What to pack for your family cruise

With all the onboard amenities one could ever dream of, a plethora of exciting destinations and excellent value, a family cruise is a great option. And, with a host of family-friendly cruise lines, you’re certain to find a ship the whole clan can get on board with. But what to pack? Here, two cruise bloggers list the essential items you need on your family packing list. 

Steph from Cruise with Amber has spent almost 200 nights at sea, with about half of these with her kids. As her kids have grown up, the ‘essential’ packing list has changed slightly over the years, but some staples seem to remain year after year. 

“As the kids have grown up and as smartphones and other devices are now more prevalent, one of my essential items on our packing list is multiple power banks, along with plenty of USB cables and the correct chargers.” 

Another essential item on Steph’s packing list when taking teenagers on a cruise is a sewing kit with safety pins, “Countless last-minute formal evening wardrobe crises have been averted with the humble safety pin!” 

One thing that has remained firmly on Steph’s packing list over the years is concentrated squash. “The mini, handbag-sized bottles remain a favourite with the kids regardless of age. The handy bottles are also great to take ashore when exploring the port and to have in the cabin onboard the ship.” 

Steph also recommends packing travel bands, “While my kids have not been affected by motion sickness in the past, hormones can play havoc with a teenager's susceptibility to nausea, so I find it’s always worth packing these now - just in case.” 

Read next: How to avoid seasickness on a cruise

“We always take swimming gear, masks, snorkels for the beach and a skim ball,” says Emma from Cruise Addicted. “Then for the pool, we take sinkers/Zoggs pool toys which are great to get kids to make friends or just to play with in the pool without being annoying.”