What to Bring on a Cruise: Packing Guide

10 min read Guide

What to bring on a cruise: documents, clothing counts for a 7-day trip, electronics, what not to pack, a printable checklist and a kids packing list.

Written by Kelly Bonatsakis of Vacations by Kelly, CruiseKick's trusted travel agency partner. Drafted with AI assistance. How we make our content.

Packing for a cruise is unlike packing for any other vacation. You’re preparing for a floating resort that has everything from dressy dinners to beach days and snorkeling excursions, all within the same trip. Get it right and your bags feel purposeful. Get it wrong and you spend your first port day hunting for a drugstore because you forgot sunscreen.

This guide covers what to bring, how much of each thing, what to leave at home, a printable checklist, and a kids edition.

Documents and Identification: Don’t Leave the Dock Without These

Missing or incorrect paperwork can get you turned away at the terminal, no matter how early you arrive. Pack documents in a dedicated pouch in your carry-on, never in checked luggage, since checked bags can be delayed by hours on embarkation day.

  • Passport. The safest choice. Even on closed-loop cruises (those that start and end at the same U.S. port), where a birth certificate plus government ID can be accepted, a passport is your safety net if you miss the ship in a foreign port. Many travelers are advised to have at least six months of validity remaining. See our passport requirements guide and check travel.state.gov and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for your itinerary.
  • Government-issued photo ID. A driver’s license or state ID as a backup.
  • Boarding documents. Most lines have you complete check-in online. Print them, and screenshot them in case terminal Wi-Fi fails.
  • Visas for any destination that requires one. Research well in advance.
  • Travel insurance details. Policy number, provider and emergency phone number.
  • A credit card for your onboard account, plus a backup card and a little cash in small bills for ports.
  • Prescription documentation for controlled medications, and any health documents your line requires.

Photograph every document and store copies in cloud storage. If a wallet goes missing in port, you’ll still have what you need.

Clothing: Packing for Every Occasion

Think in categories: sea days, dressy nights, shore excursions, casual dining and pool time. Most people overpack clothes, since you’ll spend most of the time in swimwear and casual gear and ships offer paid laundry.

  • Sea days: shorts, t-shirts and sundresses, a light cardigan (interiors are often aggressively air-conditioned), 2-3 swimsuits so one is always dry, a cover-up, and comfortable sandals.
  • Dressy nights: most lines have one or two per week. Our dress code by line guide covers what each line expects. A dark suit or sport coat for men and a cocktail dress or dressy separates for women is plenty. Tuxedos are not required anywhere mainstream.
  • Shore excursions: closed-toe walking shoes, water shoes for snorkel or beach days, quick-dry pants or shorts, a daypack and a compact rain poncho.
  • Climate-specific: Alaska and other cool-weather itineraries call for layers and waterproofs. See our Alaska packing list and Caribbean packing list.

For gendered detail, see cruise wear for men and cruise wear for women.

7-day cruise packing list

For a 7-night cruise, a mix-and-match wardrobe means roughly 7 tops, 4 bottoms, 2 swimsuits, 2 dress-up outfits, 8 sets of underwear and 3 pairs of shoes, not one of everything for every day. Most week-long sailings have only a couple of dressy evenings, and daytime pieces recombine.

  • Tops (casual): 7
  • Bottoms (shorts, pants, skirts): 4
  • Swimsuits: 2, so one is always drying
  • Cover-up: 1-2
  • Smart-casual evening outfits: 3, reused across the casual evenings
  • Dress-up outfits: 2, one per dressy night (lines with no formal nights, like Norwegian, need fewer)
  • Sleepwear: 2
  • Underwear: 8, the one category not to skimp on
  • Socks: 4-5
  • Shoes: 3 pairs: sandals, broken-in walking shoes, and one dress pair for both dressy nights
  • Light layer: 1, since ships run cold in the evening
  • Workout set: 1, only if you’ll use it

Pick a tight color palette of two neutrals plus an accent so every top works with every bottom, and favor wrinkle-resistant, quick-dry fabrics. Irons are banned in cabins, so don’t plan to press anything. Ship laundry, where offered, lets you drop a couple of tops and underwear.

