The Ultimate Cruise Packing List

Not your average cruise list. This is the stuff that saves space, avoids headaches, and makes your trip feel easy from day one.

Cruises are one of my favorite ways to vacation because once you’re on board, life gets simple. Food’s handled, entertainment’s built in, and you wake up somewhere new without hauling your suitcase around. But packing for a cruise is its own thing. Cabins are smaller than hotel rooms, stores onboard are pricey, and some everyday items are straight up not allowed.

So instead of giving you another basic list of socks and swimsuits, I’m sharing the extras I always bring. These are the things that make cruising smoother, especially if you’re traveling with kids, sharing a cabin, or just want to feel organized.

If you’re headed somewhere specific, you might also like my Alaska cruise packing list or my Mediterranean cruise packing list, because those trips need their own game plan.

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First, a quick cruise packing truth

Cabins are cozy. Even on big ships. There’s usually a small closet, a couple drawers, and maybe a few shelves. So if you pack like you’re going to a resort with a walk in closet, you’ll feel cramped fast.

The goal is simple:

Pack light on basics, smart on helpers.

Space saving items that are worth it

• Shoe bag for bathroom – Hang one on the back of the door and use the pockets for toiletries, hair tools, sunscreen, meds, and random small items. It clears the counter instantly.
• Sweater bag for closet – Perfect for kids’ clothes, pajamas, swim coverups, or anything you want to grab without digging.
• Soft sided luggage – Hard suitcases eat up floor space. Duffels or soft rollers slide under the bed once you unpack.
• Packing cubes – Not fancy, just a simple way to keep outfits grouped. Great for separating shore clothes from ship clothes.
• Collapsible laundry hamper – Dirty clothes pile up fast. A pop up hamper keeps things contained and makes repacking easy.
• Tip: ask your cabin steward for extra hangers – you can hang a ton of stuff up, but there isn’t a lot of room in the drawers – hang your bulkier items and use the drawers for your smaller items.

Smart cruise items you’ll be so glad you packed

None of these are “you must bring this or you’ll cry” items. But they make everything easier.

• Non-surge power strip – Cruise lines ban surge protectors because of fire risk, but a plain power strip is usually fine. Double check your line’s rules, but make sure it does NOT say surge protected. 
• Magnetic hooks – Cabin walls are metal. Stick these up to hang hats, lanyards, bags, or wet swimsuits.
• Lanyard with card holder – Your cruise card is your room key, payment method, and ticket on and off the ship. A lanyard keeps it from vanishing into the bottom of your beach bag.
• Disinfecting wipes or spray – Quick wipe down of high touch spots makes the room feel fresh. 
• Stain remover pen or wipes – Someone always drips salsa on a white shirt. Always.
• Poo Pourri or small bathroom spray – If you’re sharing a cabin, this is a friendship saver.
• Plastic clothespins or towel clips – The wind on deck is no joke. Clips keep towels on loungers and swimsuits on the line.
• Zip top bag – Great for snacks on shore, wet swimsuits, keeping sunscreen contained, or tossing a phone in if you’re headed to a splashy excursion.
• Small soft cooler bag – Nice for grabbing a few drinks or snacks for port days. Many lines allow this as long as it’s empty when you board.
• Especially for tropical ports. You’ll be happy you tossed it in.
• Waterproof phone pouch – Shore days are wet. Even if you don’t plan on swimming, it rains, boats splash, and phones slip.

Carry on must haves for embarkation day

Here’s what I always keep in my carry on because checked bags can show up late.

• Swimsuit – Sometimes luggage arrives after dinner. You will want pool time right away.
• Change of clothes – Even one clean outfit feels great if you’ve traveled all day.
• Meds and basics – Never check prescription meds. Add pain reliever, stomach stuff, allergy meds, and a few bandaids too. 
• Travel documents – Passport or birth certificate, boarding pass, confirmation emails, and travel insurance info.
• Phone charger and portable battery – You’ll use your phone a lot for photos, apps, and schedules.

A few newer cruise rules to know before you pack

• Some items people used to bring are now a problem.
• No surge protectors or extension cords -Even if you brought one before, many lines confiscate them now. Use a non surge strip instead. 
• Be careful with CBD – Even if it’s legal where you live, some lines and ports ban it completely. Guests have been denied boarding for CBD gummies. 
• Skip loud Bluetooth speakers – A lot of lines don’t allow them, and honestly, you don’t need to be that person on the pool deck. 
• Check the cruise line app -Most ships now run daily schedules, dining, messaging, and port info through their app. Download it before you leave home

And there you go, everything I pack to make cruise life feel simple and stress free. If you toss a few of these smart extras into your suitcase, you will save space, skip the overpriced ship shops, and feel settled the second you step into your cabin.

If you have a favorite cruise must have that I did not mention, tell me in the comments. I love stealing, I mean borrowing, good ideas. Have the best trip and enjoy every minute of that floating vacation bubble.