None of us have ever been on a cruise. Not me, not my partner, definitely not the twins. We leave next week and I am currently in full “did I forget something obvious” mode.
This is not a guide from someone who has it figured out- this is just what I bought, what I’m in the process of packing, and the things I learned while Googling and ChatGPT’ing after the kids went to bed.
Clothes: Here’s What I Decided on After Way Too Much Overthinking
I went down a rabbit hole trying to figure out how many outfits to pack for toddlers on a cruise and kept seeing “two outfits per day” everywhere….. so that’s what I’m going with.
Honestly it makes sense.
Toddlers are messy on a normal day. Add a pool, a buffet, and general vacation chaos and I’m going to need that backup outfit.
For a 6-night trip with two kids, that’s a lot of clothes. I tried to buy as much as I could on sale or in multi-packs because I am not spending real money on things that are going to get ketchup on them by day one.
WHAT I BOUGHT FOR EACH OF THEM
Everyday outfits– mix of tops, bottoms, and some one-pieces
Leggings and joggers for the travel day and probably any cold indoor moments
Pajamas for each night plus one extra because…. I just know
Zip-up hoodies– I kept reading that ships are really cold inside so I grabbed these
A lot of socks. More than I think I need. They always disappear.
One slightly nicer outfit each because apparently there’s a formal night?
Looking for outfit inspiration?
Here’s a couple of clothing items I purchased for the kids:
This 3-pack of comfy dresses for my daughter
This 3-pack of tank tops for my son (that I can mix and match with shorts we already have)
These zip-up hoodies that should be great for night time and indoors when it’s cooler
Shoes: I Did Not Think This Would Be a Whole Section But Here We Are
I genuinely did not plan on packing four types of shoes per kid. And then I started thinking through what our days are actually going to look like. Walking the ship, getting off at ports, eating dinner somewhere nice, pool time- and it kind of clicked that different shoes actually made sense for each thing.
Sneakers for walking around and any excursions we do at ports
Crocs because I am not fighting with shoe buckles 900 times a day on a ship
Sandals for warm weather days at port
Swim shoes– I read that the pool decks can get really hot and I didn’t want to find that out the hard way with two upset toddlers. Plus some port excursions require them!
These are the swim shoes that I got for the kids! They fit perfectly and I think they’ll do really well while chilling at the pool and if we hit the beach on a port day.
Swimsuits and the Thing About Swim Diapers That I Had No Idea About
I grabbed 2 swimsuits per kid and some rash guards for sun protection. That part felt pretty obvious.
But then I found out something I genuinely did not know and I’m so glad I looked it up before we got there:
If your toddler isn’t fully potty trained: swim diapers (including the ones specifically made for swimming)are apparently not allowed in the pools or splash areas on Royal Caribbean or most cruise lines. I had no idea this was a thing. Thankfully my twins are potty trained, but I literally had no idea this was even a thing.
Toiletries: Nothing Special, Just the Stuff I’d Be Upset to Forget
I’m not overthinking this section. I just made a list of things I use daily on the kids and went from there.
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Hairbrush and a million hair ties because toddler hair
Shampoo and body wash in travel bottles
Sunscreen
Toys and Comfort Stuff
My first instinct was to bring a bag of toys. My second instinct was also to bring a bag of toys.
I reeled it back in because I kept reading that kids on cruises are pretty naturally entertained by just being on a ship- new things everywhere, pools, food, all of it.
What I actually ended up packing:
A few small toys that won’t take up a ton of space in the cabin
A couple of books
One stuffed animal each. This felt important. New place, new bed, I want them to have something familiar when it’s time to sleep.
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How I Travel with My Kids Without Screens
We don’t even have tablets for the kids. If you’re looking for a way to travel without screens, take a look at my guide!
Formal Night and Theme Nights: We’re Going for It
I love a good theme, and apparently most cruise lines have at least a formal night and sometimes a white night or something similar.
Since I’m a typical millennial, I said “yolo” and got outfits to partake in the theme nights too!
One dressier outfit per kid for formal night
White outfits in case there’s a white night: I saw this mentioned a lot and grabbed something simple just in case
Where My Head Is at Before We Go
Genuinely? A little nervous, a lot excited, and very aware that I have probably forgotten something. We all know by know that I’m a former Flight Attendant, so I feel like I have the travel part down.
This is MY first cruise though, and packing for not only me, but 2 toddlers is kinda stressing me out lol
I’ve done my best to think through what our days will actually look like and pack for that, but I also know that toddlers will usually find a way to need the one thing you didn’t bring.
What I keep reminding myself is that they are going to be obsessed with this.
A huge ship, a pool, food everywhere, new stuff to look at every single day- in their world that is basically the greatest thing that has ever happened. And honestly? I think I’m going to feel the same way.
I’ll be back after the trip with everything! What we actually used, what I way overpacked, and whether taking 3.5-year-old twins on a cruise for the first time as a first-time cruiser myself was as wild as it sounds. I have a feeling it’s going to be a lot. 🚢
