26 Things to Pack for a Cruise: Plus Printable Packing List for Cruise Vacations

While on a recent cruise, I started putting together a packing list for cruise vacations.  These are things that are always in our suitcase when cruising or things that I forgot to pack and kicked myself about later. Even if you’re a veteran cruiser, you may find a few of these tips useful.

We also put together a handy printable packing list for cruise vacations.  Click here to download the editable form and start personalizing it for your cruising needs.

Packing List for Cruise Vacations:

1. Clutch purse or wristlet – Not all of my outfits have pockets, so I now aways carry a wristlet when cruising.  It’s the perfect size for my Sea Pass, cellphone and lipstick.  I use my phone as a camera, so it’s always with me around the ship.

2. Lanyard – A must for kids to keep them from losing their Sea Cards and also frequently used by adults. Make sure to order one with a card sleeve as some ships will no longer punch a hole in your seapass.

3. Tea Lights – These are great to put in the bathroom as a nightlight for little ones.  It can be dark in the stateroom, especially in an interior cabin. These can be purchased from Dollar Stores. Another great alternative is motion sensor LED night lights.

4. Reusable Water Bottle – Perfect to fill up on the ship and carry around with you while exploring the port.

5. Plastic Clothes Pins – Keep bathing suits on the line, to weigh down a clingy plastic shower curtain or keep the drapes closed during an afternoon nap.  Another option for the shower curtain is binder clips.

6. Towel Clips – Great for keeping those towels on the chairs on windy days. Also great for kids to remember which seats are theirs. You could also bring towel bands if you prefer to save on space.

Get out Free printable cruise planner as well!!

7. Magnetic Clips – Ships are made of metal, so you can use these to hang up documents such as your Daily Planners and notes to family members. These are also great to hang up decorations if you’re celebrating a special event while onboard.  If you have objects that you may want to hang, magnetic hooks are great to hang bags, jackets, lanyards, hats and more.

8. Over the door organizer – Keep everything organized in individual pouches. Have a spot for sunscreen, hats, medications, baby needs and more. Some people use these to keep their kids clothing organized. They also sell shorter versions that can be great for the bathroom. Use your magnetic hooks to hang these on any stateroom wall or in the bathroom. It doesn’t need to hang over the door if using the hooks.

9. Highlighters – Bring a separate color for each family member to mark the activities they want to do as well as highlight other important information in the Daily Planner. This is great if you have young kids as older ones will likely use the app. Most cruise lines are going green, so you will need to request a paper copy of the daily cruise planner.

10. Travel Clock – Staterooms don’t have clocks.  If you don’t want to use the alarm on your cellphone or rely on wake up calls, bring a travel clock.  This can also help add a bit of light to a dark inside cabin.  You’ll also want to ensure you have a watch for port days. You don’t want to risk missing the ship!

11. Wrinkle Releaser – You won’t find ironing boards in your stateroom (pressing services are offered for a fee). Hang your garment on a coat hanger and spray with wrinkle releaser then put the item in a steamy bathroom.  Your garment should look like it was just ironed. Please remember it is prohibited to bring irons or steamers onboard.

The exception to this is Viking Cruise line.  They have laundry rooms with irons on the ship available (and free) for passenger use. You’ll also find payable self-service laundry rooms on Disney Cruise Line.

12. Shout Wipes – Bring Shout Wipes or another stain treater to help eliminate stains on clothing.  You don’t want the stain to set for a week before it gets washed.  I always carry these in my purse as well – kids can be messy!

Some cruisers also like to pack laundry detergent to wash clothes in the stateroom sink.

13. Adaptors – Many cruise lines have various outlet configurations.  The Norwegian Spirit had a US, European and UK outlet, for example. Maximize your charging space by being prepared. Consider a universal adaptor which is a block, a world travel adaptor and only pack the outlet changes you need or this European travel adaptor to add more changing space for devices.

I also like to have an outlet extender and a 4-port adaptor as well as. Please note that cruise lines don’t allow power strips nor can you have adaptors with converters.

**Royal Caribbean updated its prohibited items policy on September 16, 2024:  “Extension Cords and Multi-Plug Outlets/ Power Strips” are not allowed. This is true even if it’s advertised online as a device for cruising. I recently purchased these charging blocks for charging multiple devices as they don’t have an extension cord nor an outlet. Single plug outlet adaptors are permitted. Items not adhering to the policy will be confiscated and returned at the end of the cruise.

14. White Board – Bring a small white board and dry-erase markers to put on your stateroom door.  You can write messages to other people in your cruising party about your location or where and when to meet-up. Some people like to use these on their stateroom doors to write games such as “pick your favorite X” for other cruisers to participate as they walk past.

15. Post-It Notes – I was so mad that I forgot my post-its on the last cruise! These can be used for leaving notes and are also great for covering up pesky lights on the A/C or TV. Does anyone else find those little blue or green lights maddening?

16. Hanging Toiletry Bag – A hanging toiletries bag is now a must for all my travels.  On a cruise they are especially great where counter space can be limited. It will keep you organized and save space.

