Carnival Cruise Packing List
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to pack for a Carnival cruise: it is the most casual of the big lines, so pack light and comfortable, with one dressier outfit for the Cruise Elegant night (once or twice per sailing). A non-surge power strip is allowed. Soft drinks are not free, so bring your allowed cans or buy a soda package. Download the Carnival Hub app and bring a lanyard for your Sail and Sign card. Everything else you need is in the full checklist below.
Carnival Cruise essentials at a glance
- One Cruise Elegant outfit
- Lanyard for your Sail and Sign card
- A non-surge power strip
- Swimwear and water shoes
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Cans of soda or a soda package
- Magnetic hooks
- Motion-sickness remedy
Carnival is the relaxed, fun-first line: casual by day, with one or two Cruise Elegant nights and a soda policy that catches people out. This is a complete checklist: the Carnival specifics first, then everything else you need on board.
Carnival extras
- A lanyard for your Sail and Sign card
- A non-surge power strip · allowed on Carnival, unlike Royal Caribbean
- One Cruise Elegant outfit · cocktail dress, or shirt and dress trousers
- Your allowed cans of soda · soft drinks are not free, or buy a soda package
- Highlighter for the Fun Times daily
- The Carnival Hub app downloaded · schedule and paid chat
Swim, sun and beach
- Swimwear ×2 to 3 · one is always drying
- Rash guard
- Cover-up
- Flip-flops for the pool deck
- Goggles
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 30+ · some ports and reefs require it
- After-sun and aloe
- Sandals
- Water shoes · rocky beaches and wet excursions
Documents and money
- Passport or ID
- Cruise boarding pass or SetSail documents · printed or in the app
- Printed luggage tags
- Cash in small notes · crew tips, port taxis, bar staff
- Credit and debit cards
- Travel insurance details and copies of documents
- Printed excursion tickets
Cabin
- Magnetic hooks ×6 · walls are steel, this triples your storage
- Over-the-door shoe organiser
- A power strip or USB hub · check your line first: Royal Caribbean bans all strips, most others allow non-surge, a USB-only hub is always safe
- Highlighter for the daily program
- Small nightlight
- Command strips and clips
- Pop-up laundry hamper
- A small clip fan · inside cabins get warm
Clothing
- Tops ×1 per day
- Trousers or jeans ×2
- Casual outfits or dresses ×2 to 3
- A versatile layer or cardigan · everywhere on board is air-conditioned
- Activewear for the gym
- Comfortable loungewear and sleepwear
Formal and evening
- One dressy outfit per formal night
- Dress shoes
- A blazer or wrap
- Accessories or jewellery
Shoes
- Comfortable walking shoes for ports
- A second comfortable pair for the ship
Toiletries and health
- Travel-size toiletries
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant and skincare
- Lip balm with SPF
- Any medication · original packaging, in your carry-on
- Motion-sickness remedy and bands
- Hand sanitiser · norovirus is the enemy at sea
- Basic first-aid: plasters, painkillers, antacids
Electronics
- Phone and charger
- Power bank
- Travel adapter for ports abroad
- Headphones or earbuds
- E-reader or tablet with downloads
- Camera and spare memory card
- Spare charging cables
Day bag and excursions
- A packable day backpack
- Refillable water bottle
- Cash and a copy of your ID
- Snacks
- A light rain jacket
Entertainment and laundry
- Books or an e-reader
- Playing cards or a travel game
- Wrinkle-release spray
- A stain-remover pen
- Zip-lock bags · for wet swimwear
What not to pack
Items that are prohibited or pointless to bring. Some are confiscated at security.
- Surge protectors · banned, non-surge power strips are fine
- Irons, steamers and candles
- Large amounts of alcohol · one sealed bottle of wine per adult only
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
Soft drinks are not free
Unlike some lines, only water, iced tea, lemonade and basic coffee are included at the main bars. Bring your allowed cans of soda for the cabin, or buy the soda package (around 8 to 12 dollars a day) if you drink a lot of it.
Cruise Elegant, not black tie
Carnival's dressy nights are 'Cruise Elegant': a cocktail dress or a shirt with dress trousers is plenty. There are one or two depending on the length of your cruise, and the rest is casual.
The things people forget
- Your allowed cans of soda, drinks are not included
- A lanyard for the Sail and Sign card
- A non-surge power strip
- Magnetic hooks
What travelers wish they had brought
- A Cruise Elegant outfit you almost left home
- Water shoes for the beach ports
- Motion-sickness remedy
Frequently asked questions
What is the dress code on Carnival?
Casual most nights, with one or two Cruise Elegant nights where cocktail dresses, dress trousers, shirts and jackets are the norm. Carnival is the most relaxed of the big lines.
Can you bring soda on a Carnival cruise?
Yes. Soft drinks are not included, so each guest may bring a small quantity of cans in their carry-on on embarkation day, or buy a soda package on board.
Can you bring a power strip on Carnival?
A non-surge power strip is allowed. Surge protectors are banned and confiscated at security.