Documents and money
- Passport, plus any visas or travel authorisations your route needs (see our entry rules guide).
- Cruise booking confirmation, boarding documents and luggage tags.
- Travel insurance details and an emergency contact list.
- A credit or debit card for your onboard account, and a little local currency for ports.
Your embarkation-day bag
Your main luggage may not reach your cabin until later in the day, so carry a small bag with:
- Documents and any medication.
- Swimwear, sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Phone, charger and a change of clothes.
Clothes for the ship and the ports
- Check your cruise line’s dress code. Some have formal or “dressy” evenings, while others are casual every night.
- Comfortable walking shoes for ports, plus sandals for deck.
- A light jacket or layers, because air conditioning and sea breezes can be cool even in the tropics.
- For Alaska, the fjords or polar voyages: warm layers, a waterproof jacket, hat and gloves.
- Modest clothing for visiting religious sites in some ports.
Useful extras
- Seasickness remedies, even if you don’t expect to need them.
- A reusable water bottle and a small backpack for port days.
- Binoculars for scenic and wildlife cruising.
- A non-surge-protected multi-socket or USB charger if your line allows one, since cabins can have few sockets.
Items cruise lines commonly ban
Each line publishes its own list, so always check it. Commonly prohibited items include clothes irons and steamers, candles, surge-protected extension leads, weapons, drones (or limits on their use) and, on many lines, your own alcohol beyond any stated allowance.
Last updated: 13 October 2026
