Cruise Packing List: What I Actually Bring (and What I Leave Home)
Most cruise packing lists look the same: sixty items, no opinions, and no way to tell which ones actually matter. This isn't that.
This cruise packing list is the short version. It comes from years of cruising on Princess and Celebrity and my first Royal Caribbean sailing, a 4-day trip on Quantum of the Seas out of Los Angeles. It includes one item I was sure I didn't need (I was wrong), one mistake I made at security that I won't repeat, and a few things I'd tell a friend before she zips her suitcase.
A packing list shouldn't make you feel behind before you've even left home. I'd rather give you the handful of things that earn their space, tell you what to leave behind, and point out where the rules differ by cruise line. Those rules matter more than any list, including mine, so check your line's prohibited items page shortly before you pack.
Here's what I bring, what I skip, and why.
Key Takeaways
Your checked bags may not reach your cabin until the afternoon or evening. Keep documents, medications, a swimsuit and one change of clothes in your carry-on.
Pack so you can carry your own bags. On my Royal Caribbean sailing out of Los Angeles, that let me walk off when I wanted instead of waiting for a luggage tag to be called. Confirm how it works on your own sailing.
Bring a reusable water bottle, like an insulated one, but empty it before you go through security. I learned that one the hard way. Sealed bottled water is a different story, so check your line's policy.
Towel clips are worth the few dollars. I was skeptical, and I changed my mind.
Leave power strips and surge protectors at home. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity don't allow them, and a USB-only charger block is the safer bet.
Read your cruise line's prohibited items list before you pack. Irons, steamers, candles and kettles are the usual surprises.
Start With Your Carry-On, Not Your Suitcase
Embarkation day catches a lot of first-time cruisers off guard. You board, your cabin may not be ready yet, and your checked bags are still being loaded and delivered. Cruise travel writers consistently report that luggage can arrive anywhere from mid-afternoon to evening, sometimes close to dinner on a busy day. On my Royal Caribbean sailing, rooms weren't available right away either. They opened up later in the afternoon.
So the bag you carry on is the only luggage you can count on for the first several hours. I'd put these in it:
Passports or ID and your cruise documents. You'll need them before you're allowed to board.
Any medications you take. Never put these in checked luggage.
Valuables and your phone. If losing access to something for a few hours would be a problem, carry it.
A phone charger or small power bank.
A swimsuit and one change of clothes. If you want to get in the pool on day one, you won't have to wait for your suitcase.
The carry-on only needs to bridge the gap between boarding and unpacking. You don't need to fit your whole vacation into it.
For carry-on, I recommend the Nomad Lane Bento Bag or their new backpack. If you've spent any time researching carry-ons on YouTube, you'll see this is one of the most highly recommended bags, and for good reason. It is a bit on the pricey side ($298 USD at last check), but I have other recommendations for less if you prefer. The link for all my recommendations is https://amzn.to/3QQpy6e.
Pack So You Can Carry Your Own Bags
This is the packing lesson I didn't expect to learn.
On most cruises, disembarkation goes like this: you put your bags out the night before, leave your cabin around 7:30 or 8:00, and wait in a public space until your baggage tag number is called. By then your onboard account is usually closed, so you can't even order another drink while you wait. It's a lot of sitting around.
On my Quantum of the Seas sailing out of Los Angeles, it was different. If you were willing to carry all of your bags off yourself, you could leave whenever you wanted once the ship had docked and cleared customs. We didn't have to pack the night before. We ate breakfast, went back to the cabin, grabbed our bags and left.
So here's the packing takeaway. If you want that option, pack so you can handle your own bags. Royal Caribbean still offers help if you need it, but bringing less keeps the choice open. I can only speak to this ship and this port, so confirm your own disembarkation instructions before you pack. I wrote more about this in my Royal Caribbean tips for first-timers.
My Cruise Packing List: The Small Things That Earned Their Spot
A Reusable Water Bottle (Empty at Security)
I like having water with me, so I bring a reusable bottle, like an insulated one. I learned the hard way that it needs to be empty before you go through security.
Sealed bottled water is a different situation. I believe it's fine to bring aboard, and Royal Caribbean, for one, has allowed a 12-pack of non-alcoholic drinks in carry-on luggage. Policies vary, so confirm your line's rules.
Airports are another matter. TSA limits liquids in carry-on bags to 3.4 ounces per container, and that applies to water too, sealed or not. An empty bottle goes through fine, and you can refill it past the checkpoint. There have been recent reports that TSA may let PreCheck travelers carry full water bottles at some airports, but that isn't a nationwide change, so I wouldn't plan around it.
Once you're aboard, a bottle is handy. On my Royal Caribbean sailing, I found self-serve beverage stations near the buffet and food areas with free water, lemonade, coffee and tea, so I could fill up whenever I liked. Other lines handle this differently, so check yours before assuming.
Towel Clips (I Was Wrong About These)
I'd heard cruise YouTubers say you need towel clips, and honestly I didn't think I did. I don't buy a lot of the extra gear they recommend, because I usually haven't needed it.
