What To Pack For A Cruise With The Whole Family

It wasn't the best way to start our family cruise: My husband and I had packed our suitcases meticulously with everything we needed — except we'd left our bags in the care of the luggage porters at the pier and only now, staring down our 18-month-old, did it dawn on us that there were no diapers to be found in our carry-on bag.

Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or an experienced globe-trotter, mishaps happen. But packing with a plan and following a few key tips can help you start your trip with ease. Keeping a printable cruise packing list on hand can prevent these small but impactful oversights. Read on to learn what to pack for a cruise and skip the preparation stress as you get ready for your cruise vacation.

What Are Must-haves For A Cruise? Packing List Essentials

The must-haves for your cruise depend on who you’re packing for. I always ensure the whole family brings the following:

● Sun protection (such as a sun hat, sunglasses and sunblock).

● A reusable water bottle.

● Comfortable walking shoes.

● A rain poncho.

● Communication devices (with chargers).

The rest comes down to fresh clothes, activities and cruise-friendly toiletries. 

Having cruised with small children across the globe for a decade now, I've developed some foolproof strategies for packing for a family cruise. I've certainly had my share of "fails" when it comes to planning, packing and preparing, but I still love cruising with my family as a way to reconnect and explore the world together as well as get a little relaxation time myself (as opposed to just momming it up in another setting).

If you have babies, school-aged kids, teens or are new to cruising, these tips will help ensure your cruise essentials are set for smooth sailing with your whole crew.

Packing For Babies And Young Children

1. Check Out The Cruise Ship’s Childcare Facilities

Debating over packing the tablet or that extra toy? When planning your travels, be sure to explore the Adventure Ocean amenities onboard the ship ahead of your trip to help you determine what you really need to bring and what can be left at home. Babies may have fun exploring the treasure trove of new toys in the onboard nursery, while young kids and adolescents are sure to be wowed by the experience of making new friends and participating in cruise activities in the kids' clubs. They may even forget about their phone or tablet for a while.

Consider adding a few fun things to bring on a cruise, and keep little ones entertained during downtime, such as:

● A favorite stuffed animal.

● Board book.

● Compact travel game.

2. Involve Your Kids In Packing For Their Cruise

Traveling on a cruise for your kids when they are as young as 3 or 4 can be a breeze when you involve them in helping pick out their own clothes. You can even turn it into a counting lesson, corresponding the number of cruise days with the number of pants and shirts. That way, you guide your kids to decide what to wear on a cruise and give them a little responsibility so that, with any luck, you can eventually offload this task to them in a few short years.

Let them help select cruise outfits for casual and formal occasions, reinforcing the idea of dressing appropriately for different events onboard.

Packing For Pre-K To Elementary-Age Kids On A Cruise

1. Prepare for All Occasions (and Weather) When You Pack

Cruise life means your kids can be swimming, building sandcastles, playing mini golf, dining at formal restaurants and scaling rock climbing walls all in one day. Solution? Think through the most likely activities your kids will partake in and what the weather will be like during your sailing. Pack pieces that can be repurposed and layered, depending on the activity. For example, I love to dress my little ones in sports coats for formal night, so (barring spills) we reuse the jacket and pants for evening meals and swap in a new shirt as needed. 

But also consider your cruise destination: When deciding what to pack for a cruise to Alaska, you might include jackets and sweaters that can be layered depending on the weather. On the other hand, planning what to pack for a cruise to The Bahamas lends toward lightweight, crinkle-free fabrics to keep the kids cool and protect them from the sun (plus, they make packing way easier). In any case, ponchos are a good idea — they’re small, easily packable and always practical in the event of rain.

2. Don't Forget The Special Cruise Package Items

If your kiddo is old enough to be trusted with his or her own Seapass® card, tuck a lanyard or waterproof fanny pack into your luggage so it can be safely stowed while your child is exploring. (Or you may prefer to order a WOW Band.) If you're heading to a beachy island destination like the Mediterranean or Caribbean, then consider packing the following necessities: 

● An extra bathing suit.

