Before setting sail on your cruise, you’ll first need to pack your suitcases with everything you need for the voyage. Some people get excited about packing for vacation, while others (such as my own mother) get extremely stressed about packing perfectly for their cruise.

Of course, even the most seasoned cruisers forget cruise essentials. Even after I’ve taken 50 cruises in my life, I still find myself occasionally forgetting items in my suitcase! I find that longer itineraries with varied weather are often the most difficult to pack for.

In the end, it’s impossible to pack perfectly, but it’s also important to have everything you might need onboard for a smooth cruise. Forgetting critical items can lead to unexpected costs and inconvenience during your vacation.

Additionally, cruises could be considered more complex to pack for compared to other vacations. For instance, guests need to consider themed parties, evening dress codes, daily attire, adventurous excursion requirements, travel attire, weather predictions, and onboard activities when packing for their cruise.

With the holidays approaching, it’s a great time to start planning for your upcoming travels with many cruise essential items on sale. Whether you’re embarking on your first cruise or you consider yourself a cruise veteran, there might be a few items you didn’t think about packing.

Recently, one cruiser asked followers on Reddit to share their packing regrets as they prepare for an upcoming cruise. The thread was titled, “What is an item you wished you had brought with you on your last cruise?”

The thread was posted by user @djwilliams100, who shared they were embarking on a 16-night cruise this week and wanted to see if they missed something useful to pack. The inquiry prompted hundreds of responses from fellow cruisers.

Many of these easy-to-pack essentials can mean the difference between a smooth vacation and scrambling to the overpriced onboard shops. Even better, many of these items are majorly discounted with Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up. As such, it’s the perfect time to stock up before you embark on your next adventure.

Here are the top items that cruisers regretted not packing on their last trip, including why these often-forgotten essentials should be on your packing (and holiday shopping) list.

Please note: We receive a small commission when you purchase from our Amazon links below, at no extra cost to you. You can also check out our Amazon Storefront for other favorite cruise items.

Over-the-Counter Medication

Perhaps one of the most common responses from cruisers, many suggested packing a variety of over-the-counter medication. Getting sick on vacation is a huge bummer, but spending an absurd amount of money to get overpriced medication onboard or visiting the medical clinic for a hefty fee worsens the situation.

Whether you simply catch a head cold or you have a mild allergic reaction to a bug bite, having a variety of over-the-counter medication can make all the difference. Personally, I always pack my always-prepared “traveling pharmacy” with an assortment of medication. On every cruise, I’ve needed to use something in this pharmacy, from Immodium to Benadryl, sleep aids, NyQuil, and more.

“I bring a small OTC pharmacy for every ailment and a first aid kit. No way am I paying hundreds or thousands to visit the ship’s doctor,” proclaimed one cruiser.

Cold and Flu Medication

• Cherry Cough Drops, 160 count for $4.76 (20% off)
• Daytime and Nighttime Combo Pack: Cold & Flu Medication, 48 count for $12.50  
• Max Strength Mucus DM, Expectorant and Cough Suppressant Extended-Release Tablets, 42 Count for $13.47 

One of the top responses reads, “I think I overpacked, but 100% bring medicine cabinet type stuff! We both got cough/cold second to the last day and it came on hard - and we went through all of the medicine and then had to pay 6 dollars for 2 doses at the airport on the way home.”

“I ALWAYS pack Tylenol Cold and Flu. And if we don’t use it, new friends in the cruise having symptoms can use it (I’ve had this happen and people are SUPER grateful),” responded another cruiser.

Similarly, one cruiser agreed, “Definitely take cold meds! My son caught a bug the 2nd day of our cruise and I am thankful that I had the liquid-gels with me.”

“Cough drops and cough syrup. I felt fine except for the nasty cough (COVID test was negative) but everyone looked at me as if I was spreading the plague,” commented another cruiser.

Stomach Relief and Digestive Aid

• Loperamide Hydrochloride Tablets, 2 mg, Anti-Diarrheal, 24 Count for $3.19 (20% off)
• Pepto Bismol Chewable Tablets, 48 count for $8.45
• Stool Softener Laxative, Docusate Sodium 100 mg, Softgels, For Constipation Relief, 100 Count for $3.41 (5% off)

All of the delicious cruise food is a highlight for many, but sometimes your stomach doesn’t agree. Combine this with drinking alcohol and dehydration - and your stomach might not be feeling the best. Many cruisers regretted not bringing enough medication for these symptoms.

“Don't forget Imodium and Pepto because while you can get it onboard the markup is astronomical. And last time I got the runs and was glad I insisted on bringing Imodium,” wrote one responder.

Another replied, “TUMS really came in handy, I was giving out my supply like candy to my food-loving family group.”

“Pepto. It is very effective in helping prevent Montezuma’s Revenge (travelers diarrhea). Always travel with chewable Pepto tablets,” explained one cruiser.

Seasickness Medication

• Dramamine Motion Sickness Relief Less Drowsey Formula, 8 Count. $3.90 (35% off) 
• Non-Drowsy Bonine for Motion Sickness Relief, Travel-Sized - 16ct Raspberry Chewable Tablets. $5.94 (26% off) 

We always recommend cruise passengers consider packing seasickness medication. Rocky seas and rough weather can strike at any time, so it’s best to be prepared.

One commenter stated, “A better selection of seasickness treatments. I've now got ginger candy, sea bands, anti-sickness glasses and some Bonine for my next cruise. Don't want anything to ruin it.”

“Bring some seasick remedies like bonine pills, patches and ginger chews. We don’t get seasick but on high seas day after day it could get nauseous,” agreed one cruiser.

One cruiser even stated, “Motion sickness meds! I’ve been motion sick on one cruise ever and it happened to be the most recent one I went on. I’ve sailed in a hurricane and been fine but this last cruise was horrible…. Sometimes it just hits hard when you’ve never really had it be an issue.”

Insulated Tumbler or Coffee Mug

• 12oz Stainless Steel Insulated Coffee Mug with Handle with Lid, $9.99 (23% off)
• 20oz Tumbler, Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated, $9.99 (23% off)
• Stanley Classic Legendary Camp Mug, $18.99 (17% off) 

Another popular response from cruisers involved forgetting their insulated water bottle, thermos, or coffee mug. Cruise ships provide complimentary drip coffee, but the cups are extremely small and easy to spill. Moreover, insulated cups keep your drinks either hot or cold for extended periods.

In the replies, one of the top responses reads, “Travel coffee cup/water bottle. The coffee cups near the buffet are small and I like a cover on my cup so I can walk around and not spill.”

In response, another cruiser agreed, “Great for coffee, tea and frozen drinks! There's nothing worse than your margarita blowing over on the sundeck because it's in a cheap plastic glass that weighs nothing.”

“Many of my must haves are already mentioned but in addition, my Yeti so I can take my ice and soda everywhere with me all day and evening and it stays fresh,” replied one cruiser.

