Cruise · Pre-departure
What should I remember before leaving for a cruise?
Cruises need a passport valid well beyond your return date, your boarding documents, and any medication you take, because there is no pharmacy at sea. Pack a seasickness remedy before you need it and a small bag for embarkation day, since cabins and checked luggage often arrive hours apart. Surge protectors are prohibited on most ships.
Do not leave without
A ship sails on schedule. Anything missing at the terminal cannot be fixed afterwards.
Because it is a ship
Things that do not apply anywhere else, and that people learn about only once aboard.
Living in a small cabin
Recoverable, but a cabin is smaller than you expect and the shop knows it.
Nice to have
Comfort only. Skip any of it without consequence.
Related questions
What will a cruise line confiscate at the terminal?
Surge-protected power strips are the one that catches most people out, alongside irons, kettles and candles. Restricted-item lists are published by each operator and differ between them, so check yours rather than assuming.
Why do people say to pack a separate embarkation bag?
Checked luggage is delivered to cabins over several hours after boarding. A carry-on with swimwear, medication and a change of clothes covers the gap between getting aboard and getting your case.
How do you make a small cabin workable?
Cabin walls are steel, so magnetic hooks add hanging space with no adhesive and no damage. An over-door organiser clears the single small bathroom shelf. Empty suitcases slide under the bed.
Cruise essentials at a glance
- Passport
- Boarding documents
- Prescription medication
- Payment card in your name
- Phone and charging cable
- Glasses or contact lenses
- Embarkation day bag
- Seasickness remedy
- Non-surge power strip
- Magnetic hooks
What this covers
This checklist covers pre-departure preparation for a cruise, including rules that differ from land travel. It does not cover shore excursions or individual port entry requirements.