Planning on going on a cruise and not sure what to pack? I’ve been there. We went on a cruise in January and I want to share with you my top tips on what to pack for a cruise. And hopefully you can also learn from my mistakes …

What to pack for a cruise

We went on a MSC cruise in the beginning of the year and we had so much fun. It was a 4 day cruise (which turned into a 6 day cruise – you can read more about it HERE) from Cape Town to Walvis Bay and back. It was awesome and we can’t wait to do it again. Next time I’ll be a little wiser about what (and how) to pack. Ever wondered what to pack for a cruise? Here’s what I’ve learned from our cruise experience.

Your Carry-On Bag

When you board the ship your checked luggage will be taken directly to your room, but you will not have access to it until much later on the day.  A lightweight carry-on is a must. I recommend a backpack or tote that can also double as a handbag or used for shore excursions. My leather backpack was a winner.

Make sure that your carry-on bag contains all the necessities to start enjoying your cruise right away. I suggest the following:

• Your cruise ticket
• Travel documentation if required (passport, visas, etc.)
• Wallet
• A change of clothes, swimsuit and sunscreen
• Motion sickness and any other prescription medications you may need
• Anything else that you need to be close at hand

Checked Luggage – What to pack

Clothing

No one wants to be stuck on a ship thinking ‘I have nothing to wear!’ but you also don’t want to pack your whole wardrobe. Planning is everything. The best advice I can give you is to carefully read through your cruise itinerary and keep the weather in mind when you plan your outfits.

Pack clothing that you can mix and match, and if you have items that can take you from day to night, even better.

If you’re cruising to Alaska you’ll probably need that heavy jacket or sweater, but if not, layering is key. Light cardigans and jackets kept us warm on our cruise when the evenings got a little chilly on the deck and inside the air-conditioned dining areas.

Many cruises have themed events and dress codes that you need to adhere to. You don’t want to get caught with your pants down (or should I say ‘with your pants at home’).

Cruise dress codes 

Ever wondered what exactly the dress codes mean? Hopefully this will help.

The guidelines for our MSC Cruise was as follows:

On-board attire…

Shorts, t-shirts, slacks, trousers, casual skirts, blouses and sundresses are all perfect during the day, whether indoors or out. 

Dinner attire…

Suggested guidelines for these nights are: 

Casual: Sport shirts and slacks for men, sundresses or pants for women 

Smart Casual: Jackets and ties for men, dresses or pantsuits for women

I attended the MSC Musica launch last year and the gala event called for formal attire. The event was filled with guests dressed in their best. If the night calls for it, why won’t you don that ballgown or tux?!

Shoes

Flip flops are of course a must for lounging by the pool. I packed two pairs as I wore mine most of the day. A pair of sneakers is also a good idea as they can take you from the gym to shore, and keep your toes warm on chilly nights when you can go casual. I learnt a valuable lesson from the seasoned cruisers… elegant sandals are a must. If you have a pair that can take you from the pool to dinner and dancing, you are set. And if you don’t own any, go buy a pair before your next cruise. I most definitely will. What about formal evenings? I wore a pair of heels on the night we decided to dress up, but I envied all the ladies in their elegant sandals later on the dance floor. It’s a good idea to colour coordinate your formal outfits so that you only need to pack one pair of dress shoes. Lastly, make sure your shoes are comfortable. You’re going to be walking… a lot.

Bags

This one is more for the ladies as most gents are happy to walk around with only their cruise card (at least my husband did), but if you’re like me, you can’t leave your room without your bag. My back pack served me well during the day, but I forgot to pack an evening bag. Top tip: Pack a small bag that can take you from day to night. Next time I will be taking a small cross body bag that can hold the essentials while I’m lounging by the pool, going to dinner or dancing the night away.

Cool by the pool

Don’t forget your swimsuit. Or two. Sunscreen and a hat (do we really need to have this conversation again?). A quick drying cover-up or shorts and t-shirt is a must as only a swimsuit isn’t very appropriate (or allowed) in certain areas of the ship. Swimming towels were provided on our cruise, as with most I think. Lastly you just need your sunglasses, a good book and cruise card (to buy all those lovely cocktails) and your are set for a full day of relaxing on deck.

Last but not least

Toiletries Most cruise ships provide the basics like shampoo, a shower cap, etc. but if you’re like me, you want to take along your own. Small travel containers are also something to consider when you want to take along all your lotions and potions (again, like me). No need to take a hairdryer as a small one is supplied in the cabins on most ships.

A lanyard/key card holder They say you’ll be spotted as a newbie cruiser from a mile away, but a lanyard will make your life so much easier. You need your cruise card at hand at all times (especially for those cocktails by the pool) and hanging it around your neck just makes sense.

Binoculars Not a necessity, but it would have been nice if we had ours on the trip.