A cruise packing list is almost the same as the one for any overseas trip. Only three things are different: some items are banned by ship rules, such as extension cords and irons, and the rules vary from one cruise line to another; passport validity is counted from the day the cruise ends; and at sea your phone can connect to maritime roaming and run up unexpected charges. This guide uses official material from four cruise lines and warnings from a mobile carrier to show how to prepare so nothing catches you out on board.
In port you can use land-based mobile networks, so installing a travel eSIM before you leave means maps and messaging work as soon as you step ashore. Pick a plan for the countries on your itinerary from all Coral eSIM destinations.
Start your cruise packing list with what the ship's rules decide
If you forget clothes or toiletries, you can often buy them in port or in the ship's shops. The following three, however, cannot be fixed once you are on board.
- Prohibited items: anything the ship judges hazardous is held and returned only on the last day of the cruise (Princess Cruises)
- Boarding documents: even on a cruise from your home port, missing documents mean no boarding and no refund
- Phone settings: connecting to an unintended network at sea is charged outside your flat-rate plan
What you cannot bring on a cruise depends on the cruise line
Extension cords and power strips: some lines ban them all, others ban only surge-protected ones
Extension cords are where cruise packing advice differs the most. Royal Caribbean prohibits extension cords, power strips and multi-plug outlets altogether. Princess Cruises and Holland America Line, by contrast, prohibit power strips and extension cords that have surge protectors. Princess says strips and cords without surge protectors are allowed when used with proper caution, and that anything the onboard electrical department judges hazardous is removed and returned on the last day.
If you want to charge several devices, check your own cruise line's prohibited items list before packing an extension cord. For medical equipment such as a CPAP machine or oxygen concentrator, Princess Cruises lists these among cases that must be declared at least 100 days before sailing.
Irons, hair straighteners and other heat-producing appliances
Clothing irons are banned by Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean and Asuka Cruise alike. On Princess ships and Asuka II, irons are provided in the guest laundry.
Hair tools are treated differently. Royal Caribbean allows curling and flat irons for personal use, but Asuka II refuses heat-producing devices including clothing irons, hair irons, hair dryers other than the one provided, electric heaters and hot plates. Candles and incense are prohibited by Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Asuka II.
Drones, knives and alcohol
- Drones: prohibited by Princess Cruises and Holland America Line.
- Knives: Asuka II refuses blades over 6 cm and scissors over 8 cm; Royal Caribbean refuses knives and scissors over 4 inches.
- Alcohol: on Diamond Princess cruises from Japan, guests aged 20 or over may bring one bottle of wine or champagne (750 ml or less) per voyage, at the embarkation port only. Alcohol bought in ports of call is held at the gangway and returned at the end of the cruise.
Cruise cabin outlets and what to pack for charging
According to the Diamond Princess answer book for cruises from Japan, cabin power is 110 volts, 60 hertz, with two flat-pin sockets (the Japanese type) or the grounded North American type. Devices that do not switch voltage automatically need a transformer, which the ship does not provide, so bring your own. Some cabins have USB ports on the bedside lamp (not all cabins). Princess's English FAQ adds that removing your keycard may cut power to the cabin.
For power banks and other lithium-ion products, Asuka Cruise says undamaged, unswollen items may be brought on board but cannot go in checked luggage, and should be charged where you can keep an eye on them. If you fly to the embarkation port, airline power bank rules also apply; see our Europe packing list for the in-flight rules.
Cruise boarding documents: count passport validity from the end of the cruise
Princess Cruises requires your passport to be valid for at least six months after the cruise ends. Count from the day you disembark, not the day you depart. Princess also asks you to check that the passport name matches your booking and that there are blank pages for entry and exit stamps and visas.
Diamond Princess cruises from Japan are treated as international travel, so you cannot board without your original passport at check-in. A copy is not enough. Princess also asks each guest to bring two copies of the photo page, and a copy may be requested when you go ashore, even at Japanese ports.
Whether you need a visa depends on the ports of call and your nationality, and checking is the passenger's responsibility. If you cannot board because of missing documents, there is no refund. For Japanese passport holders, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that required validity differs by country and should be confirmed with the destination's embassy or consulate; a passport with less than a year left can be renewed, including online.
