How to pack for a cruise

To pack for a cruise you need outfits for casual days, smart casual evenings, and one or two formal nights,  plus compact packing solutions like vacuum bags to manage cabin storage space.

The challenge isn't just what to bring. It's fitting it all into a cabin the size of a double bedroom, and still being able to find things once you're there.

 

Cruise packing list

Cruise packing has one complexity that most holidays don't: the dress code. Most cruise lines operate multiple dress codes across the same week: casual for daytime and casual dining, smart casual for most evening restaurants, and formal nights (usually one or two per sailing) that require something significantly dressier.

One of the biggest packing mistakes cruisers make is bringing too many clothes.

Choose versatile pieces that can be worn multiple ways:

• Neutral-colored shorts and trousers
• Lightweight dresses
• Simple tops that work day and night
• A light jacket or cardigan
• Comfortable walking shoes

Creating multiple outfits from a smaller wardrobe saves valuable luggage space.

What to pack:

Daytime & Port Days

• Lightweight shorts and t-shirts (1 or 2 per day is realistic in warm destinations)
• Swimwear — at least two sets so one can dry while you wear the other
• Cover-ups or light layers for moving between pool and interior spaces
• Comfortable walking shoes for shore excursions
• Flip flops or sandals for pool and beach
• Sun hat and sunglasses
• Light waterproof jacket or packable rain layer

Evenings & Dinner

• Smart casual outfits for standard evenings — smart trousers or a dress, neat tops
• One or two formal outfits for formal nights (a suit or dinner jacket; a cocktail dress or evening wear)
• Dressier shoes for evenings — a versatile pair goes a long way
  

 

Essentials & Extras

• Medication 
• Travel adaptor 
• Portable charger
• Compact hanging toiletry bag — saves valuable bathroom counter space
• Reusable water bottle for port days
• Lanyard for your cruise card — you'll use it constantly
• Small day bag or backpack for shore excursions

 

How to maximise your space - cruise packing hack

Using vacuum packing bags allows you to dramatically reduce the volume of your clothing.

Most items, particularly the soft ones like t-shirts, shorts, swimwear, pyjamas, and fleeces, are mostly air when you fold them. They take up two or three times more space than they need to.

Jaspack vacuum bags remove that air. You pack the bag, seal it, and use the small rechargeable pump to compress everything down to a flat pack of fabric. The result: the same clothes in a fraction of the space.

Jaspacks vacuum bags open up completely like a packing cube, so you can directly place them in the drawer. They are also waterproof, which is especially useful on cruises where wet swimsuits, excursions, and humid sea air can make it harder to keep clothing dry and organised.

 

The Jaspack Cruise System

Here's how to use Jaspack bags to pack for a cruise efficiently:

• One bag per clothing category: Group your clothes by type, not by outfit. All casual daywear in one bag, all swimwear and beach kit in another, sleepwear and underwear in a third. This keeps things organised when you unpack in the cabin, and means you can pull out exactly what you need each morning without disturbing the rest.
  
• Pack formal wear separately — uncompressed: Suits, dinner jackets, and structured dresses don't belong in a vacuum bag. Pack these flat in the main body of your suitcase or in a garment bag. Vacuum bags are for soft, forgiving fabrics, which is the majority of what you're bringing.
  
• Use the large bag for bulky items: Fleeces, hoodies, thicker layers, and beach towels compress the most dramatically. Pack these in the largest Jaspack bag. You'll be amazed how flat a thick fleece becomes.
  
• Slide compressed bags flat into your suitcase

Jaspack bags, once compressed, behave like flat bricks of fabric. They stack neatly and make far more efficient use of suitcase space than loose-packed clothes. This means your suitcase closes more easily, and slides under the cabin bed on arrival.

 

Pack Smarter. Cruise Better.

 

FAQ:

What is the luggage allowance on a cruise?

Most cruise lines don't set a strict bag count limit, but typical weight limits are around 50 lbs (23kg) per checked bag.

 

Do you need formal wear on a cruise?

Most cruise lines have formal nights — usually one or two per sailing — where guests are expected to dress up. A suit or dinner jacket for men, and a cocktail dress or evening wear for women, is typically appropriate. Check your specific cruise line's dress code before you sail.

 

How do you save space when packing for a cruise?

The most effective method is to use travel vacuum compression bags, such as Jaspack vacuum bags. These compress soft items like t-shirts, swimwear, fleeces, and pyjamas by up to 80%, turning a bulging suitcase into a neat, flat-packed one.

 

What should you put in your cruise carry-on bag?

Your cruise carry-on should contain everything you'll need before your checked luggage is delivered to your cabin — typically a few hours after boarding. Pack your travel documents, passport, cruise card confirmation, any medication, a phone charger, swimwear, and a change of clothes.

 

Can you use vacuum bags for cruise packing?

Yes, vacuum bags are ideal for cruise packing. They compress soft clothing items dramatically, making it far easier to fit everything into fewer bags and freeing up cabin storage space. Jaspack travel vacuum bags include a rechargeable pump so you can repack easily at the end of your cruise too.