I was wrong. On my last two cruises I wished I'd had them. On the first, the pool was outdoors and my towel kept blowing over my shoulders and falling down. On the most recent, the pool was indoors, so there was no wind, but the towel still slipped every time I shifted.
Clips keep a towel on your lounge chair, and they make it easy to find your spot after you've walked away. You can also use them to secure something on a balcony or clip things together in your cabin. I think they run under $10 on Amazon.
Towel clips I'd buy (affiliate link)
A USB Charger and a Power Bank (Not a Power Strip)
Cabins, especially on older ships, often don't have many outlets. The tempting fix is a power strip, and that's the one that gets confiscated.
Royal Caribbean prohibits power strips, surge-protected strips and multi-plug outlets, though it does allow charging blocks whose ports are USB-only. Celebrity doesn't allow extension cords either. Some other lines allow cords in cabins, often non-surge-protected ones. Policies differ, so check your line.
What I'd bring instead is a multi-port USB charger block and a small power bank. That covers phones, watches and tablets without breaking anyone's rules.
A Lanyard or Card Holder for Your Key
You'll show your room key every time you place a specialty order, like drinks or specialty dining, because that's what ties the charge to your account. A lanyard or card holder keeps it from getting lost in a bag or pocket. This is optional of course.
If you are sailing on Princess, it is very handy to have an accessory for your Medallion. We use the wrist-watch style that allows us to slip the Medallion into it. It's very inexpensive and makes keeping the Medallion with you, swiping it when ordering items, and having it auto-unlock your cabin for you without having to take it in and out of your pocket or bag repeatedly. I have the one we use in my Amazon recommendations as well.
A Day Bag (Always, for the Pool and for Going Ashore)
I always bring a small day bag. It goes to the pool with me and it goes ashore with me, so it's one of the few things I'd call non-negotiable. A small crossbody bag or day pack is enough for your phone, a bottle of water, sunscreen and your documents.
Day bag I'd buy (affiliate link)
You Don't Need to Bring Towels
You can borrow towels from the ship for the pool, and for excursions too, so leave your own at home. It's one less bulky thing to pack. (Towel clips are still worth it, since they keep a borrowed towel on your chair.)
Some Cash for Ports and Excursions
I still recommend bringing some cash, especially if you're sailing to Mexico. This is separate from tipping on the ship. Many excursion guides and drivers give you a chance to tip, and in town, cash can be easier than cards at little food carts and similar vendors.
What I Leave Home (and What Cruise Lines Won't Let You Bring)
The more you pack, the more you have to carry, which cuts against the carry-your-own-bags approach above. Beyond that, some items simply aren't allowed. These are the ones I'd leave home:
Power strips, surge protectors and extension cords. Covered above. Security staff often can't tell which strips are surge-protected, so strips with outlets tend to get taken at the terminal.
Clothes irons and steamers. They're considered a fire hazard on virtually every line. Some ships have self-service laundry rooms with irons, so check yours.
Anything with a heating element or open flame. That includes candles, incense, kettles, coffee makers and hot plates. Royal Caribbean makes an exception for hair dryers and curling irons.
Extra gear you may not need, like magnetic hooks. A lot of people recommend them, but I don't bring them. In my experience, there's always been plenty of space without them. If I were traveling with family (multiple people in one room or if I have a lot of gear), that might change.
Beer and spirits. Most mainstream lines don't allow them, and anything you buy in port is generally held and returned on the last day. One exception is a single bottle of wine, which some lines allow. Please be sure to check with your Travel Advisor or cruise line directly for their policy.
Lines can also prohibit things that aren't specifically listed, so the list on your cruise line's website is the one that counts.
Wine, Snacks and Other "Can I Bring It?" Questions
Wine. Royal Caribbean and Princess lets each guest of drinking age bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne on embarkation day. Boxed wine isn't allowed, and extra bottles are stored by the ship and returned on the last day. If you drink your own wine in a dining room, expect a corkage fee. Royal Caribbean's own policy has the details, and other lines have different limits.
Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. Many lines allow pre-packaged snacks like granola bars, and some allow a limited amount of non-alcoholic drinks. A few allow no outside food or drink at all. Check your line before you pack something you'd hate to lose at the terminal.
How Much Clothing to Pack
I'd pack fewer outfits than feels comfortable, mostly because fewer bags means more flexibility on disembarkation day. Some ships have self-service laundry rooms, which lets you pack for fewer days, so it's worth checking whether yours does. Beyond that, plan around your itinerary and your line's dress code, and bring comfortable walking shoes for port days.
On our cruise to Mexico earlier this year, I brought outfits for each day. However, I found I only wore about 1/3 of what I brought (re-wearing some items multiple times, for an hour or two at a time - for example, the dress for dinner was only for a couple of hours and did not get dirty or smelly quickly). So on our most recent cruise, I reduced my clothing items down further and still didn't use everything I brought. Depending on where you are going and what you have planned each day, you might find you use far less than you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I pack in my cruise carry-on bag?
