Tropical Cruise Packing List

What to pack for a cruise ship vacation.

Tropical Cruise Packing List and tips for selecting cruise attire. Caribbean, South Pacific, Hawaii, Mexico... if it's tropical, this is the cruise packing list for you.

Cruise packing and chic attire for the tropics.

Cruise vacations can be as active or relaxing as you choose. Some cruisers rarely leave the boat and others regularly miss meals while they adventure. Pack accordingly.

Your packing list should include clothing for onboard events as well as any shore excursions you have planned.

This page will help you sort through the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink list found on our vacation packing checklists page so you're packing only the things you need for a tropical cruise. Images of frothy drinks and little paper umbrellas always come to my mind when I write those words... tropical cruise.

Here's what to include on your tropical cruise packing list.

• Beach Bag or Dry Bag ~

  For tropical cruise vacations bring (or buy) a roomy beach bag. Here are the essentials that should be in a tropical beach bag.
  
  A dry bag is waterproof and seals tightly closed. They are available in various sizes and are great for keeping things dry during water activities.

• Plastic Folder with pockets ~

  The cruiseship staff will provide daily newsletters to keep you advised of the day's events and port info when you are coming to a new port. Also you're likely to collect a mixture of written pamphlets, mementos, postcards, brochures, receipts and the like.

• Sunscreen and soothing lotion ~

  Tropical sun can burn skin in 20 minutes. Being on the water intensifies the effects of the sun and reflects it upward. Don't forget to put sunscreen under your nose and chin and on top of your feet.

• Wide brimmed hats and visors ~

  Hats, particularly light colored hats, keep your head cooler and shade your face, ears and neck from the sun.

• Sunglasses and prescription sunglasses ~

  Protect those peepers with fairly dark lenses that are UVA and UVB resistant. The more they wrap around the sides the better protection they afford. Mirrored lenses magnify the sun onto your nose... not a great evening look.

• For the women ~

  swimsuits can double as body suits, tops or chemises. Coordinate them with your outfits then wrap a flowing pareo around one or a short denim skirt with another, later in the day you can top it with a blouse or jacket.
  
  The one piece swimsuit is making a comeback, pack more than one.

• Cover-ups or pareos ~

  I pack at least one lightweight, roomy, flowing coverup that can cover most of me for those times when I have definitely had enough sun.

• Flip flops, sandals, comfortable walking shoes ~

  Shoes take a fair amount of room and you'll mostly wear sandals or flip flops.

• Sweater, windbreaker or light jacket ~

  After spending the day in the sun the evenings can feel slightly chilly.

• Formal wear and accessories ~

  Don't forget to pack dress shoes. You can still pass if you forget the silver bag or gold tie pin but if you have to wear flip flops with your cocktail dress to the captains formal dinner... well...

Pack light and use the laundry and dry cleaning services aboard. Bring along some items of clothing that can be donated along the way as you purchase new articles to replace them.

Visitors to our Tropical Cruise Packing List page may also be interested in the following pages