At TernX, we design travel gear specifically for parents who want to move smarter, lighter, and with less chaos. Whether you’re boarding a ship for three nights or squeezing the most out of a long weekend at sea, having the right carry-on setup helps you stay organised, mobile, and present for the moments that matter.
If you’re traveling with young kids, a carry-on that doubles as mobility can be a game-changer. The TernX carry-on stroller is designed to function as both a carry-on and a stroller, helping parents move through terminals and ports with ease while keeping essentials close.
The TernX travel stroller is also super compact, which matters on a cruise, where stateroom space is limited. Once in your cabin, it takes up minimal floor space, making it easier to move around and keep the room organised.
A cruise is like no other vacation out there. While you can pick a destination and easily fly there, on a cruise you can visit multiple destinations on a single trip, even if it's for just three days.
But deciding on what to pack in your carry-on bag for a cruise can be fun and also overwhelming. With a little planning and preparing a concise list from prescription medications to on-board conveniences, you can maximize space to enjoy the journey.
Below you will find a full packing list for a family of four for a 72-hour cruise that could make your carry-on life a million times easier and seamless.
Choose the Right Carry-on Bag
The carry-on bag that you choose can ultimately make or break your dream short cruise family experience. Make sure you choose one that is spacious, has four 360 degree spinner wheels that roll smoothly as well as a sturdy handle.
The bag should be thoughtfully designed, have a polycarbonate shell that is durable, waterproof and scratch-resistant to ensure it holds its shape after the cruise.
Add a Smaller Bag
Look for a good bag to pack personal items and which can be easily tucked in front of you. Choose one that is stylish and with enough pockets to be more than just a laptop bag. The bag should slip easily over the carry-on handles for wheeling around. If your kid prefers a backpack, pick one that is versatile enough for toting water bottles and sunscreen around the city during shore excursions.
Each person packs…
- One casual outfit per day, mostly shirts or tanks, plus a couple of trendy shirts for the casual evenings.
- One full dress outfit for formal nights which can be worn twice as this occasion lasts for just a few hours. Pack lightweight dresses for women and one chic outfit with two different ties for men.
- One pair of comfortable walking shoes for embarkation day and a pair of sandals or flip flops and, if possible, a pair of waterproof shoes if required on shore excursions.
- One pair of pyjamas.
- One swimsuit
- Three underwears and three pair of socks for your number of days on cruise.
Use Packing Cubes
If you have not used them before, you must try them on this cruise trip. A large cube will be able to keep your sweater, tops and dresses organized. Keep the bottoms in the medium cube and use the small cube for swimwear and underwear or personal items like jewellery.
Roll the Clothes
Rolling the clothes tightly saves tons of room and in this way you can fit in more stuff in a small carry-on also. Also, rolling results in fewer wrinkles than traditional folding.
Toiletries Organisational Bag
Consider a good toiletries bag with plenty of pouches of all sizes for putting the toothpaste and floss in one zipper pouch and the deos in the other. Use the main area in the middle for hairbrush, hair gel, curling iron(if you prefer to bring your own), mouthwash and shampoo.
Extras
A few other items which are recommended to carry are:
- Staterooms on ships usually have one power outlet in the room, so carry a power strip for access to additional plug points, so that you can charge your camera while the kids enjoy video games on their mobile phones simultaneously.
- Hat, sunglasses, insect repellent for days on port, zipper bag to keep your phone or camera in, small first-aid kit, any prescription medicine you may need.
- Magnetic hooks for the cabin walls as the storage space in the cabins is limited.
- Modern cruise ships have a state-of-the-art fitness center with classes such as yoga, Pilates, sculpting and more. Consider packing a workout outfit in your carry-on.
Pack for a Short Cruise with Confidence
A short cruise doesn’t mean you have to compromise on comfort or preparedness. With the right carry-on, smart organization, and a thoughtful packing system, traveling as a family can feel effortless rather than overwhelming.
If you’re planning more trips with kids, whether by cruise, plane, or weekend getaway, we share practical, parent-tested travel tips over on the TernX blog. From packing strategies to navigating airports with children, our resources are built to help families keep traveling with confidence, ease, and style.
Be sure to check out the latest articles on the TernX blog for more real-world travel advice designed by parents, for parents.
