What to Pack When Working on a Cruise Ship in 2024

Nothing can quite prepare you for your first cruise ship contract. It’s a life changing experience in so many ways. What to pack for your first cruise ship contract can seem a daunting task. Packing up your life for months at a time into a suitcase is challenging even for the most experienced crew members. Here is a cruise ship packing list for crew members. This list includes some things you might not have thought of to help make your first contract as comfortable (and thus successful) as possible. Wondering what to pack when working on a cruise ship in 2024? This list has you covered.

I started working on cruise ships in 2011 and while there are some things that are still a staple go-to from way back then, a few things have changed, too. I’ve updated this list of what to pack when working on a cruise ship for 2024 excited for all the new staff joining this coming year.

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What to Pack When Working on a Cruise Ship?

Among the biggest things to consider when you are packing to work on a cruise ship is that your space is at a premium. So, while you are going to be gone for months at a time, bringing a lot of stuff doesn’t really make sense because you won’t have anywhere to put it. Most crew members will have at least one roommate and the worlds smallest bathroom. Exactly what kind of cabin you have will depend on your rank and if you’re an officer how many stripes you have. In your room expect bunkbeds, one closet that’s about 2 feet wide (if even), with a couple drawers on the bottom, a shelf on top, a couple drawers in a desk, and a drawer under the bottom bunk. Bringing everything you own just doesn’t make sense when you are packing to work on a cruise ship! There are some things that will make your life onboard a bit better though.

Did You Know?
You don’t have to pack all this with you because cruise ship crew can get mail including packages from Amazon. The exact procedure depends on which company you work for, but getting packages delivered to the ship is becoming more and more common (and essential) for cruise ship crew members.

Things to Organize Your Cabin on Your First Cruise Ship Contract

• Shower Caddy
• Over the Door Shoe Organizer
• Over door coat hanger
• Peel & Stick Utility Hooks
• Laundry Bag

Organizing that itty bitty space can help keep you sane. Each item here has made a difference for me organizing my cabins over the years. Most recently I’ve been rooming with my husband (yes – sometimes you can work on a cruise ship as a couple!) but it still takes some smart use of space to make it function well for us.

Last contract the shower caddy was my big and exciting purchase. Before that we had a fun little adventure of whose shower stuff would get to live in the tiny little corner shelf. Inevitably we would try to put too much in it, the ship would rock, it would all fall down. Better plan is to increase the storage!

Other things on this list like the utility hooks, over the door coat hangers, and shoe organizers are really about how to use your closets and behind door spaces the best that you can to store your things and keep it organized.

The laundry bag is important because you will most likely have to do laundry on your own onboard. (Some crew can get their laundry done for them, but that’s mostly for higher ranking positions). I’ve carried my laundry to the crew laundry room in a pillow case before – not the worst but definitely not the best.

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Bonus Fun to Bring: Instant Camera

I used to think these were a complete waste of money when you can just take pictures on your phone. How many of those pictures from my phone have I printed? Basically none (hence why I’ve gotten a digital picture frame). Instead over my fridge we have pictures that friends have taken with these instant cameras. If it’s in your budget these are fun for you and your friends.

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Things To Make Your Crew Cabin More Cozy + Live with a Roommate

• Pictures of Family and Friends – I’m loving this digital picture frame (go ahead and call me old school)
• Twinkle lights
• Cozy blanket and/or nicer sheets
• Calendar
• Ear Plugs
• Eye Mask
• Noise Cancelling Headphones
• *Snack or candy that makes you think of home.

When I asked my husband – who has been working on cruise ships for 16 years – the most important thing to bring onboard (aside from your necessary medical certificate, paperwork, and clothes) he got a bit sentimental and said “something from home”. Whether that something for you is pictures from home, if it’s a type of candy, a movie on your hard drive, something from home can help. My candy from home – I used to bring maple candies with me (I’m from Vermont where maple related items are a big thing).

