10 things to pack for a Cruise with kids

This list of 10 things to pack for a cruise with kids, will be your best packing companion as you don’t go on a cruise everyday. This list is specific to Caribbean cruises and you can check this post to add to this a list of everything you need to pack when going on a vacation with kids.

1. Light jackets and Pashminas: It gets pretty windy on the deck and having a jacket especially during early morning and late evening helps. The cruise usually has movies, dances, fun activities in the evening or night and while they do provide blankets in some occasions, its best to carry some jackets and pashmina.
2. Evening and Formal Dinner Attire: All the cruises (atleast the ones I know of) have a formal dinner night for which you will need to have a formal attire. If you’re cruising anywhere during Christmas, it will be useful to carry some pretty dresses and sharp shirts in Christmas colors for yourself and the kids (like Red, green and white).
   In fact its not just formal dinner attire, rather a wide variety of clothes for all occasions: Party wear, lounge wear, swim wear, beachwear, workout clothes, formal attire and then of course comfortable excursion clothes. As much as possible keep clothes which will dry up easily as clothes won’t dry up on the cruise.
3. Playing cards or Travel games: During the days at sea, while there are enough and more activities in the cruise for kids, its always useful to carry something with you in case the kids are tired or don’t want to step out of the room. Our go to for such situations are Uno, Travel Pictionary, Deal Monopoly, Story cubes and the like. It will come in very handy for some fun family time on the cruise.
4. Snorkelling Gear: All the Caribbean cruises have options in terms of excursions and swimming and snorkeling in Caribbeans is an experience not to be missed. There are beautiful coral reefs and some places even give you a chance to see Sting Rays from close quarters or see and touch Starfish – a big hit with the kids and us too. All the tour companies provide snorkeling gear and this is if you prefer having one of your own for hygiene reasons.
5. More than one Swim wear: Depending on the cruise ship you are on, it may or may not have a water park. While you will anyways need it for swimming in the Caribbeans, its best to carry a couple as the kid would love to go in the pool and the water park during the days ship is in the sea and the sea when in Mexico etc. The swim wear may bot get enough time and space to dry so carrying 2 will be useful with the kids
6. Sunscreen, Sunhats and sunglasses: It can get quite sunny and hot especially when you’re walking in the ruins of Chichen Itza or Dzibilchaltun or the streets of Merida. While on the cruise ship, you may not realize how hot it could potentially get considering the wind chill and low temperatures onboard the cruise ship.
7. Underwater Camera or a cover in which to keep your phone secure underwater and still be able to take pictures.
8. Comfortable walking shoes: Very useful during the long walks of Chichenitza or Dzibilchaltun or walking around Yucatan or the streets Merida. The cenotes are also not very level ground and good walking shoes or comfortable crocs would be ideal to carry in this situation.
9. Water shoes or slippers: Useful not only when using the splash pads, pools and water park within the cruise, but also when you go for your Caribbean adventure snorkeling, diving or just a leisurely boat ride.
10. Medicines for travel sickness: The rocking cruise can induce sea sickness sometimes for some travelers especially if your rooms are in the lower decks. Best to keep some travel sickness candies and medicines handy for emergency situations.