Disney Cruise Packing List

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Can someone please explain to me why I’ve been to over 35 countries, spent two weeks in Europe with a backpack, yet packing for a cruise was almost my undoing? I recently took a four-night Disney Cruise with one sea day and stops at Disney’s two private destinations and I overpacked like a travel noob. I’m sharing my lessons learned so that you don’t make the same mistakes on your Disney Cruise (or any cruise!)

I think part of the reason that I went nuts packing for this trip is that I wasn’t flying anywhere, so I didn’t have to be concerned with airline luggage weight restrictions. Does that mean I had to bring my largest suitcase? No, no it does not. Spoiler alert: I did anyway. 

Keep in mind that you also won’t be able to get into your stateroom right away, so in theory, you could also be lugging your carry-on around for a couple of hours. With that in mind, I kept my carry-on as light as possible, while still packing all the essentials.

If you’re going to be using a MagicBand+ as your room key (instead of the plastic keycard) I’d suggest wearing that when you board the ship so it’s easily accessible when your stateroom is ready.

One thing that could add extra weight to your carry-on is alcohol. Disney Cruise Line allows guests 21+ to bring two bottles of wine or a six-pack of beer on board at the beginning of the voyage, however, this must be carried aboard in your carry-on, NOT in your checked bag. Be sure to check with your cruise line at the time of sailing for their current guidelines.

For my carry-on, I used my Day Tripper Bag from Aloha Collection, a splash-proof tote that doubled as my beach bag.

Clothing

In terms of clothes, Disney Cruise Line is fairly casual. Even dinners require only “cruise casual” which simply means no swimwear or tank tops. However, if you’re dining at any of the adults-only restaurants like Palo or Remy, these have specific dress codes that require dressier attire, so plan and pack accordingly.

Let’s start with daytime attire. For me, this was shorts, t-shirts, and sneakers mixed with bathing suits, cover-ups, and flip-flops. This was the main area where I overpacked. We had two beach days (Castaway Cay and Lighthouse Point) and I packed shorts and a tee for both days when my bathing suit and beach cover-up would have sufficed.

Depending on what excursions you choose to do, you may need specific attire, so be sure to keep that in mind when packing. For me, sneakers are a must when doing a lot of walking and they did double duty in the morning when I hit the gym before breakfast. You’ll also want to pack sneakers if you do the Castaway Cay 5k, which I ended up not doing because honestly the heat just got the best of me.

We had brunch at Palo and four dinners on board, so I packed three casual dresses and a comfortable pair of sandals that matched them all. I rotated between the dresses and it worked out perfectly. I could have even done two dresses and been fine, but I’m clumsy and didn’t want to end up with a single dress if I spilled something on myself. The key points here are first, if you’re packing dresses, pick dresses that you can use the same pair of shoes for, and second, no one cares if you re-wear things!

Many Disney Cruises have Pirate Night and guests, myself included, frequently choose to dress for the occasion! In my case, it was a pirate-themed t-shirt paired with a basic black skirt, but there were guests on the ship who gave Captain Jack Sparrow a run for the money! So if your ship is having Pirate Night and you’re feeling festive, bring a fun costume to get into the spirit!

Lastly, I packed a light cardigan that I never ended up using. I thought I might be chilly at dinner or in the theater during one of the shows, but I never had an issue. That being said, I’ve reached a point in my life where I’m hot more often than not, so your mileage may vary.

Then you’ll want socks, undies, and pajamas to round out your cruise wardrobe. I packed two sets of PJs and alternated them and a set of socks and undies for each day (none of this “just in case” mentality for me when it comes to undies!)

Toiletries

In your stateroom Disney Cruise Line provides hand soap and lotion at the sink and shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the shower. They’re decent products, but if you’re particular, pack your own. Beyond that, the two most important toiletries I packed were sunscreen and deodorant. The sun was strong and temperatures were high, so these are essential. 

Pack the standards – toothbrush and paste (plus mouthwash and floss if that’s your thing), shaving needs, comb and/or brush, face wash, etc. Pack makeup if that’s your thing, but no one will judge you if you’re not wearing a full face on the ship.

I carry a pretty standard batch of over-the-counter medicines when I travel that includes: Lactaid, Immodium, Advil, Zyrtec for allergies, Sudafed, and Excedrin Migraine. For cruising I add Dramamine and Motion Sickness bands, though I have thankfully never needed to use them (knock wood).

Note that while you can purchase many of these items on the ship (or in port, depending on your itinerary), you will pay a premium price if you do, so save your cash and pack smart.

Miscellaneous

As with every trip I take, I find that there are a few miscellaneous items I add to my bag, some necessary and some not-so-necessary.

In the necessary category: electrolytes. As previously mentioned, we had two beach days and it was hot and sunny and I don’t handle the heat like I used to. My favorite electrolytes are Liquid I.V.’s Passion Fruit flavor and the small packets are easy to mix into a bottle of water. They were a lifesaver in keeping me hydrated!

In the unnecessary, but fun category is the travel version of Pass the Pigs. Though I was solo in my cabin, I was traveling with friends and this silly game is super portable and is a fun way to pass the time. Not that we needed it on a Disney Cruise because there were so many activities that we couldn’t even fit in everything we wanted to do! Another fun item I packed is these travel sand pails and shovels for my friend’s three-year-old twins. They were a huge hit for the beach days and packed down fairly small so they were easily able to fly home with them.

In my pre-trip research, so many people suggested packing magnetic hooks to use in your stateroom for organization (the walls are often metal on cruise ships) but as a solo traveler, I had ample storage and no need to use the hooks I packed. Your mileage may vary!

What’s Not Allowed on Board

Last but not least, it’s important to check with your cruise line regarding items that are not allowed on board. Drugs and weapons are obvious ones, but there are several other items disallowed for safety reasons. This includes things like irons, steamers, heating pads, drones, extension cords, and drones. 

Conclusion

With this cruise under my belt and these lessons learned, I now feel far more confident in my ability to pack smarter (and lighter) for upcoming cruises (and I hope you do, too!) 

On my radar for upcoming cruises: a Virgin Voyages cruise and an Alaskan cruise! If you have any cruise packing tips or tricks to share for an Alaskan cruise, I’d love to hear them! Hop over to Instagram and send me a DM!

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