Ultimate Cruise Packing List | Essentials for Disney Cruise Line & Royal Caribbean
- Practically Perfect Pixie Dust
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Planning your first (or fifteenth!) cruise? 🚢 Packing for life at sea is a whole different ballgame compared to Disney or Universal parks. You’re not just dressing for a pool day or a night out—you’ll need outfits for sea days, shore excursions, themed deck parties, and formal nights. This handy checklist covers everything you’ll want for a Caribbean or Bahamian sailing, so you can board stress-free and focus on the fun.
The good news? We’ve done the packing (and unpacking!) enough times to know exactly what makes the difference between smooth sailing and scrambling for forgotten essentials. This Cruise Packing Checklist covers everything you’ll want for a Caribbean or Bahamian voyage, plus a few bonus items most first-timers don’t think of.
👉 Download our free printable Cruise Packing Checklist so you can check items off as you go and board totally stress-free.
📑 Jump Links
🚢 Cruise Essentials
Passport (or birth certificate + government ID, depending on cruise line/destination)
Boarding documents / printed SetSail pass (RCL) or Port Arrival Form (DCL)
Lanyard for your SeaPass/Key to the World card
Travel insurance documents
Carry-on bag with swimwear, meds, sunscreen (since luggage can take hours to arrive)
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Always pack a swimsuit and flip-flops in your carry-on. Pools open as soon as you board, but checked bags won’t reach your stateroom until later.
👗 Clothing & Accessories
Casual daytime outfits - 1 per day (shorts, t-shirts, sundresses)
Resort casual evening wear - for the main dining room (think “nice dinner out”)
Formal night outfits - if participating (suit/tie or cocktail dress for ships that have them)
Themed night outfits - if participating (pirate night on DCL, white night on RCL, 70s disco, etc.)
Swimwear (2–3 per person so one can dry while you wear another)
Cover-ups for pool decks
Hat for the beach or other excusions
Lightweight jacket/sweater (ship decks can be breezy)
Comfortable walking shoes (for excursions)
Flip-flops or sandals
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Check your cruise line’s daily schedule in advance. DCL is famous for Pirate Night; Royal Caribbean often does “Caribbean Night” or “White Night”—packing ahead lets you join the fun without scrambling.
🪥 Toiletries & Personal Care
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Shampoo/conditioner (travel size—ships provide basics but not always great quality)
Sunscreen (reef-safe for beach excursions)
After-sun aloe or lotion
Hairbrush/comb, hair ties
Deodorant
Makeup & remover wipes
Skin care items
Seasickness remedies (Bonine, Dramamine, Sea-Bands, ginger candies)
Over the counter medications such as pain killers or antihistimines
Prescription medications (in original bottles) - if you use pill boxes, make sure you take a picture of all the labels on your prescriptions
📱 Tech & Travel Gear
Phone & charger (consider a multi-port USB hub—outlets are limited)
Non-Surge multi USB/USB-C port plug - not a power strip.
Waterproof phone pouch (handy for beach days & excursions)
Headphones/earbuds
E-reader or book
Portable fan (if allowed—some cruise lines restrict)
Cords
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Make sure to download your cruise line’s app before boarding—Wi-Fi is expensive, but the app works on ship Wi-Fi even without a package for daily schedules, dining times, and messaging.
🎒 Pack Smart for Ports & Beaches
When you’re choosing your bags, think double duty:
Beach Bag Alternative: Bring a carry-on tote that can double as your beach bag once onboard. It saves space and keeps you from overpacking.
Port Safety: Planning to walk around in a foreign port? Use a crossbody or anti-theft style bag that zips securely and keeps your belongings close.
Avoid Easy Targets: Never carry your phone or wallet in a back pocket—pickpockets in busy tourist areas can spot that in a second.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: A lightweight, water-resistant crossbody is perfect for both port days and embarkation. It keeps your hands free for ice cream cones 🍦 and shore excursion photos, while keeping your valuables safe.
