Disney Cruise Packing List
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to pack for a Disney cruise: the usual cruise kit, plus the Disney-only extras. Most sailings have Pirate Night, so pack some pirate gear (a tee, a bandana, or a full costume). Bring an autograph book and a fat marker for character signatures, door magnets for the metal cabin door, a lanyard for your Key to the World card, and plenty for the kids. Everything else you need is in the full checklist below.
Disney Cruise essentials at a glance
- Pirate Night gear (tee, bandana or costume)
- Autograph book and a fat marker
- Door magnets for cabin decorating
- Lanyard for the Key to the World card
- Swimwear and reef-safe sunscreen for Castaway Cay
- Kids' comfort items and snacks
- One dress-up outfit
- Motion-sickness remedy
A Disney cruise is a family cruise with a few magical extras you will not find on any other line. This is a complete checklist: the Disney extras and the kids' kit first, then everything else you need on board.
Disney magic
- Pirate Night gear · a tee, a bandana or a full costume
- An autograph book and a fat marker · for character signatures
- Door magnets · the cabin door is metal, decorating is a tradition
- A lanyard for the Key to the World card
- Glow sticks for the deck party
For the kids
- Comfort items and favourite toys
- Snacks and entertainment for port days
- Swim nappies if needed · required in the pools for the not-yet-potty-trained
- Kids' sunscreen and hats
- A night light
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, a non-surge strip is fine
- Irons, steamers and candles
- Toy or prop weapons · including realistic pirate swords and guns
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
Pirate Night is worth packing for
Most Disney sailings have a Pirate Night with a deck party and fireworks. Dressing up is optional and Disney gives each guest a bandana, but a pirate tee or a simple costume makes it much more fun, especially for kids.
The little Disney extras
Bring an autograph book and a fat marker so characters can sign it, and a few magnets to decorate your cabin door, which is metal. These two tiny things are what regular Disney cruisers never forget.
The things people forget
- Pirate Night gear, at least a bandana
- An autograph book and a fat marker for characters
- Door magnets for the metal cabin door
- Swim nappies if you have little ones
What travelers wish they had brought
- A full pirate costume, kids love it
- More door magnets than you think
- A lanyard for the Key to the World card
Frequently asked questions
What do you wear on Disney Cruise Pirate Night?
Pirate gear: anything from a simple pirate t-shirt or the complimentary bandana to a full costume with a vest, sash and eye patch. Dressing up is optional but popular, especially with children.
What should you not forget on a Disney cruise?
The Disney-specific items: Pirate Night gear, an autograph book and a fat marker for character signatures, and magnets to decorate the metal cabin door.
Do you need to dress up on a Disney cruise?
Most nights are casual to smart-casual. There is often one optional dress-up night, but Disney is relaxed and family-focused, so formalwear is not required.