Costa Cruises Luggage Policy: Baggage Rules, Limits & Fees 2026 

Costa Cruises allows 1 extra bag per passenger (plus hand luggage) on standard cruises, 2 extra bags on 9–14 day sailings, and 3 extra bags on cruises over 14 days. Each bag must not exceed 20 kg (EU) or 50 lbs (US). Hand luggage must fit within 55×35×25 cm.

What Is the Costa Cruises Baggage Policy in 2026?

Costa Cruises’ baggage policy sets the number of bags, maximum weight per bag, and hand luggage dimensions permitted per passenger. Allowances are determined by cruise duration and whether air travel is included in the booking not by cabin category. All luggage passes through an X-ray security check at embarkation.

What Is the Costa Cruises Luggage Allowance by Cruise Duration?

A key point that most competing guides miss: Costa’s luggage allowance is based on cruise length, not cabin type. A guest in an inside cabin and a guest in a suite are entitled to the same number of bags under Costa’s port-side policy. The cabin category difference shows up in onboard space and storage suites naturally offer more room but it does not unlock a higher bag count at check-in.

If you’re flying to your embarkation port, Costa’s ship-side allowance becomes secondary. The stricter airline rule applies: typically 1 checked bag plus 1 small carry-on. Always confirm your specific allowance with the airline listed in your booking documents before departure.

Bag Express service is also available in select countries, collecting luggage directly from your home and delivering it to the ship (and back).

What Are the Costa Cruises Baggage Weight Limit and Size Restrictions?

The Costa Cruises baggage weight limit and hand luggage dimensions are fixed regardless of cruise duration. Here’s a quick-reference breakdown:

The 55×35×25 cm hand luggage limit exists specifically to allow X-ray inspection at the gangway. Bags that don’t fit through the scanner will need to be checked separately.

Practical example: If you’re on a 10-night Mediterranean cruise departing from Genoa, you’re entitled to 2 checked bags plus hand luggage. Keep each checked bag at or under 20 kg. A standard 28-inch suitcase packed with clothes, shoes, and toiletries typically weighs between 18–22 kg so packing light matters.

Note on oversized items: Costa does not publish specific fees for oversized or overweight luggage handled at the port. If you’re traveling with large items (e.g., wheelchair, medical equipment), contact Costa Cruises customer service in advance. Mobility devices for guests with disabilities must be communicated at least 40 days before departure.

What Charter Flight Baggage Allowances Apply to Costa Cruise Packages?

If Costa has arranged a charter flight as part of your cruise package, the airline-specific allowance applies. These vary significantly:

Always check your flight documentation. If your charter allowance is stricter than the ship-side allowance, the stricter rule governs what you can bring.

What Items Are Prohibited Under the Costa Cruises Baggage Policy?

Costa Cruises’ list of banned items covers weapons, hazardous materials, and several everyday items that passengers often overlook. Here’s a categorized breakdown sourced from Costa’s official prohibited items list:

Weapons and dangerous objects:

• Firearms, imitation guns, air/BB/pellet pistols
• All ammunition and explosives
• Fireworks, flares, and pyrotechnics
• Knives with blades longer than 4 inches (10.16 cm)
• Scissors with blades longer than 4 inches
• Crossbows, spears, spear guns, blunt weapons (clubs, nunchaku, brass knuckles)
• Stun devices and handcuffs

Substances:

• All illegal narcotics and drugs, including synthetic drugs and medical marijuana
• CBD products even those legal in certain US states are prohibited fleet-wide
• Incapacitating substances (mace, tear gas, acid)
• Flammable chemicals (charcoal, petrol, paint thinners) beyond limited personal quantities

Electronics and appliances:

• Heating appliances including irons, immersion heaters, electric blankets, coffee machines, and water heaters
• Exception: Hair dryers and hair straighteners with a maximum output of 120W are permitted
• Satellite phones, ham radios, EPIRB devices, and laser pointers
• Drones (permitted onboard for storage only; cannot be used on the ship or in port areas; drone weight must not exceed 2 kg)
• Hoverboards, electric scooters, electric bicycles, and Segways

Food, drinks, and consumables:

• All food and beverages brought from home or purchased at port stops
• Exceptions: Baby food, personal care products (shampoo, creams), prescribed medicines, and products required for certified special diets
• Edge case: Regional products purchased during shore excursions will be held by ship staff and returned to you at the end of the cruise they are not confiscated permanently

Other prohibited items:

• Animals (guide dogs permitted with advance approval)
• Compressed gas cylinders and helium balloons
• Tattoo equipment and accessories

What Are the Additional Fees and Onboard Services Related to Luggage?

Costa does not publish a standalone excess baggage surcharge for ship-side luggage. The most relevant fees passengers encounter are:

Hotel Service Charges (daily, per adult):
These are not luggage fees, but they’re an essential part of your total onboard cost:

• European routes (most ships): €11 per adult per day
• Caribbean/Americas routes: $12–$14.50 USD per adult per day (varies by ship and season)
• Costa Serena (cabin): $16 USD per day; suites $19 USD per day
• Children under 4: free; ages 4–14: 50% of the adult rate

Laundry services:
Each Costa cabin includes laundry bags and a printed price list for the onboard fast laundry, dry cleaning, and ironing service. Exact per-item pricing is not published publicly but is available in your cabin on boarding day. Costa also stocks a wide range of clothing and accessories in onboard shops useful if you’ve packed light or need a formal outfit for dinner.