17. Sunscreen – Purchasing sunscreen on the ship will easily cost double the price as on land.  Save yourself the money and pack your own. If you forget, try to find a store in port.  Sunscreen always gets packed in my embarkation day carry-on bag along with swimsuits and flipflops, so the kids can enjoy the pool right away. Consider Reef safe sunscreen if you’ll be visiting an island.

You’ll also want to double check all your other personal care items. Products such as shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and shaving gel are expensive onboard.  While most cruise lines offer shampoo and shower gel in the stateroom, I find the shampoo quality to be suspect. Some ships even have a combo shampoo and body wash. My hair really doesn’t like that!

I’d also suggest packing moisturizer and chapstick (even better if it has SPF) as I find my skin dries out quickly when cruising.

18. Travel corkscrew – Depending on the cruise line you’re sailing with, you may be able to bring your own wine onboard.  Pack a small corkscrew to avoid a corkage fee.

19. Underwater Camera – If you’re planning a snorkeling or beach trip, having a disposable underwater camera is great for kids. We now have a waterproof GoPro, but used to buy disposable cameras all the time. I know these are “old school” but can be fun for kids.

20. Waterproof phone pouches – Another great buy if you’re planning excursions around the water is to have something to keep your phone and money dry during your adventures.

21. Laundry Bag or pop-up hamper – I always carry a laundry bag when traveling. As soon as we get our luggage on the ship, I unpack then slide the suitcases under the bed. Dirty clothes get put into the laundry bag (which we keep in the closet).  Every couple of days, I’ll dump the dirty clothes into a suitcase.

A lot of cruisers swear by pop-up hampers.  These fold down in your suitcase, so take up minimal space. Regardless of the method you choose, it’s great to have a spot for everyone to dump dirty laundry and keep it out of the way.  Staterooms are small and keeping things neat will save your sanity.

22. I also suggest tying brightly colored ribbons to your suitcases.  This will make finding your luggage when you disembark a lot faster. Have you seen how many black and dark blue suitcases there are?! It’s also great for spotting your suitcases in the airport as they move around the belt.  Your luggage should also have tags with your name and information just in case the ships luggage tag gets ripped off.

23. You may also want plastic cruise luggage tags to keep the paper from tearing while in transit. Put these on after your flight. Don’t forget about flight carry-on luggage when printing your cruise luggage tags before you leave home. You can check backpacks and other small bags with the porter in addition to your suitcase. I didn’t use these for years, but finally broke down a couple years ago. I should have purchased them sooner! If sailing with Virgin Voyages, you don’t need this as they provide luggage tags at the port.

Remember that you’ll want to keep a bag with medication, documents, valuables and anything you want at the start of your cruise such as bathing suits and sunscreen. You’ll also need to carry on any beverages that are allowed by your cruise line. You may not see your luggage until after dinner, so keep that in mind when packing the bag you’ll carry onto the cruise ship yourself.

Some people prefer to carry all their luggage onboard and not leave it with the porter. You must ensure that it is small, airline carry-on size as it needs to fit though the x-ray machine.

24. Over the counter medications – It’s always advisable to bring OTC medications when cruising. These can be expensive if you have to purchase while onboard. I always pack Tylenol and ibuprofen, Pepto, Tums, Imodium and a basic first aid kit. You should also consider bringing Dramamine or Meclizine and sea bands if you’re prone to seasickness.

25. Pack appropriate clothing for activities and events – If cruising on a ship with a rock climbing wall or zipline, ensure you have tennis shoes. These are required to climb or fly. If there is an ice skating rink, you’ll need socks and long pants. Some cruises also have theme nights, so take a look at what’s happening onboard if you want to participate.

Make sure to print our packing list for cruise vacations.  It’s editable, so you can adjust the list to suit your needs.  Simply download the PDF and edit the the items YOU need to pack for a cruise. I’ve given you a guide and the pretty form, now you can personalize the list.

26. Door decorations – Many cruisers enjoy decorating their stateroom doors. You can decorate for special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries or simply to help locate your stateroom a little easier. There are a ton of cruise door decoration options, just ensure you ONLY bring magnet decorations.

*Please note that NCL’s official policy is no door decorations.

Regardless of the itinerary, there are some things that you’ll want to take on every cruise.  I know how easy it is to forget the little things. That’s why we put together this handy packing list for cruise vacations. If you have other must-pack items, please share them in the comments.

I don’t personally use all these items. Some I used when my kids were younger and some items I would only use if cruising in a stateroom that I know has limited space. Take a look at the list and see what items work for YOU.

If you’re headed out on an Alaskan cruise, I have a separate article What to Wear on an Alaska Cruise plus a Printable Packing List

Looking for more cruise content?

• Disney
• MSC
• NCL
• Royal Caribbean
• Virgin Voyages
• General cruise tips and tricks
• Free Printable Cruise Planner
• Cruising Do’s & Don’ts – Essential Tips for a Great First Cruise
• 5 Tips for Selecting Cruise Shore Excursions
• What to Wear on an Alaska Cruise: Printable Packing List