Packing for a cruise can feel a little overwhelming the first time. You’ve got sea days, port days, beach days, dinners, excursions… and somehow it all has to fit in a suitcase.
I’m definitely an overpacker — but with strategy.
After a lot of cruises and a lot of travel, I’ve figured out which items actually make a trip easier and which ones just take up space in your bag. The things in this cruise packing list are the items I bring again and again because they’re genuinely useful.
Some make your cruise cabin more comfortable, some make pool and beach days easier, and others just help you stay organized while traveling.
If you’re planning a cruise and want to avoid that “I wish I packed that” moment, these are the items I recommend bringing.
If you’re sailing with Virgin Voyages specifically, you may also want to see my full guide to Virgin Voyages Cruise Tips & Tricks: Ultimate Guide Before You Sail — it covers everything from cabins to onboard planning.
Before you even get to the packing stage, you’ll also want to think about logistics like flights and hotels. I usually compare airfare on Skyscanner flight search to see the best routes and prices before finalizing cruise plans.
If you don’t want to read the whole list, these are the five items I personally never cruise without. I’ve taken them on multiple trips and end up using them constantly.
This is one of my favorite travel items.
It keeps your phone attached to you so you don’t drop it overboard on excursions or while walking around the ship. It also has a small wallet with a zipper pocket where I usually keep my lipstick.
It’s perfect for walking around the ship too so you don’t always have to carry a purse.
Cruise cabins never seem to have enough outlets.
A cruise-approved extension cord makes charging phones, cameras, and other devices much easier.
Most cruise cabin walls are magnetic, and people love these for hanging hats, drying swimsuits, hanging lanyards, or just keeping things organized.
Port days drain your phone battery fast.
This one attaches magnetically so you can keep using your phone while it charges.
Cruise bathrooms are small, so this makes a big difference in staying organized.
The passport holder I use is a hard waterproof case, which I love because it protects your passport from getting bent or damaged.
In some countries, if your passport has water damage or torn pages, they won’t accept it, so protecting it is important.
I use Apple AirTags to track my luggage at the airport and on the cruise.
When you arrive at the cruise port, you drop your bags off and they get delivered to your cabin later. Having an AirTag inside lets you see where your luggage is.
This has actually saved me before when the airport accidentally sent my bag to the wrong terminal — I was able to track it and go find it. I put the airtags in this case in my luggage.
This is one of my favorite travel items, especially for excursions.
It keeps your phone attached to you so you don’t drop it overboard or lose it while exploring. It also has a small wallet with a zipper pocket where I usually keep my lipstick.
Cruise cabins are efficient but compact, which means a few smart items can make a big difference.
Again, cruise cabins never seem to have enough outlets.
Phones, watches, cameras, hair tools… it adds up quickly.
I don’t personally use these, but they are very popular with cruise travelers.
Cruise cabin walls are magnetic, so people use these hooks to hang hats, swimsuits, lanyards, or bags. They’re also great for drying swimsuits or keeping small spaces organized.
Cruise cabins can get surprisingly bright, especially if you have a window or balcony.
The sleep mask I use is called Manta, and I love that it has space for your eyes so your lashes don’t push into your face. It also has a soft covering so it doesn’t feel like it’s pressing on your face.
I never used a noise machine until I met my husband, and now I can’t sleep without one.
It has improved my sleep so much. On a cruise, you might have a dance floor above you or a busy area nearby, and the noise machine helps drown that out.
If it’s still loud, I add my Loop earplugs, which dull sound without blocking everything completely.
I love these for really loud music nights on the ship.
They don’t block sound completely — they just reduce the volume so it’s easier on your ears. They also make versions specifically for sleeping.
Cruise cabins are close quarters, so this is one of those nice and polite items to bring.
Because let’s be honest… after brunch, lunch, dinner, and calling a giant pretzel a late-night snack, you’re probably going to need it.
Travel can wrinkle your clothes, so wrinkle release spray is great for a quick spray and go.
I don’t like my dirty clothes touching my clean clothes, so I always bring a lightweight laundry bag to keep things organized.
A little organization goes a long way when you’re living out of a suitcase.
I like using packing cubes to organize outfits by day since I usually pack different outfits for different activities.
A pill container helps keep supplements or medications organized.
