100 Items You Need To Pack For Your Upcoming Cruise

You won’t want to leave anything important at home when setting sail. Take a look at these 100 items you need to pack for your upcoming cruise…

Packing may come easy for you, but even the most experienced cruisers can forget something they didn’t mean to. Packing to go on a cruise is not the same as packing for other vacations. Cruise ships offer a variety of activities, tons of events, and offer the ability to hit the beaches of foreign countries. You’ll want to pack for every possibility!

What For Your Cruise

Are you stuck wondering what you should pack for your cruise?

Fear not! We have created an ultimate checklist of 100 items, so you’ll be prepared for any surprises your adventure may throw at you. Plus, we’ve added links to all relevant items so you won’t have to search the whole web to find what you’re looking for!

Make your way through our list and ensure you have each and every important item packed. Save yourself time, money, and extra headaches of having to buy overpriced items right before your cruise sets sail.

• Essentials – 3 Items
• Clothes and Accessories – 32 Items
• Toiletries – 19 Items
• Electronics – 8 Items
• On – 38 Items

Essential Items

First and foremost make sure you have packed your travel documents and cash. We’ll start with the most important items to pack for your cruise first. Forget any of these and there could be trouble ahead!

1. Passport/’s License/ID

When your cruise docks at a foreign port, many will require you have some sort of ID to ensure that you can get both on and off the boat. This is one of the most important items to have when you cruise. Also, don’t pack it in your bag, keep it on you in a lanyard or wallet at all times.

2. /Credit /ATM

is king on cruises and especially in foreign countries. of the vendors near where you port will sell perfect gifts and memorabilia for a cheap price. Bringing a credit card or ATM card will also be important just in case you have to get an Uber or hotel near the starting port.

3. Wallet/Purse

This is simply a no-brainer – carry your wallet to store your cash and important documents. There are many great travel wallets available, here are some in many different colors.

Clothes and Accessories

Clothing definitely seems obvious, but you would be surprised by how many people that forget to pack the essentials (like underwear and a swimsuit)! Take a look at the list below to help you what kind of travel wear to pack.

4. Underwear/Undershirts/Bras

Unless you are planning to go completely natural, you will definitely need to pack enough underwear, undershirts, and bras to last your entire vacation. Even consider packing a few extra if any “oopsies” happen aboard the ship.

Washing your garments in the cabin sink using a laundry kit could work, but it’s definitely not the same as the good ole washer and dryer.

5. Socks

You will be doing a lot of walking on your cruise so pack light, soft cotton socks to stay comfortable. You’ll need to find some perfectly comfy travel socks.

6. Sleepwear

You won’t want to sleep in your wet, dirty daytime outfits. Take a nice hot shower and switch into comfortable light pajamas for sleeping.

7. T-shirts

T-shirts are casual and very essential because they go with just about anything. If you don’t have many t-shirts to bring, you could always consider picking up a few souvenirs whenver you arrive at a foreign port! actually has cruise related and fun t-shirts here.

8. Dress shirts

Most cruise lines have formal evening themes with strict dress codes. Ensure you carry at least 2 dress shirts for two formal wear evenings. A polo or a button up will work just fine for these occasions.

9. Casual shirts

-down casual shirts and polo shirts match well with shorts, jeans or khakis. at least 2 pieces of each.

10. Jeans

Jeans are flexible and worn for any activity/event except formal evenings and water events. Plus, if your jeans are nice enough, they might just pass for a formal event too!

11. Pants

casual light pants for daytime and offshore activities. You can’t go wrong with khaki and linen pants for your tropical-weather cruise.

12. Shorts

Shorts are essential for excursions and daytime outdoor activities. They are light and allow you to stay cool on deck and in the hot sun. However, keep the short shorts limited only to the poolside and the beach to stay modest.

13. Dresses

Sundresses are simple yet gorgeous for vacations. at least 3 dresses for a 7-day cruise vacation. dresses that are easy to pack e.g. those that can be rolled when packing. Consider the colors as well and ensure they match with the shoes you carry to avoid carrying many shoes/ accessories for matching the different dresses. Check these trendy Dresses for a cruise.

14. Skirts

Skirts allow free leg movement, but they aren’t a necessity. If you would like to pack a few skirts, choose light, nonconstricting skirts for your daytime activities.

15. Sweaters/Sweatshirts

It might sound bizarre to carry a sweater in the sunny Caribbean or a tropical destination cruise but the weather is not always sunny. You might encounter cold sea days and breezy nights on the deck. Especially if you’re enjoying the adult areas near the top of the boat. Therefore carry a sweater or a sweatshirt for such weather.

