What to Pack for a Cruise – Plan Your Next Adventure with Ease

Going on a cruise must be one of the most exciting experiences to have in your life. Many cruise ships have a great story to tell, and they feature plenty of activities that will keep you and your family entertained.

We have been on our fair share of cruise vacations, (most recently Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas) so we created a list that will help you prepare for your adventure correctly. From packing flip-flops to preparing travel documents, we made sure to include everything here.

Below, you’ll find the ultimate cruise packing list. Let’s get started!

Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Making a Cruise Packing List

Our packing list will prepare you for most cruise ships, including:

• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
• Carnival
• Disney Cruise Line

Regardless of which cruise vacation awaits you, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions before the trip arrives. The answers to these questions will help you pick the perfect items for the list:

• What type of cruise am I going to?
• How many days will I stay on the cruise?
• How many offshore excursions will I go to?
• Will I need specific clothes for some activities?
• Do I need clothes before and after the cruise? For how many days do I need them?
• What’s the weather looking like for the trip?
• Do I need to take medications to the cruise ship?
• Is it necessary to bring a laptop, or is a phone/tablet enough?
• What do I need to do before/after the trip?

Let’s Start with Your Carry-on Bag Packing List

Your carry-on bag is a must for the trip. Most of the time, your checked bag will need to go through security, so you won’t have access to some of your stuff until you get to the cruise.

With a carry-on bag, however, you can take a few items that will be more than enough.

Essentials You Can’t Miss

While you can take plenty of items in your carry-on bag, there are a few that you won’t want to miss. They include:

• Credit cards – (I don’t go anywhere without my Bonvoy Card!)
• Passports
• Medications
• Wallets
• Cruise ticket
• Sunscreen
• Water bottles
• Sunglasses
• Small first aid kit
• Hats

These bags are also great for carrying your phone, so you don’t need to have it in your hand at all times.

Besides the essentials, you can carry the following:

• Jewelry
• Wet wipes
• Ear plugs
• Books
• Notepads
• Pens
• Bathing suits
• Extra outfits
• Neck pillows
• Sweaters
• Earbuds
• Eye masks
• Vitamins

Make sure you don’t go overboard with your items. Only take what’s necessary. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with an overweight bag that won’t be too much fun to carry around.

What to Pack for a Cruise – Adults

Let’s start with the fun stuff! While most cruise lines will have a specific set of activities, the list we’re giving you here will cover most of them.

We separated your packing list into several sections so that you don’t have any problems:

Clothing and Accessories

You must be flexible with your wardrobe if you want to make the most out of your trip. Ideally, you should have enough outfits to cover daywear, casual activities, and fancy evening dates.

A great idea is to check the weather forecast before your trip, as this will help you create the ideal outfits for most occasions.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common clothing/accessory items you should take:

• Undergarments/Sleepwear: Start with your underwear and socks, as they should never be missing from your bag. Women should remember to take their bras and undershirts, as they will be the base for most dresses. You may also take pajamas if you want to stay comfortable.
• Daywear: Create a decent selection of casual clothing. Some great items include shorts, jeans, khakis, T-shirts, sundresses, skirts, and tank tops.
• Nightwear: You don’t have to be too fancy regarding evening activities. In most cases, taking long pants, chic jeans, skirts, dresses, and button-down shirts will do the trick. However, if you’re going for “Evening Chic” nights, consider cocktail dresses, skirts, designer jeans, slacks, and elegant tops. While some men love packing tuxedos for these nights, it’s not necessary.
• Outerwear: This will depend on the climate, so don’t forget to check the weather. Depending on the case, you may have to pack sweaters or sweatshirts. On the other hand, you can’t forget about hats for sunny days.
• Beachwear: Your bathing suit must be one of your priorities in your beach bag. Ideally, you should take at least two to let one of them dry between uses. You may also consider cover-ups if you want extra protection. If you’re planning to work out, remember to take your activewear.
• Footwear: Get comfortable walking shoes, as you will probably walk a lot on your shore excursions. Other than that, you can get sandals and flip-flips for your pool/beach days. If you want, you can take elegant shoes for those fancy evenings.
• Accessories: While these aren’t necessary, it doesn’t hurt to have them in your day bag to complement your outfit later. They include wristwatches, umbrellas, ponchos, sunglasses, and protective cases for your stuff.

