Holland America Line does not enforce strict size limits on luggage brought aboard its ships. However, checked bags should stay under 50 lbs to comply with airline and transfer policies. Liability coverage is capped at US$250 per bag, and cruises of 14 days or fewer are covered for a maximum of two bags per guest.

What Is Holland America’s Luggage Allowance?

Holland America Line does not publish a strict size or weight limit for bags brought aboard its ships. The cruise line accepts personal luggage packed in secure, well-constructed suitcases or trunks that can be locked. However, the Holland America luggage allowance is tied to liability coverage and varies by cruise length.

What this means in practice: If the ship misplaces a bag worth US$800, Holland America will only reimburse up to US$250. For higher-value bags, consider purchasing the Standard or Platinum Cancellation Protection Plan for additional coverage.

What Is the Holland America Carry-On Size Limit?

Holland America does not publish a defined carry-on size limit for the ship itself. What you carry onto the vessel is largely at your discretion, provided items clear the embarkation security screening. The real carry-on restrictions come from your airline  most major U.S. carriers cap carry-on bags at 22 x 14 x 9 inches and 40 lbs.

What must stay in your carry-on (not checked luggage):

• Passport and travel documents
• Prescription medications and CPAP machines
• Airline tickets and cruise documents
• Cash, credit cards, and debit cards
• Laptops, cameras, and other electronics
• Jewelry and high-value items
• Hearing aids

Holland America recommends keeping these items with you at all times. The cruise line assumes no responsibility for valuables packed in checked luggage.

What Is the Holland America Checked Luggage Policy?

Holland America’s checked luggage policy mirrors standard airline guidelines for the flight portion of your trip. For the cruise itself, there is no published weight or size restriction from Holland America  but the airline limit of 62 linear inches (length + width + height) and 50 lbs applies during air travel to and from your embarkation port.

Key checked baggage details:

• Bags are accepted at the terminal and loaded to staterooms starting at 1:00 p.m.
• Delivery to your stateroom is completed by your cabin steward later that afternoon
• Bags should be labeled inside and out with your name and contact information
• Printable luggage tags are available through Online Check-In (up to 9 tags per booking)

For guests on itineraries that include a land-based component (such as Alaska cruisetours), each guest may bring two pieces of checked luggage plus one overnight or light flight bag. The flight bag must remain in your possession at all times.

What Is the Holland America Luggage Size Limit?

Holland America Line does not enforce a luggage size limit for bags brought onto the ship. This is a significant content gap in most competitor articles  many incorrectly cite the 62-inch airline rule as a Holland America restriction. It is not. The 62-inch linear measurement (height + width + depth) is an airline standard, not a Holland America ship policy.

The real constraints on luggage size:

• Your airline’s checked baggage policy (typically 62 in / 158 cm linear)
• Storage space in your stateroom (standard staterooms fit most bags under the bed)
• Mobility equipment has specific maximums (covered below)

A practical tip from experienced cruisers: bags that measure over 62 linear inches may not fit under a standard stateroom bed, requiring your cabin steward to store them elsewhere in the ship. Traveling with a 28–30-inch suitcase (approximately 60–62 linear inches) is generally the sweet spot.

What Are Holland America’s Luggage Restrictions and Prohibited Items?

Holland America’s prohibited items list is extensive and enforced through airport-style security screening at embarkation. Bringing prohibited items risks denial of boarding.

Prohibited items  key categories:

Often-missed exceptions competitors don’t mention:

• Straight razors are prohibited  safety razors and cartridge razors are fine
• Dive knives are prohibited unless accompanied by diving equipment and a valid dive ID card (requires 24 hours’ advance notice; knife is held by the Security Officer)
• Medical oxygen cylinders must be delivered to the Purser’s Office and stored in a designated safe area  they are not X-rayed
• Recreational diver’s spear guns are completely prohibited, with no exceptions
• Small pocket knives with a locking blade under 2.5 inches and width under 0.5 inches are permitted

What Is Holland America’s Alcohol and Beverage Policy for Luggage?

Guests may bring wine and champagne aboard Holland America ships, but a corkage fee of US$20.00 per bottle applies. Each bottle must be 750 ml or less. Hard liquor, beer, sodas, and energy drinks are not permitted in any quantity.

Beverage allowances at a glance:

• Wine/champagne: Permitted  US$20.00 corkage fee per bottle (subject to change)
• Wine from a company-sponsored shore excursion at a winery: Exempt from corkage fee (limit: 1 bottle per person)
• Water: Up to 6 liters per stateroom, OR 12 cans/cartons of 500 ml or less, OR 6 cans/cartons of 1 liter or less
• Plastic water bottles: Prohibited in any quantity
• Alcohol purchased duty-free onboard or in port: Surrendered and delivered to your stateroom before disembarkation

All duty-free alcohol bought during the cruise is held by the ship until the night before you disembark  you cannot take it to your room mid-cruise.

What Are the Rules for Specialty Items and Mobility Equipment?

Holland America accommodates mobility scooters and personal electric mobility equipment under specific conditions. Guests who need larger equipment should contact the Guest Accessibility Department before sailing.

