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 properly dressy formal night. Sort those two out, then pack for the FlowRider, the water park and a dressy evening.
Royal Caribbean extras
- A lanyard for your SeaPass card · you use it constantly
- A USB wall plug or a USB-only hub · power strips are banned fleet-wide, and wall outlets are few
- A highlighter for the daily Compass
- The Royal Caribbean app downloaded · chat, menus and your account
For the ship's activities
- A rash guard and swim shorts for the FlowRider · board shorts must have no metal studs, or wear the ones provided
- Water shoes for the water park and slides
- Socks for the trampoline and the ice rink
- Activewear for the gym, rock wall and sports court
- A dry bag for the pool deck
Swimwear and sun
- Swimwear ×2 to 3
- A cover-up
- A sun hat and sunglasses
- Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 30+
- After-sun
Evenings and dinner
- Smart-casual outfits for the dining room
- One cocktail-to-black-tie outfit for formal night
- Collared shirts or dresses · no tank tops or flip-flops at dinner
- Closed shoes for dinner
- A light layer for the cold dining rooms
- Loungewear and sleepwear
Ports day bag
- A packable day backpack
- A refillable water bottle
- Cash in small bills and a copy of your ID
- Snacks and a light rain jacket
Cabin
- Magnetic hooks for the steel walls ×6
- An over-the-door shoe organizer
- A highlighter and clips
- A small clip fan
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 bills · crew tips, port taxis, bar staff
- Credit and debit cards
- Travel insurance details and copies of documents
- Printed excursion tickets
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 sanitizer
- Basic first-aid: bandages, 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
What not to pack
- 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.