Cruise Vacation Packing List

Cruise packing is its own discipline. You are living out of a small cabin, probably with a formal night, probably with at least one swim day, probably with a shore excursion that expects walking shoes. Dress codes matter more than on any other kind of trip, and what you forget cannot be replaced until the next port. The destinations below are the most common cruise embarkation points and port stops we cover.

Climate and conditions

Cruise itineraries span climates. Mediterranean cruises from April through October are hot and dry. Caribbean cruises are warm year-round with a hurricane season from June through November. Alaskan cruises run May through September and can swing from 40°F to 70°F in a single day. Pack for the forecast at every port, not the embarkation city.

Essential packing tips

• One formal or smart-casual outfit for dinner nights, even on casual lines — blazer, dress, or collared shirt with dark pants.
• Two swimsuits so one can dry while you wear the other in a cabin with limited air circulation.
• Walking shoes for shore excursions that involve cobblestones, ruins, or anything longer than a terminal walk.
• A day bag that is waterproof enough for tender boats and small enough for narrow ship corridors.
• Motion sickness medication even if you do not think you need it. Open ocean days surprise first-timers.
• A power strip or USB hub — cabins have one or two outlets and five devices that need charging.