I also pack seasickness medication and day/night cold medicine just in case.
Hanging bags are amazing for cruise cabins.
I usually hang my toiletry bag on the hook in the bathroom. For my jewelry organizer and sunglasses holder, I just use a regular hanger from the closet and hang them there.
Since using this, I haven’t had necklaces break or earrings get lost.
I’m a little excessive and bring the five-pair version, but there’s also a three-pair version if you don’t want to bring as many.
These go over the tops of your bottles so they don’t leak all over your clothes.
They’ve saved me from having sunscreen explode in my suitcase more than once.
I use these constantly on trips.
Opening packages, cutting tags off new clothes (because buying new clothes for vacation is half the fun), and all kinds of random things.
Port days and sea days usually involve a lot of time near water, so a few small items can make those days much more comfortable.
When I relax, I like to go all out, and this ballast pillow makes beach lounging much more comfortable.
It’s extremely lightweight and easy to pack. Once you get to the beach, you inflate it and attach it to your chair so you’re not straining your neck.
Pool decks and beaches can get windy, and these stretchy bands keep your towel from blowing off your chair.
I also use them to attach my ballast pillow to the chair, and it works great.
This is great for relaxing in the ocean or floating in a pool on beach days.
If you’re planning snorkeling excursions during port days, you can usually browse options like these through platforms such as GetYourGuide when planning activities ahead of time.
If you plan on snorkeling, bringing your own snorkel is worth it.
The one I use is a full-face snorkel mask with a clip in the back, which makes it easy to get on and off.
High-quality masks use dual-airway ventilation systems that separate the air you breathe in from the air you breathe out, which helps prevent CO₂ buildup inside the mask.
Lower-quality masks can allow carbon dioxide to collect, which can make you feel dizzy or even cause you to pass out — obviously not ideal while snorkeling.
Another reason I love this one is that it comes in different sizes. I have a small head, and the “free” snorkels from tours never fit properly for me.
Coola is my favorite sunscreen.
It’s a clean sunscreen that smells like a tropical dream, and it doesn’t make my skin break out.
My Nano Bag is my everything bag.
It folds up super small but opens into a large, durable bag. I use it as a beach bag and also for excursions if I buy things while exploring.
At home I love my Owala bottle, but when I travel I prefer a bottle with a built-in filter in case sink water is the only option available.
This tripod works with MagSafe phones, so you can just pop your phone on and off quickly.
It also comes with a small remote, so you don’t have to ask strangers to take photos.
Cruise days — especially port days — can drain your phone fast.
The one I use attaches magnetically with MagSafe so you can keep using your phone while it charges.
A GoPro is great for snorkeling, beach days, boat tours, and water activities when you don’t want to risk dropping your phone.
Vacations are way more fun when you’re sleeping well and not dealing with skin drama halfway through the trip.
As I’ve gotten older, vacation isn’t nearly as fun if I’m not sleeping well.
This pillow is small, easy to pack, and incredibly comfortable.
This acupuncture mat is amazing for tight backs and tired feet.
After walking 20,000 steps in a day, laying on it for 20 minutes before bed feels incredible. (use code PLUMMER for 10% off)
This is my everything skin saver.
It helps prevent breakouts while traveling and even helps calm skin if you get a little sunburn.
If a breakout shows up on vacation, I use the Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Detoxing Clay Mask as a spot treatment.
Most of the time the zit is almost gone by morning.
The first thing I do when I buy a new swimsuit is rip out those cheap pads and replace them with Cakes.
I mostly use their grippy version, which stays in place but doesn’t rip your nipple off when you take them off (yes, I’m dramatic).
For dresses or lower-cut tops, I use the sticky version, which also works great. (use code WENDYPLUMMER use for 10% off)
Packing smart is one of the easiest ways to make your cruise smoother.
These are the items I actually use on trips — not random things that sound good on a list but sit in your suitcase the whole week.
If you’re still planning the logistics for your cruise, I usually start by searching hotels near the cruise port so embarkation morning is easy. You can browse options on Booking.com to find the best deals.
If your cruise itinerary includes ports where exploring independently makes sense, renting a car for the day can also help. I usually compare options through DiscoverCars rental search because it pulls prices from multiple rental companies in one place.
