What I Actually Pack for a Caribbean Cruise: Clean & Travel-Friendly Essentials
- Tara Wilson
- Aug 26, 2022
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 12
Heading on a cruise to the Caribbean? Check out my fave travel essentials before you go!
**Editor's Note: This post has been updated to include more packing essentials I love! Recently added items & updates will include two asterisks - December 2025.
***Full disclosure: this blog post contains affiliate links that may be commissionable
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1. Reef-Friendly Mineral Sunscreen for Face & Body
Trust me, that Caribbean sun is strong, especially in the summertime! Even if you're one of the lucky ones that don't burn easily, you're definitely going to want some sort of non-toxic, reef friendly sun protection while on this trip.
This is by far my favorite face sunscreen. It's truly non-greasy, and the powder finish feels incredible on my skin. The matte finish makes it easy to apply under makeup, as well. There's never any white cast when I put it on, as is common with most mineral sunscreens (but I will note as a disclaimer that my boyfriend had a white cast in his scruff where he shaves his face that was difficult to rub in).
The body lotion does initially have a white cast that you will need to rub in - this is not a spray that you can spritz and go. However, taking that extra step to rub in this sunscreen is well worth it.
**Its EWG score is mostly based on the potential to have an allergic reaction to the essential oils/fruit extracts they use to naturally scent the product (vanilla, peppermint, mango extract, etc).
What I love about these two Bare Republic Mineral products is that they're Hawaii Reef Compliant, are made without parabens, pthalates or synthetic fragrances, and are made without the common harmful ingredients in most sunscreens (oxybenzone, homosalate, avobenzone, octocrylene, etc). If you don't want the white cast, I suggest that you don't buy Bare Republic's Clearscreen spray. Yes, it's the same brand, however it contains 4/6 active ingredients that the FDA deemed unsafe/ineffective to use.
I also love this brand's sunscreen! It's not greasy or oily, and doesn't go on chalky or leaves a white cast. It's reef friendly, made up of clean ingredients (great EWG score!), hypoallergenic, and also includes green tea extract & hyaluronic acid, which are great for your skin.
Even with sun protection, on a Caribbean cruise, you're most likely spending a lot of time in the sun and not reapplying the sunscreen as often as recommended (let's blame it on the unlimited cocktails). On our boat, the three pools, miniature golf course, rock climbing wall, surfer pool and waterslides were all up on the top deck, and the sun was strong.
To help my skin out, I made sure to apply this aloe vera gel on the parts that got heavy sun exposure (shoulders, chest and upper back) after we came back from being out in the sun. It definitely helped my skin last all five days without burning, and by day 3 I had several people with sunburns asking for this. This one is fair trade, 96% organic and deemed safe/low risk for use on both the Clearya app and the EWG Skin Deep database. Don't let a painful sunburn on the first few days keep you from enjoying the rest of your trip!
3. Passport & Vaccine Card Holder Combo
These passport holders made traveling and checking in at the cruise terminal so easy! I tucked in a portion of the passport so that the photo page is what it flips open to, had our vaccine card ready to go in the see-through pouch, and there were even spots in the holders for other important cards you'd like to keep safe (credit cards, health insurance cards, etc). We kept our Set Sail Pass for the cruise on the app, but if you wanted to print yours out, you could easily fold it and keep it in these holders as well. Both also come with RFID blocking protection!
Okay, this one may seem funny but hey! Those cabin rooms can be very small, and when everyone in the cabin is indulging in all-you-can-eat dining every day...let's just say, you'll be very happy you packed this. This travel size spray takes up no room, is very effective, and the Beach Bum scent (coconut, orchid, toasted praline) is amazing & also fitting for a tropical vacation!
I will note, that EWG doesn't give any of the Poo-Pourri products great scores, however, the ingredients are 100% fruit/plant essential oils and most of the health concern is just a possible allergy to the oils.
**Wanderlust 3-Pack Travel Size: three of my favorite vacation scents for this brand, including Beach Bum, Amalfi Flush (sugar, lemon zest, honey) and Parisian Poo (lavender, lily, tuberose), and a great value for the price!
These electrolytes are my favorite and definitely come in handy for those times when it's extra important to stay hydrated! In order to stay properly hydrated, you need both water and electrolytes, it isn't enough to load up on just water. However, many electrolyte drinks are very sugary and contain ingredients that aren't good for you, which is where these LMNT packets come in!
They're paleo and keto-friendly, don't have any sketchy ingredients, and are sugar free! Which is insane, because of how good they taste.
