Embarking on a Disney Cruise is an adventure filled with enchanting experiences and unforgettable memories. For most people it is a once in a lifetime experience and you want to make sure you do everything right!
As excitement builds, it’s essential to ensure a seamless vacation by packing efficiently and effectively. Paying attention to the items brought on board can make all the difference between a magical trip and one riddled with avoidable inconveniences.
Before diving into the luggage, travelers should become familiar with the cruise line’s guidelines and regulations. Knowing the dress codes, allowed items, and daily essentials will make the packing process smoother and save vacationers from any surprises or restrictions that could impact their experience.
Essential Disney Cruise Packing List
Packing for a Disney Cruise is fairly similar to packing for any other cruise line with a few key exceptions. While you may have a formal night on another cruise line, you won’t have Pirate Night or Princess meet and greets. Here is everything you might need on a Disney Cruise Line.
Clothing
When packing for a Disney Cruise, consider the variety of activities and events onboard. Try to pack a mix of casual, swim, and formal attire. For daytime, comfortable clothing like shorts, t-shirts, and light dresses are all you will need. Swimwear is necessary for pool time and beach excursions. In the evening, cruises have a mix of casual, semi-formal, and formal nights, so pack suitable clothes such as collared shirts, slacks, dresses, and a suit or tuxedo if desired.
Disney Cruises that are 7 days or longer have a formal night, but if you are on a shorter cruise, you can still bust out your finest duds.
- Daytime: shorts, t-shirts, light dresses, light jacket or sweaters
- Swim: swimwear, cover-ups, flip-flops
- Evening: collared shirts, slacks, dresses, suit/tuxedo
Accessories
The right accessories can make or break the cruise experience. Items like sunglasses, hats, and reusable water bottles are must-haves. A comfortable day bag or backpack is essential for carrying personal belongings during shore excursions. To keep electronic devices charged, bring a power strip with USB ports, as staterooms have limited outlets.
- Sunglasses
- Hats
- Reusable water bottles
- Power strip with USB ports
- Rain Jacket
- A Day Bag for days off the ship
- Lanyard for cruise cabin keys
Documentations
Proper documentation is crucial for any cruise, including a Disney Cruise. Bring a valid passport, driver’s license, and any necessary visas for travel. Additionally, keep a copy of the cruise reservation confirmation, travel insurance, and any excursion vouchers. It’s helpful to have both physical and digital copies of essential documents in case of loss or damage.
- Passport, driver’s license, visas if required
- Cruise reservation confirmation
- Travel insurance, excursion vouchers
Toiletries
Pack the toiletries you will need daily. Plus grab some more essentials for cruising like motion sickness pills or Sea Bands. They can make the cruise much better if you are prone to motion sickness.
- Motion sickness pills
- Sunscreen
- First aid kit
- Daily medications
- Deodorant
- Makeup
- Brush
- Razor
- Toothbrush/Toothpaste
- Hair stylers
Electronics for Disney Cruise
No one wants to get on a week-long cruise and realize they forgot their phone charger! Here are the tech essentials you will need on a cruise.
- Chargers
- A power strip (especially if you are traveling with kids, there are not enough outlets!)
- Headphones
- Laptop
- Pre-loaded movies. ( I add 3-4 movies onto my laptop or Ipad before getting on a cruise so I can watch them when I need some downtime.)
Disney Specific Items
Disney Cruises offer unique onboard experiences, so don’t forget these Disney-specific items. Bring themed costumes for themed nights, such as pirate night or Marvel day. This is a big deal on Disney Cruises, and you don’t want your kids to feel left out. Here are some of the lightest weight pirate costumes and princess costumes you can buy for your cruise.
Pirate Costumes
- ⭐[PACKAGE & SIZE] 1* Pirate Hat,1* Pirate Princess Dress. 4-5Years,HEIGHT 41-46",WEIGHT 35-45LBS,ACROSS FRONT 8.5",BODY LENGTH 21",WAIST 10.2",SKIRT LENGTH &...
- ⭐[FASION DESIGN] Classic Pirate Red & Black deisgn make this girls pirate costume never go out of style.Gold skulls are printed on pirate hat and dress,Puff...
- ⭐[PREMIUM QUALITY] Girls Pirate Dress - 100% polyester,Skin-Friendly,Machine washable.Great Sewing with Excellent Printing,Every little pirate will love this...
- ⭐Package:Kids Pirate Top,Pants,bandana .The costume is easy to clean, cold water machine wash,accessories are wipe clean.
- ⭐Comfy Materials: We choose high quality materials to make sure children play happy and safely. This pirate costume has excellent sewing, making it durable...
- ⭐Occasions: Pirate costume set perfect for Halloween,Chistmas,Pirate Theme Party,Birthday ,Boys pirate dress up ,Kids Role play activity .
Moms and Dads can get in on the fun with a black and white striped top and an eye patch. But there are plenty of grownups who dress up as much as the kids.
Princess dresses
- Includes dress,tiara,wand,wig,gloves.
- This dress has a long cape, let the little princess looks very noble.
- Rich accessories, your little princess will love it
- Material: Polyester,cotton,tulle
- Fun, Colorful, Inventive designs to put your little in the world of role play
- Great for Halloween,special occasions and cosplay costume dress
- 【Soft & Comfortable Fabric】Our Purple Princess Dresses for Girls is made of polyester and cotton lining, which is soft, skin-friendly, breathable &...
- 【Perfect Princess Dress Up Clothes】 Comes with Princess Dress Up Accessories: 1 Pair x Gloves, 1 x Crown Tiara, 1x Headband, 1 x Necklace, 1x Wand, 1 Pair x...
- 【Unique Design】Our beautiful fluffy skirt adorned with glitter pattern, and purple girls princess costume deigned with satin bodice, pink ribbon detail,...
