Cruise Like a Pro: Complete Cruise Gear Paking Guide

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Packing for a cruise can feel a little like a puzzle. You need everything, but space is limited, and you definitely don’t want to be that person who forgets something essential halfway across the ocean.

After several cruises (and a few rookie mistakes), we’ve learned what makes life onboard smoother, more comfortable, and a whole lot more fun. Here’s our go-to list of cruise essentials that’ll make you look like a seasoned sailor even if it’s your first time stepping onboard.

Cruise Cards

That little cruise card is basically your golden ticket to everything onboard. It’s your room key, your ID, your drink refiller, and your shopping pass. It’s basically your entire vacation wrapped in one piece of plastic. So yeah, you really don’t want to lose it.

I use a necklace-style lanyard for mine. It feels more like jewelry and less like I’m wearing a conference badge. Phil, on the other hand, rocks his Denver Broncos lanyard (because apparently fandom is forever 🙄). If lanyards aren’t your thing, no worries. Grab one of those stick-on phone pockets. It keeps your card handy and you can easily remove it after the cruise.

Cords and Cables

Cruise ships are notorious for limiting the number of outlets in your cabin! Some of the newer ships don’t even have outlets or ports beside the bed. So we recommend charging blocks with multiple outlets. And because those outlets are never in a convenient place, a few 6-10 foot charging cables are a good idea in case you want to scroll on your phone while it's charging.

PRO TIP: Be sure to check with your cruise line for their list of banned electronics. The rules are always changing.

Keep Your Devices Safe While Charging. Airports and hotels often have those handy USB charging ports, but here’s the thing: you don’t actually know what you’re plugging into. 😬

Public USB ports can be vulnerable to “juice jacking,” where malware can be transferred to your device just by charging. So we never plug our phones directly into public USB ports. To keep your devices safe, always use your own charging blocks and plug them into a standard wall outlet, not a charging port, because no one wants their vacation ruined by a hacked phone.

Having some extra phone juice makes a big difference when traveling. This iPhone charging case does double duty. It protects the phone while giving it an additional full charge.

Oh, if you are flying to your cruise, these Bose headphones are just the thing to block out the noise on your flight. Phil loves them and won’t fly without them.

Travel Bags & Such

Every cruise line requires you to print luggage tags. This makes sure your luggage ends up in the correct cabin. Instead of stapling the paper tag on our luggage (which could rip off), we upgraded to these luggage tags. You can use them over and over for any cruise line. We put Apple AirTags in every bag, whether we are flying or cruising. It just gives us peace of mind that our luggage will arrive with us. These new credit card size trackers are perfect for wallets and purses.

When you hit a cruise port it’s important to keep your credit cards safe from skimmers. After watching someone get skimmed at a train station in Europe, we take it very seriously. All of our credit cards, driver's licenses, and passports are in sleeves or covers to prevent skimming as we travel through crowded airports and train stations.

Let’s talk excursions! We bring several items depending on the excursions we book. For activities like kayaking or beach days, we always pack our dry bags to keep clothing dry and our waterproof phone pouch.

Compression packing cubes don’t just help you fit more into your suitcase. They allow you to stay organized, too! We use them to plan what clothing we need to keep out for disembarkation day. They will slip easily into the bag we will keep with and carry off the ship.

These lightweight day bags are perfect for port days. Toss in sunscreen, your water bottle, camera, and a snack, and you’re ready to go. What I love most about them is that they help prevent skimming and pickpockets. You can choose the size that best suits your port adventure: crossbody, sling bag, or mini crossbody.

If you are in the market for suitcases, these are great options. We’ve had the Mother Lode backpack and duffle for almost 10 years and still love them. You won’t believe how much you pack into the backpack. They are the size of checked luggage. The brand was called eBags when we purchased it, but Samsonite now owns it.

I recently discovered this leather laptop backpack and I am in love! Well, as in love as you can be with a bag. It is big enough to hold both of our laptops, camera gear, and more. It is also super comfortable on my back.

Staying Healthy

Taking precautions while on the ship to stay healthy and feeling your best is always a good idea! Upon entering the cabin, we recommend a complete wipe down of all surfaces with disinfecting wipes (don't forget doorknobs, phones, and remotes). Motion sickness patches are good to have for those stormy sea days, even if you are not prone to seasickness. Finally, a stocked first aid kit with items such as Band-Aids, Motrin, antidiarrheal, Tums, and cold meds.

Misc Cruise Must Haves!

Cabins can be very dark, especially interior cabins. These rechargeable LED night lights are the perfect way to prevent you from tripping in the middle of the night. They are magnetic so that you can stick them to any cabin wall near the floor, and they have a sensor that turns them on when the lights go out.

These thin magnetic whiteboards are perfect for making sure everyone in your party knows where you are at all times, without the need for wifi or cell phones. Just put it on the outside of your cabin door to let your friends and family know where you are meeting for cocktails.

Lotions & Potions

Cabins on cruise ships are notorious for never having enough storage. This toiletry bag will hang on the bathroom door, clearing up the countertops. I have been using these refillable bottles in the RV for a few years. They are refillable and allow you to take just what you need. They also meet TSA’s requirements for carry on luggage. The small makeup container is perfect for foundation or moisturizers.

Anchors Aweigh! ⚓

The truth is, you don’t need everything on those “ultimate cruise packing lists” online, but you do need to pack smart. A few clever tools make your cabin feel bigger, your days easier, and your adventures smoother.

And the best part? Once you’re on deck, drink in hand, and ocean breeze in your hair… you’ll know you’re ready for whatever the sea throws your way (hopefully just sunshine and good memories).

Meet Stacy! Stacy and her husband, Phil, are a wanderlust couple who have been roaming the great USA for an epic 7 years! They ditched the daily grind to embark on thrilling adventures and inspire fellow dreamers to chase their travel dreams. Curious about how they do it? Check out their awesome YouTube channel, Today is Someday, where they're spilling all the secrets to living a life on the move. Get ready to pack your bags and join them on this incredible journey.