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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.
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.
We always bring a case of water. The cruise lines always provide a lot of tags to check luggage, so we just put one on a case of water.
Hi Starr – that is a great idea! I know when we go off the ship the cruise line charges a crazy amount for bottled water – GREAT addition!!!
I don’t know where your gateway port is but today, you are hard pressed to keep your clothes/luggage within the weight limits when you fly, to use it for A CASE of water, Instead, carry a large cup that can be for hot or cold beverages with own lid and straw attached (one of those collapsible straws is even better), then just fill it as needed. This is also GREAT when visiting parks or going on a tour, especially when combined with a shoulder strap cup holder…even your hands are free,
I’m not a big pop drinker so it never pays for me to buy the unlimited pop card for $40 so I bring along the small individual Crystal light (or whichever brand you prefer) packets and add them to my free glasses of water (or refillable bottle) when I want a change from plain water.
So smart!! Love this!! (and I assume from the “POP” wording you are also a Midwesterner!!
FYI If you do purchase the pop card (My family has bought one to share in the past) make sure you think twice about it. For $40 you get WATERED DOWN pop. I’m not joking. Every different line we’ve been on (4 of them now) has served watered down pop and they treat it like it’s marijuanna that’s just been legalized in Colorado. Everyone is trying to sell you it, but honestly, it’s just not worth it. Unless you are going to die without the pop (In which case I suggest you re evaluate your diet because pop is incredibly terrible for you) go the week or 10 days pop free. at the very least it’ll help you compensate weight wise for the unlimited food buffets š
On HAL ships, you get actual cans of whatever soft drink. They open them in front of you, so you know there is no way they are watered down.
Bring a small collapsible hamper. That way you don’t have to put your dirty clothes in spike on the floor, or back in your suitcase with your clean clothes!
A pile, not spike!
Got it! AND great suggestions!!!
Use a plastic bag instead (helps with the weight) and shower caps are the best to pack your shoes -never dirty your clothes…and put one of your favorite drying sheets inside to control odor).
In my opinion a collapsible hamper takes up valuable floor space. We slide an empty suitcase under the bed, pull it out toss in dirties and shove it back under. You could put a laundry bag in it if you’re worried about dirt or smell.
On the cruise I went on we brought wallflowers from bath and body works to plug into the bathroom and cabin, keeping the room smelling fresh(you could also bring glade plug ins or something similar). I also brought a few flameless candles for mood lighting/night light. When we were just relaxing in the cabin it was fun to light up the candles. I just wrapped mine in tissue paper and put them on top of everything I packed in case someone thought they were real I could quickly show them they were battery operated(since real candles are prohibited). Also, If you are a girly girl type, I would bring a pampering kit if you are not going to opt to pay for the spa. Some items in the kit could be : bubble bath, nail polish, nail polish remover & cotton pads, body scrub, your favorite lotion, a face mask of some sort. Also, there was a gym on my ship. If you are the workout type, don’t forget to bring a few sets of workout attire. Also, if you have them, binoculars are a fun addition because you never know if you will spot a whale, dolphins, or something interesting on the open ocean. There were multiple times on my cruise where families of dolphins would swim alongside the ship. Hopefully these tips add a little bit more fun to your cruise.
Kristen, GREAT suggestions! I love the binoculars! What a terrific idea.
Brought a wallflower on our last cruise and the steward unplugged it and laid it down. Everything the oil touched was ruined! Beware!
our cruise did not allow candles, fire hazard
For laundry – if you can find it – Purex 3-in-1 works great. They look like dryer sheets – but they have detergent in it – you put it in the washer – then in the dryer. They are flat and pack easy. They also have a STRONG smell, so put them in a plastic bag.
ALL of the laundry rooms have an iron & board in them. You can use those for free.
I have taken a Med Cruise. We went to: Rome & Naples, Italy // Mykonos & Athens, Greece // Ephesus & Istanbul, Turkey // Cairo & Alexandria, Egypt. That was in 2009.
Kelley – great suggestions!!! Thank you!
Awesome itinerary, especially when combined with post and pre cruising stays.