Pack anything you can't be without for several hours: passports and ID, cruise documents, medications, valuables, a phone charger or power bank, and a swimsuit and change of clothes if you want to get in the pool right away. Your checked luggage can take hours to reach your cabin, sometimes arriving around dinner, according to cruise travel writers. I'd also keep an empty refillable water bottle handy. Don't try to fit your whole vacation into this bag. It only needs to bridge the gap between boarding and unpacking.
What should you not bring on a cruise?
Leave anything with an open flame or heating element at home: candles, incense, clothes irons, steamers, hot plates, kettles and coffee makers. Power strips, surge protectors and extension cords are prohibited on many lines, including Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean also lists multi-plug outlets. Beer and spirits are generally not allowed, and illegal drugs are banned everywhere, including marijuana. Policies vary by cruise line, and lines can prohibit items that aren't specifically listed, so read your line's prohibited items page shortly before you pack.
Can you bring a water bottle on a cruise?
Yes. A reusable bottle, such as an insulated one, is useful, but empty it before you go through security. Sealed bottled water is a different situation, and I believe it's generally fine to bring aboard. Royal Caribbean, for example, has allowed a 12-pack of non-alcoholic drinks in carry-on luggage, but check your line. At airports, TSA's 3.4-ounce liquids limit applies to water too, sealed or not, so refill after the checkpoint. On my Royal Caribbean sailing, free water at self-serve beverage stations near the buffet meant I could fill up anytime.
Can I bring a power strip on a cruise?
It depends on the line, and the safest answer is to leave it home. Royal Caribbean prohibits power strips, surge-protected strips and multi-plug outlets, though it allows USB charging blocks whose ports are USB-only. Celebrity doesn't allow extension cords either. Some other lines allow cords in cabins, usually non-surge-protected ones. A multi-port USB charger and a power bank cover most needs. If you use a CPAP machine, ask your cruise line about an extension cord before you sail rather than packing your own.
When will my luggage arrive at my cabin?
Often later than you'd expect. Crew load thousands of bags while guests board, so checked luggage commonly arrives anywhere from mid-afternoon to early evening, and on a busy embarkation day it can be close to dinner. On my Royal Caribbean sailing, the cabin itself wasn't ready right away either. It opened up later in the afternoon. That's why I keep documents, medications, valuables, a swimsuit and a change of clothes in my carry-on instead of my suitcase.
Can I bring snacks on a cruise?
Often yes, within limits. Many cruise lines permit pre-packaged snacks such as granola bars, and some allow a limited amount of non-alcoholic drinks. Royal Caribbean, for example, has allowed a 12-pack of non-alcoholic beverages in carry-on luggage, and Carnival allows 12 cans or cartons per cabin. A few lines don't allow outside food or drink at all. Policies change, so check your cruise line's page shortly before you sail, and don't pack anything you'd hate to have confiscated at the terminal.
Can I bring wine on a cruise?
Many lines allow a limited amount. Royal Caribbean lets each guest of drinking age bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne on embarkation day. Boxed wine isn't allowed, beer and spirits aren't permitted, and extra bottles are stored by the ship and returned on the last day. If you drink your own wine in a dining room, expect a corkage fee. Other lines have different limits and fees, so check your cruise line's policy. Pack the bottle in your carry-on, since you'll bring it with you when you board.
Are towel clips worth bringing on a cruise?
I think so, and I was skeptical at first. Towel clips fasten your towel to a lounge chair so it doesn't blow away or slide off your shoulders when you shift. On my last two cruises I wished I'd had them: once at an outdoor pool with wind, and once at an indoor pool with no wind at all, where my towel kept falling anyway. They also help you find your chair again, and you can use them to secure items on a balcony or in your cabin. I think they cost less than $10 on Amazon.
What do people forget to pack for a cruise?
Usually the small, boring things: a phone charger or power bank, extra charging cables, some cash for ports and excursion tips, copies of key documents, a swimsuit in the carry-on, and something to keep your room key handy. Towel clips are on my own list because I didn't think I needed them, then wished I had them on two sailings in a row. And don't forget what you'll need before your bags arrive. Medications and one change of clothes belong in your carry-on, not your suitcase.
How many outfits should I pack for a cruise?
Fewer than feels comfortable, especially if you want to carry your own bags off the ship. On my Royal Caribbean sailing, that was what let me leave when I wanted instead of waiting for a luggage tag to be called. Some ships, including some from Carnival, Princess and Disney, have self-service laundry rooms, which lets you pack for fewer days, so check whether yours does. Plan around your itinerary and your line's dress code, and bring comfortable walking shoes for port days.
Want Help Planning the Rest of Your Cruise?
Packing is one small piece of a cruise that goes smoothly. If you want help with the rest, I have two ways to help:
Download my free cruise planning workbook: Get the workbook
Work with me: If you haven't booked yet and want help from a professional travel advisor, start here.
If you're planning a Royal Caribbean sailing, you may also like Royal Caribbean Mistakes: What I'd Do Differently.
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