The Best Cruise Packing List – Not your average packing list. Important things to Remember to Bring on Your Cruise!
Cruising is so much fun – for my family it is one of THE best family vacations. The preparation for a cruise can be somewhat overwhelming. We have been fortunate to have gone on a number of cruises and have learned some good cruise packing tricks. We are going to share out best cruise packing tips with you today!
We absolutely love to cruise. We find that cruising makes a very easy vacation for everyone involved.
We have cruised with and without our kids. True, they are very different vacations, but either way, they have been some of our favorite trips of all time.
We have recently been on Princess Cruise Lines and traveled to Alaska and the Mediterranean. We have some great tips for packing for an Alaska cruise, as well as some other great tips for cruising to Alaska. We also have some good information if you are planning a Mediterranean cruise – be sure to check all of these articles out as well as our Mediterranean Cruise Packing List.
One of our favorite family-friendly cruise lines is Disney Cruise Lines. A Disney Cruise is great because it offers something for everyone in our group – ages 1 to 70-something! Disney knows how to do family vacations.
They bend over backward to make sure you and your family are having the time of their lives! There is something for everyone! Not sure which Disney Cruise Ship to book – this article may help on Choosing the Right Disney Ship – Disney Fantasy vs. Disney Magic.
I get asked all the time “what types of things should I pack for my cruise?” This cruise packing list is going to be your new best friend!
There are “standard” packing lists all over the web. This one isn’t going to have your usual shirts, shoes, dresses, bathing suits, etc. This cruise packing list has the “extras”…. some are space-saving and some are just those items that make your life easier on board.
Cruise Packing – Space Saving Items
Like I mentioned before, cruises have something for everyone. However, there is one thing that is lacking on a cruise – space!
Not space around the ship – these mega-ships are enormous and amazing! There have been ships that I have been on for a week that I haven’t seen the whole ship! What I am referring to are the staterooms.
The cruise industry has tried everything to maximize the space in the staterooms – some do it better than others (Princess and Disney do a pretty darn good job!) – but however you slice it, there just isn’t a lot of room.
- Shoe bag for bathroom – hang it on the back of the door and put your smaller toiletries in the pockets i.e. toothbrushes, toothpaste, razor, hairbrush, hairspray, mousse, etc.
- Sweater bag for closet – this is great for the kids clothes, t-shirts, shorts, underwear, etc.
- Soft sided luggage – pack in duffles or things that you can slide under the bed after you unpack.
- Tip: ask your cabin steward for extra hangers – you can hang a ton of stuff up, but there isn’t a lot of room in the drawers – hang your bulkier items and use the drawers for your smaller items.
Cruise Packing – SO Smart Items
Not one of the items below are “essential” by any means. They will just make your life easier on board!
- Plug power strip – there are usually on a few outlets – this will give you plenty of extra outlets to charge all of those important devices. Some people say that certain cruise lines will not allow them, however, I have never run into any issues.
- Clock – I have no clue why, but many of the ships do not have a clock in the room
- Landyard with a card plastic holder – this is great to carry your room key (you can buy them here on AMAZON before you go for WAY cheaper than if you get them on the ship!)
- Magnetic door sign – all of the doors look alike…. this will help you remember which is yours (I kinda love these magnetic white board sheets that you can leave messages for each other i.e. “Meet at breakfast at 10a.m.”
- Pillow case and fabric markers (Disney Cruise only – give this to the guest services desk when you get there and they will have all of the characters sign it and give it back to you the last day)
- Motion Sickness Bands – JIC (just in case). Also, I prefer Bonine over Dramamine – it makes me less drowsy
- Shampoo and conditioner – believe it or not, many do not provide these
- Nightlight – the room gets REALLY dark at night – put a nightlight in the bathroom
- Ziplock bags – we like our snacks! We will grab some stuff off the morning buffet and bring them off the ship when we are walking around. On Disney you can order PB&J sandwiches from room service and they will send you Uncrustables – these are GREAT to bring off the ship for a cheap and easy lunch. Also, we put our remote in a ziplock bag (I am a germaphobe)
- Soft-sided coolor – also to bring snacks off the ship – like I said, I like snacks
- Highlighter and Sharpie – don’t ask why, but we always use it
- Old hotel room key card – many of the cruises make you put your room key in a slot by the door to turn on the lights and the air conditioning. They are standard hotel room key size – if you have an extra you can just keep that on in there and then the room will still be cool when you come back from the hot sun!
