Cruise Essentials 50 Brilliant Things to Bring on a Cruise

Table Of Content

• Useful information to carry while cruising
• Best Dress
• Travel document requirements for sailings from Dubai
• GETTING ONBOARD
• Simplicity Women's Roll-up Straw Sun Hat

One will suffice for short four- and five-day itineraries. Knowing what clothing to pack for a cruise can be especially challenging, and cruise line dress codes don't always match what passes as acceptable on board. The key to maximizing your wardrobe on the high seas is working with a few core pieces of clothing and mixing them up over the course of your itinerary. That's especially handy for evening wear, which tends to be bulkier and take up more luggage space. If you're still waiting for your bag to arrive just before sailaway or at the dinner hour, it won't be a problem if you've planned ahead and packed a change of clothing in your carry-on.

Useful information to carry while cruising

So, you’ll be applying sunscreen multiple times per day, especially if you go in the water and towel off. If you are prone to burning, you may also want to include an after-sun lotion. As mentioned above, if you are flying home then we suggest not booking a flight before at least noon. Ships get in early, but it can take several hours to get thousands of passengers and their luggage off the ship and through customs. Add to that the time it takes to get to the airport, through security, and to your gate before boarding begins.

Best Dress

Start thinking about cruise essentials to pack and laying them out on a spare bed or in a storage box in a quiet corner of your house. Use our cruise essentials checklist to mark off items as you find or purchase them. Cruising is so much fun and thinking about what to bring on a cruise is one of the best ways to create some excitement before your trip.

Travel document requirements for sailings from Dubai

One other thing to remember is that gratuity is added (normally around 18%) to the price of each drink. For two adults the size is plenty, but for more than two adults and a kid, we’d suggest looking into two cabins — even though most say they can accommodate up to four people. There’s no reason to feel like you’re going to be the only one who isn’t quite sure what to do on the ship. Don’t let the worry of being unsure what to do make you feel self-conscious. There’s no doubt that you have questions on how to prepare. We're here to help you make the most of your next cruise adventure.

Many cruisers have to fly or road trip to their departure port and need to pack for this travel as well. Make sure your cruise packing list accounts for your pre- and post-cruise travel needs, as well as items useful for your time on board. Note which shore excursions you'll be doing and keep in mind your fitness routine before packing. It can help to determine how many workouts you'll do during your time onboard as well as the number of active shore excursions before devoting precious luggage space to more clothing than you'll need.

What’s Included — and Costs Extra — on a Cruise

See our full list of things that surprise first-time cruisers here. When you sail for the first time, there is so much that is new. At the same time, cruising is very different from any other vacation. Try not to Schedule a Flight Home Before NoonEach year millions of cruise passengers fly into port cities to start their cruise. If you do decide to fully enjoy the balcony on your first cruise, it’s best to wait until night… and make sure the lights are off. There will be sanitizer stations all around the ship, but bringing your own means you’ll always have it ready.

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Many cruisers tend to overpack when it comes to clothes and shoes but sometimes forget about other necessities. When you take your suitcase out of the closet and begin packing for your next itinerary, refer to this list and be sure you're covered when it comes to both clothing and those all-important accessories. Pack one outfit for every day, or plan to do laundry on your cruise ship.

Travel document requirements for sailings from Australian homeports

Just be sure that your power strip doesn't include a surge protector; those are banned from most cruise ships, as are extension cords. It's always smart to pack a first aid kit for your cruise; make sure it contains seasickness remedies if you're sensitive to the motion of the ocean. Over-the-counter medications are pricey on board, so bring the brands you most commonly use. If you take prescription medicine, bring enough for the trip and a few extra days' worth, just in case.

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What Women Should Pack for the Daytime on a Cruise:

At a time when eco-friendliness is top of mind and nearly every traveler has a mobile phone, it's easy to rely on apps to keep everything in one spot and avoid wasting paper. However, what would happen if your phone was lost, stolen or broken during your travels? For that reason, I always advise printing hard copies of anything you might need in a pinch, using as little paper as possible. Only after port officials check and verify each of these at the terminal will you be permitted to board your ship. This is especially important if you arrive at your ship after an overnight or early morning flight, and really need to brush your teeth or put in your contacts once you make it to the ship.

Bug spray is also useful, especially in Alaska, where people joke that the mosquito is the state bird. Toss your swimsuits and tropical attire into your suitcase and start channeling those relaxing island vibes. For more things to pack, don’t miss our 39 Useful Things to Pack for a Cruise (Including 17 You Might Not Think Of).

If you bring on wine or champagne, also pack it in your carry-on so that it doesn’t accidentally get broken. If your vacation goals are to relax, catch some rays and sip tropical drinks poolside for the next week or more, then have those pool items ready to go once you're on board. Towels are provided on board, so no need to bring your own.

If your trip is interrupted or canceled, or you experience a medical emergency, you'll have the key information handy so you can get help immediately. For years, cruise lines have required passengers to fill out health forms before boarding in an effort to prevent the spread of norovirus on board. Following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, lines have expanded health screenings to include questions about coronavirus symptoms. In a pinch, the check-in desk can look up your reservation in the system when you arrive, but it will add to the time you spend in the terminal before boarding your ship and beginning your vacation. If you do have camera equipment, keep it secure in either a camera bag or in your carry-on luggage and bring it with you on the ship. It's one more thing to have to carry on board, but you don't want your investment to get damaged or lost before you start your vacation.

