Pack right for your cruise vacation with this list covering formal night outfits, shore excursion gear, cabin essentials, seasickness remedies, and pool and spa items.
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Formal & Evening Wear
Formal night outfit (1-2 depending on cruise length)
A 7-night cruise typically has 2 formal nights; 14-night cruises have 3-4. Men need a dark suit or tuxedo, women a cocktail dress or evening gown. Venues turn away guests in jeans or shorts on formal nights.
Dress shoes to match formal outfit
Accessories: cufflinks, jewelry, clutch bag
Smart casual outfits for dining room (3-4)
Main dining rooms enforce a smart casual dress code every night. Collared shirts, slacks, and closed-toe shoes for men; blouses, skirts, or dress pants for women. Pack 3-4 outfits and rotate them since you sit with different table neighbors each night.
Light jacket or cardigan for air-conditioned interiors
Ship interiors run 18-20°C (65-68°F) year-round, which feels freezing after a day on the sun deck at 30°C+. A light layer in your day bag saves a trip back to your cabin before dinner.
Casual Daywear & Pool Gear
Swimsuits (2-3)
Pool decks, hot tubs, and beach excursions can burn through swimsuits fast. Two suits minimum so one dries while you wear the other — cabin bathrooms have limited hanging space for wet items.
T-shirts, tank tops, and shorts (5-6 outfits)
Sea days are casual from morning to afternoon. Quick-dry fabrics handle poolside splashes and unexpected rain on deck. Six casual outfits cover a 7-day cruise without doing laundry.
Pool cover-up or robe
Most ships require a cover-up over swimwear outside the pool deck area. A lightweight cotton or mesh cover-up weighs under 200g and stops the awkward walk through the buffet in a wet bikini.
Comfortable walking shoes and flip-flops
Cruise ships are massive — the largest ones are over 360 meters long. You'll walk 8,000-12,000 steps per day just moving between activities, dining rooms, and your cabin. Pack shoes with arch support alongside flip-flops for the pool.
Athletic wear for the fitness center
Ship gyms are free and usually empty before 9 AM. Pack 2-3 sets of workout clothes — the onboard laundry costs $3-5 per item, so having extras saves money on a longer cruise.
Shore Excursion Gear
Sturdy walking shoes or hiking sandals
Port excursions often involve cobblestone streets, beach walking, and uneven terrain. Sport sandals with a thick sole and heel strap handle both beach days and 5-8 km walking tours without blisters.
Small crossbody bag or anti-theft daypack
Cruise port towns are prime pickpocket zones due to the flood of tourists at docking times. A crossbody bag worn under your arm and in front of your body prevents 90% of snatch-and-grab theft.
Reef-safe sunscreen and sun hat
Many Caribbean and Mediterranean ports now fine tourists $500+ for using non-reef-safe sunscreen at beaches. Mineral-based sunscreen with zinc oxide satisfies all local regulations.
Waterproof pouch for phone and cash
A waterproof pouch rated IPX8 protects your phone, ship card, and cash during kayaking, snorkeling, and boat tender rides. Keep only what you need for the day — leave your passport locked in the cabin safe.
Collapsible water bottle
A 750ml collapsible silicone bottle weighs 100g and flattens to almost nothing in your bag. Fill it onboard before heading ashore — water at port shops costs $3-5 per bottle.
Cabin Essentials
Power strip or USB charging hub (non-surge)
Cruise cabins have 1-2 outlets total, often in inconvenient locations. A power strip with 3 outlets and 2 USB ports charges all your devices overnight. Surge protectors are banned on most cruise lines — pack a basic power strip only.
Magnetic hooks for cabin walls (4-6)
Cruise cabin walls are steel behind the decor. Magnetic hooks hold hats, lanyards, bags, and wet swimsuits — instantly tripling your hanging space. Pack 4-6 heavy-duty hooks rated for 4+ kg each.
Night light (stick-on or plug-in)
Interior cabins are pitch black at night, and even balcony cabins get dark with curtains closed. A motion-sensor stick-on LED light prevents toe-stubbing trips to the bathroom at 3 AM.
Hanging toiletry bag
Cruise bathroom counters measure about 30 x 45 cm — barely enough for a toothbrush. A hanging toiletry bag hooks onto the towel rack or shower rod and keeps everything accessible without counter space.