💳 Documents & Money
Passport or government ID
Credit card for onboard account
Small bills for tipping shore guides/porters
Copies of all documents in a separate bag (just in case)
🎉 Optional Extras (But Super Handy!)
Strong magnetic hooks (stateroom walls are metal = instant hanging space)
Foldable laundry hamper
Refillable water bottle (some ships don’t allow bottled water to be carried on)
Ziplock bags (for wet swimsuits or snacks)
Highlighters/post-its (to mark the daily newsletter if you prefer paper to the app)
Towel clips for beach chairs
Cruise Hacks & Pixie Dust Pro Tips to Make Sailing Smoother
⚡ Power & Charging
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Most cruise lines ban traditional power strips and surge protectors. What you can bring: a multi-port charger with USB/USB-C outlets (as long as it only has one standard plug). Outlets in staterooms are limited, so this is a lifesaver for families with multiple devices.
🍷 Beverages
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Disney Cruise Line allows guests to bring up to 2 bottles of wine or 6 beers per adult in carry-on luggage. Royal Caribbean allows wine but not beer. Always pack it in your carry-on, never in checked bags (crew may confiscate it if not compliant).
💧 Water Bottles
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Cruise ships provide unlimited water at dining rooms and drink stations—so skip packing cases of bottled water. Bring a refillable bottle or insulated tumbler instead.
🌊 Seasickness Prep
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Even if you don’t usually get motion sick, pack remedies just in case—ships can hit rough seas. Popular options: Bonine (less drowsy than Dramamine), Sea-Bands, or ginger chews.
🛟 Muster Drill
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: The mandatory safety drill (muster drill) is now done via the cruise line’s app or in small group gatherings instead of a massive deck assembly. Watch the safety video before boarding to save time once you’re on the ship.
***DCL is still completely done in person after boarding.
🏝️ Shore Excursions
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Always bring a small waterproof pouch or Ziploc bag for your SeaPass card, ID, and a little cash on excursions. You’ll need the card to re-board the ship.
🧼 Laundry
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Disney Cruise Line has self-serve laundry facilities (great for families). Royal Caribbean doesn’t—so if you want fresh clothes mid-sailing, you’ll need to use the ship’s paid laundry service.
🎉 Cabin Space Savers
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Magnetic hooks are a game-changer! Since most stateroom walls are metal, you can hang hats, swimsuits, and lanyards without cluttering counters.
Free Printable Cruise Packing Checklist
Want to make packing stress-free? We’ve put together a free printable Cruise Packing Checklist you can download as a PDF or save as a JPG to your phone. Check items off as you go, or keep it handy in your camera roll so you never forget the essentials.
And that’s it—you’re officially packed like a pro! 🧳 Whether it’s your first cruise or your fifteenth, this checklist makes getting ready so much easier so you can focus on the fun. Grab your free printable packing list above, tick those boxes, and get ready to sail away. 🌊✨
✦ Planning a cruise but not sure which line is right for you? We put Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean side by side — staterooms, dining, shows, kids’ clubs, private islands, and more. 👉 Read our full Disney Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean comparison guide
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Packing smart is only half the battle — knowing what to expect on embarkation day makes the whole process smoother. Don’t miss our guide to Royal Caribbean Check-In & Boarding Tips for everything you need to know before you step on the ship. 🚢 Headed on Disney Cruise Line instead? Stay tuned — our DCL boarding guide is coming soon!
If you loved this guide, you might also find these helpful:
Bon voyage from the Pixie Dust crew—we’ll see you at sea! 🚢💙
Pixie Dust Hugs,
Bren, Lyn, and Kim
P.S. Ready to put this packing list to good use? ✨ Whether you’re dreaming of a Disney Cruise Line adventure or setting sail with Royal Caribbean, I’d love to help plan your next voyage. You can book with Bren affiliated with MEI Mouse Fan Travel. 🚢💙
