mom holding a baby on a cruise ship looking over the side of the railing at the open water with a toddler running by them
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Packing for A Cruise With a Baby (Baby Cruise Packing List)

ByChelsea

Taking your baby on a cruise is a wonderful way to explore new destinations while still enjoying the comforts and amenities of a ship.

Packing for a baby on a cruise can be a little intimidating so I’m here to make it easier for you. This guide will give you all of the essential items as well as a few things you might not have thought of while keeping you organized.

mom holding her baby on the deck of a cruise ship with water in the background


Disclaimer: Some of the links in this baby packing list for a cruise vacation post are affiliate links (including links to Amazon) providing us with a small commission if you make a qualifying purchase – at no extra cost to you. We greatly appreciate your support! As always, we share our honest opinion and everything is written by us.

Here are cruise essentials with a baby:

Short Packing List for a Cruise With a Baby

mom with a toddler in a stroller and holding a baby on a cruise ship with the cruise's smoke stacks in the background

Travel Documents

  • Passports or Birth Certificates: If your cruise departs and returns to the same U.S. port, known as a “closed-loop” cruise, US citizens generally do not need a passport. In this case, you can usually travel with a government-issued photo ID and a birth certificate. I do recommend getting a passport if possible because you’ll need it in the event there is an emergency that requires you to fly back to the U.S. from a foreign port.
  • Insurance Documents: Health and travel insurance can give you peace of mind while at sea.
mom holding a toddler on a cruise ship looking at the water

Diapers and Hygiene

  • Diapers & Wipes: Calculate how many diapers you’ll need per day and pack extra for unexpected delays. Some cruise lines carry diapers and wipes on board, but you don’t want to risk it. Even if they have diapers and wipes on board, they are much more expensive. If you’re flying, you can do a pick up order at WalMart or Target after flying in and before embarking on the cruise. You could also vacuum seal the diapers if you’re low on space.
  • Swim Diapers: Cruise ships actually do not allow kids that aren’t potty trained to be in the pool (this is actually a maritime regulation, not the cruise ship). Some cruise lines have alternative designated areas for kids who aren’t potty trained yet, like a splash pad. You’ll want to check ahead of time if your cruise ship has anything like this. Also, you may want swim diapers for your excursions off the ship.
  • Portable Changing Pad: A small changing pad made for travel is nice to have for quick changes anywhere on and off the ship. You can also buy disposable changing pads that are even more convenient, especially if you’ll be flying with your baby to embark on the cruise.
  • Diaper Disposal Bags: These are great for odor control for dirty diapers in small spaces like a cruise ship room. You can also use doggie poop bags or bring your own grocery bags.
  • Diaper Rash Cream
  • Baby Soap and Shampoo & Lotion: Bring gentle travel-sized toiletries for bath time. You can use your normal full-size products and put them in these travel-sized bottles if you want to save room.
  • Inflatable Baby Tub: Cruise cabins often have showers, so an inflatable tub can make bathing easier.
  • Baby Towels & Washcloths: This is a personal preference. We are actually ok using the cruise ship’s towels and washcloths, but some parents prefer to bring their own.
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect Repellent
  • If you want to keep organized in your room, an over the door organizer is a good option for adding some storage space. We put things like diapers, wipes, and baby outfits in it.
  • Baby brush
baby in a double stroller on a cruise ship

Feeding Supplies

  • Formula or Breast Milk Supplies: If you are pumping, I recommend packing these breast pump wipes.
  • Baby bottles or sippy cups
  • A cooler with a freeze pack inside helps keep bottles and snacks cold on the go
  • Snacks & Baby Food: Personally, we find that the cruise ship has plenty of food options and we don’t find that we need to bring our own food. However, if your baby has allergies or is picky, you might want to bring in some of their favorite snacks/food. I do typically bring a ziploc bag or a small container to grab some Cheerios from the main dining room in the morning for snacks throughout the day.
  • I bought this travel drying rack with a bottle brush and it was a game changer. Not just for cruises, but also for hotel rooms and basically anywhere we traveled. I absolutely love this product! Then I pack baby dish soap inside a travel container.
  • We love having these disposable placemats on cruise ships.
  • Bibs
  • We have never had an issue getting high chairs at any of the restaurants on a cruise ship, so we don’t pack any sort of high chair.
family of four posing on a cruise ship. dad holding a toddler and mom holding a baby with the water and sunset in the background

