Cruise booked? Excited to sail but not sure what to bring? I got you! I just got back from a January 2023 sailing with Celebrity Cruises on the Beyond Cruise Ship. (Which I loved!) I am going to share with you everything I packed to bring on my Celebrity cruise (which includes my favorite cruise and travel items) and a FREE PRINTABLE cruise packing checklist. This cruise packing list will make easy work of packing for your cruise. Keep scrolling for the free and printable cruise checklist, what to pack in your carry on, my favorite cruise items and what not bring on a cruise.
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Thinking of sailing with Celebrity Cruises? Check out our review of the Celebrity Beyond Review.
Table of Contents
Best Items I Brought on my Cruise
Samsonite Freeform Carry On
I hate checking my bags. So I always bring a carry on/personal item. This Samsonite Freeform Carry On suitcase did just the trick. I was able to fit multiple outfits and shoes into this suitcase. It fit easily under the stateroom bed and was a breeze around airports. Practical and reliable!
I love this bag. I mean really love it. It is sleek, affordable and oh so practical. So much space with multiple pockets and two sleeves for water bottles. I love that the trolley sleeve zips closed to have another pocket. Even when stuffed, it fits under the airplane seat. I once used this bag ONLY for a five day trip to Florida. That is how much space it has. And it fit perfectly under the stateroom bed and was easy to carry around on embarkation day. I cannot recommend this bag enough!
These space saver bags have made packing so easy. I can pack as much as I like then roll them up to get the air out. I don’t need to worry about a vacuum or pump to get rid of the air. I have used them on many many trips. They are also great for storing dirty laundry.
This was such a great find for traveling. It can be dressed up and down. On the cruise, I wore it with skirts and jeans. The large fit great! Highly recommend.
This was a great Amazon find for the cruise and travel. It is a soft, warm and versatile sweater. It went well with so many of my outfits. It was perfect for when the ship was a bit chilly inside or breezy/chilly outside. Highly recommend!
Another great versatile option! This was easy to dress up and dress down. It was also small so easy to pack and it is super flattering. I highly recommend this dress for all of your travels.
Check our budget shore excursion guide to Costa Maya.
I am a huge reader when I travel. I was so stubborn and like to travel with physical books. Until I realized how much weight I was carrying and how much space it was taking up. So I bought this Kindle and will never go back! It is the best travel item I have recently bought. (Yes, I know I am late to the party. haha)
Here is our guide to the perfect day on the Cayman Islands.
What I packed: Cruise Packing List
Important Items
Passport/photo ID
Cruise materials and shore excursion materials (if necessary)
Wallet with CASH. I can’t tell you how important that was. I brought cash with me and the cruise staff helped break down large bills.
Printed luggage tags
Cell phone with charger
Portable charger
Insurance Cards and COVID Vaccine Card
Pen
Clothing & Accessories
PJs
Workout gear for exercise and walking to the beach
Underwear/socks/bras
Bathing Suits/coverup
3 bodysuits (easy to mix and match for the evening)
2 dresses and 2 skirts
2 sweaters
Jeans
2 pairs of linen shorts
2 tank tops
Sneakers, sandals, nice pair of flats
Small clutch that fit my phone and credit cards
Collapsible tote bag with a zipper to bring to the beach
Sunglasses
Spare pair of glasses
Bathroom Gear
Toothbrush, toothpaste
Face wash
Daily moisturizer with SPF, concealer and eye liner
Night cream and eye cream
Shower gel (didn’t use it much. I just used what they provided.)
Shampoo, conditioner, gel and a volume product
Body lotion
Portable diffuser for my curly hair
Sunscreen and bus spray
Powdered laundry detergent (Just in case)
Medical Gear
Personal medications
Pain Relief, Imodium, Stool Softners
Masks and hand sanitizer
Band-aids
Miscellaneous
Headphones and charger
Kindle with charger
Lip Balm with SPF
Poo-Pourii
Wrinkle Release Spray
Not sure what to do in Cozumel? Check out our review on Nachi Cocom.
What should be in your carry on bag?
Your carry on bag stays with you while boarding the cruise. Your luggage is delivered to your stateroom.