After flying & traveling to get to the cruise, then sweating from the heat and all of the physical activities on the cruise, as well as putting that unlimited drink package to good use - these electrolyte mixes are a lifesaver! Plus, if you order from this site directly, and choose "The Box" option, you get 30 sticks, free shipping, and samples of all their other flavors! We love the "Watermelon Salt" flavor, and had one with water every morning of the cruise.
**These electrolytes are very high in sodium, which is great for someone like me with adrenal fatigue. However, if you're watching your sodium intake, definitely use these sparingly - like one packet for every 2 to 3 16.9oz water bottles.
I also love these electrolytes!! The mocktini flavors are tasty, and my personal hack on pool days is mixing one of these flavors with a 16.9oz water bottle, ordering a Tito's on the rocks, and using this to top it off as a mixer. It tastes like a yummy cocktail, but I'm adding water & electrolytes to my drink and I'm able to stay hydrated, as well as avoid all the extra sugar (and hangovers!) that come with most cocktails.
These also only have 55mg of sodium per packet, which is way less than LMNT. The Mocktini variety pack includes: Strawberry Margarita, Pina Colada, Cranberry Cosmo, and Peach Bellini!
An iron & steamer will not be available in your stateroom onboard a cruise, and neither are allowed to be brought onto the ship, so this travel-size wrinkle releaser spray will definitely come in handy! Royal Caribbean does offer a convenient steaming/press service for clothes, and it's usually just a few bucks per clothing item, however for the majority of your stuff, this spray should work just fine! I also find a travel-size lint roller to be useful, too.
My aunt gifted me some packing cubes a few Christmas's ago, and I don't know how I ever traveled before without them! They keep everything organized in your luggage, which is helpful since my boyfriend and I usually share one large suit case. When we unpack, it's so easy to take out our individual clothing "cubes" and the toiletry "cube" and then put the suit case under the bed for more space in our stateroom. There are also plenty of affordable packing cube sets on Amazon, like this 8-piece set for less than $25!
Some also find it helpful to bring a hanging toiletry bag, like this cute one, to avoid clutter in the cabin bathroom.
Immune Boosters
**Vacationing on a cruise ship means sharing close quarters with thousands of people, so it’s not uncommon to encounter germs—or less-than-great hygiene. While getting sick isn’t inevitable, I like to be proactive about supporting my immune system before, during, and after my cruise. Here are the products I always bring to help stay healthy onboard:
I love these lozenges! They're organic, packed with vitamin C, free from preservatives and artificial flavors, and not to mention - the tropical flavor is delicious and on brand for a Caribbean cruise (because I love a good theme). I pack a bunch and will take 2 to 3 throughout the day.
Bee propolis is amazing for immune support thanks to its natural antiviral, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. This spray is even more effective because it also contains oregano oil—a powerful antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory that helps combat unwanted bacteria in the sinus cavities—along with xylitol to help ease congestion. I love that it’s applied directly to the sinuses, which helps reduce the risk of respiratory infections I may be exposed to while cruising.
I typically prefer thorough handwashing over hand sanitizer, but when I’m traveling, this is a must-have. This brand is EWG-verified, the coconut + lemon scent is fresh and perfect for a tropical vacation, and the compact size makes it easy to carry with me. I love having it on hand so I can quickly sanitize my hands throughout the day while cruising.
(The link above is also the best price I've found for this product online.)
This natural blend of vitamins, minerals, and herbs is powerful and effective at helping support my immune system during times of stress or potential illness. Since my daily multivitamin already contains zinc—and too much zinc can give me headaches—I usually take just one capsule per day instead of the full recommended dose. If I start feeling rundown or like I might be getting sick, I’ll increase to the full dose of three per day. This bottle contains 15 servings, which makes it perfectly sized for travel.
Other items to consider adding to your packing list:
-Tote bag for the pool/beach excursions
-Plug adapters & converters (click here for Royal Caribbean's electrical plug socket info)
-Cruise-approved power strip (there are a limited number of outlets in cabins)
-Reusable Water Bottle
-Three pairs of shoes: formal, sandals/slip-ons, and sneakers/closed-toed walking shoes (you'll need these for activities like the rock climbing wall)
-Travel Vitamins & Supplements Organizer (I just love the color of these!)
Unless you really want to bring your own, there are plenty of beach towels available onboard, so it's not necessary and can save you room in your luggage. Just head to a towel kiosk, check out the towels that you need, and be sure to return them to the kiosk when you're done.
For a full list of items you can't bring onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise, click here!
If you've been on cruises before, let me know in the comments what you found helpful to pack!
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