Planning your very first cruise with kids? You’re probably super excited and wondering what you really need to pack to keep your family happy, comfortable, and sane. Keep reading below for everything you’ll want to pack, or view the complete list on Amazon here.
Whether you’re going on a quick 3-day weekend cruise to the Bahamas from Florida, sailing out of Baltimore, or flying from Dulles across the Atlantic to Europe for a 10-day Mediterranean cruise, this complete packing list will help you figure out what you need to bring!
Things You Might Not Think to Pack
These are some of the less obvious items that we’ve found make cruising with kids so much easier.
Reusable Cups and Tumblers | Get Link
Cruise ships offer water and drinks, but it’s inconvenient to walk to the buffet or drink station every time someone’s thirsty. You can purchase or bring water bottles to keep in your room, but we found that bringing reusable tumblers for every family member is much easier!
Tip: Fill them with ice and water at night so you’ll always have a cold drink in your cabin. It’s especially helpful if your kids wake up thirsty in the middle of the night.
Lightweight Stroller | Get Link
Cruise ships and cabins can be tight unless you have a suite or an upgraded room. A lightweight, foldable stroller is essential if you’ve got a toddler or preschooler. It’s great for port days and boarding lines too.
Tip: We purchased a stroller specifically for traveling and fitting on airplanes and smaller spaces.
Apple AirTags and Watch Bands for Kids | Get Link
Stick an AirTag in your luggage and one in your child’s backpack. If you’re cruising with kids who may wander, an AirTag with a watch band or pinned onto their clothing can help give you a little peace of mind.
Dish Soap (Travel Size) | Get Link
If you’re bringing reusable cups, bottles, or toddler utensils, you’ll want a tiny bottle of dish soap. Rinse everything out in your bathroom sink without worrying about residue.
Sandwich or Snack Bags | Get Link
Ziploc or reusable snack bags are perfect for saving buffet snacks or packing a few extras for excursions. Also handy for organizing small toys, wet swimsuits, or electronics cables when you’re not using them.
Sound Machine | Get Link
If you’re someone who hears every single noise, squeak and creak in the middle of the night, you’re definitely going to want a sound machine. While the cabins aren’t typically too loud from your neighbors, depending on how rough the water is it may be just a little too quite that you hear everything. We found the sound machine to be super helpful!
Travel First-Aid Kit and Medicine | Get Link
You won’t want to pay onboard prices for bandages, motion sickness meds, or pain relievers. Pack a compact first-aid kit with essentials. You’ll want to keep children’s medicine on hand just in case, you never know what can happen when traveling!
Motion Sickness Remedies | Get Link
Bring Sea Bands, Dramamine, or ginger candy—whatever works for your family. Even on calm seas, a few members may feel queasy the first day or two. Or, you may not feel seasick at all!
Cash for Tips
While gratuities are often included, it’s always nice to bring a few small bills ($1s and maybe $5s) for extra tipping when you find it appropriate. The stateroom attendants, dining staff, and even kids’ club workers go above and beyond.
A few dollars can go a long way when they add extra touches to make your vacation special, like creating towel animals or cleaning up extra messes from kids.
Clothing and Outfit Planning for Families
You’ll want to pack with the weather and the onboard and shore activities in mind. You’ll find you will end up changing your clothes multiple times a day, between shore excursions, swimming in the pools, dressing up for formal or theme nights, or changing into something comfortable when you’re back in your cabin.
Multiple Outfits for Theme Nights
From Caribbean Night to White Night to formal dinners, cruise lines love a theme. Check your ship’s schedule in advance so you can pack an outfit that fits the theme. You’ll typically dress up in the evening once the ship begins heading to your next destination.
Swimsuits and Cover-Ups
We like to bring at least two swimsuits per person. That way, one can dry while you might be wearing the oher one. Cover-ups are great for walking around the pool deck and moving from one pool to the other.
Tip: Towels are provided onboard Royal Caribbean ships so you don’t need to pack them!
Lightweight Jacket or Windbreaker
Even tropical cruises can get chilly at night or on windy sea days. A light jacket or sweatshirt will come in handy more than you expect.
Long Pants and Socks
Some ships have ice skating rinks or indoor play areas where long pants and/or socks are required. They’re also helpful for cooler evenings or excursions in varying weather, especially for little ones.
Related: 6 Essential Tips for Flying with Toddlers
Items to Pack for the Kids
Crusing can be busy and tiring days for little ones, BUT also so much fun. Packing a few items from home to pass the time spent waiting in lines or to help wind down in the evening can make your trip easier.
Small Toys (Especially Magnetic Ones!) | Get Link
Bring a handful of small toys like cars, mini dolls/action figures, or a small stuffed animal. You’ll want ways to keep your little one entertained when you’re getting ready in the cabin in the morning, or taking a break in between excursions and cruise ship activities if a nap is out of the question.
Tip: Magnetic toys stick to the metal cabin walls and doors! Think Manga-Tiles, magnetic alphabet letters, or fridge magnets, so many ideas to help kids pass the time in the cabin.
