Perfect 7-Day Caribbean Cruise Packing List

Are you wondering what to pack for a Caribbean Cruise? You’ve come to the right place; this Caribbean Cruise Packing list will show you everything you need to pack for your cruise.

So, you’ve booked a cruise? I’m so excited for you, and you are going to have so much fun! So, now that you have picked the perfect cruise line, you’ve already booked your excursions and started the countdown to sail away, and you’ve got one major hurdle to get through before you order that fancy daiquiri.

You’ve got to PACK! Where do you start? What do you need? It can be overwhelming. The first time I cruised, I searched everywhere to get the “perfect” packing list and ended up way overpacking.

So, I created this Caribbean cruise packing list so you don’t have to look any further than right here.

⚓️ PACK HALF OF WHAT YOU THINK YOU NEED!

What to Pack for a 7-day Cruise: Caribbean Cruise Essentials

This Caribbean cruise packing list is clickable, so you can shop right from here. At the end of this post, I’ll post a link so you can print it out if you are a checklist fan like me!

Luggage

Before you can pack, you need a good set of luggage. There is no limit to the number of suitcases you can bring on the cruise, but keep the airline fees in mind for checked baggage, the need to get your luggage in and out of shuttles or Uber rides, and how much you want to carry around.

I recommend the following:

• 1 Suitcase per person
• 1 Beach tote bag, or backpack for carrying things during a beach day, shore excursions, and exploring the ports of call. I pack my beach bag with our snorkel gear, empty water bottles, waterproof phone case, and our extra pairs of shoes.
• 1 Money Belt, or day pack to keep your money and ID safe while in port.
• 1 Carry-on bag (this could also be your beach bag) It’s a good idea to have a small carry-on bag when you arrive at the cruise port. When you first board your cruise ship, your cruise cabin may not be ready. Porters will bring up your luggage, and sometimes it can be the evening before your bags get to your room.

This means you will not have access to your bags for at least a few hours. Have a cruise carry-on bag that contains your travel documents, any medication that you may need, contact solution, sunglasses, a book, and your swimsuit if you want to use the pool before your luggage arrives.

• I recently found packing cubes, and have no idea how I ever lived without them! They make packing and staying organized so much easier! I have these, and love them!

Important Documents to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise

• Photo ID, Passport, or Birth Certificate. If you are a US citizen and your cruise starts and stops in a US port, you can get on board with only a birth certificate and photo ID.

Even though you can get on the ship, I highly recommend having a passport. If there was an emergency and you needed to fly home from a port, or you missed the ship (yikes) and had to fly home, your life would be easier if you had a passport.

• Vaccine card and COVID test results (this is dependent on your cruise line and ports of call; cruise lines have dropped vaccine requirements, but some ports still require them)

• Credit Cards. Let your bank know you will be traveling. You don’t want to be somewhere and have them freeze your card because it is being used in multiple countries within a few days.

• Cruise and airline boarding pass. These can be printed or on your phone using the cruise/airline app.

• Printed cruise luggage tags (you’ll get them from the cruise line after checking in). Don’t attach them to your luggage until after your flights. (you can fold and staple them to your luggage before boarding, or ask a porter to do it for you.) I like to purchase plastic luggage tag holders, you can use them over and over again, and they lessen the risk of your tag tearing off.

• Travel Insurance information
• Confirmation of any excursions or extras you have purchased. You may not have Wi-Fi or the ability to download them onboard, so be sure you either print them or take a screenshot of them on your phone.

Clothes needed for a 7-day Caribbean Cruise

My biggest tip for packing clothes is to take less than you think you need. I always overpack. I know better and still overpack.

Use your packing cubes as a way to help regulate yourself. If you only pack what the packing cubes will hold, you will be less likely to overpack for your Caribbean Cruise.

Lay out what you think you need, and then put half of it away. You probably won’t need all of what you have left, either. 😂

You’ll mostly live in bathing suits and coverups, except for dinner time.

Be sure and pack flip-flops not only for the beach but also if you plan on using the spa on your cruise ship.

Tip: If you are sharing your cabin with others, you can use the showers in the spa or gym to save time when everyone is trying to get ready at once! You’ll want flip-flops to stand in the gym showers.

