Packing Tips for Your Disney Cruise Sailing

  • While Disney Cruise Line offers many different itineraries and destinations there are a few important things to consider when packing for your sailing. As you sail more often the amount you pack and what you find most important will improve with each sailing.

  • Embarkation Day

    • Make sure you have a carryon bag packed with everything you might need during your first day until your stateroom is available. Some of these are medications, passports/documents, swim gear and sunscreen, electronics, cash, and jewelry. Anything you have checked in at the port you will not have access to until the luggage shows up in your room later.

  • Clothing

    • Pack comfortable clothes in addition to formal and/or costumes to enjoy dressing up for dinner throughout the sailing. While sailing there will be many opportunities for photos and one idea is to take a formal night photo to send out as a holiday card.

    • For formal nights, you can pack options like dresses, skirts, button-down shirts, jackets, a tie, or even go all out with a tuxedo.

    • For Caribbean sailing there is Pirate Night for which you can pack costumes and accessories, to go along with the theme, but dressing up is always optional. Please make sure to check the prohibited list before packing and bring some accessories.

  • Motion and Seasickness medications

    • If you are very concerned or know you will suffer from seasickness, make sure you start the medication before you step foot onto the ship. Options include tablet, patch, wristband to name just a few. While you can purchase them while on the ship or when in port it most likely would be cheaper to bring from home. If this is your first sailing and you are not sure, I recommend bringing one item to try in the event you do get sick.

  • Prohibited List

    • Disney Cruise Line has a long-prohibited list on their website and if you try to bring one of these onboard it will typically be confiscated at the port, and you can pick it back up when the sailing is over. Some items that you cannot bring are steamers, candles, drones, plug-in Christmas lights, certain fans, weapons, and opened/unwrapped food.

    • You can pack nonperishable snack foods in their sealed, original packaging, and items must be consumed or unopened before your cruise’s return to the home port. All guests 21 and older can bring up to 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne or 6 beers on board at the start of the voyage and at each port, but these must be packed in your carry-on bags. Coolers no larger than 12″ x 12″ x 12″ are allowed as carry-on luggage for storing medications, baby food, or nonperishable items related to dietary restrictions only.

  • Pack the Disney Fun

    • Bring magnets of your favorite Disney characters to decorate your stateroom door, which is a great way to easily remember your room because all the doors will look the same.

    • Do you have an autograph book or T-shirt you have used in the past for Disney characters to sign, make sure to pack it and some extra pens.

    • Plan to make a BBB appointment, bring a dress or costume just in case they are out of the size your child needs.

    • Lastly make sure to pack those Mickey/Minnie ears as I typically see kids and adults wearing them during the sailing.