How we pack for a cruise has evolved over time and really this is how we pack for any trip. But somehow a cruise can feel different. Once you’re on, if you forgotten something, you really don’t have a ton of options. And if you do, they are usually very expensive. With some work upfront we can be prepared but also not overpack.
Maybe you’re looking for a list and there are plenty of them out there. Here’s the thing – that’s how the person writing the list travels. Maybe that has nothing to do with how you approach travel, or clothes, or activities, or anything else for that matter. What we have is more of a method, how we look at a trip to determine what we need. It might feel like it’s a bit involved, but after quite a few trips, we find it saves us time when we’re away.
This started with some of our first cruises. Being away for almost two weeks, needing two outfits per day, we needed to really have a plan in place. With varying ports, activities, and dress codes (some on the ship, some in ports) a generic list of – bring a swimsuit, shorts, three tops, etc – really wasn’t going to do us much good.
Before we get into it, let’s be clear on a something – we are not team carry-on. If that’s you, wonderful. But for anything more than two nights, honestly, the liquids alone make a carry-on not an option. There are plenty of travel writers (and travelers in general) who like to almost shame people for more than a carry-on. But here’s the thing, if you don’t have to carry my bags, then don’t worry about how much I’m taking. A lot of people like to get more than one wear out of something and we get the point of trying to maximize what you bring. But if you’ve ever traveled in the summer, you’ll get how that doesn’t always work without having an option to wash clothes. We would rather deal with a bigger bag on the day of travel then spend then entire trip washing clothes or trying to get by without something that didn’t fit.
Let’s get into how we plan –
While the three of us might have slight variations in how we write it out, the general idea is the same. Because when it comes to cruising, what you pack for a cruise to Alaska is not the same as a cruise for the Caribbean, or Europe, or…you get the picture.
- Start with writing out each day and the general activities. Is it a sea day? Do you have an excursion? What is the plan for dinner? Here’s an idea of that might look like.This helps us with the number of outfits we’ll need – on a sea day, it’s possible to change 2-3 times.
Thursday – Sea Day Morning – Spa Appt. Afternoon – Pool Dinner – Waterside | Friday – Saint Malo All day – Hiking Excursion Dinner – Osteria D’Ovidio | Saturday – Plymouth Morning – Walking Tour Afternoon – Tea & Trivia Dinner – Beef Bar |
- Next, we get into a few more specifics. Looking at the details of the excursions, to see if we need anything in particular for each one. Our Hiking excursion will require appropriate shoes for example. You can have everything from a boat ride with swimming to a visit to a religious site requiring knees, shoulders, and your head covered. No matter what you’re doing, you want to be able to participate.
- Get a general idea of the weather you will have. In the case of our last cruise, the temps we had in some ports were very different than others. If you have a cruise covering quite a distance, check if there will be a significant change in temperatures. Also, no matter what the weather forecast says, plan for rain gear.
- If you have an overnight before you board the ship (we talk about why that’s important here) plan what you need for that night and embarkation day. That way you can separate it out and not have to rummage through everything to find what you need.
- Know your laundry options. Are you willing to pay for the ship to do laundry for you if it’s not included with your cabin? If you have the option to do laundry yourself, does the itinerary have time you’re willing to give up doing it? For us, taking time away to do laundry for a cruise under 7 nights isn’t worth packing less. On the other hand, once you get over about 10 nights, it’s almost impossible to avoid it. Have an idea before you leave so you can adjust what you’re bringing (or not bringing) accordingly.
- We think we know what toiletries we use all the time until we need something when we’re away. Take time to write out what you really use consistently. Again, you might be able to slim down the list for a week or less. But once you’re much over that, you want to make sure to have what you need to feel comfortable.
How we pack and what we’re sure to bring each trip –
- Not a surprise, we love packing cubes. They help you fit more and stay organized. For most of it, we pack in groups, like items together. This really helps with the unpacking process once on board. The one cube that doesn’t follow this is the “overnight cube”. It makes it easy to pull out what you need for the one night/day without unpacking more than you need to.
- Of course if you’re taking prescription medication, that’s coming with (maybe with a few extra days’ worth just in case) But also make sure you bring OTC medications to cover all the basics. You might tend to think of only GI issues when cruising, but really anything can happen. Even if you never get sick, plan for a cold, allergies, GI issues, cuts, blisters, etc. All the basics. You don’t need to bring a lot of anything (unless you know you’re prone to something) but bring enough for a few days so you have time to get to a port and a pharmacy for more.
- AirTags in everything – you’re checked bags, carry-ons, and wallet.
What is going in our carry-on –
- Yes, we love all things digital, until the moment we need a document. On our last cruise we had two instances when printed documents would have helped. Everything for our UK visas indicated we didn’t need a printed copy. Unfortunately, the customs process on the ship is a little different than on land, so we did. And when the spa team had a scheduling glitch and couldn’t find out original appointments, having proof of the reservations we made would have helped for sure. Yes, 9 times out of 10 you don’t need things like tickets, reservations, etc printed, but the one time you do, it goes much easier if you have them.
- During embarkation it’s easy to get into the excitement of boarding and just want to drop all your things and go. Once you’re on the ship, they might offer to take your carry-ons, eventually bringing them to your cabin. And they will make it there at some point, but it might be a while. Have a purse, backpack, or some kind of bag you’re good with keeping with you until you have a cabin. That way, at a minimum, passports and medication can always be with you.
A few more general things –
- Look into what is available on your cruise ship. Some packing lists include laundry detergent, but if the self-serve laundry room provides it, then why bring it? Do you need an adapter if the plugs are the same as you use at home or they have more than one type available?
- Start planning a few weeks out in case you need to go shopping. We live in Florida, so we really don’t have a ton of clothes that work for a trip to Alaska. If you start planning ahead of time, you might realize you have more than you think, but it gives you time to fill in the gaps.
- Try things on. Maybe it’s been a minute since you wore that bathing suit or dress. Do you still feel great in it? Or is it still in good shape? There’s no much worse than putting on a bathing suit to head out to the pool and finding out the elastic has given up.
We are firm believers that planning ahead can make for smoother travels. A little work in advance (and a slightly bigger suitcase) can save you time and hassle once you’re away. Your trip is about you having fun, not proving to others how you can MacGyver 10 outfits out 3 pieces of clothing. 😊