On our last cruise, having a laundry bag saved our lives. We suggest you take one too, as well as a laundry detergent if you’re planning on staying on the cruise for a long time. You won’t want to wear dirty clothes twice!

Hygiene

As for hygiene, there are a few items that you may want to take for your trip, such as:

• Toiletries
• Health and safety products
• Hair and makeup items

Documents

There are plenty of items you must take on your cruise to ensure there aren’t any problems with the trip. Here’s a list of your essentials:

• Wallet
• Key travel documents (Flight and hotel bookings)
• Contact information
• Prescription medication list
• Travel guides

Technology

Technology can make your trip even better than you may think! Whether it’s for taking photos or being more comfortable during the trip, there are some items that will work perfectly.

Some items you can take include:

• Phone
• Tablet
• Laptop
• Waterproof cases
• Voltage adapters
• Camera
• Night light
• Power banks

Additional Supplies

These are items that aren’t necessary but can make your experience more comfortable. They include:

• Small sewing kits
• Nail polish remover
• Hand sanitizer
• Insect repellent
• Extra beach towels
• Lint and stain removers
• Binoculars
• Reusable water bottle

What to Pack for a Cruise – Children

The packing list for children is similar to the one for adults. However, you must take a few extra precautions to ensure they feel comfortable throughout the whole trip.

Here’s a list of things that you must consider for your child’s bag:

• Undergarments
• Extra sets of outfits
• Two swimsuits
• Earplugs, swim goggles, and sunglasses
• Socks and shoes
• Flip-flops
• Sleepwear
• Hats
• Light jackets
• Disposable toilet seat covers
• Motion sickness patches
• Portable gaming consoles
• Forks and spoons for kids
• Small backpack
• Water bottle

What You Should Keep in Mind When Packing for a Cruise

Travel Tip:  Packing cubes are the ultimate hack when it comes to being organized for any trip.

I personally own the Olarhike Packing Cubes and use them for all my travels!

Now that you know what to have in your bags, we want to give you a few tips to have an easier time while packing.

Creating a cruise packing list seems complicated, but as long as you prepare accordingly, the process will be a breeze.

Let’s look at the things you must consider when planning your next cruise trip:

Plan Early

It should go without saying that you must make your packing list as early as possible. Waiting until the last minute to do everything will only result in more stress for you and your family.

Label Important Items

If you’re taking children on the trip, you should label all their stuff. Include your contact information so that if something goes missing, whoever finds it can get in touch with you.

Labeling items also helps if you’re taking more than one child on the trip. It prevents mix-ups.

Layer Your Clothing

You don’t have to go overboard with your outfits. If you’re preparing for the cold, for example, one sweater/light jacket will be more than enough.

Putting the sweater on top of the light jacket will keep you warm enough.

Create a “To-do” Section in Your Packing List

It’s extremely easy to get confused when creating a cruise packing list. There are many things to pay attention to!

The solution is to create a small “to-do” section for before and after your cruise trip. Add the task and its deadline to ensure that you take care of everything.

Consider Luggage Size

You don’t have to get huge bags for everyone. Make sure you get the appropriate bag size for each person going on the trip. Kids, for example, will be okay with having a small backpack for their things.

Some factors you should also consider when getting bags include the airline and cruise company’s regulations. Not all bags can be used as carry-ons, for example.

Buy a Tech Organizer

Tech organizers are perfect if you have a bunch of cables, plugs, and earphones that you want to store. Most of these items fit comfortably in carry-on bags, so pick the one that best suits your needs.

• I recommend this one I found on Amazon.

Get Luggage Trackers

While trackers aren’t necessary for your trip, they can make it less stressful. They are smart devices that will tell you where your stuff is at all times, so you’re getting some extra peace of mind.

Bottom Line

That’s all you need to know before going on your cruise trip! We know there are many items to take care of, but trust us, you’ll be glad that you created a packing list before going out.

Preparation will save you from many headaches in the future, and cruise trips aren’t the exception to that rule. Having everything in check ensures you only have time to relax later.

We hope this guide has helped you! If you’re interested in more traveling tips, don’t hesitate to check out the rest of our blog posts.