What Should You Pack for a Cruise? Complete Checklist by Destination

Everything you need, nothing you don't — a practical packing guide from advisors who've boarded more than 80 cruise ships

The first few cruises I ever took, I overpacked catastrophically. By cruise ten, I had a system. By cruise thirty, I could pack for a 10-night Caribbean sailing in about 45 minutes and not feel like I was missing anything. Here's the packing approach Trip and I use today — comprehensive but practical, with destination-specific additions for Alaska, Europe, and the Caribbean.

Travel Documents: The Non-Negotiables

Lose your sunscreen and you can buy more on the ship. Lose your passport and your cruise might end before it starts. Travel documents go in your carry-on — never in checked luggage.

Photograph every document and email the photos to yourself so they're accessible from any device anywhere. This has saved travelers we know from a genuinely catastrophic situation.

Medications: Plan Before You Pack

This is the area where under-preparation causes the most trouble. Ships have medical centers, but they're not pharmacies — you can't count on getting a specific medication dispensed onboard, and at ports in some countries, even over-the-counter medications aren't available in the same formulations.

Carry-On Essentials: Never Check These

Electronics and Charging

Modern cruise cabins typically have a limited number of outlets — often two or three, sometimes with one being a USB-only port. Cruise ships use standard US 110V outlets in most cases, with some ships offering 220V as well. Power strips are allowed on most cruise lines, but extension cords without surge protection are often not.

Clothing: The Foundation

The most common packing mistake is bringing too much — and the most common under-packing mistake is forgetting one category entirely. Here's the framework Cindy uses: plan your evenings first, since dining requires the most intentional outfits, then build your daytime wardrobe around that.

Formal Night: What You Actually Need

Formal nights vary by cruise line. Carnival and Norwegian are more relaxed — smart casual is genuinely acceptable. Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Holland America have traditional formal nights where dresses, suits, or jackets are expected. Celebrity and Cunard lean more formal still. Luxury lines like Silversea and Seabourn expect elevated dress on most evenings.

For a standard 7-night cruise with two formal nights: a cocktail dress or elegant evening top and dress pants for women, a suit or jacket with dress pants for men. You're not going to the Met Gala — you're going to dinner on a nice ship. Keep it elegant but don't overthink it.

Footwear: The One Area Where It's Worth Being Selective

Toiletries: Keep It Lean

Ships provide shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion — quality varies significantly from budget to luxury lines. Specialty products (your preferred shampoo, skincare routine, etc.) are worth bringing. Don't replicate what the ship provides unless you're particular about it.

Prohibited Items: What the Ship Won't Let Through

Destination-Specific Packing

Packing with Children

Packing for Seniors

Laundry on a Cruise: Your Options

Most cruise ships offer self-service laundromats (coin or cruise card operated), send-out laundry service (priced per item, expensive), and dry cleaning. Some premium cabin categories include complimentary laundry. Bringing a small packet of travel laundry soap and a few sink-washable items reduces packing volume significantly on sailings of 10 nights or more.

Luggage Recommendations

Most cruise cabins have closets, drawers, and under-bed storage. For a 7-night sailing, a 24–26 inch checked bag plus a carry-on is ideal for most couples. Longer sailings or Alaska (where you wear more volume of clothing) may justify a 28-inch bag. Soft-sided luggage is easier to maneuver through tight cabin corridors than rigid shells.

Luggage tags are collected at the pier and attached to your bags for cabin delivery. Remove all old tags from previous trips to avoid your bags being sent to the wrong destination. Bring your own brightly colored luggage tag or ribbon to identify your bags quickly on the pier.