You've booked your first Carnival cruise, and you're ready to start planning for it. A good way to begin is to create your packing list to ensure you don't leave something important behind. In addition to items you should pack for every cruise, you'll want to bring along a few Carnival-specific must-haves.
We put together a Carnival Cruise Line packing list that includes everything you need to sail on a "Fun Ship." Here's what to pack for a Carnival cruise.
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Carnival cruise packing list at a glance
- Carnival Hub app
- A day bag or backpack
- Passports and important documents
- Excursion-appropriate attire
- Medicines
- Power strip and adaptor
- Magnetic wall hooks
- Door decorations
- Theme party attire
- Matching T-shirts
- Lanyards
What to pack for a Carnival cruise
Carnival Hub app
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I realize that you technically won't "pack" this, but you'll want to include this on your packing list. My family has relied on this app before and during every Carnival cruise we've ever taken — it works on every ship in the line's fleet. It's a fantastic way to keep track of your cruise and stay connected once you're on board.
Once you've booked your cruise, you can use the Carnival Hub app to check in for your sailing. You can also book shore excursions, plan ship activities, book spa treatments and make restaurant reservations, among other things.
When you're on board, just put your phone in airplane mode to access the ship's Wi-Fi (either through Carnival's free plan or purchase a more robust package). I recommend buying the chat feature for the app. For an extra $5, it allows you to chat with those in your party while you're on board.
The app is available via Google Play or the Apple app store. You can also access it from Carnival's website.
Related: Best Carnival cruise ships: Here's which ship you should sail, based on your travel style
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A day bag or backpack
For embarkation day, extended pool time and port excursion days, you'll need a good day bag or backpack.
On embarkation day, the porters will take your large bags and deliver them to your cabin door. You might not receive your luggage until after sailaway that evening. For this reason, you'll want to pack all the items you need to have on hand for your first afternoon on the ship. This includes cruise documents, medications and a swimsuit (so you can enjoy the Serenity adult-only retreat or get a good soaking at the WaterWorks water park before your cabin is ready).
The bag will prove invaluable on port excursion days, too. You can stash your wallet, camera and any excursion-specific items like sunscreen, snorkeling gear and a change of clothes.
Passports and important documents
All cruise passengers must present their passport (or government-issued photo ID for round-trip cruises from Carnival's many U.S. embarkation ports) and boarding pass. Make sure your boarding documents are easily accessible when you arrive at the cruise terminal for a smooth check-in. Keep your passport or another form of ID (birth certificate and driver's license) with you in your carry-on bag.
Related: What documents do you need for a cruise? From passports to printouts, here's what to take
Excursion-appropriate attire
Plan ahead for what you might need on port-day excursions. If your itinerary includes warm-weather beach destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico or Hawaii, water sports like kayaking and snorkeling might be on your schedule. Consider packing a dry bag for your camera, cellphone and wallet. A waterproof case for your phone is also a good idea.
Heading to Alaska? Pack a good selection of outdoor clothing (think fleece jackets, hiking shoes and a raincoat or parka).
Comfortable walking shoes are necessary if you plan to spend port days walking along the cobblestone streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico, or Copenhagen, Denmark.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Carnival Cruise Line ship
Medicines and supplements
If you or anyone in your party takes prescription medications, or regular vitamins or supplements, pack them in a day bag or your carry-on bag. You might not need them on embarkation day, but you don't want to take the chance of losing them and not having them for your entire cruise.
I also recommend creating a personalized first-aid kit that contains your preferred pain relievers, antacids, bandages and anti-nausea medicine or ginger candy (if you're prone to motion sickness). Carnival's onboard shops do sell common over-the-counter medicines you might need during your cruise, but they'll cost you a lot more than they do at your local pharmacy.
If you take prescription medication, bring enough for the length of your sailing and a few extra days, just in case your trip is extended for any reason.
Power strip and adapter
If you're sailing on an older Carnival vessel, you will find fewer power outlets than you will on the line's newest Excel Class ships. (I struggled with this during my cruise on Carnival Sunshine, the line's oldest ship.) If you think you'll need more outlets, pack a power strip. Just make sure it isn't one with a surge protector — those are banned on cruise ships, as are extension cords.
