The things first-time cruisers most often forget are not clothes. They are a small carry-on for embarkation day, magnetic hooks for the metal cabin walls, a power strip without surge protection, a lanyard for the cruise card, motion-sickness remedies, a dry bag for shore excursions and small bills for tips. Pack those, plus your documents in hand luggage, and the rest of the list is ordinary vacation packing.
Cruise cabins are small, outlets are scarce and you cannot run to a store at sea. That is what shapes the list below.
What should you pack in your embarkation-day bag?
On boarding day you hand your big suitcases to porters at the terminal, and they can take several hours to reach your cabin. Sometimes they arrive after dinner. Whatever you need between check-in and the evening has to be in a bag you carry yourself.
- Passport or other required ID, cruise documents and boarding pass
- Credit card registered for onboard spending
- All prescription medication, in original packaging
- Swimsuit, sunscreen and sunglasses (the pool is open on day one)
- A change of clothes for dinner
- Phone, charger and power bank
- Glasses, contact lenses and solution
- Any valuables, jewelry and electronics
- A refillable water bottle
Treat your checked luggage as if it might be late. It almost never goes missing, but it does go slowly. Never put medication, documents or anything breakable in the bags you hand over.
Which documents do you need for a cruise?
Keep all of these in your hand luggage, and keep a photo of each on your phone and in your email.
- Passport (check it is valid well beyond your return date)
- Any visas or travel authorizations for the countries you visit
- Cruise boarding pass and luggage tags, printed or in the app
- Flight and hotel confirmations if you are traveling before or after
- Travel insurance policy number and emergency phone line
- Shore excursion tickets you booked independently
- Credit and debit cards, plus a backup card stored separately
Each port may have its own entry rules, and they are not always the same as for your embarkation country. If your itinerary includes several countries, our international travel checklist covers passport validity and visas in more detail.
The cabin items first-timers forget
These are the small, cheap items that seasoned cruisers pack every time. None of them is glamorous. All of them make a compact cabin easier to live in.
Magnetic hooks
Cabin walls and ceilings on many ships are steel, so a few strong magnetic hooks give you places to hang hats, bags, lanyards, damp swimsuits and tomorrow's outfit. Wardrobe space is limited and drawer space even more so. Five or six hooks cover most cabins. Test the walls when you arrive; a few cabins use other materials in places.
A power strip without surge protection
Most cabins have only one or two usable outlets, often near the desk mirror. Phones, watches, cameras and a power bank compete for them. A small power strip or USB charging hub solves it, but most cruise lines ban surge protectors because they can interfere with the ship's electrical system and pose a fire risk. Security may confiscate one at boarding. Look for a strip clearly labeled as having no surge protection, or a multi-port USB charger, and check your line's prohibited items list before you buy.
Also check the outlet type. Many ships have both North American and European sockets, but not every cabin has both, so a small plug adapter is cheap insurance.
A lanyard or card holder
Your cruise card (or wearable) is your room key, your ID for getting on and off the ship and your onboard wallet. You will reach for it dozens of times a day. A lanyard or a phone case with a card slot stops it disappearing into a beach bag. Some lines hand them out; many do not.
The rest of the cabin kit
- Over-door shoe organizer for toiletries, sunscreen and small items
- Night light (inside cabins are completely dark with the lights off)
- Small travel alarm or a phone you can keep charged
- Highlighter for the daily activity schedule
- Wrinkle-release spray, since irons are usually banned
- Reusable water bottle and a travel mug
- Small first-aid kit with bandages and pain relief
- Laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate
Make your own cruise packing list →
What is not allowed on a cruise ship?
Every line publishes its own list and they differ, so read yours. But the same categories turn up on almost all of them:
- Surge protectors and extension cords with surge protection.
- Clothes irons and steamers. Use wrinkle-release spray or the ship's laundry service.
- Candles, incense and anything with an open flame.
- Hot plates, kettles and coffee makers with heating elements.
- Weapons of any kind, including many knives and multi-tools.
