Don’t Stress- The Only Cruise Packing List You Will Need

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Kayla

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Documents & Must-Have Basics

  • Passports or birth certificates (check cruise line requirements)- One of the most important items on any family cruise packing list is the right travel documents. Don’t wait until the last minute—most cruise lines require passports to be valid for at least six months after your cruise ends, and they can deny boarding if this rule isn’t met.
    • For closed-loop cruises from the U.S. (sailing from and returning to the same port), a birth certificate is often enough. If your name has changed, you’ll also need your marriage license. On Alaskan closed-loop cruises, birth certificates are accepted for children, but keep in mind that airlines may require a passport for flights.
    • International cruises (Europe and beyond): You’ll need a valid passport, and starting in 2026, U.S. travelers visiting most European countries will also need an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System). This is similar to an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) required by countries like Canada. Always check requirements well before departure.
    • To avoid surprises, always check both your cruise line’s official document requirements and the entry rules for any countries you’ll fly in or out of.
  • Boarding passes, insurance info, vaccination records
  • Lanyards for cruise cards → Cruise Lanyards with ID Holders (Amazon)
  • Never be the one to hold up the line again. Keep your documents organized with a Family Document Organizer (Amazon).
cruise in port

Luggage & Bags

  • I recommend using a mid-sized suitcase that can be carried on and off the boat if you can make it work. One smaller bag per person (if your kids are old enough to help roll their own bag) or a few mid-sized bags (about 24″). The scanners at ports are typically bigger than the luggage scanners at airports and a 24″ bag will go through just fine. I will do anything to avoid the annoying last night setting your suitcase out, or the time suck of waiting for your luggage after the cruise. Recently we disembarked in Port Canveral off an MSC cruise and waited over an hour (almost as long as it would have taken us to drive home) to retrieve our luggage. It was a terrible way to end the cruise after an early morning. It doesn’t happen often, but if the port is backed up you can wait a long time. I will never risk it again. → 24″ Luggage with spinner wheels (Amazon)
  • Lightweight daypack for excursions → Lightweight Foldable Backpack
  • Crossbody for essentials but versatile enough for evening wear → Small Crossbody Bag

Cabin Must-Haves (Game Changers!)

Clothing Checklist (By Person)

Adults:

  • Swimsuits & cover-ups. A UPF Sun Protection shirt is really a good idea for everyone in the family. I love this women’s long sleeve rash guard swim top with built in bra. It is comfortable, slimming, and you can easily slip on a pair of quick dry shorts for an outfit you can walk the shops in or go into the buffet for lunch.
  • Casual dinner outfits
  • Light sweater/jacket
  • Formal night outfit (optional)- Really you can go as dressy or casual as you want for formal night. Lately I see more people dress for white night or theme nights then I do for formal night. But it is a great opportunity for family pictures because photographers are everywhere. Double check the cruise line rules, some cruise lines will require long pants for boys and men on formal night or in specialty restaurants.
formal family photo

Kids:

  • 2–3 swimsuits + rash guards
  • Quick-dry outfits
  • Googles- the pools are salt water and tough on the eyes. Your kids will want googles. Don’t bring too many other pool toys though, you won’t be able to use many of them and there is so much else to do they probably won’t need them.
  • Non-skid, waterproof shoes. You’ll want to keep your kids feet protected on the hot deck but sandals can be dangerous on the wet deck. Shoes similar to Crocs are a better option. → Waterproof, non-slip, clogs
  • A pair of socks and tennis shoes. Check what types of activities are available on your boat, but many ships have rock climbing, laser tag, sports courts, or other adventure activities that require socks and/or shoes.
  • PJs & sun hats
  • Formal night outfit if participating
rock climbing