- Ducktape – just like the highlighter, for some reason, we always use it
- Pack of sticky notes – great for leaving notes on the door or on the mirror to tell your family where you are (or maybe you prefer for them not to know!!)
- Clips – i.e. towel clips or clothes hangers – it gets really windy on the pool deck… these will keep your towel from flying away!
- Insulated cup with straw – I looooooveee these mugs!! They keep the ice from melting fast in the sun.
- Lysol Wipes – because I am a little clean crazy and like to do an extra wipe down cleaning.
- Hairdryer – this is a personal thing – I find the hairdryers in hotel rooms and cruise ships to be on the weaker side! If you are picky, bring your own!
- Poo-Pourri – trust me…your roommate will thank you!
- BUG SPRAY – the bugs on these beaches can be brutal!
- Travel Steamer – who wants to iron??
- Scout Beach Bag (I love the Pocket Rocket style) – Loooove this bag so much! They sand doesn’t stick to it. It has great pockets for everything you need. AND it zips shut!! It is our GO TO and best beach bag ever!!
- Inexpensive Inflatable Raft – you will find they are expensive to rent on the islands. Grab an inexpensive raft or two and leave them when you are done!
- Anti Chafing Gel or Baby Powder – if it is really hot out, you will thank me.
- Stain remover or Stain Wipes
UPDATED: I had some amazing suggestions from some of my readers that I am adding (thanks for all of the great ideas!)
- If you have a little one bring an inflatable tub – many of the ships don’t have bathtubs
- Pack a swim suit in your carry on – you may not get your bags until after dinner
- Plastic clothes pins – put them on the bottom of the shower curtain to keep it from blowing out
- Keep copies of all important information in your safe (passport, credit cards, etc.)
- Downy Wrinkle Release – many cruises don’t allow irons in the cabin and sending it out can be very expensive
- Plug Ins – to keep the room smelling fresh!
- Binoculars – to watch for dolphins!
- Collapsable hamper for your dirty clothes
- A case of water
- Wine! Many cruise lines will allow you to bring 1 bottle of wine per person. We brought screw top and would order appetizers and have happy hour on our balcony!
- Waterproof camera
- Inexpensive snorkel kit – you will probably pay less than renting it and you don’t have to worry about where it has been…..ewwww.
- Take a suction cup hook or two. You can hang you hat or cruise card etc near the door so you don’t forget to take them with you when you leave the cabin.
Are there other items that you have found to make your cruising experience better? I am always looking for new ideas!
I read a ton of lists before our first cruise and unfortunately none had this one item on them: STAIN remover or Stain wipes!!! After our carnival cruise, my 3 youngest kids had either chocolate ice cream stains or pizza stains on every piece of clothing they wore!!!! Also, being from Louisiana, we should have brought seasoning. The food great, but was bland for our tastes. One useful item I did bring was plastic hangers, the kind you get when you buy shorts at wal mart. At night I would hang up our wet clothes in the shower to dry.
Things to take on cruise trips:
Sun visor
Small tote (for maps, etc.)
Bar soap (most hotels now have body wash dispensers).
Small thermos, to take coffee with you after eating at restaurant (no to-go cups available, presumably because people are apt to throw them overboard when finished).
Probably not necessary to purchase tour excursions in advance – many companies at ports available to take you, except at Victoria where it is limited. However, difficult to see much (in Victoria) because of late arrival, and most places are already closed.
Flashlight.
great suggestions! thank you!
Question
Going on our first cruise to Alaska, Celebrity line,
We are Sr Citizens….
No IPads or Cell Phones Allowed?
We have new hard side luggage, is there storage for luggage, or should we bring Soft duffle style?
Any suggestions Would be Appreciated, going with a Group of 8 Sr Citizens….
They usually elevate the beds on more cruise lines so you can store your luggage under there. I always pack in duffles, so we don’t really have to worry about it fitting – I think a quick call to the cruise line and they can tell you how much space is under the bed for luggage. You can bring your iPads and Cell Phones and get service through the cruise line, but it is super expensive and often very slow connections (for wifi). Again, if you call the cruise line, they can provide you with the actual cost.