- Drones are restricted or banned on many ships.
- Alcohol above whatever allowance your line gives, if any.
Confiscated items are usually held until the end of the cruise or simply removed. It is easier to leave them at home.
How do you deal with seasickness on a cruise?
Modern ships have stabilizers and many people never feel a thing. But it is impossible to know in advance whether you will be one of them, and rough sea days happen on almost every route. Pack a plan before you need it.
- Over-the-counter tablets. Some types cause drowsiness and some cause less; a pharmacist can help you choose. They work best taken before symptoms start.
- Acupressure wristbands. Drug-free, cheap and worth having in the bag.
- Ginger sweets, chews or tea, which many travelers find helpful.
- Prescription options such as patches. Talk to your doctor before the trip, not after the first rough night.
Practical habits help too. Choose a cabin low and near the middle of the ship if you are worried, get fresh air on deck, look at the horizon and avoid reading on a moving screen. The ship's medical center and guest services often have remedies, but at sea prices.
What to wear on formal night
Many cruises have one or two dress-up evenings, often called formal, elegant or "chic" nights. Expectations vary a lot by line, and some have dropped formal nights altogether. Check your line's dress code, then pack for the middle of the range:
- For men: a dark suit or a blazer with dress pants and a collared shirt. A tie is optional on many ships. A tuxedo is welcome but rarely required.
- For women: a cocktail dress, a dressy jumpsuit or smart separates. Floor-length gowns are fine but not expected on most mainstream cruises.
- Shoes: one pair of dress shoes that you can actually walk in. Ships are long and decks can tilt.
One outfit is enough for a week-long cruise with two formal nights if you change the accessories. Pack it in a garment folder and hang it in the bathroom while you shower on arrival; the steam takes out most creases.
For the other nights, smart casual covers almost every dining room: chinos or nice jeans, a collared shirt or blouse, a sundress. Beachwear and tank tops usually belong at the buffet and pool, not the main restaurant.
What goes in a shore-excursion day bag?
Port days are where cruisers most often get caught out: hot sun, a long walk, a tender boat ride and a strict all-aboard time. Pack a small daypack or crossbody bag with the following:
- Cruise card (you cannot reboard without it)
- Photo ID, and a copy of your passport photo page
- Small bills in local currency or US dollars
- Phone with the ship's all-aboard time and port agent number saved
- Reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
- Refillable water bottle
- Waterproof dry bag or phone pouch for boat and beach trips
- Water shoes for rocky beaches and snorkeling
- Light rain jacket or cover-up
- Motion-sickness tablets for tender boats and catamarans
Set your watch and phone to ship time, not local time. They do not always match, and the ship leaves on its own clock. If a beach day is on the itinerary, our beach packing list covers the rest.
How much cash should you bring for tips?
Most lines add a daily service charge or gratuity to your onboard account, which covers cabin stewards and dining staff. Cash is still useful for:
- Porters at the terminal on embarkation and disembarkation days.
- Tour guides and drivers on shore excursions.
- Extra thanks to a steward or server who went beyond the norm.
- Taxis, markets and small vendors in port, many of which take cash only.
Bring a stack of small bills. Change is hard to come by on board, and the ship's guest services may or may not exchange money. If you visit several countries, check whether US dollars or euros are widely accepted in each port before you rely on them.
Your cruise packing checklist
Clothes are the easy part. Plan an outfit per day with a few swaps, add swimwear and one formal outfit, then focus on the items below.
- Embarkation-day carry-on with documents, medication and a swimsuit
- Passport and photocopies
- Magnetic hooks
- Non-surge-protector power strip or USB hub
- Plug adapter if sailing internationally
- Lanyard or card holder
- Seasickness remedies
- Formal night outfit and dress shoes
- Shore-day bag with dry pouch and water shoes
- Small bills for tips and ports
- Reusable water bottle
- Wrinkle-release spray
To get a version tuned to your sailing length, climate and activities, try the packing list generator. It takes a minute and you can print or share the result with everyone in your cabin.