Bar and beverage surcharge:

• 15% service charge is added to all bar and restaurant bills
• 20% is applied when the ship is docked in US ports

How Should You Pack for a Costa Cruise?

• Use the cruise-length rule to plan. On a 7-night cruise, you get 1 checked bag. On a 12-night cruise, 2. Plan your bag count before buying luggage.
• Stick to 20 kg per bag. Use a luggage scale at home. Overweight bags create problems at the security check.
• Keep your day bag separate. Checked bags go to your cabin after embarkation sometimes hours later. Pack medications, travel documents, chargers, and a change of clothes in your hand luggage.
• Label every bag. Costa provides luggage tags to be attached at the port. Having your own backup label inside each bag is a smart precaution.
• Leave space for souvenirs. Onboard shops carry clothing, perfume, and accessories. Regional products from port stops will be held until disembarkation, so factor that into your return bag weight.
• Don’t pack your iron. Costa provides laundry and ironing services onboard. Bringing one is explicitly prohibited.
• Hair tools are allowed with a limit. Hair dryers and straighteners up to 120W are permitted. Check your device’s wattage label before packing.

Is There Anything Else to Do Before Your Costa Cruise?

• Download your luggage tags from the MyCosta portal (mycosta.costacruises.eu) starting 30 days before departure during web check-in
• Reconfirm special dietary needs with the restaurant manager on boarding day if you’ve arranged special meals
• Bring all required travel documents in hand luggage passport, boarding form, flight/train tickets, and any visas. Lost documents cannot be retrieved from checked bags once they’ve been handed to port staff
• Notify Costa of mobility equipment at least 40 days before departure if you require a wheelchair or specialized medical device
• Verify drone regulations for every country on your itinerary before departure if you plan to bring a drone for personal photography ashore

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Costa Cruises luggage allowance for a 7-night cruise?
On a cruise of up to 8 days without a flight included, Costa Cruises permits 1 checked bag plus 1 piece of hand luggage per passenger. The hand luggage must not exceed 55×35×25 cm, and each checked bag should not exceed 20 kg (EU) or 50 lbs (US).

Does the Costa Cruises baggage allowance differ by cabin type (inside, balcony, suite)?
No. Costa’s baggage allowance is determined by cruise duration, not cabin category. Inside cabin guests and suite guests are entitled to the same number of bags under the port-side policy. Cabin type only affects onboard storage space, not your luggage entitlement at check-in.

What is the Costa Cruises baggage weight limit per bag?
The maximum weight per bag is 20 kg on European routes (per Costa EU official guidance) and 50 lbs (~22.7 kg) on US-market sailings. Bags exceeding these limits may require special handling at the port security checkpoint.

What is the Costa Cruises hand luggage size limit?
Hand luggage must not exceed 55×35×25 cm. This size limit is set specifically to allow X-ray inspection at embarkation. Bags larger than this cannot be screened and will need to be checked in separately.

Can I bring food and drinks onboard a Costa cruise?
No. Costa Cruises prohibits all outside food and beverages, including items purchased at port stops. Exceptions include baby food, personal care products, prescribed medications, and foods required for certified special diets. Regional products bought during shore excursions are held by ship staff and returned at cruise end.

Are CBD products allowed on Costa Cruises ships?
No. CBD products are explicitly prohibited on all Costa Cruises vessels, even if they are legally purchased in the passenger’s home state or country. Costa cites that CBD is not legal in all ports of call, making it a prohibited item fleet-wide.

Can I bring a drone on a Costa cruise?
You may store a drone in your cabin, but you cannot use it onboard the ship or in any port area at any time. The drone must weigh no more than 2 kg. Costa assumes no liability for regulations in destination countries, and passengers bear full responsibility for any fines resulting from unauthorized drone use ashore.

What hair appliances are permitted under Costa’s luggage policy?
Hair dryers and hair straighteners are allowed, provided their maximum power output does not exceed 120W. All other heating appliances including irons, electric blankets, immersion heaters, and coffee machines are prohibited. Costa ships provide an ironing and laundry service onboard.

Does Costa Cruises charge excess baggage fees at the port?
Costa does not publish a specific per-bag excess fee for port check-in. Overweight or oversized bags may be flagged at the security X-ray checkpoint, but exact penalties are not listed in public documentation. If you’re flying to the port, your airline’s excess baggage fees apply and can range from €30 to €100+ per extra bag depending on the carrier.

What happens to souvenirs bought at port stops if I can’t bring them onboard?
Regional products and local goods purchased during shore excursions that fall under Costa’s food or beverage ban will be taken into custody by ship staff at embarkation. They are not discarded they are stored and returned to you at the end of the cruise at disembarkation.