ladies' perfect disney cruise packing list

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Yes, it’s true. I still have the Disney Cruise on the brain. Can you blame me? We had a fabulous time. And the service, cleanliness, and food are just as impeccable as people say.

Even though I’ve already shared all the details about both the the family experience and why you might want to go adults-only, there’s still one more area to cover.

How do you go about cruise packing? What should you wear?

I definitely could have taken less on our cruise. Not knowing what to expect, I figured out based on trial and error what was worth bringing and what wasn’t. So I’m happy to share with you, just in case you’re trying to plan and figure it out for yourself.

Please note: most of this list applies to any cruise packing. But there are a couple things, like theme nights, that are Disney-specific. Check your cruise’s itinerary for details about how many formal nights to expect, etc.

Also, this one is for the ladies. Guys seem to be able to figure it out, and as long as you have a feel for what you want to do for theme nights, the kids’ packing shouldn’t be too hard.

Lastly, yes, you can do laundry on board the ship! Every floor has at least one laundry facility. As of this post date, laundry cost us $7 for one load ($3 each for the wash and dry cycles, and $1 for soap). With this list, you should be able to get through a week, but adjust as needed!

The Ladies’ Perfect Packing List

Clothes

I found most of my days to look like this:

Morning: I’d wake up and roam the ship, grab a cup of coffee, and eat breakfast in my pj’s – sweatpants and a t-shirt.

Mid-morning to afternoon: For the day, a swimsuit plus coverup works for pool time, or athletic shorts and a tank or tee are great for activities.

Nights: Theme nights, semi-casual dresses, or shorts and tops.

This whole formula includes:

2 dressy outfits
- one formal (as formal as you like – think sundresses to pantsuits to ballgowns)
- one semi-formal (a jumpsuit works well)
2 sundresses or jumpsuits
- nice enough for dinner – so not swim cover-ups
2 pairs of nice shorts + 2 tops that mix and match
- these are my favorite shorts for length and look lately
2 pairs of athletic shorts + 2 tees or tanks that mix and match
- these athletic shorts win because pockets
1 dressier jacket or cardigan
- I wish I had brought a light sweater (love this one) for the dressy days!
1 casual jacket or cardigan
- My denim jacket (similar by same brand) worked well
1 sweatshirt
- For casual walks around the ship
2 swimsuits and cover-ups
- It was nice to be able to alternate swimsuits; and I had one dress cover-up, and also a pair of shorts and a sun shirt
Pajamas
- Again, mine were sweatpants and a tee, so I could easily wear around the ship
Underwear
- 7-9 pairs is a good range if you don’t want to have to do laundry
- Sports, strapless, and regular bras
1 pirate costume – optional!
- I’m not kidding. People get really into it.
3 pairs shoes
- nice sandals (like these), casual flip-flops, heels or dressy shoes; may want sneakers for walking or working out

Need more cruise packing suggestions? Here are some of my favorite picks:

Toiletries

Note: I really like the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash they had onboard. They refill large permanent bottles, so you always have enough. But you can definitely opt to bring your own.

They even provide a reusable makeup remover cloth, which makes for easier clean-up in the evening.

Here are the other items I brought:

Toothbrush and toothpaste
Face wash, moisturizer, and other skin care
Sunscreen
Lip balm
Makeup
Medicines like Tylenol, Dramamine, Vitamin C
Other personal care products as needed
PooPouri – maybe unexpected, but trust me, it’s a good idea for a small space

Accessories and Miscellaneous

These are things that proved helpful for me!

Large water bottle and/or thermos
- - You can refill your own personal water bottle or thermos with drinks from the soda fountains and dispensers! I liked having my own, but I recommend one or the other. I brought both, and only used my water bottle.
- This one is the same print, but a different style as one I have that I LOVE
- This one is on my list to try next.
One book or other reading material
- Again, I brought multiple – and only ended up reading one. There’s plenty to do on the ship.
- I was reading this on the ship, and loved it.
- This book is one of my favorites, and now I’m working on this book by the same author.
Tea lights
- The dollar store, battery-operated kind, as a night light in the bathrooms so you don’t flood the room with light in the middle of the night
- These are less than a dollar each for a dozen.
Hat
- Cute one similar to mine
Crossbody bag for around the ship
- Just a small one for room key, ID, phone, etc. Mine was a lifesaver – just grab and go.
- Similar one to mine here
- Some also opted to bring a lanyard for the room key
Beach tote or backpack with zipper for the pool or beach
- To avoid getting extra sand inside!
- My favorite kind! I have the gigantic one.
Extra plastic bags
- For wet clothes or other items, as extra trash bags, etc. Grocery bags or ziplock bags are fine.
Water safe bag
- To stash your phone and valuables when you’re by the water. We used a reusable zip-top silicone bag.
Sunglasses
- Mine – love these! Got them from my FabFitFun box!
Camera or phone and charger
Cash in small bills
- As tips for room service, etc.