(whisper voice… go on vacation and leave the devices at home – be unplugged and enjoy!!)
I really love all of these ideas!! I don’t want to sound rude or anything but I think you should go through and check spelling on somethings..you wrote color instead of cooler. 🙂
Not rude at all, Brittney! Thanks for the catch – my spelling suks….. I mean sucks!!
I believe you meant to say “some things” instead of “somethings”. Just saying …
Instead of the motion sickness meds (which can make you have double vision) I did, is to use ginger. My son had to take it for flying lessons until he got use to the motion and it works.
Next on the cruise ship my son got to do a Tshirt and they provided everything as an kids project.
At the time I carry a back pack, and put everything it, that way I don’t sit it down and forget something I already purchased when I go to purchase something else, I keep my wallet in the front small pocket. It can get heavy but least you know everything is in one place. I once lost something I purchased prior at WDW and had to write to them and they have so many items people loose that they had no problem giving me one that I had lost. I set it down to pay for the other item and left it behind.
I probably could say more because I have been on lots of cruises, but not any in the recent years. They are fun, you get to see more places than if you fly to one place, so much fruit and great food, I never gained one pound. I love them ….just don’t know about the problems they have had in the past few, sickiness, and going off course. However, they were good experiences for us.
Great list! You may need an adapter as well. I went on a cruise in Australia but all of the outlets were American because it was an American cruise liner 🙂
GREAT suggestion, Emily!
2 way radios are also good to have to communicate with family on your ship and at destinations.
Yes…. radios are always a great idea!
I just wanted to thank you for this list. I have looked at several and I really like some of your tips/tricks.
Thanks SO much, Jessica! SO glad you are finding it helpful!
As a nurse, I would discourage taking antibiotics. Antibiotics are not “one size fits all” medications. Unless you know what you’re infected with (gram positive or gram negative bacteria) AND you know which meds work for for each, you’re liable to do more harm than good. Not to mention, they’re useless for viruses which is a far more likely contagion to pick up.
Great point, Pat! Thanks so much!
I carry a small wind up flashlight- don’t have to worry about batteries if there is a power outage on ship!
Also a power booster for my cell for emergency calls. Small baggies of nuts. Hand wipes and some plastic bags.
Zip loc bags to store cell phone or iPods in for beach day.
My next cruise I’m taking these collapsible bottles .
An small extension cord. And always take antibiotics!!!!! There have been a few times we’ve needed them.
Great post!!
1. A watch. I don’t wear a watch normally at home because I have my cell phone with me. No cell phone on the ship!
2. Clorox wipes to wipe down the entire room. (Germ-freak but minimize getting sick!).
3. Extra antibiotics (if you can score them) in case you get sick. The trips are too expensive not to pack it.
4. Packing tape (for luggage mishap). We have had luggage bust open at the airport….ugh.
5. A few of your business cards. Not that you will get business from them per se, but if you make friends on the ship, you can give them your business card so you can connect on facebook/email later to share some pics. This has worked out well for us several times!
6. Small bills ($1’s and $5’s) for easy tipping off the ship.
7. Small battery operated alarm clock (since most rooms don’t have clocks…and most people use their phone for their alarm)
8. Lip gloss with sunscreen. You won’t forget sunscreen but you might forget chapstick/lipgloss with sunscreen.
9. Take more than you need in your “carry-on the ship” bag. Yup, it stinks to have to carry it all day. However, there are a few people with horror stories about luggage getting put onto the wrong ship when 2 ships are docked….so I always pack an extra set of clothes, PJs, essential items (makeup, meds, etc).
10. As many other people have said, decorate your door! Bring a magnetic whiteboard so others can leave messages about where they are going. Do some theme if your family/friends span multiple rooms….so all your rooms are together.
11. The Disney ships have “wave-phones” which are Nokia phones (circa 2001) that work on the ship. They are included and work marginally well re: reception. There is no charge for them (unless you lose them). Non-Disney ships don’t have this. However, we have brought some walkie-talkies which have been helpful….although the reception isn’t always great, it does help to have a connection to your other family members!!!
HAPPY SAILING!
Brooke – GREAT suggestions!!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!