16. Formal Wear

Most cruise lines have one or two formal evenings. The cruise expects you to dress formally for dinner in such evenings. Ladies pack an evening dress or two for this purpose. Men pack a dark suit with a tie or a tuxedo. Most cruises rent out a tuxedo but it’s rather expensive, so just carry yours instead. Plus, be ready for the after-formal photoshoots that usually occur in the main lobby. They will offer many different background themes, so you can take the perfect family/friend picture.

17. Swimsuits/Cover-ups

Almost all fun activities on a cruise involve water; you will definitely swim during your cruise so, carry at least 3 swimsuits. not forget however to carry cover-ups, the sun will often be beating down on the deck and many people come home extremely sunburned.

18. /Rainwear

A not so fun fact is that it may rain during your cruise. , pack a jacket/coat or a raincoat. If your cruise itinerary involves visiting a cold region, like Alaska then packing a raincoat or jacket is a must. Search a selection of great travel Rain Jackets.

19. Hats/Caps/Bandana

While sunscreen offers you adequate sun protection, your scalp is often left bear. a wide-brimmed hat, a cap, or bandana to protect your scalp, eyes, and shoulders from the sun. Find Hats to help protect from the .

20. Sunglasses

a pair of emergency sunglasses in your suitcase, just to be sure you have a backup. The sun and sea surface reflect a lot of light, and you will need sunglasses to protect your eyes and help you look accross the ocean. If you have prescription sunglasses, definitely don’t leave those at home!

21. Gloves/Scarves

You most likely won’t need gloves or scarves unless you’re visiting a colder region, but scarves can also be great for keeping you warm in the night’s breeze on the ship’s deck. The perfect way to pack your scarf is to roll it and pack it inside an empty paper towel roll. your gym gloves or gloves to keep you warm if your itinerary involves visiting cold regions such as Alaska.

22. Umbrella

Don’t be surprised to learn that it may rain during your cruise; this is a possibility even in tropical destinations. for that not so perfect vacation day, carry an umbrella to keep from getting drenched in rain. Yes, you can even buy travel Umbrellas online!

23. Laundry

A laundry kit with travel size packet detergents and a sink stopper is an amazing ingenuity. You can hand-wash light clothing over the cabin’s sink using the detergent. We’re surprised at how many travel Laundry Kits can be purchased.

24. Anti-wrinkle Spray

gone are the days of packing an iron for vacation. anti-wrinkle spray will keep your clothes straightened and without creases. Don’t bring a house size bottle on board though – here’s a travel set you can get.

25. Stain Remover

Stains left overtime on garments tend to set in; stained laundry sitting through a two weeks’ vacation might get ruined. That’s why it’s a good idea to pack a stain remover, to pre-treat your stained clothes. This is the best Travel Stain Remover.

26. Laundry bag

It’s a very smart idea to pack laundry bags to keep your dirty clothes from sitting in with the clean ones. Laundry bags will also organize your suitcase and save you extra costs charged by airport luggage check for minimizing their work. You can grab a 2-pack of travel laundry bags here.

27. Mini Sewing

You’ll be surprised at how many cruisers find themselves asking the onboard shop staff if they sell Sewing Kits! Ripping and tearing clothes is bound to happen, and a sewing kit available is an essential part of keeping clothes in order. This travel size sewing kit will have everything you might need.

28. Walking shoes

With all the walking you’re going to be doing on the cruise, you should definitely consider your comfort when packing walking shoes – sneakers offer the best comfort. You will be walking a lot during excursions, so consider getting inner soles for your shoes to stay comfortable during those long walks. your boat shoes, flat shoes, or sneakers for walking.

29. Dress shoes ( good for dancing)

a pair of dress shoes to accompany your formal evening attire. Ladies don’t carry very high/sharp stilettos, but good comfortable heels to dance in like wedges.

30. Sandals/flip-flops

Sandals and flip-flops are great leisure shoes. Consider flip-flops with thick soles as most foreign terrains are quite rough. Also, consider flip-flops with a good grip that you can walk with over a water covered areas without slipping. You’ll see everyone wearing Sandals or Flip-flops during the voyage, ladies – check some out here.

31. Water shoes

a pair of good water shoes to wear around the pool and during water activities. Cutting open your feet on the dock or in the ocean is fairly common. For certain shore excursion you’ll need decent water shoes, check them all here.