Toiletries & First Aid

  • Travel-size toiletries
  • Sunscreen → Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunscreen SPF 70. I saw the best tip for applying sunscreen to kids’ faces without all the whining…use a beauty blender to gently apply and smooth the sunscreen on their little faces.
  • Aloe gel → Amazon Basic Aloe After Sun Gel
  • Motion sickness medicine (children’s). Most ships have Dramamine for adults available in the small gift shops on board, and it is easy to find it in most ports. Kids Dramamine is not as easily available. Me and both of my kids get easily motion sick. I find the kids medicine helps me too, without the groggy feeling of the adult version. → Dramamine For Kids
  • Kids’ meds (Tylenol, fever reducer, etc.). Again, it is easy to find adult versions of common medicines in the gift shops on board, from a friendly fellow cruiser, or in many of the port shops. Children’s medicine is much harder to find, often takes a trip to the infirmary to get on board, and who wants to play a guessing game with kid’s medicine in a different country. Plus, most kid’s medicines can be useful to adults in higher doses if absolutely necessary, but many adult medicines cannot be cut down to be used with kids. Better to have it and not need it then be stuck at sea without it.
  • If you have a beach day planned, I love these small Sand Brushes. They quickly and gently remove dried sand from feet and legs to keep everyone comfortable on the ride/walk back to the boat. Plus you don’t track sand into your cabin! → Sand Brush

Tech & Entertainment (Keep Kids Happy)

Embarkation Day Bag

Do your best to make everything a carry on. On some ships like MSC you can drop your luggage right away, even if you can’t hang out in your room immediately. Otherwise, find a place to park your luggage while you get some food, hang by the pool, and have that first Drink of the Day. If you decide to check your bags, make sure to keep one bag with the following items easily available:

  • Documents & meds
  • Swimsuits + sunscreen
  • Change of clothes for kids
  • Snacks & wipes
  • If your child still naps, consider finding a quieter spot to hang out for the afternoon and a cover to help them rest without the distraction. You likely won’t be able to get into your room much before debarkation around the late afternoon/evening.

What NOT to Bring

  • Irons/steamers
  • Surge-protected power strips
  • Large coolers or candles
  • Too many shoes/outfits
  • If you are very particular about your hair tools, bring what you want, but there is a small, low powered hair dryer in the rooms, and note that most bathrooms on board do not have plugs available so you will be getting ready at the desk in the main room. Keeping your getting ready routine as simple as possible might make it a little easier for everyone, especially in a smaller room.

Random things to consider bringing

  • Single serve coffee creamer- I love my flavored coffee creamer, and unless you have the unlimited drink package or a coffee card, those specialty coffees can add up quickly in the morning. Plus, the lines can be so long. Bring a few single serve coffee creamers with you and grab a regular cup of coffee at any of the restaurants for free.
  • Grab a small portable travel bank for your phone. Between the pictures you will take, and the fact that the cruise itineraries and menus are almost exclusively on the cruise apps now, you will want some extra battery life that is easy to carry with you → Portable Charger
  • If you are a light sleeper, consider ear plugs and an eye mask. I find the ships to be very loud no matter where you are on the boat. The sound machine helps, but wax ear plugs give you that little bit of extra protection if you have loud neighbors or are near a crew space. → Wax Ear Plugs
night cruise

Free Printable + Full Planner

Stay organized with my Family Cruise Planner — a printable PDF with packing lists (for adults + kids), cabin setup checklists, excursion planning pages, and budget trackers.

Get the Cruise Planner in my Etsy Shop

FAQs

Do I need formalwear?
Optional — one outfit per person is enough. Check for other theme nights though. Many boats have a white night or a 70/80’s themed night.

Should I bring a stroller?
Yes, if your kid is content in a stroller, a lightweight stroller works great for port days and getting around the boat; many of the small strollers will fold up and slide under the bed to keep them out of the way in the room. A stroller will extend your day, especially if you have a child who still naps.

Laundry?
Ships often have paid laundry; on longer sailings there will often be a deal on day 4-5 where you can get a small (very small) bag washed and folded for a discount. Bring a Tide stick or something similar for small stains.

✅ Next Steps

Download the Family Cruise Planner to print and check off as you pack.

Bookmark this list for your pre-cruise week.