Cruise travel isn’t like other kinds of travel… Your hotel moves, your phone signal vanishes mid-ocean, and if you forget something, your only shopping options are the (overpriced) onboard store or hoping the next port has what you need.

Cabin space depends on your room type – inside staterooms can be tight, while balcony cabins feel more like a regular hotel room – but smart packing matters no matter where you sleep.

Yes, the cruise line provides basics like toothpaste and motion sickness meds, and the onboard store sells things like sunscreen and seasickness bands. But they’re often not the brands you prefer – and rarely the price you'd want to pay.

You’ll want enough to be comfortable for sea days, shore excursions, and everything in between – but not so much that you’re tripping over your own backpack every morning.

This isn’t a full packing list. It’s a cruise-specific essentials guide: the practical, space-saving, sanity-saving items that actually come in handy at sea and on shore. Things I’ve used (or wished I had) as crew, and would recommend to any cruiser.

Some links here are Amazon affiliate links, meaning if you decide to grab something, it helps support this blog at no extra cost to you.

Essential Documents

First thing: your passport. Make sure it’s valid for at least six months beyond your cruise return date – some countries won’t let you in otherwise, even if you're only stopping for a few hours. If you're joining or leaving the ship in a foreign port, check if you need a visa even if you’re just transiting.

Next, your cruise documents. These are usually available through your online check-in portal: boarding pass, health declarations, port arrival forms. I recommend downloading everything as PDFs and saving them to your phone. Internet is patchy at sea and sometimes non-existent in port terminals.

Travel insurance is something I’d never cruise without. Look for a policy that covers medical emergencies at sea, repatriation, and missed port connections. Take screenshots of the policy and your insurer’s emergency number and stash them somewhere offline.

For longer cruises where checked luggage is more common, don’t forget cruise luggage tag holders. Most cruise lines ask you to print your luggage tags at home, then staple them onto your bags before you arrive at the terminal. Paper tags + rain + baggage handling = a bad time.

Cabin Hack

Cabin space is usually tight, and there’s never enough room to dry off your swimsuit or hang a towel without it getting in the way. Magnetic hooks attach to the metal walls of your cabin (yes, the walls are magnetic), and let you hang your wet gear to dry without crowding your already limited space.

They’re small, lightweight, and take up almost no space in your bag. Just make sure to get ones with a strong magnet, especially for heavier items like towels or jackets.

Bonus: they’re also handy for hanging those little extra things that are easy to misplace – like your lanyard with your cruise key card. You’d be surprised how quickly these become essential in a tiny cabin.

Daytime Adventures

Sea days and shore excursions need their own kind of prep. You’ll go from lounging by the pool to hiking volcanic trails or snorkelling with sea turtles – all within the same trip. What you pack for daytime makes a big difference in how comfortable (and sunburn-free) you are.

Pool / Beach Gear

Reef-safe sunscreen – Some ports ban regular sunscreen to protect reefs.
Quick-dry swimwear – Essential if you don’t want to walk around in damp shorts for hours. Also dries overnight if you rinse it in the shower.
Water shoes / flip-flops – Flip-flops for the deck, water shoes for rocky beaches or kayaking.

Excursion Essentials

Dry bag – Great for boat tours or surprise downpours to hold phone, towel, wallet, and backup shirt.
Mesh tote – For wet swimwear, sandy towels, or grocery hauls from port markets. Packs flat in your suitcase.
Thermal water bottle – Some ports are hot, and you won’t always find a convenient spot to buy drinks. Fill it with ice water at breakfast and it stays cold well into the afternoon.

Entertainment

Binoculars – If I have a balcony cabin or a quiet sea day, I’d break out the binoculars – not just for whale spotting (though that’s a treat) but for watching flying fish and checking out nearby ships.
Travel games – A mini deck of Uno, Bananagrams, or travel-sized chess board for port waits or rainy afternoons.
Offline entertainment – A Kindle, downloaded Spotify playlists, podcasts, or a physical book. The internet isn’t always reliable, and sometimes it’s nice to truly disconnect.

Clothes

Cruise wardrobes can easily grow out of control – theme nights, varying climates, and the urge to be prepared for everything. But a small, functional selection of clothes that layer well, pack light, and dry quickly is usually all that’s needed.

