One of the best things about cruising is the variety it affords—you’ll visit different ports of call and enjoy shore excursions that run from Christmas-market hopping in Europe to snorkeling in the Galápagos.
And then there’s everything to do onboard, such as the formal dinners, live entertainment, and time poolside or, on splashier ships, full-service spas and tricked-out recreation areas.
A cruise can also be a great low-effort trip: you don’t need to plan much except what shore excursions you’ll join—and what’s going in your suitcase. Read on for exactly how to pack for a seven-day cruise.
Essential luggage and accessories for a cruise
Most cruise companies don’t restrict the amount of luggage you bring, except for some expedition lines for which you’ll take small chartered flights to get to more remote locales. For a seven-day cruise, your best bet is to opt for a medium-size or large checked bag. For a shorter cruise, you’ll be fine with a carry-on suitcase.
Don’t go overboard on size. Most cruise cabins can be on the small size, and ideally the bag will fit under the bed in your cabin. Remember that if you’re flying to your port of embarkation, you’ll need to check those full-size bags, and most airlines have a 50-pound weight restriction.
Given the size of many cruise cabins, it’s nice to be organized. Pack any formal wear in a hanging garment bag, and add a set of metal hooks to your suitcase; because most walls on cruise ships are made of metal, these hooks allow you to keep hats, cover-ups, and jackets handy.
For shore excursions, or even just for an afternoon by the pool, you’ll want a day pack or tote bag to carry your sunscreen, books, water bottle, and any cash or cards you’re taking ashore. You can use this tote or backpack as your personal item or pack a smaller collapsible bag in your suitcase.
- A medium-size or large checked suitcase (We like the 67.5-liter Monos Hybrid Check-in Medium, $435, for its durability and because its classic design reminds us of the golden age of cruising.)
- Hanging garment bag
- Packing cubes
- Magnetic hooks
- A packable day pack or tote, like the Baggu Cloud Bag ($62)
- Reading material. OK, this isn’t luggage but we would say a few good beach reads, magazines, or an e-reader with books already downloaded is an essential accessory.
Essential travel documents
On a “closed-loop” cruise route—meaning you depart from and return to the same U.S. port, after visiting at least one foreign port of call—you are not required to bring your passport, but you will need a driver’s license or other legal form of photo identification. (If you’re flying to a domestic cruise terminal, don’t forget that you’ll need to have a Real ID to fly.)
Here are the travel documents you should pack for a cruise:
- Passport, or other photo ID (if it’s not an international cruise)
- Any visas required (this needs to be verified ahead of time; some go in your passport, some are sent by email).
- Confirmations for your cruise and any flights. Make sure these are accessible on your mobile device or any relevant apps even when you don’t have service or Wi-Fi.
- Emergency documents, such as your health insurance card, travel insurance info, emergency contact.
- Cash (Even if you’re on an all-inclusive, you’ll want to have cash for onshore purchases and tipping. The main gratuity for the majority of the cruise can often be left at the end, and many cruise lines offer the option to bill it to your credit card.)
Related: After My Breast Cancer Diagnosis, I Decided to Cruise the World. It Was Both Hell and a Dream.
Cruise-friendly clothing
Clothing is often the biggest question mark when you’re packing for a cruise. First, check the weather in the cruise ports you’re bound for and pack for the climate. If layering is the name of the game, then a capsule wardrobe is your best bet for success.
On a five-day cruise or a two-week itinerary, you’ll likely need to change clothes once or twice a day. Many—but not all—cruise ships have laundry facilities, but even if you rely on laundry service, you’ll want to employ a mix-and-match strategy.
For example, on an Antarctic cruise, Aislyn Greene, Afar’s director of podcasts, found that cashmere sweaters were nice enough for formal dinners and cozy enough for lounging around her cabin.
Every cruise is different, so take note of what sort of shore excursions you’ll be going on and how many formal or semi-formal dinner nights you’ll be expected to spruce up for, plus any theme nights. You can also opt not to dress up at all, but in that case you may be limited to dining at the more casual buffet or eateries.
And don’t forget to bring clothing for your port of departure, especially if you’re staying an extra day or two. When Greene went to Antarctica, she made sure to bring shorts and T-shirts for her extra days in Buenos Aires.
Clothing to pack
- 2 swimsuits (for women’s, we like Summersalt, which are made with recycled polyamide fabric, run from sizes 2 to 22, and are often on sale.)
- 1–2 swim cover-ups—if you don’t want to dash back to your room after an afternoon at the pool, you’ll need something to throw over your suit if you want to visit any ship restaurants.
- Rashguard for additional sun protection in the water
- 3–4 shirts and T-shirts for everyday wear and shore excursions. Long sleeve linen shirts are very versatile and can be sink-washed and hung to dry in a pinch.
- 1–2 tops or shirts for casual evenings
- 3–4 pairs of pants or shorts for everyday wear
- 1–2 pairs of nicer pants or skirts for casual evenings
- 1–2 versatile dresses that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion (Cruise writer Terry Ward recommends Reformation’s cult midi-length Rou Knit Dress, $128, which can be tossed over a bikini après-swim, belted with sandals for traipsing around a port town, or paired with heels for dinner.)
- 1–2 sweaters—even in tropical destinations, it can get chilly on the water, so bring a sweater or two.
- Pajamas and loungewear
- Underwear and socks
- 2–3 activewear outfits for sportier shore excursions such as hiking or biking.
