In this 14 day Cruise packing list we cover the staples you need for every cruise no matter the destination whether you are cruising the Mediterranean, Caribbean or somewhere further afield. It covers what to pack for 2 week cruise both clothing and non clothing as well as gives information on cruise dress codes.
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Note: It is worth pointing out that while this 14 day cruise packing list covers ALL your cruise staples that should be on any packing list, it is worth also checking out some of our destination specific packing lists as these will cover temperature and location specific dress codes.
Our specific location packing lists for cruises include:
- Transatlantic Cruise packing list
- What to wear on a South Pacific Cruise
- What to wear on a European River Cruise
- How to make a river cruise capsule wardrobe
- World Cruise Packing List.
And if you want a cruise packing list for men check out this post.
How many outfits should I pack for a 14 day cruise?
Before we create our 14 day cruise packing list we thought it would be worth talking you through how many outfits your should pack for a two week cruise.
Firstly you will obviously need an outfit a day, or create a cruise capsule wardrobe where you can use items multiple times.
However the difficulty is that a fresh outfit every day for 14 days and some formal outfits will soon add up in your suitcase. We try and use the sudoku packing method. Essentially this uses 9 key pieces to create a series of outfits.
Otherwise the 54321 packing method is another good way to try and put your outfits together.
However it is also worth checking if your ship has laundry facilities if you are happy to do laundry as this will help you not overpack.
The next thing that affects how many outfits you need for a cruise is how often you intend to use the main dining room and how many formal nights there are on your cruise.
Cruise dining rooms usually have a smart casual dress code and you will find most people usually change for dinner.
I usually try and have lots of day to night transition pieces such as a smart casual blouse or nice Maxi dress, that I can wear to dinner one night and then use during the day the next day. This helps reduce the amount of clothes you take with you.
Now depending on the cruise line you are on will depend on how many formal nights you will have (Formal nights are where you Dress for dinner in formal attire think cocktail dresses for ladies and tuxedos for men). On most lines, with Norwegian being the main exception there are around 3 formal nights on a 14 day cruise.
Therefore you need to decide if you are happy to have 1 formal outfit which you are happy to dress up with different accessories for different looks. Or if you want a fresh outfit for each formal night.
Going on a 7 night cruise? Check out our 7 night cruise packing list. And for a shorter cruise check out our 4 day cruise packing list and 5 day cruise packing lists.
What to wear on a 14 Day Cruise / What to wear on a 2 week cruise
Now we have looked at the things that will affect how many outfits you should take on a 2 week cruise, we will now give you an overview of the types of outfits we pack. This includes the number of formal outfits as well as what to wear on a 2 week cruise for excursions, pool time and more.
Formal Outfits (2 outfits)
If you are traveling on a line other than Norwegian Cruise line you can usually expect 3 formal nights. Personally I find it too bulky to pack 3 formal night outfits. Instead I pack 2 formal night outfits as well as accessories that can style it differently.
For me a formal night outfit is a cocktail dress or maxi dress. However if this is not your style then a pant suit is also a great idea.
My husband tends to take chinos and jacket and then dresses them with different shirts and ties to reduce what he needs to pack. A Tux is also suitable on most line for men, but my husband just doesn’t lie wearing these.
Smart Casual Outfits (3- 4 outfits)
I usually pack 3-4 smart casual outfits. All items in this category will be interchangeable as a capsule wardrobe and I may partner a top from a dinner with different bottoms for a casual shore excursion look.
Casual Outfits (3-4 outfits)
Again, I pack a cruise capsule wardrobe where everything is interchangeable. This will normally be 3-4 t shirts and 2 bottoms i.e. shorts, jeans or chinos depending on the weather.
Swimwear
Whenever I get on a cruise ship I first like to head to the main dining room for lunch, and then I like to have either a dip in the pool or a soak in the hot tub. I do this whether I am a hot weather or cold weather cruise.
If you are going to a hot weather destination however you will want to pack at least 2 swimsuits with you so you can wear one and dry one.
Beach cover
Great for in port and on deck. I would pack 2 if you are in hot weather destinations.
Sunglasses
Useful for in ports but also on sea days when the sun can be dazzling.
Pashmina
An essential whenever you are cruising as the air conditioning on ships can be fierce. For more travel essentials for women check out this post.
Pjs
One set for a week
Shoes (3 Pairs)
For me there a couple of essential pairs of shoes to pack for a cruise no matter the destination. These are:
- Sneakers – these work on cities and more tropical locations. If you are traveling to a hot weather location we recommend getting a light weight pair. Otherwise a white pair of sneakers are very versatile.
- Sandals – I like a pair that can be good for walking and that can also be used in the main dining room
And the optional shoes I take depending on the itinerary and destination are:
- Flip Flips – useful if you plan to spend a lot of time on the pool deck but not good for European cities when walking.
- Water Shoes – useful if you are going on a Caribbean or cruise to the South Pacific where you will be snorkelling and where there can be hazards such as lion fish and coral.
- Heels – if you want them for formal night.
Underwear (7 plus spares)
I will also have underwear enough for the cruise and a few spares.