Also, consider packing a couple of plug adapters for European-style outlets. You'll likely have one or two in your cabin. If you're like our family and pack every conceivable electronic device when you cruise, the adapters will help you make the most of any outlets that would otherwise go unused.
Magnetic wall hooks
One of my favorite cruise cabin features is that the walls are made of metal, making them magnet-friendly. Given the relatively small space you have to work with, magnetic wall hooks are a game changer in keeping your cabin orderly. I use them to hang my Carnival Sail & Sign keycard, wet bathing suits, hats and, on the rare occasions I actually work out during my vacation, my sweaty gym clothes.
You can also toss a couple of refrigerator magnets in your suitcase (or use the Carnival-branded one you bought as a souvenir) to hang up your daily Carnival Fun Times newsletter for easy access.
Related: 43 Carnival Cruise Line tips, tricks and hacks to enhance your vacation at sea
Decorations for your cruise cabin door
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Carnival cruisers often like to decorate their cabin door to mark a special occasion like a birthday, an anniversary or a family reunion. If you're sailing during Christmas or Halloween, why not jazz up your door with snowflakes or pumpkins?
Personalizing your door is also a fun way to make it easier to distinguish your cabin from the others after a few co*cktails at the Alchemy Bar.
For safety reasons, follow the line's guidelines and restrictions for decorating your cabin door. All decorations should be made from fire-retardant materials. Only use Command Strips or magnets (your cabin door is metal, too) to affix your decorations; no glue or tape is allowed.
Also, make sure you remove your decorations when you leave. You don't want to add extra work for your cabin steward during an already chaotic disembarkation day.
Theme party attire
Carnival makes the most of its "Fun Ship" moniker with engaging theme parties on every sailing.
If yours is a three- or four-night itinerary, pack your leg warmers and neon accessories for the '80s Rock 'n' Glow Deck Party.
Taking a five- or six-night Carnival cruise vacation? Don't forget to add your favorite white outfit and a few superhero-themed items for the ship's White Hot Night and Superhero Music Party.
If you're sailing on Carnival Venezia, you can attend one of Carnival's newest theme parties, the Festa Italiana. It showcases the vessel's Italian roots — the ship was formerly Costa Venezia for the line's Italian sister brand, Costa Cruises. The celebration features traditional Italian music, dancing, Italian finger foods and activities like a gelato eating contest. Pack your favorite green, white and red attire to showcase the colors of Italy's flag or bring a vibrant Venetian Carnival mask.
Additionally, you can level up your cruise attire during Elegant Night. You can decide how fancy you want to be, but typical attire can include dress slacks, dress shirts, a suit and tie, a tuxedo, a co*cktail dress, a pantsuit or an evening gown.
The length of your cruise will determine the number of Elegant Nights you'll need to pack for. Three- to five-night sailings feature one Elegant Night, and six-night or longer sailings schedule two.
Matching T-shirts
Celebrating a milestone or traveling with a group? Show off your special occasion with matching T-shirts. They are always popular on Carnival ships, and you'll see tons of groups in color-coordinated outfits.
Matching T-shirts are a great way to spot members of your group in a crowd. They're also a fun way to share your enthusiasm with other cruisers. You'll likely hear more than one "Congratulations!"
And who knows? Perhaps a "Bride-to-be" or "It's my birthday" shirt will earn you a free glass of Champagne from another passenger.
Lanyards
You don't want to lose your Sign & Sail keycard, which serves as your onboard charge card and your shipboard ID. But you also don't need to carry a wallet or purse on board because you won't need any cash or credit cards while you're sailing on a Carnival cruise ship.
Lanyards are a fantastic way to keep track of your cruise card. You can opt for a Carnival-branded lanyard or show off your individuality with a lanyard that matches your style. From rhinestone-studded to solid-color minimalist lanyards, there's a style for every cruiser.
Bottom line
Make the most of your Carnival cruise with this packing list. From essential documents and port-day essentials to important medicines and theme-party must-haves, this list should help ensure a smooth and successful Fun Ship cruise.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- Top ways cruisers waste money
- The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
