Cruise Packing List | Dee Charles and Associates

Cruise Packing List: What to Bring on Your Cruise

Packing for a cruise is a little different from packing for a typical vacation. You'll need things for days onboard, port visits, dinners, activities, and possibly several types of weather.

After You Book
A Few Months Before
About a Month Before
When Online Check-In Opens

The Week Before
The Day Before
Embarkation Morning

IN THIS GUIDE

Use this list as a starting point, then adjust it for your itinerary, cruise line, and personal needs.

Travel Documents & Essentials

Passport or required identification
Cruise documents
Boarding information
Travel insurance information
Credit/debit cards
Emergency contact information
Prescription medications
Copies or digital backups of important documents

Keep essential documents and medications in your carry-on, not checked luggage.

Clothing

Casual daytime clothes
Dinner outfits
Underwear and socks
Sleepwear
Swimsuits
Swimsuit cover-up
Light sweater or jacket
Comfortable walking shoes
Sandals or flip-flops
Workout clothes if needed

Check whether your cruise has formal, elegant, themed, or other special dress nights before packing.

For Port Days

Small day bag
Sunglasses
Hat
Sunscreen
Comfortable shoes
Reusable water bottle
Portable phone charger
Weather-appropriate clothing

Your itinerary matters. Packing for Alaska will obviously look very different from packing for the Caribbean.

Toiletries & Personal Items

Bring your normal toiletries along with anything you wouldn't want to spend time searching for during your trip.

Don't forget items such as contact lenses, glasses, feminine products, hair products, and any over-the-counter medications you normally use.

Electronics

Phone
Chargers
Portable battery
Camera if desired
Headphones
Watch or fitness tracker

Cruise cabins sometimes have limited outlets, but don't automatically pack a household power strip. Cruise lines have specific rules about extension cords, surge protectors, and electrical devices.

Your Embarkation-Day Carry-On

Your checked luggage may take several hours to reach your cabin.

Keep these with you:

Travel documents
Medications
Valuables
Electronics
Sunscreen
Swimsuit if you want to use the pool
Anything you'll need during your first few hours onboard

PACKING TIP: Before closing your suitcase, check your cruise line's current prohibited-items policy. Rules for alcohol, beverages, electrical devices, irons, steamers, and other items vary by cruise line.

Don't Overpack

Cruise cabins have limited storage space, and you probably need less than you think. Choose pieces that can be worn more than once and shoes that work with multiple outfits.