● Water shoes.

● Your kid's favorite swim goggles.

● Packing for a shore excursion? Include items like: 

● Comfortable sandals for walking.

● Sunscreen.

● A lightweight day bag for carrying your cruise essentials.

3. Throw In Some Handy Extras

Our packing list always includes a few extra bags — either totes or backpacks — for carrying towels and extra items on shore. In terms of shoes for a cruise, we bring at least two pairs per family member — flip-flops or light sandals for beach and pool days and one pair of comfortable walking shoes for days at port (we wear these during travel).

We also like to bring our own reusable water bottles. If you’re wondering how many outfits to pack for a seven-day cruise, I’d go with one per day, plus at least one formal option. Younger kids may need a few extras in case of spills, and most ships have laundry services onboard. 

Add a packing cube to keep smaller items, such as socks or travel-size toiletries, organized in your suitcase.

What To Pack For Teens, Tweens And The Rest Of The Family

1. Plan Your Family Photo

When you’re dealing with busy schedules back home, family portrait opportunities can be few and far between. So, take advantage of the onboard Royal Caribbean photographers and pack a coordinated family wardrobe. You might even want to pack several options to ensure you have an array of choices.

For formal photo nights, go for something elegant and travel-friendly. A long, flowy dress in crinkle cotton, silk or linen blend makes fantastic cruise wear for women. Twist it tightly into a rope, roll it up and pack it into your suitcase — it occupies little room and is ready to wear in seconds. 

A few Tencel shirts and some semi-formal shorts are staples in cruise wear for men — both are stylish, breathable and comfortable. 

Accessories like scarves or ties can add pops of color to coordinate outfits with the kids.

2. Think Through Communication

3. Pack For Independence

Consider that your older kids will probably spend most of their time exploring the ship away from you and encourage them to pack accordingly — be sure they have their own sunscreen, for example, and a personal phone charger and battery pack so that they can stay in touch.

Remind them to pack their favorite cruise shirt ideas or casual attire for lounging between activities.

4. Leave Room For Souvenirs

From personal experience, it's never a great sign when you're barely able to zip up your suitcase before you even leave home. Your luggage will expand — that's just a fact of cruise life. So, encourage your older kids to leave a little space in the 'case when they're packing. That goes for you too, parents!

If you're heading on a Caribbean cruise, consider packing an extra foldable tote for souvenirs like T-shirts or local crafts.

What Is The 333 Packing Method For A Cruise?

Final Tips For Deciding What To Pack For A Cruise

What To Pack For A Cruise: Packing Checklist

Essentials for Everyone

● Passports, IDs and cruise documents.

● Seapass® cards, WOW Bands, lanyards.

● Cash in small bills for tips and small purchases.

● Phone chargers and portable battery packs.

● Reusable water bottles.

For Babies and Young Kids

● Diapers, wipes and changing supplies (in both suitcase and carry-on).

● Favorite stuffed animal, board books or travel games.

● Extra outfits for spills and accidents.

● Swim diapers (if applicable).

● Lightweight poncho or rain jacket.

For Kids and Tweens

● Bathing suits, water shoes, and swim goggles.

● Comfortable walking shoes and flip-flops.

● Lightweight day bag for excursions.

● Sunscreen (kid-friendly and reef-safe if needed) and sunhat.

● Optional: Dry-erase board & markers (for stateroom door messages).

For Teens and Adults

● Formal or coordinated outfits for family photos.

● Accessories: ties, scarves, jewellery for photo nights.

● A few extra empty totes for souvenirs.

● Casual clothes for downtime and excursions.

Helpful Extras

● Packing cubes or ziplock bags for small items.

● Ponchos / foldable rain jackets.

● Small first aid kit & medications.

● Travel-size toiletries.