Cruise packing list
Evening wear, swimwear, binoculars and your cruise booking documents: the list for days on board and shore visits in foreign ports.
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Combine it with a second list
A trip is often more than one list. Add a second one: matching sections are folded together and nothing appears twice.
Clothes for deck, shore and dinner
On a cruise you need clothes for three settings: on board and by the pool during the day, ashore in a town or on a beach, and at dinner in the evening. Light clothes, swimwear and a sun hat cover the day. There is nearly always a breeze on deck, so a light jacket and a cardigan belong in your case even in summer.
Evenings depend a lot on the cruise line. Some ships stay casual throughout, others plan formal nights with suits and dresses. Check your booking documents for what applies on your voyage, and pack at least one smart outfit with shoes to match.
The cabin: little space, well organised
Cabins are usually smaller than a hotel room, and surfaces are scarce. Magnetic hooks stick to the metal walls of many cabins and make room for bags, hats and your cruise card. A laundry bag keeps worn clothes apart, and a small night light helps in an inside cabin with no window.
There are often only a few sockets in the cabin. A multi-port USB charger charges your phone, camera and power bank at once. Whether extension leads are allowed is up to each cruise line, so check their guidance before you sail.
What people often forget on a cruise
Often missing are binoculars for coastlines, harbours and perhaps dolphins, travel sickness tablets for the first day of rough sea, and a lanyard to hang your cruise card round your neck. Water shoes for stony beaches ashore and a waterproof phone pouch are also things people only miss once they need them.
With documents, it is easy to overlook that the ports on one route can be in different countries. Whether you need a visa, a passport rather than an ID card, or a particular vaccination depends on your route. Check in good time with the cruise line and your government’s travel advice.
Hand luggage for the first day
On embarkation day your main luggage is often taken on board separately and only reaches your cabin hours later. So put what you need until the evening in your hand luggage: travel documents, medication, chargers, swimwear and sun cream, plus a top for the first dinner.
If children are travelling with you, or you are spending a few days at the beach before the cruise, combine the template with holiday with kids or beach holiday. Matching sections are folded together and nothing appears twice.
Frequently asked questions
What do you wear in the evening on a cruise?
That depends on the cruise line and the ship. On many ships evenings are fairly casual, some hold a few formal nights, and others keep a set dress code in the restaurant. What applies is usually in your booking documents or on the cruise line’s website. Either way, one smart outfit and shoes to match almost always belong in your case.
Can I take an extension lead on a cruise?
Many cruise lines ban certain devices in the cabin, and extension leads or irons are often among them. What exactly is allowed differs from one cruise line to the next, so check their guidance before you travel. A multi-port USB charger is often a good answer, because it charges your phone, camera and power bank at the same time from a single socket.
What helps against seasickness on a cruise?
On large ships many people hardly notice the motion, but in rough seas it can affect anyone. A cabin in the middle of the ship and on a lower deck moves less, and fresh air and looking at the horizon help too. Bring travel sickness tablets or an acupressure band just in case. Ask a pharmacist or your doctor which remedy suits you.
What should I take when going ashore?
A day pack with water, sunglasses, sun cream and a little cash in the local currency is enough for a day ashore. Add your cruise card, without which you cannot get back on board, and your ID or passport depending on the port. Keep an eye on the time everyone has to be back: the ship does not usually wait for guests exploring on their own.
How it works
“Start with this list” opens the template – once you have signed in with your email address.
Add more templates, such as “Before leaving” for the water, the heating and the plants. Nothing appears twice.
Create the list, tick it off, archive it after the trip – and pack it again next time.
Good to know
- Can I change the list?
- Yes. Your list is yours: add, rename, move and delete items. The template stays as it is.
- Does it cost anything?
- No. No subscription, no ads. All you need is an email address, no password.