasons usually fall between the two.
Cruise ship luggage: what to know
Every cruise line sets its own luggage rules. Here is what most cruise ship travelers need to know before embarkation day.
On most cruises, you hand checked bags to porters at the terminal, and the cruise line delivers them to your stateroom later on embarkation day. Until then, you carry your essentials. Shipping ahead with Luggage Forward lets you skip the airport bag check and the terminal drop-off, and arrive with only a carry-on.
How much luggage most cruise lines allow
Most major cruise lines suggest two checked bags per guest at about 50 lbs (23 kg) each, plus one carry-on you bring aboard yourself. Some smaller-ship and river lines set lower limits. Viking, for example, publishes one checked bag at 44 lbs (20 kg).
Rules vary by cruise line and itinerary, so check your line’s current luggage rules before you pack.
When bags reach your cabin on embarkation day
On most cruise lines, bags left with porters at the pier are delivered to staterooms later on embarkation day, not when you board. Keep medication, travel documents and anything you need right away in your carry-on.
When you ship with Luggage Forward, your bags are waiting in your stateroom on embarkation day.
Skip the pier drop-off and the wait for luggage
Without shipping, you take your bags through the airport, hand them to porters at the pier, then wait for them to reach your stateroom.
When you ship luggage to a cruise ship with Luggage Forward, we arrange pickup at your door and delivery to the ship. You arrive at the terminal with only a carry-on. Learn more about our cruise luggage valet service.
Shipping luggage home after the cruise
Upon disembarkation, Luggage Forward can arrange to have your luggage picked up at the port and sent back to your home. You leave the ship as lightly as you boarded.
Where Luggage Forward can deliver
Luggage Forward arranges door-to-door delivery to your home, to a hotel near your departure port, or to your cruise ship, where your bags are waiting in your stateroom on embarkation day. Sailing with Viking? See our Viking cruise luggage delivery page.
Luxury cruise lines we deliver to
Luggage Forward delivers to any cruise line, including river cruises. Our luxury cruise partners include:
- AmaWaterways
- Crystal Cruises
- Cunard
- Seabourn
- Viking
CRUISE LUGGAGE QUESTIONS
What Travelers Ask About Cruise Luggage
Most major cruise lines suggest two bags per guest at roughly 50 lbs each, plus one carry-on you handle yourself at embarkation. Smaller-ship lines like Viking publish a one-bag, 44 lb allowance. There’s no per-bag fee, but bags must fit inside your stateroom, so the practical limit is two to three pieces per person.
A 25- to 28-inch checked spinner (around 50 lbs packed) plus a carry-on tote covers most 7-day cruises with room for formal-night attire, swimwear, and a jacket. Couples often pack one large case plus a shared garment bag. Hard-sided cases store better under low cruise-cabin beds than soft duffels.
Yes. Luggage Forward delivers bags directly aboard cruise ships at more than 200 ports worldwide, including Port of Miami, Port Everglades, Barcelona, Southampton, Civitavecchia, and Seattle. Your bags are scanned, manifested with the ship’s provisioning, and waiting in your stateroom on embarkation day. We coordinate with the cruise line so nothing routes through your hotel.
Domestic cruise shipping with Luggage Forward starts at $139 per bag for a small bag, with international itineraries scaling with distance, weight, and delivery speed. All-inclusive pricing means no fuel surcharges, oversize fees, or port handling add-ons. A typical roundtrip on a U.S.-departing cruise runs $250 to $500 per bag, often cheaper than excess airline fees plus airport transfers.
Plan to hand off your luggage 7 to 10 days before embarkation for domestic cruises, and 10 to 14 days for international sailings. Luggage Forward’s on-time guarantee refunds your shipping cost if a bag misses the agreed delivery window. Same-day and next-day pickup is available in most U.S. metros if you book closer to your departure date.
Luggage Forward guarantees on-time delivery to the ship. If a bag misses the agreed window, you’re refunded the shipping cost and our cruise specialists coordinate directly with the cruise line and port agents to deliver to your next port of call. Every shipment also carries $500 of complimentary value protection, with more value protection available at booking.
When you ship with Luggage Forward, your bags are waiting in your stateroom on embarkation day. Bags you leave with porters at the pier are delivered by the cruise line later in the day, and timing varies by ship and port. Keep medication, travel documents and anything you need right away in your carry-on.
Yes. Upon disembarkation, Luggage Forward can arrange to have your luggage picked up at the port and sent back to your home. You leave the ship with only a carry-on and travel home without checking a bag.
