The Ultimate Packing List for a Cruise with Kids
Planning a cruise with kids? Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned cruiser, having the right essentials packed can make all the difference. As a family who cruises 1-2 times a year exclusively with Royal Caribbean, I’ve learned what works, what’s a waste of space, and what you definitely don’t want to forget!
Here’s my ultimate cruise packing list, including my favorite cruise packing essentials and tips to ensure a stress-free, fun-filled family cruise vacation.
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Nicole's Top Cruise Packing List Picks (with Amazon links!)
Over the years, I’ve narrowed down my top must-pack cruise trip items that have been absolute game-changers on every cruise we’ve taken.
Some of these items on my cruise packing list might seem a little silly at first, but trust me—if you’re a mom with kids, traveling with an infant, or just want to make your trip as smooth as possible, these essentials can be life-saving!
Whether it’s keeping your cabin organized, making sure the kids stay entertained, or avoiding common travel mishaps, this cruise packing list is designed to help you cruise worry-free and fully enjoy your vacation.
If you read nothing else in this post, shop from THIS CRUISE PACKING LIST!
- Magnetic Hooks - There are different sizes of weight the magnets can hold, so have in mind what you are wanting to hang. Clothes will be super light, while a hanging travel case will need a larger weight rated magnet.
--> Cruise Packing Tip: You can hang magnet hooks from the ceiling! We used a blackout curtain and hooks for napping when our kids were small and needed a darker area or separation.
--> Cruise Packing Tip: Traveling with young children? Magnetic Tiles stick to the cabin walls and doors for entertainment!
- Mesh Backpack - This is the BEST lightweight, unisex way to pack your traveling needs and towels for cruise excursions or beach trips! I got ours off of Amazon and has lasted us several vacations, beach trips, and cruises. Sand does not collect in it and helps clothes and shoes dry super quick coming back from excursions.
- Water Shoes for Kids and Water Shoes for Adults - Hands down, these are the best ones that I purchase the moment my boys grow out of them. I love my adult water shoes as well because I have an irrational fear of stepping on something living or sharp in the ocean. These kids water shoes also come in handy during summer camp swimming and water days!
- UPF Rated Swimsuits that are BRIGHT - I am big about water safety. I will forever tell everyone I meet about the best swimwear for children and adults, SwimZip.
The newest collection from SwimZip, Impressions, is right up my rainbow/art teacher vibe and perfect for our upcoming Symphony of the Seas cruise vacation on Royal Caribbean. I have already put in an order for the adult rash guard, which is rated 50+ UPF sun protective and super high-quality for an adult swimsuit. I will update with photos one I have personal ones!
My boys will forever wear the neon rash guards for visibility in the ocean and pool (see the photo below to compare).
--> Shop SwimZip direct on their website.
- Rubber Ducks - You must hide rubber ducks during your cruise. You just have to and if you are just learning about this "never going away trend", you can buy a variety of themed ducks on Amazon and jazz them up with a duck tag printable from Etsy. If it is too late, at least be on the lookout for a rubber duck during your cruise!
People hide rubber ducks everywhere on cruises. If you are looking for ideas on how to keep your kids entertained on a cruise, duck hunting keeps children (and moms) entertained!
--> Ducks with wigs and cool fake hair
--> Rubber Ducks that vary depending on theme
- Foldable Dog Pool - Ok, this sounds odd to add to your packing list, but this dog pool has been floating amongst the Facebook Cruising with Kids Facebook groups and it is actually a super smart idea to consider when packing if you have young ones.
Not only can this small dog pool fit in the round showers of Royal Caribbean ships, but on several occasions, I have seen families put small amounts of water in these on the pool deck for smaller kids who are not allowed in the splash pad areas due to wearing a diaper.
Sometimes staff will not allow on certain pool decks of cruise ships, but it has worked out for many families in our cruise groups!
- Inflatable Bed Rail or Pool Noodle - We started cruising with our boys when they were 1 and 3. Our one-year-old could still fit in a pack and play that Royal Caribbean provided. For my three-year-old, I purchased an inflatable bed rail (I linked the single one since you can easily push the bed against the wall in the stateroom typically, but there are packs of 2 you can purchase as well) to help prevent him from falling out.
--> Nicole's Cruise Packing Tip: If you have the space in your luggage, bring a pool noodle from the dollar store. It can double as a toy or floating device for someone at the beach (not the pool since they are not allowed). When your trip is over, just leave it behind for someone else!
- Inflatable Life Vests - This might be for the "packing out of extreme caution" parent, but these inflatable life vests for children are also great for snorkeling on cruise excursions at the beach.
To be 100% honest, I bought these inflatable life vests for my boys, my husband, and I after reading about the large excursion ferry sinking while transporting passengers to a beach in the Bahamas.
Knowing we were going to be on a smaller excursion ferry boat in a foreign country, I felt more at ease having SOMETHING in my mesh backpack in case something would ever happen with the boat.
This inflatable vest is by no means approved by the Coast Guard nor a true floating device, but in a pinch, it would work in the rare case like the news story I linked above.