Binoculars

• Compact HD Binoculars for Adults and Kids High Powered, $29.99 (59% off)

One item you might not think to pack is a set of binoculars. But, many cruisers regretted that they did not pack a set of binoculars during their last cruise. You might spot wildlife from your cruise ship balcony or simply want to get a better look at the scenery during your cruise.

“Binoculars. I usually bring a pair, but I forgot once. If you have a balcony room, it’s nice to sit and stare at the ocean, but occasionally something catches your eye and you want to investigate.”

“We brought some cheap ones on the last cruise on a whim and it was excellent! Even out on the excursions it really added to the experience.”

“Seconding binoculars. We went on an Alaska cruise and didn't have any and feel like we missed out on seeing a lot of wildlife.”

Magnetic Hooks

• Neosmuk Black Magnetic Hooks,30lb+ Heavy Duty Earth Magnets with Hook for Refrigerator, Extra Strong Cruise Hook for Hanging, Magnetic Hanger for Curtain, Grill Black, 10 Pack for $5.93 (24% off)

Cruisers love magnetic hooks, but do you really need them? Many Redditors argued that you should never forget to pack magnetic hooks for your cruise. These would make a great stocking stuffer because of their small size, affordable price, and overall practicality for travel!

“Having magnetic hooks are great as the walls in your room are metal,” commented one person.

Another replied, “Magnet hooks. I hung them outside on the balcony and in the cabin. Excellent for swim suits, lanyards, and other small items.”

“Magnet hooks, especially for longer cruises. Helps organize the room better and perfect for dry stuff,” explained another cruiser.

Dish Soap

• Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap, 7.5 fluid ounce. $1.24 (38% off)

Another cruise essential that many consider a must-pack item is liquid hand soap or dish soap. Don’t feel like you need to do dishes on vacation, as we aren’t suggesting that! Instead, you can have some liquid soap to wash your hands in your stateroom if you prefer liquid soap over the typical bar soap. The soap is versatile for washing other items as well.

“Dish soap. I use it for so many things, washing my jewelry, cleaning my coffee mug, getting out stains. I forgot it on my last cruise,” said one responder. In agreement, another person stated, “Liquid hand soap - most ships have bar soap in the bathroom”

Entertainment and Reading Material

• Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet, 8” HD Display, 32 GB, 30% faster processor, 3GB RAM, wireless charging, (2022 release), Gray. $59.99 (50% off)
• Apple iPad (10th Generation), 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display, 64GB. $259. (26% off)

Although cruise ships have plenty to do, there are still many opportunities for downtime. Many responders regretted not bringing enough personal entertainment for their cruise. Some cruisers might not consider gameshows, bingo, and trivia to be their idea of relaxation. If you’re like me, you might prefer catching up on your favorite show or reading a book you’ve put off for a while.

“I downloaded movies from Netflix so I could unwind at night. It just brought some normalcy to the day. It's nice to be able to download as many as I want,” commented one cruiser.

One responder shared, “I wish I had downloaded more audiobooks and podcasts because the wifi I had did not let me use those apps last I sailed.”

“My tablet! I could have downloaded some movies, books and games,” stated one cruiser.

Preparing for an upcoming cruise is one of the most exciting aspects of the planning process. Before any trip, I run last-minute errands to stock up on anything that I might need for my vacation.

While I typically run to Target for my pre-cruise shopping spree, I decided to visit my local Dollar Tree before my recent cruise. I was shocked at how many inexpensive cruise essentials were available for just $1.25. This is a fraction of the cost I normally pay - and finding hidden gems at the dollar store felt like a treasure hunt!

If you’re looking to keep costs down on your upcoming cruise, I highly recommend visiting the Dollar Tree before your next sailing. Here are five must-have items that you should stock up on before your sailing.

1. Travel-Sized Toiletries

The Dollar Tree is a great place to purchase travel-sized products before your next cruise. For just $1.25 each, you can get a variety of name brand toiletries. I stocked up on toothpaste and lotion before my last cruise, but you can also find small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, mouthwash and more.

Also, these smaller items are perfect for anyone looking to save space in their luggage. Because I usually travel with just a carry-on, I rely on travel-sized toiletries to be compliant with TSA requirements.

2. Cabin Necessities

If you’re looking for cruise cabin necessities, the Dollar Tree is a great place to visit. Because cruise staterooms have magnetic walls, you can hang anything magnetic during your sailing. I purchased magnets to hang daily agendas and tickets on the wall, along with magnetic hooks for heavier items.

Other necessities that I found at my Dollar Tree included pop-up hamper for dirty laundry and scented room mist to keep the cabin smelling fresh. 

3. Cleaning and Hygiene Essentials

While you won’t have to worry about actual cleaning on your cruise (you are on vacation, after all), you should plan to pack a few cleaning essentials. I was surprised to find many options at the Dollar Tree for cleaning and hygiene at such a reasonable price.

I prefer to have liquid hand soap for the bathroom in my cabin, so I grabbed a bottle for $1.25 to bring onboard. In addition, I grabbed a 2-pack of hand sanitizers and disinfecting wipes, as you can never have too many of these while cruising! Other gems at the Dollar Tree included individually-packaged stain removing wipes, an Oxiclean stain removing pen and a travel-sized laundry detergent to wash laundry in your cabin.

4. Medicine and Health Supplies

I never thought about heading to the Dollar Tree for medication, but I was pleasantly surprised by the selection and prices. It’s a good idea to keep over-the-counter medication in your cabin while cruising, as it will save you time and money if you need anything.

My Dollar Tree had everything from supplements like Vitamin C to name-brand medications like Advil and Tylenol. Generic medication was stocked on the shelves too, including gas relief, antacids, cold and flu medication, anti-diarrhea and laxatives.  There was even a small first-aid kit that would be perfect for traveling!

5. Door Decorations

One practice that’s become wildly popular on cruises is decorating your stateroom door. People are very creative these days with their door decor! If you want to participate in this trend, check out the Dollar Tree for a variety of decorations at an extremely reasonable price.

In particular, my store had multiple aisles stocked full of cute Halloween and fall decor for $1.25. Those who want to decorate on a budget will appreciate the selection of decorations for all occasions, including birthdays, anniversaries, graduation and family reunions. One of my favorite finds was a magnetic dry erase board that we hung on the door of our cabin for fellow cruisers to leave notes!

Royal Caribbean has revised its list of prohibited items again, better explaining what is and what is not allowed to be brought on a cruise ship.

A week after the cruise line added "multi-plug outlets" to its list of banned items, the prohibited item list has been updated again to further clarify what's allowed.

The addition of "multi-plug outlets" to the list sparked an avalanche of questions from confused customers who did not understand exactly what's banned because so many of these devices include variations on plugs.

Royal Caribbean has always banned power strips, but there are many items that add a few extra outlets without going as far as to be called a power strip.

The revised rule bans electrical extension cords, "including power strips/surge protected strips and multi-plug outlets."

Royal Caribbean specifically states, "We do allow consumer type power conversion device USB charger (multi-plug blocks on which the outputs are for USB cables)."

Moreover, devices must be stamped with US/Europe recognized Conformance Marking to demonstrate compliance with Electrical Safety standards.