Rubber Ducks to Hide Around the Ship | Get Link
This is a fun cruise tradition! Let your kids hide a few rubber ducks around the ship and search for ones others have left. It’s a great scavenger hunt that adds magic to the day. Some people go all out and will attach notes to the ducks, or even make them by hand. Bringing a few of your own to hide makes it even more fun!
Tip: Make sure this is allowed by your cruise line. We cruise with Royal Caribbean and love finding the ducks on their ships!
Tablet and Headphones | Get Link
If it’s something you use with your child, we found the tablet to be a lifesaver for long travel days and even winding down at night. Be sure to download shows and games ahead of time, since Wi-Fi on the ship may not be reliable for streaming and can get pricey if you don’t have an international phone plan or e-sim.
Tip: Headphones help reduce the sound of any shows or games so it’s not disruptive to others.
Lightweight Backpack | Get Link
A small backpack or drawstring bag is perfect for excursions, pool days, or just collecting treasures around the ship. Choose one that your child can carry or one for mom or dad.
Nightlight | Get Link
Cabins can get pitch black at night. A small nightlight (battery-powered or plug-in) helps kids navigate the room safely if they need to get up for a drink or to go to the bathroom.
Related: Cruising with a Toddler: Tips for Your Royal Caribbean Vacation
Storage and Organization Hacks
If you’re cruising on a smaller ship or have an interior room, you may be limited on your storage space. We always unpack completely and stow our suitcases under the bed for more space in the room to walk and keep the room together. We’ve found these items help to keep your room organized and your items exactly where you think they should be.
Packing Cubes or Compression Bags | Get Link
You could organize clothes by person and/or by occasion. You might sort all of your excursion outfits together, comfortable clothes, formal outfits, or pool-side clothes. This keeps you from rummaging through suitcases every morning and helps keep things tidy with limited space.
Tip: These are also really helpful for your bathroom and grooming items, and keeping your worn clothes separate!
Magnetic Hooks | Get Link
Cruise walls are magnetic! These hooks are great for hanging swimsuits, backpacks, purses, or jackets. They’re especially helpful if you’re a family of four sharing one room.
Over-the-Door Organizer | Get Link
Use a hanging organizer to store toiletries, accessories, snacks, or small toys. It frees up counter space and keeps clutter off the tiny bathroom sink and desk in the room.
Laundry Bag or Pop-Up Hamper | Get Link
Having a place to toss dirty clothes keeps your room neat and makes repacking easier. Choose a foldable or mesh option that fits into your suitcase.
Tip: If you’re on a long cruise or need something washed, you can pay an additional fee for laundry service!
Bonus: For International or Longer Cruises
If you’re sailing internationally or flying to your cruise port, don’t forget these extras.
Passport Holders and Document Organizers | Get Link
Keep passports, birth certificates, boarding passes, and vaccination cards all in one place. A document wallet or passport pouch saves time and stress at check-in so you always know where things are.
Tip: Purchase a hidden passport holder if you’re getting off at international ports to protect your belongings from pick-pockets.
Cruise-Approved Power Strip | Get Link
Ships have limited outlets. You can bring a power strip without surge protection, which many lines prohibit. On larger ships, we didn’t really find this necessary, but if you’re on an older or smaller ship and have many devices that will need to be charged or used at once, this will definitely come in handy.
Universal Outlet Adapter | Get Link
If your trip includes international travel and you’ll be staying in hotels or an AirBnB in another country (especially European ports), you’ll need an outlet adapter for your devices. Each country is a little bit different, so be sure to understand what kind of outlets are used in the country you’re visiting.
Final Tips for Families Preparing for a Cruise from the Fredericksburg Area
- If you’re driving from Fredericksburg to a port like Norfolk, Virginia or Baltimore, Maryland, understand the rules and cost of parking at the port.
- If you’re flying to the port your cruise will be leaving from, fly in at least one day ahead. You never know what can happen with flight cancellations and you don’t want to miss your cruise!
- If you’re flying from Dulles and planning on driving to the airport, you can prebook your parking in advance and save a little bit of money. Then you know exactly where to go to park, and you just scan a QR code on your phone for your reservation.
- Try planning flight times around the EZPass lane traffic patterns, so you can take the lanes home and avoid rush-hour traffic if you’ll be landing in the DC area during peak times. With the EzPass Flex, you won’t be charged a fee if you have 3 or more people in the car!
- Port Canaveral (Orlando) is a popular port to cruise from, but it has been our least favorite coming from the DC area. The airport is over an hour away, so you have to either rent a car or Uber to the cruise terminal. It’s not a convenient extra step with kids. Fort Lauderdale and Miami ports are both closer to the airport.
Cruising with kids doesn’t have to be chaotic. With the right packing list, you’ll avoid the stress of forgotten essentials and enjoy more of the magic. Whether you’re sailing the Caribbean or heading to Europe, this list will keep your family prepped, packed, and ready for your adventure!
