What to Bring on a Cruise (Essential Expert Tips)

Cruise packing can be complicated. Cruise staterooms are typically pretty small, so you don’t want to bring too much stuff with you. You simply won’t have enough room to overstuff the limited drawers and closet space, especially when traveling with others. It’s important to plan for what to bring on a cruise so you don’t overpack.

However, you want to make sure that you bring enough stuff since you won’t have access to endless shops to purchase anything you may have forgotten. In addition, the shops that are on the ship aren’t able to open when the ship is in port, due to port regulations. Even if the shop is open, there isn’t a selection of brands and sizes that you may need.

I struggle so much with bringing everything I may ever need for my trip, without packing too much. It’s definitely a challenge. If you are going on a cruise and are wondering what to bring on a cruise, here are our suggestions based on what we’ve learned over eighteen cruises.

This post contains affiliate links. A purchase through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own. I’ve attended media cruises in the past, as well as many cruises paid for by myself.

Cruise Packing List: Things to Bring on a Cruise

Day Bag/Carry On Bag

Cruise ship passengers disembark on the same day the next group embarks, making the room turnover very fast. Because of that, you typically won’t be able to get into your room right away, especially if you have an early port arrival time. In addition, you won’t be able to access your checked luggage until it is delivered to your room later in the day – often around dinner time.

Therefore, on your first day, you’ll need to carry a day bag that is filled with what you need for the first day but isn’t too heavy that you won’t be able to carry it. I typically bring a lightweight backpack , tote bag, or other carry-on bag with the following cruise essentials:

• Cell phone (this is the last time I’m usually able to access data until we are back on US soil). If the cruise line has an app, make sure you’ve downloaded it before you leave. You’ll also want to understand what your plan allows for international usage before you leave home.
• A change of clothes for dinner (per person) unless I’m wearing something appropriate for dinner.
• Bathing suits (if the kids want to swim). You can either wear them under clothes or change into them in a restroom.
• Valuables that you don’t want in checked bags
• Passports, travel documents, and credit cards, including any paperwork you need for your cruise
• Medications – even if you don’t need them right away
• Charger so you can keep your phone charged throughout the first day
• Cruise door magnets/decorations (for cruise ships with magnetic doors – we like to decorate our door right away)
• Sunscreen and sunhat (especially important for warm-weather cruises. Bring reef safe for water activities)
• Cruise lanyard so you can keep your key card conveniently located on you once you are onboard
• Basic toiletries like a toothbrush, toothpaste, and lip balm just in case you need them

If your cruise line has sent you luggage tags, make sure these are easy to access. You won’t want to put them on until you are at your destination, so they don’t get mixed up with your flight tags.

Citizenship Documentation For Cruising

Citizenship documentation requirements will vary depending on your destination, so make sure you find out what the requirements are well in advance. If you need a passport, you’ll want to apply for that with plenty of time to spare.

You may also need cruise documentation, like the cruise form with the QR code that Disney requires. I print everything out and put it in a travel wallet so that it’s all available at my fingertips when I check in.

Sometimes you’ll need to use the cruise line’s app at check-in. So be sure that you have that loaded on your phone. If there’s a QR code that you need to show, you may want to take a screenshot just in case you can’t get service on your phone.

Clothing/Shoes

There are many different types of cruises (with countless cruise itinerary options), so what you pack for clothing and shoes will vary. Any cruise packing checklist will tell you not to pack too many clothes – there aren’t many extra hangers in the closets, and drawer space is limited.

So, if your trip includes any sort of beach or pool time, you may be able to limit the number of outfits you bring. For instance, on the Caribbean cruises that I’ve been on, I typically wear my bathing suit and cover-up for most of the day during our days at sea.

So, I only need an outfit for dinner that day. I try to re-wear outfits and mix and match items so that I don’t have to bring too much. However, you may want to bring more than one bathing suit – no one likes to put on a wet swimsuit.

For shoes, you’ll want to have flip-flops (for the beach/pool area), comfortable shoes (you’ll do a LOT of walking, even on the ship), and dress shoes. If you are doing any sort of water sport shore excursion, you may also want to pack water shoes. Here are our favorite shoes for a cruise.

It’s also a great idea to check on any theme nights, special events, or special evenings on your ship. For instance, some of the Disney Cruise Line itineraries offer pirate night during the cruise, and families often dress up in pirate garb.

Some cruise lines have formal nights for dinner, and you’ll want to have something special to wear that night. Dinner wear can range from a polo shirt or nice dress to more formal evening wear. On Virgin Voyages (an adult-only night), there are several themed nights including Scarlet Night and a pajama party.

Some cruise lines also offer laundry facilities on the ship. While I don’t typically like to spend my vacation doing laundry, it’s always nice to know that you have options in case you run out of clothes. Make sure that your cruise ship does have these facilities before packing, however.