This confirms a USB hub would be acceptable since it adds just USB outlets, and no power outlets. (Contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use)

The big change is the ban applies to devices that had outlets and USB outlets together, which were commonly used for many years by passengers.

Royal Caribbean also added a catch-all to the top of its prohibited item list that states some items that are not specifically on the list may be prohibited if they are deemed questionable by the Staff Captain and Security Officer.

The need for more outlets

If you're wondering why someone might need to bring an outlet extender or multi-plug outlet, it's to be able to keep multiple devices charged.

Families bring many devices with them on vacation: phones, tablets, smart watches. Plus, they have a need to use electrical items, such as a hair dryer or hair straightening iron.

Cruise ships built more than 10-15 years ago have very few outlets in the cabin.  Many of Royal Caribbean's ships built before 2010 have just two outlets in total in the cabin.

For years, cruisers have relied on cruise packing hacks to bring their own outlet extender plug to provide a safe and effective way to add more outlets.

These outlet extenders mean less contention over which device can charge first, such as phones, watches, laptops, or tablets.

On newer Royal Caribbean cruise ships, such as Icon of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas, there are many more outlets that have been added.

In fact, Icon of the Seas staterooms are loaded with outlets. There are USB outlets on the lamps on both sides of the bed. The vanity has a large charging strip with multiple outlets and plugins. There is a US and EU plug for guests to use. In between, there is a USB-A and USB-C charging port available. 

On the opposite end of the vanity, there are two additional USB-C plugs. The addition of USB-C plugs is a recent trend on newer cruise ships and provides more options for connectivity.

More updates to the list of things you can't bring on a cruise

In addition to the clarification on chargers you can bring, the prohibited item list was expanded in other ways.

The list added camouflage clothing as not allowed, because of local laws against such apparel.

"Wearing camouflage and/or military apparel is illegal in Barbados. Clothing of this nature will be confiscated and the wearer may be charged by local authorities."

The section covering weapons was also expanded, and explains how weapons for any reason are not allowed.

"We do not allow any guest (including law enforcement officers on vacation) to bring weapons onboard our vessel. Law enforcement officers need to understand that they will be boarding a foreign flag vessel going to foreign countries. All weapons should be left at home, locked up in a vehicle if they are driving to the port, or turned over to a local office of Customs, police, FBI, etc. for safe keeping during the voyage."

Other items added to the prohibited items list includes:

• Coffee makers
• Oil diffusers
• Electric Blankets
• Electric Heating Pads
• Roller Skates (permitted onboard but must not be used on the ship)
• Professional metal detectors (those used for commercial reasons). However, small, amateur style metal detectors (for example, those used to locate coins on a beach) are allowed.
• Blenders/Immersion blenders
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Banning these items certainly has to do with them either being a fire threat or could be used as a weapon.

Royal Caribbean's recent policy change has a lot of people with an upcoming cruise confused if they can bring their favorite cabin hack with them.

The cruise line updated its list of things you cannot bring on a cruise last week, and the fallout has been a lot of confusion about what is and what isn't allowed.

The change was simple enough, they added "multi-plug outlets" to the list, but it did not specify what exactly that means. Specifically, which outlets, plugs, or devices are no longer permissible to bring.

Royal Caribbean has long banned surge protectors and power strips, but multi-plug outlets is not only new, but vague.

There are a myriad of devices you can purchase to add more charging options to an existing outlet, but it's not clear which of these will be allowed.

Some have a combination of USB ports and traditional power outlets, while others are just USB ports.

The result has been a lot of room for interpretation.

It can be argued this change closed a loophole that allowed for multi-outlet adapters without cords to be technically "legal." Under this change, those would be prohibited.

Royal Caribbean did not specifically say why it made this change, but since the multi-plug outlet addition was in conjunction with power strips, it's likely about mitigating fire risk.

Fire is the top concern for cruise ships, because fires can spread quickly on a ship. Power strips and outlet extenders have the potential to overload an outlet and cause a fire.

"Creating chaos"

In addition to posting on social media, some cruisers asked Royal Caribbean via social media for clarification.

One person asked Royal Caribbean's X/Twitter team if an European to 110V converter block that has USB ports built in is allowed given that it doesn’t add more plugs and isn’t corded. 

Zack from Royal Caribbean's social media team replied, "We do allow blocks that have multiple USB plugs, however, as it has an additional power outlet it wouldn't be permitted."

That answer seems to back up the idea that only devices that add additional USB ports but no additional power outlets is what this change is all about.

@NiceCarFather felt the reply didn't go far enough, "Is there a plan to post a list of acceptable and unacceptable chargers on the website?  This is creating chaos among your customer base and we’re trying to be compliant by being informed."

The person added, "saying charging blocks are permitted doesn’t tell someone whose charging block their USB-C and 110V outlet combo isn’t ok."

In another reply, Leah from the social team wrote, "Electrical Extension Cords - including power strips/surge protected strips and multi-plug outlets are NOT allowed. We do allow the multi-plug blocks on which the outputs are for USB cables."

Based on Royal Caribbean's social team replies, it appears a USB hub that lacks any electrical outlets would be allowed, such as this Anker 6 Port USB Charging Station (contains affiliate link that costs you nothing extra, but Royal Caribbean Blog will make a small commission if you purchase the item through the link).

It takes up one electrical outlet in your cabin, while providing six new USB outlets.

A single EU to American power adaptor could also be allowed, since it does not add any new outlets. 

Why outlet extenders are so important

Given how many devices people bring with them on vacation these days, having enough power outlets in a cabin has been a long-standing struggle.

Cruise ships built more than 10-15 years ago have very few outlets in the cabin.  Many of Royal Caribbean's ships built before 2010 have just two outlets in total in the cabin.

For years, cruisers have relied on cruise packing hacks to bring their own outlet extender plug to provide a safe and effective way to add more outlets.

These outlet extenders mean less contention over which device can charge first, such as phones, watches, laptops, or tablets.

Carnival will not follow Royal Caribbean's ban

If you're keeping score at home, it appears Carnival Cruise Line will not add the same ban as Royal Caribbean.

Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald wrote on Facebook, "I read about this and we have no plans to do the same. Thank you, just remember no power strips with a surge protector are allowed."

When you pack for a Royal Caribbean cruise, you may want to bring all the comforts of home so that your stay at sea is just like being on land, but you should be aware there are some important rules about what you cannot bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

For the safety and well-being of all guests, certain items are prohibited from being brought on a cruise, and it will save you time (and embarrassment) by being aware of what you can and cannot bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

During the check-in process, security will scan all luggage (both checked and carry-on), and if they spot an item that meets the criteria, they can confiscate it and return it to you after the cruise concludes.

Illegal drugs

While it may not surprise you that illegal drugs and substances are banned from Royal Caribbean, CBD oil and CBD products are also prohibited. 

Even if you have a legally prescribed dose of marijuana, you cannot bring or smoke pot, edibles, cartridges onboard. Medicinal use is not permitted, and can result in serious legal troubles since Federal drug laws apply.

