Planning guide
Cruise packing list: what to bring and what to leave behind
A practical packing list for any cruise, plus what you can safely leave at home.
ExploraGo Team· Updated September 2026
Packing for a cruise is different from packing for a hotel: you need to cover sea days, port days, dinners and changing weather without overpacking a small cabin.
The three categories
- Essentials you can't replace or buy easily.
- Clothing for sea days, port days and evenings.
- Port-day daypack you carry ashore.
Documents and essentials
- Passport (plus a photo of it), visas if required.
- Boarding documents and luggage tags.
- Travel insurance details.
- Medication in original packaging, in your carry-on.
- A small amount of local currency and a card.
- Reusable water bottle.
Keep a photo of your passport and boarding pass on your phone and in the cloud. It makes any problem much easier to solve.
Clothing by region
| Region | Bring | Leave |
|---|---|---|
| Caribbean | Light layers, swimwear, sun hat, reef-safe sunscreen | Heavy jackets |
| Mediterranean | Comfortable walking shoes, smart-casual for evenings | Bulky sweaters in summer |
| Fjords / Alaska | Warm layers, waterproof shell, hat and gloves | Formal wear (usually optional) |
| Transatlantic | Layers for changing weather, sea-day comfort | Too many port outfits |
Port-day daypack
- Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes.
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen.
- A light rain layer.
- Offline map, portable charger, small cash.
- A foldable tote for souvenirs.
Tech and power
- Check the plug type on your ship and bring an adapter.
- Power strips with surge protectors are often banned. Bring a USB hub instead.
- Portable battery for long port days.
- Noise-cancelling headphones for flights and sea days.
Health and comfort
- Seasickness tablets (take before symptoms start).
- Basic first-aid: painkillers, plasters, rehydration salts.
- Hand sanitiser and motion-sickness wristbands if they help.
- Any prescriptions with a copy of the prescription.
What to leave behind
- Beach towels (usually provided).
- A hairdryer (usually in the cabin).
- Too many shoes and "just in case" outfits.
- Surge-protected power strips.
- Iron and travel kettle (usually prohibited).
The 10-item quick checklist
- Passport + documents
- Medication (carry-on)
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Swimwear
- Warm layer + rain shell
- Sun protection
- Adapters + USB hub
- Portable charger
- Reusable bottle
- Smart-casual outfit for evenings
Pack for the ports, not the ship
The single biggest packing mistake is overpacking for the ship and underpacking for the ports. You'll spend most of your waking hours ashore or on your feet — pack for that first.