- Off shoulder cutting. The Yellow One style is designed with elastic band to hold on
- Organza neckline is bedecked with several elegant roses to make the dress feel more deluxe
- Embroidery applique bodice to highlight the exquisite dress
Autograph books or items for character meet-and-greets allow guests to collect memories from their favorite characters. Lastly, don’t forget those adorable Disney-themed outfits and accessories for photo opportunities throughout the cruise.
Please check your cruise before hand to see what themed nights you will have so you can plan. Many families dress up for every event, and it’s super fun. You can wear princess dresses to dinner, mickey ears to the pool, or just wear your favorite Disney T-shirt every day!
- Themed costumes (pirate night, Marvel day, etc.)
- Autograph books/items for character meet-and-greets
- Disney-themed outfits and accessories
- Disney Magnets for your door
Packing for Children
When preparing for a Disney Cruise, packing for your children can be the hardest part! This guide gives you packing essentials for infants, kids, and keeping them entertained during your trip.
Infant Care Items
When traveling with infants, it is important to pack a little more of everything that you think you might use. Infant items are more expensive on the cruise ships, but the are available, so don’t panic.
- Diapers: Pack sufficient diapers for the duration of the trip, or consider purchasing them onboard.
- Wipes and diaper cream: Keep your baby clean and protected from diaper rash.
- Baby food and formula: Carry enough for your journey and familiarize yourself with the availability on the ship.
- Bottles and pacifiers: Pack plenty to avoid frequent washing.
Kids Essentials
For older kids, a well-packed suitcase can save you from unnecessary stress during the cruise. Be sure to include:
- Clothing: Pack weather-appropriate attire, including a swimsuit, rain jacket, and hat.
- Footwear: Comfortable shoes, sandals, and water shoes are recommended.
- Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, and any personal care items.
- Medications/First Aid: Bring any essential medication and a small first aid kit for minor incidents.
- Goggles for Swimming: If your kids like to go underwater you will be glad you brought these.
Kids Entertainment
Ensuring your children have ways to stay entertained during downtime is among the most crucial elements of packing for a cruise. Kids like the comforts of home and do better when there are familiar routines and comfort items.
- Favorite toys or stuffed animals: A familiar comforting item can help young children in a new environment.
- Activity books and coloring supplies: Keep them occupied with puzzles, coloring, or sticker books.
- Electronic devices and chargers: Tablets, gaming devices, and a portable charger make long waits more enjoyable.
- Board games or card games: Encourage socialization and interaction with family and newfound friends.
- Downloaded movies: Download their favorite movies onto a tablet or computer so they have something familiar to watch if they need it.
Dining and Snacking aboard
You won’t go hungry on a Disney Cruise Line! You can bring snacks from home as long as they are non-perishable, and it can be a good idea for picky eaters. Here are the dining options so you know if you need to bring snacks with you.
Disney Cruise Line offers a variety of dining options to satisfy every taste. From elegant fine dining to casual quick-service meals and everything in between, guests will find plenty of options to satisfy their hunger.
- Guests can indulge in theatrically-themed, rotational dining experiences. Each night, passengers rotate through three main dining rooms: Animator’s Palate, Lumiere’s, and Rapunzel’s Royal Table. This ensures that every guest can enjoy the unique atmosphere and menu offerings of each venue.
- For casual dining, the on-board restaurants Cabanas and Flo’s Café are perfect choices. Cabanas is a buffet-style eatery offering a range of food selections, while Flo’s Café, inspired by the Cars movie, serves quick bites such as burgers, pizza, and sandwiches.
- Disney Cruise Line takes the snacking game to a whole new level. The 24-hour room service allows guests to satisfy their cravings any time of the day. Additionally, there are self-serve ice-cream stations and premium snack options, like fresh fruit and popcorn, spread throughout the ship.
- For an adult-only dining experience, specialty restaurants like Palo and Remy offer exclusive menus in a more intimate setting. These venues require an additional fee and reservations in advance. Guests can savor exquisite Italian cuisine at Palo, while Remy delivers a French-inspired culinary experience.
- Allergy-friendly and special dietary accommodations are also available on board. Disney Cruise Line works closely with guests to ensure their specific dietary needs and preferences are met, making the dining experience enjoyable and stress-free.
Even with all the eating and snack options, if you still have one favorite snack that you know will make a huge difference on your trip, bring it!
Maximizing Space in Your Luggage
Packing for a Disney Cruise might be getting easier with the above list, but maximizing space in your luggage is essential to bring everything you need without overpacking.
- First, consider the type of luggage you’ll be using. Opt for a lightweight suitcase with robust organizational features, such as built-in compartments and pockets. This helps to keep items organized and prevents overfilling your bag.
- Next up is clothing. Roll clothes instead of folding them, as it not only saves space but also helps reduce wrinkles. Group similar items together, such as placing all shirts in one section and pants in another. This makes finding specific garments easier and saves time when unpacking.
- Toiletries should be packed using travel-sized containers, and multi-purpose items are ideal for reducing clutter. (Disney Cruises do provide Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Soap but if you need to bring your own you can.)
- Consider bringing fewer footwear options, as they can take up significant space in your luggage. Remember that comfortable shoes are a must for enjoying the activities on board and at port stops.
- Lastly, use packing cubes or compression bags to further maximize space. These tools can help organize your belongings, compress them to free up more room in your suitcase, and make unpacking a breeze upon arrival.
By following these helpful tips, you’ll be on your way to maximizing space in your luggage and enjoying a stress-free Disney Cruise adventure.
Once you are all packed you are ready to head out on your Disney Cruise and have a worry free vacation knowing you have everything you need.
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Last update on 2024-11-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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