--> Get the adult size inflatable snorkel vest.
--> Get the children's size inflatable snorkel vest.
--> Don't forget the safety whistles!
Cruise Entertainment for Children
If you are wondering, "How do I keep my kids entertained on a cruise?", there are a ton of kids items I recommend for your cruise packing checklist.
Below are the favorite activities that personally kept my boys and I occupied during long dinners and waiting for ship entertainment to begin.
- I created cruise themed bingo/ I-Spy Cards, word searches, and coloring sheets that are in a printable document found here.
- Rainbow Crayon Stix® - Sturdy and won't roll off a table
-
Sticker Mosaic Books & Sticker By Number Activities
My two boys LOVED these books and used during their wait at the airport and on the airplane to keep them occupied.
- LED Doodle Boards and Writing Tablets
- Scratch Art Mini Pads
- Wikki Stix
- Travel Toys by SOHandmade (use code THERAINBOWCRAYONLADY for 10% off)
- Origami Travel Kits and Paper Airplane Books
- Waterproof Uno(great to pack in your bag for the pool)
- Taco Goat Cat Cheese Pizza card game
Cruise Bucks: A Reward System for Children Wanting Spending Money on Their Cruise
My husband and I always allocate a small amount of money for our boys to purchase a souvenir when cruising. They also love to buy extra milkshakes, play in the arcade, and shop for watches. I have created a way for the boys to have some control over how much they can spend and earn extra money through the use of a Cruise Bucks reward system.
My boys earn “Cruise Bucks” leading up to vacation by completing different household tasks, reading books, and other educational activities. They can earn as little or as much as they want, but they know it is their spending money on the cruise, which motivates them.
A Packing List for Cruise: The Essentials
Before you set sail, making sure you have all the right items packed will keep your trip smooth and worry-free. Here are packing some essentials for your cruise ship adventure:
- Travel Documents – Passports, birth certificates (if applicable), cruise boarding passes, and any required visas for traveling internationally. Make a photocopy of your passports and pack the photocopy in your luggage. I also leave a copy with a family member at home in case travel documents gets lost.
- Carry-On Bag – Always pack a carry on luggage bag with essentials for the first day since luggage can take time to arrive in your cabin. Include swimsuits, medications, and a change of clothes in your carry on. My husband carries our black mesh backpack bag, which has been a life-saver on excursions and beach days!
- Packing Cubes – These help keep everything for your trip organized in the tight quarters of a cruise cabin. These bright-colored packing cubes are my favorite and make outfit planning easy to track and hard to lose!
- Magnetic Hooks – Most ships have metal walls, and these hooks maximize space by holding hats, bags, and clothing.
- Power Strip (Non-surge protected) – Cruise cabins have limited outlets, so this is could be important for charging devices. Please be aware that a cruise line may take your outlet extenders or multi plugs from your luggage bag or suitcase if it goes against the cruise line policy. There are certain vacation items that are not allowed on the ship and is best to check the specific cruise ship policy for the correct information.
- Refillable Water Bottle – A great way to stay hydrated without spending extra money. My favorite brand is Owala, but a collapsible water bottle works really well to throw in your bag or take on an excursion.
- First Aid Kit – Sea sickness bands, motion sickness medication, Band-Aids, and other health essentials. I pack all my first aid items in this hanging jewelry organizer from Amazon!
- Laundry Items – Dryer sheets for fresh-smelling clothes, a small pack of detergent, and a few extra pairs of clothing for spills or accidents is important to pack for a cruise.
Ultimate Cruise Packing List for Families
If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll want to be prepared for everything from long travel days to keeping them entertained during downtime on the cruise ship. Here are my top must-haves to add to your cruise packing list:
Entertainment & Activities for Kids
- My Printable Cruise Activity Pack – Includes cruise-themed word searches, coloring sheets, a cruise bingo game, and a journal page titled All About My Cruise. This is perfect for dinners and free time in the stateroom.
- Travel-Friendly Games & Toys – Magnetic board games, small LEGO sets, and travel-sized card games like waterproof Uno.
- Coloring Books & Crayons – My boys love their Art 2 the Extreme Original Rainbow Crayons®, which are great for creative time and won't roll off a table. Take the crayons to dinner along with the printable for entertainment during formal dinner nights!
- Tablet & Headphones – For movies, games, and entertainment during the flight and downtime in the cabin. Sometimes one pair of ear buds is enough, but I always bring two just in case!
Clothing & Footwear
- Swimsuits & Cover-Ups – Bring at least two swimsuits per person so one can dry while the other is in use. I only use SwimZip brand suits for the boys and I. I HIGHLY suggest their neon colored rash guards for water safety.
You can purchase these directly from the SwimZip website or a variety of SwimZip pieces can be found on Amazon.
Nicole's Packing Tip: Neon Yellow and Neon Orange are best for swimsuit visibility and water safety in both the ocean and pool!
- Water Shoes & Flip Flops – Essential for pool decks and shore excursions.
--> These are the shoes from Amazon I continue to buy year after year for my kids.
