The Ultimate Cruise Packing List: What to Pack & What to Skip

The paperwork that gets you on the ship and keeps you safe abroad. Missing a single document can mean missing the cruise — so check this list twice.

Create a "travel documents" folder — physical and digital. Store photocopies separately from originals, and email scans to yourself as a last-resort backup.

• !
  PassportCriticalMust be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date. Check now — renewals take weeks.
• !
  Cruise boarding passCriticalPrint a copy and save digitally. Check in online before sailing to save time at the terminal.
• !
  Travel insuranceCriticalEnsure it covers medical treatment, evacuation at sea and trip cancellation. Standard holiday insurance often excludes cruises.
• Booking confirmationHotel, transfer and excursion bookings too — keep everything in one folder.
• !
  Credit & debit cardsCriticalNotify your bank of travel dates. Take at least two cards from different providers.
• Foreign currencySmall amounts of local currency for each port — €50–100 is usually plenty for a day ashore.
• Photocopies of all documentsStore separately from originals. Email copies to yourself as a backup.
• Luggage tagsProvided by the cruise line — attach before drop-off at the terminal.
• Emergency contact cardA card in your wallet with your ship name, cabin number and emergency contacts.

Formal nights are a highlight of cruising — a chance to dress up, enjoy a special dinner and take memorable photos. But the dress code varies significantly between cruise lines.

Cunard is the most formal, with black-tie gala evenings. P&O has formal nights but a touch more relaxed — a dark suit is perfectly acceptable. Read our Cruise Dining Guide for more on evening dress codes.

1. Casual

   Daytime & casual dining

   Level 1

   Men

   Polo shirt, chinos or smart shorts, deck shoes

   Women

   Sundress, smart top & trousers, sandals

2. Smart Casual

   Most evening dining on P&O

   Level 2

   Men

   Collared shirt, trousers, closed shoes

   Women

   Dress or smart separates, heels or flats

3. Formal

   Gala nights on Cunard & P&O

   Level 3

   Men

   Dark suit or dinner jacket, tie

   Women

   Evening gown, cocktail dress, or dressy jumpsuit

4. Black Tie

   Cunard gala evenings

   Level 4

   Men

   Tuxedo or dinner suit, bow tie, dress shoes

   Women

   Floor-length gown or elegant cocktail dress

How Many Formal Nights to Expect

Your phone is your camera, map, translator and boarding pass — keeping it charged is mission-critical. Plan ahead for limited cabin sockets and patchy ship WiFi.

UK cruise lines (P&O, Cunard) use UK 3-pin sockets. Some newer cabins also have USB ports and European 2-pin outlets. Bring adaptors for any non-UK devices.

1. 01
   UK 3-pin plug adaptorUK-based ships (P&O, Cunard) have UK sockets. Bring a European adaptor too for hotel stays pre/post cruise.
2. 02
   USB charging cable(s)Many newer ships have USB ports built into the cabin — but bring your own cables.
3. 03
   Portable power bankEssential for excursion days — your phone is your camera, map and translator.
4. 04
   Camera (optional)Smartphones are great, but a compact camera handles low light and zoom better.
5. 05
   E-reader / KindleLighter than books, holds hundreds. Perfect for sea days and poolside reading.
6. 06
   HeadphonesNoise-cancelling for flights. Wireless for the gym. Wired for the cabin TV.
7. 07
   Small extension leadCabins have 1–2 sockets. A short extension lead with USB ports is a game-changer.
8. 08
   Waterproof phone pouchFor beach excursions, snorkelling and rainy port days.

These are the cabin hacks that experienced cruisers swear by. Most are cheap, light and make an outsized difference to your comfort — especially in smaller inside or oceanview cabins.

The key insight? Cabin walls are magnetic steel. Magnetic hooks and organisers stick directly to the walls and give you dramatically more storage and hanging space. Read our Cabin Types Guide for more on cabin layouts and what to expect.

1. 01
   Magnetic hooksCabin walls are metal — magnetic hooks give you instant hanging space for hats, bags and towels
2. 02
   Over-door shoe organiserHang it on the bathroom door for toiletries, sunscreen, chargers — the best cabin hack going
3. 03
   Night light (plug-in)Inside cabins are pitch black. A dim night light saves stubbed toes at 3am
4. 04
   Short extension leadCabins have 1–2 sockets, usually in awkward positions. A 1-metre lead with 2–3 sockets solves everything
5. 05
   Clip-on fan (USB)Cabins can get stuffy. A small USB fan on the bedside table makes a big difference
6. 06
   Luggage tags & holdersThe cruise line sends tags — put them in waterproof holders so they survive the terminal rain
7. 07
   Packing cubesKeep your suitcase organised and make unpacking into cabin drawers much faster
8. 08
   Reusable laundry bagSeparates dirty clothes from clean — essential on longer cruises
9. 09
   Highlighter penFor marking up the daily programme — yes, it's still printed on paper every night
10. 10
    Door magnets / decorationsPersonalise your cabin door so you can spot it in the corridor — especially fun for groups

A 3-night taster cruise and a 90-night world voyage need very different suitcases. Here's how to scale your packing as the duration increases.

The key principle: don't multiply, supplement. A 14-night cruise doesn't need double the clothes of a 7-night cruise. It needs the same core wardrobe plus laundry service, and a couple of extra formal outfits.

Quick answers to the packing questions we hear most from first-time and returning cruisers.