Some of the best things to pack for a cruise are honestly not that cute. They won’t make your suitcase look aesthetic, and nobody is showing them off on Instagram. These are the boring, unsexy and sometimes downright embarrassing cruise items that can save you money, solve annoying problems and make your cruise so much more comfortable.
I’ve grouped these into categories to keep things organized, covering everything from documents and health items to cabin comfort and port day essentials. If you’re working on your own cruise packing list, grab a notepad, because there’s a good chance a few of these haven’t crossed your mind yet.
This Could Save Your Cruise
These first few items are a little bit boring, but they’re some of the most important things on this entire list.
1. Travel Insurance and Emergency Documents
Make sure your travel insurance is already set up before your cruise, and print or save your policy documents and emergency contact numbers somewhere you can access them quickly. Do the same for your cruise documents, since having everything printed or saved ahead of time makes boarding day so much smoother.
2. Printed Luggage Tags
Place your printed luggage tags in plastic reusable luggage tag holders. These are inexpensive, come in a couple of different sizes and are sold on Amazon.
3. Passport and or Government ID
You’ll need government ID for boarding your cruise, and you’ll also need it whenever you leave the ship for a port of call. Bring a driver’s license or another photo ID just in case.
4. Extra Prescription Medication
Don’t forget to have a printed list of your prescription medication, or save it on your phone or email. Bringing a few extra days of medication is always a smart precaution.
5. Photocopy of Your Passport
Take a photo of your passport and save it on your phone. I actually email it to myself too, because if I ever lost my phone or had it pickpocketed, I could still log into my email from anywhere and retrieve it.
Bathroom and Hygiene Items
These are must haves to bring on a cruise. Some are pretty obvious, but a few are much less talked about.
6. Poo-Pourri or an Air Freshener
The bathroom in a cruise ship cabin is not very well ventilated, not even compared to a hotel room. You’ll want something to help keep your cabin and bathroom smelling fresh, and Poo-Pourri in particular works really well for this.
7. Toothbrush Covers
These are good to have when you travel in general, but I especially like the ones with little venting holes. They fit on just about any size of toothbrush.
8. Your Own Liquid Hand Soap
This isn’t a necessity, but depending on your cruise line, it can be handy. If your cabin doesn’t have liquid hand soap, many people bring something simple like soft soap from the dollar store.
9. Your Own Shampoo and Conditioner
Bring your own if you don’t love the cruise line’s products. A hair mask is also worth packing, especially for a Caribbean cruise, since chlorine and salt water can be really drying on your hair.
10. Disinfectant Wipes
Use these to give your cabin a quick wipe down when you arrive, and use them on the airplane too.
11. Nail Clippers, Tweezers and Small Scissors
These small grooming tools are easy to forget and easy to regret leaving at home. A small foldable pair of scissors in particular comes in handy for so many things on a cruise, from opening packages to trimming moleskin.
12. Shower Caps, Clips and Hair Elastics
Shower caps are useful for more than just covering your hair, since they also work well for covering your shoes when you’re packing. Clips and hair elastics are especially helpful if you’re planning on spending time at the pool or in the hot tub.
13. Hand Moisturizer
I once forgot to bring moisturizer on a cruise, and could not find any anywhere onboard, not even at the spa. Now I always bring some, since the air on a plane and on a cruise ship can both be surprisingly drying.
Pharmacy and Wellness Items
Think about what you use and need at home, then think about what you might need while traveling. You’re eating differently on a cruise, and it’s smart to be prepared for stomach issues just in case.
14. Tums or Pepto-Bismol
This is something we always bring on a cruise, no matter which product is your favorite.
15. Imodium and a Laxative
Think about both ends of a possible stomach issue, since you never know how different food and drink can affect you while traveling. It’s better to pack both and not need them than to be caught without either.
16. Cold or Cough Medication
Advil Cold and Sinus, Mucinex or a similar product are all good options. I also like to bring Cold Eeze if we feel like we’re getting a bit of a cold, even before the trip starts.
17. Face Masks
It’s not something we talk about as much these days, but having a few face masks with you just in case is a good idea.