Mobility equipment requirements:

• Width: 23 inches maximum (or collapsible to 23 inches) for standard stateroom accommodation
• Weight: 100 lbs maximum without battery
• Battery type: Gel, Dry Cell, or AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) only
• Must be stored and charged in the stateroom  not in hallways or elevator lobbies

Holland America no longer provides complimentary wheelchair assistance for general onboard use. Wheelchairs are only available for embarkation, disembarkation, and emergencies. Guests who need an onboard wheelchair should contact Special Needs at Sea (1-800-513-4515) or Scootaround (1-888-441-7575) for advance rentals delivered directly to the ship.

Sports and musical instruments: Holland America does not publish specific guidelines for instruments or sports equipment beyond the prohibited items list. Ski poles, hockey sticks, cricket bats, lacrosse sticks, and pool cues are all prohibited. Contact Guest Services before sailing if you intend to bring specialty items.

What Luggage Services Does Holland America Offer?

Holland America partners with several luggage delivery and transfer services. These are especially useful for avoiding airport baggage lines or sending formal wear ahead.

Cost scenario example: A couple sailing from Fort Lauderdale who uses Luggage Direct pays US$58 total (US$29 × 2). If their airline charges US$35 per checked bag, that’s billed to their onboard account. The trade-off: they skip baggage lines and disembark first. For longer voyages or guests with connecting flights, Luggage Forward® is worth pricing out to avoid checked bag fees entirely.

How Do Holland America’s Digital Tools Help With Luggage?

The free Holland America Navigator™ app streamlines the pre-cruise process in ways that directly affect your luggage experience. Through the app, guests can complete online check-in, access digital boarding passes, and print luggage tags before arriving at the terminal.

The app works on the ship’s internal Wi-Fi network, meaning you do not need to purchase an internet package to access it onboard. Before you sail, the Navigator app lets you upload required travel documents, review flight details (for Flight Ease® bookings), and pre-book shore excursions  including winery tours that exempt one wine bottle from the corkage fee.

For baggage-related questions before sailing, contact Holland America Guest Services at 1-877-932-4259.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Holland America have a weight limit for checked luggage?
Holland America Line does not enforce a weight limit on bags brought aboard the ship. The 50 lb / 23 kg weight limit is set by airlines, not by Holland America, and applies during your flights to and from the embarkation port.

Can I bring a carry-on bag on a Holland America cruise?
Yes. Holland America does not publish a carry-on size limit for the ship itself. The carry-on size limits that apply are your airline’s rules, typically 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Onboard, any bag you carry is permitted as long as it clears security screening and does not contain prohibited items.

How many bags can I bring on a Holland America cruise?
There is no hard limit on the number of bags per guest for the cruise itself. However, Holland America’s liability coverage applies to a maximum of 2 bags (cruises 14 days or less) or 3 bags (cruises 15 days or longer). Bringing more bags is permitted, but they are not covered under the standard liability policy.

Can I bring wine on a Holland America cruise?
Yes. Guests may bring wine and champagne in 750 ml bottles or smaller. A corkage fee of US$20.00 per bottle applies. Hard liquor and beer are not permitted. Wine purchased on a company-sponsored winery shore excursion is exempt from the corkage fee, up to one bottle per person.

What happens if my bag is damaged or lost on a Holland America cruise?
Holland America’s liability for lost, delayed, or damaged luggage is capped at US$250 per bag. If your bag is damaged by the airline, file a claim directly with the airline. If luggage is lost or damaged during the ship transfer, report it to a Holland America shore operations representative at the pier.

Can I bring a cooler on a Holland America cruise?
Only coolers measuring approximately 12 x 12 x 12 inches (holding 6–12 non-alcoholic cans) are allowed. Larger coolers are prohibited unless they contain baby food, infant formula, kosher or special dietary food, or medication  these must be hand-carried and cannot be checked.

Are drones allowed on Holland America ships?
No. Drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and remotely piloted aerial devices are prohibited on all Holland America Line ships. The only exception is for company-sponsored events approved in advance by Fleet Security.

Can I bring my CPAP machine on a Holland America cruise?
Yes. CPAP machines should be kept in your carry-on bag, not in checked luggage. Factory-sealed distilled or purified water for use with a CPAP device is permitted in checked luggage in a plastic container, as long as it is packed with the medical device.

How much does Holland America’s Luggage Direct service cost?
Luggage Direct, available in Fort Lauderdale, costs US$29.00 per person (subject to change). Any airline-assessed baggage fees are billed separately to your onboard account. The service allows you to check your bags directly from the ship to your flight, bypassing airport baggage lines.

Can I bring my mobility scooter on a Holland America cruise?
Yes, provided the scooter meets requirements: maximum 23 inches wide (or collapsible to that width) and 100 lbs without the battery. Batteries must be Gel, Dry Cell, or AGM type. The scooter must be stored and charged inside your stateroom  not in hallways or elevator lobbies. Guests needing larger equipment should contact the Guest Accessibility Department before booking.