So, you’re planning on taking your first cruise! First of all, congratulations! After everything that we’ve been through in the last couple of years, we could all use a nice relaxing seafaring vacay. With the pandemic presumably in the rear-view mirror and several major cruise lines announcing new flagship additions to their fleets, there’s never been a better time to book a luxury voyage out on the high seas!
After booking your voyage, you’re mind is likely running wild with visions of sipping on cocktails, lounging around at the pool, and eating to your heart’s content at one of your ship’s numerous restaurants. The only thing left to do before setting sail is pack your bags.
Now, since you’ve never packed for a cruise before, you might be feeling a little nervous, but don’t worry! There’s no need to get all stressed out before embarking on one of the biggest journeys of your lifetime. The task of packing for a cruise might feel a little daunting, but honestly, it’s not really that difficult. Sure, there are temperature variations between ports to consider, onboard dress codes to abide by, and numerous shipboard activities and shore excursions that you can participate in, but if you follow the suggestions in this video, you’ll be fully prepared for whatever your upcoming cruise throws at you.
Of course, it’s best to take into consideration your cruise’s destination when planning your trip, and whether you’re an outdoorsy person or more of a homebody is probably also going to have an impact on what you choose to bring with you, but regardless of these factors, we’ve got you covered.
Viewcation Presents: Cruise Packing List & Tips for First-Time Cruisers.
Carry-On Bag
Regardless of whether or not you’re bringing checked luggage, one thing that you’ll absolutely need on your cruise is a carry-on bag such as a backpack, duffel, or small rolling bag – like the kind you’d take on a flight.
Since checked-luggage needs to pass through security just as they do at the airport, and because there’s a chance that you might have to wait for your stateroom to be ready, you’ll want to have access to all of your necessary items like sunscreen, sunglasses, swimsuit, cellphone, medications, and water. You’ll also want to keep your passport, credit card, valuables, and other important documentation close by.
Luggage Tracker
These conveniant devices don’t just come in handy when traveling by air. If you put something like a Tile Pro or an Apple Air Tag inside of your checked luggage, you can see exactly when it arrives at your stateroom or if it gets held up at security.
Magnetic Hooks
Cruise ship cabin walls are almost always made of metal. This means that you can optimize your storage needs by hanging a few of these on the walls to hang your clothing and other belongings. You can also use them to air out wet gear, such as bathing suits, after spending the day at the beach or pool. You can pick up a set on Amazon for less than ten bucks.
Sea-Bands
Getting seasick can put a damper on your cruise-time fun. It’s kind of hard to relax and enjoy yourself when your head is spinning and you’re hugging the toilet. To combat this common nautical foe, be sure to pack a pair of Sea-Bands in your luggage. These soft wristbands minimize or prevent nausea and vomiting using acupressure. They are an effective, drug-free, non-drowsy, and reusable alternative to medications like Dramanine. You can purchase seas bands at most major drugstores or online.
Wrinkle Release Spray
Since irons and travel steamers are prohibited on cruise ships for safety reasons, the next best thing you can do to keep your threads looking wrinkle-free and on point is pack a travel-size bottle of a wrinkle-release spray like Downy Wrinkle Releaser Spray.
Formal Wear
Major Cruise Lines like MTC, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival usually host formal evenings where passengers are expected to dress up in their finest for dinner. It would be wise to check with your cruise itinerary to see when these nights are and when you’ll be expected to abide by the dress code.
For the majority of cruise lines, formal attire usually means cocktail dresses, sports jackets, dress slacks, jumpsuits, or pantsuits. If you want to go above and beyond, pack a suit, tux, or full-length gown.
Garment Bag
To keep your formal attire wrinkle-free, consider bringing a garment bag. These allow you to hang your clothes up in a secure place while also having the ability to easily transfer them into your stateroom closet. The majority of garment bags are equipped with extra pockets for additional storage of accessories.
Plus, if you pack smart, you can make your garment bag your only suitcase. That being said, most staterooms have storage space for up to three suitcases.
Mix-And-Match Clothing Options
Not only should you make sure that you bring along formal wear, but you’d be wise to also pack a variety of mix-and-matchable clothing items. This is commonly known as a capsule wardrobe, and the best way to pack one is by first choosing a base color such as navy blue or black. Next, pack a handful of plain, neutrally colored items that would pair well with your base. After that, add a few patterned items to spice up the mix. It’s also a good idea to consider packing reversible clothing items that can easily transition from day to evening.
Wine Or Beer
Most cruise lines allow passengers to bring a couple of bottles of champagne or wine aboard. Check with the line before packing, as some luxury lines even allow guests to bring more than that. With Disney Cruise Lines, you can even bring a six-pack of beer.
