The Complete Packing List for a Caribbean Cruise
Packing for a cruise is different from packing for a hotel trip. You'll be in a small cabin with limited storage for 7+ days, hitting multiple climates from air-conditioned ship to humid Caribbean port, dressing for formal nights and beach days in the same week. If you haven't booked yet, check out how to save money on your cruise booking before committing to a sailing. Here's what to bring, what to skip, and what will save you from paying $22 for sunscreen at the gift shop.
What's in This Guide
- Documents and Essentials
- Clothing (pool, port, and dinner)
- Sun and Beach
- Cabin Essentials
- Health and Comfort
- What Not to Bring
Documents and Essentials
Keep these in your carry-on, not checked luggage. If your bags are delayed or misrouted, you board without them.
- Passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date)
- Cruise booking confirmation and boarding passes (printed and on your phone)
- Credit card registered with the cruise line for your onboard account
- Travel insurance documents
- Prescription medications in original bottles, plus a few extra days supply
- Cash in small bills for port tipping and local vendors ($100-$200 is enough)
Clothing
Plan for four contexts: pool and beach, casual daytime onboard, port days with walking, and dinner. Most cruise lines have a dress code for the main dining room at dinner, ranging from smart casual to formal nights.
Pool and beach (per person):
- 2-3 swimsuits (one dries while you wear the other)
- Swim cover-up or light shorts for walking from pool to lunch
- Water shoes or flip flops for the pool deck
Port days:
- Lightweight breathable shirts (Caribbean humidity is real)
- Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers for tours
- A small day bag or backpack for port excursions
- Light rain jacket or packable poncho (Caribbean showers are short but heavy)
Dinner and evenings:
- Smart casual outfits for most nights (collared shirt or blouse, slacks or a dress)
- One formal outfit if your sailing has a formal night (suit or sport coat for men, cocktail dress for women). Royal Caribbean and Carnival handle dress codes differently, so check before you pack a tux.
- A light cardigan or jacket for the main dining room (ships are heavily air-conditioned)
A 7-night cruise for two people fits in one large checked bag and two carry-ons if you pack efficiently. Roll clothes instead of folding. Pack swimsuits and tomorrow's outfit in your carry-on in case bags arrive late to your cabin.
Sun and Beach
Buy sunscreen before you board. The ship's gift shop charges $20-$25 for a bottle that costs $8 at any drugstore. Same goes for aloe gel.
- SPF 50+ reef-safe sunscreen (required at many Caribbean ports and private islands)
- Aloe vera gel for inevitable sunburn
- Polarized sunglasses with a strap (you'll be on water all week)
- Wide-brim hat for port days
- Small dry bag for beach and water excursions
Cabin Essentials
Cruise cabins are small and storage is limited. A few items make the space significantly more livable.
- Power strip with USB ports (no surge protector, those are banned). Ships have 2-3 outlets per cabin maximum.
- Magnetic hooks for hanging bags and lanyards (cabin walls are magnetic on most ships)
- Over-door shoe organizer for toiletries and small items (there's rarely enough counter space)
- Reusable water bottle for port days (ship has filtered water at the buffet)
- Nightlight or phone flashlight for navigating in a dark interior cabin
- Lanyard for your cruise card (you'll use it constantly for everything onboard)
Health and Comfort
- Motion sickness medication (Bonine or Dramamine) even if you don't think you'll need it. Bring it.
- Sea-Bands acupressure wristbands as a non-medication backup
- Basic first aid: ibuprofen, antidiarrheal, antacids, blister pads for port walking days
- Insect repellent for port days in tropical areas
- Hand sanitizer for ports and buffet lines
What Not to Bring
Cruise lines have a banned items list worth knowing. Beyond the obvious (weapons, illegal substances), watch out for:
- Surge protectors (confiscated at boarding). Bring a plain power strip.
- Irons and steamers (fire risk in cabins). Request one from guest services if needed.
- Alcohol brought from home. Most lines allow 1-2 bottles of wine per cabin at embarkation only.
- Excessive cash. Onboard purchases go on your cruise card. Ports only need small amounts.
- Full-size toiletries. Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are provided in the cabin.
The best packing mindset for a cruise: pack for the worst weather you might hit (one rain layer), the most formal dinner you'll attend (one outfit), and everything else can be light and versatile. You're not going somewhere remote. If you forget something non-critical, the gift shop has it at a markup. Ready to book? Browse current cruise deals and find a sailing that works for you.