Lightweight jacket or shawl – Useful for breezy decks, over-chilled dining rooms, and cool port mornings. A thin windbreaker or a large cotton shawl works well and can double as a blanket on excursions or a cover-up at the pool.
One “just enough” nice outfit – A simple jumpsuit or wrinkle-resistant dress is usually enough for formal night or specialty dining. Dressed up with accessories, it covers most "elegant evening" dress codes without taking up much suitcase space.
Swimwear – Quick-drying swimsuits are best for frequent dips in the pool or beach stops in port. Bikinis can also double as a sports bra under casual tops.
Non-slip shoes – For onboard use, slip-on shoes or lightweight sneakers with non-slip soles are a smart choice – helpful on smooth, sometimes slippery deck floors.
Foldable sunhat

Health & Safety

Motion sickness remedies – Cruise lines usually provide meds at reception or the onboard clinic, and the ship store often stocks acupressure bands too. But if you’re prone to seasickness, bring your go-to remedies. Everyone reacts differently, and the ones onboard might not work for you.
Basic first-aid kit – Include essentials like plasters, antiseptic wipes, painkillers, antihistamines, and insect repellent (especially for tropical ports where mosquitoes love cruise tourists).
Sanitisation supplies – While cruise lines have hand sanitiser stations all over, it’s still useful to carry a small bottle of your own, especially when on excursions. A travel pack of antibacterial wipes is good for wiping down tray tables, phone screens, or anything else that gets grubby.

Gadgets

Waterproof phone pouch – A simple must-have if the plan involves poolside lounging, beach excursions, or tenders to shore. Keeps phones protected from splashes, sand, and accidental dunks. Bonus if it’s touch-screen-friendly so photos and videos can still be snapped without taking the phone out.
Action camera or waterproof camera – Great for capturing underwater scenes while snorkelling or just getting cruise memories without worrying about sea spray. GoPro-style cameras work well and can often double as handheld vloggers or timelapse tools for those dreamy sailaways.
Power bank – Charging outlets in cruise cabins can be oddly scarce, especially if sharing. A power bank means phones, headphones, and other devices can stay juiced during long shore excursions or pool days. Go for one that charges multiple devices at once or has fast-charging features.
International plug adaptor – Most cruise cabins use either US or European plug types. A universal adaptor covers both and is even more useful if travelling pre- or post-cruise. Some adaptors come with built-in USB ports, which is a bonus when charging multiple items at once.
Cruise line’s official app – Most cruise lines now have their own onboard apps used for checking daily schedules, booking shows, messaging other guests, and viewing onboard expenses. Usually works without wifi once onboard – but download and log in before you go.

Optional but handy:

Small notebook + pen – Useful for jotting port notes or itinerary changes.
Kindle or e-reader – Compact, long battery life, and perfect for lazy sea days.

Carry-On Essentials

Cruise cabins aren’t always ready right away, and checked luggage can take hours to show up. A decent carry-on setup means having the basics to enjoy those first few hours without hovering by the hallway hoping to spot your suitcase.

Change of clothes – If bags are delayed (it happens), having something fresh makes a difference. Lightweight trousers or a loose dress, fresh top, and underwear are usually enough. Also helps if flights were long and sticky and changing feels more like survival than preference.
Small liquids – Toothpaste, lip balm, mini moisturiser, deodorant – whatever helps shake off airport grime.
Reusable ziplocks or silicone bags – Multi-use, compact, and perfect for last-minute bits – snacks, tech cables, toiletries, sea-sickness meds, or the mystery items that end up without a home. If they’re leakproof, even better.
Essential documents and cruise tags – Passport, boarding pass, printed or insurance/vaccine docs if still required. Cruise tags clipped to the bigger suitcase or handed over at the port. Keeping everything together in one slim folder or pouch saves scrambling at check-in.

Optional but recommended:

Book or offline entertainment (if boarding early)
Refillable water bottle
Earphones (for drowning out dockside chaos)
Light snacks

In short: plan for a few hours without access to luggage and you’re good. The rest? You’ll meet it later, eventually wheeled to your door by a quietly exhausted crew member.

Read my other posts about cruising: