If you have ever been on a Disney Parks vacation before, you know there are essentials that you must pack no matter what. The same goes for a Disney cruise which is why a Disney cruise packing list is important. The essentials though are going to be slightly different because it is a different type of vacation with vastly different activities.
Going on any Disney vacation is exciting, but a Disney cruise has to be at the top of the list for vacations. Not only do you get a relaxing and remote vacation, but everything is Disney-fied! It really is the best of both worlds, especially if you are traveling with people who like Disney but not the stress that comes with the theme parks. You can see our Disney World vs. Disney Cruise guide for a full comparison if you are deciding how you'd like to spend your next vacation.
The other difference is that at Disney parks, most of the time you are dressing for comfort in the heat and walkability in your footwear. When embarking on your Disney cruise, you could be spending four days going to the Caribbean or a two-week-long Alaskan adventure. These two cruises are going to require many different items for you to be comfortable which we all list on our Disney Cruise packing list. Through our Disney Cruise packing list, we will try to be inclusive of all cruise needs as well as address what you may need for specific locations.
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Disney Cruise Packing List- Boarding Day
Boarding the cruise ship is better known as “Embarkation Day,” and many first-time cruisers don’t know or underestimate the items they need for the day for their Disney Cruise packing list.
When you get to the cruise terminal, Disney Cruise Line luggage handlers will load your luggage for you onto the boat and into your cabin or stateroom (this is your “hotel” room on the ship). While this is great because you don’t have to worry about boarding the boat with it, it also means you will be away from your belongings for most of the day. It could be late into the day by the time the crew members actually deliver your belongings.
When you board the cruise, there are many activities you can participate in that will help determine what you need for the day. Guests can eat, explore the ship, go swimming, attend welcome activities, and visit your room.
It is incredibly important when packing for your cruise that you make sure you have a bag packed with all the necessities for the first day that you won't check. We particularly like a backpack or day bag like this one as it squishes down to save space to carry with you. Not to worry though because we have you covered with the essentials you need.
Boarding Day Disney Cruise Packing List
Must have items:
- Cruise and travel documents
- Passport or birth certificate and government-issued ID
- Prescription medications
- Cash/credit cards
- Cell phone
- Unopened food, drinks or alcohol
Optional, but great to have:
- Portable Battery Pack – We swear by the Anker PowerCore Portable Charger and recommend it strongly in our Disneyland packing list and Walt Disney World packing list.
- Swimsuits
- Sunglasses/hat
- Croakies for sunglasses
- Swimsuit cover-up
- Sunscreen
- Motion sickness medication (such as Sea Bands)
- Portable charger
- Reading material (books, magazines, Amazon Kindle)
- Lanyard (this is great for holding your Key to the World cruise card)
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What to Wear on Disney Cruise
Living on a cruise ship for 4-10 days can have you questioning, what clothes should I pack for my Disney Cruise?
Disney Cruise Line suggests that guests should pack clothing that will allow them to dress comfortably for vacation. Guests should also bring the appropriate attire for dinners and Port Adventures.
A lot of the clothing that you will pack is going to depend upon your destination. If you are cruising somewhere warm, then shorts, t-shirts, and dresses will probably make up most of your wardrobe. If you are cruising somewhere colder, then jeans, sweatshirts, and jackets may be the go-to. We also always end up doing some workout during the sailing to burn off the endless good food that you can enjoy while onboard. Here's a look at the workout facility onboard the Disney Wonder ship.
Disney Cruise Line pools are all heated, so a bathing suit is recommended no matter which cruise destination you are sailing to. You may want to pack more than one bathing suit if you are going to a warmer destination and have water excursions planned.
Generally for Disney Cruise Line we recommend the same thing that we do for all Disney vacations – wear clothes that are comfortable but nice looking. Throughout your trip you'll want to be capturing photos and making memories. By no means are we saying to wear a collar the whole time, but maybe leave the t-shirt with the holes in it at home. You will be seen by hundreds of other people on the ship each day and have photos from this trip forever.
Below we dive into more of what you should wear on a Disney Cruise for the various activities on the ship and off.
Disney Cruise Line Dining
When dining on a Disney Cruise, there are multiple dining experiences that each have their own dress code. Also, depending on the length of the cruise there can be specialty dining events.
Before packing, make sure to check what dining experiences you have booked to ensure you have the right level of dress.
3-night cruises:
One cruise casual night
One pirate night themed deck party
One optional “dress-up night”
4-night cruises:
First night is cruise casual
One pirate night themed deck party
One optional dress-up night
Final night is cruise casual
7-night cruises:
First night is cruise casual
One pirate night or other themed deck party
3 additional cruise casual nights
One formal and one semi-formal night
Typically we will wear the same clothes we wore to dinner to the show afterwards because there isn't really enough time to change without being rushed.
Cruise casual dining attire is in the majority of the dining restaurants. This simply means no swimwear or tank tops. It is completely optional to dress up.
What to Wear on Disney Cruise Formal Night
On a Disney Cruise, formal attire means more dressed up than your cruise casual. This would be attire that makes you feel a little more fancy than just your normal grabbing a bite to eat. Cocktail dresses, skirts, button-down shirts, jackets, a tie, are all acceptable forms of formal attire on a Disney Cruise.
Disney Cruise Line Specialty Themed Nights
On almost all sailings in the Caribbean and Bahamas, as well as some other destinations, Disney hosts a Pirate Night for guests. On this night, guests can choose to dress as a pirate and there is a special deck party. Disney will give every guest a pirate-themed bandana to wear on Pirate Night.
If you didn’t bring anything with you and want to dress up, the onboard shops will sell full pirate costumes for children as well as faux hook hands, eye patches, and other related accouterments. Guests are welcome to dress up how little or how much they want to with the themed night.
Pixar nights happen on most seven-night Alaska cruises. Again, dressing up is optional, but many guests will typically adorn a Pixar-themed shirt.
Adult Exclusive Dining
Disney understands that adults love the Disney Cruises, but sometimes they need to have an adult-only experience.
Each cruise ship has adult-exclusive restaurants. These restaurants are elegant dining experiences and the dress code is formal or semi-formal (dress casual is permitted). Clothing such as T-shirts, swimwear and sports attire are not permitted at all.
Adults-only restaurants will vary depending on the ship. Below are the restaurants available in the Disney Cruise Line fleet:
Palo: An elegant northern Italian-inspired dining venue aboard the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.
Remy: A love letter to the City of Lights, serving up sophisticated French cuisine aboard the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.
Palo Steakhouse: Acclaimed Italian cuisine is paired with world-class steakhouse fare aboard the Disney Wish.
Enchanté: A romantic dining venue featuring French-inspired delicacies aboard the Disney Wish.
Disney states that “guests are requested to dress in a manner consistent with the restaurant’s atmosphere. Formal or semi-formal attire is recommended.” Though a dressed-up casual look is now permitted, we really recommend that you take the opportunity to get dressed up to really enjoy the fancier meal away from the kids and other families.
Can I Bring My Own Food and Drink?
At Disney Parks it is not uncommon for guests to bring their own food and drinks to the hotel rooms as well as the parks to help save costs but also for the familiar foods that help keep your body happy.
With a Disney Cruise, guests can also bring their own food and drinks, but there are rules and limits. The first and major rule is that all food and beverages must be packed in your carry-on item. This is why we listed it on your boarding day packing essentials.
Food
If you want to bring food aboard, Disney Cruise Line asks for guests to follow the following packing restrictions
Non Perishable snack foods packed in sealed, original packaging. All items must either be consumed prior to returning to your home port or remain unopened.
Breast milk brought on board in carry-on luggage only.
Coolers no larger than 12″ x 12″ x 12″, as carry-on luggage for storing medications, baby food or items related to dietary restrictions only.
Alcohol & Other Beverages
On a Disney Cruise all sodas, coffees and teas are included in the cost of the cruise with meals and at the beverage stations. Bar drinks, beer, wine, smoothies, specialty coffees and bottled water are an additional charge.
Guests 21 and older boarding the cruise are able to bring two bottles of unopened wine/champagne or six beers at the beginning of your sailing. You will need to provide your own corkscrew to open the bottles if you plan to enjoy it in your room. You can also purchase additional alcohol at port when you are on land. Each time that you go to port you can bring on an additional six pack or two bottles of wine per person.
If you bring your wine/champagne to the main dining rooms, there is a $25 corkage fee per bottle brought to dinner. The Cast Members will store your bottle for you to drink each night at dinner.
Port Excursions Disney Cruise Line Packing List
Depending on your cruise destination, you will be able to book excursions at your port to fully experience the destinations that you cruised to.
For Bahamian Cruises, Disney usually books a day at the Disney Owned island, Castaway Cay. Guests will want to pack sunscreen, bathing suits, water-bottles, maybe some sand toys, and anything else you may need to enjoy a day at the beach. These are some perfect water-bottles that are good for bringing along with you.
During Alaskan Disney cruises, the beach and your bathing suit will most likely not be used when you get off the ship. Many cruisers have needed multiple jackets, hats, and gloves depending on the time of year.
The best thing to pack for port excursions is to look at the Disney Website and what they recommend for your excursion attire.
Disney Items
Mickey Ears: No Disney trip would be complete without a pair of Mickey Ears. Disney has specific cruise line merchandise, including ears to buy, but check out the official Disney ears here on Shop Disney or find other licensed Disney Mickey ears that cost less on Amazon here.
Princess Dresses & Costumes: There are many character meet and greets available on board the cruise ships. Your princes and princesses may want to bring their dresses or costumes aboard the ship for pictures. For costumes the following toys are allowed: Store-bought light sabers, Plastic toy “pirate” swords & Plastic store-bought toy “Mjolnir” hammers (Thor's hammer) You can find good deals on all of these here.
Disney Apparel: Everyone in your party will find themselves wanting a Mickey shirt at some point. Make it easier on yourself and buy these items ahead of time! Check Shop Disney, Amazon, and Etsy for some great items.
Autograph book: Don’t forget an autograph book for your kids (or you!) to collect character autographs! Don't forget a fat pen. There are some great options on Amazon!
Disney Magnets: Almost everyone on a Disney cruise decorates their stateroom door with personalized magnets. The purpose of the door decorations: it makes it easier to find your room in a long hallway of similar looking doors and it is super fun. You have to see these Captain Mickey and Minnie door magnets that are surprisingly affordable. Feel free to be a little extra in your decorations. No tape or adhesive is allowed, only magnets.
Disney Cruise Packing List For Traveling with Babies
Children over 6 months of age are eligible to sail on cruises. Having items that are comfortable to them and that you are used to using every day will be incredibly important.
If you happen to forget something, there are typically some items available in the on board shops, but it is always best to try to pack your own.
Items you may want to bring: Bottles/sippy cups, Diapers, Wipes, Pacifiers, Baby food, Breastmilk/formula, Swim diapers, Baby carrier.
Pack n play/Cribs are available on board. A limited number of approved bottle warmers and bottle sterilizers are available upon request through Guest Services on board.
Disney Cruise List Packing List- Misc Items
There are a variety of Disney Cruise Line packing list items that you should bring to have just in case or to improve your stay in your state room.
Bag or backpack to carry with you: You don’t want to drag your entire suitcase with you around the ship or want to have to constantly go back to your room when you need something. Make sure to pack a small bag that you can carry essentials (hand sanitizer, chapstick, sunscreen, bathing suit cover-up, etc) around the ship.
Camera: If you have a professional camera, decide whether you want to bring it along.
Battery Pack: You may want to bring a battery pack for your phone or other devices. As we mention above, we swear by the Anker PowerCore Portable charger. This charger holds 3-4 phone charges, is light, small, and affordable. Buy it here >
Ponchos: When traveling, you never know when rain is going to hit. Some of the excursions you book may also get you wet. Having your own poncho can help to keep you dry. You can order these on Amazon.
Lanyards: Lanyards work great for holding trading pins or your Key to the World Card. This card is used to get into the rooms and make purchases on board. See best lanyard options.
Your own glow sticks: Partying on the cruise deck late at night can be a ton of fun. Add even more fun with glow sticks. You can order these here.
Sunscreen & Aloe Vera: This is important- no one wants a sunburn on vacation. And sunscreen will cost more on the ship. You can never have enough.
Seasickness Medication/ Band/ Patch: Many people don’t know that they get seasick until they are aboard a cruise ship. I never get seasick, carsick, or have issues on roller coasters, but we sailed during a tropical storm once and I was incredibly sick. Having some sort of seasickness medication, band, or patch can be helpful in those just in case moments. Check out these options on Amazon.
Chapstick or lip balm: You would be surprised at how quickly your lips get chapped. Buy chapstick here.
Small pack of Kleenex: You don’t want to have to run to the bathroom or your stateroom every time you need to blow your nose. Grab a travel tissue pack to keep in your ship bag. Buy Kleenex travel packs here.
Anti-bacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer: Keep the germs away and buy travel hand sanitizer here.
Medications: Don’t forget to pack some pain reliever and tums/ Pepto Bismol! Always good to have just in case. Make sure it is in the original packaging.
Ear plugs: If you’re jammed in a room with others, bringing ear plugs can be a great choice. I prefer to bring a bulk bag and particularly like these earplugs with the connecting cord so you don't lose them.
Anything you need to make your child comfortable: Make sure to access the sleeping situation of your children before leaving home. Even the littlest thing to improve the amount or quality of sleep is valuable.
Books: During the day you are on the cruise ship there are a ton of activities that you can take part in (trivia, spa, swimming, games, athletics, etc.), but there may be times you want some down time to relax. Grabbing a book to read may be the best way to enjoy a relaxing day at sea.
What Not To Bring- Disney Cruise Packing List
The Disney Cruise Line has provided a list of items guests should not include in their packing. This list is compiled with the safety guidelines that are mandated by the US Customs and Port Security, so it is important for guests to leave these items at home. These are some of the items on the list:
- Diving Equipment
- Flammable Liquids & Combustible Substances
- Restraining devices
- Perishable items
- Electrical Appliances (heating pads, power strips, diffusers, blenders, streaming devices, bottle warmers, irons, etc.)
- Illegal narcotics/drugs, medically prescribed marijuana, drug paraphernalia
- Drones
- Sports equipment, except golf clubs and sports balls that must be stored in the room and only used at port.
- Wheeled Recreational Equipment
- Balloons
- Candles
- Over-the-door hanging organizers, over-the-door hooks
- Weapons: Firearms and ammunition, explosives, knives, sword, dagger, bullwhip
Disney Cruise Line reserves the right to seize and secure any item deemed to be dangerous or pose a security or safety risk, so it is better to just leave these items at home than try to sneak them in.
Complete Disney Cruise Packing List
Must-Have Items
- Cruise/travel documents
- Driver’s license
- Passport or birth certificate
- Prescription medications (definitely carry-on with you)
- Cash/credit card
- Travel insurance information
Clothing & Shoes
- Shirts
- Shorts
- Pants/Jeans
- Undergarments
- Casual dresses
- Pajamas
- Swimwear
- Cover-ups
- Sandals/flip flops/water shoes/tennis shoes
- Dress shoes
- Socks
- Rain Jacket
- Sweatshirt/ light Jacket/ light sweater
- Cocktail or Formal attire (for Adult Dining or Formal Night)
- Costumes (for themed sailings, such as Halloween on the High Seas)
- Pirate night attire
- Mickey Ears
Toiletries
- Razor/shaving cream
- Lotion
- Deodorant
- Make-up & remover
- Hairbrush
- Hair products
- Toothbrush/toothpaste and floss
- Contacts with solution and case
- Glasses/sunglasses
- Hand sanitizer
- Medications – Pain Reliever, Tums/ Pepto Bismol, Sea Bands or other motion sickness products, nasal spray.
- Sunscreen & Aloe Vera
- Aquaphor
- Kleenex
Accessories
- Beach bag or day bag
- Hat
- Belt
- Jewelry
- Lanyard (makes it easy to access your Key to the World card)
- Warm Weather gear for Alaskan & Canadian Cruises
Electronics
- Cell phone
- Charger
- Portable charger
- Camera
- Headphones
- Power cord
Other Items
- Refillable mug/water bottle (great for shore excursions)
- Battery pack
- Reading Materials
- Ear Plugs
- Alcohol
- Non-perishable snacks in their unopened containers
- Glow Sticks
- Autograph Books
- Disney Magnets
- Laundry items (pods, dryer sheets, etc.)
- Baby Items: Bottles/sippy cups, Diapers, Wipes, Pacifier, Baby food, Breastmilk/formula, Swim diapers, Baby carrier
Night light and/or white noise machine
Here's a look at the laundry room onboard the Disney Wonder.
Disney Cruise Packing List- FAQ
Yes, you can bring unopened cans of soda with you in your carry on bags during boarding day.
While on the ship, all purchases will be charged to your stateroom, so while on board, you will not need cash or a credit card. When arriving at a port of call, you will want cash or a credit card to purchase souvenirs, meals, drinks, and other items.
You are able to bring bottled water in your carry on bags during boarding day.
Disney allows each guest 2 suitcases, 1 carry-on, and a personal item. Each guests will receive two luggage tags to attach to their suitcases that will have the guest name, ship, stateroom number, reservation number, and sail date. As soon as you arrive at the port, the porters will transfer your suitcases to your stateroom. You will keep your carry-on and personal item with you.
You do not need to pack towels in your suitcase. Towels are provided for guests to use on the pool deck. When visiting Castaway Cay, guests are given towels as they disembark the ship to the private island.
Yes, there are laundry machines and irons and ironing boards on a Disney Cruise ship. The layout of the laundry rooms varies based on ship, but you can see an example of a laundry room on the Disney Wonder above.
If you are ready to set sail on the high seas and sail with Captain Mickey and Captain Minnie, let us help you plan your magical vacation. Subscribe to our FREE deals newsletter to get the most up to date information about deals, low price tickets, and planning guides. For more planning help, check out these other articles:
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