Royal Caribbean Family Cruise Packing List (For a Tropical Destination)

This Royal Caribbean family cruise packing list covers everything you need for a stress-free tropical vacation — because pack wrong and you’ll spend your cruise hunting down forgotten essentials at overpriced gift shops onboard..

We’ve sailed Royal Caribbean multiple times as a family including the Navigator of the Seas to Mexico and the Serenade of the Seas to Alaska with our daughters Taylor and Cassidy. Along the way we’ve learned exactly what to bring, what to leave at home, and what most families forget that makes a huge difference onboard.

This Royal Caribbean family cruise packing list covers everything — for parents, teens, and kids — so you can spend less time worrying and more time making memories.

Essential Travel Documents

☐ Passports

☐ Birth certificates (if required)

☐ Cruise boarding documents

☐ Travel insurance information

☐ Credit card

☐ Driver’s license or government ID

☐ Printed copies of important documents

                                        Clothing                                        

For Each Adult                                                      

☐ 1 outfit per day                                                            

☐ 2-3 swimsuits                                                              

☐ Pajamas                                                                      

☐ Underwear and socks                                                 

☐ Formal night outfit                                                

☐ Light sweater or jacket                                          

☐ Comfortable walking shoes

☐ Sandals

          For Kids

☐ Daily outfits

☐ Extra shirt or two

 ☐ Swimsuits

 ☐ Pajamas

 ☐ Running shoes

 ☐ Flip-flops

Cruise Cabin Essentials

☐ Magnetic hooks (Royal Caribbean cabin walls are metal)

☐ Refillable water bottle

☐ Small first aid kit

☐ Night light

☐ Portable charger

☐ Power bank

☐ Travel-sized laundry detergent

☐ Ziplock bags

☐ Towel Clips

Pool & Beach Day Essentials

☐ Sunscreen

☐ Sunglasses

☐ Hats

☐ Beach bag

☐ Rash guards

☐ Waterproof phone pouch

☐ Beach toys for younger children

☐ Snorkel gear (optional)

Toiletries

☐ Toothbrush

☐ Toothpaste

☐ Shampoo

☐ Conditioner

☐ Hairbrush

☐ Deodorant

☐ Razor

☐ Makeup

☐ Contact lenses and solution

Medications

☐ Prescription medications

☐ Motion sickness remedies

☐ Pain reliever

☐ Allergy medication

☐ Band-aids

☐ Cold medicine

Electronics

☐ Phone charger

☐ Smartwatch charger

☐ Camera

☐ Portable battery pack

☐ Headphones

Family Cruise Extras

These are the items most packing lists overlook — but experienced family cruisers know they matter:

• ☐ Lanyards for SeaPass cards — the whole family needs these. Your SeaPass card is your room key, onboard payment method, and boarding pass all in one. A lanyard means you never lose it
• ☐ Small backpack for each child for port excursion days
• ☐ Travel card games — Uno, Skip-Bo, or a favourite family deck
• ☐ Coloring books or activity books for younger kids
• ☐ Small whiteboard or notepad for cabin door messages
• ☐ Snacks from home — having familiar snacks in the cabin saves money and keeps kids happy between meals

What Most Families Forget

Often Forgotten	Why It Matters
Magnetic hooks	Doubles your storage instantly
Waterproof phone pouch	Essential at the pool and beach
Portable charger	Outlets are limited and excursion days are long
Motion sickness medication	Better to have it and not need it
Refillable water bottle	Saves money and stays hydrated
Lanyard for SeaPass card	You’ll use this every single minute onboard
Night light	Interior cabins are completely dark
Towel clips	Saves your towels on windy deck days

Our Honest Royal Caribbean Packing Philosophy

After multiple Royal Caribbean sailings with our family we’ve learned that less is more — but the right less matters enormously.

Don’t over pack clothes. Do pack the cabin hacks. Don’t skip the motion sickness medication. Do bring a power bank. The difference between a stressed first-time cruiser and a confident experienced one often comes down to these small practical details.

Royal Caribbean takes excellent care of their guests — but the families who pack smart are the ones who spend their vacation relaxing instead of scrambling.

We hope this list helps your family feel completely prepared and ready to enjoy every moment aboard. 🚢

— Kevin, Angie, Taylor and Cassidy
Family Adventures Tool Kit

Hope this helps, 

(This is my first blog post, so I know it’s a little rough around the edges 😊)