Alcohol

While Royal Caribbean does allow you to bring one bottle of wine per adult, any other alcohol is strictly forbidden.

Any alcohol you purchase onboard the ship or in a port will be stored by Royal Caribbean, and then returned to you on the last day onboard to be brought home.

Alcoholic beverages seized on embarkation day will not be returned.

You are also allowed to bring small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages in a carry-on or hand luggage onboard only on boarding day. Specifically, non-alcoholic beverages brought onboard may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. Distilled water or specialized beverages such as, milk for medical purposes, dietary or infant use, are permitted.

Weapons

All firearms and weapons, parts, ammunition, explosives and incendiary devices are all prohibited from being brought on Royal Caribbean.

This includes (but not limited to): 

• Rifles
• Shotguns
• Pistols
• Revolvers
• All their components

Royal Caribbean specifies that guns, replicas, and ammunition are also not allowed onboard:

• Guns, operational or replicas
• Ammunition of all types
• BB Guns
• Compressed air guns, including paint ball guns
• Flare guns
• Gun lighters
• Gun / firearms parts
• Pellet guns
• Spear guns
• Starter pistols
• Realistic replicas of firearms
• All their components

Any kind of explosive is prohibited from going on a cruise ship.

• Blasting Caps
• Dynamite
• Fireworks
• Hand Grenades
• Plastic Explosives
• Bomb Making Components
• Replicas of Explosives
• Gun Powder

Sharp objects

Personal grooming items such as safety razors are allowed. Scissors with blade length less than 4 inches are allowed.

You also cannot bring any knives with a blade length of four (4) inches or greater.

These types of knives are not allowed either:

• Knives that are concealed or disguised as other commonplace objects
• Knives that incorporate locking blades
• Flick knives, automatic knife, push-button knife, ejector knife, or switch blade
• Sharp objects
  • Box Cutters
  • Ice Picks / Ice Axes
  • Meat Cleavers
  • Razor-type blades, such as box cutters utility knives and razor blades not in cartridge (Note: shaving safety razors are allowed.)
  • Sabers
  • Swords and Fencing Foils

Recreational diving knives are also still allowed but must be held in the custody of the Chief Security Officer.

Guests can purchase Alaskan Ulu knives while on their Alaska cruise, but must keep it in their stateroom and not bring it to public areas. 

Things that can catch on fire

Fire is a major threat to cruise ships, so anything that can generate a flame is prohibited.

Nothing with an open flame or heating element is allowed, except for hair curling irons and hair dryers.

This includes:

• Candles
• Clothing Irons
• Travel Steamer
• Hot Plates
• Incense & Burners
• Tea Cup Immersion Heaters
• Aerosols, except for personal care toiletries which are permitted
• Fuels, including cooking fuels and any flammable liquids
• Gasoline
• Gas Torches
• Lighter Fluid
• Flares
• Flammable Paints
• Turpentine & Paint Thinner
• Realistic Replicas of Incendiaries
• Hookahs & Water Hookah Pipes
• Car batteries
• Hoverboards
• Extension Cords and Multi-Plug Outlets/ Power Strips

You can't bring your tools on a ship

You'll have to leave your tool belt at home.

Royal Caribbean won't allow these handy items to be brought on a ship:

• Axes & Hatchets
• Cattle Prods
• Hammers
• Drills and Drill Bits
• Saws
• Other Tools (such as wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers) greater than seven (7) inches in length

Self-defense items

Martial arts and self defense items should remain in the dojo.

• Billy Clubs
• Black Jacks
• Brass Knuckles
• Kubatons
• Mace / Pepper Spray
• Martial Arts Weapons
• Night Sticks
• Nunchakus
• Stun Guns / Shocking Devices
• Throwing Stars
• Handcuffs
• Bows & Arrows

Sporting goods

You are allowed to bring sporting goods and equipment, but it cannot be used, displayed or carried in the public areas at all.

These are meant to be used as part of a shore excursion or activity on land.

This includes:

• Baseball bats
• Cricket bats
• Hockey sticks
• Skateboards
• Surf boards
• Golf clubs
• Bicycles

Chemicals

The following items or those similar are not permitted onboard:

• Chlorine
• Bleach
• Spray Paint
• Tear Gas
• Transformers
• Electrical Extension Cords
• Spillable Batteries (Note: Wheelchair batteries are permitted)
• Small Compressed Gas Cartridges
• Fire Extinguishers
• Other Compressed Gas Cylinders (Note: Dive tanks are permitted if they are empty; Medical gas bottles are also permitted)
• HAM Radios

Food

You can bring packaged dry snacks (e.g., chips, nuts, candy, etc.), but cannot bring food cooked from home or a restaurant.

The issue is due to public health policies related to any potentially hazardous foods (PHFs) or cooked food from restaurants or private homes, raw foods, etc.

Leave those power strips, surge protectors, and multi-outlets at home.

Royal Caribbean cruisers might be surprised to see additions to the items prohibited onboard.

Royal Caribbean updated its prohibited items list. While you won't be surprised to see things like guns, drugs, or knives on the list, the cruise line also restricts some unexpected items.

Cruise ships have different requirements than planes and other forms of travel, so paying attention to each cruise line's policies is key.

Packing a banned item on your next cruise could result in it being confiscated, wasting your money and luggage space.

The cruise line posts banned items on its website, but not every traveler reads them carefully or follows the list to the letter.

To prevent issues on embarkation day, Royal Caribbean has further updated and expanded the list of prohibited items. 

Now the cruise line bans an item many cruisers bring along to get extra space for their electronics to charge.

Multi-plug outlets are now forbidden

Previously, the website listed electrical extension cords, including power strips or surge-protected strips, as banned items.

They've now added "multi-plug outlets" to the list, "Extension Cords and Multi-Plug Outlets/ Power Strips" is what the website lists as prohibited.

Read more: 15 things you don't need to bring on a cruise

The line doesn't exactly specify what constitutes a "multi-plug outlet", and it stands to reason multi-plug USB adaptors are still permissible.

Many cruise ship staterooms, especially on older vessels, tend to lack enough outlets to charge every device, especially for families traveling together.

Our team recommends this USB hub as a good alternative. (Contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use)

Cruisers may find that the new rule limits their ability to charge and use electronics like phones, tablets, e-readers, electric shavers, hair dryers, and cameras.

Why are power strips prohibited?

Power strips and extension cords are a risk to cruise ships because if they overload, they could cause electrical damage or start a fire.

These items are listed on the new list in a section titled "flammable items."

"All items with open flames or heating elements are strictly prohibited, with the exception of hair curling irons and hair dryers which are permitted onboard," the section states.

Fire is the top threat to cruise ships as it can spread quickly in a confined space.