- Depending on where you’re going, a light rain jacket can be useful
- A warm jacket if you’ll be cruising in colder climates
For formal evenings
It may sound like you’d need to pack the tux for formal or semi-formal evenings and captain’s dinners, but don’t let it stress you out. Yes, some people do bring tuxedos and full-length dresses, but on the whole, the dress code tends to be resort evening wear.
- 1–2 formal dresses or skirts
- A pair of more formal pants (no jeans)
- 1–2 blouses or button-down shirts
- A blazer or suit coat
- Ties
Footwear
- Sandals or flip-flops (Note that these are usually not allowed in dining rooms.)
- Dress shoes/heels
- City sneakers or walking/running shoes
- Any specialty footwear you might need for shore excursions (hiking boots, water shoes, cycling shoes)
Accessories
- A hat for sun protection
- Polarized sunglasses, like those from French brand Izipizi, to reduce glare from intense sun on the ocean or snow. Consider bringing a backup pair.
- Watch—don’t miss the boat after a shore excursion
- Belts, scarves, and for polar trips, gloves
- A warm hat for cold-weather cruises
Still stymied by cruise fashion? Find more specific recommendations in The Ultimate Guide for What to Wear on Your Next Sailing.
Toiletries and hygiene products
Sunscreen is essential on a cruise, but make sure it’s reef-safe. Many destinations, including Hawai’i, have banned sunscreens with oxybenzone.
Richie Chan/Shutterstock
Like hotels, most cruise ships will provide basic toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, soap, and/or body wash. If you choose to bring your own, and you’re checking a bag, you can travel- or full-size toiletries. Cruise ships have no size restrictions for liquids.
One of the most important things you can bring on a cruise is sunscreen. It’s essential in tropical destinations where you’ll be snorkeling or relaxing on the beach, and on Antarctic or Alaskan cruises too—the glare from the ice can make the risk of skin damage even greater on such excursions.
Toiletries
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Skincare and other lotions
- Eye drops and contact solution (if needed)
- Shaving items
- Feminine care products (if needed)
- Tweezers
- Sunscreen (opt for reef-safe sunscreens like those from California Baby, Sun Bum, and Badger’s Adventure Mineral sunscreen; Hawai‘i, Key West, Bonaire, and an increasing number of other destinations are banning sunscreen with toxic chemicals, including oxybenzone and avobenzone.)
A basic first-aid kit
While you can usually purchase any emergency first-aid supplies on board, chances are they’ll be more expensive than whatever you’d get at home.
Even if you don’t think you’ll have a problem with seasickness, consider tossing a pack of ginger chews into your bag just in case—they do wonders for nausea. And read more about how to beat motion sickness here.
- Pain killers
- Any medications or sleep aids you take
- Allergy medications
- Anti-seasickness medications, like over-the-counter Dramamine (non-drowsy if possible), or prescription medications, like the Transderm Scop
- Antidiarrheals
- Adhesive bandages
- Antibiotic ointment
- Hand sanitizer
- Antibacterial wipes (you may want these to clean clean any shared snorkeling equipment the ship provides.)
You may also want
- Mosquito repellent (Murphy’s Naturals spray, $6 or 10, is DEET free, works well, and the lemon eucalyptus smells good.)
- After-sun leave-in hair conditioner, like Sun Bum’s Revitalizing 3-in-1 Leave-In Treatment ($6.50 or $17), which detangles, conditions, and protects hair from the damaging effects of the sun and salt water.
Travel gear and electronics
While you might want to disconnect completely, you might also appreciate having a laptop or e-reader with you. Know that you’ll likely have to pay big bucks for reliable Wi-Fi, so download books and movies ahead of time. (That way you don’t get cajoled into paying for expensive upgrade packages to download them onboard.)
For phone service, check with your carrier about international options so you don’t get hit with roaming charges. The cost of using your phone data internationally in the middle of the ocean can be huge.
- Reusable water bottle. Bringing your own water bottle on any trip is simply common sense. It’s especially important to stay hydrated in tropical places where you’ll sweat a lot.
- Travel coffee mug or other drink cup (so you can take your other beverages to the deck)
- Wrinkle-release spray (Fire-safety regulations usually prevent irons in cruise cabins.)
- Laptop and e-reader (with movies and books already downloaded)
- Chargers
- Universal travel adapter
You may also want
Afar’s podcast editor Aislyn Greene found that her iPhone camera was just what she needed on her Antarctic adventure, while another editor felt that an underwater camera GoPro was a necessity for her snorkel-heavy Galápagos cruise.
- Camera
- Underwater camera, like the GoPro Hero12 Black ($370), which is waterproof down to 33 feet and comes with accessories like a floating hand grip if you purchase it in a bundle directly from GoPro
- Beach blanket (The ship will have pool towels, but this is nice to have for beach days.)
- Binoculars (This depends on where you’re cruising. We like the Bushnell 10x42 H2O Roof Prism Binoculars , $101, as a good entry-level set.)
- Small flashlight or headlamp (Some ships will have flashlights or nightlights in their cabins, but it never hurts to pack a small one of your own—just in case.)
- Sticky notes (Many cruisers swear by these. They’re particularly useful for leaving notes for new friends on their stateroom doors.)
This article was originally published in 2020 and most recently updated on March 4, 2026, with current information.