Luggage Forward delivers to any cruise line, including river cruises, at ports around the world. Our cruise partners include luxury lines such as AmaWaterways, Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Seabourn and Viking.
Yes. Every Luggage Forward shipment includes $500 of complimentary value protection, and you can increase your value protection until midnight on the day of your pickup. Your bags are tracked from pickup to delivery.
How To Pack Your Luggage For Shipping
We specialize in shipping luggage of all types and sizes. Pack as you normally would when checking luggage with the airlines, but be sure to pack carefully, especially for more fragile items. Note that there are some items that cannot be shipped in your luggage. Read here for a full list of our prohibited items.
Frequently Asked Shipping Questions
Our pricing starts at $99/bag. Pricing is available online or by calling +1 617-482-1100.
Luggage Forward uses baggage categories similar to what you would find with airlines; combining both weight and size to create simple categories, making it easy to generate pricing on our website without the exact weight or dimensions of your luggage.
Our all-inclusive pricing is more predictable and typically less expensive than a per-pound rate because we do not have any additional fees or surcharges.
Pricing is determined based on the following three factors:
- Origin and destination
- Luggage category
- Delivery speed
You can get instant pricing for your specific trip online.
No, your luggage does not have to be boxed. You can pack your luggage as you normally would for airline travel, no additional packaging is necessary.
One of the advantages of using Luggage Forward is that your soft and hard sided luggage can be shipped as is. However, sporting equipment should have adequate padding around any fragile or precision parts to ensure that they are protected during transit.
For more on preparing and packing your order, see our guide to what you can and cannot ship.
Our complimentary value protection covers your luggage for up to $500 in the rare event that there is damage beyond normal wear and tear. You may increase your value protection up until midnight the day of your pick up.
After your booking is placed, Luggage Forward will mail you a Forwarding Packet up to one week prior to your pickup. The Forwarding Packet contains your itinerary, luggage tags, and relevant instructions for packing and preparing your luggage for shipment with Luggage Forward. If you placed a last-minute booking then the Forwarding Packet can either be emailed to you or it can be printed at luggageforward.com by logging into your account.
For more on preparing and packing your order, see our packing guide.
You can pack your luggage as you normally would for airline travel, no additional packaging is necessary.
One of the advantages of using Luggage Forward is that your soft and hard sided luggage can be shipped as is. However, sporting equipment and other non-luggage should have adequate padding around any fragile or precision parts to ensure that they are protected during transit.
After your booking is placed, Luggage Forward will mail you a forwarding packet up to one week prior to your pickup. The forwarding packet contains your itinerary, luggage tags, and relevant instructions for packing and preparing your luggage for shipment with Luggage Forward. If you placed a last-minute booking then the forwarding packet can either be emailed to you or it can be printed at luggageforward.com by logging into your account.
For more on preparing and packing your order, see our packing guide.
Any hazardous or dangerous commodities are prohibited from all Luggage Forward shipments.
For shipments traveling between two countries, there are additional items restricted by customs.
You can not ship:
- Medication, OTC, prescription, or vitamins
- Food (Includes coffee beans and spices)
- Alcohol (including perfume and hand sanitizer)
- Tobacco
- Pressurized containers (includes sunscreen)
- Valuables or currency
- Electronics (excludes cables and converters)
- Lithium based, or Alkaline batteries (includes tracking devices and range finders)
Upon booking, you will be provided with a list of common items that are disallowed. If you have specific questions, please contact one of our forwarding specialists or see our Terms of Service.
For additional items that cannot be shipped, please visit https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/.
Violators of the Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR parts 100—185) may be subject to civil penalties of up to $75,000 for each violation ($175,000 if the violation results in severe injury or substantial destruction to property).
We offer same day bookings in many areas and if it is available on our website, we can do it.
If you like to plan ahead, we accept bookings up to 180 days prior to pickup.
Last minute booking?
We will ship customized luggage tags to your pickup location when time allows. Should you make a last minute booking, please bear in mind you will most likely need to print out the labels and documents to maintain the scheduled collection.
Domestic Shipments
Bags traveling within a single country must be locked. Failure to lock items will void your right to file a claim for lost or missing contents.
International Shipments
Bags shipped between two countries must be unlocked as they may have to be opened as a normal part of the customs screening process. If bags are locked, including TSA approved locks, and customs cannot open an item then the lock or seal may have to be broken.
Locking any item traveling internationally can cause extended delays and will void Luggage Forward's industry leading on-time guarantee.
Let’s Get Started
Get instant, all-inclusive rates to ship luggage on your next trip.