When it comes to traveling with a young child, there are countless considerations that go into the planning process
Among the most essential parts is the packing list, which can make or break your family trip. Depending on where you are traveling, this list may vary, as some destinations will offer easy access to certain items, while others might require you to bring everything yourself.
However, when cruising, it is vital to pack anything and everything you might need over the course of your vacation, as cruise ships rarely carry baby and toddler items on board for purchase. While you might find what you need at a port of call, this isn’t always a guarantee, and tracking down essentials could disrupt your plans or your child’s comfort. As a result, it’s best to pack in abundance and prepare for all scenarios, so you don’t find yourself scrambling for supplies mid-cruise.
Recently, I embarked on a 7-night cruise with my 6-month-old baby and, after some trial and error, am confident that I perfected her packing list. Here is everything I packed, along with what I recommend for anyone planning to cruise with a baby or toddler.
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Cruise clothing must-haves for a baby
Naturally, the most important item for a cruiser of any age is clothing! Your child’s age, habits, and needs will help determine how many outfits you might need for your cruise.
For our baby, we planned two outfits per day, with an additional three extra outfits as a buffer. We used almost every single outfit due to mealtime messes and the occasional diaper mishap. To ensure nighttime comfort, we packed pajamas for each night, totaling eight, which included one for our night at the pre-cruise hotel.
Since we were heading to the warm Caribbean, and our ship had a Baby Splash Zone, we brought three long-sleeved swimsuits with built-in UV protection. Keeping our baby’s sensitive skin protected from the sun was a priority, so we also packed three sunhats to swap out as needed.
Read more: I took my 6-month-old on a cruise. This is the best ship for a baby, and I want to go on one again
Having more than one hat was helpful since one inevitably ended up damp or sandy after beach outings. For older toddlers who are walking, be sure to pack comfortable shoes, as cruise ships involve a fair amount of walking. If you’re planning for beach or pool time, consider swim shoes to protect their feet from hot sand or poolside surfaces.
To help preserve her clothing, we packed five bibs, as she’s currently in a heavy drooling phase, and we hoped they’d catch any spit-ups before they reached her outfit.
Alongside the bibs, we included a selection of bows and headbands to accessorize. We also packed six burp rags, which proved invaluable for quick cleanups and saved us in many messy moments. These were particularly useful when kept in our diaper bag and stroller for easy access.
You will also want to look ahead in your cruiser planner before sailing to see if there are any theme nights you would like to participate in. Some typical themes you may find are White Night, Caribbean Night, Formal Night, and more.
However, you may also have more specific themes depending on when you sail. We cruised over Halloween, which meant we also had to pack our costumes to dress up while onboard.
Sleeping arrangements
Living within driving distance of the port made it convenient to bring our own pack-and-play. I highly recommend the Guava Lotus Travel Crib if you’re in the market for a travel crib. It’s incredibly easy to assemble, folds down small, and comes with a durable carrying case. This fit perfectly in our large suitcase, making it easy to transport.
Most cruise lines offer a pack-and-play if you request one, and they’ll bring it to your cabin. However, reviews on these cribs are mixed—some receive full-sized cribs, while others get mini versions, and the condition can vary.
Because of this uncertainty, we chose to bring our own pack-and-play, especially since we’d planned to pack our own crib sheets, which might not fit a mini crib. This decision gave us peace of mind, knowing she’d be comfortable and in a familiar sleep environment.
If you’re traveling with an older child who isn’t ready for a bed or pull-out sofa, inflatable toddler beds or bed rails are portable and work well for cruises. Certain inflatable toddler beds also fit under the blackout tents, which are a must-have for creating a separate, dark space for your child in the room.
Speaking of, one item I consider essential when sharing a room with a small child is a blackout tent. While there are many options available, we opted for the more affordable Hiccapop Black Out Tent, which worked perfectly for our needs. Not only did it take up minimal suitcase space, but it also helped us create a separate “room” for her.
We could leave our cabin lights on while she napped, and our travel sound machine in the tent helped block out noises from the hallways. For parents of older children sleeping on the pull-out sofa, another option is using blackout curtains and metal hooks to create a temporary “room” around their sleep area.
In addition to the tent, we brought two sleep sacks, which our baby sleeps in each night. This familiar item helped create a sense of routine for her, which was essential in the new environment of a cruise cabin.
Everyday essentials to pack
As mentioned, you won’t find baby supplies like diapers and wipes for sale on most ships. This means you’ll need to bring enough diapers and wipes to cover the entire trip. To avoid running out or facing high costs, be prepared with plenty. As a point of reference, we found wipes in port at Roatan for $10—much more than what we pay at home!
One great tip is to use an empty diaper box as storage. We filled it with diapers, wipes, and other essentials, taped it back up, added a luggage tag, and it was delivered directly to our stateroom—just like our suitcases. This saved space in our main bags and kept everything organized.