These items include:

• Candles
• Clothing Irons
• Travel Steamer
• Hot Plates
• Incense & Burners
• Tea Cup Immersion Heaters
• Aerosols (except for personal care toiletries)
• Fuels, including cooking fuels and any flammable liquids
• Gasoline
• Gas Torches
• Lighter Fluid
• Flares
• Flammable Paints
• Turpentine & Paint Thinner
• Realistic Replicas of Incendiaries
• Hookahs & Water Hookah Pipes
• Car batteries
• Hoverboards

Updates to the website list more examples of banned items

Royal Caribbean also expanded its banned list to include expanded examples of prohibited items.

The sharp objects section, for instance, now mentions not just knives and scissors, but also box cutters, ice picks, meat cleavers, utility knives, razor blades (shaving safety razors are still allowed), sabers, swords, and fencing foils.

Recreational diving knives are also still allowed but must be held in the custody of the Chief Security Officer.

Read more: 9 things you can bring on a plane, but not a cruise ship

A note also explains that personal grooming items like nail scissors and clippers are permitted onboard.

Prohibited chemicals include chlorine, spray paint, bleach, tear gas, transformers, spillable batteries, small compressed gas cartridges, and fire extinguishers.

Despite the high-risk fire presents on a cruise ship, you don't need to bring your own fire extinguisher onboard!

Updates to the website also added a new section, "tools," listing items from commonplace supplies like hammers, drills, saws, wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers, to surprisingly obscure items, like cattle prods, axes, and hatchets.

The cruise line especially wants to be sure that guests don't bring any dangerous items.

Any types of firearms or weapons are prohibited, such as rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, replicas of guns, BB guns, paintball guns, flare guns, ammunition, spear guns, pellet guns, and starter pistols.

The website doesn't mention toys or unrealistic replicas, like Nerf guns.

Royal Caribbean also doesn't want guests bringing explosives such as fireworks, dynamite, hand grenades, or gunpowder.

The list also prohibits self-defense items, including:

• Billy Clubs
• Black Jacks
• Brass Knuckles
• Kubatons
• Mace / Pepper Spray
• Martial Arts Weapons
• Night Sticks
• Nunchakus
• Stun Guns / Shocking Devices
• Throwing Stars
• Handcuffs
• Bows & Arrows

Packing for an upcoming cruise is perhaps one of the most stressful aspects of planning a cruise vacation. If you’re jetting off to Europe for a cruise, you might be feeling overwhelmed about what exactly you should pack.

Having the right wardrobe for a cruise is crucial or you might be spending the entirety of your vacation feeling unprepared. Without the proper necessities, you might find yourself needing to shop in ports of call, which is wasting both your time and money.

My husband and I recently returned from a European cruise onboard Celebrity Apex, visiting ports of call across Northern Europe. Our itinerary departed from Southhampton, England before setting sail to Belgium and Norway. This particular sailing had three ports of call throughout the Norwegian Fjords throughout the 7-night itinerary.

Before the cruise, we spent three additional nights in London before heading south to the cruise port in Southampton. We stayed in the heart of London and enjoyed a few days of sightseeing before the cruise. I always recommend spending a few days in your departure city, especially for those making the long trek across the pond for a cruise.

Generally speaking, we were quite lucky with weather and sea conditions during this cruise. The weather during our cruise ranged from sunny to cold and rainy, with everything in between. With such varying climates between these three countries, my husband and I had to be strategic about our packing.

My biggest piece of advice is to focus on practicality and versatility when packing for your European cruise. Having layers and versatile pieces in your wardrobe will allow you to save space in your suitcase while also being fully prepared for changing weather conditions.

Moreover, you should prepare for lots of walking during your cruise. We were walking upwards of 15,000 steps each day while sightseeing. In this way, comfortable walking shoes should be at the top of your European cruise packing list. You do not want to deal with painful blisters because you didn’t pack the appropriate walking shows!

Read more: European cruise outfits and packing guide for women

For a European cruise, plan to pack at least one outfit each day. Most European itineraries are very port-intensive with fewer sea days compared to Caribbean sailings. You should also plan for evening outfits to wear onboard the cruise ship to dinners. Finally, prepare for hanging out or walking around the ship with some lounge outfits. These are also perfect for sea days!

Finally, if you’re looking for men’s outfit inspiration for your cruise, I am here to help! Much to the excitement of my husband (can you sense my sarcasm?), I documented everything he wore during our European cruise. While neither of us are fashionistas, I wanted to provide a realistic look for what men could wear for cruise outfits on a European sailing.

This outfit guide will cover the necessities that men should pack for their European cruise. If you’re sailing on a Mediterranean cruise, this outfit guide probably won’t help you too much. The Mediterranean is much warmer than Northern Europe, requiring a very different wardrobe than the one I will show you in this article.

The outfits below work well for men cruising around Northern Europe and the Baltics. This would include sailings that are departing from ports across Northern Europe, like Amsterdam (Netherland), Southampton (England), Oslo (Norway), Copenhagen (Denmark), Reykjavik (Iceland) and Stockholm (Sweden).

General Packing Tips

When you begin packing for your European cruise, you will want to keep a few things in mind. First, you should focus on packing layers! Layers provide flexibility and versatility to your cruise wardrobe. This is very important, as packing layers also allows you to prepare for a changing climate.

While it might be cold in the morning, the sun can pop out in the afternoon and bring warm sunshine. When you have layers that work well together, you are providing yourself with more options to stay comfortable in the changing weather.

For this cruise, my husband packed many different layering options in his suitcase. This included short-sleeved shirts, pull-over sweaters, and outdoor jackets. Almost every day of our cruise, he wore some combination of these layers.

Choose jackets and sweatshirts that are neutral-colored and work well with your wardrobe. By choosing more neutral colors, you can wear multiple combinations of your wardrobe throughout the cruise. For my husband, this meant packing black, grey, and tan colored sweaters and jackets for our cruise. A black raincoat was a staple for both of us.

In addition, this mix-and-match strategy allows you to pack less overall. Avoid outfits that you might only wear once, as this is wasting precious real estate in your suitcase. This also holds true for outerwear and shoes. Keep the shoes at home that you only plan to wear to dinner once or twice if you can avoid it.

When packing for your European cruise, you will also need to consider what your daily agenda entails. For example, if you are planning to do any hiking or outdoorsy activities, you will need to plan for this accordingly. Check out your tour descriptions before packing as well; these tours can provide outfit guidelines to keep in mind for your excursion’s agenda.

For instance, if you plan to do any hiking, most excursion descriptions encourage guests to pack hiking shoes. You’ll need to use your best judgment for this, as some hikes might only require tennis shoes.

Finally, try not to overpack. This doesn’t seem to be a problem for my husband as much as it is for me. Most importantly, you will be lugging your suitcase across the pond to board your cruise. This means you need to anticipate hauling your luggage in the airports, train stations, cruise terminals, hotels, and taxis.

Expectations for Weather

Before you start packing for your European cruise, you will want to check out the weather forecast. Although it might seem obvious, the forecast can vary greatly when cruising in Europe. This is especially true in Northern Europe, where the weather can change drastically. You might have sunshine one day and cold rain the following.