Another tip is to find out if your cruise has any special parties that you will want to pack for.

Some do neon parties or all-white parties, so if you think you’ll want to participate in those, be prepared.

One way to find this kind of information is through Facebook groups. What I always do is go to Facebook and type in your cruise. For example, Carnival Horizon is August 3-10. This should pull up a group for your cruise.

This allows you to interact and meet others while you’re sailing, but it also offers insight into activities that are going on.

You can also join the sailing right before yours to see what is going on onboard. This is one of my favorite ways to get excited about my cruise!

You’ll have at least one formal night on cruises and sometimes even two nights. This is your chance to dress to the 9’s and put on that formal wear you never get to wear. It is not mandatory to go completely fancy, but it is one of the fun things I look forward to on a cruise.

Women: What to wear on a Caribbean Cruise

• Bras and Underwear
• Socks
• Shorts 3- 4 pair
• Tshirts/Tank Tops 1 for each day
• Leggings and one light jacket or sweatshirt
• Sundresses I bring one for each night at dinner
• Formal Dress (find out how many formal nights are on your cruise)
• Nylons
• Dress shoes only bring one pair
• FlipFlops, sandals, water shoes, tennis shoes
• Does your shore excursion require a specific shoe? (some will be muddy or need closed toes)
• Bathing Suit (bring a couple, you don’t want to have to put on a wet suit
• Bathing suit cover-up and/or rash guard
• Work out clothes (if you want)

Men: What to wear on a Caribbean Cruise

• Underwear
• Socks
• Shorts 3-4 pair
• Tshirts/ Tank Tops 1 for each day
• One pair of jeans and a light sweatshirt or jacket
• Slacks one pair
• Dress shirts/jacket /tie
• Swim Trunks (bring a few)
• Rashguard
• Pajamas
• Work out clothes
• Tennis shoes, Flip flops, water shoes, sandals
• Dress Shoes (1 Pair)

Accessories to bring on a Caribbean Cruise Vacation

I like to bring a bag to carry water, my wallet, and a beach towel in when I leave the ship.

I’ve included a couple of bags that have anti-theft properties. You can lock them around your lounge chair so you don’t have to worry about your stuff when you are swimming.

I also bring a spray-in conditioner and a comb in my bag so I can comb my hair after swimming.

A good hat is essential for controlling your hair in humidity and getting relief from the sun.

Some cruise lines give you a key card that is your room key and your currency on board. It’s helpful to have a lanyard that you can clip your key card to, and wear around your neck so you don’t have to worry about losing your card.

A beach towel isn’t totally necessary. There will be towels on the ship that you can use and even take off the ship and into port.

I use the ship’s beach towels onboard but I take my own when I go to the beach for two reasons.

One reason is if it gets lost or stolen, you have to pay the ship for the towel.

The second (and biggest) reason for me is that the ship’s towels are so big, bulky, and heavy! I’d rather bring a thin towel that takes up less space in my bag.

If I am on a private island such as Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Castaway Cay, or Halfmoon Cay, I use ship towels. This is because there are towel stations on the islands where you can turn in your wet or sandy towels and get a fresh one, so it is easier than packing one around all day.

• Sunglasses
• Reading Glasses
• Purse/wallet
• Backpack/Beach bag
• Sunhat/ballcap
• Lanyard for keycard
• Beach Towel

Electronics to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise

I know that some people like to disconnect from electronics while on vacation completely, but I don’t!

I like to have pictures and videos to remember my trip by. A lot of cruise lines also have interactive apps that you can use onboard to order food and drinks and chat with your travel mates.

Many staterooms have limited plug-ins available, so I always bring a power strip so that we can charge our phones or plug in my curling iron. You aren’t allowed to bring one with a surge protector, though, so keep that in mind.

• Phone/charger
• Portable charging bank
• Go pro/charger/memory card
• Camera/battery/memory card
• Waterproof cases
• Headphones
• E-Reader
• A power strip (not surge protector)

I like to bring a book to read on the beach or while traveling. I usually bring something light that doesn’t require too much concentration. Another good option is to use audible to download books too.

I also always bring a guidebook to the places we are going, so I can look it over before port days.

Binoculars are fun for sea days.

