What to Pack: Cruise Carry On Bag Edition
Is there anything better than walking onto a cruise ship on embarkation day?
I don’t think so!
But if you want to enjoy your first few hours on board, you’ll want to pay attention to this one piece of advice: pack a good cruise carry on bag!
Because on the day you board the ship, you’ll check your bags curb-side with luggage porters who will load your bags onto the ship for the staff to deliver to your room.
But the delivery process can take several hours, so you’ll want to be prepared to be without your luggage for a while!
Keep reading for my cruise carry on bag must haves!
What to Pack In Your Cruise Carry On Bag
It can take several hours for your bags to arrive in your room. (On some cruise lines, you might not get your luggage until midnight!)
So I always pack a well-stocked cruise carry on bag to make sure I have everything I need while I wait for my luggage.
Here’s what you’ll always find in my bag:
Cruise line boarding documents
Passports
Wallet (with cash to tip the luggage porters)
COVID vaccine cards and/or covid test results
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Bathing suit
Basic toiletries: toothbrush/paste, deodorant
Bert’s Bees chapstick (I’m obsessed!)
Medications
Phone charger and portable battery charger
Some additional items to consider:
Contact lens case and solution
Basic cosmetics–for a quick touch-up before dinner
Hat
A casual outfit (just in case you want to change out of your travel clothes for dinner)
Light jacket or sweater
Other Cruise Carry On Bag Things to Consider
First, know that the ship’s store won’t open until you leave your port. So if you forget something, you may have to wait a few hours until the ship pulls away from the pier.
Next, you may not have your suitcase before dinner, so either pack a change of clothes, or board the ship in clothes you’re comfortable wearing to dinner.
You might not be able to get into your room for a few hours, which means you might have to tote your carry-on with you while you explore the ship.
Be strategic about what you want to pack in your carry on so that you won’t be lugging around a heavy bag.
Pro tip! The cruise line will not weigh your suitcase like an airline does, so put that travel pillow, jacket, and extra layers of clothing in the suitcase before you check it.
Wrapping Up
Trust me - packing a well-stocked cruise carry on bag will help you enjoy your first few hours of your cruise vacation!
But be smart! Don’t over pack, because you’ll likely have to carry this bag with you as you explore the ship.
And remember: your luggage won’t be weighed, so be sure to stuff anything you used for plane travel–but won’t need immediately on the cruise–in your checked luggage.
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