Some cruise packing mistakes are the classics we all know to watch for. Then there are the ones nobody really talks about, the sneaky ones that catch even seasoned cruisers off guard.
I recently watched a fellow cruiser almost miss her sailing over a packing mistake, and on my own last trip I got flagged by airport security for something I never would have guessed was a problem. So I put together this list of the packing mistakes tripping up cruisers this year, plus a few newer rules at the airport and on cruise ships that are catching people out.
Several members of our Facebook cruise community also chimed in with their own packing mishaps, so you’ll find a few of those mixed in too.
The Cruise Packing Mistakes to Watch For This Year
1. Packing Your Passport in Checked Luggage
This is the one I had to mention first, because even though it feels like something everyone should know by now, cruisers are still doing it. On a recent Alaska cruise, a woman in line near us realized she had packed her passport in her checked luggage, and she needed it to board.
Once porters take your checked bags to load them onto the ship, there are thousands of pieces of luggage on the move all at once. Finding one bag in time to pull out a passport is genuinely tough, and every cruise season people miss their sailing because of it.
Thankfully, this cruiser got her passport back just in time, but she was one of the lucky ones. Keep your passport, visa paperwork, and any other travel documents in your carry-on or personal bag, never in anything you hand off to the porters. For more common slip-ups like this one, check out 27 cruise packing mistakes you might be making.
2. Wearing (or Packing) the Wrong Shoes
Uncomfortable shoes can put a real damper on embarkation day. I learned this one myself when I wore cute sandals on embarkation day about a year ago, not realizing just how many steps I’d be racking up exploring the ship.
All my other shoes were tucked away in my checked luggage, so I was stuck in those sandals the entire day and ended up with blisters that lasted the whole week. A comfortable, broken-in pair belongs in your carry-on, not your checked bag, especially on day one. If you want more tips on avoiding wardrobe regrets, this guide on what not to wear on a cruise is worth a read.
3. Not Following the New Power Bank Rules
Power banks are a two-part mistake this year. On the flight side, airline rules have gotten stricter, and quite a few airlines now want power banks kept in your personal item, visible and on you, rather than tucked into checked luggage or even overhead carry-on bins.
On the cruise side, the mistake is simply not packing enough of them. You’ll want your phone charged at all times, especially on port days, since letting your battery dip under 20 percent can actually affect your photo and video quality.
4. Skipping a Carry-On or Personal Bag for Your Flight and Embarkation
I’m always surprised by how many cruisers skip this step, both for their flight and for embarkation day. If your luggage gets misplaced or delayed even for a day or two, you’ll want medication, valuables, tech items, and a change of clothes right there with you.
This one applies twice on a cruise vacation: once for the flight, and again for those first few hours on the ship before your checked luggage shows up at your cabin. A well-packed embarkation day bag saves you from scrambling, and this list of essential things to pack in your cruise carry-on bag is a great place to start building yours.
5. Packing a Carry-On That’s Too Heavy
If you’re flying internationally, your carry-on bag will likely get weighed at the airport, and the restrictions tend to run stricter in Europe and other international destinations than what many of us are used to at home. Check both the size and the weight limits before you fly, not just the size.
6. Packing Items That Get Flagged by Airport Security
This one actually happened to me on my most recent trip. We were traveling carry-on only, and a candle I’d picked up at my hotel got my bag flagged during TSA screening.
Turns out candles can trigger extra scrutiny because of what could potentially be hidden inside them, so they get tested and taken seriously. It added about 20 minutes to my screening process, which was fine that day since I had time to spare, but it’s worth thinking twice about a candle as a souvenir if you’re working with a tight connection.
7. Forgetting a Backup Pair of Eyeglasses
I can’t tell you how many cruisers this has happened to, including my own husband Frank just a few months ago. We were on a short pre-cruise stay in Florida when he was out running with our dog, the dog cut in front of him, and he took a tumble.
He ended up with cuts on his face and broken glasses. Thankfully we had a week before the cruise for him to heal, and he had a backup pair that saved the day, so a small eyeglass repair kit and a spare pair are both smart additions to your packing list, just in case.
8. Packing Medication Incorrectly
Medication gets its own spot on this list because there’s more than one mistake hiding here. First, never pack your medication in checked luggage since you don’t want to be separated from it if a bag gets delayed.
Second, always pack extra, about one week beyond what you think you’ll need, along with a list of your medications saved on your phone or written down. A few members of our Facebook cruise community shared that they’d forgotten prescription medication at home entirely, which meant tracking down a local doctor while traveling internationally.