Lanyard for cruise card
Your cruise card is your room key, payment method, and boarding pass. You'll tap it 20-30 times per day. A retractable lanyard around your neck means you never leave it behind or dig through pockets.
Door decorations or whiteboard for cabin identification
Cruise hallways have hundreds of identical doors. A small magnetic decoration or whiteboard on your door helps you spot your cabin instantly — especially useful late at night after a show or dinner.
Health & Seasickness
Seasickness medication or patches
Even experienced cruisers get seasick in rough seas. Scopolamine patches applied behind the ear last 72 hours and cause less drowsiness than oral meclizine. Apply the patch 4-6 hours before boarding for full effect.
Acupressure wristbands
Wristbands pressing the P6 (Nei Guan) point on your inner wrist reduce nausea without medication side effects. Wear them on both wrists starting 30 minutes before the ship departs for the best results.
Hand sanitizer (travel sizes, 2-3)
Norovirus outbreaks affect 1-2% of cruise passengers yearly, spreading through shared surfaces. Sanitize your hands every time you enter a dining area, touch elevator buttons, or handle stair railings.
Prescription medications (full supply plus 3-day extra)
Ship medical centers charge $150-300 for a basic consultation and mark up medications 200-400%. Carry all prescriptions in original bottles with your name on the label to clear port security.
Basic first aid: bandages, pain relievers, antacid
The buffet and 24-hour pizza will test your stomach. Pack antacids for the first 2-3 days while your body adjusts to richer-than-usual dining. Ibuprofen handles headaches from sun exposure on deck.
Documents & Onboard Essentials
Passport (valid 6+ months) and boarding documents
Print your boarding pass, luggage tags, and embarkation group assignment. Check-in lines at cruise terminals average 30-60 minutes, but having printed documents can shave 15 minutes off your wait.
Photocopy stored in separate bag
Digital copies in phone and cloud
Travel insurance with cruise-specific coverage
Standard travel insurance often excludes cruise-specific incidents like missed port departures and emergency medical evacuation by helicopter from sea. Cruise-specific policies cost $50-150 for a 7-day trip and cover up to $50,000 in medical costs at sea.
Cash in small bills for port visits and tips
Bring $50-100 in small bills ($1, $5, $10) for each port — many local vendors and taxi drivers don't accept cards. Gratuities for porters at embarkation are typically $1-2 per bag.
Waterproof document holder
Tender boats between ship and shore get splashed by waves regularly. A waterproof document holder protects your passport and ship card during these short but wet boat rides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I pack for a cruise that most people forget?
A power strip or USB hub is the most forgotten item since cabins typically have only one outlet for two passengers. A magnetic hook set hangs towels, hats, and lanyards on the metal cabin walls for extra organization. A lanyard for your cruise card keeps it accessible for the dozens of daily scans at dining, pools, and gangways.
How much extra money do I need on a cruise beyond the fare?
Budget $50-100 per person per day for excursions, specialty dining, drinks, and the spa. Automatic gratuities run $16-20 per person per day on most major cruise lines. Drink packages ($60-100/day) pay for themselves at 5-6 cocktails per day so do the math based on your actual drinking habits before buying.
Can I bring alcohol on a cruise ship?
Most cruise lines allow one bottle of wine or champagne per adult at embarkation while hard liquor is confiscated and returned at the end of the voyage. Carnival allows one 750ml wine bottle; Royal Caribbean allows two. Sneaking liquor in shampoo bottles or rum runners gets detected by X-ray screening and results in confiscation.
Do I need formal clothes for a cruise?
Most 7-night cruises have 1-2 formal nights where the main dining room requires collared shirts for men and cocktail attire for women. Khakis and a button-down shirt satisfy smart casual requirements on non-formal nights. The buffet and casual dining venues have no dress code beyond shoes and a shirt at any time.
Should I book excursions through the cruise line or independently?
Ship-booked excursions guarantee the ship waits for you if the tour runs late while independent excursions do not, and the ship will leave without you. Independent excursions cost 30-50% less on average and offer smaller group sizes. Book independently only in ports where you can easily get back to the ship by your own means within the all-aboard window.