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Embarking on a Disney Cruise adventure is a dream come true! To ensure you have a smooth and magical voyage, I’ve put together a comprehensive packing list of 25 essential items. From practical necessities to enchanting extras, let’s dive into what to pack so that you can have the most magical Disney cruise!
1. Travel Documents:
The number one document you will need for your Disney Cruise will be everyone’s passports. You will need these to get on the boat and to return to the boat after excursions if you are traveling to foreign countries. If you don’t have passports and are planning to get them for your cruise, make sure you start the process far in advance. It’s also good to know that getting a passport for a child is a little more in depth of a process and will take you more time. You can find everything you need to know about getting a passport here.
Disney also will send you luggage tags ahead of your cruise. Make sure you bring these with you. You will attach these tags to your luggage just before boarding the ship and this is how the Cruise staff will ensure your luggage gets to the right room. Want to make sure that your luggage tags don’t come off? Use these luggage tag holders to securely attach your tags.
You will also have QR code that they will send you and scan for your entry onto the ship. You will get a paper copy and a pdf of this code. Pro tip: Take a screenshot of each person’s QR code so that you have easy access to them on your phone. If everyone in your crew has their own phone you can even have them make their QR code their lock screen to save even more time.
2. Versatile Clothing:
Keep in mind that while DCL does offer comfortable rooms, they are not overly spacious. You will want to make the most out of the clothes that you bring. My suggestion is to take dresses that can work as both a casual day dress and then transition into something suitable for dinner. If you are like me, and your shoes have to match what you are wearing, think about packing all within one color palette. For our most recent cruise, we travelled to Europe and wanted to not check any bags so I had to really streamline my wardrobe. I did this by keeping my casual wear all in the black and white color palette, packing dress shoes that were a neutral color that would go with all of my dresses and taking multiple dresses that I could wear with casual sandals when we were out sightseeing or add heels and jewelry to dress it up for dinner.
3. Sun Protection:
Don’t forget sunscreen, hats, and swim cover-ups to shield yourself from the sun. I like to travel with this hat because it rolls up and is easy to pack. If your cruise will include excursions, having a small sunscreen that you can take with you or slip on a carabiner on the outside of your bag will be critical to preventing those sunburns.
4. Backpack or beach bag
When going on a Disney cruise, you will almost always have adventures off of the ship. Cruises to Castaway Cay will mean that you will want to take all of your beach essentials with you. I recommend this mesh, drawstring bag. This bag won’t take up any room in your luggage, will make it easy to get your items to the beach and will keep you from getting your nicer bags wet or sandy.
If your cruise includes port excursions, you will want some type of bag that you can take with you for the day. You will need to be able to carry things like money, your phone, a charger, sunscreen, sunglasses etc… The size of bag you will need will depend on how many people you are traveling with. This sling bag is a nice moderately sized option or you may like this belt bag which is similar to what we used for our trip. This was a great size for two people. One key feature this belt bag has which is very important for those overseas adventures, is that is has a zipper pocket on the back side. This pocket that lies against you is the perfect place to keep passports or money so that you know they are safe.
5. Medicines you may need:
If you’re prone to motion sickness, you will want to bring medication for this or some kind of non-medicinal remedy like this wristband. Beyond any prescription medications you may need it is also good to bring some common over the counter meds you may need like Tylenol or allergy meds. If you get on board and aren’t feeling well and are in need of medications, there is a health center where you can seek treatment and the gift shop will also carry some common OTC meds.
6. Electronics:
Your cell phone is obviously a must for your trip but you should be aware that you won’t have access to Wi-Fi on the ship unless you pay extra for it. If you are wanting to watch your favorite streaming show while relaxing on the ship, you will want to download episodes ahead of time. Other electronics you might want to bring would be a camera, wireless headphones like these Apple Air Pods, an e-reader like this Kindle Paperwhite or a handheld gaming system like this Nintendo Switch. If you’re interested in taking lots of video on your sightseeing adventures or potentially vlogging about your excursion, I would highly recommend the DJI pocket series cameras. I have the DJI pocket2 and love it. It is lightweight, easy to maneuver and provides a beautiful, steady shot.
7. Extra bag:
Chances are you are going to buy souvenirs on this trip. If you’re anything like me you’ll buy way too many. Having a foldable duffle bag with you can give you a way to get those items home and you won’t have to worry about shipping things or finding a bag to buy. Full disclosure….I looked at these bags before our last trip, seriously considered buying but didn’t and then had to buy the Disney Cruise duffle bag just so I could get everything home. Don’t be like me! Buy the compact, travel friendly option ahead of time!
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8. Toiletries:
The ship will provide the basic toiletries of soap, shampoo, conditioner and lotion but beyond that you will want to make sure to bring those toiletries with you. If you are someone who is prone to sunburns, it is a good idea to bring a sunburn treatment with you as you will likely be taking in lots of rays on this trip.
9. Swimsuit Cover-Up:
Not only will you want to make sure you have a cover-up but make sure it is one you are very comfortable in. You may be walking long distances across the ship, taking a break during your pool time to eat or even stopping to see a character on your way to and from the pool. You will want to make sure that your cover-up is something you will be comfortable being seen in a lot and not just at the pool. I love this
cover-up. I always feel thoroughly covered when wearing it, it dries quickly, and it doesn’t take up much luggage space.
10. Multiple Swimsuits
Chances are you will be spending a lot of time in the pool or on a beach on this trip. No one enjoys the experience of putting on a cold, wet swimsuit! My recommendation would be to pack at least two for every person in your crew. This way you can alternate wearing them and hopefully avoid having to try to shimmy into a wet suit. Here is my favorite suit from our last trip. It was comfortable, cute, and covered enough that you can be active with the kids without fear of being revealing.
