Cruise Packing List | Paloma Travel

Your Checklist

Documents, health, clothing, kids and port day.

0 of 0 packed

Documents

Rules below are quoted from two government pages, checked 12 October 2026. Your cruise line can ask for more, so read its page too.

Passport book for every traveler
State Department: strongly recommends all cruise passengers travel with a passport book, in case you need to fly home because of an emergency. Source, checked 12 October 2026.
Original or certified birth certificate, if you are on a closed-loop cruise without a passport
CBP: U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port) can enter the United States with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. Source, checked 12 October 2026.
Government-issued photo ID for every adult
CBP: a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID, for a closed-loop cruise. Source, checked 12 October 2026.
Proof of citizenship for each child under 16
CBP: children under the age of 16 (or under 19, if traveling with a school, religious group, or other youth group) have a simpler proof-of-citizenship rule. Source, checked 12 October 2026.

Health

Your own list, nothing here is a rule.

Prescriptions in their original bottles, plus a few extra days
Motion sickness remedy
Pain reliever and a few bandages
Sunscreen and lip balm
Hand sanitizer

Clothing

Check your line's evening dress note for the formal nights.

Daytime outfits, one per day plus a spare
Two or three evening outfits
Swimsuits, two so one can dry
Cover-up and sandals
A light jacket or sweater for the dining room and deck at night
Comfortable walking shoes

Kids

Skip the section if no one under 12 is coming.

Swim diapers or spare swimwear
A few favorite snacks
Books, cards or a tablet loaded before you leave
The comfort toy, with a plan for if it goes missing
Children's medicine from home

Port Day

A small day bag you can pack once and keep by the door.

Small day bag
Ship card and photo ID
Refillable water bottle
Hat and sunglasses
Water shoes or walking shoes, depending on the excursion
A little cash for small purchases
Back-on-board time written down, with the ship's name

Document rules: CBP and the U.S. Department of State, checked 12 October 2026.

How to Use It

Work through Documents first, since those are the items you cannot buy at the port. Everything else is my own list, built around a typical week on a cruise ship.

Data Source

Document rules come from CBP, Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and the State Department's cruise ship page. Anything we could not source to a government page is left out.

Checked on 12 October 2026.

Rules change and cruise lines can ask for more. Confirm with your line before you leave.

By Paloma Travel

Independent travel advisor

Keep Your Dates in View

Watch My Trip reminds you about final payment, passport validity and storms near your dates, with each source.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a passport for a cruise?

Not always for a closed-loop cruise, which begins and ends at the same U.S. port. CBP says U.S. citizens on one can enter the United States with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. The State Department still strongly recommends a passport book, in case you need to fly home. Both pages checked 12 October 2026.

Is my checklist saved anywhere?

Only in your own browser on this device. Nothing is sent to us, and clearing your browser data clears the list.

Why is there nothing about visas?

Entry rules differ by country and by passport, so a general list would be a guess. Check each country on your itinerary with its own government page or ask your advisor.