Disney Cruise Packing List
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to pack for a Disney cruise: the usual cruise kit, plus the Disney-only extras. Most sailings have Pirate Night, so pack some pirate gear (a tee, a bandana, or a full costume). Bring an autograph book and a fat marker for character signatures, door magnets for the metal cabin door, a lanyard for your Key to the World card, and plenty for the kids.
Disney Cruise essentials at a glance
- Pirate Night gear (tee, bandana or costume)
- Autograph book and a fat marker
- Door magnets for cabin decorating
- Lanyard for the Key to the World card
- Swimwear and reef-safe sunscreen for Castaway Cay
- Kids' comfort items and snacks
- One dress-up outfit
- Motion-sickness remedy
A Disney cruise is a family cruise with a few magical extras you will not find on any other line. The Disney-only bits and the kids' kit come first; the ordinary cruise checklist follows below.
Disney magic
- Pirate Night gear · a tee, a bandana or a full costume
- An autograph book and a fat marker · for character signatures
- Door magnets · the cabin door is metal, decorating is a tradition
- A lanyard for the Key to the World card
- Glow sticks for the deck party
For the kids
- Comfort items and favourite toys
- Snacks and entertainment for port days
- Swim nappies for babies · note: non-potty-trained kids can only use the splash zones, not the main pools or slides
- Kids' sunscreen and hats
- A night light
Swim, sun and beach
- Swimwear ×2 to 3
- Rash guard
- Cover-up
- Flip-flops for the pool deck
- Goggles
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 30+ · some ports and reefs require it
- After-sun and aloe
- Sandals
- Water shoes · rocky beaches and wet excursions
Documents and money
- Passport or ID
- Cruise boarding pass or online check-in documents · printed or in the app
- Printed luggage tags
- Cash in small notes · crew tips, port taxis, bar staff
- Credit and debit cards
- Travel insurance details and copies of documents
- Printed excursion tickets
Cabin
- Magnetic hooks ×6
- Over-the-door shoe organiser
- A USB charging hub
- Highlighter for the daily program
- Small nightlight
- Command strips and clips
- Pop-up laundry hamper
- A small clip fan
Clothing
- Tops ×1 per day
- Trousers or jeans ×2
- Casual outfits or dresses ×2 to 3
- A versatile layer or cardigan
- Activewear for the gym
- Comfortable loungewear and sleepwear
Formal and evening
- One dressy outfit per formal night
- Dress shoes
- A blazer or wrap
- Accessories or jewellery
Shoes
- Comfortable walking shoes for ports
- A second comfortable pair for the ship
Toiletries and health
- Travel-size toiletries
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant and skincare
- Lip balm with SPF
- Any medication · original packaging, in your carry-on
- Motion-sickness remedy and bands
- Hand sanitiser
- Basic first-aid: plasters, painkillers, antacids
Electronics
- Phone and charger
- Power bank
- Travel adapter for ports abroad
- Headphones or earbuds
- E-reader or tablet with downloads
- Camera and spare memory card
- Spare charging cables
Day bag and excursions
- A packable day backpack
- Refillable water bottle
- Cash and a copy of your ID
- Snacks
- A light rain jacket
Entertainment and laundry
- Books or an e-reader
- Playing cards or a travel game
- Wrinkle-release spray
- A stain-remover pen
- Zip-lock bags · for wet swimwear
What not to pack
Prohibited, pointless, or more trouble than they are worth.
- Surge protectors · banned, a non-surge strip is fine
- Irons, steamers and candles
- Toy or prop weapons · including realistic pirate swords and guns
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
Pirate Night is worth packing for
Most Disney sailings have a Pirate Night with a deck party and fireworks. Dressing up is optional and Disney gives each guest a bandana, but a pirate tee or a simple costume makes it much more fun, especially for kids.
The little Disney extras
Bring an autograph book and a fat marker so characters can sign it, and a few magnets to decorate your cabin door, which is metal. These two tiny things are what regular Disney cruisers never forget.
The things people forget
- Pirate Night gear, at least a bandana
- An autograph book and a fat marker for characters
- Door magnets for the metal cabin door
- Swim nappies if you have little ones
What people wish they had packed
- A full pirate costume, kids love it
- More door magnets than you think
- A lanyard for the Key to the World card
Frequently asked questions
What do you wear on Disney Cruise Pirate Night?
Pirate gear: anything from a simple pirate t-shirt or the complimentary bandana to a full costume with a vest, sash and eye patch. Dressing up is optional but popular, especially with children.
What should you not forget on a Disney cruise?
The Disney-specific items: Pirate Night gear, an autograph book and a fat marker for character signatures, and magnets to decorate the metal cabin door.
Do you need to dress up on a Disney cruise?
Most nights are casual to smart-casual. There is often one optional dress-up night, but Disney is relaxed and family-focused, so formalwear is not required.
Can babies go in the pool on a Disney cruise?
Only toilet-trained children may use the main pools, spas and waterslides. Babies and non-potty-trained toddlers in swim diapers are limited to the dedicated splash zones, such as Nemo's Reef, so pack swim diapers but plan on the splash areas rather than the pools.
What is Pirate Night on a Disney cruise?
Most sailings have a Pirate Night with a deck party and, on many itineraries, fireworks at sea. Dressing up is optional and Disney provides each guest a bandana, but a pirate tee or a simple costume makes it far more fun, especially for children.