12 things you should always pack in your cruise carry-on bag

Table Of Content

• Travel document requirements for sailings from Southampton, England
• Beachwear & Activewear
• GETTING ONBOARD
• Travel insurance information

Then, you head to your muster station to check-in and watch a demonstration of putting on a life jacket. From there, many take the chance to grab a drink and explore the ship a bit. There are also restaurants open where you can get a bite to eat. If you know that you want a drink package, or to reserve your spot in a specialty restaurant, it’s a good time to get those taken care of if you didn’t do so online ahead of time. In addition to all of those, the staff puts on activities throughout the day.

Travel document requirements for sailings from Southampton, England

No cruise line will allow you to sail if you are more than 24 weeks along before the conclusion of the voyage. Some cruise lines will ask you to complete a paper form at the terminal on embarkation day, while others will allow you to complete it a few hours before you arrive. If you fill it out in advance, whether or not you'll need to print out confirmation depends on your cruise line and whether the form is completed online or through a mobile app.

Beachwear & Activewear

That’s one less thing to worry about when packing for your cruise and very convenient for passengers who are driving to the port. One thing to know is that cruise lines will provide a crib for sleeping in your cabin at no charge. Clothing will make up the bulk of what you’ll bring on a cruise, and rightly so.

GETTING ONBOARD

Your cruise is paid for, and now you think you’re ready to go. To make sure you won’t forget any essential items, I’ve put together this cruise packing list. These days, almost all of us check our phones for the time. But when you are in port, it’s often easier just to carry a cheap wristwatch. That way you can be sure you get back before the ship leaves port, as well as keep track of when any scheduled activities onboard are about to happen. This one is only around $15 and is water resistant (a must on a cruise).

Travel insurance information

The good news is most cruises have a laundry service and some dry cleaning, with generally about a 24-hour turnaround time. But if you pack clothing pieces that are easy to mix and match, the so-called ‘capsule wardrobe’ will reduce the number of clothes you need quite significantly. If you are headed to Alaska, your packing list has many similarities, but will be a little different. Specifically, it includes more cool weather gear, including warm socks, hat, and gloves.

Bags

You're going to sweat through your clothes, so anticipate changing outfits multiple times each day. Keep in mind that your ship may have a self-serve (typically coin-operated) laundry room or offer send-out laundry services. That means you can wear their favorite dress another night or pack less with plans to wear clothing more than once. Remember You Have to Carry Everything to the ShipWhile the rules surrounding luggage mean you can bring as much as you want, remember that whatever you bring, you will have to get it to and from the port. So if you are flying to the cruise port, then you’ll have to pay any baggage fees your airline might charge.

If there is a day that you don’t want to drink or you are in port (packages only work on the ship and on some private islands), then you likely won’t get your money’s worth. Know the Ins and Outs of Drink Packages Before BuyingAlcohol is big business on a cruise, and it’s not unusual to spend hundreds on it during the course of a sailing. To help you budget, cruise lines offer “all you can drink” packages. With these deals, you pay one set amount each day and then get to have (almost) whatever you want from the bar. As well, cruise lines allow you to bring on bottles of champagne or wine (usually one bottle per adult) free of charge.

If you’re planning to travel, you must take the proper documentation as you pass through airports, harbors, and bus stations. Although cruise ships don’t have as strict restrictions as airplanes, there are still a few items that you should keep at home. A backpack can hold everything you need for a day trip, while a fanny pack or crossbody bag is perfect for carrying essential items like your wallet, phone, and room key. These options allow you to keep your hands free while exploring, making your cruise adventures more enjoyable and worry-free. Your carry-on bag should contain everything you think you may need for the day in case your checked luggage is delayed. That means a change of clothes, valuables, electronics, important documents, eyeglasses, and medications.

The ship’s casino will open up once the ship is far enough offshore, and of course, bars will have the drinks flowing. One thing to note is that many ports of call have welcome areas right at the end of the dock. This often includes shops, restaurants, and spots to book excursions if you haven’t already.

If you or your family members take any regular prescription medications, vitamins or supplements, pack them in your carry-on bag. Even if you don't need them for the first 24 hours of your cruise, you don't want to risk losing them and going without them for the entire trip. I suggest packing a hanging toiletry bag, which will be easy to transport. Because of the limited space on cruise staterooms, I find packing cubes to be especially helpful. They can easily be taken right from your suitcase and placed into the drawers or shelves of the stateroom.

Where a passport is truly handy is getting off the ship at the end of the cruise. These days most ports have facial recognition to process passengers. If you have a passport, you simply walk off, take a quick photo, and then walk out of the terminal. Those with birth certificates usually have to wait in line to meet an agent. Topping your cruise packing list should be your eyeglasses and sunglasses.

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For most cruises, you'll need a passport book that's valid for at least six months from the day your sailing ends. In some cases, you can use a passport card instead of a passport book, but that will only work if you plan to reenter the United States via your ship from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean. If you're a smart cruiser, you carry on everything you need for check-in and the first day on board — plus emergencies. It's better to come prepared, so you can make the most of those first hours on the ship, either relaxing by the pool or enjoying the ship's public spaces. Plus, should the unthinkable happen and your luggage never arrives, you'll be as prepared as possible.

If you prefer carrying your room key around the ship in a lanyard, toss one in your carry-on bag to put on and wear as soon as you receive your cruise card. You'll be ready to purchase cocktails, gelato, specialty coffees and other items around the ship without fumbling in your pockets for the card. You'll also be less likely to lose your card while you're juggling your carry-on luggage, cruise documents, phone and other items in the terminal.

Other than the casino, you don’t use cash on a modern cruise ship. Instead, if you want to by anything onboard, you simply swipe your keycard. Knowing what travel documents you need when traveling outside the US can be daunting, and the requirements can sometimes be hard to understand and navigate.