Carry-on only is possible. Trim to about 5 tops, 3 bottoms, 2 swimsuits, 2 evening outfits, 1 dress-up look worn on both dressy nights, 7 underwear, 3 socks and 2 pairs of shoes, wear your bulkiest shoes and layer aboard, and plan one midweek sink wash or laundry bag. Decant toiletries to travel sizes. Cabins usually stock shampoo and body wash, though some lines keep conditioner for suites, so pack a travel-size if you are particular.

Toiletries and Medications

Ships provide basic shampoo, body wash, towels and a hair dryer, but quality varies. Bring what you have preferences about:

  • Sunscreen: SPF 30 or higher, reef-safe if you’ll visit marine protected areas. Onboard prices are high.
  • After-sun lotion or aloe, lip balm with SPF, and insect repellent for tropical ports.
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, contact lenses and solution.
  • A small first-aid kit: bandages, antibiotic ointment, blister pads (new shoes on a dressy night are a classic mistake).

Medications are the critical category. Pack them in your carry-on, in original labeled containers, and bring more than you need in case disembarkation is delayed. Add motion-sickness remedies (see our seasickness guide), pain relievers, antihistamines, antidiarrheals and antacids. Ship pharmacies charge premium prices. If you have a medical condition, carry a brief written summary in case you visit the ship’s medical center.

Electronics: What to Bring and How to Power It

Cabin outlets are scarce, often just one or two, sometimes with a USB port.

  • Smartphone with your line’s app downloaded before sailing.
  • Power bank, useful when you’re away from the cabin all day.
  • USB charging hub and a universal adapter for international ports.
  • A plain power strip without surge protection. Most lines ban surge-protected strips and extension cords as a fire hazard, so bring a simple non-surge strip or a multi-port USB charger.
  • Camera, e-reader or tablet, and a laptop only if you must work. Ship Wi-Fi is slow and costly, so see our cruise Wi-Fi guide.

Clever Cruise-Specific Gear

  • Over-the-door shoe organizer. Cabins are small, and one hung on the bathroom door becomes a command center for sunscreen, medications and chargers.
  • Magnetic hooks. Cabin walls are typically steel, so magnetic hooks hold towels, lanyards and bags without damaging anything.
  • Lanyard for your ship card, which is your key, payment method and ID.
  • Collapsible daypack and a dry bag for water excursions.
  • Reusable water bottle to refill from the ship’s water stations.
  • Nightlight. Interior cabins are pitch black with the lights off.

What not to pack for a cruise

The single biggest packing mistake is bringing items that security will take away. Anything that could start a fire or interfere with the ship’s electrical system is typically banned, and prohibited items can be held until the end of the cruise. Policies vary, so check your line’s official guidance, for example royalcaribbean.com or carnival.com.

Items that are commonly prohibited:

  • Irons and clothing steamers. Fire hazards. Ships provide pressing or laundry services.
  • Candles, incense and anything with an open flame.
  • Surge-protected power strips and extension cords.
  • Heating coils or immersion heaters.
  • Drones, on most lines, or at least restricted to storage while aboard.
  • Weapons, including some pocket knives.
  • Illegal drugs, including marijuana even where it is legal at home.
  • Excess alcohol. Many lines allow a limited amount of wine at embarkation and hold the rest until the end of the cruise. Check your line’s policy.

Items that aren’t banned but waste space: a hair dryer (in nearly every cabin), beach towels (provided), more than one or two dressy outfits, excess shoes, and bulky full-size toiletries. A good rule: if it plugs in and heats up, has a flame, or is alcohol you’re trying to hide, it stays home. For dining attire, skip swimwear, tank tops and flip-flops in the main dining room.

Your Embarkation Day Carry-On Strategy

Checked luggage can take several hours to reach your cabin. Pack a carry-on with everything you need until it arrives:

  • Documents and cruise card
  • Medications
  • Phone charger and power bank
  • Swimsuit, cover-up and a change of clothes
  • Sunscreen
  • A little cash and any valuables
  • Camera

Label every bag with your name, phone number and cabin number. For more on what happens at the terminal, see our guide to embarkation day.

