Taking a cruise can feel like the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it vacation, until you start thinking about packing. Do you need a pair of shorts every day? Do you really need to dress up for dinner, and how do you fit everything in a tiny cruise cabin? While we're not here to tell you what to wear, we can help you with gear that might be different from what you'd pack for other trips. Did you know that cruise cabins have magnetic walls? We do, and we'll tell you how that can help you stay organized and tidy in a small space, along with what you need for your adventurous excursions.
Ready for the ultimate cruise essentials list? We've got everything from the right footwear to the best way to carry your room key. At the end, be sure to check out our FAQ section for answers to any questions you might have about what to pack for a cruise so you don't miss out on something essential.
Cruise Must-Haves
- Key Card Case and Lanyard
- Luggage Tag Holders
- Magnetic Hooks
- Door Magnets
- Travel Hangers
- Travel Hair Dryer
- Earplugs
Excursion Essentials
On Board
Best Bags for Cruises
Cruise Must-Haves
Like most hotels, your cruise cabin opens with a key card. Unlike most land-based resorts, though, that card does so much more. It’s your charge card for drinks, your pass to get into shows, and you show it with your ID to get back on board. That means you’ll need to have it with you at all times, whether your clothing has pockets or not.
We find a comfortable lanyard with an attached card holder to be a cruise essential. Whether you have to get a hole punched in your key card for your lanyard clip on older ships that still rely on swipes or can use a plastic sleeve on newer ships that operate on the tap system, a water-resistant lanyard makes it easier to keep track of your card, which is essential for something important for so much of your day on board.
These lanyards come in a pack of five, and each lanyard is a different color, so you know at a glance which belongs to every person. That should be enough for most travel parties, since most cruise cabins accommodate up to four guests, but you can always get a second pack if your travel party is larger. We like that the plastic sleeve seals with a ziptop to keep it dry even if you take it on the ship's water slide, and the quick-release makes it easy to order a drink at the show. Instead of pulling your card out each time, you can often just unbuckle it from your lanyard and send the card portion with the waiter to charge. You might not know whether that's possible until you get on board, but it's nice to have the option if it works.
The good news is that you’ll get free luggage tags when you go on a cruise! The bad news is that they’re usually paper, and you have to print them before leaving home. These cruise essentials tell baggage handlers your deck and room, so you can drop off any bag you don’t want to carry around the ship the first day of your cruise. You’ll need one for every bag you plan to check, and we like using luggage tag holders to protect them from ripping or getting wet. It’s likely something you’ll only have to buy once, especially if you sail with the same cruise brand again.
These plastic sleeves protect your print-at-home luggage tags to keep them from getting damaged or smudged, which would delay your luggage getting to your cabin. They connect to your travel backpack, carry-on, or suitcase with metal rings that open with a twist. While these work for Carnival, Princess, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC, be sure to get one that works with your specific cruise line. You might need something like these cruise luggage tags instead if you're sailing with Royal Caribbean or Celebrity, since their luggage tags are a different shape. Everyone in your travel party can choose their favorite color, or you can coordinate them to match your luggage.
Did you know that cruise cabins are metal boxes loaded onto the ship during shipbuilding? That’s not just trivia—it’s useful information when you’re dealing with small closets and minimal drawer space. Leaving a suitcase open in a cruise cabin takes up a lot of space, so magnetic hooks are cruise essentials that give you more places to hang gear. Whether it’s a wet swimsuit, a sun hat, or your sling, you can hang nearly everything on the wall to keep it off the chair or floor. Get more of these than you think you’ll need. They come in handy for more than you’d imagine.
These tiny hooks come in a pack of 20, and each holds up to 30 pounds, so they can hold your daypack, lanyard, hat, and even a portable speaker if you bring one on board. You'll have to screw the hooks onto the magnets the first time you get them, but you can keep them connected for storage afterward. When you're traveling to the cruise port, pack them in your checked luggage. They look odd on an X-ray machine and might trigger a manual search at security.
Your cruise cabin door is magnetic, too, so pack these cruise essentials: door magnets. Whether you want to channel your inner college student and put up a whiteboard for messages or decorate it with your favorite fishy decor, it’s fun to personalize your cabin door. Let fellow passengers know if you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or just being at sea instead of work. You can even get magnetic games. Scrabble, anyone?