If you want a broader packing checklist for all types of trips, you can also check out my Ultimate Packing List for Perfect Vacations, where I break down the essentials I bring on almost every trip. And if you’re preparing for a long flight before your cruise, I also share the items I always bring in International Flight Essentials I Never Fly Without (Long-Haul Tested).
With the right packing strategy, you’ll spend less time wishing you had something… and more time enjoying the cruise.
13 creek crossings, a canyon that keeps closing in around you, and a hike I’d genuinely put back on my itinerary, West Fork Trail was the one.
We got to Call of the Canyon at 7:15am and the lot was barely a quarter full. By 12:30 it was 85% full, so if there’s one tip that matters most, it’s this: go early.
The maintained trail is 6.6 miles round trip, mostly flat, mostly shaded, but I kept my regular tennis shoes dry the whole way by hopping across the rocks at each crossing. It’s rated moderate, and honestly that’s about the distance, not the terrain.
Here’s what nobody tells you though ✨ the maintained trail isn’t the end. We changed into water shoes at the official endpoint and kept going another mile straight through the creek, canyon walls narrowing around us the whole time. That extra mile ended up being my favorite part of the entire hike.
5/5 for me. I’d bring the water shoes again in a heartbeat.
Link in bio for the full guide parking, timing, what to pack, and everything I wish I knew before I went 🥾
Two hours, zero regrets. The Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour is hands down one of the most fun things we did in Sedona.
Open-air Jeeps crawling over slickrock, backcountry views you can’t reach on your own, and the famous Road of No Return, steep, thrilling, and somehow completely safe the whole way down.
If you’re picking one paid activity in Sedona, make it this one.
You have to do @pinkjeeptours 🌵🚙 Link in bio for the full review.
Dinner beside Oak Creek at Cress, and yes, it’s a splurge, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.🤍
Candlelit tables under the trees, the creek running right beside us, a menu that mixes Arizona ingredients with French technique. We ordered a little of everything: the squash and beet salad, milk rolls with three different butters, sweet potato gnocchi that somehow felt light instead of heavy. Then two desserts because we couldn’t decide. The Vanilla Crème Caramel with Manchego cheese completely stole the show, salty and sweet in a way that sounds strange until you taste it.
Plan on $100–250 for two depending on what you order, and this isn’t the spot for a quick casual dinner, it’s slow, intentional, and worth every minute. Book ahead and ask for a creekside table if you can.
If you’re looking for one unforgettable meal in Sedona, this is it. Link in bio for the full review 🍽️
Sky Ranch Lodge, Sedona. Booked it for the location, stayed for the sunsets.
This is not a five-star resort with ten restaurants and a spa menu the length of a novel. It’s a family-owned boutique hotel on Airport Mesa that knows exactly what it’s good at: red rock views from basically everywhere and one of the best sunset spots in town, private, with maybe four other couples instead of a crowd.
We booked a Premier Rim Room and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Watched the sunset from our own patio one night and it’s still one of my favorite moments of the whole trip.
✨ Six acres of botanical gardens to wander morning and evening
✨ Pool + hot tub that hit exactly right after a day of hiking
✨ On-site food truck for easy breakfasts and lazy room service nights
✨ Complimentary shuttle so you’re not fighting Sedona parking
✨ Robes, slippers, and a staff that felt genuinely happy to help
Two stays in and I’d book it again without a second thought. This is where to stay in Sedona if you want it to actually feel like Sedona.
Thank you to @skyranchlodge for having us, link in bio for the full review 🌵
Four hours on a train through a canyon you can’t reach by car — such a fun experience! We picked the indoor seats with unlimited access to the open-air viewing car, which honestly felt like the only right call. You’re not stuck in an assigned seat the whole time we bounced between the two, snacks in hand, chasing the best light.
The scenery is the whole point. Red rock cliffs, the Verde River, a 734-foot tunnel, historic trestle bridges views most people visiting Sedona never see, because you literally can’t drive to them.
The charcuterie box that comes with your ticket is shockingly filling ✨ so skip lunch at the Copper Spike Café beforehand, save your appetite for dinner back in Sedona.
Four hours with no stops did start to feel long by the end, but the trade-off for scenery like this? Worth it.
Would I ride it again? Yes. Would I buy lunch first again? No.
Link in bio for the full review cost breakdown, what to pack, and exactly how early to arrive 🚂
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