Ultimate Cruise Packing Tips for First-Timers

what to bring on a cruise ship

These are hydration multipliers that you can add to water to boost your electrolytes. If you’re cruising with multiple people in your stateroom, you will likely want more available plugins in your cabin. While newer ships are starting to incorporate more outlets in each cabin, older ships are still limited to just one or two outlets. There are a few different cosmetic bags that I travel with, but I absolutely always cruise with my hanging toiletry bag.

Motion Sickness Medication

You won’t need cash to pay cruise ship tips or gratuities, as this can be charged to your credit card during your cruise. For your convenience, you can even prepay gratuities before your cruise if you like. You’ll be able to fill your coffee mug at the cruise ship buffet or cafe, and enjoy a big cup at any time of day. A cruise packing hack that’s an alternative to a shoe bag is using a plastic shower cap to cover the bottom of the shoe.

Bring: Embarkation Day Bag

what to bring on a cruise ship

A pack of travel-sized antibacterial wipes is always a good idea to help wipe down germ-prone surfaces as needed. Evenings on Celebrity’s ships reflect the ambiance of Relaxed Luxury. Cruisers traveling in a group should consider planning matching outfits, 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. 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. Packing for a cruise can be complicated, especially for first-timers who aren't 100% sure what to expect.

Sunglasses

I use the same list for every cruise but add to or subtract from it based on the destination. I start tweaking my list weeks before the cruise so I know exactly what I need when it's time to pack. For Caribbean cruises, a big beach bag or good size backpack is essential to pack towels, sunscreen and everything you need for cruise shore excursions.

Reusable Water Bottle

Of course, any of the other items you’ll need for the day like diapers, wipes and a change of clothes should be packed in your embarkation day bag as well. Would you like to join my email list and keep up with all things “Life Well Cruised”? Please fill in your email address below and you’ll also receive a free printable cruise packing list. If your vacation goals are to relax, catch some rays and sip tropical drinks poolside for the next week or more, then have those pool items ready to go once you're on board. Most every cruise line has specific rules in place when it comes to their alcohol policy. Similarly, some cruise lines will store any alcohol purchased in port until the end of your cruise.

This includes all the clothes and other essentials I need for my cruise, as well as the specific items I’ll need for my carry on cruise bag. Who knew something as simple as a resealable plastic bag could be a cruiser’s best friend? These handy items take up little space in your suitcase, and they keep your smartphone, wallet and other items safe and dry on water-related shore excursions. When you’re ready to pack for your trip home, use them to store wet toothbrushes or bathing suits. To be fair, most ships do offer a sundries shop and a few boutiques, but there isn’t a wide selection, and the hours are quite limited.

Hard sided luggage with spinner wheels will also make it so much easier to travel before and after your cruise. Be sure to have your cruise documents ready for embarkation day as you board your cruise. I also recommend bringing a travel-sized air freshener for the bathroom – there isn’t a lot of ventilation and you can’t simply open the window like you would at home. You might also want to bring along a sun hat or a visor, especially for children who will spend all day in the sun!

Packing hacks for your cruise cabin

You might also want a small bottle of perfume or cologne, too. Hair can sometimes require extra taming when coming in from a day at the beach or a windy sea day up on deck. Be prepared with all the hairstyling products, accessories, and tools you need, as well as a brush/comb, too. While your stateroom will come stocked with premium bath amenities, you might want to bring travel-sized bottles of your preferred products, too. Apart from clothing, shoes, and accessories, you’ll want your stateroom bathroom and vanity well-stocked with all of your favorite personal hygiene products from home.

What clothing, shoes, and accessories do I need to pack for a cruise?

A portable charger is also great for long days spent in port exploring or on an excursion. You won’t want your phone battery to die, so having a portable charger is a must. I didn’t understand the hype around packing cubes until I tried them for myself last year. Now, I am the biggest fan of these little packing cubes and literally never travel without them. While we’ve covered a number of things to pack for your cruise, there are some other miscellaneous items that are a good idea to bring.

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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. Some cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, have a relaxed attitude toward dinner attire, and you can come as you are.

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For ladies an evening gown, cocktail dress and “little black dress” are all appropriate. If this happens, if your luggage is lost or misplaced at an airport, it can be forwarded to your destination by the airline.

Having a traditional rolling bag gets caught up in your feet and takes up a lot of space when dragging it behind you. A 4-wheeled suitcase like this one can be right at your side and is also much easier to navigate down narrow cruise ship hallways. From breakfast through the afternoon, you don't need to stress about your outfits. If you're cruising in tropical regions, pack one pair of shorts for every two days of your cruise (in cold regions, switch shorts for pants or jeans).

It's one more thing to have to carry on board, but you don't want your investment to get damaged or lost before you start your vacation. Once you arrive, you might need to charge one or all of your devices, so keep the chargers and their cords in an organizer or pouch in your carry-on bag. A portable phone charger is also a great idea to bring on vacation, especially if you'll be using your smartphone as your camera during your cruise. Holland America permits a limited amount of drinking water in cans or cartons, but no soda or energy drinks.

I prefer to use a beach bag or some sort of canvas tote around the ship. A small backpack also works great if you are going ashore as well. Similar to my travel-sized sunscreen, I always travel with an SPF moisturizer.

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