What do I need to pack for a 14 day cruise (non clothing)?
So now you know roughly how many outfits you will need on a 14 day cruise we turn our attention to everything you need to pack for a cruise no matter the destination
Passport and identification
A Passport and identification is always required regardless of the length of cruise and destination (ID can be used in some cases of closed loop cruises).
It is important to remember that you need this to be in your embarkation day carry on as is required for boarding. For more information on how to pack for embarkation day on a cruise check out this post.
Documentation including Covid 19 related paperwork
This includes visas and any vaccination documentation that you may need for your cruise and destination. Again this needs to be in your cruise carry on.
Lanyard
Many people find a lanyard is the best way to keep their cabin key safe and on them at all times on a cruise. You should keep your cruise card with you at all time as this acts as identification on board the ship and also as your payment method.
When looking for a cruise lanyard we think that the best ones are waterproof so can be used on shore excursions where you will be spending a lot of time in the water and can also be used to keep small amounts of cash and a government issued id.
Click here to shop the best lanyards for cruise travel.
Medication
Pack any meds you need in your carry on and be sure to have prescriptions with you.
As well as prescription medication some other medications you may like to travel with include:
- pain medications such as Advil, paracetamol, Tylenol and Ibuprofen
- Reflux Meds such as Gaviscon, Tums etc.
- Birth Control
- Inhalers
Sea sickness medication or bands
I personally have never gotten sea sick on a cruise ship and I have cruised on some very rough seas. However I would never say that no one will ever experience seasickness on a cruise. If you are concerned about sea sickness be sure to pack some meds with you just in case.
There are lots of different methods to combat sickness from tablets, wristbands, ginger and more so pick the method that you think will work best for you.
Click here to shop sea sickness medication
Toiletries
Although most ships provide toiletries I will always pack some on my own as I think they are better quality than those you get on board most cruise ships.
For more information on the best toiletries to bring on a cruise check out this post. But generally speaking I tend to always pack
Conditioner
Some conditioner that can help your hair cope with heat and seawater.
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Although toiletries are usually provided you will need to bring your own tooth brush and toothpaste.
Sunscreen
It is important to be sun safe whereever in the world you are cruising. This is usually available onboard but will cost you a premium if you wait and buy on board.
If you plan on spending time in water we recommend buying sunscreen that is reef safe. Our current favorite brand is Sunbum. Click here to shop reef safe sunscreen.
Lip balm
The contrast between the nice weather on a warm weather cruise with the cruise ship air conditioning is the perfect recipe for getting dry lips.
We always recommend packing lip balm that has an SPF so your lips are protected when on beach excursions etc. Again my favorite brand is Sun Bum. Click here to shop lip balm for cruise ships.
Jewelry
Now I don’t like to bring too much jewelry with me on cruises as I don’t wear it on shore excursions. But I do like to have some with me as it is a great way to style a formal night outfit differently without having to take up too much room in your case.
If you decide to wear real rather than costume jewellery we recommend putting it in your room safe when you are not wearing it.
And for more information on how to pack jewelry for travel check out this post.
Camera
The best thing about cruises are the ports you get to visit. You definitely will want to capture your memories with a camera.
If you are traveling on a cruise with lots of water excursions and plan on snorkelling it might be worth getting a GoPro to capture your underwater memories. Click here to shop underwater cameras.
Charger
Most new ships will have USB charging ports next to the bed however this is by no means on all ships. Don’t get caught out and take a charger with you and a spare cable.
Travel Adaptor
Depending on where you are from, who you are sailing with and where you may need to take a travel adaptor with you to ensure that all your electronics will work.
I personally never travel anywhere without my trusty Universal travel adaptor that works in pretty much all locations.
Click here to shop universal travel adaptors.
What to pack for a 14 day cruise (Optional)
Gym wear
This is only needed if you plan to use the gym on board your cruise ship. If you don’t plan to then leave this behind.
Alcohol
Depending on the line you are on, you will be permitted to Bring on board a small amount of alcohol – usually just champagne or wine.
If you are allowed to bring alcohol on board we recommend using your allowance as this will be cheaper than drinks on the ship. But be sure to check your cruise ship rules before travel so it meets current requirements.
Note – wondering if you can bring a corkscrew on a cruise ship – check out this post for more information.
14 Day Cruise Ship Packing List Checklist
- Passport and Identification
- Documentation (including Covid 19 paperwork, test results and insurance to name but a few)
- Medication
- Sea Sickness Remedies
- Lanyard
- Toiletries
- Sun screen
- Lip Balm with SPF
- Jewelry
- Camera
- Charger
- Travel Adaptor
- 2 Formal Outfits
- Pashmina
- 3-4 Smart Casual Outfits (can be made up of repeat pieces that make 4 looks).
- 3-4 Casual Outfits (can be made up of repeat pieces that make 4 looks).
- 2 items of Swimwear
- Beachcover
- Shoes – we recommend packing sneakers, one pair of sandals and then depending on your itinerary and destination water shoes, flip flops or heels.
Have you been on a 14 day cruise? What did you pack for a 14 day cruise let us know in the comments.