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Topic article · Preparation

Packing list for a Caribbean cruise — what to bring and what’s not allowed

I packed too little of what mattered and far too much of everything else. Learn from my mistakes.

Must bring

What you can’t do without

  • Passport (valid for 6 months after you return)
  • Printed ESTA — checked at check-in
  • Printed cruise documents + booking reference
  • Credit card (VISA/MasterCard)
  • Travel insurance documents
  • US/EU multi-adapter + power strip
  • Sun cream SPF 50+ (expensive on board)
  • Seasickness patches, just in case
  • One “dressy” evening outfit per adult
  • Water shoes for the island day
  • Light shoes for dinner + sandals
  • Chargers + a spare power bank
  • Headache tablets, loperamide, plasters, ibuprofen
Leave at home

What not to pack

  • Bottled water (confiscated at security)
  • Your own alcohol (confiscated — buy it ashore instead)
  • Iron (not allowed on board — fire hazard)
  • Your own hairdryer (there is one in the cabin)
  • Too many smart dresses — two “dressy” at most
  • Too many books — there is wi-fi and there are apps
  • A full bottle of shampoo — use the cruise line’s
  • Cash in large notes
  • Too much swimwear — you can get laundry done

ESTA and passport — the most critical part

No ESTA, no cruise. It must be approved and printed — it is checked at check-in in the terminal, and that is too late to start panicking on an iPhone with 2% battery. Your passport must not expire within six months of your return.

Dress code — what do you need?

Day to day: freestyle — shorts and a t-shirt are fine. Some speciality restaurants and shows do have a dress code, though (trousers, closed shoes, a dress or a shirt). Dutch Tenors and the Captain’s Cocktail are “dressy”. Pack one slightly smart outfit.

Sockets & adapter

Norwegian Escape has both US and EU sockets in most cabins (the Haven certainly). Bring a multi-adapter anyway, and ideally a small power strip — there are never enough sockets.

“Print your ESTA, boarding pass and cruise documents on paper. The wi-fi in the terminal is fickle, and the battery is always dead when it matters.”— GM tip