Fun and games aside, there’s another reason magnets are cruise must-haves: hallways are long, and doors look the same. It’s easier to spot your room at 2 a.m. if something more obvious sets yours apart from the others.
If you and your travel companions bring dress clothing for dinner, you could run out of hangers fast. While cruise closets aren’t large, there’s room for more hangers than they give you, so add travel hangers to your cruise essentials list.
We discovered the Trubetter Travel Hangers on TikTok, and these cruise essentials are still trending. They fold up to fit in your luggage for easy packing, and they do a much better job of holding tank tops, sundresses, and other shirts with skinny straps than slick wooden ones do. You can even adjust them to be smaller for children's clothing, so you can hang up their dresses and shirts, too. Oh, and if you need to wash clothing in the sink, these hang nicely on a shower rod or towel bar to help things dry out.
Cruise ship blow dryers are some of the weakest we’ve ever tried, so if you’re wondering what to pack for a cruise, bring your own travel hair dryer. When everyone’s trying to get cleaned up for dinner at the same time, you need to move quickly, or someone will be left standing with wet locks.
The Conair Compact Folding hair dryer folds up into a shape that is easier to pack. It is priced to fit any budget, yet it's as powerful as more expensive travel hair dryers. This cruise must-have saves time in the bathrooms so you can get to the fun faster.
Whether for snoring travel companions or to take the volume of a crowded ship down a notch or five, we always recommend earplugs when asked what to pack for a cruise. Some cruise lines seem to think louder means better, and you don’t want to embark with your hands over your ears because you can’t stand the DJ’s thumping or the volume of the stage show. You’ll use this cruise essential a lot, especially if your cabin is right above the theater or below the pool.
You don't know if you'll need to take things down a notch or two or three, so pack earplugs that roll with the punches. The Loop Switch 2 has three levels of noise cancellation, so you can turn it up for the sail away party and take it down for pub trivia to hear the questions without the headache.
Excursion Essentials
If you’re cruising to the Caribbean, there’s a good chance that you’re going to want to add water shoes to your cruise essentials list. Whether you’re hiking Dunn River Falls in Jamaica, exploring caves in Belize, or cenote-hopping in Mexico, water shoes protect your feet from rocks and uneven terrain, yet dry faster than traditional travel shoes. If your excursions simply include shopping or lying on the beach, you can skip these cruise essentials.
You want something to protect your feet that dries quickly, and the Tropicfeel Sunset shoes check both boxes. These cruise essentials are super comfortable, and they look just like regular sneakers, so you don't have to be embarrassed wandering the shops after your watery excursion.
Even the wettest excursions sometimes include shopping or some other type of exploration at the end. You won’t want to sit in a local restaurant in your swimsuit, so we like to bring a waterproof bag to hold our wet gear on every excursion. Carry your dry towels to start the day, put dry clothing inside during your excursion, and stash wet things inside afterward.
While you could grab a disposable plastic sack, it's much more comfortable to put your gear in this 18L Waterproof Packable Backpack from Matador. The rolltop and sealed zippers keep your gear dry when you carry it through water or in the rain, and keep sand and water inside once you fill it with wet and dirty gear. Its harness system is minimal, but it has side pockets for your water bottle and a front pocket for your phone and wallet. Packing a towel against the back panel makes it much more comfortable to carry throughout the day, and it packs into its own pocket for easy storage once you get back on board.
Grab a waterproof case on a lanyard to hold your phone as you go tubing, hang out at the beach, or snorkel over the reefs. Most phones are pretty water-resistant these days, but we find this a cruise essential for added security and to keep sand and dirt off, too. Opt for something clear, and you can take photos and videos of your adventures without pulling it out.
This waterproof case works with any type of phone. It seals with a ziptop closure and clips for extra security, and it comes with a thin strap to wear around your neck. We like it because it's budget-friendly, and ours has lasted through years of trips without any tears or leaks.
On Board
We love relaxing on deck, by the pool, or in the solarium, but nothing is more irritating than your towel slipping from behind your back every time you sit on the lounge chair. Add something to hold it in place to your cruise essentials list to save your skin from damp or scratchy cushions and let everyone know the chair is occupied when you take a dip. Be a good guest, though, and don’t hog the chairs! Saving your spot at 6 a.m. and not showing up until 10 or 11 is not cool. It’s also a good way to lose your towel and spot, since stewards often come through and clean up spaces that have been unoccupied for hours.