--> I use these shoes from Amazon for myself when I am at the beach (I do not like stepping on rocks or shells in the ocean).
- Formal Night Outfits – Many cruise lines have formal nights, so pack a polo shirt or dressy outfit for the family.
--> This dress is the most flattering thing and super reasonable on Amazon. I even wore it to a wedding! I never buy dresses and was pleasantly surprised how amazing this fit me (I am 4'11", 175 lbs, and short) for a formal night dress on the cruise.
--> This dress from Amazon is sparkly and packs easily (does not wrinkle). It was perfect for dance parties or even formal night!
- Lightweight Jacket or Sweatshirt – It can get chilly at night, especially on deck. This thicker, long sleeve shirt from Amazon is my absolute favorite (and I own it in 4 colors) and always pack it with my vacation clothes.
- Family Cruise T Shirts - You either love seeing them or you hate the idea of matching t shirts. If you have a large family or children, wearing a very bright colored t shirt is actually a great idea to easily keep track of your crew.
My boys designed our own vacation t shirts the first time we sailed on the Symphony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean cruise line) and wore the clothes as we boarded the ship.
You can have them locally made (we love 539 Apparel in the Indianapolis, Indiana area) or there are amazing custom clothes shops on Etsy that will create the perfect matching t shirts for your boat vacation!
- Comfortable Walking Shoes – A must for exploring ports and excursions.
Miscellaneous Items You’ll Be Glad You Packed
- Door Decorations – Helps kids easily identify your cabin door. Etsy has some super cute door magnets for cruises! You can also purchase cruise line specific decorations. Some families even put out a basket, bag, or wall hanging pouches for a gift exchange throughout the week.
- Inflatable Booster Seat - Keeps young kids at correct seatbelt height during transportation from the plane to the cruise ship, on taxi rides in port, or on cruise excursion bus rides.
I personally used this booster seat that inflates and deflates in seconds. I am super picky about carseat safety and this booster was the most suggested and one I felt most comfortable using on our trip before and after flying when appropriate car seat options were not available. I was able to quickly inflate/deflate in about 14 seconds, store in my bag or suitcase and not worry about keeping my kids safe during the car trip.
- Waterproof Phone Pouch – A lifesaver for keeping devices dry near the pool or ocean.
- Garment Bag – Keeps formalwear wrinkle-free.
- Duct Tape – Handy for quick fixes.
- Small Bills – Useful for tipping porters and excursion guides. I always ask my bank for $2 bills right before the trip to use as tips. The Royal Caribbean dinner staff always get a kick out of our tips!
- Sippy Cups & Reusable Straws – For younger kids who need spill-proof drinking options, these silicone sippy cup lids and straws are super useful to bring just a couple.
Cruise Packing Tips: What to Know Before You Go
- Pack Smart – Use packing cubes to save space and keep things organized. I use a combination of these packing cubes and my favorite set of neon colored packing cubes (easier to find or color code for as a bag for a kid outfit).
- Plan for Laundry – Most ships don’t have self-service laundry, so pack extra pairs of clothing and quick-dry items. I pack a mesh laundry bag to use throughout the trip to not lose any pieces.
I have seen others pack a pop up laundry basket in their suitcase as well. This might come in handy to add to your cruise packing checklist!
- Think About Sea Sickness – Even if your family doesn’t normally get motion sickness, pack motion sickness bands or medication just in case.
- Bring a Power Bank – Great for long travel days when you don’t have easy access to an outlet.
- Keep Important Items in Your Carry-On – Medications, passports, and valuables should never go in your checked bag. Leave these items out when packing and add them last to your carry on bag.
Cruise Packing Checklist
To make packing even easier, here’s a checklist to ensure you don’t forget a thing:
✅ Travel Documents & IDs ✅ Carry-On Bag with Day One Essentials ✅ Packing Cubes for Organization ✅ Magnetic Hooks for Extra Storage ✅ First Aid Kit & Medicine ✅ Entertainment for Kids (Tablets, Games, Printable Activity Pack) ✅ Swimsuits, Flip Flops, & Water Shoes ✅ Formal Night Attire ✅ Comfortable Walking Shoes ✅ Power Strip & Power Bank ✅ Small Bills for Tipping ✅ Reusable Water Bottle ✅ Laundry Items (Dryer Sheets, Detergent Packets) ✅ Door Decorations ✅ Duct Tape for Quick Fixes
Final Thoughts on Packing for a Cruise with Kids
Packing for a cruise can feel overwhelming, but with the right cruise essentials, you can ensure a stress-free and fun vacation for the whole family. Whether it’s your first-time family cruise or you’re a seasoned traveler, these packing tips and essentials will keep your trip running smoothly from start to finish.
Planning your next Royal Caribbean family cruise? Be sure to check out my printable cruise activity pack in the Art 2 the Extreme® printables page, filled with fun things to do on a cruise ship for kids. And if you’re looking for great family cruises, my top recommendation is Symphony of the Seas—a fantastic cruise ship for families with endless activities!
One more thing... Happy cruising! 🚢✨
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