The European cruise season runs between April and October, with peak season between May and September. This is because the weather is usually too rainy and cold if you sail in April or October - this is considered the “shoulder season.” You might be able to snag a great deal on cruises in the shoulder season, but be prepared for even colder and rainier weather.

While cruising on the North Sea and Baltic Sea, you could experience rough waves or storms, especially during shoulder season. The summer should bring more sunshine than rain in Northern Europe, but you should be prepared for anything.

Prepare for temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit and highs around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Sailings in the shoulder season will have cooler weather while the summer months of June, July, and August will be the warmest months.

Of course, the further north you sail, the cooler the temperatures will be. This means cruises to Iceland, Norway, and the Arctic Circle can bring cold weather - and you should plan accordingly. Other cruises around the Baltics, British Isles, and Scandinavia should have warmer temperatures, although rain and cold temperatures can still be possible.

Even with cooler weather, you can still experience heat waves in this region of Europe. Ports like Le Herve (France), Amsterdam (Netherlands), and Brugge (Belgium) are all destinations where you can plan for warmer temperatures.

During our day in Belgium, the temperatures were around 60 degrees Fahrenheit with sunny skies. The morning was cooler while the afternoon brought warm sunshine. On the other hand, our time in Norway brought more varied temperatures. While it rained all day in Olden when we hiked the glacier, it was warm and sunny in Flam for the railway.

Finally, this region of Norway is notorious for rain. Every cruise that we’ve taken in this region of Europe has at least one or two days where it rains for the entire day. The weather can also change quickly with pop-up storms. For this reason, I always pack a rain jacket and a small umbrella. My husband wore his light rain jacket almost every day of the cruise.

Cruise Essentials Overview

My husband packed just one 50-pound suitcase with a carry-on for this trip. Overall, he wore almost everything in his wardrobe that he packed for our European itinerary. For our cruise, we had a few excursions planned that were taken into consideration when planning.

First, we planned to hike the glacier in Olden, Norway. Although this was advertised as a hike, it was a nicely paved path up to the glacier. We also planned to ride the Flam Railway while docked in Flam, Norway. Finally, our itinerary stopped in Bergen, Norway, and Brugge, Belgium, where we were planning to walk around the cities.

Moreover, my husband is a runner and planned to workout a few days during our cruise. He packed exercise clothes with the anticipation of a few workouts. If you are someone who wants to hit the gym, make sure to pack accordingly and throw some gym shorts and workout shirts into your suitcase.

My husband does not love jeans, so most of his pants are the ABC Classic Pant from Lululemon. He claims these pants are easy to dress up or down - and are extremely comfortable to wear throughout the day. He packed multiple colors of these pants, including black, grey, and khaki.

During the day, my husband wore a combination of these pants with a casual short-sleeve shirt. He layered this outfit with a quarter zip and black rain jacket. This black rain jacket is from 66 North and one of his favorites for outwear! A black rain jacket is perfect for a European cruise as it's both versatile and practical. 

In the evenings, he actually wore similar outfits to his daily attire. Most of the evenings, he swapped his short-sleeved shirt for a polo with his khakis or black pants. He also wore a quarter zip during the cooler evenings onboard.

As for outfits on the ship, my husband kept it casual with joggers and sweatshirts. Since our sailing had two sea days, he wore these casual outfits around the ship. In addition, these more casual outfits were perfect for the mornings for breakfast or watching the fjord sailings from the top deck.

Read more: What to wear on a cruise that works for all dress codes

However, loungewear was minimal for this cruise since we only had two sea days. If your sailing has more sea days, then you will want to consider packing more comfortable outfits to wear around the ship.

Of course, you don’t want to forget a swimsuit either! Although this isn’t your typical Caribbean cruise, there are usually indoor pools and multiple hot tubs onboard to enjoy! One evening after dinner, we hot tubbed while sailing through the fjord. Since the sun doesn’t really set in Norway in the summer, it was a beautiful late-night evening.

I should also note that my husband took advantage of our free laundry voucher onboard Celebrity Apex during this cruise. Because we have Elite Plus loyalty status with the cruise line, we each received two free bags of laundry. This helped provide some fresh outfits and undergarments halfway through the cruise.

With that in mind, here’s exactly what my husband packed for our 7-night European cruise. Below is a list of everything he wore during our sailing to Norway and Belgium.

European cruise packing list for men

Outfits:

• 1 light jacket
• 3 quarter zip jackets
• 5 polos
• 3 sweatshirts
• 1 swimsuit
• 5 pairs of pants
• 1 pair of sweatpants
• 5 t-shirts
• 3 workout shirts
• 3 pairs of shorts
• 2 hats (workout and casual)
• 3 pairs of shoes (2 sneakers and 1 dress boot)
• 12 pairs of underwear
• 15 pairs of socks
• 3 pairs of gym shorts

Accessories:

• Crossbody/fanny pack
• Electronics organizer
• Packing cubes
• Small cosmetic bag

Technology:

• Phone
• iPad
• Wireless headphones
• Laptop
• Smartwatch
• Portable charger
• Charging cords

Daily Necessities:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Face wash
• Moisturizer
• Prescription medication
• Cologne
• Hair gel and powder
• Over-the-counter medication

Travel Needs:

• Valid passport with case
• 3 credit cards (Visa and American Express cards with no foreign transaction fees)
• Local currency (However, we mostly used our credit cards)
• USD in Cash (For tips onboard the cruise)
• ATM debit card

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There are certain items that you can pack on a plane but are banned on a cruise ship.

Each mode of transportation comes with its own set of regulations, and your packing list might be different depending on how you're traveling.

Regarding what you can bring on a cruise ship, the rules differ from those of TSA and airlines.

If you're not careful, you could safely pass through airport security only to be stopped before boarding the cruise ship.

Any prohibited items you've packed will be confiscated, and not all of them are returned at the end of the cruise.

To prevent an embarrassing moment and the loss of your items, make sure that you're not bringing these 9 banned things.

Read more: How early should I pack for my cruise?

1. Your pet

If you're going on a cruise, your furry friend will have to stay home.

Airline regulations allow guests to bring small pets on planes, provided they fit inside a zippable carrier.

Most airlines also charge an additional fee for passengers with pets, usually between $100 and $200.

However, Royal Caribbean ships do not permit any pets on board, other than registered service animals.

Royal Caribbean allows assistance dogs onboard when pre-approved by government authorities and with proof of the proper documentation.

However, any pets will have to stay with friends, family, or a sitter.

2. Fresh food

TSA allows you to bring fresh food—such as eggs, meat, seafood, vegetables, and fruit—through security.

While meats must be packaged in ice, and you cannot always bring fresh vegetables, in general, TSA will allow you to pack a considerable meal.

While you may be able to bring a home-cooked meal on a plane, you cannot carry fresh food onto a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean only allows dry, packaged snacks onboard, like cookies, chips, crackers, or energy bars. These packages must be sealed and non-perishable.

Any fresh food will be confiscated, so finish your leftovers before boarding!

Plus, your cruise fare includes access to many great dining venues, so bringing food onboard is the least of your worries.

