Young Boy with Cruise Luggage; Courtesy of diy13/Shutterstock.com
All Ages

11 Things You Can’t Forget to Pack in Your Cruise Carry-On

See recent posts by Jeff Bogle

Your cruise vacation is nearly here! As you get ready to disembark, the most important piece of cruise luggage you must prepare is your carry-on bags. A well-packed backpack is critical since you’ll be separated from your suitcases for the majority of embarkation day (your first day on the ship). Be prepared with these essentials to pack in your cruise carry-on bags.

Huggies Little Movers; Courtesy of Amazon

1. Diapers and Wipes

You don’t want to be left without diapers and wipes at any point on the cruise—especially while you’re waiting to get into your stateroom. Pack more than enough of each in your cruise carry-on!

Munchkin Miracle Sippy Cups; Courtesy of Amazon

2. Refillable Water Bottles and Sippy Cups

Pack your refillable water bottles and sippy cups—you can fill them up at water refill stations in the buffet areas on many ships.

Pink Windbreaker Jacket for Kids; Courtesy of Amazon

3. Windbreaker

For that first evening on board the ship, as the breeze intensifies while you push back from port, a lightweight, quick-dry windbreaker jacket is essential for everyone in the family.

Adidas Sandals; Courtesy of Amazon

4. Slip-On Shoes

For some of the on-board activities that require close-toed shoes (we’re looking at you, Royal Caribbean zipline!), wear a pair of comfy sneakers on to the ship (since they often take up a lot of space in a backpack). But pack slip-on shoes, such as sandals, if you plan to hit the pools!

"I Run This Ship" Swim Suit by Carter's; Courtesy of Amazon

5. Swim Suits

Speaking of pools, you’ll also want to pack swim suits, cover-ups, rash guards, goggles, and/or any other essentials for the water.

Airplane-Themed Girls Dress; Courtesy of Amazon

6. Change of Clothes

You’ll want a change of clothes for after the pools and/or other activities, or in the event someone has an accident. A nice change of clothes is also useful to have if you want to head to a traditional dining room for dinner (versus a buffet) and can’t get into your stateroom before then.

Elta MD Sunscreen; Courtesy of Amazon

7. Sunscreen

Regardless of whether or not you go to the pools, you’ll be checking out both the inside and outside of the ship, so make sure you’ve packed enough sunscreen for the whole family.

Kids' Sunglasses; Courtesy of Amazon

8. Sunglasses

For the same reason you’ll need sunscreen, pack a pair of sunglasses!

Travel First-Aid Kit; Courtesy of Amazon

9. First-Aid Kit

Pack a mini First-Aid kit to have in the event someone gets an unexpected tummy ache or needs a Band-Aid.

NTONPOWER Travel Power Strip for Cruise; Courtesy of Amazon

10. Travel Power Strip

For all the phones, tablets, and gaming devices you’ll bring, a travel power strip with outlets and USB ports galore is an absolute family cruise essential—both before and after you get into your stateroom.

Family Passport Holder; Courtesy of Amazon

11. Passports

Last but not least, don’t forget to pack your family’s passports in your backpack! This way you can have them handy at all times on embarkation day and throughout the trip. Consider purchasing a family passport holder to keep them organized and easy to access.

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