What to Pack for a Disney Cruise

When you think of Disney Cruise Line, the first things that come to mind are fun, family, and vacation. While those elements are all present in a Disney Cruise Line experience, once you’ve decided where to book your Disney Cruise, there’s still a lot of planning to do and you’ll need to know what to pack for a Disney cruise.

Cruising with Disney for the first time? It’s more than just a trip—it’s a magical vacation experience. The sights, the sounds, and even the smells of your cruise ship are all part of what makes a Disney voyage so amazing. If this is your first Disney cruise and you’re ready to set sail on Mickey’s floating paradise, read on for essential packing tips for your Disney Cruise.

Make sure you view our Complete Disney Cruise Packing List to make sure you don’t miss anything — but in the meantime, here are a few specific items to keep in mind.

What You Need on Disney Cruise Ships

Pack Multiple Swimsuits and Coverups

A Disney Cruise is a vacation, so you should pack multiple swimsuits and swimsuit cover ups. If you’re traveling to warmer climates, bring a lightweight swimsuit that can be layered under your cruise clothes as the weather warms up. In cooler climates, bring a lightweight coverup for lounging around the ship and exploring port stops.

Character Costumes for Children and Adults

Dressing up is a big part of the Disney Cruise experience. For children, pack their favorite princess dress, character outfit of their favorite Disney character, or pirate gear for themed events like pirate night. For adults, many Mickey and Minnie Mouse ears are available to purchase onboard, or you can make your own ahead of time.

Camera and Memory Cards

You may want to take lots of pictures while on your cruise, so don’t forget to pack a camera and extra memory cards. Many phones now have good cameras, so you may not even need a separate camera – just be sure you don’t forget your portable charger.

Day Bag

For each day of your cruise, pack a small beach bag with the essentials: sunscreen, lip balm, hats, sunglasses, swimsuits, reusable water bottle, cell phone, and your room key. This will help you keep track of your belongings and make sure you have everything you need for a fun day in the sun.

Cruise Clothes

Of course, you’ll need clothes for your cruise. Men may want to pack collared shirts and dress pants for formal night dinners in the main dining rooms. Women might prefer to pack dresses or skirts and blouses for dinner attire. Women can also pack dressy shorts and tops. Don’t forget comfortable clothes for exploring ports and relaxing on the ship. If you’re dining at some of the premier adult-exclusive restaurants, check their dress code in advance. Comfortable footwear like flip flops or tennis shoes for around the pool deck is a good idea.

Important Documents

Make sure to pack your passport, cruise documents, and any other important documents in a safe place. You don’t want to lose these items while on your trip. Additionally, you will need a driver’s license or a national ID. During docking days, the cruise ship management might suggest you leave your passport on the ship and carry your driver’s license or ID to avoid problems that may arise if you lose your passport in a new territory.

Medications

If you take any medications, be sure to pack them in your carry-on luggage. You don’t want to lose them en route to your cruise. Moreover, pack any over-the-counter medications, such as seasickness medication, pain relievers, and cold medicine.

Cash and Credit Cards

Disney cruises are completely cashless while onboard – everything is charged back to your stateroom folio account (but you can settle that account with cash if you like). But you may need to spend money while in port during your cruise, so be sure to bring cash and credit cards. Disney ships do not have ATMs onboard, but you might be able to find them in the ports you visit (possibly with high fees). It’s best to withdraw cash before your cruise or use a credit card. You can also bring traveler’s checks to settle your onboard folio – Walt Disney company accepts American Express-issued Travelers Cheques in USD only; your experience using traveler’s checks in port may vary.

Luggage Tags

Be sure to put luggage tags on all your bags. This will help the cruise ship staff know which room your bags should go to. When booking your trip, you will receive special airline-style luggage tags from the cruise line.

Travel Insurance

It’s always a good idea to purchase travel insurance before your cruise. This will help if you need to cancel your trip or have any problems while on your cruise. Also, knowing that you and your family are covered in case of any emergency will give you peace of mind while on your Disney cruise line vacation.

Summary for Disney Cruise Line Packing List

Packing for a Disney Cruise can be daunting, and while this might not be a conclusive list, we hope it gives you an idea of the essential items you’ll need. Don’t forget to check out our Ultimate Disney Cruise Packing List to make sure you have everything you need for your Disney Cruise vacation (and to see a list of prohibited items).