Ultimate cruise pack list: packing for your first cruise
Packing for a cruise can be complicated, especially for first-timers who aren't 100% sure what to expect. The task is made even more stressful because you can't run to the nearest shopping centre to pick up something you forgot when you're sailing in the middle of the ocean.
What you need is a cruise packing list that accounts for cruise line dress codes for daywear and evening wear, the various activities you'll do on board and in port, the gear you need for travel and to enhance your cruise cabin, and the necessities you need for daily life and unexpected emergencies.
We've listed a bunch of essentials you should always pack for any cruise vacation. Follow our cruise packing list to avoid packing mistakes and be prepared for anything on your next sailing. It might seem like a lot of items, but the thing to remember on a cruise is that you unpack once and every day you’re in a different location. For first time cruisers, it’s important to know that you don’t live out of a suitcase while on board. You unpack everything, put it in the wardrobe and drawers in your cabin and your suitcases are hidden under the bed for the entire cruise. It’s sort of like you’ve just moved home.
The best thing is, we’ve included a list you can download at the end of the article so that you can print it out and cross stuff off as you pack. Heavy lifting done. You’re welcome.
Daytime clothing
When packing for a cruise, start with the basics: what you plan to wear each day.
On every cruise line, daytime clothing is casual, and on a big-ship cruise, nearly anything goes. On a more upscale or luxury cruise ship, casual daywear tends to be more fashion-forward and stylish, so you might feel out of place in your cheap tee from Target.
Of course, the destination and weather will dictate what exactly makes it onto your cruise packing list. For an Australian, Asian Pacific, Mediterranean or Caribbean cruise, you'll want plenty of beachwear; for an Antarctic, Arctic Norway or Alaskan cruise, you'll want rugged clothes for hiking and warm layers for the frequently changing weather. In the Middle East and Asia, you might also need an outfit that covers the shoulders and knees for visiting religious sites.
Remember that any destination can be unseasonably warm, cold or wet, so pack a jacket for that Bahamas cruise or a short-sleeved top for an Arctic sailing — just in case.
If you want to stay fit on your cruise and plan to hit the onboard gym or go biking in port, pack activewear.
Cruisers traveling in a group should consider planning matching outfits (personally no), especially if they wish to take group photos on board. Group T-shirts are common, as are color-coordinated outfits for everyone from the kids to the grandparents.
Most important of all: Double-check that you've packed underwear. You're welcome.
Pack one outfit for every day, or plan to do laundry on your cruise ship. I like to look for ways to reuse pieces to save space. For example, I'll dress up a nice Tshirt with a jacket or dress pants for dinner, then wear the same Tshirt with shorts or jeans in port the following day.
Here's your daywear packing list (adjust numbers for the length of your sailing):
T-shirts
Casual tops
Sundresses
Shorts
Jeans
Slacks
Underwear
Socks
Workout wear
Bathing suits and swimwear
Cover-up or swim shirt
Jacket
Sweatshirt or sweater
Evening clothing
Some cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, have a relaxed attitude toward dinner attire, and you can come as you are. Other lines, especially the more upscale ones, have strict dress codes for dinner. For cruises on those ships, you'll need to add some nicer outfits to your cruise packing list.
Evening wear on cruise ships tends to fall into two categories: resort casual and elegant. For casual nights, think of a date-night style. Some cruise lines do allow jeans in the evening; pair them with cute tops and nice shoes.
Elegant or formal nights bring out cocktail dresses, suits, ties and jackets. If formalwear is not your thing, choose room service, or go to the buffet or a casual restaurant for dinner to skip dressing up. Some luxury cruise lines will not allow underdressed passengers into certain restaurants or entertainment venues on formal nights. Some lines have “formal night” where you’re requested to wear a tux or jacket (it’s kinda nice to dress up once, but it means lugging a formal jacket for the whole trip that you may only wear once - bit of a pain, but you’ll feel terrific on the night).
