The Essential Cruise Ship Packing List (2024)

Sunglasses are of course an essential. If, like me, you aren't the best at keeping track of expensive sunglasses—or live in fear of dropping them overboard—a cheap but trendy pair from Amazon just might be the move. Lastly, forgo the stack of books and bring along a Kindle or other e-Reader. The Kindle Paperwhite is my favorite, since it's super small and lightweight (under eight ounces) and has a weeks-long battery life, meaning you can leave your charger at home.

By the pool

If you're headed to a warm location, you'll probably want to take advantage of the pool deck, especially on sea days, so swim trunks or a bathing suit are a given. Keep skin protected with sunscreen and a sun hat—for the former, I love Supergoop's Play spray sunscreen for body and Unseen sunscreen for face; the latter goes on smoothly with no white cast. As for a hat, stick with something neutral you can wear on shore excursions as well as on board. Lack of Color's straw hat is especially ship-friendly—on windy days, tighten the chin strap to keep it from flying off. Add a cover-up and some waterproof sandals, like Birkenstock's Arizona Essentials or Tevas, which offer more support than flip flops, and you're good to go.

Formal nights

Whether you're sailing on a larger ship with Celebrity or Royal Caribbean or a smaller vessel with Seabourn or Silversea, you'll likely encounter at least one black-tie evening or formal night during your cruise (consult the cruise line's dress code page for specifics). For itineraries that include several formal nights, I like packing one or two staple dresses in a neutral color and pairing them with bold accessories to feel like I'm changing up my look without bringing a new outfit for each night. And since you won't need much but your phone, room key, and maybe a lipstick, bring a small purse with room for just the essentials so you can avoid carrying around a bulky crossbody or tote when you head to dinner.

In the cabin

Nothing beats kicking back and relaxing in your stateroom after a long day of exploring—especially if you can watch the waves roll by from the comfort of your bed. Up the cozy factor with a pair of comfy socks; Brother Vellies' Cloud socks are a favorite of many Traveler editors, myself included. Even though most ships leave fluffy robes hanging in the closet, I like to pack a thinner one with me too, to wear in the mornings or while getting ready, especially since it doesn’t take up much room, even in a carry-on.

I also love a weighted sleep mask for ultimate relaxation (and darkness); Nodpod's can be laid over your head if you sleep on your back, or secured via a loop if you're a side sleeper or tend to move around. On the skincare front, hydrating face lotion is a toiletries essential no matter the climate you're traveling to—both ends of the temperature spectrum can lead to dried out skin (on that note, don’t forget a lip balm, too).

Shore excursions

Rule number one for shore excursions: Wear comfortable walking shoes. You might also need water shoes, depending on your ports of call and itinerary, but a pair of lightweight sneakers will come in handy for any and all sightseeing tours. Allbirds are my go-to, especially the classic Tree Dashers style. Hokas offer tons of support, too. If you plan on doing any shopping, stuff a mesh tote or Baggu bag in your day pack or crossbody—it weighs next to nothing and folds up small, but has plenty of room when unfolded to carry whatever souvenirs (or bottle of wine) you bring back on board. Plus, thanks to its material, Baggu bags doubles as a perfect beach tote to stash a towel and wet swimsuit in, if the day calls for a change of clothes.

Speaking of water, if you're planning to hike waterfalls, go kayaking or snorkeling, or participate in any other water-adjacent activity, bring along a waterproof phone case to keep your cell phone protected and easily accessible (I like the Pelican style below for its lanyard, and because it floats). Another fun pick: An underwater camera, if you'd rather leave your phone tucked away.

Shop by destination

Top off your list of wardrobe staples with pieces well-suited to your ports of call—bright colors and florals for the Caribbean, chunky sweaters and wool slacks for Alaska, and breezy linen and textured knits for Europe.

The Caribbean cruise

The Alaska cruise

The European river cruise