Going on a cruise soon and wondering what to pack? There are some things that are a given to pack for a cruise such as clothes, shoes, toiletries, and necessary travel documents. But what about the items you should bring that go beyond the basics? Here, we’ve rounded up a comprehensive list of 40 items expert cruisers (almost) never sail without.
Pack For a Cruise: The Basics
Like on any trip, there are some staples you’ll want to bring. These include:
- T-shirts/tank tops
- Shorts
- Pants
- Dresses/skirts
- Swimsuit
- Pajamas
- Underwear
- Socks
- Shoes
- Toiletries
- Makeup
- Jewelry
- Travel documents
Beyond the Basics
Here’s where we get into some extras that first time cruisers may not always think to bring — and maybe never heard of!
1. Magnetic Hooks
Magnetic hooks are a great way to keep your stateroom looking tidy and freeing up valuable storage space. Since your cabin walls are metal, you can just stick them on the wall and hang up everything from sweatshirts and hats to purses and backpacks.
2. An outlet adapter/cruise-approved power strip
To maximize the available outlets in your cabin for all of your various devices, bring an outlet adapter that can turn, for example, the European outlet into an American one. You can even get a cruise-approved adapter/power strip combo (no surge protectors allowed!) to add more plug-in capacity.
3. Medicine
In addition to any prescriptions you may have, bring over-the-counter medicines for common ailments such as Advil/Tylenol, allergy medicine, heartburn reliever, and Pepto Bismol. If you’re prone to motion sickness, it’s also wise to pack nausea solutions such as Dramamine or motion sickness patches.
4. Disinfecting wipes
Though cruise lines have stringent cleaning measures, many expert cruisers like to bring disinfecting wipes to give their cabin another quick clean at the start of the cruise. I like to wipe down the bathroom countertop/faucet handles, door handles, phone, nightstands, and TV remote as soon as I get into my cabin. It’s a small way to add some peace of mind.
5. Sneakers
While sandals and nicer shoes to match your outfit for formal night are probably already on your mind, you might not think of closed-toed shoes such as sneakers — especially on a warm-weather cruise. But pack them, they’re great for walking around in port and doing some activities on the ship that may require closed-toed footwear.
6. Phone charger
It’s an obvious item but it’s worth mentioning anyway — bring your phone charger — the cable and the charging cube. Your stateroom may or may not have USB-A or USB-C outlets, but you don’t want to arrive into your cabin and realize you guessed wrong. Charging accessories, like just about everything else, cost a premium if you have to purchase them on the ship.
7. Wide-brimmed hat
The sun can be unforgiving, especially if you’re on a cruise in the Caribbean or a similarly warm and tropical place. A wide-brimmed hat will help protect your face and neck, while also keeping the sun out of your eyes. Just don’t let it blow off your head during a windy day at sea!
8. Binoculars
A common item that many people either wish they’d brought on their cruise — or are very thankful they did — are binoculars. You probably don’t need them on a Caribbean or Mediterranean cruise. However, if you’re taking a cruise where the ship will hug the shore much of the time, such as in Alaska or Norway, you’ll want binoculars on hand to spot wildlife.
9. Sweatshirt and/or sweater
Whether or not you’re on a cool weather cruise, you should bring a sweatshirt or a sweater — preferably both! Even in the Caribbean, the windy nights can get chilly and sometimes the air conditioning inside the ship is a bit too low for some. I make good use of these extra layers every time I cruise.
10. Sunscreen
Whether or not you think you need sunscreen, bring it anyway. The sun is brutal, especially in places like the Caribbean, South Pacific, and Mediterranean. Even if you’re taking a cooler weather cruise, you’ll probably have some sunny days out at sea. It’s best to be prepared.
11. Lanyard
Your cruise card is the one thing you should carry with you wherever you go on the ship. While you can put it in your pocket, many cruisers prefer to hang it from a lanyard. You can buy lanyards on board, but we recommend buying a pack for your family ahead of time to save some money.
12. Swimsuit cover-up
A great item to pack for a cruise is a swimsuit cover-up. It’s useful for popping into the buffet real quick between dips in the pool, or for going from the lido pool to the aft pool. It’s also handy for wearing at the beach when you’re not in the water but don’t want to put your regular clothes back on yet.
