5 min read
The cruise packing list I actually use
Cruise packing is its own skill. Cabins are small, laundry is expensive, and you'll want different clothes for the pool, the port, and dinner.
Plan outfits, not items. Two or three dinner looks that mix and match will carry a week. Most ships now have one or two dressier nights at most.
Bring a small day bag for ports, reef-safe sunscreen, and a refillable water bottle. Motion sickness remedies are worth packing even if you never get seasick — the one time you need them, the shop on board will be sold out.
A few small things that punch above their weight: a magnetic hook for the steel cabin walls, a multi-port USB charger (outlets are scarce), and a highlighter-free packing cube system.
Leave behind: irons (not allowed) and half the shoes you were planning to bring.
Last thing — photograph your passport and travel documents and email them to yourself before you leave. It takes two minutes and saves a very bad afternoon.
The checklist
Documents & money
Keep these in your carry-on, never in a checked bag.
- Passport (valid 6+ months past your return) or approved closed-loop ID plus birth certificate
- Printed or downloaded boarding pass, luggage tags, and cruise line health/check-in confirmation
- Visas or entry forms for ports that require them (some Caribbean, Asian, and Middle Eastern stops)
- Two credit cards plus a debit card, stored separately
- Small bills for tips, taxis, and local markets in port
- Travel insurance policy number and 24-hour assistance phone number
- Photos of your passport, cards, and insurance emailed to yourself
Daytime & pool
- Two or three swimsuits so one is always dry
- Cover-up or sarong for walking through the ship
- Shorts, tees, sundresses, and one lightweight long-sleeve for sun and air conditioning
- Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 30+ (onboard prices are painful), plus after-sun lotion
- Sunglasses, hat with a brim, and a cheap backup pair of sunglasses
- Flip-flops, walking shoes/sneakers, and water shoes if you have rocky-beach ports
- Collapsible day bag or small backpack for excursions
- Refillable water bottle and a travel coffee mug
Evening & dinner
Most ships have one or two dressier nights at most — plan mix-and-match outfits.
- Two or three dinner outfits that share the same shoes
- One dressier look for formal or chic night
- Light jacket, wrap, or blazer for cool dining rooms and theaters
- One pair of comfortable dress shoes
- Jewelry kept simple and minimal
Toiletries & health
- Prescriptions in original bottles, with enough for a week beyond the sailing
- Motion sickness remedies — patches, Bonine/Dramamine, or ginger chews
- Pain reliever, antacid, anti-diarrheal, allergy medicine, and band-aids
- Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes for embarkation day
- Sunscreen stick or spray for the day bag, plus aloe
- Shampoo/conditioner if you're picky (basics are provided), razor, deodorant, skincare
- Contacts, glasses, and a spare set
- Insect repellent for jungle, river, or rainforest excursions
Cabin small things that punch above their weight
- Magnetic hooks — cabin walls are steel and vertical storage is scarce
- Multi-port USB charger or cruise-approved non-surge power block (outlets are limited)
- Over-the-door shoe organizer for bathroom clutter
- Packing cubes to keep a small closet sane
- Travel laundry soap sheets and a few clothespins
- Small first-aid kit and a pop-up hamper for dirty clothes
Tech
- Phone, charger, and a portable power bank for long port days
- Camera and spare memory card if you shoot with more than a phone
- Noise-cancelling or wired earbuds
- E-reader or downloaded shows for sea days — Wi-Fi is slow and metered
- Travel adapter if you're sailing Europe or embarking abroad
- Waterproof phone pouch for beach and tender days
Leave it at home
These are commonly confiscated at the security scanner.
- Irons and steamers (use the ship's laundry or hang clothes in the bathroom)
- Candles, incense, and anything with an open flame
- Extension cords with surge protection
- Drones, hoverboards, and heating pads on most lines
- Hard liquor — check your line's wine/champagne allowance instead
- Half the shoes you were planning to bring
Embarkation-day carry-on
Checked bags can take hours to reach your cabin.
- Swimsuit and cover-up so you can use the pool right away
- Medications and toiletries for the first evening
- Chargers, documents, and valuables
- A change of clothes in case a bag goes missing
- Your permitted bottle of wine, if your line allows one