🚢 Cruise Laundry Hack | How to Wash Clothes on a Cruise and Save Money

Cruises are an amazing way to unwind, explore new destinations, and enjoy all-inclusive comforts — but the price of doing laundry on board can catch travelers off-guard. While the meals and entertainment may feel covered, extra services like Wi-Fi, drinks, and yes, laundry, often come with a separate fee. And depending on your cruise line, those charges can really add up.

For example, Royal Caribbean currently charges per item. Washing and pressing a simple t-shirt can cost around $3–$4, while a dress might run $9 or more. Multiply that by a few outfits — and a few family members — and suddenly you’re looking at a surprising bill just to keep everyone in clean clothes.

Even if you plan to pack enough to avoid doing laundry, spills happen. Kids get messy. Beach days require fresh swimwear. And sometimes, you just want to rewear your favorite outfit without feeling… questionable.

So how do you do laundry at sea?

On most cruise ships, you have two main options:

Option 1: Use the Ship’s Laundry Service

Many cruise ships offer self-service laundry rooms with washers, dryers, and ironing stations. This is one of the most affordable and convenient ways to take care of clothes mid-trip.

Cruise lines known to offer self-service laundry include:

  • Carnival
  • Disney
  • Princess
  • Holland America
  • Some Celebrity and Royal Caribbean ships, depending on model

Average cost per load: about $3 for wash and $3 for drying.
Detergent is usually available via vending machine for $1–$2.

Some cruise lines even offer complimentary laundry rooms, including:

  • Oceania
  • Regent Seven Seas
  • Viking
  • Azamara
  • Crystal Cruises.
Tip: Not every ship in a cruise line fleet has self-service laundry. Always check your specific ship before packing

Option 2: Do Laundry Yourself Onboard

If your cruise ship doesn’t offer guest laundry — or you just want to save even more — washing clothes in your sink is the easiest solution.

All you’ll need is:

  • A small amount of travel detergent
  • Your bathroom sink (or shower)
  • A way to hang clothes to dry

Bring detergent with you — or use compact travel laundry sheets, which are TSA-friendly, spill-proof, and work in both hot and cold water.

🔗 If you need a lightweight laundry kit that fits in your toiletry bag, this one works well for cruises: travel laundry sheets + sink stopper + small clothesline + storage pouch. 

Important: Don’t bring irons or steamers — most cruise lines confiscate them before boarding due to fire safety.

Wash a few items right in your cabin bathroom.

A quick sink wash can refresh swimsuits, t-shirts, kids’ shorts, underwear, and athletic clothes — no waiting, no machines, no extra fees.

And the best part: You don’t need to pack big bottles or messy detergent. With Journey Breeze Travel Laundry Kits, you can pack light and still stay fresh the whole trip. Just simple, clean clothes — anywhere you go.

Laundry detergent sheet dissolving in cruise cabin sink.

What You Need for Easy Sink Laundry on a Cruise

This is where compact travel laundry kits are incredibly convenient. With the Journey Breeze Travel Laundry Kit, you get:

What’s Included Why It Helps
Travel Laundry Detergent Sheets They dissolve instantly in hot or cold water. No liquids, no powder spills, and TSA-friendly.
Universal Sink Stopper Cruise sinks often don’t seal well. The stopper lets you do a proper soak + wash.
Lightweight Clothesline Hang clothes to dry in your cabin or balcony — no drills, no hooks needed.
Foldable Laundry Bag Keeps everything storing dirty laundry until it’s ready to wash.

Everything is lightweight, spill-proof, and made for small spaces — perfect for cruise life.

How to Wash Your Clothes in a Cruise Cabin Sink

This takes less than 5 minutes of hands-on time.

  1. Remove sheet with dry hand
  2. Add 1–3 detergent sheets
    They dissolve instantly — no shaking or scrubbing needed.
  3. Fill the sink halfway with warm waterUse your sink stopper if the drain doesn’t seal.
  4. Add your clothes and gently agitate/ Rinse well
    Let them soak for 10–20 minutes.

Step by step on how to hand wash on cruise sink.Hang to dry using your clothesline.
Most cruise bathrooms have great airflow and dry clothes overnight.Clothes drying on a travel clothesline inside cruise cabin bathroom.

When This Is Especially Useful

  • Cruises longer than 4 nights
  • Traveling with kids or teens
  • Visiting beach or pool destinations
  • Carry-on only travelers
  • Anyone who prefers fresh outfits every day

Why It Makes Cruising Easier

  • You can pack half as many clothes
  • Spills and sweat are no longer emergencies
  • You avoid stacked laundry bills
  • Your suitcase stays lighter and more organized

In short:
You stay comfortable and you save money — all with a few compact essentials.

Final Tips for Cruise Laundry Success

  • Wash a few items every couple of days — don’t wait for a big pile
  • Choose quick-dry fabrics when packing
  • Hang clothes in the bathroom with the door slightly open for airflow
  • Store your laundry kit in an easy-to-reach pouch in your suitcase

Make Laundry the Easiest Part of Your Cruise

Cruising is about relaxing, exploring, and enjoying time together — not worrying about running out of clean clothes.

With a Journey Breeze Travel Laundry Kit, you can:
Pack light. Wash anywhere. Stay fresh all cruise long. 🌊🧺✨

Planning a Cruise Gift?

Know someone heading on a cruise soon? The Journey Breeze Travel Laundry Gift Pack makes a thoughtful, practical gift.

It includes detergent sheets, sink stopper, lightweight clothesline, laundry bag, and canvas bag — beautifully packaged and ready to give.

🌊 Perfect for cruise lovers, frequent travelers, and anyone who loves to pack smart.

🛒 Shop the Journey Breeze Cruise Gift Pack →

 

Journey Breeze Travel Laundry Gift Pack – ideal cruise gift for travelers.

 

 

Back to blog

Leave a comment