Passport, photo ID, wallet, cash
Important cruise documents
Personal medications and motion sickness medication (if needed)
If you are wondering what to pack for a Caribbean cruise that lasts 7 days, here are a few guidelines: Swimwear: 3 swimsuits and at least 3 swim cover-ups. Casual Looks: Pack at least 4 pairs of shorts, 5 – 7 t-shirts, 3 pairs of pants, 3 skirts, and a couple of day dresses.
You may also 'Print Documents' from 'My Cruise Manager' page; here you can print luggage tags, boarding passes and general information such as the booking summary, invoice, purchased services and travel notes.
Personalized luggage tags are included in the guest's Electronic Documents (available once online check-in is completed). It is not necessary to print the tags in color. Carnival luggage tags must be affixed to your baggage prior to arriving at the terminal. Additional tags can be obtained at curbside from the porter.
U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL), a government-issued birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) or passport, and if 16 or older, a government ...
Oddly, a couple of times a ship held our passports to speed clearance into a country, we have received stamps from those countries. But otherwise, no stamps from most countries we have sailed in and stopped there. Probably way under 10% of the countries we have sailed into have stamped our passports.
And how much cash should you take on your next cruise? We're here to help you figure it out! Experts say the average cruise passenger spends anywhere from $52 to $89 per day, but the amount you'll spend will, of course, vary based on cruise line, ship, experience and your individual preferences.
All weapons and any item made, adapted or intended for use as an offensive weapon: firearms (including replicas, imitations and their components), spears or spear guns, crossbows, crossbow bolts and long bow arrows; blunt weapons, including knuckle dusters, brass knuckles, clubs, coshes, batons, flails or Nunchaku; ...
For a 10-day (or more) vacation: bring 4 to 5 swimsuits. For a 7-day vacation: bring 3 to 4 swimsuits. For a 5-day vacation: bring 2 to 3 swimsuits. For a 3-day vacation: bring 1 to 2 swimsuits.
You're welcome to take towels off the ship for excursions, however you need to bring them back, otherwise you'll be charged for them. Don't allow the staff on the tour persuade you to leave them.
You can throw everyone's passports into a single bag, so you show up to the terminal extremely prepared! Plus, they will keep everything dry throughout the cruise, so you don't have to worry about your cash getting a little wet if you go to the beach.
You may ask the crew for an additional blanket, a lightweight comforter, or an additional down pillow since, unlike with hotel rooms, these items will not be in your cabin closet. The bedding lines created for cruises are of similar quality to those made for luxury hotels.
Pack one outfit for every day, or plan to do laundry on your cruise ship. I like to look for ways to reuse pieces to save space. For example, I'll dress up a top with a skirt or dress pants for dinner, then wear the same shirt with jeans in port the following day.
Casual, resort-style wear is appropriate for daytime. But in the evenings, the dress code is almost always elegant casual, with the exception of the final evening of each cruise (which is casual).
A good rule of thumb for cruisers is to always pack at least one pair of long pants that are not jeans, for dinners onboard. As far as dress prohibitions, cruise lines tend to follow policies similar to airlines, disallowing guests from wearing clothing bearing messages that are distasteful or patently offensive.
Introduction: My name is Duane Harber, I am a modern, clever, handsome, fair, agreeable, inexpensive, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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I love this bag. I mean really love it. It is sleek, affordable and oh so practical. So much space with multiple pockets and two sleeves for water bottles. I love that the trolley sleeve zips closed to have another pocket. Even when stuffed, it fits under the airplane seat. I once used this bag ONLY for a five day trip to Florida. That is how much space it has. And it fit perfectly under the stateroom bed and was easy to carry around on embarkation day. I cannot recommend this bag enough!
These space saver bags have made packing so easy. I can pack as much as I like then roll them up to get the air out. I don’t need to worry about a vacuum or pump to get rid of the air. I have used them on many many trips. They are also great for storing dirty laundry.
This was a great Amazon find for the cruise and travel. It is a soft, warm and versatile sweater. It went well with so many of my outfits. It was perfect for when the ship was a bit chilly inside or breezy/chilly outside. Highly recommend!
So I bought this Kindle and will never go back! It is the best travel item I have recently bought. (Yes, I know I am late to the party. haha)