You’ve chosen a date. You’ve chosen a cruise line. You’ve chosen a ship. You’ve chosen an itinerary. Now, what do you pack? You will need clothes for the ship, clothes for planned excursions, clothes for the Main Dining Room (MDR), clothes for formal night in the MDR, swimsuits, medicine, toiletries, what am I forgetting?
Packing for a cruise can be challenging. You will need all the necessary items, but the reality is that ship cabins are relatively compact, so you will need to decide which items are a must-have, which items will make navigating the cabin easier, and which items are not important.
The first items you MUST pack are your travel documents. You absolutely have to have those. You will need your boarding passes and a valid form of identification. To avoid complications, a valid passport is the preferred form of identification; however, if you are traveling a closed-loop itinerary, you can usually use your birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID. Two pieces of advice: 1) check with your cruise line if a passport is required, and 2) pack these items in your carry-on bag, never in your checked luggage.
Let’s talk about your carry-on bag for just a minute. When you first board the ship, you will be left to your own devices for several hours, meaning you will not have access to your cabin or your checked luggage. Make sure your carry-on bag is basically packed like a one-day survival kit–travel documents, medication, swimsuit, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a change of clothes. Having these essentials in your carry-on bag will ensure you can immediately begin enjoying your cruise while waiting for your cabin to be available.
This brings us to the next item you MUST pack–necessary personal care and health items. If you have any medicines you take daily, please pack them in your carry-on. You are permitted to have your medication in a medicine organizer, making this easy if your cruise is 7 days or less. You may need to take the bottles if taking a longer cruise, but personally, I would purchase another organizer. Regardless, pack your medication. Also, a small first aid kit/medicine kit is a good idea. Things like pain relievers, motion sickness remedies, something for stomach troubles, etc. Do not forget your reef-safe sunscreen and SPF lip protection. If the sun is especially unkind to you, take a hat! The ocean glare and tropical sun are not the same as your normal sunshine at home. The ship will have these things that are mentioned, but they are priced for the captive audience you are.
Clothes. You MUST pack clothes. The question becomes, how much does one need? The answer I would offer is less than you think. Cruisers, especially rookie cruisers, tend to overpack. Think about the climate to which you are traveling and pack accordingly. Find some clothing you can mix and match. You will want more than one swimsuit so they can dry in between wearings. Think about what is permitted or not permitted in the MDR, especially on a formal night. Pack comfortable shoes for days you’re off the ship, and appropriate shoes for the pool deck. Lastly, a light jacket may be necessary on those evenings after the sun goes down.
These next items fall in the good idea to pack category. Cabins are pretty compact, and space is limited, so here are some space-saving items you might want to bring along. The walls and ceilings of the ship’s cabins are usually made of metal, making them magnetic. Pack some heavy-duty magnet hooks for wet swimsuits, jackets, hats, lanyards, bags, and more. This will free up some closet and desk space. Pack a pop-up mesh hamper to keep your dirty laundry in one spot in the corner and off the cabin floor or near your other clothing. Hanging toiletry bags and over-the-door shoe organizers are a great way to organize items and free up space as well.
Ships are known for not having enough outlets, so packing a non-surge-protected power strip or a multi-port USB block will ensure everyone can charge all the electronics at the same time. Cruise lines are getting better about outfitting staterooms with more outlets, but until you know, you will want to take these items.
It is a good idea to pack some items for your shore days and excursions. Pack an insulated, reusable water bottle for hydration. Pack a small backpack to carry your wallet, your sunscreen, and a towel if needed. If you are planning to participate in water activities, pack a waterproof phone pouch with a lanyard.
Lastly, you MUST bring some cash in small denominations. While you can not use cash on the ship, you will want cash if you decide to tip the crew on top of your prepaid gratuities (this is always a good idea). You will want cash on your shore days, as some island vendors only take cash, and you do not want to miss out on that souvenir of a lifetime.
When packing, keep in mind your destination, how many days you will be onboard the ship, the activities you plan to attend onboard, and the excursions you want to take, then pack accordingly. If you are a new cruiser, pay attention to the things you could have left at home for the next time you pack. And, as always, check with your cruise line for anything that may not be allowed.