Cruise Packing List for First-Timers

The First-Timer's Cruise Packing Listbirdieescapes.com/cruise-101

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Documents and money

These go in your carry-on, never in checked luggage.

Passport, or birth certificate plus photo IDA passport is strongly recommended even on closed-loop cruises. If you miss the ship in a foreign port, you'll need one to fly home.
SetSail Pass (boarding pass) in the Royal Caribbean appScreenshot it too in case the port Wi-Fi is slow.
Credit card linked to your SeaPass account
Small bills for porters and port tipsWe bring about $200 in singles for porters, room service, and tips in port, and usually come home with some left over. Most ports take US dollars.
Travel insurance policy number and phone
Printed luggage tagsPrint them from the Royal Caribbean website or the email with your guest booklet. They usually aren't in the app.
A document organizer for the whole family

Embarkation day bag

Checked bags can take until late afternoon to reach your cabin. Pack what you need for the first few hours.

Swimsuit and cover-upThe pools open as soon as you board.
All medications, in original containersNever put these in checked luggage.
Sunscreen and sunglasses
Phone charger and power bank
A change of clothes for dinner
One bottle of wine or champagne per adultRoyal Caribbean allows one sealed 750 ml bottle per guest of drinking age, carried on at boarding. No boxed wine.
Up to 12 sodas or bottled waters per stateroomStandard cans, bottles, or cartons (17 oz or less), carried on at boarding.

Cabin helpers

Staterooms are smart but small. A few cheap items make them work much better.

Magnetic hooksThe walls are metal.
Multi-port USB chargerCabins have one or two outlets. Skip surge protectors; they are confiscated.
Small rechargeable fanMoves air and adds white noise for sleeping.
Disinfecting wipesA quick wipe of remotes, handles, and counters on day one.
Over-the-door organizer
Night lightInterior cabins are completely dark.
SeaPass lanyard
Highlighter for the daily Cruise Compass

Beach and port days

Ship towels are provided, so leave yours at home.

Health and comfort

The onboard shop has basics, at resort prices.

Seasickness remediesOver-the-counter tablets, wristbands, or ask your doctor about a patch.
Basic first aid kit
Pain reliever and antacids
Aloe or after-sun lotion
Hand sanitizer

Tech

Set your phone to airplane mode before you leave port. At-sea roaming is very expensive.

Royal Caribbean app, downloaded before you boardIt works on the ship's Wi-Fi for free, even without an internet package.
Phone, chargers, and cables
Luggage trackers
Headphones

Leave these at home

Surge protectors and extension cords
Clothing irons and steamers (ask your stateroom attendant about laundry service)
Candles, incense, or anything with an open flame
Beer, seltzer, and hard liquor. Security holds sealed bottles in original packaging until the last day; anything in another container is thrown out.
More than one bottle of wine or champagne per adult. Extra bottles are stored until the end of the cruise.
Drones, unless you've cleared it with the cruise line
Marijuana and CBD products, even where legal at home
Beach towels: the ship provides them

Rules change. Check Royal Caribbean's current prohibited items list before you pack, or just ask us.

Planning a cruise? Let Birdie Escapes handle the details. birdieescapes.com · (678) 391-4057 · jeremy@birdieescapes.com

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The first-timer's cruise packing list

Documents and money

Embarkation day bag

Clothing

Cabin helpers

Beach and port days

Health and comfort

Tech

Leave these at home

First cruise? We'll walk you through all of it.