13. Towel clips
Towel clips are used for clipping your beach towel to your lounge chair so it doesn’t blow away. They’re especially useful on cruise ships, as it can get very windy out at sea! They’re also good to have on hand in port when you’re headed to the beach.
14. Cheap sunglasses
Don’t forget your sunglasses when getting ready to pack for a cruise — but don’t bring your expensive ones. Or if you do, bring a cheap pair along too. On most cruises, there are many opportunities for your sunglasses to get lost or broken. For your more adventurous activities, you’ll be thankful you brought an inexpensive pair that you don’t have to worry much about. Just make sure they have a good UV rating so they sufficiently protect your eyes!
15. Reusable water bottle
I don’t travel anywhere without a reusable water bottle, and that includes on my cruises! The tap water on the ship is perfectly safe for drinking, so I like to fill up in my stateroom sink — though you can also fill up at one of the ship’s beverage stations. Having water with you is especially important for when you’re headed off the ship on port days.
16. Backpack
You may not think you need a backpack on a cruise, and you’d be correct that you probably won’t get much use on the ship. However, a backpack is very valuable when you’re in port, especially if you’re doing a more adventurous excursion that might require a swimsuit, beach towel, and other necessities. It’s also great for carrying water bottles and any souvenirs you may buy in port!
17. Portable phone charger
If you have a small portable phone charger, it’s a great item to pack for a cruise. While you might not need it when you’re actually on the ship, it’ll come in handy on your travel days and during long port days where it’s easy to run down your phone battery.
18. Travel alarm clock
Unlike most hotels, cruise ship cabins actually don’t come with alarm clocks. Many guests just use the alarm on their phone to wake up, but if you want a real alarm clock be sure to bring it along. Thankfully there are many small, portable options out there meant for traveling.
19. Wrinkle release spray
Since you can’t bring irons on board and most ships don’t have self-service laundry rooms, you might want to bring along wrinkle release spray. It’ll help smooth out your clothes that were stuffed in your suitcase on the way to the ship!
20. Cash
Even if you don’t usually walk around with cash in your daily life, hit up the ATM before you leave home for your vacation. Examples for where you might need cash include tipping the porters on embarkation day, tipping tour guides/bus drivers in port, buying souvenirs from cash-only vendors, and giving various crew members extra gratuity on top of the daily service charge. Plus it’s just a good idea to travel with some cash in case of an emergency — I like to keep some in my backpack separate from my wallet.
21. Hair conditioner
Two things you don’t have to pack for a cruise include soap and shampoo, as they’re both provided in your cabin. However, most of the time you won’t find conditioner. If you want to condition your hair, bring along your own from home.
22. Wine or champagne
On most cruise lines, you can bring two 750 ml bottles of wine or champagne on board with you, to be enjoyed during the cruise. Take advantage of this policy and bring along your favorite bottle for a special date night or celebration. Just keep in mind that if you open it at a restaurant, you are usually charged a corkage fee.
23. AirTags
Ever since I got my first Apple AirTag, I haven’t traveled without one. In fact, I now have four, and usually travel with at least three of them. To ensure peace of mind when traveling with multiple bags — especially if you’re checking any on your flights — use AirTags if you have an iPhone. That way, you’ll be able to track their every move.
24. Nightlight
Cabins on some newer ships have built-in motion nightlights that help guide guests around the room in the dark without waking others who might be sleeping. However, most ships don’t have this feature. Therefore, if you think you’ll be getting up to use the bathroom in the night or just want a small source of light that won’t bother your family, consider bringing a nightlight. This is especially useful in an interior cabin, which is pretty much pitch-black when the lights are off no matter the time of day.
25. Rain Gear
In many regions you might take a cruise, you probably don’t need to worry as much about rain gear. But if you’re headed up to Alaska, Canada and New England, or northern Europe, it’s best to bring some along. We recommend an umbrella, a rain jacket or poncho, and waterproof shoes.
