Is There Laundry Service On The Norwegian Bliss

If you are considering a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line you might be wondering about the types of laundry services that they offer onboard.

I've cruised with NCL 10 times to date and have used a variety of laundry options onboard.

Do Norwegian Cruise Line Have a Self-Serve Laundry?

Norwegian Cruise Line provide laundry services for a charge which can be purchased onboard or pre-purchased prior to the cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line do not have self-serve laundries on any of their cruise ships.

I have used the paid laundry services with Norwegian Cruise Line before and have even been able to have clothes laundered for free. More about that at the end of the post.

Norwegian cruises don't include laundry but they do include a variety of food, some drinks, and more. If you are taking your first cruise with Norwegian and are wondering what is included, check out this post: Do Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises Include Meals? Included Food Guide

How Much Does Laundry Cost on a Norwegian Cruise Line Cruise?

Washing, ironing, and laundering a pair of jeans with Norwegian Cruise Line averages at around $7.95, for a t-shirt this costs $4.95. Shorts also cost $4.95. A dress costs around $11.95 and underwear as little as $1.95.

The table below was created using data from a number of Norwegian ships. This is designed to give you a rough idea of how much things cost and should not be taken as being exact.

The prices of laundry (and all things on cruise ships) change regularly.

Sample Norwegian Cruise Line Laundry Prices

Laundry Deals Available With Norwegian Cruise Line:

Unlike other cruise lines, NCL doesn't offer laundry packages where you can purchase a certain number of items being laundered for a certain amount of money.

Personally, I think that this is a shame as these packages often save a lot of money on the pay as you go prices but Norwegian do have an alternative.

Fill a Bag Promotion/Bundle Bag:

During almost all Norwegian cruises there will be a day where there is a 'fill a bag' laundry offer for a certain price. The laundry bag will be in your cabin and it is a paper bag roughly the size of a pillowcase.

The package usually costs around $25 and all items that you can fit in the bag will be washed and ironed for a set price. Be careful not the rip the bag though as they are quite fragile!

How to use this promotion:

Fill out the same laundry slip that you would if you were paying per item. This is so that the laundry knows how many items you have put in the bag. They will also add little tags on to your clothes with your cabin number. These tags are quite sticky and I've had a few which have stayed on for months after getting home.
Place the full bag on the bed with the label.
Your steward will pick up your laundry bag for you and take it to the laundry.
If your laundry is collected before noon it will be returned to you before the evening of the following day.

If you do want the items returned to you faster you can pay for express service. The express service is collected by 9 am and returned the same day by 6 pm. To have your clothes laundered at the express rate will cost you an extra 50%.

Laundry Bag Norwegian Cruise Line Platinum Free Bag

How do You Use The Pay Per Item Laundry with Norwegian Cruise Line?

If you aren't doing the full bag promotion you must fill out the laundry sheet and total up the amount that you are spending. I'm sure that the laundry checks this but it's always good to have an idea of how much you are spending too. It's also important that you sign the form.

Norwegian Cruise Line Laundry Terms:

Norwegian have an extra charge for silk items as these are washed separately.

Norwegian don't accept responsibility for your clothes if they shrink or become discolored.

If your item is lost or damaged the liability for the item is limited to 10x the price that you paid to have the item laundered. If you have a particularly expensive dress or suit I would recommend that you don't have this laundered by the cruise line.

Norwegian Cruise Line Offer Platinum Latitudes Members a Free Bag of Laundry

Norwegian Cruise Line's loyalty program is called latitudes.

Gold members receive a 50%-off 1 bag.

Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Ambassador members receive 1 free bag of laundry.

I have a platinum loyalty status with Norwegian because I've been cruising with them since I was 11. The free laundry is definitely one of my favorite perks.

The free bag promotion is similar to the above fill a bag promotion but it doesn't cost anything.

The platinum-free bag promotion can use any point during the cruise. I usually write 'Platinum free bag' on the label just to make sure that I won't be charged.

Free Alternatives to Cruise Line Laundry Services

If at all possible I do try to avoid paying for laundry when I cruise. I usually make use of my free bag and wash any other items myself.

When I cruise I usually pack a little sachet of travel wash like this: SinkSuds Travel Laundry Detergent Liquid Soap.

I use the travel wash to wash things like t-shirts and socks in the cabin sink. It's easy to do and almost free!

How to Use Travel Wash:

Using travel wash is really easy and doesn't take long at all. Start by filling the sink with warm water then add a very small amount of the travel wash.

Move your clothes around in the wash and then put them to the side. I like to wash all clothes in the same bubbly water before moving on to rinse them off. Rinsing some clothes in the sink can be a bit tricky but rinsing them in the shower is always a good option.

Once you've washed your clothes try to ring out as much of the water as possible so that they can dry faster.

There is usually a line for hanging your clothes in the shower so I do this. Cruise lines do try to dissuade guests from hanging clothes on their balconies to dry because they can blow away and become a danger.

Can You Borrow an Iron From Norwegian Cruise Line?

Guests are able to borrow an iron on Norwegian Cruise Line cruise by asking thei rroom steward.

If you do want to iron your clothes yourself I'd recommend that you do this at the start of the cruise. That way you can get the ironing out of the way and get on with your cruise!

Can You Bring an Iron on a Cruise?

You cannot bring an iron on a cruise. Irons are banned on cruises because they pose a safety risk and if you do try to bring one on board with you this will be confiscated.

All luggage is scanned on cruise ships to look for things like alcohol or dangerous items.

Guests are allowed to bring some wine onboard Norwegian Cruise Line cruises but these are subject to a corkage fee. For more about this check out this post: Can You Bring Alcohol on a Cruise? (Cruise Line Guide)

How to 'Iron' Your Clothes Without Using an Iron

Use gravity to drop out the creases

There is not a lot more annoying than carefully picking out your outfit and realizing that you look like you need a good iron! Keeping clothes wrinkle-free when they've been packed into a suitcase is quite a challenge.

To get rid of the worst of the wrinkles I like to have a shower and then hang the clothes in the bathroom.

This can be tricky if the coat hangers in your closet are attached to the closet but generally speaking it's usually quite easy to take out a coat hanger and hang your clothes on the inside of the bathroom door.

The creases mostly drop out as the bathroom dries. It isn't perfect but it is a lot better than just wearing your freshly creased clothes!

If you are worried about wrinkles in your clothes it may be worth buying something like this: Wrinkle Releaser Plus.

By spraying this onto your clothes before having a shower and leaving the creases to drop you can maximize the effect.

Is It Worth Paying For Laundry on a Norwegian Cruise?

If you are going to wash more than 4 or so items I'd recommend that you wait for the fill a bag promotion as it's much better value. If you do only want to wash 1 or 2 items it could be worth just doing this on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Make sure you take advantage of any discounts offered to you through the latitudes program.

If you are only wanting to wash a few t-shirts, maybe some gym clothes, socks, etc I'd strongly recommend that you do your own laundry in the cabin sink. It's cheap and easy!

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