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About this tool
Build a cruise packing list from formal nights, port days and sea days, including the cabin items that get confiscated at embarkation.
This builder sizes a cruise wardrobe from the evening dress code and the port/sea split rather than from a flat day count. Mainstream lines schedule roughly one formal or gala evening per three to four nights — two on a seven-night sailing — and one outfit can cover two of them, so the list reuses rather than duplicates. It also flags the day-one carry-on you need while checked bags are still being delivered, and the cabin items confiscated at embarkation.
Open Cruise Holiday Packing List Builder on AltFTool — it loads instantly in your browser.
Add your input to the workspace.
Adjust the options until the result looks right.
Copy or download the output and put it to work.
Evening wear is counted from formal and smart casual nights, which is what cruise packing gets wrong.
Swimwear, medication and documents stay with you while the cases catch up.
Non-surge power strips and magnetic hooks in, irons and extension cords out.
Roughly one per three to four nights on mainstream lines: one on a three or four-night sailing, two on a seven-night one and about four on a fortnight. Luxury lines and expedition ships often have none at all, so check your line's evening dress code before packing a dinner jacket.
Surge-protected power strips and extension cords, irons and garment steamers, candles and anything with a naked flame, hotplates and kettles, drones, and blades beyond a nail file. These are pulled at the security scanner during embarkation because a cabin fire at sea has nowhere to go. Non-surge strips and USB cubes are generally allowed.
Swimwear, any prescription medication, documents and one change of clothes. Checked bags are collected at the terminal and delivered to cabins over several hours, so anything you want during the first afternoon has to be on you.
No on both counts for mainstream ships: pool and cabin towels are supplied and swapped daily, and cabins have a fixed hairdryer. A wrinkle-release spray is worth the space instead, since you cannot bring an iron or a steamer.