32. Belts

A belt doubles up as collar support for keeping your dress shirt’s collar stiff by preventing it from collapsing under the weight of other items in your suitcase.

33. Jewelry

a jewelry case for your jewelry to keep them from tangling with other items. Keep your necklaces untangled by inserting a drinking straw on one end to keep them straight. Keep your earrings together with the help of a button. Be sure to store your most valuable jewelry in the in-cabin safe offered with every room.

34.

A modern slim body-hugging fanny pack will help you carry your passport, medical card, phone, cash and other valuables when out on city tours. Take a look at one of the most versatile fanny packs on the market.

35. Collapsible Totes & Backpacks

a collapsible tote to carry important items such as change of clothes, beach towel, sunscreen, snacks, travel documents and a camera. Totes and light backpacks are also great for carrying back home all the memorabilia you purchased during the trip. Plenty of Cruise totes can be purchased online.

Toiletries

Here are toiletry items you can pack for your cruise vacation. Some items are provided by the cruise line in the stateroom but many cruisers prefer to take their own so they know what they are using. The onboard gift shops also sell some toiletry items but they are more expensive than on land. Skip this entire list and just grab a premium 20-piece travel kit here!

36. Toothbrush / Dental Floss

You would be surprised at how easy it is to forget such essential items such as a toothbrush or dental floss. While you can find these at the cruise’s gift shop, they are often overpriced and limiting in brand variety. Get a foldable travel toothbrush from for $5 and above.

37. Toothpaste

Same as the toothbrush, pack travel size toothpaste that goes for as little as $6 .

38. Soap

Cruise lines will offer you soap but if you are picky or allergic to some soaps, carry your own.

39. Deodorant

your own deodorant to avoid buying an overpriced and probably not your brand type, from the cruise.

40. Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Lotions

Again, most cruise lines will offer these items, but if you are picky, pack yours.

41. Brush/Comb

your combs and brushes to keep your grooming at par.

42. Hairstyling appliances

your hair straighteners, curlers, and basic hairstyling appliances, most cruise ships will only provide you with a low-wattage hair dryer.

43. Sunscreen

Places such as the Bahamas and Caribbean are much hotter than you would think, therefore, carry a lot of Sunscreen to avoid painful sunburns or looking like a lobster. Sunscreen on the ship can be expensive so it’s best to get from before you leave.

44. Aloe cream

Even with all the cover-ups and sunscreen, you may still get sunburned. Just in case you do get sunburnt, pack aloe cream to relieve the effects of the burn.

45. Moisturizer

It is very windy on the ship; you need to moisturize regularly to keep your skin from drying out and getting damaged. The cold and the wind can definitely do some damage to your beautifully soft skin.

46. Contact Lenses/Solution

extra contact lenses and contact solution or glasses for when you lose the ones you are wearing. There is nothing worse than being blind on an extravagant cruise to gorgeous foreign ports.

47. Shaving Supplies

your shaver, shaving cream, and aftershave to stay well-groomed. You might want to consider picking up a waterproof electric trimmer to make things easier. 

48. Makeup/Makeup

Bag your makeup, you have onboard events to attend that will need you all dolled up. Keep your make up organized and accessible in a make-up bag.

49. Feminine Hygiene Products

Changes in time zones might interfere with your menstrual cycle, pack an emergency tampon/ sanitary pad set. your panty liners as well, to stay fresh and comfortable in different weathers.

50. Birth Control

Avoid oops moments and life-changing accidents by packing your birth control pills.

51. File / Clippers

Nails can chip and break during a cruise due to all the activities, keep them well-groomed with nail files and nail clippers.

52. Sanitizer

This is a must-pack, you will be touching a lot of shared surfaces such as staircase railways, menus and other different surfaces that could be riddled with disease-causing germs, make sure to carry hand sanitizer to stay safe. Find handy travel Sanitizer right here.

53. First Aid

a first aid kit, with items such as bandages, cold medicines, pain relievers, vitamin C, sea sickness medicine, alcohol swabs, antibiotics, digestion aids, and constipation medicine. A first aid kit can save you and your family a lot of money and a trip to the cruise’s infirmary.

54. Insect Repellant

Tropical regions are hosts to mosquitos, and while there aren’t mosquitos in the sea, pack an insect repellant for those city visits and outdoor excursions. The last thing you want is a blood-borne disease from pesky mosquitos.

Electronics

We all to stay with our electronic devices during the cruise so don’t forget to pack the items to back them up like chargers, adapters and memory cards.