I used to bring a whole pile of pictures and put them up in the cabin. Then I moved to bringing a couple of framed pictures. Now I’ve moved into my digital picture frame part of life. Takes up the same space as a frame but then you can have all sorts of pictures on it.

Did You Know?
When you work onboard a cruise ship as a crew member the company will provide you with sheets, a blanket, towels, and pillows. So this is not something you need to bring. But, like most aspects of your life onboard the quality of bedding you get depends on your rank onboard.

Thoughts about ear plugs and eye masks:

• You don’t get to choose where your cabin is. I once had a cabin right next to the busiest crew elevator. Even with the hallway door closed you could still hear the little “ping” of the elevator. If you are a light sleeper some light ear plugs (that will help with transient noises but aren’t so bulky that you would miss an alarm going off) can be key.
• If you have a roommate your bunk will have a curtain you can close to give you some privacy. It does not block out all light though, so if you are a light sleeper I would recommend an eye mask.
• Bonus – the eye mask is great for traveling to and from the ship! I never fly without an eye mask. It makes all the difference in sleeping on a plane.

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What to pack as Cruies Ship Crew 2024- Toiletries

You should bring enough to last you at least a couple of weeks of:

• Laundry detergent sheets for travel
• Hand soap
• toothpaste
• anything you need for showering

Onboard not all toiletries are supplied for you. Exactly what the company supplies is different from company to company, but in general plan that you will supply your hand soap, any hair product you need, toothpaste, and often, laundry detergent.

The good news is that you don’t have to bring it all onboard with you when you embark! You will be able to go ashore to stock up or you’ll at least be able to get mail (including packages from Amazon).

Bring at least a little bit of the basics onboard with you and figure you can either go ashore to buy the rest or order it online. Some cruise ship crew also prefer to pack it all with them and figure the space they save by not having to take it home can be for souvenirs.

What to Pack When Working on a Cruise Ship: Clothing

• The essentials such as underwear and socks
• Position dependent things to go with your uniform like undershirts and panty hose
• Sunglasses
• warm clothes (like for Alaska) and cool clothes (for Caribbean or hot weather) – bring the basics of both!
• Maybe shoes to go with your uniform (see below)
• Basic elements for costumes
• Something at least a little bit dressy
• Clothes – lazy clothes, clothes to go ashore in, gym clothes
  • Try to have your clothes have multiple purposes whenever possible

You’re going to need to bring a lot less clothes to the ship than you would expect when you’re living there for months at a time. This is because nine times out of ten if you are working onboard a cruise ship you will have a uniform that you are wearing every day.

Depending on your role you may need to bring certain things to go with your uniform. Maybe your uniform will require white sneakers (been there) or black pumps (yup) or dress shoes. Maybe you need a black leather belt. Or, like my husband you are required to wear safety shoes. The company might provide you with those safety shoes but they might be hugely uncomfortable. Do the best you can to find out what your uniform will be prior to joining so you can bring the appropriate needed pieces (the majority of your uniform should be supplied by your company) – as well as the things that go with it. For instance, if your uniform calls for white sneakers/trainers, only bringing black socks wouldn’t make sense.

There are the other clothes you’ll need to – basics like jeans, t-shirts, underwear, and socks.

It’s best when you can make pieces work for multiple purposes, but in general the places you go without a uniform are: 1) Ashore and 2) Crew areas (aka, the crew bar). So, a combination of useful going ashore clothes and clothes for crew areas is recommended.

On the list above I mention clothes for warm climates and cold climates. Bring at least the basics for both! Why?

Did You Know?
Even if you are assigned to a contract to a specific ship doing a specific itinerary – the company can change that mid-contract depending on the needs of the company. So, you might start a contract in Alaska only to get transferred to the Mediterranean. This doesn’t happen that often but it can happen.

I used to always recommend bringing formal clothes onboard a cruise ship. Dress codes onboard have drastically shifted within the past 10 years. For most cruise lines in 2024 “Formal” nights are only reserved for things like New Years Eve. Now even the dressier nights are more in line with a Cocktail Party than a Black Tie Event.