26. Hand sanitizer
Your cruise ship is likely to have hand sanitizer in lots of public spaces for guests to use. However, you might want to bring your own — not necessarily for much use on the ship, but for your travel to the homeport as well as during port calls. In this post-pandemic era, you can never have too much hand sanitizer!
27. Spare pair of glasses
Something you should always pack for a cruise is a spare pair of your prescription eyeglasses. If you wear contacts, bring your glasses along too. If you wear only glasses, bring a spare pair if you have them. You don’t want to lose or break your glasses halfway through the cruise and realize you don’t have a backup to be able to see clearly for the rest of the trip.
28. Band-Aids
You never know when you might get a cut or scrape, so bring along some band-aids just in case. Yes, you can get them on board and the medical center will probably provide them for free. However, it’s much easier to just grab one from your own stash and be on your way.
29. Feminine products
Even if the cruise falls during a time of the month where you don’t think you’ll need any, pack some feminine products just in case. They are available to purchase on the ship if need be, but they’re expensive!
30. Lip balm
When putting together your toiletry case, don’t forget to bring a tube of lip balm or two. I’d also recommend bringing a lip balm with SPF in it, because your lips need as much (or more) protection from the sun as your skin does.
31. Small purse
Bring a small purse on your cruise for times on the ship where you might want to carry a few items, or off the ship if you want to explore port but won’t need your backpack. It’s also good to have a purse for when you’re exploring the homeport city before or after your cruise!
32. Packaged snacks
While you won’t go hungry with all of the food that’s available to you on the ship, ports are the real world and you might need some extra fuel between meals. If you think you might need a snack here or there while on land, bring some prepackaged snacks such as fruit strips, protein or granola bars, or trail mix. It’s important that it’s prepackaged, as there may be rules and restrictions for things like fresh fruit both when you’re boarding the ship and when you’re getting off the ship in certain countries.
33. Books
For many people, going on vacation = getting a chance to spend some time reading. If you’re one of those people, don’t forget to pack your tablet/e-reader or a few physical books. Sitting outside reading in the fresh ocean breeze is a great way to enjoy a sea day.
34. Earbuds/headphones
I don’t travel without bringing earbuds, so if you’re like me don’t forget to pack yours. You may want them for listening to videos or music on the plane, listening to music while on a jog on the jogging track, talking on the phone while off the ship, etc.
35. Tablet or laptop
You may not feel the need or desire to take your laptop or tablet with you on your cruise. Depending on the reason for my cruise, sometimes I bring my laptop. On voyages where I won’t need it, I tend to bring my tablet just to have another device in addition to my phone. If you’re planning to bring yours, be sure to pack it safely in your hand luggage.
36. Waterproof phone pouch
A waterproof phone pouch is a great item to have on any vacation that will include a lot of water, whether that be to a waterpark, a beach, or a pool. Many cruises feature all three of those things, which is why we recommend packing one. It’ll allow your phone to get splashed and even go underwater for short periods of time without risking getting wet.
37. Bag for dirty laundry
Instead of piling your dirty clothes on the floor throughout the cruise, it’s good to have something to put them in. Think ahead by bringing a laundry bag or garbage bag so they’re in one place during the cruise and are separate from your clean clothes and other belongings on the trip back home.
38. Camera
If you love photography and want to capture high-quality photos during your vacation, be sure to pack your camera. Just make sure it’s well-protected for your travels and that you bring the necessary accessories such as extra memory cards and batteries.
39. Bug spray
Like with binoculars or rain gear, bug spray is a subjective item to pack for a cruise and you won’t necessarily need it every time. Prior to your sailing, look into your destinations — paired with the time of year you’re visiting — and determine whether bugs might be an issue. Mosquitos in Alaska, for example, can be so bad that sometimes people joke that they’re the state bird (spoiler: the willow ptarmigan is the actual Alaska state bird).
40. Face wash
If you have a dedicated facial cleaner that you like to use in the shower or before bed, bring it along. While the cruise ship does provide soap and shower gel, many guests prefer to use a more gentle face wash and you won’t find it on the ship unless you want to pay a premium in the ship’s boutique.
Comments
Do you have any other items that you think are essential to pack for a cruise? Do you agree with our packing list? Drop us an anchor below to share what you pack and what you leave at home when you travel.
