Cruise Packing List For Your Next Voyage: Cruising In Comfort

When going on a cruise, you must prepare many items for the entire holiday. This will require a lot of planning and consideration. That being said, you can always make things a lot easier by using our cruise packing list instead.

Here, we provide a complete list of all essential items you should and should not bring, including clothing, toiletries, and electronics, among other things. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cruise traveller, the list will be handy. Always use it to plan and pack your items most efficiently.

Clothing

A cruise holiday calls for at least several set of clothes for swimming, formal nights, and leisurely activities. Ths, you need to be fflexbile with deciding what shoes, clothes, and accessories to pack for a cruise trip.  

Swimwear

When travelling by sea, bathing suits and other swimwear are always necessary, especially for beaches and pool days. Always look for ones that fit you well and are comfortable to wear.

For men, the options are pretty straightforward. Shorts or swim trunks are always the right choices. But for women, consider one-piece or two-piece styles, depending on your own personal styles.

Since you’ll be using them a lot, we highly recommend bringing at least two so you don't have to wait for your only swimsuit to dry. And, of course, if you're planning on doing certain water activities, like snorkelling or scuba diving, then proprietary clothes are required.

Exploring the underwater world is a must-do on any cruise. Pack your own snorkel and mask so you can dive into the crystal-clear waters and discover a whole new world beneath the waves. A rash guard will help to protect you from the sun and potential cuts while playing at the beach.

On the other hand, a wetsuit is great for keeping warm when diving. Depending on the water temperature, you can consider different wetsuits with various thickness levels. These clothes will help you immerse in these activities worry-free and comfortably.

Casual Clothes

For daily activities, you’ll need to pack a few casual clothes. Depending on the number of days you’ll spend on the ship, your list of outfits might change. But we always recommend bringing enough clothes to change daily while keeping a spare. 

For men, simple shorts, T-shirts, or polo shirts paired with shorts, trunks, or khakis pants are enough to keep you comfortable during the day. During most cruises, your regular swimwear is also a viable option at the poolside lounge. If the weather gets colder where you're going, a simple jacket or sweater should do the job.

For women, sundresses, skirts, shorts, and other casual outfits are perfectly viable during the day. Again, if you plan to stay at the poolside, wearing your swimwear is also a good idea.

Formal Clothes

During dinners and parties, most cruises require their passengers to dress up a little bit for the occasion.

For men, this means that you'll need at least a dark suit or a tuxedo with matching dress pants. Make sure that the clothes fit you well so that you can be most comfortable during the entire activity. On the other hand, if you don't wish to carry your clothes, certain cruise lines will offer formal outfits that you can easily rent.

For the ladies, party dresses, together with other formal clothes, can make you the centre of the event. Always pick something that goes well with the theme and will allow you to stand out. Plus, don't forget to pick the right shoes, along with matching jewellery, that can complement your dresses.

Footwear

Speaking of which, for formal dinners and parties, you’ll need matching dress shoes for the gentlemen and high heels for the ladies. Always make sure that you can wear them comfortably while staying flexible.

Like casual clothes, everyday footwear like sandals and flip-flops are great for a simple walk around the deck or ports where your ships are stopping at. You can opt for sneakers and sports shoes if you plan on doing rock climbing or playing sports onboard.

For certain water activities, including snorkelling, kayaking, or even sea bathing, a pair of water shoes will protect you from sharp objects in the ocean.

Accessories

Finally, you’ll need the right accessories to complement your outfits and keep you comfortable during the entire experience.

Start by bringing sunglasses so you can protect your eyes from intense sun lights. Make sure to look for ones with certificated UV protections while also looking good on your face.

A hat is also great for protecting your head and neck from the sun. Always bring a few of your favourites to wear them on hot days.

In addition, for women, cover-ups are always recommended, thanks to their versatility. Feel free to use them as your pool dresses, beachwear, or daily outfits with absolute comfort.

If you're having trouble packing your long list of clothes, then packing cubes can come in handy. They’ll make organising and finding items from your bags a lot easier.

Toiletries

Here come the essential part of any packing list. Your suits will likely provide you with toiletries and shampoo, even body lotion, too. But you can’t always tell if your body or your hair will like (or even irritated by) it. So. packing your favourites toiletries is a smart move.

Personal hygiene

Most cruises will offer their own basic toiletries for passengers to use. However, if you want more than just the basic options, then you’ll need to bring your own.

Firstly, your own toothbrush and toothpaste will allow you to clean your teeth safely and comfortably. The cruise lines' products can sometimes be a little rough.

Having your favourite shampoo, plus conditioner, is also a good option, especially if you're concerned with what you're applying to your skin or hair.

The same thing goes for other personal hygiene products. Feel free to bring your favourite types, but only a small amount of them to accommodate your trip.

Skincare

Skincare products are essential during a cruise trip. Make sure to bring your sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or higher. This allows you to protect your skin a lot better, especially when you’ll spending most of your time under the sun.

At the same time, after-sun lotions and moisturisers are also important for keeping your skin well-hydrated. For the ladies, a lip balm will allow you to protect your lips from the sun as well as the salty sea winds. 

Medication

All your important prescribed medications should be enough to last until the end of the trip. Moreover, we always advise you to bring more than enough to prepare for unpredictable incidents.

Motion sickness medications will come in handy for those who are having trouble with the waves. And, of course, pain relievers and other common pills are always recommended. Always keep them in your water-repellent bum bags to protect important medicines.

Don’t worry if you have any health concerns. On most cruises, there is always a medical department with onboard doctors and important facilities to aid you in many cases.

Documents

Bringing the right cruise documents and identification is important, especially if your routes involve international destinations. As always, we recommend creating a checklist and then double-checking to ensure you have everything you need for smooth sailing.

