What To Pack For A Cruise
We just came back from a 16-day cruise around Australia and Indonesia and it was so much fun! We’ve been on several, with and without kids, and here’s my list of “must pack” cruise items that make life in a tiny room more bearable.
Pulling out of Airlie Beach, Australia
Over the Door Shoe Holder : cruise rooms and bathrooms are usually lacking in counter space so I love to take these to organize EVERYTHING - sunscreens, hair ties and accessories, make up, socks, diapers & wipes, sunglasses, next day itineraries, the possibilities are endless. I love that it keeps messes from accumulating as well as keeps drawers clear of clutter.
Over the door shoe holder as accessory holder in a cruise cabin
A Hanging / Foldable toiletry bag : the flexibility of this bag allows you to store it multiple ways! It fit perfectly on our bathroom counter but when we needed room, it could hang just as conveniently. Also a great way to keep the 2 year old from getting into the makeup and other toiletries.
Backpack : this seems like a no brainer but an easy one to forget if you don’t typically wear a backpack. I love a lightweight packable one that folds up small and my husband prefers a waterproof one so our valuables don’t get damaged. In some countries a backpack is also much safer than a handbag while touring around. If you’re not a backpack person or you’re not traveling with kids, a fanny pack or front sling bag is also a great option. My husband picked wore a sling bag and carried our passports, cash, cruise cards and sunglasses.
Foldable stroller : This gb Pockit Air All Terrain was the best option for us and I was thrilled with it overall. We bought it just weeks before we left and barely tested it out. We left it stored upright but we could’ve stored it in the closets or under the beds if needed. 5 stars, highly recommend
Sunscreen : I pack 1 bottle per checked bag because it is so overpriced on ships and I don’t want to pay that if I don’t have to. On this particular cruise we spent a few days beaching beforehand and need reef friendly sunscreen so I’ve already been stocking up. My girls and husband are all fair skinned and burn easily so we need as much protection as possible. I’ll also pack aloe because someone always gets a little too much sun at some point. (Also want to mention that this ship, Holland America Westerdam, had the smallest selection of hygiene and sun protection items of any ship I’ve been on so packing our own products came in clutch.)
LOL at Millie and her funny faces! Here she is in her many layers of sun protection - rashguard, one piece swimmy and reusable swim diaper.
Bathing suits : duh! But just how many? I prefer at least 3 per person because I don’t like putting a wet swimsuit on and neither do kids so I prefer to have a few to rotate through. After being in the ocean water in Moreton Island and Airlie Beach our swimsuits reeked and had to be washed which takes 24-36 hours with the laundry service. Also 2 rash guards per child. The reusable swim diaper cover is also great, we have 3.
Diapers, Wipes, Pull-ups : count how many you use a day, multiple by your days traveling, add an extra travel size pack. Trust me. You’d rather bring home extra than not have enough somewhere in Indonesia. I planned on purchasing a travel pack of Pampers somewhere in Australia but was only able to find a 44 pack of Huggies in Darwin. It was surprisingly cheap at $18AUD. Swim diapers don’t hold in urine so don’t overpack those. We actually have swim diapers and the reusable swim diaper covers, which I prefer.
Passports and visas : Depending on what part of the world you’re traveling in, a lot of countries require you to obtain a visa either beforehand (Vietnam, Australia) or upon arrival (Bali). It’s best to check each countries requirements because a cruise listing and/or a travel agent won’t always remind you! We were charged on the boat for Indonesian visas (no choice for this, whether you were disembarking or not) and they gave us directions on how and when to apply for arrival into each Indonesia port and Singapore. There was one morning where the entire population on the boat was COVID tested.
Water Bottles : you can refill them in the lido deck dining room throughout the day.
Entertainment : The wifi on ships isn’t always the fastest, and it is costly, so it’s best to have pre-downloaded books and movies on your tablet device. Nothings worse than finding out your toddlers favorite movie or tv show won’t work when they’re being moody!
First aid kit : We went through every single band-aid I brought thanks to Millie and her obsession with them and also finding where I hid them. Oops. We also had neosporin, rubbing alcohol, Benadryl, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, motion sickness tablets, melatonin and so much more.
On Komodo Island - can you spot the two grown male Komodo Dragons behind us??
Personal fans : We have a collection of these personal neck fans and they came in handy on our excursions. They’re easy to use and have a USB charger. (Don’t mind us looking like a hot mess on Komodo Island - it was incredibly hot!)
Recreational materials : We love snorkeling and my husband loves scuba diving so we have quite a collection of pieces that we take with us to beach destinations - goggles, masks, respirators, wet/dry suits, flippers. There’s so much! We keep it all stored together in a bag so we never forget something and throw the whole thing into a suitcase.
Dinner outfits : The fun stuff! This cruise will be 16 days long so we have the opportunity for about 3 formal nights. I love to wear a dress with extra fancy heels and some extra sparkly jewelry. My husband will be in nice slacks and a button down shirt or a suit if I can persuade him. He doesn’t usually go as formal as a tux and I won’t wear a ball gown. I love formal nights on cruises but you’re not obligated to participate! Wear what’s comfortable to you. Formal nights usually happen on the days you’re at sea so you won’t be exhausted from a days events.
Morning walk to get coffee in my pajamas!
Adorable pajamas: these are not a necessity but nice to have if you’re an early riser. I wake up waaaaay before my family and sneak out for coffee in the mornings. Sometimes I would sit in the coffee shop and scroll social media, other times I would walk the promenade deck to get my steps in. I always plan the night before what I am going to do so I don’t make a lot of noise in the mornings, so having a cute set of pajamas that do double duty as a coordinating outfit makes this easy. I stocked up on a ton of Cynthia Rowley satin pajama sets at the beginning of the pandemic and I love that I can wear each piece separately as day wear or bathing suit cover ups as well. I love these and these on Amazon! If you happen to find the Cynthia Rowley sets at TJ Maxx or Marshall’s, I wear a medium but can take a large for an oversized fit.
Verandah cruise cabin on the Holland America Westerdam ship. Fold down bunk bed and pull out couch bed.
Things that are not necessary :
Pack’n’play UNLESS you have an infant. Millie slept on the fold out couch bed and London slept on the pull down bunk bed. It stored nicely under the bed though so not a big issue.
Swim floaties/life vest for littles. We couldn’t find ours and then couldn’t find Millie’s size ANYWHERE in Australia. She managed perfectly fine and I probably would’ve been annoyed to waste luggage weight on it.
Disposable swim diapers. I overpacked on these and left them in the cruise cabin when we disembarked.
Multiple wall chargers and adapters. Most places, including the boat, have USB plugs now which is incredibly convenient.