I am putting a group together for a mediterranean cruise for 2015, which is going to include a couple of vineyards (wine tasting) and a “cooking” day (lets find out how to do it the “local” way). The time will be around the 4th of July week (my b-day). Anyone interested, send me an email to GJORGE@ESSEXTRAVEL.COM & I will send you the details once all is ironed out…OH, AND anyone that calls in 15 cabins or more CRUISES FREE (yes, I put that in writing, no, you don’t have to hold 15 cabins off the bat although i recommended it since space will be limited, and yes, it is more than what cruise lines do-I also pay for taxes, port charges and passenger fees…it really covers 100% of what everyone in group pays for their cruising portion of package). It will also include free-bees, such as doc pouch, t-shirt and other goodies…that’s how I roll!!! & yes, this is the first time I use so else’s post (sorry, delete if you want, I am just too excited) – the agency’s only advertisement has been client-word-of-mouth since the 1940s.
I, too, love to take the Purex 3 sheets when we travel. When I realized I couldn’t get them at the store anymore I ordered some from Amazon, and use them just for travel!
Another easy tip, take a small empty spray bottle, just fill it with water and lightly spray your clothes on hangars before you go to bed….they’ll be almost wrinkle-free the next morning. Downy spray is good, but plain water works almost as good.
Many ships Do Not have public laundry rooms. Check with the cruise line you will be sailing on before you pack to confirm.
We went on an Alaskan cruise and I REALLY wish I had packed a bottle of Downy Wrinkle Release. Royal Caribean doesn’t allow irons in rooms and sending clothes out is expensive- plus, with so many photo ops, you want to look as unrumpled as possible!
Great idea! Thanks Danielle.
All cruise lines have laundry rooms fully equipped…including iron and ironing board. However and for the most part, you can do a lot just by hanging the frumpy clothes in the bathroom and steam it up for about 15min or so on the day you are going to use it…do it after lunch and leave it in the bathroom with door closed while you enjoy the day.
ROYAL CARIBEANfor one don’t.
Not true. Easy ship is different. Check the amenities.
We are going on a cruise for my mom’s birthday this summer! Super excited and thankful for your tips. None of us have ever been on a cruise so things like this are perfect for us novice cruisers. Have you ever been on a Mediterranean cruise? Check out our blog when you get a chance, you are a huge inspiration to us š
Fivetimesfun.blogspot.com
xo,
P&T
Awwww…. thanks!!! Haven’t done the Mediterranean Cruise yet, but me and the hubby are thinking about it for next year! I will check out your blog for sure!!! Thanks for reading!
If you are going on a Disney cruise I have been on three of them. I always take formal wear for each night since they have photographers at least three stations every night. We always had a different outfit and bought the package for the photos and have all different kinds and different outfits. Also it is fun dressing up every night.
On most ships the walls in the cabins are metal — you can bring magnets and hang paperwork, photos of family, etc.
Plastic clothes pins – put them at the bottom of your shower curtain to keep it from “blowing” out of the shower.
In Case of Emergency contacts. Keep a copy in your cabin.
If you like to send postcards – bring pre-printed address labels. Saves time when writing out your postcards
Don’t forget your spare batteries for camera and/or phone. Chargers. If you are traveling out of the USA – a power adaptor.
GREAT suggestions, Kelley!!!!
Again always recommended…keep copies of your docs (passport, visas, insurance cards, green card and/or citizenship paper, as well as the list of credit cards you are taking with phone and last 4 digits of card only in separate bag(s). I like to have a couple of copies and put it inside the lining of a couple of pieces (like a carry-on and a dispatched piece). Trust me, you wouldn’t believe how awesome that is when you loose or have your wallet/document bag/purse suddenly “grow legs.”
This is a good suggestion any time you leave the country, not just for cruising. It’s also good to leave a copy of your important papers with someone at home, and you can either scan and email a copy to yourself or take a photo with your cell phone so you can access it from anywhere.
pack your swim suit in your carry on. you can’t usually get your luggage right away so this way you can change and enjoy the pool while you wait to sail off!
Excellent point – that is one we always do and I totally forgot!!! Good Call Sandy!!
Absolutely correct, I ALWAYSB recommend my clients to pack a swim suit and a light change of clothes. This is also great during those hair-raising times when your luggage is misplaced by the airlines. Whatever happens, you are covered while it catches up to you…and regardless of what happens, never let that ruin your vacation. Istead, challenge yourself and family to have an enjoyable adventure especially if due to an unexpected misfortune, and make it good…you’ll remember it forever!
Great ideas. Thanks. Makes me want to go on a cruise!
Me too!!
If you have a baby you must bring one of those inflatable duck tubs. The shower situation is no good for babies.
Great idea!!