Packing for a family cruise isn’t just about swimsuits and sunscreen—it’s about staying sane in a small cabin while juggling wet clothes, sugar-fueled kids, and 14 excursions in flip-flops. Here’s your 2025 cruise packing list—built for real families who don’t want to overpack but definitely don’t want to miss the essentials.
🧳 Must-Have Family Cruise Items (2025 Edition)
✅ Documents & Check-In
- Passports or birth certificates (check your cruise line rules)
- Printed boarding passes + luggage tags
- Health forms or vaccination docs (if required)
👕 Clothing & Accessories
- Swimsuits (at least 2 per person)
- Swim cover-ups
- Flip-flops + water shoes
- Casual dinner clothes
- 1–2 nicer outfits for formal nights
- Light jacket or hoodie (even in the Caribbean, indoor areas get cold)
- Pajamas & backup underwear for everyone
🎯 Pro Tip: Packing cubes are your best friend in a small cabin—especially color-coded by person.
🧼 Toiletries & Health
- Kids’ meds: Tylenol, Benadryl, Dramamine
- Motion sickness bands or patches
- Sunscreen + aloe
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss (bring extra)
- Travel-sized laundry detergent or laundry sheets
- Wet wipes and hand sanitizer
🔌 Electronics & Power
- Power strip (non-surge protected—surge ones are banned)
- Portable chargers
- Headphones or earbuds
- Tablets preloaded with shows and games (Wi-Fi can be spotty or $$$)
- Nightlight (cabins are pitch dark at night)
🎒 Port Day Gear
- Waterproof bag or dry sack
- Water bottles (refillable)
- Copies of passports in Ziploc bag
- Towels (some cruise lines don’t allow you to take theirs off-ship)
- Change of clothes for kids
👶 If You Have a Baby or Toddler
- Diapers + swim diapers
- Wipes (lots of them)
- Stroller (compact umbrella-style is best)
- Sound machine or white noise app
- Snacks they’re familiar with (don’t count on cruise food appealing to little ones every time)
🎁 Just-in-Case Extras
- Magnetic hooks (cabin walls are metal!)
- Ziplock bags
- Over-the-door shoe organizer (for storing small items)
- Reusable straws (many cruise lines are straw-free)
- Cruise lanyards for keycards
❌ What to Skip
- Towels (unless you’re doing your own excursion)
- Hair dryers (usually provided)
- Giant suitcases (there’s no room for them)
🧠 Bonus Tip: Pack a “Day 1” Bag
Your checked luggage might not arrive for hours. Pack a carry-on with:
- Swimsuits
- Meds
- Sunscreen
- Valuables
- Snacks
- Anything your kid will cry without
✅ Bottom Line:
You don’t need a shipping container of stuff—but you do need the right gear. With this cruise packing list, your family will be ready for anything from beach days to dining rooms to Disney trivia nights.
Need help planning your port transfers, gear rentals, or pre-cruise hotel?
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