My family and I went on a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas Cruise Ship. After taking my family (including my toddler), I wanted to share what you should and should not include on your packing list.
First off – the bags. It is always a good idea to pack as light as possible. Cruises can be tricky because you need so many clothing items on a large spectrum. Fancy dresses and heels as well as flip flops and swimsuits. There is no right or wrong way to pack, but I will share my advice on how to pack efficiently for your cruise with young children.
Bags: Bring one suitcase for clothes, shoes and hygiene essentials. Bring one bag that can be used as your beach bag/diaper bag that you can take onto the beach with you and around the ship. Bring your purse. I recommend a small crossbody purse to keep your passports I.D.s, etc in.
Documents:
Passports
Birth Certificates for the kids
Photo I.D.
Clothes:
Swimsuits
Swimsuit cover-up
Casual Shorts and Tanks/Shirts
Dresses (for dinner)
Shoes:
Flip Flops
Dressy Sandals or Heels for dinner
Tennis Shoes for working out
Hygeine:
Shampoo, Conditioner and Soap (our ship only offered complimentary bar soap s don’t forget your shampoo)
Razor
Lotion
Sunscreen
Make-up
Medicines (for everything, especially if traveling with kids)
Hair Straightener or Hair gel/mousse/product
Helpful Hint: Pack hygiene items in a hang up bag so you can hang it up in your bathroom. It will save a ton of space.
Accessories:
Camera
Chargers
Hat
Sunglasses
Book
Batteries
Hair Bands
For the Kids:
Sound Machine
Favorite Stuffed Animal/Blanket
Pack n Play (some ships have cots that they offer, but I felt better taking my own bed for my son)
Snacks
Zip Lock Bags (to pack snacks in for the beach and put wet things in)
Sippy Cups or Bottles
A Couple of Toys (to play with while in the room)
Wipes/Diapers
Things I Wish I Had Taken:
A Small Float (for beach days) They have floats you can rent but they were pricey. My dad rented one for $18. No thanks.
Inflatable Tub for Hamp (ships don’t have tubs)
Waterproof Camera
Bug Spray (for some weird reason, we all got mosquito bites on the ship)
Surge Protector (there were not many outlets in the rooms)
Things I Should Have Left At Home:
Hair Dryer (They had them in the rooms)
Towels (They have them in the rooms and at the pool and beach for you)
Have you been on a cruise? What are some other things you would take with you? Do you have any tips of hacks to share?
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