3. Hard liquor

According to TSA's requirements, you may pack any amount of an alcoholic beverage with 24% alcohol or less in a checked bag.

For alcoholic beverages with more than 24% percent (but less than 70%) alcohol, you're limited to 1.3 gallons (5 liters) per passenger in a checked bag, provided it is inside unopened retail packaging.

For a carry-on bag, you may bring miniature bottles that fit into a quart-sized Ziploc bag.

The requirements are quite different for cruising.

Although you can bring 1 bottle of wine per adult onto a cruise ship, you are not permitted to pack any hard liquor.

If you attempt to bring any hard liquor onboard on embarkation day, it will be confiscated.

Whether you choose to purchase tequila in Mexico or rum in Jamaica, you can, however, purchase liquor at ports of call.

If you do purchase liquor as a souvenir, crew members will take it when you re-enter the ship. They will label and keep the alcohol for you until disembarkation day.

4. Candles

We all want a refreshing fragrance for the cruise ship stateroom or bathroom, but you won't be able to bring a candle on your cruise.

Airplanes permit you to pack solid candles in both checked and carry-on luggage.

Read more: 21 Cruise Cabin Essentials Everyone Should Pack

However, flammable items and heat-producing items are strictly prohibited on a cruise ship. This includes candles and incense.

Any homemade candle or local incense purchases will have to wait until you get home.

5. Clothing irons

Because of the high risk fires present on a cruise ship, you are not permitted to pack or use a clothing iron on a sailing.

They are considered heat-producing items and will be confiscated on embarkation day.

There aren't any irons present in Royal Caribbean staterooms, and self-service laundry isn't an option on a cruise.

However, you can send out laundry for crew members to wash, dry, press, or fold for you.

Laundry prices vary depending on the service you're looking for, but you can pay $35 for a wash and fold special, sending out a small bag of clothes.

Read more: We asked our readers what one thing they regretted packing for their cruise

6. Steamer

Much like irons, steamers are a heat-producing, prohibited item on a cruise ship.

If you're cringing at the idea of paying for laundry services, there are a few hacks our team likes to get the wrinkles out of your outfits.

You can use a Downy Wrinkle Release spray (this is an affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use but supports this site), which smooths out clothes once you hang to dry.

Packing the right material of clothing also helps; polyester, denim, cotton, and linen tend to wrinkle less.

7. Handcuffs

Whatever your reason for bringing handcuffs along, they won't be permitted on a cruise ship.

While TSA does allow handcuffs, cruise ships do not.

Royal Caribbean bans cruisers from bringing any items that are considered restraining devices, so that includes zip ties, leg cuffs, and leashes.

However, both modes of transportation permit other adult toys, so...

8. Heating pads

Preparing to manage any cramps, aches, or pains?

While TSA permits heating pads in both checked and carry-on baggage, Royal Caribbean does not.

Again, heating pads are considered heat-producing items and will be confiscated from your luggage.

Instead, consider packing Epsom salt or using a warm towel for any aches you experience on the cruise.

9. Electrical extension cord

TSA has no limitations on the kinds of extension cords you can pack on a flight.

However, standard extension cords—including surge protectors—are not allowed on cruise ships. They are a fire hazard.

Instead, you can purchase cruise-safe power strips, or bring along a USB outlet.

Read more: 115 item Ultimate Cruise Packing List (Printable PDF)

A surprising amount of cruise ship passengers bring banned items to their cruise, only to have it confiscated.

Similar to how there are certain items you cannot bring on an airplane, cruise ships prohibit a list of items for security and safety reasons.

The list of prohibited items is posted on the cruise line website, but plenty of people still arrive on every cruise with things that they're not allowed to bring.  

If someone brings a banned item, Royal Caribbean will confiscate it and return it after the cruise is over.  Guests can collect these banned items at a table in the cruise terminal. 

On a recent cruise, I walked by the confiscated items table to see what people were bringing onboard.  Not only was there a wide variety of items collected by the cruise line, but it's clear there are a handful of prohibited items a lot of people still bring on their cruise.

Not only will it be confiscated, but you're wasting your own precious luggage space by taking it with you from home.  In some cases, I'm certain people spent extra money to buy it specifically for their cruise.

Before you pack for your cruise, here are 4 banned items to leave at home.

Read more: 115 item Ultimate Cruise Packing List

Handheld steamers

Without a doubt, the most commonly confiscated item I saw on the table were handheld steamers.

Getting rid of wrinkles in clothing is a top concern for anyone that has nice clothing they want to look their best during the cruise.

Unfortunately, steamers are not allowed because of the fire risk they pose. Steamers fall under the prohibited small home appliances clause of your cruise contract because they constitute a fire hazard. In fact, all cruise lines ban them, not just Royal Caribbean.

Read more: 15 things cruise lines really do not want you to bring on ships

Instead of a handheld steamer, consider packing Downy Wrinkle Release spray, which can work quite well at eliminating wrinkles. (Link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use).

Irons

Just like the handheld steamers, irons aren't allowed either on cruise ships.

Essentially, anything with a heating element is a fire hazard. Irons left unattended could pose that risk, and since they're a home appliance, not allowed on cruise ships.

Fire on a cruise ship is arguably the number one concern because of how quickly it could potentially spread.

You should also know there are no irons provided by the cruise line in your stateroom either. There's no self-service laundry either, so if you want your clothes pressed, you'll need to have them sent out via the extra-cost service offered by Royal Caribbean.

Read more: Does Royal Caribbean have irons? How laundry works on a cruise ship

In addition to the wrinkle release spray mentioned earlier in this article, you could turn on the cabin shower to hot and steam the wrinkles away. 

Power strips

Older cruise ships are notorious for not having enough power outlets.  Considering how many electronic devices people have these days, it's a concern for not having enough outlets.

I observed quite a few power strips on the confiscated items table, and power strips are a fire risk if they overload. It's my experience the security team can't determine which power strips have a surge protector or not, so they all get confiscated.

It seems if the power strip has an electrical outlet on it, there's a good chance it will be confiscated.  Don't be fooled by an item advertised as "cruise safe" because ultimately it's at the discretion of the bag screener to make a judgement call.

What you should pack instead of a power strip is a USB hub, such as this 6 port charger.  (Link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use).

Phones, watches, and even laptops can all be charged by USB, and there's little risk of it being confiscated.

Kettle

You might be tempted to bring a hot water kettle with you so that you can enjoy tea in your stateroom, but these too are not allowed.

Just like other home appliances, Royal Caribbean does not allow these.

The good news is it's unnecessary because there are good alternatives onboard.

You can get hot water anytime from Cafe Promenade, as well as on request from other dining venues.

If you stay in a suite, there's a coffee maker provided in Junior Suite and higher cabins.  Royal Caribbean ships sailing from Europe actually include a safe to use hot water kettle in all cabins by default. 

Read more: 15 things you don't need to bring on a cruise

Are you packing for a Caribbean cruise and not sure what outfits to bring? Are you looking for some cruise outfit inspiration?