Don't forget to pack outfits for cruise ship theme nights. Popular themes include white night, pirate night and Halloween — and, yes, cruisers do go all-out with costumes. Check with your cruise line to see which parties or theme nights will take place, and then pack accordingly.
Consider an eye patch or swashbuckling hat for Disney Cruise Line's Pirate Night, a white sundress for Norwegian Cruise Line's White Hot Night and some neon leggings for Carnival Cruise Line's '80s night.
Pro tip: Many cruise ships turn up the air conditioning at night. Pack a light sweater or dressy shawl to keep you comfortable in cool onboard restaurants and theaters.
Definitely don't forget the ultimate evening wear — comfy pyjamas — especially if you're sharing a cabin with family or friends.
Here's your eveningwear packing list:
Dress
Skirt and blouse
Pantsuit
Wrap or sweater
Button-down shirt or polo
Dress slacks or nice jeans
Sport coat
Tie
Suit or tuxedo for formal night if there is one
Cocktail dress or gown for formal night (if there is one)
Theme cruise attire and costumes (white night etc)
Pyjamas
Footwear
It's easy to fill a carry-on with footwear alone when packing for a cruise. The must-have basic is a comfortable pair of travel shoes for the flight, ship and walking in port.
Other types of footwear to add to your cruise packing list are sneakers for athletic activities, flip-flops for the pool and beach, and dress shoes for dinner. (Ladies, try to match your outfits, so you only need to bring one pair of heels.) You might also want casual or athletic sandals, hiking boots or water shoes for rocky beaches.
Pro tip: Lay out all the pairs of shoes you think you need for the cruise, and then decide which shoes can do double duty and which you can leave at home. For example, on a Caribbean cruise, a sturdy pair of waterproof athletic sandals (like Keens) can multi-task as travel shoes, beach shoes and rugged activity footwear. A comfy pair of flats can pair with your casual daywear and your fancy evening attire.
Here's your footwear packing list:
Sneakers or comfortable walking shoes
Flats
Sandals
Flip flops
Water shoes
Hiking boots
Dress shoes for the evening
Slippers for in-cabin use
Accessories and gear
Once you've packed all the clothing, it's time to accessorise.
For sunny days, men and women will want to bring hats and sunglasses. On cold-weather cruises, you'll need a warm beanie, scarf, gloves and waterproof gear. (Antarctica and Arctic cruises have unique packing lists, so check with your cruise line.)
Don't forget belts, jewelry and ties for evening dress. Have a little fun with it — you're on a cruise.
Don't forget to add these accessories to your cruise packing list:
Belt
Jewelry
Wide-brimmed sun hat or baseball hat
Warm hat
Sunglasses
Rain jacket and/or pants
Gloves
Scarf
Pashmina or shawl
Toiletries and medicine
Like hotels, cruise ships typically provide soap and shampoo in your cabin. Some also offer conditioner and body lotion. However, it's hard to know whether your hair will respond well to the onboard products or if you'll hate the scent.
It's always safer to pack your own toiletries. Bring more than you think you'll need because it may be hard to find your favorite brands in foreign ports, and cruise ships sell necessities at inflated prices. (Here are a few more things you should never buy on a cruise ship or in port.)
Although you'll find hand sanitizer stations throughout your cruise ship, you'll still want to pack your own.
Sunscreen is essential; look for reef-safe versions if you plan on swimming in the ocean. Bug spray is also useful, especially in Alaska, where people joke that the mosquito is the state bird.
It's always smart to pack a first aid kit for your cruise; make sure it contains seasickness remedies if you're sensitive to the motion of the ocean. Over-the-counter medications are pricey on board, so bring the brands you most commonly use. If you take prescription medicine, bring enough for the trip and a few extra days' worth, just in case.
