Verified packing list
Cruise Packing List, the verified version
Built the way we build everything — the parts that are rules (what ships ban, what TSA allows on your flights there) are verified with sources and dates; the parts that are judgment are marked as tips. Check things off as you pack — the list remembers where you left off on this device.
Two rules that surprise first-time cruisers
- Royal Caribbean prohibits ALL power strips, extension cords and surge-protected boards; clothing irons and steamers are banned too (fire policy). Personal hair tools like curling and flat irons are fine. (source · checked 2026-07-02)
- Carnival allows power strips and multi-plug outlets WITHOUT surge protection, and bans surge protectors. Self-service launderettes on stateroom decks have irons and ironing boards. (source · checked 2026-07-02)
Lines differ — always scan YOUR line's prohibited-items page before packing electronics.
Documents & boarding
- Rules differ by itinerary and nationality — verify your cruise line's ID requirements page.
- Most lines email tags to print and staple — do it at home, the port kiosk line is the worst part of embarkation.
- Cruise tags are paper; clear holders keep them on the bag between airport and ship.
- Your ship card opens the cabin and pays for everything — around the neck beats digging in pockets.
Embarkation-day bag (your bags arrive hours later)
- Checked cruise luggage often reaches the cabin mid-afternoon — pools are open at noon.
- Never in the checked cruise bag; on the flight there, meds are 3-1-1-exempt with declaration. details →
- Over 3.4 oz goes in your checked airline bag; buy the big bottle at your destination if flying carry-on only. details →
Cabin setup
- Most cabin walls and ceilings are steel — hooks add hanging space cabins never have. (Tip, not a rule.)
- Cabin bathrooms have almost no counter; a hanging organizer is the classic fix. Check it has no metal grommets if you plan to hang it with magnets.
- See the rules above — fine on Carnival if not surge-protected, banned entirely on Royal Caribbean. A USB-only multiport charger is the safe cross-line choice.
- Unpack once by lifting cubes straight into drawers; the empty suitcase slides under the bed.
- Interior cabins are pitch black at 3am.
Shore days
- Beach and snorkel days; also holds the ship card and some cash.
- Folds flat in your suitcase, carries towels and water ashore.
- Many Caribbean beaches are rocky at entry. (Tip.)
- Some destinations regulate sunscreen ingredients (Hawaii, parts of Mexico and the Caribbean) — check your ports' rules.
Evenings & formal night
- The legal answer to "no irons or steamers onboard" — spray, smooth, hang.
- Keeps the one nice outfit flat between home and hanger.
- Dining rooms and theaters run cold; deck nights run windy. (Tip.)
Toiletries & health
- The ship doesn't run 3-1-1 — your flights do. Full-size bottles ride in your checked airline bag. details →
- Bands, tablets or patches — whatever works for you; ships' shops charge resort prices. (Tip.)
- Days blur at sea; a labeled organizer beats six amber bottles.
- Ships are strict about gastro outbreaks; sanitizer is everywhere onboard but having your own helps in ports. details →
Tech & misc
- Cabins are outlet-poor (see the power-strip rules above).
- Glacier and wildlife days reward them. (Tip.)
- Port vendors, taxis and crew tips beyond the auto-gratuity.
Shop this trip
One pick from each part of the kit we stock — add them all, then trim in the cart. Kits are checklists, never a bundled SKU: you can remove anything.
FAQ
Can you bring an iron or steamer on a cruise?
Royal Caribbean prohibits both (fire policy) — verified 2026-07-02 against their prohibited-items page. Carnival also bans irons in cabins but provides them in self-service launderettes. Wrinkle-release spray is the workaround everyone uses.
Can you bring a power strip on a cruise?
Depends on the line: Carnival allows non-surge-protected strips; Royal Caribbean bans all power strips and extension cords. A USB-only multiport charger is safe on both. Sources and dates above.
Do TSA liquid rules apply on the ship?
No — 3-1-1 applies to your flights, not the cruise terminal. Ships have their own prohibited-items lists (and their own beverage policies — check your line's page for alcohol rules).
When do checked bags arrive in the cabin?
Usually hours after boarding — which is why the embarkation-day bag section above exists. Keep swimsuit, meds and documents with you.
Flying to the port? Check your bag against your airline on the fit checker, and your liquids against 3-1-1.
Size limits change. We watch them for you.
Get one short email when cruise packing rules changes its baggage rules. No newsletter, just the alert.