Packing for your cruise is not nearly as intimidating as it sounds! There are things you are allowed to bring and things you are not allowed to bring. There are things you need, things you think you will need, and things you will absolutely not need. Tammy Whiting, our Disney Cruise Line expert, shares 10 packing tips for your next Disney Cruise.
1. Itinerary-Appropriate Clothing – Clearly, you will need different clothes on an Alaskan cruise than you will on a Caribbean or Bahamas cruise. You may not realize that you will need different clothes in some European cities based on dress requirements in cathedrals or other places you will be visiting. Make sure you do some research and plan accordingly.
2. No Power Strips or Extension Cords – Even though outlets aren’t exactly plentiful in cruise staterooms, no power strips or extension cords are allowed. You can, however, bring an outlet multiplier or a plug with multiple USB ports. Disney has added more outlets over time, and I don’t usually have too much of a problem, so you are probably okay if you don’t want to pack one!
3. Costumes – This may be the time to break out some costumes! There is a Pirate Night on almost every single itinerary (Alaskan itineraries being a notable exception), and you will see pirate attire galore onboard. Over the years, the theme has become more and more popular. If you are on a Halloween on the High Seas cruise, you will also see a lot of costumes onboard. Disney has some rules about costumes, and here they are:
Costumes – During themed cruises and onboard celebrations like Pirate Night, Guests are invited to dress in costume. We value safety and good judgment and ask Guests to choose costumes that are family-friendly, not obstructive, objectionable, offensive or violent. To avoid any disappointment or delay in the boarding process, please refrain from bringing toys or props that resemble guns, knives, or other related implements. Masks that completely cover a person’s face may only be worn when standing still at character photo locations and must be carried when moving around the ship. Guests may dress as their favorite character but may not pose for pictures or sign autographs.
4. Door Magnets – Another activity that has grown in popularity over the years is putting magnets on stateroom doors. Aside from making it easier to spot your stateroom, adding a magnet or two is a fun way to personalize your door. You’ll see some guests with dozens of magnets; I am not saying you need that many! But a few? Sure—they’re fun!
5. No Hanging Shoe Organizers – Hanging shoe organizers used to be super popular for hanging over bathroom doors and organizing small things like sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm, etc. Unfortunately, they damaged the doors, and they are no longer allowed to be used that way. If you have another way to hang them in the closet or on magnetic hooks, that’s still fine! It only becomes a problem if the device they hang on could be damaged.
6. You Can Bring Alcohol – Alcohol is allowed in limited amounts. Each adult 21 and over can bring two bottles of unopened wine or Champagne OR 6 beers on embarkation day AND at each port of call. If you are planning on imbibing, the savings can add up quickly!
7. No Irons or Steamers – There are no personal irons or steamers of any kind allowed. Disney does provide irons to use onboard in the laundry rooms, or—my favorite—you can send your clothes away to be pressed. There are either a ton of guests who don’t know this or a ton of guests who try to sneak personal irons and steamers on because, by far, the most common item we see on the table of confiscated goods is steamers! However, here’s a shout-out to whoever tried to bring the Kitchen-Aid mixer onboard!
8. Beach Supplies – If you are visiting Castaway Cay or Lookout Cay, you may feel like you need to bring some beach supplies, but you can also purchase what you need onboard or in the ports. You will definitely want sunscreen, but if you forget it, you can buy some there for a slightly inflated price. You may want snorkeling equipment, but you can also rent some there. If your kids want sand toys, you could bring them, but it may be worth it to purchase them onsite and not deal with the space they take up or the sand they accumulate in your luggage. You also won’t need beach towels. Disney has plenty of them for you to use!
9. You Don’t Need As Much As You Think – One of my favorite pieces of advice for packing, and admittedly one of the hardest for me to follow, is to lay out the clothes you are bringing and then reduce the number by half. You are much more likely to regret packing a bunch of things you didn’t wear than you are to miss something you didn’t bring.
10. There’s Only One Thing You Can’t Do Without – In the end, there’s only one thing you can’t do without, and that is your passport/proof of citizenship. Almost everything else can be purchased in port or onboard, but, without those documents, you aren’t getting on the ship!
About the author of the blog: Tammy Whiting is the coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line. Blogger, Space Force wife, and mother of two, Tammy has been involved in the travel industry for more than 15 years. Though she certainly enjoys vacations of all kinds, her favorite adventures around the globe have been on cruise ships. Tammy spent five years of her childhood in Europe as a military brat and has been a military spouse for over 30 years, living in almost every corner of the US. When she isn’t traveling, you can find her enjoying her family, buying camera equipment, and planning her next trip!
If you enjoyed this post, sign up for our newsletter here, and to prepare for your trip, get The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line. #unofficialguide #theUGSeries