Swim Cover Ups
After leaving the beach or pool, it’s always nice to have something to slip into so you’re not walking around the promenade in your swimsuit. Amazon sells a variety of fashionable, affordable cover-ups, but you should be able to find what you need at any big box department store as well.
First Aid Kit
It’s always a good idea, no matter where you’re vacationing, to toss a first aid kit into your luggage or carry-on. You never know when you’ll need medical supplies like band-aids, tweezers, triple-antibiotic cream, hydrocortisone, or Aquaphor. You can either make your own kit or buy a pre-made kit at any pharmacy for less than 20 dollars.
Sunscreen
This one should go without saying – especially if you’re taking a caribbean cruise, but make sure you protect your skin from the harsh rays of the sun by packing a high-SPF sunscreen or lotion. You might also want to throw a SPF-protective lip balm into your luggage as well. Trust us, the very worse you thing you could do is forget to lather on some sunscreen if you’re spending the day at the beach or pool.
Water Bottle
One of the most important things to remember to do when taking a cruise is keeping yourself hydrated. Be sure to bring a reusable water bottle to refill at the water and beverage stations around the ship. If you don’t already have a collection of reusable water bottles, we recommend picking up one of the insulated variety from brands like S’well or YETI.
Outerwear
Be sure to study the weather forecast and make sure that you pack along climate-appropriate outerwear. Obviously, if you’re taking a Caribbean cruise, you’re going to need bring different attire than if you were to embark on an Alaskan cruise. For the latter, naturally you’ll need lots of layers, including winter hats, gloves, and waterproof outwear.
Even if you’re heading out on a Caribbean cruise, it might be a good idea to throw a sweater or hoodie in your luggage. Some parts of the ship might be a little chilly for your tastes and even this region of the world can fluctuate in terms of day and nighttime temperatures.
Besides sweaters and jackets, it’s always nice to have a hat on sunny days. Ladies might also prefer having items like scarves or shawls to drape over their shoulders during the evening hours.
Party Wear
A few of the major lines host special-themed parties or voyages where guests can dress up for the occasion. Once again, consult your cruise’s itinerary beforehand to make sure that you are fully prepared for all of the festivities.
Poo-Pourri
When you gotta go, you gotta go, but to cut down on any unwelcome smells, it’s not a bad idea to bring a bottle of toilet spray. Any smell – whether pleasant or off-putting – will quickly fill your stateroom. So, do yourself a favor and come prepared.
Notebook or Journal
Your first cruise is something that you won’t want to forget. To document your adventure, bring along a journal or notebook so that you can look back on your favorite memories, meals, and cocktails. You might also want to take note of details of the various places you visit and the activities you participate in.
If you’re not much of a writer, but anticipate spending a fair amount of time in your cabin or at the pool, it’s never a bad idea to bring a good book to read. This especially comes in handy if the weather gets a bit stormy.
Comfy Walking Shoes
If you’re planning on taking your maiden cruise voyage on a large, upper-scale cruise ship, expect to do a lot of walking. Some of these ships are over 1000 feet long and feature up to 18 decks. Plus, whenever you take a shore excursion, you’re going to put a lot of steps in as well. As such, you should do your feet a favor and make sure you bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes. The last thing you want is to be stuck with only a pair of sandals or flimsy flip-flops.
Passport And Vaccine Card Carrier
You might need more than just your passport to board a cruise ship these days. In the post-COVID world we live in, many ships require you to also bring a CDC-issued COVID-19 vaccination card. The best way to carry both your passport and your vax card is to invest in a sturdy, water-resistant card carrier.
Electronics Organizer And Accessories
Since most electronics these days come with different plugs, cords, adaptors, and attachments, it’s helpful to invest in a convenient electronics organizer bag to keep track of all of your items. This goes double if you plan on bringing any photography equipment or a laptop.
Since some countries use different power outlet standards, you might also want to pack the appropriate adaptors to ensure that you can keep all of your devices charged.
Medications
Please, if you need any medications, remember to take them. Also, if you’re someone that is prone to getting headaches, having allergic reactions, or getting seasick, don’t forget to bring items like aspirin, Dramamine, Benadryl, or anything else you frequently use.
Credit Cards and Currency
When cruising to international locales, consider acquiring small amounts of each nation’s currency to have handy when in port. Some local markets may not accept credit cards or the United States dollar, so to combat this, come prepared. Also, it might be a given, but don’t forget to bring all the credit cards that you think you might need as well.
Diapers
Last but not least, if you’re traveling with little ones who are still in diapers, be sure to bring enough to last you your entire voyage. Most cruise liners also require non-toilet-trained children to wear swim diapers in the children’s water areas.
Well, that about wraps up our rundown of everything you might need on your first cruise. Can you think of anything else that a first-timer might want to bring on a cruise? Did we mention anything in this video that you think is unnecessary to pack? Let us know in the comments. And as always, thanks for watching, and safe travels!