I first wrote this in November 2024, just a couple of months after finishing my latest contract. Since then, I’ve gone back and made some big edits to make this guide clearer and more useful.

Cruise ship contracts aren’t like other jobs… For one, you’re living in a cabin the size of a shoebox, trying to cram months’ worth of daily life into one suitcase and a carry-on. Add to that the mental load of not just what to bring, but how much, and how practical – especially when you’re packing for sea life, not a quick holiday.

Unlike the restaurant or hotel teams, I’m an officer working a back-of-house role without a company-provided uniform. So while most crew get to pack light in the clothing department, I need to bring my own formal and business-casual wardrobe. That alone makes packing for a cruise ship contract a bit of a juggling act.

Most of my ships sail through tropical and subtropical East Asia, but my packing list barely changes, even in winter. Whether I’m onboard for three months, five months (my usual), or that one time I stretched an 18-month contract, I’ve realised contract length doesn’t really affect how much I pack.

Even with a minimalist mindset, I still like a bit of variety in my outfits. It’s my small rebellion against the grey sameness of ship life.

With that said, here’s what I pack for my cruise ship contracts. This list has been refined through years of trial-and-error, learning from other crew (and their tendency to overpack), and slowly figuring out what I truly need to stay comfortable and sane.

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What My First Contract Taught Me About Packing

When I joined my first ship, I thought I was being smart by packing light. But in trying so hard not to overpack, I ended up underpacking – and worse, I packed all the wrong things.

To start with, I was handed a grooming checklist meant for a completely different role. Half the toiletries on it weren’t even relevant or necessary to my position. I didn’t bring a proper jacket. I forgot a few basic comforts. It was a mess.

Back then, I thought minimalism meant taking less. But real minimalism, especially when it comes to packing for a cruise ship contract, is about intention, not restriction.

Over time, I stopped following generic checklists and started paying closer attention to what worked for me. Some packing lessons you only learn the hard way. But once I began to notice what I used regularly (versus what just sat in my drawer), packing became less stressful and a lot more manageable.

What I Fit Everything In

While my company books flights with 40kg of checked baggage, I’ve never even come close. My sweet spot is 25kg; anything more and the airline slaps on a “HEAVY BAGGAGE” tag, which feels like I’ve packed my entire flat. The heaviest I’ve ever gone was 28 kilos, and even that felt ridiculous.

I’ve seen crew hauling two giant suitcases and a carry-on (even when uniforms are provided), while I’m perfectly content with one suitcase and a hand-carry. Packing light, for me, isn’t just about avoiding chaos. It’s also already more than half my body weight – I genuinely can’t carry more than that.

I’m not a naturally organised packer, but after enough contracts, I’ve cobbled together a system that mostly keeps the mess at bay. It’s a mix of things never intended for travel – old zip pouches, drawstring bags from hand-me-down souvenirs, and packing cubes I once rolled my eyes at. But now? I’m converted. Somehow, packing cubes help me fit more into the same suitcase (which might explain the creeping baggage weight), and make my stuff easier to find.

These days, I use a combination of packing cubes, zip pouches, and whatever else does the job. Shoes and slippers go in their own bag. Same with the hairdryer. Shower stuff goes into waterproof-ish ziplocks.

My luggage setup is simple:

Main suitcase – I usually travel with a 28” soft-shell. But after my last one broke post-contract, I had to grab a hard-shell in a rush. It doesn’t fit under the bed, which is mildly annoying.
Backpack – I used to carry my old schoolbag, but I’ve finally gotten a Fjällräven Kånken. It’s aesthetic, compact, and good for stacking on top of a larger bag when I travel. Not the most comfortable with heavy loads – my shoulders let me know – but great as a hand-carry.
Bum bag – I’ve ditched handbags for shore leave. Between walking, exploring, and the occasional random hike, the bum bag just makes sense. Mine can’t fit a water bottle, which is annoying when I’m out for hours.
Reusable cotton bag – In my suitcase, it holds loose bits and pieces. In port, it’s my grocery bag when I don’t want to carry my backpack (or need more space for my snacks).
Foldable travel bag – Technically for souvenirs or overflow items on the way home. Honestly, I haven’t needed it since my first contract, but it’s so small I keep packing it anyway – you never know.

suitcase and backpack — One large suitcase and one backpack to fit my life at sea. The suitcase is already telling me I should’ve invested in a luggage cover.