55. Cellphone

your cell phone and your cell phone’s charger. Be wary however of roaming charges and steep internet costs on board your cruise line. Choosing wifi for the entire cruise will often be far cheaper than a one-day pass as well.

56. Camera

your camera for taking all the fun pictures of your cruise vacation.

57. Laptop/tablet

Download movies and music to your laptop/tablet from home to watch when bored during the cruise. Streaming movies on the cruise ship are very expensive because of the high internet charges. The TV in the rooms often has one or two movie channels just in case you are looking to pass time.

58. Electronic Chargers

chargers for all your electronics your phone, laptop, e-reader, camera, portable game players and others.  has some of the best range of Travel Charges available.

59. Binoculars

There is a lot of site-seeing even out in the ocean. Enjoy discovering distant lands, birds, sea creatures, and beautiful sites.

60. Video/mp3 player

Music is always a great companion. Download your favorite music and videos to your mp3 player, to enjoy your music while on the cruise.

61. Headphones

Listen to your music, or watch your videos privately and without disturbing others.

62. Walkie-Talkie

At sea, there is no network coverage and you may not have a network signal on your phone. And if you don’t plan on purchasing the onboard wifi package – you should definitely consider getting walkie-talkies to communicate with your friends or families who might be on the cruise with you. Here’s where you can buy Cruise Walkie-Talkies.

on

You may not receive your luggage until hours later; therefore pack the things you need urgently on the first day of the cruise in your carry on. valuables such as jewelry, your camera and memory card, passport/Visa / ID, a paper/pen, cash, credit card, insurance card, direction map, guid, address and house keys in your carry on.

63. Medication

If you are on medication, carry your medicines in your carry on for ease of access.

64. Earbuds

Invest in earbuds, they will come in handy if your room is near noisy areas such as the engine, a nightclub, noisy neighbors, or a snoring partner. Don’t go to bed in earbuds with wires though – grab a pack of Airpods for safe sleep.

65. Travel Blanket

a thin microfiber blanket for your flight to the cruise. These are great for traveling to the cruise!

66. Travel Pillow

You don’t want to start your vacation with a stiff neck. Therefore, carry a travel pillow for the long flight or long drive to your cruise starting point.

67. Eye Mask

Get some good shut-eye with an eye mask during the flight to the cruise and even during your cruise trip. Don’t be bothered by lights in your room, in case you are sharing it with a partner.

68. Lip Balm/Chapstick

Dry and cracked lips are what you will end up with if you forget to carry a lip balm or a chapstick. It gets very windy on the ship’s deck, and lips can get damaged by constant lack of moisture.

69. Change of Clothes

a change of clothes in your carry on, for it might be hours till you receive your luggage.

70. Food/Snacks

food, snacks and any medication you need during the flight to the cruise departure point for ease of access.
Miscellaneous

71.

While out at the sea, you can enjoy reading a . However, to save space, carry an e-reader with plenty of to read.

72. Strip

Most cruise ships cabins have only a single outlet, and you are probably planning to carry multiple electronic items, you need a power strip with several outlets to accommodate all your gadget’s charging needs.

73. Dry Bag

Keeping your valuables such as phone, cash, and camera dry can prove a challenge when out in the open waters. Invest in a good dry bag to keep your items dry as a bone despite water exposure. Buy quality dry bags from ranging from $17-$40.

74. Wine

Most cruise lines except Carnival cruise, allow one bottle of wine or bubbly per person. However, that’s as good as it gets, you cannot bring any other alcohol on your cruise vacation.

75. Wine Bottle Protector

Invest in a wine bottle protector, to keep your wine bottle from breaking. Buy one from at $14.

76. Refillable Water Bottle

a refillable water bottle, great for carrying water during excursions and beverages from eating areas. You can get quality water bottles at .

77. Water/Soda

Just like wine, most cruise lines allow you to bring on board soda and water. This helps keep your budget in check as soft drinks are expensive on board unlike at your local grocery store.

78. Snacks

Similar to water and soda carry your own snacks such as popcorn, candy bars, crackers or healthier alternatives for kids. Skip the overly priced and limited variety of snacks that are available at the shops on the ship.

Note: For food and drink items, get your cruise’s guidance.

79. Alarm Clock

alarm clock going off during your vacation may be the last thing you want to hear. But you should make an exception for a cruise vacation, most cabins are located deep in the interior of the ship, where telling whether it’s day or night is almost impossible.

alarm clock will help you wake up in good time so as not to miss any fun activities you have signed for on the cruise. There are good small travel Alarm Clock options here.

80. Extra Storage

Cabins are usually small places, and you need extra storage ideas to organize and manage your things during your vacation. Shower suction hooks are good for hanging towels and wet clothes in the bathroom. Over the door, shoe holder offers extra storage, use its pockets for storing your things, so that it’s easy to locate everything.

81. Extra Bag

an extra bag or a small suitcase to carry all the things you purchase during your cruise.

82. Antibacterial Wipes

Sometimes there are virus outbreaks and diseases spread in destinations visited by a cruise. Stay safe by packing antibacterial wipes to disinfect your hands regularly.

83. Folding/Wire Hangers

If you are going on a long cruise it is a good idea to bring extra hangers to hang out the extra outfits you carried. Wire hangers are good because they are thin and don’t take up a lot of space in the suitcase, though you might also want to try space-conserving foldable travel hangers from starting at $8.

84. Cork Screw

Unless you want to spit bits of wood every time you sip your wine, pack a corkscrew in your suitcase. Don’t carry it in your carry on, to keep it from being confiscated.

85. Luggage Tags

The stapled paper tag on your luggage might get lost during luggage onboarding. Don’t lose your luggage, buy proper luggage tags at , they have some really cool cruise ones.

86. Silicon Travel Bottles

For your lotions, shampoos, and conditioner get silicon toiletry travel bottles from and pack your essential toiletry liquids with ease.

87. Packing Cubes

Get more organized and conserve suitcase space using packing cubes. Packing cubes come in several pieces which help you store shoes, laundry, electronics, swimming gear, toys, clothes, and other cruise paraphernalia separately and in order. offers packing cubes from $20.

88. Toiletry Bag

The last thing you want is to get is a leakage accident in your suitcase from mixing clothes with toiletries such as shampoos and lotions. Avoid this by getting a quality leak-proof toiletry bag. Also put plastic wraps on your liquids before placing the caps on, to avoid spills.

89. Cosmetic Train

Get an easy to pack cosmetic train case from to pack all your makeup, jewelry and hair styling appliances in order.

90. Snorkel gear

You don’t want to rent out an item that goes in the mouth such as snorkeling gear. As such don’t forget to pack snorkeling gear or if you don’t have, buy the highly rated Cressi Palau Saf Set.

91. Coffee Tumbler

There are many steps and hallways in a ship, you don’t want to keep burning your hands with hot coffee getting zero of it into your mouth. your coffee mug to ensure you get your daily dose of caffeine. Choose a Coffee Tumbler to purchase for the cruise.

92. Blanket

Let’s face it, joining two or three towels together will still not prevent sand from getting on your body. Instead invest in a thin beach blanket easily found , which won’t take up too much space in your suitcase.

93. Inflatable Toys for the Kids

Kids easily get bored. inflatable beach and swimming toys for them to play with.

94. Inner Soles

You will be doing a lot of walking, whether you are exploring a city, or moving up and down the ship. Ensure to invest in a good pair of inner soles for your shoes, so that you don’t compromise your comfort during your vacation.

95. Extra Memory Cards

It would be a bummer to have to delete some pictures to create room for more. Get extra memory cards so that you take as many photos as you like.

96. Thumb Drive

A neat trick is to photocopy all your important documents such as visas, passports, ID, medical card, cruise itinerary and save them to a thumb drive. That way you will have copies in case the originals get lost. You can also store more pictures on the thumb drive to create room in your memory card.

97. Ziploc bags

Ziploc bags are absolute must-have, they keep your personal items dry when exposed to water. They also carry snacks and store wet clothes to keep them from mixing with dry clothes.

98. Night lights

Another uncommon but great item to pack for your cruise trip is a night-light. Cabins are extremely dark during the night and night-light guides your way when you wake up to go to the bathroom, saving your toes unnecessary pain.

99. Lanyard

Get a lanyard for your key card and wear it around your neck at all possible times. many cruise related Lanyard can be bought online.

100. Wristwatch

Time zones change from region to region. a wristwatch to keep perfect time, otherwise, you may return to the cruise ship an hour too late.

Conclusion

We want you to have a worry-free vacation aboard your cruise. Relaxing and enjoying all the free time and possibilities it has to offer. This list of 100 cruise items shouldn’t be forgotten as it can ensure smooth sailing for you, your friends, and your family.

Once you have everything packed: Double check your luggage, purchase any items you might need, and get ready to experience one of the most awesome adventures of your life.