I’ve been on more than a dozen cruise ships in my lifetime, which has given me plenty of experience in determining what to pack for a cruise. Between studying abroad on a ship with Semester at Sea, family travel—my parents both spent their careers working for cruise lines, so it was the de facto summer vacation growing up—and assignments for work, I count myself lucky to have traveled everywhere from the Mediterranean and Alaska to the Caribbean via cruise ship. All of those trips have made me something of a pro at packing for a cruise, if I do say so myself.
Now, unless you’re on an expedition trip to, say, Antarctica, packing for cruise is a fairly straightforward endeavor: On warm weather trips, throw some bathing suits, sandals, a Kindle full of books to read by the pool, and your usual wardrobe staples into a carry-on and you’re basically good to go. On colder trips, add in some layers—but keep the swimsuit, so you can make the most of the spa facilities and hot tubs. Beyond that, though, there are a few trip essentials that shouldn’t be left off your cruise packing list, including small items that’ll help you cut down on excess carry-on or checked bag weight. Looking to tailor your outfits to the location you’re headed to? I’ve got recommendations there, too.
Below, my best tips on what to pack for a cruise.
Before embarkation
First thing’s first: If you’ve experienced seasickness before, or are headed on your first cruise, it’s a good idea to come prepared with Dramamine and Sea-Bands, which apply pressure to a point on your wrist that can help reduce nausea, just in case motion sickness occurs.
If you’re headed to an international destination, you’ll want a protective case to keep travel documents (passport, visas) safe in, and something to make sure you can charge up while en route. Nearly every cruise ship is equipped with both American and European plugs, but don’t let that stop you from tucking a travel adaptor into your bag: If you’re doing any additional travel before or after your cruise, or have a long layover along the way, an adaptor will come in handy.
Lastly, wherever you’re headed, give yourself some added peace of mind with luggage tags, like Apple AirTags or Samsung Galaxy SmartTags, and a portable luggage scale, so you can shuffle around items as needed before you get to baggage check.
Around the ship
Sea days are often spent strolling around the ship: watching discussions or performances in the theater, gazing at the open water while lounging poolside, lingering in a dining room for a long lunch, or curling up in the library with a good read. You’ll want outfits that are easy enough to throw over a bathing suit (like sundresses or linen shirts), as well as layers to keep you warm when the cool sea breeze rolls in around dusk (or the air conditioning is pumping particularly hard in the game room). A light windbreaker like the one below from Janji is much cooler than a poncho, and will keep you dry if a sudden rain shower breaks out when you’re on an outdoor deck. Bring along your own reusable water bottle, too—most ships have fill-up stations in dining areas and on disembarkation floors, so you can skip the plastic bottles and stay hydrated both on the ship and off.