I don’t always follow my own advice, but I know it’s smart to include a change of clothes, underwear, and toiletries in the carry-on. I’ve had a colleague who was unlucky to have his luggage delayed. Personally, my carry-on is packed with what I call “introvert survival items” – books, chargers, and earphones.

It’s probably smarter to travel with two smaller bags instead of one giant one. If my suitcase goes missing, I’m done for. But for now, I stick with one big bag because it’s easier to manage.

It’s not perfect, but it gets me from point A to ship B with minimal chaos – and that’s more than enough.

What’s In My Suitcase

If you’re just here for the list and not my packing philosophy, this is the core list of what I bring for my cruise ship contracts…

Documents & money

Must-have documents – passport, seaman’s book, contract or letter of employment, visa, letter of guarantee, medical reports, safety certificates, and whatever other paperwork the company decides is essential. My country also issues a seaman card, which is pretty useless in practice, but I bring it anyway.
Foreign currency – I used to exchange a small amount of local currency for every new country I’d visit. Now, I just carry whatever leftover cash I have from previous contracts. Once, I got transferred to another ship and had to exchange money unnecessarily because I’d left my stash at home. A small bit of USD is always nice to have when you’ve just signed on, want to explore, but haven’t been paid yet.
Debit/credit cards – purely for backup.
E-wallets – Touch ’n Go, BigPay, and Wise. These are lifesavers in Southeast Asia ports where cashless payments are the norm.

Clothes

I try to make sure most of my tops can match more than one bottom, and vice versa. Basics like plain black pieces help me keep things simple but flexible – they can be dressed up with a blazer or kept casual with a denim jacket. These days, I don’t even bother with multiple pairs of shoes to match different outfits.

Ship laundry is brutal – buttons pop off, whites turn grey, and colours fade faster than they would at home. That’s why I pack a few staples – a jacket, dress, skirt, and shorts – because they survive the wear and tear better than anything else. Delicate items like stockings get handwashed, and I rarely put underwear in the machine, which is also why I don’t pack a mountain of them. (Plus, let’s be honest, I don’t enjoy doing laundry more than I have to.)

Formal / Workwear
- 5 shirts or blouses – I try to pick ones that wouldn’t look out of place on a casual day ashore.
- 3–4 pairs of black trousers or skirts – they go with everything.
- 2 blazers
Casual wear
- 6–8 short-sleeved T-shirts or tops
- 2 plaid long-sleeve shirts – light enough for warm-weather ports, great for layering when I feel cold.
- 2 pairs of shorts
- 1-2 skirts
- 1 dress
- 1 pair of leggings – I always pack one for “just in case” workouts (that never happen), or for hikes if I get the chance. I once thought another pair would be great for sleeping on cold nights, but they’re oddly uncomfortable.
- 2 sweatpants
- 1 pair of jeans – A perfect fit of jeans is hard to find
- 2 jackets or sweaters – One is usually a hoodie.
Sleepwear (2–3 sets) – Basically oversized T-shirts and shorts that could double as gym wear… if I ever went to the gym.
Safety pants
Underwear – About a week’s worth.
About 5 pairs of socks.
Shoes
- Work shoes – usually black pumps, loafers, oxfords, or ballet flats.
- Palladium Unisex Pampa Travel Lite+ Waterproof hiking boots – I used to bring Converse sneakers and another pair of sports shoes, but now I stick to hiking boots – comfy enough for city walks, sturdy enough for a trail hike.
- Slippers or flip flops.

Toiletries & laundry

I start each contract with full-sized toiletries – they bulk up the bag but eventually free up space (for shopping I didn’t plan, obviously). I also use a few laundry nets; they act as packing bags and help protect delicate clothes from the ship’s aggressive laundry machines.

