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Imagine being far from home and going to grab something from your suitcase that you really need, like a portable phone charger, a sun hat, or a first aid kit, only to realize that you forgot to pack it. How upset would you feel, especially if you have to buy a replacement while you are away, knowing you have the same item at home? This can feel incredibly frustrating. It will most likely cost more money to buy the duplicate item, so now you are buying something you only need temporarily and you’re left with two of them.
Making sure you have everything you need for a trip can feel overwhelming. Whether it is your first time on a cruise or you are a seasoned cruiser, it can be hard to remember everything. This ultimate Bahamas cruise packing list will help take the stress out of packing for your trip. From sea days to formal nights, shore excursions, and everything in between, I will walk you through the most important things to bring so you can feel confident you are ready for your Bahamas cruise vacation.
This packing list includes items that may seem obvious to pack, as well as some items that may surprise you. I have created this list based on my prior cruise experiences. While I have made some packing mistakes in the past, my more recent Bahamas cruises have gone off without a hitch due in large part to how prepared I was.
I want you to have the best cruise to the Bahamas too and I hope this ultimate packing list for a cruise to the Bahamas will help you feel less stressed during your packing process and ensure you have everything you need.
The Ultimate Bahamas Cruise Packing List
Travel Documents
I typically put all of my important documents, including my passport, birth certificates for any children, cruise line boarding documents, and cruise line luggage tags, into a Ziploc bag to keep them safe, accessible, and contained in one waterproof spot. When I need them, they are easily accessible.
Medications
You will want to pack any prescription medications as well as additional over-the-counter medicine you may need, such as Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Dramamine or motion sickness patches, Imodium, antacids, cough suppressants, and a small first aid kit. I also recommend packing some aloe vera gel, in case you get a sunburn. Sometimes the unexpected happens while traveling, so it is best to be over-prepared and hopefully not need to use anything. Many of these items may also be available at the first aid or health center onboard your cruise ship. However, we like to pack them with us to ensure we have the types of OTCs that we are used to and to save time from having to deal with visiting the health center when we know we can deal with minor issues on our own.
Reading Material / Leisure Activities
A cruise vacation is the perfect time to catch up on your reading list or favorite podcast. You will appreciate bringing along a book or e-reader as well as downloading your favorite music or podcast before your cruise starts. Don’t forget your headphones for your listening enjoyment! There is sure to be some downtime during your vacation, whether you find some time in your busy itinerary or schedule in time to just relax.
Other items we like to bring along with us to provide entertainment during downtime are a deck of playing cards and small packable games. These are perfect for keeping you and your travel buddies occupied and help create even more memories.
Waterproof Cell Phone Pouch
A waterproof phone pouch is a must for any vacation where you will be on the water. Whether you are spending time on the ship’s pool deck, going on a sea excursion, or spending the day at the beach, you will want a waterproof phone case to keep your phone protected. I, for one, do not feel comfortable leaving my phone unattended on the deck chairs or in my beach bag, so a waterproof phone pouch gives me the peace of mind I need to enjoy the day worry-free. It also allows you to keep your phone protected from water damage while you capture all of your beautiful Bahamas cruise memories.
Sun Protection
Keep yourself protected while you enjoy fun in the Bahamas sun! You will be in the sun for much of your vacation, so be sure to bring proper sun protection to keep yourself safe from the strong sun. A wide-brimmed sun hat will protect your head, while sunglasses will keep your eyes shielded from the sun’s rays. Most importantly, pack your own sunscreen. Applying sunscreen before spending time out in the sun is extremely important. Don’t forget to reapply as necessary. We also like to keep a good lip balm on hand to keep our lips moisturized.
Proper Footwear
You will want a pair of sneakers for exploring off the ship, flip-flops for walking to the pool, and water shoes for any water activities you may do off the ship. Don’t forget a nice pair of shoes for dinners that will go perfectly with your evening wear on formal night, if your cruise itinerary has one.
You will be walking around a lot on and off the ship, so whatever shoes you decide to pack, be sure you have worn them before the cruise to ensure they will be comfortable and will not cause blisters.
Tote Bag
Bring along a tote bag, beach bag, or backpack to carry your book, water bottle, phone, towel, and anything else you need when walking around the ship. You can just throw whatever you need into the bag.
