Royal Caribbean Packing List
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to pack for a Royal Caribbean cruise: the usual cruise kit, but with two line-specific rules. Royal Caribbean bans all power strips and extension cords fleet-wide (since 2024), so do not pack one. Formal night leans dressy, from cocktail to black tie, and bare feet or tank tops are never allowed in the dining rooms. Bring a lanyard for your SeaPass card and download the Royal Caribbean app.
Royal Caribbean essentials at a glance
- Lanyard for your SeaPass card
- One formal or cocktail outfit
- Magnetic hooks for the cabin walls
- USB wall plug (no power strips allowed)
- Swimwear and a rash guard for the FlowRider
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Motion-sickness remedy
- Cash for gratuities and bars
Royal Caribbean's big, activity-packed ships come with two packing rules that trip people up: no power strips at all, and a genuinely dressy formal night. Sort those two out and the rest is ordinary cruise packing, all laid out below.
Royal Caribbean extras
- A lanyard for your SeaPass card · you use it constantly
- USB wall plug or a USB-only hub · power strips are banned fleet-wide, and wall outlets are few
- One cocktail or black-tie outfit · formal night, no bare feet or tank tops in dining
- Closed shoes for dinner
- Highlighter for the daily Compass
- The Royal Caribbean app downloaded · chat, menus and your account
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.
- Any power strip or extension cord · Royal Caribbean bans all of them fleet-wide since 2024
- Surge protectors · confiscated at security
- Irons, steamers and candles
- Drones · not permitted
- Tank tops or flip-flops for the main dining room at dinner
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
No power strips at all
Unlike most lines, Royal Caribbean bans every power strip and extension cord, surge-protected or not, fleet-wide since 2024. Bring a small USB wall plug or a USB-only hub instead to charge several devices from one outlet.
Formal night is genuinely dressy
Royal Caribbean's formal night ranges from cocktail to black tie: a suit or a cocktail dress is perfect. Bare feet are never allowed in any venue, and tank tops are not permitted in the main or specialty dining rooms at dinner.
The things people forget
- A USB wall plug, since power strips are banned
- A lanyard for the SeaPass card
- Magnetic hooks
- Cash for tips and bars
What people wish they had packed
- A rash guard for the FlowRider
- A light layer for the freezing dining rooms
- Motion-sickness remedy
Frequently asked questions
Can you bring a power strip on Royal Caribbean?
No. Royal Caribbean bans all power strips and extension cords fleet-wide, including non-surge ones, since 2024. Bring a USB wall plug or USB hub instead.
What is the dress code on Royal Caribbean?
Daytime is casual. Evenings are smart-casual, with one formal night that ranges from cocktail to black tie. Bare feet are never allowed, and tank tops are not permitted in the dining rooms at dinner.
Can you bring drinks on Royal Caribbean?
On embarkation day each adult may bring one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne, plus up to twelve 17 oz or smaller cans or cartons of non-alcoholic drinks per stateroom.
How many formal nights are on a Royal Caribbean cruise?
One on a short sailing and two on a week-long cruise. Each formal, or 'dress your best', night ranges from cocktail to black tie, while the other evenings are smart-casual, so pack one dressy outfit plus smart-casual clothes for the rest.