Printable cruise packing list

To use this guide as a checklist, print this page (use your browser’s print function and choose “print to PDF” to save a copy), or copy the categories into a notes app such as Notion, Apple Notes or Google Keep. Start about a week before your sail date, not the night before. A condensed version to check off:

  • Documents: passport, ID, boarding documents, insurance details, credit cards, cash, emergency contacts, excursion confirmations
  • Clothing: casual outfits, dinner outfits, 1-2 dress-up outfits, 2-3 swimsuits, cover-up, walking shoes, dress shoes, flip-flops, light layers, pajamas, underwear, socks, hat, rain jacket
  • Toiletries and health: sunscreen, after-sun, insect repellent, razors, deodorant, contacts, prescriptions, motion-sickness remedy, pain relievers, antihistamines, antidiarrheal, first-aid basics
  • Electronics: phone and cruise app, power bank, adapter, non-surge power strip, headphones, camera, e-reader
  • Extras people forget: reusable water bottle, laundry bag, over-the-door organizer, magnetic hooks, zip-top bags in several sizes, daypack, pen or highlighter, nightlight, lanyard, a paper copy of excursion plans
  • Left at home: irons, candles, surge protectors, drones, extra alcohol, weapons

Pack early, check things off as they go in, and give yourself a day to notice what you missed. The ship already provides a hair dryer, towels, basic toiletries, hangers, bed linens and the daily schedule, so you can skip those.

Destination Matters: Adjust This List for Your Itinerary

A Caribbean packing list looks nothing like an Alaska one. In the Caribbean your priorities are reef-safe sunscreen, lightweight breathable clothing and water shoes. In Alaska you pack waterproof layers, wool socks, gloves and binoculars. Use the tailored lists:

Cruise packing list for kids

A family packing list needs three things a solo list does not: two swimsuits per child so one can dry, cabin sanity-savers for a small dark room, and a daypack for long port days. Pack by age and by need.

Pack by age

  • Infants and toddlers (0-3): the most gear-intensive group. Bring more diapers and wipes than you expect, since ships rarely stock your brand. Diapers of any kind, swim diapers included, generally keep a child out of the main pools and whirlpools under cruise sanitation rules (see the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program), so non-potty-trained kids are usually limited to a dedicated splash area, which only some ships have. Confirm your ship before counting on pool time. Most lines also require children in the youngest kids-club band to be potty-trained, with a paid nursery on some lines, so check your line’s policy. A lightweight umbrella stroller works best on gangways and in narrow corridors.
  • Young kids (4-8): swim gear and entertainment dominate. Water shoes protect feet on hot decks, and a small comfort item helps with kids-club drop-off.
  • Tweens and teens (9-17): a lanyard for the key card prevents the daily “where’s my card” scramble. Confirm your line’s rules for teens signing themselves in and out of clubs.

What to pack

  • Clothing: one daytime outfit per day plus a spare, a light sweater for cold dining rooms, pajamas, extra socks and underwear, closed-toe shoes, a rain jacket, a sun hat, and one “nice” outfit for a dressy night. Kids’ dress codes are relaxed, so a collared shirt with khakis or a simple dress is plenty.
  • Swim and sun: two swimsuits per child, rash guard, water shoes, goggles, a mesh bag for wet gear, sand toys that pack flat, and mineral sunscreen with extra for reapplying. Some ports restrict certain sunscreens.
  • Cabin: a nightlight, magnetic hooks, an over-the-door organizer, a non-surge power strip, and a clip fan for stuffy interior cabins. Don’t count on a cabin mini-fridge for milk, medication or baby food without confirming your cabin’s setup.
  • First-aid: child-dose pain and fever reducer, bandages, antiseptic wipes, ointment, a thermometer, anti-itch cream, aloe, and kid-appropriate motion-sickness remedies. Ask your pediatrician first. Soap-and-water handwashing is the best defense against norovirus, because the CDC notes that hand sanitizer does not work well against it.
  • Documents: passports for every family member, certified birth certificates if sailing closed-loop without passports (confirm your route with CBP first), and signed consent or custody documents if a child travels without both legal parents.
  • Entertainment: a tablet with downloaded shows, headphones, cards or a travel game, coloring books, and a comfort item. Ship Wi-Fi is slow and costly.
  • Port-day daypack: water bottles, snacks, sunscreen, a dry change of clothes for young kids, swim gear, wipes, a trash bag and any medications.

For choosing a family-friendly ship and kids-club logistics, see our family cruise guide.

Packing Light vs. Packing Everything

For a 7-night Caribbean cruise, most experienced travelers manage with one checked bag under the airline limit, one carry-on and one personal item. A longer sailing or one that spans climate zones may justify a second checked bag. Whatever you pack, label every bag. Busy ports move thousands of bags, so make yours identifiable.

Part of our Cruise Packing hub.

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