The TSA doesn’t typically require medication to stay in its original containers, though if you’re traveling internationally, it’s worth checking the rules for every country on your itinerary since a common medication at home can be a controlled substance elsewhere. If you’re unsure whether pill organizers are allowed, check your specific cruise line’s website, or ask your pharmacist to prepare your medication in bubble packets instead.
For more detail on the rules, this guide on how to pack medication for your cruise walks through it, and it’s also worth building out a proper cruise first aid kit before you go.
9. Packing Items That Can Leak
Wine is the big one here. Packing it in checked luggage is against most cruise line rules, meaning it can get confiscated, and a broken bottle can just as easily ruin your clothes.
A few other items to watch for leaks include:
- Hairspray
- Nail polish and nail polish remover
- Any liquid toiletries that aren’t sealed properly
Keep these in your carry-on and pack them well, so a little spill doesn’t turn into a bigger mess.
10. Not Using Packing Cubes the Right Way
Packing cubes often get thought of purely as a space saver, and while they do save space, their real value is as an organizational tool. Group your tops together, your eveningwear together, your gym gear together, and your swimsuits together.
This way, once you’re in your cabin, each cube works almost like its own little drawer. If you want to take this a step further, the Cruise Sudoku Packing Method is a smart way to build a mix-and-match wardrobe with fewer pieces.
11. Not Protecting Your Luggage Properly
There are two mistakes wrapped up in this one. The first is putting too much personal information on your airport luggage tags, since a home address on a visible tag is basically an invitation for a bad actor at a busy airport.
Stick to your name and an email address instead. The second mistake is skipping the cruise line’s own luggage tags in favor of a stapled paper one, which can easily tear off, so a luggage tag holder is worth having on hand to keep your printed tag protected and secure, as shared in this roundup of cruise luggage and packing accessories.
12. Skipping AirTags or Luggage Trackers
Whether you’re flying or boarding the ship, luggage can go missing, especially if a paper tag falls off. A Bluetooth tracker or AirTag gives you real peace of mind that your bags never truly disappear.
It’s become one of the more popular cruiser accessories in recent years, and it made the list in this roundup of new cruise travel products.
13. Assuming You Can Buy Everything Onboard
Cruise ships do carry the basics in their onboard shops, but the selection is often limited, they may not carry your preferred brand, and prices tend to run three or four times higher than what you’d pay at home. This is especially true for motion sickness medication, cold medicine, sunscreen, pain relievers, and feminine hygiene products.
On one particularly rocky recent cruise, plenty of guests got seasick, and some told me the ship’s shop actually ran out of motion sickness remedies entirely. I always travel with Bonine and find it works well for me, but the real takeaway is to pack whatever works for you rather than counting on guest services to have it. This roundup of must-have cruise essentials is a solid starting point if you want to build out your own list.
14. The Forgotten Items Cruisers Regret Most
Beyond the bigger mistakes, there’s a whole list of smaller items that cruisers in our community say they’ve left behind. A few of the most common ones include:
- A hanging toiletry bag left on the back of a pre-cruise hotel bathroom door
- Underwear, socks, shapewear, and swimsuits forgotten at home
- Luggage left sitting in the driveway, only noticed once at the port
- Dresses or suits left hanging on the back of a door instead of making it into the suitcase
- Pants or trousers, more often than you’d think
If you want the full list of what cruisers regret leaving behind, check out 32 things people forget to pack for a cruise, and run through this last minute cruise packing checklist the night before you leave.
15. The Disembarkation Day Outfit Mistake
This mistake catches even experienced cruisers off guard. On the last night, people get anxious about finishing up and end up sending every last piece of clothing out with their luggage, forgetting to set aside an outfit, shoes, and sometimes even a bathrobe for the next morning.
Before you put your luggage out on the final night, lay aside exactly what you’ll wear to disembark, right down to your shoes. For more on what to watch for during those final hours, this guide to 10 big mistakes cruisers make on debarkation day walks through the whole process.
Final Thoughts
Most of these cruise packing mistakes are easy enough to avoid once you know they exist, which is exactly why I wanted to share the ones that don’t get talked about enough. A little extra planning around your documents, medication, and embarkation day bag goes a long way toward starting your cruise vacation off on the right foot.
If you’ve made any of these mistakes yourself, you’re definitely not alone, and now you know exactly how to dodge them next time. Happy cruising!