When it comes to packing for a cruise, it’s easy to feel like you need three suitcases just to cover the “what if” scenarios. But after years of traveling (and lost luggage), I’ve learned I’m happiest when I keep it simple.
I never travel with anything more than a carry-on and a personal bag – no matter where I’m going or how long I’ll be away. My longest cruise with just a carry-on? Fourteen days.
And yes, it worked – without feeling like I was wearing the same thing every day.
Why Packing a Carry-on for a Cruise Makes Life So Much Easier
Before I explain the how, let’s get into the why.
Beyond the obvious (not dragging a giant suitcase around or waiting in line at the airport), there are real benefits to sticking with a carry-on when you’re cruising.
First, you actually have your bag when you board. You don’t have to wait hours for porters to deliver it to your stateroom. You can head straight to the pool, change into a swimsuit, grab lunch – all without wondering when your clothes will show up.
It’s also a major stress-saver if you’re flying to meet your ship or if your vessel is delayed getting into port.
Read Also: 10 Things You’ll Wish You’d Packed for Your Cruise
Tight connections, flight delays, reroutes – if you only have a carry-on, you don’t have to worry about your luggage getting lost somewhere between you and your embarkation port. Your bag stays with you the whole way.
And, once you’re onboard, space is limited. Cruise cabins (even the bigger ones) aren’t designed for bulky, oversized luggage.
A compact carry-on is easy to tuck into the closet, leaving more room for you to actually enjoy the space and not trip over your suitcase for a week.
How I Do It
First rule: I only pack what I know I’ll wear. Not what I might wear, not what could come in handy – just what I will reach for.
Every item has to pull double or triple duty. Think dresses that can work with sneakers for daytime or sandals for dinner, and lightweight layers that can mix and match.
A big key to my packing is coordinating outfits before I pack. Every item has to match so I can wear a top with a skirt, a pair of pants, or leggings to serve as three different outfits.
I have the hardest time traveling when the weather is a mixed bag. For instance, on a recent Mediterranean cruise aboard Viking Cruises’ Viking Star, the weather varied from 50 to 70 degrees and a mix of rain and sun. On that occasion, layers were key.
Caribbean cruises are by far the easiest: swimsuits, coverups, and sun dresses. Done.
If I have to travel in cold weather, I’ll carry my coat onto the plane and use it as a blanket, stuffing gloves and a hat into my personal bag.
I also swear by packing cubes, which saves me space in my carry-on but helps me stay organized onboard. I pack by category (casual, dressy, swimsuit) so I can grab what I need without tearing apart my whole suitcase. It also makes unpacking a breeze.
Shoes are the trickiest part of my packing. I stick to three pairs, maximum, including the pair I will wear as I travel. I often wear the heaviest, bulkiest pair to keep space open in my suitcase.
Typically, I wear a comfy pair of shoes that are also stylish. I need these shoes to manage long days of walking tours and getting myself through the airport.
Then, I pack a pair of dress shoes that go with all of my evening attire. My third pair is often a pair of running shoes so I can hit the gym.
The Packing List
Here’s a basic version of what I packed for those 14 days I traveled in the Mediterranean with mixed weather:
- 3 dresses for nicer dinners in specialty restaurants (I stuck to dresses that rolled up small)
- Bottoms: I wore jeans on the plane then packed a black pair of wrinkle-free pants, a pair of cream pants, and a long black skirt so I had 4 options.
- Tops: On the plane, I wore a floral sweater under a blue sweater (I always get cold on planes anyway!) and topped it with a heavy cream-colored sweater poncho that would serve as my coat. I packed 2 light sweaters (one gray and one cream), 2 casual shirts (one cream and one orange for a pop of color), and 2 T-shirts (blue and gray) that could also be used in the gym. In all, I had 8 options and a cozy coverup.
- I packed two thin leggings (one black, in case I wanted another pair of pants) and two sports bras for workouts, planning to wash them often, even if just in the sink.
- I also packed a swimsuit, coverup, and a week’s worth of under garments and socks.
- Additionally, I packed a lightweight scarf, a rain hat, a sunhat that rolls up, and a crossbody bag for shore excursions.
- I wore waterproof walking shoes, packed a pair of black dress shoes, and a pair of running shoes.
- I wore minimal jewelry, and I packed a toiletries kit using refillable small containers that I placed into my personal bag, along with my laptop, my iPad, my noise-cancelling headphones, a kit filled with chargers and adapters, my cell phone, my wallet, and my passport.
Note that all the items I packed were color-coordinated and could be mixed and matched so my four bottom options could combine with my eight tops to create a multitude of outfits that didn’t ever repeat.
During our sea day, halfway through the cruise, I was up bright and early to use the washer and dryers provided on Viking’s vessel. I also did my laundry again on the last day, just so I didn’t have to pack dirty clothes.
What I Use
For the record, and without any sponsorship, my carry-on of choice is a hard-shell Carry-on Plus bag by Mono with a matching Metro Weekender as my personal bag. I travel so often that I made an investment in my luggage.
I also use Mono’s packing cubes designed to fit perfectly into the case, and the Weekender bag fits right onto the carry-on and is held in place by the luggage handle.
Both are easy to wheel through crowded airports and down the aisle of a plane, and the Weekender fits under the seat on the plane. They also meet airline carry-on requirements and my weight was right on par.