Why Cruise Ship Crew Should Pack Costumes

Costumes? What? Yes! Cruise ship crew love an excuse to party.

A few things to think about – are you going to be onboard during Halloween? St. Patrick’s Day? Valentine’s Day? New Years’ Eve? Christmas? Think about what holiday’s you will be onboard for and bring clothing that goes with it. Crew parties tend to be a (big) part of crew life. They won’t all be themed, but around the holidays there will most likely be something going on.

In addition to holiday parties, there will likely be other parties along the way but to start with bring some things for the major holidays.

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What to Pack When Working on a Cruise Ship in 2024: Gadgets

• A Watch
• Amazon Kindle
• Universal adapter
• External Hard Drive or a Big-Ass Thumb Drive
• Portable USB Charger
• Headphones
• Cell-phone plan that works internationally (I use Google Fi) OR a phone that can take an e-sim
• Potentially: small portable speaker

Gadgets have increasingly become a bigger part of our lives and having the right collection of them onboard can be a lifesaver. Not everyone will need all of these. Maybe you aren’t much of a reader? A kindle probably isn’t for you. Don’t like to watch movies or tv shows – you probably don’t need the hard drive. What to pack when working on a cruise ship 2024? Some of these gadgets can be helpful.

If you are in a passenger facing position, a watch can be great so you don’t seem rude looking at your phone. If you like to read books, a Kindle can make a huge difference.

The Universal Adapter may or may not be needed for you. Most ships will have US and European outlets in them, but you have to get to the ship and will likely need to charge something along the way. And, take it from the girl that bought a fan in Australia only to get onboard and not be able to use it – when you travel the world, you will end up needing it at some point during your travels. Having one in your bag is a good plan.

You might wonder why you need an external hard drive – well, you might be used to watching Netflix or Amazon Prime? Once you get onboard you can kiss those days goodbye, thanks to ship internet. (Internet onboard is getting better, but I still wouldn’t plan on streaming). However, bring a hard-drive with your favorite TV shows and you can still binge-watch Friends all day long.

• Having a cell phone plan that works internationally can make your contract so much better!
  • A basic plan that has texting and data globally is incredible. Affordable options for this have changed travel forever.
    
  • I have Google Fi _{^{(referral link)}} and have found it to work excellent in countries around the world. Note- my referral code will get you (and me) $20 off when you switch! I wrote about it a bit more in this post when I had cell phone service 5 miles off shore from South Africa.

• Still Have Some Space? Some Other Helpful Gadgets
  • Portable Speaker. These come in all shapes and sizes. We have the Bose Soundlink II and like it. Can be great to bring to crew areas for background music. Is also helpful when you’re stuck on a ship during COVID and all the music around the ship is turned off. Yup.
  • Nintendo Switch – I don’t normally suggest bringing video games, but I quite like playing Mario Kart, and I definitely wished we had this during the aforementioned shut-down.

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Other Helpful Things to Pack When Working on a Cruise Ship

• Credit Charge with no international fees
  • Going out of country? Get a credit card that doesn’t charge for international transactions. You might as well also get a card that will reward you and give you points!
  • While you should have a credit card for travel, be smart with it. Always pay your balance off in full every month and don’t spend more than you can afford.
  • Take advantage of sign-on bonuses! Usually the first year is free and you can rack up some serious airline miles, like with the Chase United MileagePlus card or points like with the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

• A bag/small backpack to go ashore with. Away Travel has a number to choose from with some excellent travel features. They also have awesome hard shell suitcases that have so far held up (without hardly a scratch on them) for 15+ international trips. So far so good! Plus, use my referral link for $20 off!

• Extra luggage bag, like a a
  • Camera
  • most people have a pretty good camera phone at this point. However, if you want to get the extra great pictures, grab yourself a fancier camera. There’s a huge selection for this depending on how much you want to spend, but getting a good picture of St. Peter’s Basilica at night is probably best done with something more than your camera phone.