Passport and IDs

Always have a valid passport or other means of personal identification with you when boarding the cruise. Make sure that they’re valid and up-to-date, so you won’t have any issues when travelling.

Visa

Depending on the places that your cruise will stop at, you’ll need to prepare your travel visa. Feel free to check with the embassy of the respective countries or consult your travel agencies on all visa-related matters.

Cruise ticket

Of course, you’ll need your cruise ticket to board the ship. Remember to keep it in a safe place. Plus, it's recommended to make a copy since you might need it.

Travel Insurance

While travel insurances aren't mandatory, we always suggest our readers get one for their next cruise trip. Having good insurance will protect not only yourself but also your belongings in case of any mishaps during your cruise. 

Credit card and money

Finally, although you won’t be using them too much during the cruise, you’ll need some money to spend when your ship docks at any port. Feel free to explore the local area and enjoy splurging.

Depending on the trip and your personal preferences, the cash amount can be slightly different. Generally, you should bring at least $100 per person per day on a cruise (for a comfortable time).

Make sure to check your itinerary of the destinations and ports that you’ll be visiting. Consider your spending habits and plan for how much you’ll be tipping the services. Do you plan any shore excursions? How much shopping do you intend to do? What’s your dining preference?

Ask yourself those questions. And lastly, you’ll need to bring some money to prepare for emergencies. Overall, it’s best to bring a mix of cash and credit card so that you can be most flexible with your spending.

Entertainments

Bringing your own entertainment on a cruise is a great idea, especially for moments when you want some personal downtime or if there's a specific activity or hobby you enjoy. Here are some suggestions.

Board Games And Cards

For fun on the cruise, it’s always a good idea to enjoy some sort of multiplayer game. And in these cases, a deck of cards or board games is certainly a great way to pass the time meaningfully.

You can spend some quality time with friends and family, or even meet new friends, by joining other travel companions in these highly-addictive entertainments.

Books

If you prefer having free and uninterrupted periods on the cruise, then you might want to bring certain books to read.

From our experiences, you only need one book that you'll most likely read. Most of the time, you’ll often indulge in many different activities and rarely have time to finish all the books that you’re having.

If you don't have any books in mind, then other materials like documents or magazines will also work. On top of that, audiobooks, as well as podcasts, are great media to enjoy if you want to rest your eyes.

Binoculars

While travelling on a cruise, there will be plenty of beautiful sceneries that you wish to immerse in. It would be great to have a pair of binoculars around, so you can easily spot interesting seascapes from the balcony or deck.

Electronics

For all the Instagram-worthy moments you'll be capturing on your cruise, it's essential to pack the right devices and accessories. We're sure you already know what we're talking about. But let's list them out to ensure we don't forget anything when the time comes, shall we?

Smartphones And Charger

Of course, our smartphones and chargers are a must-have for any trip. You can use it to record your daily experiences while staying in touch with others. Not to mention that it’ll allow you to use helpful travel apps whenever you want.

Universal Travel Adapter

When travelling, you'll come across different types of electric outlets which might not fit your charger. In these cases, a universal travel adapter will let you connect to any ports and charge your devices safely.

Portable Charger

At the same time, a portable charger will always go along with your smartphones. Make sure to have it ready at the beginning of the day so you can keep your smart devices fully charged.

Camera

If you don't trust the phone camera to record your favourite memories with the highest-quality footage, then a dedicated camera will be a better option. Most cameras will take up a lot of space, so your backpacks need to have enough room.

Headphones And Speakers

Audio output devices are needed whenever you want to listen to music, whether on the deck, in your cabin, or on the beach. If you value privacy and don't want to disturb others, then a pair of noise-cancelling headphones will come in handy.

On the other hand, a speaker will allow you to easily start a party. Make sure to look for water-resistant models so you can use them comfortably at the pool or on the beach.

Foods And Drinks

Although there are always foods and drinks served on the cruise, you'll sometimes want to bring something of your own. This allows you to have a taste of things that can't be found on the ships. Plus, you can also save a lot of costs while travelling.

Foods

When packing foods for your cruise trip, we highly recommend getting foods that are easy to preserve and don't take much room in your luggage. These are a few suggestions:

• Snacks: jerky, dried meats, trail mix, granola bars, etc
• Instant and pre-packaged meals: instant oatmeal, noodle cups, instant ramen, etc.
• Fresh fruits that can last for a long time: apples, carrots, and different types of citruses. 

Drinks

The same reason goes for drinks. If you have any specific preferences, we suggest you bring your own. Here is the list of drinks that you can pack with your luggage:

• Reusable water bottle to keep you hydrated while travelling. Feel free to have it refilled at the water station, which is available on many ships.
• Non-perishable drinks: tea bags, instant coffee, powdered drinks, cocoa powders,

Most drinks are available to carry onboard, even light alcohol, but there will be certain exceptions. So, make sure to check with the cruise lines for their policies to avoid any troubles.

Backpacks

Look for a backpack that is large enough to fit all your essentials without cramping. If you want to opt for a minimalist experience, and depending on your cruise trip length, try a 1 week or 2 weeks packing challenge, where you fit everything you need in a backpack. In which case, you might want to consider CabinZero ADV 42l Backpacks for spacious compartment and lightweight feature.

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Bon Voyage: Essential Items to Pack for Your Next Cruise Adventure!

Having everything you need will certainly make your trip more enjoyable and comfortable. From clothing to toiletries to important documents and electronics, there are many items that you have to prepare.

So, to make your job easier, feel free to review our cruise packing list to discover things that you want to bring along. With the luggage ready, you can start having the trip of your lifetime.

Nguyen Kim Vuong