While you can purchase soap on board, bring along your own if you have a preference. Cruise lines that don’t have self-service laundry facilities often have a laundry service for an extra cost.

Going on an Alaskan cruise? In that case, you’ll need to pack warm clothes, including a warm hat, coat, and shoes.

Toiletries

Toiletries in the cruise ship shops are pretty limited (and expensive), so you’ll want to bring everything that you need. But, cruise ship bathrooms are generally small, with only a bit of counter space.

I like to pack my hanging toiletry organizer with travel-sized items. Since I travel so much, I usually keep the organizer packed with stuff all the time, so that it’s easy to grab and throw in my suitcase.

You’ll receive a minimum of soap and shampoo in the room, so you’ll need to pack personal toiletries and makeup. I also bring along hair conditioner if I’m not sure the room will have it.

If your vacation plans include any sort of beach or pool time, you’ll also want to pack plenty of sunscreens and after-sun lotion. Bug spray is also a good idea, especially for your shore excursions in the Caribbean.

Hair dryers will also be in your room, so there’s no need to pack your own. While these may not be the speed or quality you are used to, they generally do get the job done.

Medication

Cruise ships do have medical facilities in case of an emergency, as well as some basic medications. We have been lucky on all of our cruises – no one has gotten sick at all. I still like to travel with medications, however, just in case.

I bring all of our prescription medication in my day bag, so that I have it with me, and also bring along any over-the-counter medications that I may need. Bring extra, just in case you are at sea for longer than you expect. If you are prone to motion sickness, pack any medication you need.

We have some things that we occasionally need, like a children’s pain reliever and my son’s inhaler (which he only needs when he gets a cold), as well as essential medications like EpiPens.

Everything goes into the day bag, and we cross our fingers that it stays there for the duration of the trip. Check specific international regulations to make sure the over-the-counter and prescription medications you bring are legal at your destination. Some are not permitted.

Fish Extender/Door Magnets

If you are traveling on the Disney Cruise Line, you’ll want to know about the fish extender and cruise door magnet traditions. Neither is required at all, but it’s good to know about them in advance. If you do decide to decorate your door, you’ll want to make or buy magnets in advance. Not traveling on the Disney Cruise Line?

Check in advance to see if your cruise cabin doors are magnetic. I’ve been on a cruise before where I was disappointed to find that the magnets I brought were useless since the door wasn’t magnetic. It is nice to have at least one magnet on the door so it’s easily identified among the identical doors.

A more recent trend is hiding cruise ducks. If you want to hide some, be sure to purchase them in advance. Check in advance to see if they are allowed on your cruise line.

Camera Equipment

If you go on a cruise and don’t Instagram it, have you been on a cruise at all? While a smartphone generally has a good enough camera for most purposes, if you’ll be doing any port excursions in the water, you may want to bring an underwater camera like a GoPro. A waterproof phone case is another option, but make sure it really is waterproof.

Bags For Cruising

I’m always concerned with which bags to bring, and you’ll likely need several different bag types. In addition to your suitcases and day bag, you’ll want to have bags for your specific activities on the ship.

You’ll want to have a beach bag for any beach plans you have. I also like to bring along a small handbag to bring to dinner, so that I don’t have to carry my huge tote. If you’ve got a shore excursion planned, you may want to bring a tote or backpack to bring everything that you need for the day.

I also recommend using packing cubes. They make packing and unpacking so much easier, especially if there are shelves for clothes rather than drawers (like on the Disney Wish).

What Not To Bring On Your Cruise Vacation

You’ll also want some extra space in your luggage for purchases during shore excursions, as well as things you buy on the ship. So you don’t want to bring too much.

There are some things that you won’t need to bring. Check with your cruise line before you go, to see what restrictions they have. Some cruise lines don’t allow surge protectors, power strips, scissors, or other sharp objects.

You also won’t be able to use an iron in your stateroom, although you may have access to ironing facilities in the laundry room. Beach towels are also usually not necessary. There should be plenty by the pool, as well as on any excursion you have planned, although you may have to grab a beach towel before you disembark.

Some cruise lines are offering large water bottle refill stations. It may be worthwhile to bring refillable water bottles so you don’t have to buy bottled water.

Before You Go…

• Check with your cruise line for item restrictions, documentation requirements, laundry facility availability, formal dinners, and special events.
• Create a cruise packing list
• Shop for anything you may need

Frequently Asked Questions

Have you been on a cruise before? Is there anything you’d add to this list? Click the button below for our free printable cruise packing list.

More Packing Tips Resources: Looking for more packing tips and recommendations? Here are all of our posts including packing lists, product recommendations, and ideas for specific trips.