This bag is also useful on shore days whether you decide to participate in an adventurous excursion or just relax on the beach.
Non-surge Protected Power Strip
If you can fit it in your suitcase, it is so helpful to pack a cruiseline-approved power strip without surge protection. The power strip will give you more electrical outlets than what is in the room. This is an especially good idea if you are traveling with a group and sharing a room with more than one person.
Cruise ships only allow certain types of power strips, so check the requirements before you pack. This is our recommended power strip for cruises.
Portable Charger (Power Bank)
Make sure your cell phone is always charged so you don’t miss out on photo opportunities and more! Pack a portable charger to throw in your tote bag or backpack. That way, you can document all of your memorable moments when you are on or off the ship, exploring and having fun.
Snorkel Gear
I recommend packing your own snorkeling equipment to explore those crystal clear waters in the Bahamas. Sometimes there is not a great option or easy access for renting equipment. If you bring your own, you will have the flexibility of snorkeling whenever you want.
Small Carry-On Bag
On embarkation day, you will board the ship, and it may be several hours before you receive your bags. This can be problematic, especially if you have children with you or if you want to participate in activities on the ship, such as going to the pool or hot tub. We like to pack a small bag that we can carry on to the ship. Pack anything you might need before you have access to the rest of your luggage, including a change of clothes, swimsuit, sandals, sunscreen, medications, and anything else you may need.
Cruise Outfits
A cruise to the Bahamas requires a variety of outfit options, including casual and formal wear. A good rule of thumb is to plan for two outfits per day, including one for the daytime, which may mean casual wear or a bathing suit and cover-up. When night falls, an outfit change into something dressier or even formal may be necessary. For a week-long trip, that means you will need about fourteen outfits. To help save on space in your luggage, you may want to consider wearing one or two evening outfits more than once as you will not be wearing the outfit the entire day. You might also consider packing outfits that are easy to mix and match.
For casual wear, we recommend packing t-shirts, shorts, skirts, rompers, or sun dresses. Pro tip: Pack breathable clothing for those warm Bahama days. Of course, you will want to bring your bathing suit and a cover-up. I recommend packing at least two, as I have found that a bathing suit takes quite a while to air dry in your stateroom, and I would rather put on a dry suit versus a suit that is still wet from the previous day’s activities.
Women may also want to pack a lightweight cardigan and jacket, long pants, and one or more lightweight dresses. Men may want to pack slacks, polo shirts, and a lightweight jacket.
Most ships are equipped with a gym, a walking or running track, sports deck, and may even offer various fitness classes, such as cycling. If you enjoy these activities, you will want to pack your workout clothes and shoes.
If you are participating in the formal night on the cruise, you will need to pack formal wear for that evening. Women should pack a nice dress or pantsuit, while men often wear a suit and tie. Sequins are a popular choice for the formal night!
Some cruise lines have different theme nights, such as 80s Night, white out, Pirate Night, or Caribbean Night. Check the details of your itinerary, as you may wish to participate in these dress-up nights and will need to pack accordingly.
Don’t forget your undergarments, pajamas, and socks. That would be awkward if you forgot those!
As you pack for your Bahamas cruise, your suitcase might seem to bulge at the seams. To ensure you can bring everything you need for all the fun activities, consider using packing cubes. Packing cubes are lifesavers for any traveler. Fabric cubes come in various sizes and help you organize your belongings efficiently and effectively.
Reusable Water Bottle
Staying hydrated while on your Bahamas cruise is so important and will help keep you healthy while enjoying the fun. Packing a reusable water bottle ensures that you have access to water whenever thirst hits you. Not only that, it helps reduce excess waste, which is helpful for the cruise lines and the environment. Refill your water bottle at a drink station and then carry it around with you on the ship and to your room.
Clothes Pins
This may be an item that you might not initially think of, but clothes pins are so helpful! Many cruise lines have a retractable clothesline in the shower. While you can certainly hang your wet swimsuits over the line, I have found that they tend to dry at a quicker rate when you hang them up with clothes pins.
Dry Bag
This is another item you may not think to bring that can be so helpful! Bring a few dry bags of different sizes, as you may find a use for all of them. For example, when it is time to disembark the ship, you may still have some wet clothes. Use a large dry bag to store them in your luggage while keeping the rest of your belongings dry.
