Are you going on a family cruise and wondering what to pack for your children? This kid’s cruise packing list has everything you’ll need to bring for your cruise vacation.

Whether you’re going on a Caribbean or Bahamas cruise, or any other destination, this cruise packing guide for children will help.

Here’s what to pack for kids on a cruise, so you’ll have everything you need.

In this post we go over:

What clothes to pack for your children
Kids cruise essentials
Babies & toddlers cruise essentials
Must have items for families

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Cruise Packing List For Kids

If you’re going on a cruise with kids, you’ll want to plan and pack for sea days, days in port and evenings on the cruise ship.

Most cruise lines are casual during the day and have a dress code in the evening in the main dining room and nicer restaurants. Resort casual attire is perfect for most nights.

Some cruise lines have a formal or dressy night, where passengers will dress up a little bit more. However for children, dress codes are pretty relaxed.

This cruise packing list of clothing for kids is a good planning guide, that will help you to bring everything you need for your family cruise. Please adjust the list of clothing to the length of your cruise, your itinerary and your child’s preferences.

Cruise Packing List for Kids:

7 t-shirts
4-5 pairs of shorts
2-3 bathing suits
3-4 polo shirts or nice tops (evening)
2 long sleeve shirts or sweatshirt (for cooler days or evenings)
2-3 casual dresses or sundresses for girls
2 pair of leggings or sweat pants (comfy clothes)
1-2 fancy dresses for formal nights for girls
1 suits or dress pants and 2 shirts for formal nights for boys
Undergarments
Socks
Sleepwear
Belt and tie (optional)
Hair accessories
Sunglasses
Baseball cap or sunhat
Rain poncho
Pool and brach sandals
Sneakers
Dress shoes (evening)

Cruise Line Specific & Itinerary Packing Lists

Kid’s Cruise Essentials

1. Toys

Although there are a lot of activities for kids on a cruise, it’s a good idea to bring a few small toys to keep your child busy in the cabin or even on the airplane.

You won’t have room for a lot. However, consider allowing each child to pack a small backpack with some toys, books and markers to keep them occupied.

Sand Toys

If you’re going on a Caribbean, Bermuda or other warm weather cruise, sand toys are a great item to pack for beach days and shore excursions.

These collapsible sand toys take up less room and are easier to pack for your family cruise.

It’s a good idea to bring mesh beach bags to carry sand toys and other items between the cruise ship and beach.

2. Water Shoes

For the lido deck and pool, beach or shore excursions, water shoes are a necessary cruise essential for children.

3. Sun Hat

If you’re visiting the Caribbean islands, Hawaii or Bermuda, you can expect sunny and warm weather. If you have young kids, bringing a sun hat with UV protection is a great idea. A baseball cap for older children and teens is great too.

4. Closed Toe Shoes

A standard pair of sneakers is perfect for a cruise. Remember that your child will need closed toe shoes to participate in some of the cruise ship activities and sports (don’t forget socks!).

5. Swim Goggles

Since the oceans and pools on the cruise ship are salt water, it’s important to pack a pair or two of swim goggles. Goggles don’t take up much room in your luggage, but will be used a lot throughout your cruise vacation.

6. Children’s Medication

Remember to pack pain reliever and fever reducing medication, as well as any other children’s medication you may use in your household.

Something to note is that cruise ships will have a limited supply of over the counter medications and first aid products, so be sure to pack what you may need.

7. Band-Aids

Consider packing a mini first aid kit with band-aids and antibiotic ointment to take care of any small cuts and scratches.

9. Umbrella Stroller

Having a lightweight stroller both on the cruise ship and in ports will be a lifesaver (even if your child doesn’t usually use a stroller anymore).

An umbrella stroller is the easiest to pack and bring on a cruise – and is affordable.

11. Children’s Sunscreen

On your family vacation, you will be spending a lot of time under the sun. Getting some children’s sunscreen is a great way to protect your kids from getting sunburned.

If your children like spending time in the pool or ocean, getting a reef safe, water resistant sunscreen is a great idea.

Recommended: Reef friendly sunscreen

12. Children’s Insect Repellant

Picking up some children’s insect repellant is a good idea. Although there aren’t insects on the cruise, there may be mosquitos in some cruise ports (research before you go).

13. Packaged Snacks (Optional)

Although there are plenty of included food options onboard your cruise, bringing packaged snacks on a cruise can be practical.

Whether if it’s because your child is hungry after dinner or needs a small snack in a port of call, packaged snacks like granola bars can be handy.

Please note that you ports restrict the food you’re allowed to take off the cruise ship (usually fruit, vegetables and meats). Always check the rules before bringing anything off the ship.

14. Thermometer

Packing a lightweight thermometer in your mini first-aid kit is a good idea in case your children feels under the weather.

