Answer seven questions about your cruise and the generator builds a packing list for that sailing: the region, the number of nights, how many formal nights, which shore excursions you booked and who is coming. The list covers the cruise-only items that a regular packing list misses, from the embarkation day bag to magnetic hooks for the cabin walls. Edit it, add your names and download it as a free printable PDF.
How the cruise packing list is built
The region sets the weather. A Caribbean, Mexican Riviera or Hawaii cruise gets warm-weather clothes, reef-safe sunscreen and water shoes. An Alaska cruise gets waterproof layers, gloves, a hat and binoculars. A Mediterranean cruise gets walking shoes, a cover-up for churches and euros for the ports.
The number of formal nights decides how many dressy outfits go on the list. Shore excursions add their own gear: snorkel and dry bag for beach days, hiking shoes and a daypack for glacier or rainforest tours, a crossbody bag for city tours. Clothing quantities follow the number of nights, with the same caps as the travel packing list generator. Many ships have self-service laundry rooms and most offer a paid laundry service.
The last page of the PDF holds the cruise checklist: online check-in, luggage tags, travel insurance and the things to do at home before you leave for the port.
Free printable cruise packing lists
Download a ready-made list if your cruise matches one of these. Each comes in US Letter and A4 sizes, and “Customize this list” opens it in the generator.
Ready-made cruise packing lists
Download a finished list as is, or open it in the builder above to change it.
Ultimate cruise packing list
A broad Caribbean week with formal nights, excursions, photos and meds.
Caribbean cruise packing list
Swimwear, sun care and port-day gear for a week in the tropics.
Alaska cruise packing list
Layers, rain gear and binoculars for glaciers, whales and chilly decks.
Cruise packing list with kids
Pool, swim diaper and activity essentials for a family week at sea.
Short cruise packing list
A compact list for a 3 to 5 night getaway sailing from a drive-to port.
The embarkation day bag
On boarding day the porters take your suitcases at the terminal, and they reach your cabin anywhere from early afternoon to evening. Everything you need for the first afternoon goes in a carry-on that stays with you:
- Passport or other travel documents, boarding pass and ID
- Medications and anything you can't replace
- Swimsuit, sunscreen and sunglasses for the pool deck
- A change of clothes for dinner
- Phone, charger and the cruise line's app, already logged in
- Wine or soda, if your cruise line allows it. Most lines allow wine only at embarkation, so check your line's limits
Keep this bag light enough to carry around the ship for a few hours, because cabins usually open after lunch.
Documents for a cruise
A valid passport is the safest document for any cruise. US citizens on a closed-loop cruise, one that starts and ends at the same US port, can usually sail with an original or certified government-issued birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID. Children under 16 need only the birth certificate. The problem comes if you miss the ship in a foreign port or have to fly home early: you can't board an international flight back to the US without a passport.
Cruises that start and end in different ports, and most cruises outside the Americas, require a passport. Some itineraries also require visas or electronic travel authorizations for each country. Your cruise line lists the document requirements for your sailing in your booking.
What not to bring on a cruise
Cruise lines ban items that create a fire risk on a ship. The common ones are:
- Surge protectors, and on several lines any power strip or extension cord. Bring a USB charging cube that plugs straight into the outlet instead. Cabins often have only one or two outlets.
- Clothing irons and steamers. Use wrinkle-release spray or the ship's pressing service.
- Candles, incense and anything with an open flame.
- Weapons and drones. Most lines hold drones with ship security or allow them only on land, away from the port. Rules for alcohol and sports gear also vary by line, so check yours.
Security screens every bag at the terminal and confiscates banned items. Some lines return them at the end of the cruise.
Packing for the region
Caribbean and Mexico: pack for heat and sun. Lightweight clothes, two swimsuits so one can dry, a cover-up, a sun hat and reef-safe sunscreen. Hawaii bans the sale of sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate, and the US Virgin Islands ban bringing in sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate or octocrylene.
Alaska: summer daytime highs in the ports are usually 55 to 65°F (13 to 18°C), nights drop into the 40s and rain is common. Dress in layers: a base layer, a fleece and a waterproof jacket. Bring gloves and a warm hat for glacier viewing from the deck, which is colder and windier than the ports. Binoculars are worth the space for whales and wildlife.
Mediterranean and Europe: port days are long walking days, so pack comfortable shoes that are already broken in. Churches and cathedrals often require covered shoulders and knees, which a light scarf or shawl solves. Many ports use the euro.
Cruise essentials worth buying
These small items solve the problems almost every cruise cabin has: few outlets, little storage and metal walls. The picks change with your answers in the generator.
Cruise essentials worth buying
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
Magnetic hooks
Adds hanging space on steel cabin walls.
See options on AmazonUSB charging cube
Multi-port charging without a surge protector.
See options on AmazonMotion sickness bands
Drug-free option for seasickness.
See options on AmazonBinoculars
Spot whales and eagles from the deck.
See options on AmazonLanyard for keycard
Keeps your cabin key and ID in one place.
See options on AmazonMineral sunscreen
Mineral formulas for snorkel and beach days.
See options on Amazon
Frequently asked questions
What should I pack for a 7-night cruise?
Pack 8 sets of underwear and socks, 5 or 6 casual outfits, 2 swimsuits, a cover-up, one dressy outfit for each formal night, sleepwear, a light jacket and 3 pairs of shoes: sandals, walking shoes and dress shoes. Add sunscreen, medications, documents, a lanyard for your key card and a USB charging cube.
What can you not bring on a cruise?
Cruise lines ban surge protectors, clothing irons and steamers, candles, weapons and illegal drugs. Most also restrict drones and limit how much alcohol you can bring. Check your cruise line's prohibited items list before packing.
Do I need a passport for a cruise?
A passport is required for most cruises. US citizens on closed-loop cruises that start and end at the same US port can usually use a certified birth certificate and a government photo ID instead. A passport is still recommended, because you need one to fly home from a foreign port.
What do you wear on formal night on a cruise?
Most mainstream cruise lines that hold formal nights ask for cocktail attire: a dress, a dressy jumpsuit or dress pants and a nice top for women, and dress pants with a collared shirt for men, with a jacket or tie optional. A suit or tuxedo is welcome but rarely required. A 7-night cruise usually has one or two, and some lines, such as Norwegian, have none.
Why do people bring magnetic hooks on a cruise?
Cruise cabin walls and doors are made of steel, so magnetic hooks hold hats, bags, lanyards and wet swimsuits without damaging anything. They add storage to a small cabin without tools or adhesive.
Can I bring a power strip on a cruise?
Not one with surge protection. Every major cruise line bans surge protectors because they create a fire risk on a ship, and several lines ban all power strips and extension cords. A USB charging cube that plugs straight into the outlet is the safe choice for cabins with few outlets.
What should I pack in my carry-on for cruise embarkation day?
Pack your documents, medications, a swimsuit, sunscreen, a change of clothes, chargers and valuables. Checked luggage can take until the evening to reach your cabin, so anything you need that afternoon should stay with you.
What should I pack for an Alaska cruise?
Pack layers: a base layer, a fleece or sweater and a waterproof jacket with a hood. Add gloves, a warm hat, waterproof shoes, binoculars and a small daypack for excursions. Summer daytime highs in the ports are usually 55 to 65°F, nights drop into the 40s and it rains often.
How can I avoid seasickness on a cruise?
Choose a cabin on a lower deck near the middle of the ship, where the motion is smallest. Pack acupressure wristbands and ask your doctor about motion sickness medication before you sail. Fresh air and looking at the horizon also help.