Even for domestic cruises, Asuka II lists the boarding ticket, photo ID and a health questionnaire among the items to carry on boarding day.
Cruise clothes and toiletries: pack what the ship does not provide
Dress code
Princess Cruises has two evening dress codes: smart casual and formal. Formal nights are planned once on cruises of six nights or fewer, twice on 7 to 13 nights, and three times on 14 nights or more.
Things the ship does not provide
- Pajamas: not provided in Diamond Princess cabins.
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, razor and comb: not provided on Diamond Princess.
- Rain gear: neither Princess nor Asuka II lends umbrellas or raincoats.
- A layer to wear: Diamond Princess keeps the ship at around 20 degrees Celsius.
Medicine and money
Princess Cruises recommends bringing at least 14 days of spare medication on top of the cruise length, and an English prescription or doctor's note if you have a medical condition. Seasickness tablets are sold on board, but they are foreign-made.
On Diamond Princess, onboard spending is in US dollars: you register a credit card in the app before boarding and settle the account at disembarkation. Prepaid cards and traveler's cheques are not accepted.
Phone on a cruise: set up for the sea before you board
The Princess answer book warns that while sailing or docked, connecting to a domestic "maritime roaming service" or a coastal country's roaming network is charged completely differently from your home plan and can lead to a large bill. Networks you connect to on the ship are not covered by domestic or international unlimited plans either. It therefore asks guests to turn roaming off or switch airplane mode on in and near the ship.
Japanese carrier NTT Docomo likewise warns that leaving the network selection on "automatic" in coastal areas or on ships can trigger international or maritime roaming charges that may become expensive. To use ship Wi-Fi, switch airplane mode on and then turn only Wi-Fi back on.
In port, land networks are available. Install your travel eSIM at home, and when you reach port, turn off airplane mode and confirm the eSIM line has connected to a local carrier before using it. For how to split sea days and port days and how to choose an eSIM by route, see using an eSIM on a cruise; for roaming and mobile data settings in detail, see essential phone settings abroad. Installation steps are in how to set up an eSIM for travel.
Cruise embarkation day: what to keep in your carry-on
Suitcases handed over at the terminal take time to reach your cabin. Princess Cruises asks guests to keep the following in hand luggage.
- Original passport, copies, visas and other documents
- Valuables and electronics such as laptops and cameras
- Regular medication
- A change of clothes for one night and toiletries you need right after boarding
- Any wine or champagne you are bringing (it may be disposed of if found in checked bags)
On Asuka Cruise, power banks cannot go in checked luggage either.
Cruise packing: frequently asked questions
Can I bring an extension cord on a cruise?
It depends on the cruise line. Royal Caribbean bans all extension cords and power strips. Princess Cruises and Holland America Line ban those with surge protectors, and Princess allows ones without surge protectors when used with proper caution. Check your cruise line's prohibited items list.
Can I bring a hair straightener or hair dryer?
This also varies. Royal Caribbean allows personal hair irons, while Asuka II does not allow hair irons or hair dryers other than the one provided. Clothing irons are banned by all four lines checked; use the irons in the onboard laundry.
How much passport validity do I need?
Princess Cruises requires at least six months of validity after the cruise ends. Required validity differs by country, so check the rules for each port of call too. Even on cruises from Japan, you need your original passport when international ports are included.
Can I use my phone normally on the ship?
It is not recommended. At sea your phone may connect to maritime or coastal roaming, which is charged outside unlimited plans. On board, turn roaming off or use airplane mode, use ship Wi-Fi for internet, and switch to a travel eSIM in port.
Can I bring a power bank on a cruise?
Asuka Cruise allows undamaged, unswollen power banks. They cannot go in checked luggage, and you should charge them where you can see them. If you are flying, check the airline's rules as well.
Check your own cruise line's prohibited items list as the last step of packing
What really differs on a cruise packing list are items whose status depends on the cruise line, like extension cords and hair irons, passport validity counted from the end of the cruise, and phone settings at sea. As the last step of packing, read your cruise line's prohibited items list and document guidance, and confirm your airplane mode and roaming settings. Do that, and there is little left to go wrong once you are on board.
For connectivity in port, choose a plan for the countries you will visit from all Coral eSIM destinations before you leave.