When it comes to swim diapers, pack enough for each pool or beach day you have planned, especially if your ship has a Baby Splash Zone. Swim diapers aren’t allowed in regular pools onboard, but these splash areas are a great alternative and perfect for young ones.
For formula-feeding parents, it’s wise to bring more than you think you’ll need. We carried ours in our carry-on bag to avoid issues during embarkation and packed an extra can just in case.
For added convenience, you can email [email protected] about a month or two before your cruise to request distilled water in your cabin. Though ours wasn’t there when we first arrived, our stateroom attendant quickly brought it to us, and it was refilled as needed. This saved us from packing large water bottles for formula preparation.
We packed enough bottles and a compact bottle-cleaning kit, which has been a game changer. This kit includes a drying rack, cleaning brushes, and a soap container, all in a small case. It made keeping bottles clean on the go incredibly easy.
If you’re breastfeeding and need to store milk, request a medical-grade refrigerator, as the cabin coolers won’t keep milk at a safe temperature.
For pumping, an extension cord might be necessary since most ships lack conveniently placed outlets. You can request this via the stateroom form emailed shortly before your trip. You can always ask your cabin steward once onboard, too.
For parents deciding whether to bring a stroller, I’d recommend opting for a lightweight travel stroller over an everyday one. Cruise ship hallways can be narrow, especially when cleaning carts or suitcases are out. Our travel stroller was easy to fold, lightweight, and perfect for navigating the ship’s halls. Additionally, it had a decent compartment underneath, which proved useful for holding essentials.
Medications and toiletries
Another critical category is over-the-counter and prescription medication. While this applies to travelers of all ages, it’s especially important for babies and toddlers, as finding infant medications on board is unlikely. We packed infant Tylenol, gas relief drops, teething tablets, infant Benadryl, and baby cough syrup, just in case. These items take up minimal space, and having them gave us peace of mind.
Along with diapers and clothing, another must-pack item is sunscreen. While you can often find sunscreen available onboard, the ship’s shops aren’t always open when you might need them, and the prices can be quite steep. For example, sunscreen at Perfect Day at CocoCay costs $35 for a single bottle.
We took extra care to bring sunscreen specifically suited for our baby’s sensitive skin. For her, we opted for an infant-friendly formula gentle enough to use multiple times throughout the day. For ourselves, we packed our usual spray sunscreen, which saved us both money and time during our vacation. Having our preferred brands on hand gave us peace of mind and kept everyone protected from the strong sun at sea and in port.
Read more: How to make your own DIY cruise first aid kit
One item we discovered to be invaluable was Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater spray. We use this spray at home to keep her clothes looking fresh, and it proved just as essential during our cruise. With a baby, spills are inevitable, especially when trying new foods and snacks onboard. We found ourselves reaching for the stain remover frequently, and it easily handled the daily messes.
Along with the stain remover, we packed a few packs of SinkSuds, anticipating that we might need to wash a few items in our cabin sink. As it turned out, we had a couple of accidents and needed to wash clothes more than once. The SinkSuds worked remarkably well in the small bathroom sink, helping us keep her clothes fresh even without access to a washing machine.
An inflatable tub was another must-have item that made our cruise experience much smoother. If you’re in a standard cabin, you will have just a shower and no tub, which can make bathtime tricky with a young child. Some parents may be comfortable showering with their little ones, but for us, it quickly became clear that our baby’s slippery spaghetti noodle antics made it challenging to keep her safe in the shower.
The inflatable tub fit perfectly inside the shower stall, giving her a safe space to enjoy a bath without the chaos of managing her in the shower. Beyond bathtime, this tub also served as a cozy, contained play space.
We often set it up on the balcony, allowing her to sit safely while enjoying the views, or we’d use it inside the cabin to keep her occupied for a few minutes.
The best part? It packs down almost flat, making it easy to store in a suitcase. I would recommend this for anyone traveling with a baby or young child who still needs a tub.
Extras we found surprisingly useful
Since our baby had only recently started trying solid foods, we decided to pack a few pureed pouches to make sure she’d have familiar options available. While the ship’s dining areas offered plenty of fruits, vegetables, and even some meats she could nibble on, having her favorite purees on hand gave us peace of mind.
If you’re traveling with a toddler with specific food preferences, bringing a few of their favorite snacks can be a smart move, as it can be hard to find familiar items onboard. That said, the kids’ menus and options were impressive, and the crew went out of their way to accommodate requests when possible.
Along that note, disposable bibs were another fantastic addition. Babies can be messy eaters, and it’s not always possible to rinse out reusable bibs quickly between meals. Disposable bibs pack down incredibly small, and it was a relief not to have to worry about cleaning them after each use.