Clothing

  • Onesies, Pajamas & Layered Outfits: While it will more than likely be hot at our destinations (unless you’re on an Alaskan cruise), the ships are often very cold. As far as how many outfits to pack, I generally pack 2-3 outfits per day. Many babies will need a change of clothes throughout the day, so I’m not shy about overpacking outfits. I don’t want to have to do laundry on board.
  • Sun Protection: Rash guards and a baby-friendly sun hat are really nice for keeping your baby safe from the sun
  • Formal Wear: Some cruises have formal nights. If you’d like to attend, it will be fun to get your baby all dressed up, too!
  • Bathing Suit
  • We also love bringing sunglasses
  • A bag for dirty laundry is a nice way to keep dirty clothes separate from clean clothes.
  • Shoes and/or water shoes if they are walking
baby girl on a cruise ship smiling for the camera
toddler on a cruise ship in between two surfboards that are showers for the outside pool deck
baby on a beach in the bahamas playing with the sand

Sleep Essentials

  • Travel Crib or Pack ‘n Play: Some cruise lines provide cribs upon request. We do like to bring our own just because we have it and we know it’s clean. We have used a hotel crib in the past and we just bring our own travel sheets.
    • As far as travel cribs go, the Guava Lotus is *the* travel crib. It’s made for travel, it’s lightweight, and easy to carry on airlines. It is expensive, though. If you are going to be traveling a lot while your baby is young, then it’s worth the splurge. If you’re not, then a cheaper option might be a better fit.
  • A lot of parents swear by the Slumberpod. Our kids have slept fine without it, so we don’t bother to bring it, but if you want to stay up after your baby goes to sleep, it might be worth packing.
  • A Sound Machine is crucial for us on a cruise ship. Other passengers often stay out well past baby’s bedtime and can be noisy getting back to their rooms. A sound machine is the best way to block out noise and prevent wake ups.
  • Night Lights can be nice to have in the middle of the night. If you have an interior room, it can be very dark.
  • Sleep Sacks if you use them
  • Favorite Blankets & Stuffed Animals: If your baby has a favorite comfort item, you may want to pack that
  • Pacifiers if your baby uses them
a toddler on a cruise ship relaxing on a blue pool chairs

Medical Items

The cruise ship may have some of these items, so it really is up to your discretion.

  • Thermometer, Baby Pain Reliever & Medication (this is not medical advice and I am not a medical professional, use your discretion based on your doctor’s recommendations)
  • Any prescription medication your baby might be taking
  • Band Aids

Entertainment

  • Small toys & books to keep your baby entertained during down times
  • Blanket: We like to pack a light blanket for a clean space to play during downtime.
  • If you do screen time, you’ll want to pre-download things on your tablet/iPad
dad holding his toddler on a cruise ship with a person wearing a parrot costume

Gear for Getting Around the Cruise Ship and Excursions

  • Baby Carrier: If you like carrying your baby, definitely bring along your baby carrier. It’s a convenient way of getting around the cruise ship.
  • Lightweight Stroller: A compact stroller and a baby carrier are ideal for both getting around tight spaces on the cruise ship and around port. We always take and use our Zoe stroller. I have an entire post dedicated to why we love our Zoe stroller so much for traveling. We did try to bring an umbrella stroller on one of our cruises and we didn’t like it. It got stuck on every little bump on the floor.
  • Portable Fan: For hot weather, a clip-on fan can help keep your baby cool
  • Backpack Diaper Bag: I prefer a backpack diaper bag so that I don’t have to carry it. It also makes it easy to keep things organized.
  • Painters Tape is not only be entertaining for kids to play with, it can also help you baby proof your room. You can use it to cover outlets, tape things shut, secure loose wires, and more.
baby and a toddler on a red couch with palm tree wallpaper behind the couch

By preparing a well-rounded baby cruise packing list, you’ll be set for a fantastic vacation! With everything from diapers to shore excursion gear covered, you can relax and enjoy quality family time on your voyage. If your next cruise involves a baby, I hope that this list helped you feel confident and prepared!