Most people are well aware of the basics you need to pack. You need plenty of clothes for swimming, sight seeing, recreation, and dinner. Besides all your basic things here are some Disney Cruise Line packing tips.
Day Bag:
If you are planning to get off the ship in port you might want to bring a backpack or day bag to carry your personal things with you. Make sure you have some way to securely carry your documents and money. You may also want to carry a snack or bottled water depending on the port, weather, and activity. You may be able to use one of your carry on bags but think ahead when you are packing to be sure you have something that will be the right size and easy to carry.
Large Beach Bag:
This is highly recommended if you are traveling with a family. I brought our large beach bag by putting it empty on the bottom of my suitcase. It didn’t take up that much room but it was great to have on the trip. On board you may need it up at the pool area to carry sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, cover ups, etc. Towels are provided but you may have to carry around your other gear. I also used my large beach bag at Castaway Cay. It is a decent walk or a tram ride to the beach. In fact there is a lot of beach and areas to go. They provide towels but they are right when you get off the ship. We had to carry everything to the beach. I was glad I had the big beach bag to put everything in.
Snorkel Equipment:
If you have a snorkel set you should bring it with you. You can use it at Castaway Cay and there are lots of beautiful fish. All you have to do is get a free vest that is required in the snorkel area and you are good to go. We have a set and it saved us some money.
Something to Autograph:
There are characters on board that you will want to visit with. For some you can reserve ahead of time after you complete your online check in. Others you just get in line for on the ship. The personal navigator as well as the DCL app with have times and location. You might even want one of our 8×10 autograph mats, in addition to traditional autograph books. We enjoy taking our Disney Encyclopedia on every trip and continually add to our collection of autographs. We have each character sign by their picture. Keep in mind that on Star Wars and Marvel cruises you cannot get autographs of those characters.
Walkies Talkies:
I know that sounds old fashion but when you are out at sea you cannot use your cell phones. You can chat through the Disney Cruise Line app but some members of your party may not have a smart phone. There are also wave phones in the room that you can use but if they are lost you will incur a fee. If you have older children or a bunch of adults and you want to be able to communicate on board consider bringing these. That way you can check in on your kids, find out whose still at the pool, or anything else.
Matching Outfits:
The cruise line has many talented photographers on board. They don’t charge any sitting fees and have a variety of backgrounds to choose from. We took a family picture with an all white background. It came out great. Its not often we are all together and can get a professional family portrait. You are not required to purchase the pictures but you can. We purchased just a single 8×10 and it was $25. That’s not bad. They have a lot of other options of sizes and packages if you want more. The key is to plan ahead and be sure to bring coordinating outfits for your family. It will be worth the effort.
Something Warm:
You may be in the Caribbean or some place warm but don’t underestimate the power of air conditioning, especially in the dining rooms. They are kept quite cool so that you can enjoy a hot meal but you may feel cold in your sundress. Make sure you bring a sweater for yourself and especially the kids since they may be more sensitive to being cold.
Highlighter:
This one may seem silly but if you are a planner like me then you will look over the navigator every night and see tons of things you will want to do the next day. Since the activities are broken up into segments throughout the day you can highlight your favorites so you can glance at it later and see exactly what it was you wanted to do. To check out what the Navigator looks like and what may be happening on your next cruise check out these Navigators.
Magnetic Everything:
The doors are magnetic and the best way to stay organized is with some magnetic hooks. Some really strong ones. You will need the extra space. Also, most repeat cruisers decorate their doors with all kids of magnets. Magnets about their family, favorite Disney characters, dry erase boards, and more. It is fun to walk the halls and see all the cool ideas.
Nesting Luggage:
Your luggage can be kept under the bed once you unpack and if you can fit some pieces of luggage inside others it will help it to be put away under the bed and take up less space.
Small Rolling Carryon:
The last night of your cruise you will have to put all your luggage outside your room by 10pm. What are you going to do with your pjs, toiletries, last minute morning things? You need a smallish bag that is easy to take around. A carryon size rolling luggage is perfect. You will leave your room and head to breakfast with the rest of your belongings so be sure have a small rolling bag that will be easy to bring with you.
We have lots more ideas and tips so let one of our experts help you plan a magical cruise vacation on Disney Cruise Line. You’ll get lots of great tips, personalized planning services and all for FREE.