In fact, we’ve added a few to our regular diaper bag for everyday use, since they’re so convenient in situations where we don’t have immediate access to a sink or washing facilities.
Disinfecting wipes was another essential item for us. Our baby is in a phase where everything she can reach goes straight to her mouth, and being able to sanitize surfaces like high chair trays and other communal items helped us keep things clean and safe for her. Having these wipes within reach was a huge help, as we didn’t always know when items had been last cleaned.
We also brought a packable swim float, which became a go-to item for days spent at the beach. As I mentioned earlier, when wet, our baby turns into a slippery noodle, making it hard to hold onto her safely. The swim float not only gave her a safe spot to enjoy the ocean on port days but also came with a canopy that provided shade from the sun.
It even had a few attached toys that kept her happily occupied while we relaxed. This float was compact enough to fit in our luggage and took only seconds to inflate, making it a wonderful choice for a beach or pool day.
For anyone cruising with young children, I’d highly recommend bringing a rechargeable stroller fan. Living in Florida, we always have one on hand, but it proved especially useful on the cruise. It clipped to the edge of our stroller and kept her cool during warm port days, while fellow passengers often remarked how they wished they’d brought one too. Even on the ship, this fan came in handy in the sunniest areas.
While some might not see the need for this next item, small waste bags were absolutely essential for us. We keep these in our diaper bag anyway, but they were especially useful in the small cruise cabin. Since rooms are typically serviced once a day, used diapers can quickly start to smell in confined spaces. These bags helped contain odors and kept the trash clean, making for a more pleasant environment throughout our stay.
Read more: I went on a cruise with my baby and used the babysitting service multiple times. It was the best thing ever for parents
One of the most recommended items for family cruises is an over-the-door shoe rack, and while I was skeptical at first, it turned out to be incredibly useful. Babies and toddlers require a surprising amount of supplies, and cruise cabins are notoriously short on space and storage options.
We used this shoe rack to organize her clothes, wipes, burp cloths, and toys, keeping all her commonly used items in one convenient spot. Having easy access to these essentials saved us time and hassle, especially when getting her ready for outings or mealtimes.
Another item that proved to be helpful was a pop-up hamper. While this is a good addition for any cruiser, it was invaluable with a baby onboard, as we went through multiple outfits each day. The hamper kept our cabin organized, and when it was time to pack up, it folded neatly into our suitcase.
Read more: 30 cruise cabin hacks that cruisers love
What to leave behind
One tip we picked up before our cruise was to take advantage of the Adventure Ocean Babies program, which some ships offer as a convenient onboard daycare service. If your cruise includes this option, you can safely skip packing extra toys, as they provide a variety of play options that you can rent out throughout the week.
The daycare has a catalog of different toy bags designed to keep young ones entertained, and you can even swap them out mid-cruise if your child needs a change. This saved us a lot of space and effort!
For instance, they had a light-up piano that kept our little one engaged—something we would never have considered packing ourselves. So, if you’re on a ship with this service, you can travel lighter knowing there will be fun, safe toys waiting for your child.
Packing takeaways and tips
At the end of our cruise, my husband and I went through all the items we’d packed to determine what we’d bring again and what we could skip next time. While we initially packed more than we probably needed, we found we used nearly every item, which felt like a packing success!
After a bit of reflection, we decided we could reduce some of our clothing options, especially since we dined casually in the Windjammer buffet more often than we’d anticipated. Packing fewer dressier outfits and adding more comfortable daywear would have suited our actual cruise experience better.
The inflatable swim float is another item we’d bring again, though it may not be necessary for every family. It’s ideal for infants but only for children up to about 12 months, so families with toddlers may find it less useful.
We’d also likely skip packing our own pureed foods in the future. With more confidence that we could find suitable food onboard, especially as our daughter continues to try more foods, we realized the ship’s offerings were more than adequate for her needs.
Another item that may not be necessary was bringing our own pack-and-play, which significantly increased our luggage load. Since we were within driving distance of the port and didn’t have to worry about flight weight restrictions, bringing this along made sense for us.
However, if you’re flying or aiming to pack light, it’s worth considering the ship’s options. Many cruise lines offer complimentary or rentable cribs or pack-and-plays that can be prearranged, which can help lighten your load. Despite the extra bulk, the pack-and-play allowed our baby to sleep soundly in a familiar setup, so it was a worthwhile addition.
In the end, our baby essentials added up to an additional large suitcase, but it was worth it to have everything we needed at our fingertips. Packing for a cruise with a baby may feel overwhelming at first, but with each trip, you’ll get a clearer idea of what’s essential and what you can leave behind.
For us, we’re satisfied knowing that—at least for one family member—we managed to avoid overpacking while still being fully prepared for a smooth, enjoyable cruise.