18. Bonine or Another Motion Sickness Treatment
On one of my recent cruises, more than half the ship was feeling seasick during a rough day at sea, and the ship’s supply of motion sickness medication ran out completely. I always suggest bringing something like Bonine, along with a patch for behind your ear or a relief band as backup, and checking any medication with your own physician first.
19. Anti-Chafing Balm
Available for both men and women, this can make a big difference if you’re doing a lot of walking on the ship, along the beach or while sightseeing in shorts.
20. Blister Band-Aids and or Moleskin
We always bring blister Band-Aids along with regular ones, plus some moleskin cut into strips with those small scissors I mentioned earlier. This works especially well if you’re breaking in a new pair of shoes.
21. Benadryl
Worth packing just in case, especially if you’re traveling with children who might have an allergic reaction.
Clothing and Shoe Items You Might Not Think Of
These aren’t the glamorous cruise outfit pieces, but they’ll make your trip far more comfortable.
22. Compression Socks
Wear these on the plane, especially for a long flight or connecting flights. They make such a difference for swelling, and they’re also useful on the cruise itself if your ankles or calves tend to swell.
23. Flip-Flops or Sandals
Bring these for the pool deck and the beach, but also for your cabin. You don’t want to walk on bare cabin floors, and a flat sandal looks nice enough to wear from the pool straight to a restaurant.
24. A Wide-Brim Hat
Pack one for sun protection, especially useful on sea days and warm weather ports.
25. Nude Undergarments
Try to bring nude undergarments that work under everything. A comfortable strapless bra, seamless underwear and reliable shapewear are all worth having in your suitcase if you plan on wearing dresses with thin or no straps.
26. A Crossbody Bag
This works well for travel and port days. A sporty fanny pack or belt bag is just as practical, but a crossbody with a removable strap can double as a small handbag too.
27. Comfortable Walking Sneakers
Choose a pair you already know is comfortable for lots of walking. Reebok Classics in white have been my go to for years.
28. A Lightweight Sweater or Shawl
Bring one for the dining room at night or the pool deck when the breeze picks up. You may also need to cover your shoulders if you visit a church, synagogue or other religious building during a port stop.
Tech Items Every Cruiser Should Pack
Cruising in this day and age means bringing a few tech essentials, especially since most cabins simply don’t have enough outlets.
29. A USB-Only Charging Station or Non-Surge Protected Power Cube
If you’re sailing with Royal Caribbean, a small USB-only charging station is allowed in the cabin, and a fast charging one is even better. On most other cruise lines, including Princess, Carnival and Holland America, a non-surge protected power cube with both electric outlets and USB ports works just as well.
30. A Portable Charger
I like one with the charging cables built right in, so I have what I need whether I’m using an older iPad or a newer iPhone. Always bring your portable charger with you on port days.
31. A Travel Adapter
Useful if you’re traveling internationally and need one for a hotel stay before or after your cruise. Look for one with multiple plug types along with USB outlets.
32. An AirTag or Luggage Tracker
Put one in each piece of luggage so you can track it, which is especially handy if your bag doesn’t arrive to your cabin in a timely way. If you don’t have an iPhone, a luggage tracker card works as an alternative and can also go straight into your wallet.
33. A Phone Clip-On Light
This is a newer item that isn’t for everyone, but if you like taking food photos or videos while cruising, a small magnetic light that attaches to your phone can really help.
34. Sleep Earbuds
If you have any trouble sleeping on a cruise, in hotels or on planes, these are worth trying. I used some on a recent cruise and had a noticeably better night’s sleep.
35. A Digital Luggage Scale
This helps you avoid the embarrassment of an overweight bag at the airport. Attach it to your luggage with the strap, pull up and it will tell you the exact weight before you even leave home.
Cabin Comfort Items
Pick and choose from this category based on what you think you’ll actually use, since your cruise cabin space is usually pretty compact.
36. Magnetic Hooks
Cruise cabin walls are typically metal, so magnetic hooks give you extra storage space. This is especially helpful in an inside cabin or a smaller stateroom.
