Ferries are usually far more generous with luggage than airlines — but not always. Conventional car ferries rarely impose a weight limit, and the practical rule is that you must be able to carry your bags yourself, as there are seldom porters. Passenger-only fast craft are the exception: several publish hard caps, and competitors on the same route can differ by 50%.
Foot passengers
You can typically bring as much as you can comfortably carry on and off in one go. On larger ships there are luggage racks near the entrances or in the lounges; on short crossings you keep bags with you. There's no airline-style weight allowance to worry about on most routes.
Travelling with a vehicle
If you're taking a car, the simplest approach is to leave luggage in the vehicle. Remember that on most crossings you cannot return to the car deck while underway, so take anything you'll need — medication, valuables, warm layers — into the passenger areas with you.
What to check
- Oversized items (bicycles, surfboards, large trolleys) may need to be declared or booked.
- Some high-speed services have less storage space than conventional ferries.
- Don't leave valuables unattended in luggage racks on busy sailings.
Policies vary, so confirm with the operator if you're carrying anything unusually large or heavy.
⚠ "No strict limit" is not true everywhere
The generous-baggage rule holds on most car ferries, but fast-craft operators publish hard caps — and they differ enough between competitors on the same route to change what you can pack.
| Operator | Hand baggage | Excess | Carrier liability |
|---|---|---|---|
| OceanJet (Philippines) | 10 kg, max 25 × 35 × 40 cm | — | PHP 100 per passenger |
| SuperCat (Philippines) | 15 kg free, 2 pieces up to 0.10 m³ | PHP 15 per kg | — |
| Black Ball (US–Canada) | No published weight cap | — | — |
Both Philippine operators run the Batangas–Calapan corridor. Same crossing, same day — a 50% difference in what you may carry free.
The liability figure matters more than the allowance
OceanJet caps its liability at PHP 100 per passenger for hand baggage, and the same for checked baggage and cargo unless you declare a higher value and pay a supplementary tariff. That is roughly the price of a sandwich. If you are carrying a laptop or camera gear, the allowance is not your problem — the compensation is.
Unclaimed baggage has a deadline
OceanJet states that anything not collected two days after the voyage may be disposed of in accordance with law, with storage fees chargeable. Ferry lost-property windows are shorter than airline ones.
What to check before you pack
- Is it a fast craft or a RoRo? Passenger-only fast craft cap baggage; roll-on ferries rarely do.
- Is there a size limit as well as a weight one? OceanJet's 25 × 35 × 40 cm rules out most cabin-sized suitcases.
- Who carries it? Most ferry terminals have no porters and no baggage belt — you carry what you bring, often up a ramp.