A basic pouch (sometimes two) containing:
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Skincare bits:
  - Cleanser
  - Toner – which never quite fits in the pouch.
  - Sunscreen – which I forget to apply half the time.
- Sanitary products – Because I’m a woman. A menstrual cup, and a pack of pads (thrown in the luggage).
- Comb, hair ties
- Mini scissors, razor, nail clippers, tweezers
Bar soap – Switched from body wash as it’s cheaper and more sustainable.
Shampoo and conditioner
Compact hairdryer
A makeup pouch containing:
- Eyeliner, concealer, BB cream, foundation, blush, eyelash curler, lipstick, lip liner – I rarely use all of them.
Other small essentials:
- Facial wipes and hand sanitiser – More for shore leave than onboard.
- Tiger Balm – My all-in-one first-aid fix for headaches, flu, seasickness, and sore muscles.
- Mini sewing kit – I used to never bring one, then bought one mid-contract. Now I carry it and barely touch it, but I’d rather have it than go hunting for needles and thread.
Things you probably needn’t copy me on, especially if you don’t bother with personal laundry. I hand wash delicates – usually during showers when I’m already multitasking with my thoughts and existential dread.
- Travel-sized bottle of laundry detergent – I only use it for handwashing because our crew laundry system isn’t designed for adding your own detergent (and I don’t want to be that person who clogs the machines).
- Portable washing bag – for small loads.

Electronics & comfort items

I don’t bring much in the way of fancy gadgets, but the few things I do pack are either essential or make life onboard a little easier (or more tolerable). It’s a mix of tech, practical items, and random comforts that don’t really fit anywhere else.

Phone with maps, e-wallets, eSIM apps, and offline entertainment – I make sure e-wallets are loaded, my Airalo eSIM is activated, and music on Spotify is downloaded.

Watch – There are places onboard where you’re not allowed to carry a phone.
International adaptor plug – Non-negotiable. Every ship seems to have its own weird combination of plugs.
Laptop or tablet (optional) – Most crew bring something to watch movies or series.
Mini speaker – For blasting music in the cabin when I need an energy boost.
Chargers and cables
Power bank (optional) – If I have one, it’s mostly for travel days or long shore leave trips.
Books and notebook – I always plan to read and write a lot, but usually end up with just a few messy pages.
Thermal mug & water bottle – The water bottle tags along on shore leave.
Camera (optional) – I don’t have one yet, but I always wish I did.
Diffuser with a tiny bottle of essential oil – A few drops give me a mini aromatherapy session and make the cabin smell far less like recycled air
Magnetic hooks – I use them for drying socks, hanging small items, or simply making better use of vertical space.
Snacks or comfort foods – Some biscuits or local snacks from home.
A packet or two of instant coffee

Extras that make the cut

What I rarely use

Torch and whistle – Emergency items I’ve (thankfully) never used. But I always bring them; they’re part of my “peace of mind” kit.
Surface wipes – Useful if the cabin has vinyl flooring. Most of mine have carpet, so I just use damp toilet paper to clean up messes.
Travel umbrella – Only useful if I already see rain when I’m heading out. Completely useless for surprise downpours halfway across town.
Ultra-light down jacket – It folds into a pouch and takes up less space. But unless the itinerary involves actual cold-weather ports, it tends to stay at home. (More on that below.)
Towel – I bring my own because ship towels aren’t exactly spa quality, but I can’t bring myself to chuck my nice towel into the ship’s laundry. It stays folded up in my luggage.
Bandana – A versatile item; but it lives in my bag like a decorative piece of cloth.
Cap – I like the idea of wearing one, but they’re impractical for me. I sweat through them, I hate the hat hair aftermath, and I don’t know how to wash them onboard. They stay at home more often than not.
Sunglasses – What was I thinking when I bought a pair during my first contract? I wear prescription glasses anyway, so these just sit at the bottom of my bag.
Swimsuit and goggles – Haven’t replaced my old pair. Honestly, I don’t swim much and I feel awkward in swimwear, so these often stay untouched. I’m the kind of person who’ll wear leggings to the beach instead.

What I add for colder weather

To be clear, I’ve never worked in true cold climates – no snow, no icy ports. But I’ve done winter cruises where temperatures have dropped to single digits Celsius. So I pack layers – a sweater or a jacket that I could wear on duty, or while exploring port on chilly mornings.

I’ve brought my Uniqlo ultra-light down jacket before, the one that folds into its own pouch. In theory, it’s perfect. In practice? One contract, we were issued crew jackets onboard that handled the laundry situation better – I still haven’t figured out how to hand wash down. Another time, I packed it all ready for winter… and ended up getting only a handful of shore leaves before the cold season disappeared. I still think it’s worth bringing if I’m flying in or out of a wintry country.

Another time, I brought a tunic sweater that shrank in the ship dryer (oops), and I still mourn the suitcase space it wasted.

I’ve learnt now: when packing for cooler weather, think climate-controlled ship, not winter wonderland. One or two warm-ish layers are enough.

Phew. That’s my packing saga laid bare.