37. A Hanging Toiletry Bag
These are so useful, not just on a cruise but for travel in general. They keep everything visible and organized in a small bathroom.
38. A Laundry Bag or Hamper
You don’t necessarily need to buy a laundry bag if your packing cube set already came with one, since a pillowcase from home or a scented kitchen bag works just as well. A pop-up laundry hamper is a nice add on too, and it barely takes up any room in your luggage.
39. A Motion Sensor Bathroom Light
Especially helpful in an inside cabin, or in any cabin where you keep the curtains closed at night. It can really save the day when you need to get up in the dark.
40. Foldable Travel Hangers
I usually bring about 10 of these when I travel. They’re small, lightweight and fold up easily, giving you extra hanging space in the cruise cabin closet.
41. Clothespins or Towel Clips
Handy for drying a few items or clipping something to your balcony for a short period, as long as it follows your cruise line’s rules. These are also useful by the pool.
Cruise Survival Kit
A few small items round out the list before we get to port day essentials, and these can genuinely save your cruise wardrobe.
42. Safety Pins and a Mini Sewing Kit
I cannot count the number of times a safety pin has saved a lost button or another small wardrobe mishap, so grab a package with different sizes and keep them in your toiletry kit. A mini sewing kit is worth packing alongside them, and I bring mine on every single cruise.
43. Painter’s Tape or Masking Tape
Many cruisers use this to cover the small light sensor that lights up every time you step off the bed at night. It’s a simple fix if that light bothers you.
44. A Stain Remover Pen and Wrinkle Releaser Spray
A stain remover pen can save an outfit in seconds, so make sure to pack one before you go. Wrinkle releaser spray is just as essential, since most cruise ships don’t offer a way to iron or steam clothing in the cabin, and steaming first if possible, then spraying and giving a little tug, really works.
45. Laundry Detergent Sheets
Handy if you think you might do a bit of hand washing during your cruise.
46. Ziploc Bags in Different Sizes
Useful for bringing a snack back from the buffet to your cabin, or for packing a wet bathing suit at the end of your cruise without soaking everything else in your luggage.
Port Day Must-Haves
These are the extras that make your days off the ship go a lot more smoothly.
47. Insect Repellent and After Bite
Insect repellent is optional, but worth thinking about depending on your ports and excursions. During a river rafting excursion in Jamaica, the area around the dock was quite buggy, and I was glad I had both this and an After Bite style product on hand for the itch and swelling afterward.
48. Small Bills and an Emergency Credit Card
Bring small bills for tipping excursion guides or for any small purchases where you’d rather not use a credit card. It’s also smart to pack an emergency credit card separately, so you always have a backup on port days.
49. Aloe Vera
On a recent Alaska cruise, my son got a bad sunburn on a sea day even though it wasn’t a warm weather itinerary, so I hadn’t packed any aloe vera. The store-bought version we found in port barely worked, while the organic, non-sticky one I usually use and swear by made all the difference once we got home.
50. A Mini Umbrella, Poncho or Rain Jacket
Depending on where you’re cruising, this can be a real lifesaver. It’s especially worth packing for cooler weather itineraries like Alaska.
51. Tissues
Keep a small package in your handbag or backpack for any port day, especially useful when visiting public restrooms on land.
52. Soap Sheets
These little sheets are lightweight and easy to keep in your handbag if you prefer water and soap over hand sanitizer.
53. A Backpack
I like a foldable, water-repellent backpack that packs down small but holds plenty for a day in port. It’s perfect for so many different cruise itineraries.
Final Thoughts
That’s the full list of over 50 things to pack for a cruise that most people don’t think to mention. Some of these are life savers in an emergency, and others just make everyday cabin life a little easier and more comfortable.
You don’t need to pack every single item on this list. Instead, look through each category and pick out the ones that fit your own cruise, your ports of call and your personal habits.
If you’re still building out your suitcase, take a look at this complete cruise packing list for even more ideas, or check out what to pack for a Caribbean cruise or an Alaska cruise depending on where you’re headed next.
Happy cruising!
Ilana