A cruise packing list built for your ship and your ports
Cruises have their own packing rules: dress codes for formal nights, items the cruise line bans, a carry-on for embarkation day before your suitcase arrives, and very different ports. Tell your agent your ship and itinerary and it checks the line's rules and the port weather, then makes your list.
The prompt
- Make a cruise packing list for my [CRUISE LINE] cruise on [SHIP] from [DATES], visiting [PORTS]. It's for [WHO]. Check the cruise line's dress code, its list of banned items and luggage rules, and the weather forecast for each port. Plan outfits for [NUMBER OF FORMAL NIGHTS] formal or dressy nights, sea days and our shore excursions ([EXCURSIONS]). Split the list into: embarkation-day carry-on, suitcase, documents, health and sea sickness, and port-day bag. Mark anything the cruise line doesn't allow. Give me a printable PDF checklist and send the "don't forget" list to me on WhatsApp the evening before departure.
What to change
- [CRUISE LINE]: E.g. "Royal Caribbean", "MSC", "Norwegian".
- [SHIP]: The ship name, if you know it. Some rules and dress codes differ by ship.
- [DATES]: E.g. "January 18–25".
- [PORTS]: E.g. "Cozumel, Roatán and Costa Maya" or "Bergen and the Norwegian fjords".
- [WHO]: E.g. "a couple in our 60s", "a family with a toddler", "4 friends".
- [NUMBER OF FORMAL NIGHTS]: E.g. "2". Write "check" and the agent looks it up for your cruise.
- [EXCURSIONS]: E.g. "snorkeling, Mayan ruins, a beach club". Write "not decided" if you don't know yet.
Example result
- Cruise packing list: Western Caribbean, January 18–25
- Couple in their 60s · 7 nights · ports: Cozumel, Roatán, Costa Maya · 2 dressy nights · snorkeling, Mayan ruins
- Port weather: 26–29 °C, short tropical showers possible
- Embarkation-day carry-on
- Your suitcase may reach the cabin late in the afternoon.
- • [ ] Passports, cruise documents, boarding pass in the cruise app
- • [ ] Medicines for the whole week (never in the checked bag)
- • [ ] Swimsuits, sunscreen, sunglasses, a change of clothes
- • [ ] Phone charger and any valuables
- Suitcase
- • [ ] Dressy nights (x2): cocktail dress or smart dress; suit or blazer with dress pants
- • [ ] Smart-casual dinner outfits for 5 nights
- • [ ] Shorts, light tops, sundresses for sea and port days
- • [ ] Light sweater or wrap: restaurants and theaters are air-conditioned
- • [ ] Water shoes for snorkeling, sandals, walking shoes for the ruins
- • [ ] Hats, rash guard or swim shirt
- • [ ] Magnetic hooks (cabin walls are metal) and a small over-the-door organizer
- • [ ] Non-surge travel power strip if the cruise line allows it; many lines ban surge protectors
- Documents
- • [ ] Passports valid well beyond the return date
- • [ ] Printed copy of your cruise and travel insurance details
- • [ ] Credit card for the onboard account, some small notes for port tips
- Health and seasickness
- • [ ] Seasickness tablets or bands (ask your doctor or pharmacist what suits you)
- • [ ] Reef-safe sunscreen, after-sun, insect repellent for Roatán
- • [ ] Hand sanitizer, small first-aid kit
- Port-day bag
- • [ ] Ship card and photo ID
- • [ ] Dry bag, towel, reef-safe sunscreen, water bottle
- • [ ] Cash in small notes, phone in a waterproof pouch
- Not allowed on most lines (check yours)
- • Clothes irons and steamers, candles, surge-protector power strips, drones without permission, and your own alcohol beyond the line's allowance
- The evening before
- • [ ] Luggage tags printed and attached
- • [ ] Medicines and documents in the carry-on
- • [ ] Check-in done in the cruise app
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and add your cruise line, ship, dates, ports and excursions.
- Paste it in todo.is on the Today screen, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp.
- Get a printable PDF split into carry-on, suitcase, documents, health and port-day bag.
- The evening before you sail, a "don't forget" list arrives on WhatsApp.
Tips for a better result
- Put medicines, documents and swimwear in your carry-on. Suitcases can take hours to reach the cabin.
- Check your cruise line's banned items page: irons and surge-protector power strips are the most common surprises.
- Pack one light layer for dinner. Ships are cold inside even in the Caribbean.
- Ask the agent for excursion-specific items, like a dry bag for snorkeling or covered shoulders for religious sites.
cruise packing list: FAQ
- What should you not pack for a cruise? Most lines ban irons and steamers, candles, surge-protector power strips and weapons, and limit alcohol. Rules vary, so your agent checks your cruise line's official list.
- Do you need formal wear on a cruise? Many cruises have one or two dressy or formal nights, but the dress code is often optional. A cocktail dress or a blazer is usually enough; check your line's policy.
- What goes in a cruise embarkation-day bag? Documents, medicines, a swimsuit, sunscreen, a change of clothes and chargers. Your suitcase may arrive at the cabin hours later.
- Can I get the list for a cold-weather cruise? Yes. List ports like Alaska or Norway and the agent adds layers, waterproofs and gear for glacier and wildlife days based on the forecast.
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