Recommended: Thermometer for travel

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15. Plastic Baggies

Whether if it’s for bringing toys, snacks or miscellaneous items, ziploc style plastic baggies will be useful during your family cruise. Always pack a few resealable bags, as you never know when they’ll come in handy.

16. Small Inflatable Pool / bathtub (optional)

A genius cruise cabin hack for parents is to pack small inflatable pool or bath when cruising with babies or toddlers. These can placed at the bottom of the shower stall in your stateroom bathroom, since most do not have bathtubs.

Babies & Toddlers Cruise Essentials

If you’re cruising with babies or toddlers, here are some things to add to add to your cruise packing list (as needed):

Diapers / pull-ups / swim diapers
Baby wipes
Diaper creme
Baby food / formula (if needed)
Sippy cups / bottles
Pacifiers
Blanket or favorite stuffed animal (optional)
Car seat for travel (optional)
Baby carrier (optional)
Bibs
Children’s books

Must Have Items to Pack for Families

1. Packing Cubes

Having packing cubes for each family member is a great idea. Using packing cubes to strategically pack your clothing will help kee the whole family organized.

Packing cubes are a must have cruise essential items that are loved by all cruisers.

2. Sunscreen

Make sure to pack enough sunscreen for the duration of your trip. Reef safe sunscreen is preferred for Caribbean and Bahamas cruises.

Recommended: Reef friendly sunscreen

3. Refillable Water Bottles

Packing some reusable water bottles for your family vacation is a great idea. This way, you can bring water off of the cruise ship and you won’t have to purchase water bottles when you are onboard the ship.

4. Motion Sensor Night Light

A battery powered motion sensor night light is a cruise cabin essential that is perfect for families. In the evening time, if the lights are off in your cabin, your stateroom will get very dark (especially an inside cabin).

If you or one of your family members gets up in the middle of the night, a night light will come in handy.

5. Magnetic Hooks

A cool thing that new cruisers don’t know about cruises, is that the cruise cabin walls are usually metal. Magnet hooks can be used to add extra storage, making the most out of a small cruise ship cabin.

Using magnetic hooks is a real space saver and they’re super useful. You can hang up your cruise lanyards, sunhats or wet bathing suits on the magnetic hooks.

6. Power Bar (Non-Surge Protected)

Most cruise ship cabins will only have one or two outlets, and may not have any USB outlets (unless the cruise ship is new). Many cruisers like to pack a non-surge protected power bar.

Please note that surge protected power bars (ones like at home) are prohibited on cruise ships and they are likely to be confiscated. Only bring non-surge protected approved power strips on a cruise.

7. Luggage Tag Holders

Cruise ship luggage holders can be used to hold your printed paper luggage tags. They’re reusable and even make a great gift for cruise lovers!

Luggage for the Family

Level8 Hardside Luggage

Level8 Hardside luggage is lightweight, has smooth spinner wheels, and a built in TSA approved combination lock. I have the “textured luggage” in a 21″ carry on size and 24″ checked bag and love them!

Level 8 luggage ready for a cruise — Level 8 Textured luggage (21″ & 24″)

Related & Popular Posts:

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Final Thoughts on What to Pack for Kids on a Cruise

Well there it is, the ultimate kids cruise packing list!

If it’s your first cruise, knowing what to pack for your children can be a real challenge. As a parent, the last thing anyone wants is to forget something important before going on their cruise.

In this post, we went over what clothes to pack for your children, children’s cruise essentials, toddler and baby items, and things to pack for the family.

What cruise line are you cruising with on your upcoming vacation? Please let me know in the comments below.

Happy Cruising!

Ethan

P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-). Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

Author Bio: Ethan Schattauer writes about fashion, travel and college advice on the website WhatToWearMen.com. As a frequent cruiser, Ethan shares his unique perspective on what cruising is like for teens and young adults.

What to Pack for Kids on a Cruise: Kid’s Cruise Packing List

Cruise Packing List For Kids

Cruise Line Specific & Itinerary Packing Lists

Kid’s Cruise Essentials

1. Toys

Sand Toys

2. Water Shoes

3. Sun Hat

4. Closed Toe Shoes

5. Swim Goggles

6. Children’s Medication

7. Band-Aids

9. Umbrella Stroller

11. Children’s Sunscreen

12. Children’s Insect Repellant

13. Packaged Snacks (Optional)

14. Thermometer

Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner

Regular price: $27 Now just $17!

15. Plastic Baggies

16. Small Inflatable Pool / bathtub (optional)

Babies & Toddlers Cruise Essentials

Must Have Items to Pack for Families

1. Packing Cubes

2. Sunscreen

3. Refillable Water Bottles

4. Motion Sensor Night Light

5. Magnetic Hooks

6. Power Bar (Non-Surge Protected)

7. Luggage Tag Holders

Luggage for the Family

Level8 Hardside Luggage

Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner

Regular price: $27 Now just $17!

Final Thoughts on What to Pack for Kids on a Cruise

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