How do you pack for a cruise without overpacking?

The rule of twos can help you plan the perfect wardrobe. Pick two outfits -- one for day, one for night -- for each day you travel, as well as workout clothes, bathing suits, and PJs for every two days. Then cut the total amount in half -- remember, no one is going to notice when you wear the same shirt twice.



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While airlines have restrictions on what size of toiletries you can bring on a flight, at least in your carry on or personal bag, cruise lines do not. If you're not concerned about packing space, you can bring full size toiletry items including shampoo and conditioner bottles, shaving cream and other hygiene products.

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If you are wondering what to pack for a Caribbean cruise that lasts 7 days, here are a few guidelines: Swimwear: 3 swimsuits and at least 3 swim cover-ups. Casual Looks: Pack at least 4 pairs of shorts, 5 – 7 t-shirts, 3 pairs of pants, 3 skirts, and a couple of day dresses.

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They are also great for keeping wet clothes separate from dry. We also like to put liquids that we bring onboard in the bags in case they accidentally spill. No matter what you might need them for, Ziplocs are a great thing to have and take up practically no room in your luggage.

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Cruise lines check your luggage for several reasons. The first reason is to ensure the safety of all passengers on board. Cruise ships have strict security protocols in place, and screening luggage is one way to prevent prohibited items from getting on the ship.

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While airlines have restrictions on what size of toiletries you can bring on a flight, at least in your carry on or personal bag, cruise lines do not. If you're not concerned about packing space, you can bring full size toiletry items including shampoo and conditioner bottles, shaving cream and other hygiene products.

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Taking food back to the room You can take food from the buffet back to your room if you'd rather eat away from the crowds. If you take food from the buffet or another informal location and bring it back to your room, nobody will object.

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DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN toilet paper, or flush so-called flushable wipes. The plumbing system is not like what you have at home. If you clog your toilet, you affect others on you hallway. The TP provided is specific for the system on the ships.

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A daypack and/or beach bag is essential for toting items while in port, as well as whatever purse you want to use on board in the evenings. Adding a collapsible tote to your list of things to pack for a cruise is a good strategy to help carry any extra souvenirs you might acquire along the way.

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Jeans and baseball caps are not allowed in the restaurants for dinner. On informal nights, jackets (ties optional) for men are recommended, while women can opt for dresses or pantsuits. Tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits for men and gowns or cocktail dresses for women are suggested for formal nights.

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During the day, we encourage you to wear casual attire such as t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, sundresses, and skirts. If you're spending the day at the pool, you can also have lunch or dine in casual pool clothes at the Mast Grill located next to the pool deck.

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In the evenings, some of our ships enforce a “cruise casual” dress code. For men this dress code can call for longer dress shorts or pants (jeans are OK too) and a collared polo shirt. For women, the dress code may ask for sundresses, skirts and blouses, dress shorts and capri pants are acceptable.

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Read on for our list of what not to bring on a cruise.
  1. Household Appliances Like Irons and Coffeemakers. The clothes iron -- that keystone to a frump-free formal night -- is, as far as we can tell, banned industry-wide. ...
  2. Weapons and Restraints. ...
  3. Liquor or Beer. ...
  4. Books. ...
  5. Toys That Will Get You in Trouble.


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Most cruise lines — such as Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Holland America — ban scissors and knives with blades longer than 4 inches. Other lines, including Disney, prohibit knives regardless of blade length; this includes straight razors. Safety razors for personal grooming are allowed on all lines, though.

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The cruise line also specifically says that drinks in bottles are not allowed. Princess policy: Passengers can bring up to 12 cans/cartons of non-alcoholic beverages. Drinks packaged in bottles aren't allowed.

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Yes. All drinking water is either distilled from seawater or loaded onboard while the ship is in port.

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You might be a big fan of bottled water and refuse to drink tap water, but a cruise ship's water is MUCH better than tap water. They have high-tech filtration systems that allow the water coming out of your bathroom sink to be clean and more than pure enough to drink.

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Will my cruise ship cabin have a private bathroom? Cruise ships offer ensuite bathrooms in even the smallest and least expensive cabins, just as you'd find in a hotel. Some suites or family cabins will even have a master bath and a second half-bath or shower-only full bathroom.

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Cruise ships are good at making food available 24/7, so if you're hungry, there's usually no one to blame but yourself. The main dining room usually has set meal times, but sections of the buffet will always be open, and you'll usually be able to find a diner, cafe, or pizza shop that's open at all hours.

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Your cruise fare always includes food for breakfast, lunch and dinner on a cruise ship. However, not all venues that offer food will be free. The main dining room and cruise ship buffet will always be included in your cruise fare, though a few specialty items might cost extra.

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Most cruise lines do usually have a fridge of sorts in the cabins. These fridges are really “mini-bars.”

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The answer to this question varies a lot by person, their travel habits, spending preferences, length of the cruise and destination. Many people suggest $100 per day, and this has generally worked well for me in my cruising experiences, but there are a lot of variables to consider.

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Best Cruise Luggage, Carry-on Bags, Packing Cubes and Accessories
  • Lightweight 4 Wheel Luggage – Hardshell. ...
  • 4 Wheel Lightweight luggage – Soft-sided. ...
  • Rolling Duffel Bag (extra large) ...
  • Carry on luggage. ...
  • Garment Bag. ...
  • Weekender Bag. ...
  • Shore Excursion Bag. ...
  • Backpack.


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The best news about packing is that there is no (reasonable) limit on how much you can bring on a cruise. Most cruise lines “encourage” or “suggest” each passenger to limit luggage to two suitcases, each one less than 50 pounds. In addition, you can also bring carry-on luggage (more on that in a moment).

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