These towel clips are large enough to reach over most lounge chairs, even those with cushions. The non-slip grip on the inside keeps your towel from slipping out of place, even if the wind picks up on the top deck. They come in a pack of eight, but we only bring as many as we need for our travel party each trip.
While we've never had problems fitting clips over any size chair on a cruise ship, bands sometimes work better. They're stretchy enough to slide over the top of nearly any size chair or lounger, and we like that the set includes different colors. It helps everyone remember which chair is theirs, cutting down on fights when someone wants to steal a dry towel after soaking theirs. Send them to swap it out for a new one, and keep the peace.
If you’re sailing on a brand new ship, there might be enough ports and outlets to accommodate your devices, but older ships might not have enough plugs to go around. Make sure you bring a charger with enough ports to power everything.
The Anker Nano Charger has two USB-C ports and one USB-A to charge any device you may have. We plug our phone and battery into one of the faster ports while recharging headphones or a watch at a slower rate. You can get the 100W version instead if you're bringing a laptop on the cruise, but we find 70W enough for our purposes on vacation and bring the right cords to make the best use of it.
You might blow through your phone’s battery on a cruise, whether using the app to chat with your travel companions or taking photos and videos on your excursion. Since it doesn’t take up a lot of space, a battery bank is a cruise must-have.
The NITECORE NB10000 Gen4 has a USB-C cable tethered to it for convenience and is resistant to water and dust, so you can use it at the beach, by the pool, or anywhere else you need more power. It's compact, yet packs a punch to top up your and a friend's phone on the go.
A sun hat is a cruise essential for protecting your skin and staving off headaches, whether you’re in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, or even Alaska. The right hat varies with your destination. In general, we opt for something packable yet comfortable to wear on deck and on excursions, so we don’t have to overpay for something new in the ship gift shop or at the first port.
The Melin Hydro Hat looks and feels like a traditional cap, but it floats, so you won't lose it if it blows off—as long as you catch it before it drifts out to sea. We wash it off in the shower when we're getting ready for dinner and hang it on a magnetic hook to dry in the cabin to keep it clean, fresh, and salt-free.
We like the look of the FURTALK Beach Hat when we're cruising to tropical destinations like Hawaii and the Caribbean. Unlike the straw hats you buy in the islands, this one is packable and can handle getting squished in your suitcase as you travel. Its adjustable brim keeps it tight enough that it won't blow away during the sail-away party.
Provided toiletries vary by cruise line, but we often find a lack of conditioner when we’ve sailed. We pack it in a toiletry bottle, then use the provided wash strictly for shampoo. If your hair needs something specific to tame it, bring bottles of your favorite brand along instead. It’s worth it to look and feel your best.
The GoToob+ is our go-to when traveling because they lock and you can label what's inside. These cruise essentials are something you'll buy once and use again and again. We use them for conditioner, face lotion, and more when we cruise.
To dress or not to dress? That’s really up to you. Many cruise lines encourage you to look at least a little nicer at dinner, though some brands, like Norwegian Cruise Line, expressly say that you can show up wearing whatever you like.
If you don’t want to dress up, you can still eat! Just skip the main dining room in favor of the buffet. If you do like to participate in fancy dress and theme nights, make room in your checked bag for dress clothing and shoes.
What’s considered fancy varies by cruise line and theme, but in general, men can get away with a dress shirt and maybe a tie even for dressier nights, and women’s wear runs the gamut from travel dresses to rompers to evening gowns. Whatever you choose, you really shouldn’t feel out of place. Unless you’re sailing on Cunard, then you might need to step up your game.
Best Bags for Cruises
When choosing the best travel bag for a cruise, use the smallest option you can fit into. You don’t want to be tripping over your luggage in the cabin every morning as you rush to get ready. That said, there is usually space under the bed for your suitcase, so you don’t have to cut back much if you don’t want to. However, there might not be enough room for four pieces of checked luggage if you’re sharing with friends or family, so planning is key.
The Bellroy Transit Carry-On is small enough to fit under the bed or desk after you unpack, yet it should have enough room for you to pack for a 3-5 night cruise. It includes packing cubes to help you stay organized and has replaceable parts, so this might be the best carry-on for buy-it-for-life cruisers.
When sharing a cabin with three other passengers, we like to pack in something that collapses, like the Jollying Pebble 20" Carry On. We unpack when we get into our cabins, and then stand the Pebble in the back of the closet for the duration of the cruise.
