How To Pack For a Cruise

Cruising season is upon us! Cruising is for sure my favorite way to travel, I feel like it's the most relaxing vacation you can take. However, I always have a little bit of panic leading up to the cruise because I don't want to forget anything! Once you're on board it may be hard to find any items you forgot, or way more expensive if you do find them. 

So, here is a list of MUST have items for any cruise - including a few unconventional items you may not have thought about! 

• Clothing:
  • Casual clothing for daywear: shorts, t-shirts, jeans, sundresses, casual tops and slacks
  • Formal or evening wear: cocktail dresses, dress slacks, dress shirts, jumpsuits and pantsuits (not all cruises require FORMAL evening wear, but you'll likely still want a fresh outfit for the evening)
  • Swimwear: swimsuits, cover-ups, beach towels, sunglasses, sunscreen, hats
  • Outerwear: a light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings, a raincoat or umbrella for rainy days
  • Theme outfits if your cruise has themed events
• Shoes:
  • Comfortable walking shoes for exploring the ship and ports of call
  • Dress shoes for formal nights
  • Flip-flops or sandals for the beach
• Toiletries:
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, makeup, hairbrush, razor, shaving cream, contact lens solution, glasses case, prescriptions - they'll have shampoo, conditioner, and body wash or soap in your room so you can skip those unless you need something specific
• "Other" items:
  • Passport, travel insurance, cruise documents, cash, credit cards, camera, phone charger
• The items you didn't think - I've linked some of my favorites:
  • Towel anchors - clips or bands, it's easy to lose a towel on a windy day
  • Magnetic Hooks of clamps - for hanging damp towels/clothes, holding your lanyard or purse, it's a great way to keep things up off the floor amzn.to/3GDZsuP
  • A snorkel/fin set (buying it once off Amazon is cheaper than a rental) amzn.to/3ms4SlG
  • A Beach Bag amzn.to/3KuoZaR
  • Anti-wrinkle spray amzn.to/3KAFum6
  • Non-surge protected Cruise compliant power bar (many cruise ships are lacking on the electric/USB outlets) amzn.to/3GB6jW1
  • An insulated mug or tumbler
  • A med bag with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, stomach meds, seasickness meds, etc. Most are available on board but at a substantial markup
  • Ziploc bags - great for a waterproof bag in a pinch, great for those wet/sandy clothes til you can deal with them
  • A foldable duffle or backpack to store souvenirs amzn.to/3GzrLL8
  • A travel fan or white noise machine if that's something you require for sleep amzn.to/3GA8jxs
  • External battery pack for phone/device charging
  • Bathroom Spray - you'll thank me later! amzn.to/41291fs

If you plan to drop your luggage with the porter, it's a good idea to pack a small bag with a change of clothes, toiletries, and any essentials in case it takes them a bit to get your luggage to your room or your luggage is lost. 

Some other things to consider as you're packing for your cruise:​ 

• Roll your clothes or use packing cubes. This will save space in your suitcase.
• Pack layers. This will allow you to adjust your clothing to the changing weather conditions.

Remember, this is the hardest part of your trip. You're about to be relaxing and having fun in the sun!