Most people are well aware of the basics you need to pack. You need plenty of clothes for swim, sight seeing, recreation, and dinner. Besides all your basic things here are some Disney Cruise Line packing tips on what to pack for your cruise.
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. You may also be able to borrow a wagon to help carry things at Castaway Cay.
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. We have a set and it saved us some money.
Something to Autograph: You can drop something off at Guest Services to have signed. Pillow cases, sheets, t-shirts, tote bags, hats, postcards, autograph mats, in addition to traditional autograph books can be left.
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 and theater. 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 may seem odd but you will get a daily guide to all the happenings on board and the schedule can get crazy. A highlighter will help you decide what activities you want to do and what time they are.
Baby Supplies Delivered: One thing you don’t have to pack are all your baby supplies. You can have them delivered to your room on the ship and save the money on luggage!
I’d love to hear from you experience DCL travelers. What items do make sure you pack on every cruise? What are your Disney Cruise Line packing tips? Thanks for sharing your advice.