11. Disney Costumes:
The ships include a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique where your little prince or princess can get a magical makeover while you sail. This shop sells costumes, but you are also welcome to purchase your own ahead of time like this Belle costume from Amazon and save yourself some money. Even if you don’t decide to do Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, costumes can be a great thing to bring on the trip. Your little prince or princess can dress up to meet their favorite princess or if you have a pirate in your crew they will want to be decked out for the pirate party.
12. Reusable Water Bottle or mug:
On the pool deck, of the ship, you will find a drink station. Here you can get all of the water, soda or coffee you want. Having a reusable water bottle or tumbler with you will allow you to stay hydrated and be kind to the environment.
13. Sunglasses
Sunglasses are an absolute must when you are cruising! Packing backup sunglasses is another tip that I always give whether cruising or visiting the parks. Sunglasses are easily lost or broken and having to buy a replacement can be expensive when your options are limited.
14. Ziplock Bags:
Ziplock bags are a good idea to take on any vacation! These can be used to carry something wet or something that you’re afraid might leak. They can house a snack that you didn’t quite finish or they can be used to help keep track of smaller items that you want to put in a bag. I recently purchased these reusable zip top bags to keep in my Disney park bag so that I can have the convenience but not the waste. Want a full list of what’s in my park bag? Check out my Disney Park Bag Essentials article.
15. Bra strap adapters:
OK, so I may be getting into the weeds here, but I actually think this is a really valuable tip. Since most Disney cruises are taken to someplace warm, there is a decent chance you will be wearing a tank top or a tank style dress. Throwing one of these bra strap adapters in your bag will allow you to not have to bring that special t-back bra, will not take up hardly any space and will keep you from having straps hanging out of that cute shirt you’re wearing.
16. Entertainment:
You will have down time on the cruise where you are just relaxing by the pool or maybe enjoying your verandah if you have a verandah room. This is a great time to enjoy your favorite book, read a magazine or play a game. Remember you won’t have Wi-Fi unless you pay extra so taking physical items with you could be important.
17. Cruise Line App:
Download the Disney Cruise Line app for daily schedules, menus, and onboard activities. Just like the My Disney Experience app is your BFF in the parks, the cruise app will be a crucial part of your trip. One of the best features of the app is that it allows you to message other members of your crew without needing to pay for Wi-Fi or be on cellular.
18. Carabiners
Carabiners aren’t something you would necessarily think to pack for your Disney cruise but they can be very handy. Whether it’s attaching your sunscreen to your fanny pack or your water shoes to the outside of your pool bag, These easy to pack items can help save you space in your bags.
19. Hair ties
Hair ties are another must have on a cruise if you or anyone in your crew has long hair. It can get very breezy while you are sailing. To prevent tangles or being constantly beat in the face by your hair, I would always have one with you. This is my favorite type of hair tie. They don’t absorb any water and are easily removable even when your hair is wet.
20. Charging accessories
There is a good a chance that you will be using your phone a lot to take picture and videos of your trip or even watch a movie while you relax next to the pool. Doing these things can quickly run down your battery. Having a portable power bank will help keep your phone running while you are on the go. We really like this one from Anker. This charger snaps right on to the back of a Mag Safe case so you don’t have to stop to charge.
If you are an Apple device user, you may want to invest in this charging station. With this one device you can charge your phone, AirPods and Apple Watch. We love traveling with this charging station because it folds into a compact shape about the size of a deck of cards and you only need one cord.
21. Beach Shoes:
If your cruise will include a stop at the beach, you may want to throw a pair of water shoes in the suitcase for everyone to protect your feet from the hot sand or sharp objects in the ocean. Even if you aren’t going to the beach make sure you pack shoes to wear back and forth to the pool like these Crocs. My hubby thought he would save room in the suitcase on our last trip and not pack these and we ended up buying him Mickey crocs on the boat so that he had something to wear to the pool and at the spa.
22. Travel Laundry Detergent:
If you are on a longer cruise, there’s a good chance you will want to do laundry on the ship. On our recent 7 night sailing I did laundry once. Knowing we could do laundry on the ship saved us from overpacking and it felt really nice to have all clean clothes again. There is laundry detergent available for purchase on the ship but if you don’t want to pay the higher prices or if you have someone in your crew with sensitive skin, throwing a few travel packs of laundry detergent could be a good idea.
23. Laundry bag
A mesh laundry bag is another one of my travel staples. I take one of these on almost every trip we go on. These bags will allow you to keep dirty clothes all in one place, to easily take them to the ship’s laundry and it won’t take up any room in your luggage. It is also nice to throw any remaining dirty laundry in one of these before you pack up to go home and that way when you get home you know exactly what laundry you need to do. Laundry detergent sheets are another great staple for cruising. These take up basically no room in your bag and will save you the cost of the detergent on the ship.
24. Lanyards:
Let me just say you are benefitting from my mistake with this one! We did not take lanyards on our first cruise, and I had serious regrets. Especially as a woman, whose clothes are less likely to have pockets, I really found that a lanyard would have been handy so that I didn’t have to always carry a bag. I’ll definitely be throwing a cute Disney lanyard in my bag for our next cruise!
25. Towel Bands:
If you are planning on spending much time on the pool deck you will want to pack some towel bands. It is likely to be pretty windy at times on the upper decks of the ship and using these bands will keep your towel in place so that your chair stays reserved while you are out enjoying the water.
With this comprehensive packing list, you’ll be fully prepared for the adventure of a lifetime on your Disney cruise. Hopefully sharing this list will help make your trip planning easier and take some of your stress away. Bon voyage and happy sailing!
Have more questions about cruising? Don’t have a cruise planned but want to explore it? Drop a comment below or shoot me a message. I’d love to help more with your magical vacation planning!
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