Packing Items When Cruising with Babies and Toddlers

As parents, we know packing all the baby and toddler gear is hard even for a short trip to the grandparents. This makes packing for a week long cruise look like such a daunting task. Stores are not easily accessible and being at sea seems so remote. Based on our experiences, here are packing items when cruising with babies and toddlers.

Cruising is a wonderful way to travel with the kids. Everyone can visit various destinations and unpack all that gear and luggage only once. By enrolling children in the kids’ programs or taking turns, parents can still enjoy most of the ship’s amenities – the pool, gym, casino, shows and onboard activities.

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Things to Pack on a Cruise with Babies and Toddlers

Our daughter celebrated her 6th month on a 7-day Alaska cruise over twenty years ago, went on a Southern Caribbean cruise at 17 months and a Mexican cruise at two years old. The hardest trip was traveling when our son was 14 months on an 11-day Hawaiian cruise along with our then 3-year old daughter. 

Of course, it was challenging with lessons learned but completely doable. Planning is essential when packing for a cruise.

We’ve done over 15 cruises with our kids and they are now young adults who actually still love to cruise. These are the items I would recommend to bring for a family thinking of cruising and a practical cruising with kids packing list. These are based on our experiences but is not meant to be a comprehensive list. 

Packing Items for Getting Around with Babies

1. Baby Carrier.  This was our preferred way of carrying our daughter during that first cruise and getting around the ship and on shore . Our daughter loved being carried everywhere in it.

She fell asleep on it many times and left our hands free to do other things. Depending on how old or heavy your child is, we considered a baby carrier a must have item.

2. Lightweight or umbrella stroller.  These umbrella strollers are ideal for the smaller spaces on the ship and on navigating ports like the Caribbean islands. They’re also easier to store in the cabins, easier to carry and easier to move around and fit in and out of elevators. 

While it may not be the most comfortable places for kids to sleep, our kids have taken some long naps on strollers no matter where they are.

Look into getting lightweight travel blankets and baby travel pillows for head and neck support to keep them comfortable. As you can see, my daughter looked content on her first cruise.

Packing Items for the Cabin

3. Crib sheets or blankets. Complimentary cribs or pack and plays can be arranged with the cruise line so it will be in your stateroom when you get there. We never took advantage of these because our daughter slept with us.

The kids eventually graduated to their own low level beds as toddlers. If you do use the ship’s crib or pack and play, bring your own crib sheets, pillowcases and blankets especially if your kids have sensitive skin.

4. Cleaning items.  We have brought dishwashing detergent (, brushes, and sponges for washing bottles, sippy cups, plastic bowls, and baby utensils. Use the travel bottles for toiletries (which are also great for baby shampoo and body soap) to fill up for the detergent.

5. Nightlight.  My kids are one of those people who can’t sleep in the dark and need a little bit of light for the room. So, a nightlight has been better option than a completely dark cabin or having the bathroom light on.

6. Baby Proofing Supplies: Cruise cabins are not usually childproofed. We know toddlers will explore many corners of your cruise cabin. So, bring outlet covers and other safeguarding and childproofing items (like cabinet locks and corner protectors) to ensure your child’s safety in the room.

7. Laundry detergent and Stain remover.  Stains are inevitable with this age group so we’ve always packed portable stain removers (the stick kinds) for everyone. It has always been put to good use and some clothes have been saved in the process.

In case of spills or accidents, having a small amount of travel-sized laundry detergent can be a lifesaver. We still pack travel detergent during our travels now.

8. Sanitizers.  Cruise ships are very thorough with their hand sanitizing procedures and sanitizing stations at entrances and food areas. Knowing how toddlers put everything they find in their mouths, I’ve had to wipe down every door knob, remote control, handles and light switches with sanitizing wipes as part of a ritual when entering cabins and hotel rooms. 

We actually still do this when staying in hotel rooms and cruise cabins. My kids have continued these habits now as young adults when traveling with friends.

Hand sanitizers (travel size) or hand wipes are always useful when changing diapers and on ports where a faucet is not readily available. Bring some sanitizing wipes when you go on shore excursions too. They come in handy with wiping so many surfac

Essential Items to Pack

9. Diapers and wipes.  Our rule had always been to bring 20% more wipes and diapers than our daily usage. It’s always better to have more than to run out while in the middle of the ocean. 

Don’t pack all of your diapers in one suitcase. Having no diapers is a nightmare in case of lost luggage. We’ve always scattered it among different luggages and carry-ons and luckily, it has worked.

If your little one will be spending some time in the kids pool or your own inflatable pool, don’t forget to pack some swim diapers, swim trunks or bathing suits.

10. Comfort Items.  Even at a young age, babies and toddlers need something familiar when taken out of their routine during trips. Be sure your little ones have their favorite toys, books, blanket or pacifier to have some comforts of home close to them.

11. First Aid/Pharmacy on the go.  Being at sea makes it even more vital to have a well stocked first aid and pharmacy kit. While there are over the counter items on sale aboard the ship, they will likely not have many (if any) infant items.

These kits should include neosporin, band aids, thermometer, nasal aspirator, saline drops, Tylenol, diaper rash cream, Benadryl at the very least. Please consult with your pediatricians on any prescriptions. Doctors are onboard the ship but will charge for the visit.

12. Entertainment items. Other than the comfort items, it’s also a good idea to bring a small amount of compact toys and cloth cover books. A few new ones to bring out for dinner, shore excursions, waiting in lines, bedtimes and playtime will go a long way. 