Pack these toiletries and medications for your cruise, preferably in your carry-on bag:
Shampoo and conditioner
Hair-styling products
Toothpaste and toothbrush
Floss
Glasses, contacts and contact lens solutions
Razor and shaving cream
Makeup
Facewash
Moisturizer
Body lotion
Lip balm (consider one with SPF protection)
Soap (if you're picky about scents or ingredients)
Feminine products
Hand sanitizer (gel or wipes)
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Seasickness remedies (patches, pills, ginger candies and acupressure wristbands)
Pain-relief medication, such as Tylenol or ibuprofen
Allergy medication
Upset stomach medication
Bandaids
Tissues
Travel gear
Not all of us are lucky enough to live an hour or two from a cruise port. Many cruisers have to fly or road trip to their departure port and need to pack for this travel as well. Make sure your cruise packing list accounts for your pre- and post-cruise travel needs, as well as items useful for your time on board.
For long and overnight flights to your cruise, pack accessories for the plane. If you've scheduled a pre-cruise hotel stay, consider packing the necessities for that overnight in a separate bag so you don't need to unpack and repack your main suitcase.
You'll want to pack your tablet, portable video game system and e-reader for both your pre-cruise travel and the sailing itself. Don't forget all the related charging cables. Or, skip the tech and bring a few books, as many cruise ships no longer offer onboard libraries.
It should go without saying, but you are responsible for packing necessary travel documents, including your cruise/flight/tour tickets, passport book or passport card (or birth certificate) and visa paperwork. Do not put these items in your checked bags. Pack them in your carry-on so they're always on hand and less likely to go missing.
I'm a fan of bringing a day bag for carrying things around the ship (like my book, iPad, sunglasses, sunscreen etc when laying by the pool), although some cruise liens provide you with a tote bag to do this. Some people prefer to bring a lanyard to keep their cruise room key card close at hand.
Neck pillow
Eye mask
Noise-canceling headphones or earbuds
Tablet or laptop + charger
Portable video game system
Playing cards or other small diversions
E-reader or physical books
Passport
Visa documents
Cruise ticket or documents
Travel insurance information
Tour booking information
Tote bag
Small purse/wallet
Travel mug
Cabin enhancements
First-time cruisers don't realise all the cruise ship cabin hacks they can employ to enhance their onboard accommodations. Usually, all you need to pack are a few key items from home.
Many cruise cabin walls and doors are magnetic (did I just blow your mind?), so you can pack magnets both as fun decor and for organisational purposes. Magnetic clips and hooks can help keep paperwork and hats off the in-room desk and couch.
Newer cruise ships are designed so every cabin has enough electrical outlets and USB ports conveniently located throughout the room. However, older cruise ships have a sad lack of outlets. Unless you want to constantly battle your travel companions for charging priority, pack a power strip, multi-prong outlet or power adapter/current converter so you can charge multiple devices at once (and use any 220V European outlets in the cabin).
Just be sure that your power strip doesn't include a surge protector; those are banned from most cruise ships, as are extension cords.
A small, portable sound machine is helpful for blocking out hallway noise if your cabin is in a noisy area of the ship, such as close to the elevator banks.
You can sweeten your cabin bathroom by bringing a bathroom spray to mask unpleasant odors. Traveling with babies and toddlers who hate showers? A small inflatable kiddie pool or tub packs down small and can be used to give your little one a bath.
You don't need to pack a clothesline to dry wet items because one is usually hidden in your cabin's shower. However, I do recommend bringing a laundry bag or pop-up hamper to keep dirty clothes separate and off the cabin floor. Chair clips are useful if you plan to dry your clothes on the balcony and don't want them to blow away.
Pack these items to enhance our cruise cabin:
Magnets
Power strip or multi-pronged outlet without surge protection
Power converter
portable bluetooth speaker
Bathroom spray
Chair clips
Port day gear
You'll want to pack items specific to the activities you aim to do in port. Leave room on your cruise packing list for items that will change based on your destination and planned tours.
No matter where you cruise, you'll want a strong but lightweight backpack to stow everything you want to take off the ship with you. I love the kind with mesh pockets on the side to tuck away a water bottle.
In especially scenic destinations, such as Alaska or Scandinavia, you might want to bring binoculars and/or a DSLR camera (rather than relying on your phone for photos). Don't forget accessories like extra batteries, chargers and memory cards.