There's a good chance you'll want to check a bag on a cruise, especially if you plan on dressing up for dinner or are traveling as a family with children. You might also want luggage like the July Checked Expandable suitcase if you're taking a longer cruise. Sure, there are laundry services on board, but they can be pricey. Since there's typically room under your bed for at least two pieces of luggage, pair it with a carry-on to have all the space your travel party needs.
When you’re packing for a cruise, pick a toiletry bag that won’t take over the entire countertop in your tiny bathroom. Go for something minimal if you can, or opt for a hanging toiletry bag if you need more space.
We like hanging the Solgaard Trio on the back of the bathroom door to keep everything easily accessible. It has a removable 3-1-1 bag to carry your liquids through security, as well as space for larger bottles, makeup, grooming tools, and other cruise essentials. We usually put it in our checked bag so we can bring larger bottles of sunscreen, but that depends on the destination.
Minimalist packers can opt for something smaller, like the Bellroy Toiletry Kit Plus. While it won't fit full-size bottles, it does put everything on display without taking up much counter space, so it's great if you don't pack much makeup or other grooming gear.
When cruising with friends and family, we like to bring a deck bag to hold everyone’s gear. Fill it with bottles of water, hats, sunscreen, books, and other cruise essentials, then set it next to your deck chair to keep everything within reach. This is also the bag we carry on the first day before our cabin is ready, so it needs to have space for swimsuits and the clothing we ditch after changing for that first dip in the pool. The right deck bag may also work for excursions, so make sure it has a spot for your passport and cruise card so you can get back on board.
The North Face Borealis Tote is already one of our favorite beach bags, so why not add it to your cruise essentials list? It works well as a personal item bag on the plane, and packs flat in your luggage instead if you prefer. It fits everything we need for a family or travel group on board, with a base that stands nicely on deck or the beach. It's water-resistant and zips shut to save your stuff from cannonballing passengers. Plus, it has tote handles and backpack straps, giving you options for carrying it.
If you get a refillable cup with your drink package or want to carry your own water bottle from home, a bottle holder is a cruise essential. We use it on board to hold a cup, phone, and other cruise essentials when not carrying a larger deck bag.
We always include this water bottle sling from BAGSMART when telling friends what to pack for a cruise. It expands for more space, has a side zipper for a mug handle, a front pocket with space for cruise essentials like lip balm and a battery, and a back pocket for our phone. The padded shoulder strap is soft enough for sunburned shoulders, too.
Why You Should Trust Us
When you take multiple cruises a year, you figure out quickly what you need to bring when setting sail. Our testers have sailed on multiple cruise lines, on both old and new ships, to figure out what will help you make the most of your trip, and we’ve compiled it into this list of cruise must-haves so you don’t have to wonder what to pack.
Do I need a beach towel?
You don’t have to make room in your suitcase for a towel, whether it’s for use in your room, at the pool, or on an excursion. In general, you’ll show your cabin key card to check out towels at the pool and before disembarking the ship for an excursion. Just be sure to bring them back and check them back in, or you’ll be charged a fee.
Do I need to bring cash?
Cash is handy for tipping room stewards, bartenders, and others on board. You’ll receive envelopes for this purpose before the end of the cruise to show your appreciation. Depending on your ports, you may also want cash on land. Check to see whether your destinations accept U.S. currency or if you must exchange it for local currency first.
Do I need a passport?
That depends on where you sail from and your ports of call. Generally, ships sailing from the U.S. allow U.S. citizens to board using a birth certificate. Still, it’s not a bad idea to bring a passport if you have one, especially in cases of emergency. Obviously, you’ll need a passport if you’re sailing from somewhere other than your home country.
What can’t I bring on a cruise?
If you’re wondering what to pack for a cruise, you might want to know what not to pack, as well. Clothing irons and garment steamers are prohibited, as are baby monitors and power strips. You can’t bring knives or scissors on board, so leave your multitool behind when packing for a cruise. You can usually bring nail files, cuticle tools, and scissors for trimming facial hair, as long as the blades are less than 4 inches.
As always, be sure to check your cruise line’s list of prohibited items before embarking, or you might find yourself doing without an item after it’s confiscated.
There’s so much to see and do on a cruise, though, that you’re unlikely to miss whatever it is you had to leave at home. We hope this guide to what to pack for a cruise helps you the next time you want to sail away. Bon voyage!