I love to bring my own snorkel gear, and I’ve found some great snorkel vests that don’t take up any space in our luggage. By the way, you should read more about the best places to snorkel in the Caribbean.

On my last Bahamas cruise, I found the best floats! They don’t take up any space and are so comfortable. I’ll put a pic and a link below… get them… you won’t regret it!

There will be cups for water onboard but they are small, I like to bring a reusable bottle so I can stay hydrated.

Clothes pins come in super handy for attaching your towel to your beach chair when it is windy, they also come in handy for hanging wet swimsuits to dry.

A lot of people decorate the outside of their cabin doors. It’s fun, but not necessary. If you want to decorate your door, check out the dollar tree for Caribbean-themed cutouts, or whatever you think represents you best.

• Reading book
• Guide book
• Binoculars
• Snorkel gear
• Reusable water bottle
• Door decorations
• Clothespins

Toiletries to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise

The Caribbean Sun is no joke, but please be sure and only bring reef-safe sunscreen. Chemicals that humans introduce into the fragile reefs cause irreparable damage to the coral and marine life.

Even better than reef-safe sunscreen, is a rash guard so you don’t have to use as much sunscreen in the first place. Don’t forget lip balm with sunscreen. Sunbum is my favorite reef-friendly lotion (and it smells yummy)

The ships will have soap, shampoo, and conditioner, but I like my own, so I always bring travel-size ones. There will be a hairdryer in your room usually, but they aren’t very high-powered so if that is important to you, bring one.

There will also be shops on board you can buy toiletries or over-the-counter medicines, but they will be expensive, so it’s easier to bring your own.

I don’t always bring bug spray, but someplace in the Caribbean have mosquitos that carry the Zika virus (Belize for one) so I always check ahead on that and then pack accordingly.

As far as motion sickness, I prefer Bonine to Dramamine. If you start to feel sick, go on deck and look at the horizon that helps. You can also eat a green apple, or ask a crew member for something with ginger in it.

⚓️ Check Cruise Prices Here!

Most people will not feel motion sickness on a cruise due to how large they are. Caribbean Cruises are the calmest and you rarely feel motion sick. Cruises to Alaska and the Pacific Ocean Mexico Cruises can cause a bit more motion sickness, but stick to the tips above and you should be good to go!

Cruise cabins are small. You share a really small place with your family or friends for a week. Bring Poopuri. You can thank me later, or write back and tell me how much you wish you had brought it.

• Toothbrush/floss/paste
• Daily medications
• Hand sanitizer
• Body lotion
• Body wash /face soap
• Lip balm (SPF)
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Hairbrush/ties
• Contact solution
• Deodorant
• Shave cream/Razor
• Makeup/remover
• Feminine Hygiene Supplies
• Nail clippers/file
• Small first aid kit with bandaids
• Sunscreen (reef-safe)
• Aloe or after-sun lotion
• Bug spray
• Tylenol
• Pepto/ tums
• Seasick bands/meds
• Poopourri 
• Curling iron/flat iron

What to take off the ship on port days

• Credit Card
• Photo ID for anyone over 16
• Cruise ship card
• Any documentation for shore excursions that day
• Cash in small bills for tips and souvenirs
• Beach bag, towels, etc
• Change of shoes or clothes depending on your plans
• sunscreen
• A watch or phone so that you can keep track of what time to be back on the ship

What NOT to bring on a Cruise Vacation

Don’t bring too much! I know I’ve said don’t overpack repeatedly, but that’s just because I know you are going to overpack!

Aside from over-packing, there are a few things you need to remember not to bring as well.

• Illegal Drugs
• Alcohol (some cruise lines have exceptions; always check)
• Firearms, ammunition, knives, or other weapons
• Surge protectors
• Expensive jewelry (I leave my wedding ring at home and wear a silicone one)
• Flammable liquids
• Drones (even though you can fly Drones in the Bahamas, you can no longer take them on the ship with you)
• A Bad attitude

If Traveling with kids, bring snacks, hand-held games, books, or travel games. Diapers and wipes if needed. 

Find out if your cruise line allows you to bring drinks, some allow a case of soda or bottle of wine per person.

I hope this helps you with everything you need to pack for your Caribbean cruise. You can click on my Amazon Link to shop this packing list, or you can download and print it.

Caribbean Cruise FAQs