On beachy cruises, you'll want a beach bag, sand toys for the kids and perhaps your own snorkeling gear. Wet bags (or even plastic zip-top bags) will keep your wet stuff from leaking onto everything on your way back to the ship.
For water sports like kayaking, consider a dry bag to stow your camera gear, smartphone and wallet and prevent them from getting wet. Waterproof cases for your cellphone and camera are also useful, as well as "beach wallets" that let you go into the water with your credit cards and cash on your person.
Backpack
Camera, memory cards, portable tripod and other accessories
Waterproof dry bag
Waterproof phone and/or camera case
Waterproof beach wallet
Snorkel, mask and fins
Beach toys for kids (such as packable pails and inflatable floats)
Binoculars
Retractable hiking poles
Packaged snacks (such as protein or granola bars) for long excursions
Lightweight packable travel towels if you want something that folds up smaller than the bulky cruise ship beach towels
Miscellaneous items to pack for your cruise
Some must-pack items for cruises defy categorisation but are important nonetheless. Don't leave them off your cruise packing list.
Cruise lines have strict rules about what types of beverages and alcohol you can bring on a cruise ship. If you're picky about wine, many lines will let you bring on a 750 ml bottle or two. Pack your favorite, but be prepared to pay a corkage fee if you drink it at an onboard bar or restaurant.
If you plan to purchase wine in port to bring home, you'll also want to pack bubble wrap or wine protector bags to get your bottles home safely.
Some lines, such as Holland America and Carnival, also allow you to bring on a limited number of cans of nonalcoholic drinks such as soda, juice or seltzer water. This can cut down on your bar bill or fuel your Diet Coke obsession should your ship carry only Pepsi.
I'm sure I don't need to remind anyone to bring their cell phone on vacation (but remember to pack the charging cables). However, you might not know to download your cruise line's app before you leave home. The app will show you the daily schedule, deck plans, dining reservations, shore excursion options and more. Many apps, like the one from Celebrity Cruises, even allow you to chat with other passengers while you're connected to the cruise ship's internet. (Remember to keep your devices in airplane mode to avoid accruing large at-sea roaming charges.)
You'll want cash, especially small bills, for tipping porters and purchasing small souvenirs in port. Depending on your itinerary, you might want to acquire some foreign currency in advance. Otherwise, you can use an ATM once you arrive in port. (ATMs almost always offer a better exchange rate than airport kiosks.)
Bring a credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees, so you don't spend more than you need to abroad.
What not to pack for a cruise
Now that you know what to put on your cruise packing list, you'll also want to know what to leave out. Some items you might be tempted to pack are outright banned by the cruise lines. Others simply aren't necessary.
Here's what you can leave out of your suitcase.
Linens and towels
Hand soap (unless you're picky)
High chair and portable crib (your ship will provide these)
Coffeemakers and other appliances with heating elements
Weapons
Illegal drugs (including marijuana and CBD products, even if they're legal in your home state or departure port)
Candles
Extension cords
Beverages beyond the modest allotment of wine or nonalcoholic drinks in cans
Meat, cheese, fruit or other non-prepackaged food (check with your cruise line if you have dietary restrictions and require special food items)
Summary
Many cruisers tend to overpack when it comes to clothes and shoes but sometimes forget about other necessities. When you take your suitcase out of the closet and begin packing for your next itinerary, refer to this list and be sure you're covered when it comes to both clothing and those all-important accessories.
Now as promised, here is your very own packing list to download, print out and have handy when you’re packing.
If you’d like to know more info about any of the 30 cruise lines I can offer you deals on, then just reach out to paul@101cruise.com.au
Depending on loads I can secure up to 80% off cruises for people who work in the travel or airline industry (even your family and friends if they want to also go with you).
However, I can also get big discounts for those who work outside the airline and travel industry. So, either way, it must be time to “get your cruise on”.
This is Steve & I pounding the deck doing some laps on Azamara Pursuit. Why do people always walk in an anti-clockwise direction when doing laps on ships?
Info for this article came from thepointsguys.com and different sources on the internet.