Begin Your Vacation Right with these Must-haves
Ahoy there. So, you’re thinking about joining the increasing number of cruisers and booking your next holiday on a cruise ship? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Before embarking on the trip of a lifetime, it’s important to acquaint yourself with everything you might need to take with you. The alternative is to realize you’ve forgotten something once you’re onboard, and safe to say - it’s hard finding what you’re looking for at sea.
From the obvious - a fashionable pair of shades and your passport - to the surprising - good-quality earplugs and travel sickness tablets - this is the ultimate cruise packing list.
Be prepared ahead of departure from the port. Leave all your stresses on land and set sail with everything you need with our cruise packing list.
What Will Be Provided On Your Cruise?
No two cruises are the same, and so the question - what will be provided? - is a difficult one to answer. Different cruise holiday companies offer different items for their passengers.
It’s a given that, whoever you’ve booked with, you’ll be provided with food and water, toilet roll, and hand soap - and there will be alcoholic and soft drinks available to purchase onboard. Beyond that, there’s no one rule.
Picture the scene. You’ve got your bikini and sunglasses on, sipping a margarita by the pool, and you turn to pick up your new book. You bought it two months ago, ready for this very moment. But wait, you’ve forgotten it. It’s still at home.
Fortunately, all cruise ships host a small shop or two. With a new book, your holiday is back on track, and reading by the pool can finally commence. It’s important to note, however, that the onboard shops don’t sell everything you may have left behind.
You can familiarize yourself with what will be provided as part of your booking and what the onboard shops sell by visiting the website of your specific cruise holiday company.
To avoid stepping out of the shower without a towel or realizing you’ve forgotten to bring money, it’s best practice to pack everything from the lists we’ve provided below. Read each list carefully, and pack items one-by-one to ensure you don’t miss anything.
Not everything listed applies to everyone, so consider which items in this cruise packing list are relevant to you before buying or packing.
Clothes To Pack
Cruises aren’t like other holidays, and one style doesn’t fit all occasions. Uniquely, you’ll quickly go from lounging by the pool to formal evening meals with the Captain. You’ll need to pack these cruise essentials for all eventualities.
Informal Clothes To Pack
- Shorts and/or skirts.
- Dresses.
- Tights.
- Shirts and/or blouses.
- T-shirts.
- Jeans and/or pants.
- Underwear and socks.
- Bathing suits.
- Pajamas.
- Jumpers.
- Jackets and/or coats.
- A scarf (if cruising in colder seas).
- A belt.
- Trainers and flip-flops.
- A cap and/or hat.
- Gym clothes in case your ship has a gym onboard.
Formal Attire To Pack
- A blazer and/or dinner jacket.
- A tie or bow tie.
- A dress shirt and/or blouse.
- Dress trousers.
- Dress shoes and/or heels.
- An evening gown and/or cocktail dress.
- Jewelry, such as a necklace, earring, or cufflinks.
Toiletries To Pack
Here’s our comprehensive toiletries packing list.
- Makeup.
- Hairspray and/or hair gel.
- Hair curlers and or/ hair straighteners.
- A hairdryer.
- Shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner.
- A toothbrush.
- Toothpaste.
- Dental floss.
- Mouthwash.
- Deodorant.
- Aftershave and/or perfume.
- Moisturizer.
- Hand sanitizer.
- Feminine products.
- Glasses and/or contact lenses.
- Sunscreen.
- Towels.
Other Items To Pack
Beyond clothes and toiletries, there are lots of other items you’ll need to pack. These items are listed below.
- Your passport.
- Your boarding ticket and associated information.
- Travel sickness tablets in case of bumpy seas.
- Makeup wipes.
- A tote bag.
- A backpack and/or handbag.
- Earplugs in case of noisy neighbors.
- Chargers.
- A journal to capture your favorite moments.
- Debit and/or credit cards.
- Cash in local currencies.
- Paracetamol and other medicines.
- Sunglasses.
- Books.
- A camera.
- Travel adaptors.
- Headphones.
- An umbrella.
- Prosecco and/or champagne to start your holiday in style (most cruise holiday companies permit a few bottles to be brought onboard).
You’re Ready To Set Sail
These trusty cruise packing tips are all you need for your upcoming holiday. Ensure that your time onboard is uninterrupted by packing plenty of clothes for all occasions, essentials like your passport and boarding pass, and leisure items such as books and headphones.
You’re ready to jump aboard on your next cruise. A relaxing trip on the sea awaits.