Well, I just returned from a five-night Caribbean cruise on Independence of the Seas with my mom, and we are here to show you the outfits we wore during our voyage. Our cruise visited Perfect Day at CocoCay and Cozumel, Mexico.

Of course, you can wear whatever you want on a cruise (within reason). While there is a dress code on a Royal Caribbean cruise, it isn't strictly enforced. Gone are the days of dressing up in your finest ball gown and fanciest tuxedo, though you can still do this if you want. You will often find that people dress casually rather than formally.

My mom and I are certainly no fashion icons, but if we can help make your packing easier by giving you ideas of what to wear, then that is our goal. If you are a woman searching for some cruise outfit ideas, you’ve come to the right place.

Please note that I’ve linked items on Amazon, which contain an affiliate link. This affiliate link costs you nothing extra, but Royal Caribbean Blog makes a small commission if you purchase it. You can shop more on the Royal Caribbean Blog Amazon Storefront.

Embarkation day outfits

On embarkation day, I tend to wear something not too dressy, but also something not too casual like what I wear in my day-to-day (which is usually t-shirts).

I chose to wear a white top with some navy high-waisted shorts. These shorts are actually ones that my grandma wore when she was young. I am also wearing a cross-body bag from Amazon. I love this bag for many reasons, but mainly because I can keep valuables, like my passport and phone, close to me.

My mom wore a casual outfit as well, including a navy top and capris, a light jacket, and tennis shoes. You wouldn't think you’d need a jacket when cruising to the Caribbean, but it is always smart to bring at least one because indoor venues tend to get chilly.

Many cruisers who are vacationing with family and friends like to wear matching t-shirts on embarkation day. This is something I have never partaken in, but it’s a fun way for large groups of family or friends to celebrate the beginning of their vacation.

It's always smart to pack an additional outfit in your carry-on luggage on embarkation day. There have been times when I couldn't change clothes before dinner because my large suitcase hadn't arrived at my cabin yet. On this cruise, we didn't have to worry because our luggage arrived hours before our early dining time.

Dinner outfits

Getting dressed up for dinner during a Royal Caribbean cruise is one of my favorite parts of cruising. Because I work from home, I rarely get the opportunity to dress up, so when I cruise, I take advantage of it.

For three of our dinners, we ate in the Main Dining Room. Every night of the cruise, there was a dress code in the Main Dining Room, including casual, dress to impress (formal), and Caribbean.

On our particular cruise, the dress code was very casual, even in the Main Dining Room. Personally, I wear a dress or jumpsuit every night, and that is acceptable for all of these dress codes. On formal night, I like to wear my nicest outfit. 

Honestly, formal night varies quite a bit, so you can get away with almost anything.

Read more: What to wear to dinner on your Royal Caribbean cruise

On the first night of our cruise in the Main Dining Room, I chose a black floral dress from H&M while my mom sported a dressy black top from Anne Klein with coral pants from Costco.

On night two in the Main Dining Room, I wore a pink ruffle dress from Amazon. My mom wore a burgundy dress from 32 Degrees.

Night three was formal night, and while we decided to dress up, we actually had dinner in the Windjammer buffet. We did this because we didn't want to miss the musical Grease that was showing during our normal dining time.

I wore a blue jumpsuit from Charming Charlie while my mom wore a long black dress, also from Charming Charlie. What a coincidence!

Night four was back in the Main Dining Room. I opted to wear a long green dress from Old Navy while my mom wore a green floral dress from Ross Dress for Less.

On the last night of our cruise, we ate at the specialty restaurant Giovanni’s Table. Specialty restaurants have a different dress code from the Main Dining Room, which is usually smart casual and formal. In my experience, I’ve noticed specialty restaurants are not strict about what you wear. Just try not to wear t-shirts and swimming suits in these venues.

I opted to wear a tropical dress from H&M while my mom wore a red sleeveless top from Express and black faux leather pants from H&M. She wore these pants because they have a stretchy waist, which is essential when you are eating at a specialty restaurant!

Sea day and port day outfits

Our first port of call was Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in The Bahamas. My mom and I decided to splurge on a day pass to the new adults-only area on the island called Hideaway Beach, so this is where we spent our “perfect” day.

This is the swimming suit I wore while on the island. I love this swimming suit because it covers my arms and I don’t have to worry about them getting sunburnt. I also wore high-waisted shorts from Old Navy when getting on the island and coming back to the ship. My mom wore a swimming suit as well, though she barely got in the water. On top of her swimming suit, she wore an Aztec-style dress as a coverup.

Our next (and last) port of call was Cozumel, Mexico. Since we did not have an excursion planned, we decided to walk around the pier area and do some shopping. There are lots of shopping opportunities close to the pier.

This is the romper I wore while out and about in Cozumel. This romper is one of my favorite cruise outfits, though I wish it had pockets. As for shoes, I am wearing my favorite black Birkenstock sandals. These shoes can be dressed up or down, and the material is waterproof and so comfortable. My mom decided to wear a neon athleisure top with some jean shorts from Old Navy and closed-toe shoes from Clarks.

When we weren't docked in port, my mom and I wore casual outfits during our sea days.

I chose to wear a black top from Old Navy along with some high-waisted shorts from Costco. My mom wore a white top along with lightweight, elastic-waisted pants. This is another pair of pants my grandma (her mom) used to wear. We are leaning into the vintage style, especially since high-waisted shorts are back in style.

For this cruise, I packed three pairs of shoes: Birkenstocks, dressy sandals, and tennis shoes. My mom brought five pairs, including various heels and flats, as well as tennis shoes.

Read more: What to wear on a cruise that works for all dress codes

Did we wear all of the cruise outfits we packed?

If you’re curious about how much we packed, it greatly varied between me and my mom.

Since this was a five-day cruise, I felt I could get away with just a carry-on suitcase and a backpack. I was able to successfully pack everything I wanted in just these two items, mainly thanks to packing cubes.

My mom on the other hand packed a 50-pound suitcase and a carry-on suitcase. No matter if it’s a 3-night cruise or a 12-night cruise, she will pack a large suitcase!

She packed around 70 pieces of clothing (including 15 pairs of socks!) while I packed about 25 total. While I wore most of what I packed, my mom found that she could’ve easily packed ⅓ less of what she brought. She admitted that she changed her outfits several times because she felt compelled to wear most of the items she packed!

She also noted that she packed too many dressy tops, jackets, and t-shirts. She only packed three dresses, and she ended up wearing all of them rather than dressy tops and pants. Of the seven jackets she packed, she only wore three or four. I only packed one sweater and one jacket, and that was all I needed.

When it comes to packing, it’s important to minimize the amount of clothes you pack that get easily wrinkled. Remember: Irons and steamers are not allowed onboard.

You should also pack for comfort, especially shoes and pants. You will find that you walk a lot when you are on a cruise (especially on large ships) so comfortable, broke-in shoes are a must. You don't want blisters on your cruise.

Once again, we are not fashion consultants, but hopefully this blog can give you an idea of what cruise outfits to pack for your vacation!

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