Having the right strategy when you pack for a Caribbean cruise is crucial. But can you pack everything you need into just one carry-on? Absolutely, and here’s how.
Packing for a seven-day Caribbean cruise, and doing it well, is not the simplest of tasks. Packing for multiple occasions, beach excursions, dealing with hot, humid weather, as well as limited storage space in cruise cabins, is just the beginning.
Packing challenges
Cruisers also have to deal with packing for both casual and formal nights, cruise-specific packing restrictions, carry-on liquid restrictions, preparing for unexpected weather, wet and sandy clothes, and limited access to laundry. After all that, let’s not forget the over-arching focus is to avoid overpacking. Ready to give up? Don’t. It’s not as hard as it seems.
Traveling with just a carry-on has many benefits. Avoiding lost luggage, quicker boarding and disembarkation, and no checked baggage fees are just a start. So if packing with just one carry-on is the goal, this stress-free, practical, minimalist and packing strategy is here to help.
“I learned the hard way that packing less is more on my first Caribbean cruise,” says Georgia Konidari, founder of the travel platform World Wild Schooling. “Back then, I dragged around a huge suitcase with clothes I never wore. Now, I swear by a single carry-on, and I only bring a few outfits that can be easily repurposed. My go-to packing hack is an oversized scarf, which I use as a sarong, a wrap for colder evenings and even a beach blanket. I also discovered that rolling my clothes saves a lot of space and keeps them wrinkle free.”
Choosing the right carry-on
The best size and type of bag for carry-on cruising can vary somewhat by personal preference. But the basics are universal. Remember that following cruise ship regulations is one thing, but travelers should also get through the airport.
The best type of carry-on will satisfy both requirements, allowing travelers to go from plane to ship without any issues. With this in mind, a carry-on should be lightweight, durable and easy to maneuver while still being small enough for limited cruise ship space.
Opt for a 21- to 22-inch carry-on. A hard-shell suitcase will offer more protection for personal items, while a soft-sided bag will potentially squeeze into tighter spaces. However, hard-sided bags also have the added bonus of being water resistant, which can be a concern when on a ship. Expandable compartments are a dependable way to get some extra space, and above all, keep the weight under 7 pounds to help keep within weight limits.
Another consideration is how easily the bag moves. Spinner wheels with four 360-degree spinner wheels make for the easiest navigation through airports, cruise terminals and narrow ship hallways.
Some travelers prefer built-in organization, like internal compression straps and separate compartments for built-in dividers. Other travelers opt for separate organizations such as compression cubes which can make for easier and more individualized organization.
Karen Kelly, a food and travel writer from Seasonal Cravings says, “I love using packing cubes in my carry-on when traveling to the Caribbean. This helps me stay organized, makes things easy to find and keeps shoes away from clean clothes, etc. Everything has its own cube including toiletries, electronics and important documents.”
The capsule wardrobe
This wardrobe is for a full, seven-day week of cruising. Packing cubes and compression bags will help create the space needed to get everything into a carry-on-size bag. Lightweight, wrinkle-resistant fabrics are key to making it all work. Shoes should be placed at the bottom of the suitcase.
Daytime wear
Pack three to four lightweight tops such as tank tops, blouses, polos and t-shirts. Include two to three bottoms, such as shorts, skirts and lightweight pants, and one light sweater or wrap for chillier evenings or areas. Women should remember one to two casual dresses or rompers and one swimsuit cover-up.
Evening and formal night
For casual evenings, pack one to two dressy tops and a nice pair of pants or a skirt. For formal evenings, a chic, wrinkle-resistant dress like a midi or maxi dress or a light pair of dressier slacks and button-up shirt will work well. Include one pair of sandals or dressier flats or loafers. While you’ll want to keep jewelry at a minimum; one statement piece can make a whole outfit.
Shoes — 3 pairs max
Shoes can be incredibly bulky and heavy. So limit the number of pairs to three in total for the entire trip. A comfortable pair of walking sandals, water shoes or flip-flops for wetter adventures, and some dressy sandals, flats or loafers for evening events.
Swimwear and beach essentials
While there will be plenty of time on deck and on beach excursions, don’t forget to pack for water activities. Pack two to three swimsuits that dry quickly. A softer more foldable sun hat will always come in handy. Sunglasses are a must along with reef-safe sunscreen in carry-on approved sizes. A foldable, lightweight beach bag and a few zipper-top bags for wet swimsuits are essentials not to forget.
Toiletries and personal care
Travel-size shampoo, conditioner, soap and other necessities are important to pack. For women, keep makeup minimal. Opt for skincare — and makeup — suited for humid weather. A travel-size first aid kit is never a bad idea, and a few detergent pods for onboard laundry with a few dryer sheets will go a long way to ensure you have everything you need.
Tech and travel must-haves
A few essentials to include are a universal power adapter for cruise cabins and a waterproof phone pouch so you have a place to put your phone when it’s time to splash. A Kindle or small book for downtimes, a small crossbody bag for excursions, and packing cubes to help make everything fit are also helpful to keep your tech organized and safe.
Little extras that will come in handy
Every traveler has been in a situation where one, tiny little item would have made things so much more comfortable during a trip. Little extras that will make life easier include magnetic hooks that will easily attach to the metal walls of a cruise cabin for hanging hats, bags or wet swimsuits, a collapsible water bottle, zipper-top plastic bags for things like snacks and wet items, a small bottle of wrinkle-release spray, a lanyard for your cruise key card, a stain stick for quick touch-ups and a small foldable tote bag for souvenir shopping.
“One of my favorite tips for cruising is to pack a few strong magnetic hooks,” says Karee Blunt, travel writer at Our Woven Journey. “Space is at a premium in cruise ship cabins, but magnetic hooks can make a world of difference in staying organized. Since most walls are metal, they provide instant storage for lightweight items like lanyards, sun hats and wet bathing suits, maximizing every inch of space.”
Bonus packing tips
When packing for a trip, there are a few things travelers can do to make life easier and a bit less stressful on the day of travel. Wear your heaviest items on travel day to help lower the weight of your carry-on. Roll clothing instead of folding it. This creates more room, as well as lessens the number of wrinkles. Make sure any accessories you pack are versatile and will go with almost every piece of clothing packed, and of course, don’t forget the compression cubes.
Bon voyage
Traveling light is an art that takes some practice. But applying a guide like this to your own wardrobe is a great way to start learning. Embrace the freedom that bringing only a carry-on can create. You’ll enjoy your trip far more, and your travel days will be far less stressful.
Bella Bucchiotti is a travel and food blogger with a passion for adventure, delicious recipes and authentic storytelling. Through her blog, xoxoBella, and social media, she shares vibrant travel experiences, mouthwatering dishes and everyday moments that inspire connection. Whether she’s exploring new destinations, creating new recipes or balancing life as a mom, Bella brings a relatable and adventurous spirit to everything she does.