Money
In addition to traveling with your credit cards, you will also want to carry cash with you. Many of the small local shops at ports throughout the islands only accept cash. They tend to accept US dollars, so you will want to be sure to travel with cash to purchase any fun souvenirs that catch your eye.
Toiletries
Each stateroom has a bathroom with some shelving space for your toiletries. You will have room for your toothbrush and toothpaste, razor, deodorant, hairbrush, makeup, contacts or eyeglasses, and feminine hygiene products. There is no need to use limited packing space for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, or lotion, as they are provided in each room. You may want to consider packing a small sewing kit for emergencies, as well as cotton swabs for unexpected needs.
Travel Liquid Laundry Detergent
This is another item that you may not think about bringing. You may not need it, but you will be so happy to have it if you do. Most cruise line ships offer self-service laundry rooms. However, not all of them do. If you are traveling for an extended period of time or if you have a clothing mishap, you will want to take advantage of the laundry services, if they are available. Another option is to wash your soiled items by hand in your stateroom bathroom sink. You will be happy to have brought along laundry detergent in these situations.
Magnet Hooks
Magnet hooks are one of the most cited cruise “hacks.” Cruise ship cabins can be extremely cramped, and many cruise line walls and doors are actually made of metal. Magnet hooks allow you to keep your cabin organized by utilizing the space on the door and walls. I like to keep all of our lanyards hung on the door and use the walls to hang day bags, hats, towels, and more. Packing a set of heavy-duty magnet hooks with you on your Bahamas cruise is a great way to keep your stateroom organized and use more space for storage.
Laundry Hamper
Another organization tip is to pack a laundry hamper. I recommend bringing one that can fit in the closet, so it does not take up valuable space on the cabin floor. You will want to keep your dirty and clean clothes separate, which can be hard to do especially when traveling with children and family.
Towel Clips
Towel clips come in handy on the pool deck and on beach days. You can use them to secure your towel to your deck chair or beach chair, and this will keep them from flying off when an unexpected breeze comes along.
If you want to add in some fun, pick out colorful towel clips that can help you identify your chairs more easily.
Beach Toys
If you are traveling with children and planning on spending some time off the ship at a beach, they will most likely want to play in the sand and build sand castles. If you have room for some small beach toys, you may save some money and the hassle of trying to find some when you are there. Pro-tip: if you do not have a lot of extra room for extras or a big bucket, just pack a few smaller items like a rake, shovel, and small bucket. There are also beach toy sets available that include a collapsible beach pail.
Lanyard
Lanyards with a cardholder are another cruise necessity. The lanyard and card holder are a helpful way to keep your stateroom keycard safe, on your person, and easily accessible. Keeping your stateroom key on the lanyard helps reduce the risk of misplacing the card. You will also need to use your card so often that having to take it out of a purse, wallet, or pocket numerous times a day gets old quickly.
Door Decorations
Many people decorate their cabin doors with fun magnets. This is done a lot around the holidays, for celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, girls’ trips, or to make it easier to find your room. You cannot use anything that will leave a residue or other marks on the door. Custom magnets and magnet sets are easily available for purchase online.
Some people even like to put a magnetic whiteboard on their door for people to leave messages for them.
When packing for a cruise to the Bahamas, there is a lot to remember. Having the right items or not having the things you need can make or break your trip. To help make sure I do not forget anything that I will need, I find it helpful to make a handwritten list or print one out and check it off as I go. To help you with this, copy and paste the list below into a Word document and add anything else you think you may need before printing.
- Travel documents
- Medications
- Reading Material / Leisure Activities
- Waterproof Cell Phone Pouch
- Sun Protection
- Proper Footwear
- Tote Bag
- Non-Surge Protected Power Strip
- Portable Charger
- Snorkel Gear
- Small Carry-On Bag
- Cruise Outfits
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Clothes Pins
- Dry Bag
- Money
- Toiletries
- Travel Liquid Laundry Detergent
- Magnet Hooks
- Laundry Hamper
- Towel Clips
- Beach Toys
- Lanyard
- Door Decorations
If you have been on a cruise before, what is your must-pack item? Leave a comment and let me know; I would love to add to my list.