We didn’t have the Ipad or Iphone when our kids were younger but they were perfectly entertained with a portable DVD player at that time. Ensure you keep up with their feeding and nightly routines.

13.  Ziploc bags.  We’ve used various sizes of Ziploc bags to hold dirty diapers, dirty clothes, wipes, and snacks. Although, scented diaper disposal sacks can also come in handy when you’re on the go.

14. Sun Protection.  A baby-friendly sunblock is essential when walking around the ports or lounging at the ship’s decks. Of course, don’t forget to pack some for yourself too. If you’re visiting the Hawaiian islands or snorkeling during a shore excursion, please use reef safe sunscreens to protect yourself and the ocean and marine life.

A baby flap hat that covers their neck and ears especially during pool times or during shore excursions is also necessary. Our son always wore a rash guard during swimming times too.

Eating and Drinking Items for Babies to pack

15. Feeding Items.  The must have baby feeding items set always included bottles, sippy cups, small bowls, utensils and waterproof bibs. We’ve also made sure to bring these extra items in case something goes missing.

16. Bottles with disposable liners.  We brought these bottles with pre-sterilized disposable liners along and were so useful.  These will cut down on the washing so we would only wash bottles, nipples and caps. It was also great for feeding the kids during shore excursions.

17. Baby drinking water.  These baby water are essential for hydration at sunny ports and to mix with formula.   Bottled water onboard is expensive, We usually fly in or arrive to the port a day before the cruise embarkation to account for delays. One of our first trips is usually to a grocery store to stock up on water, juices and snacks.

18. Food and Snacks.  Our first cruise with a baby was a bit easier because I was breastfeeding my daughter and was supplemented with formula.  Along with regular formula, we’ve also brought along the Ready to Feed formula.  These were convenient for times when we didn’t have access to warming milk up or ran out of water.

But, we also brought our own jars or pouches of baby food.  Although, some ships were willing to puree food.

We were grateful as they got older since they could eat some food at the buffet and off the kids’ menu.  We’ve always brought their favorite snacks and juice though especially for port days and during shore excursions.

19. Small soft sided cooler.  We’ve tried to sail on cruise ships that had mini-refrigerators which came in handy for storing milk and juices.  Unfortunately, some cruise ships don’t always have one.

Some people have recommend using these collapsible soft sided coolers as an alternative to the ice buckets. We’ve used ours to take food and drinks during shore excursions.

Organizational Items

Organizing items in your cruise cabin when traveling with babies and toddlers can help make the most of the limited space and keep essentials easily accessible. We’ve stayed at some pretty cramped inside cabins in the early years so it helps to be organized.

20. Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer: Hang an over-the-door shoe organizer on the inside of the closet door or the bathroom door to store baby essentials like diapers, wipes, lotions, and small toys. The clear pockets make it easy to see and access items quickly.

21. Hanging Toiletry Bag: Keep toiletries and baby bath essentials organized and within reach by using a hanging toiletry bag with multiple compartments. Hang it on a hook in the bathroom or closet for easy access.

This is pretty useful especially with the limited shelf space in the cruise bathrooms. We still use these bags many years later and especially when traveling with a teen girl with all her facial and makeup essentials.

22. Travel Packing Cubes: Use travel packing cubes to compartmentalize clothes, diapers, and accessories for each family member. This keeps everything organized and easily identifiable, even in the limited drawer and closet space. We use the rolling method to fit as many clothes in each cube.

We started traveling with packing cubes when our kids were babies and my young adults still travel with them now. Try to buy different colors for each family member to easily identify them.

23. Travel Laundry Bag: Keep dirty laundry contained and separate from clean clothes by using a travel laundry bag. Hang it on a hook or doorknob to encourage tidiness and prevent clothes from piling up in the cabin. This becomes very useful as kids get older too.

More Items to Pack for Cruising with Kids

24. Inflatable Infant Pools.  Many cruise ships don’t have bath tubs. Our kids went in the showers with us. Some passengers have brought the blow up baby pools to give their kids showers.

We’ve also seen parents bring these inflatable infant pools at the side of the pool since most ships don’t allow non-potty trained kids or don’t have a section for babies in pools. It’s a great way for the babies to splash around in their own little pool. You can also bring these with you at the beach during shore excursions.

25. Formal night outfits.  There are two formal nights during a 7-day cruise. We’ve always liked dressing up and is a great excuse to dress up the little ones in their best outfits.

Who can resist little boys looking adorable in a suit and tie and little girls looking like little princesses? Cruises are also a great time to take those family photos while you’re dressed up.

Some ships now have baby packages for diapers, baby food, wipes, etc. to be delivered to your stateroom upon arrival and must be pre-ordered prior to sailing. Check with the cruise line ahead of time to see if they provide any baby essentials or have any specific guidelines for traveling with infants and toddlers.

These cut down on items you don’t have to pack. Some ships also have toys to borrow from their kids’ programs too.

Cruising was a major part of our family vacations when our kids were babies and toddlers. It wasn’t always easy but definitely worth it to see their joy in seeing new places to explore. It laid a travel foundation for many future trips. I hope this baby and toddler cruise essentials and packing list is a good start for your next cruising family vacation.

Remember, the key is to be prepared and adaptable while traveling and cruising. Every child is different (our two certainly were), so pack according to their individual needs and preferences.

Also, please consider your cruise itinerary and any specific activities you plan to do when packing these items. Our Alaska cruise needs were very different from our Caribbean cruises.

*Do you have any additional cruise packing items for babies and toddlers or anything to add on cruising with kids packing list?