15 Disney Cruise Packing List Essentials 2025

As a journalist who writes about cruising, I spend a good bit of time at sea. Last year alone, I sailed aboard Disney Cruise Line twice: once to visit the newest island, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and another to experience the line’s latest ship, the Disney Treasure.

I’ve sailed on plenty of different cruise lines, but Disney Cruise Line remains my favorite. Yes, a big part of that is the theming — I’m a sucker for a photo opp with Captain Minnie or catching a Broadway-quality stage show after dinner — but it’s the overall magical vibe that keeps me coming back. From backpacks to waterproof phone cases, here are the essentials that top my Disney cruise packing list.

Owala Stainless Steel 24-ounce Tumbler

From a value standpoint, one of my favorite things about Disney Cruise Line is that soft drinks, tea, and coffee are not only included in your cruise fare but also easily accessible at the ship’s beverage stations. As such, I always pack an insulated tumbler, so I can keep my water or afternoon Diet Coke cold for hours. Owala makes my favorite refillable tumbler, one that keeps drinks chilly and doesn’t spill easily, two essentials for busy cruise days. 

Cruise Lanyards With Ship Card Holders and Luggage Tags 

Disney Cruise Line gives each guest a ship card that’s used for everything from unlocking your stateroom door to paying for onboard purchases. I love this affordable set of lanyards that hold ship cards because they offer both a way to wear your ship card around your neck and a retractable badge reel that’s great for easily pulling your card from a handbag or pool bag. As a bonus, this set comes with plastic luggage tags: something I always like to use to ensure the luggage tags provided by Disney Cruise Line stay on my bags and don’t tear off.

Disney Cruise Stateroom Door Magnets

I always enjoy seeing how my fellow Disney cruisers decorate their stateroom door with Disney-themed magnets. Each cruise, I buy a few new Disney cruise-themed magnets for my own door and find that they aren’t just for adorable decor. The easiest way to identify your stateroom in a long hallway of doors that look exactly the same is to adorn it with magnets so you can look out for your own specific decorations as you walk to your stateroom. 

Hiearcool Waterproof Phone Pouch 2-pack

If there’s one type of vacation where I’ve regretted not packing waterproof phone pouches, it’s a Disney cruise. There is so much fun in the sun (and water) to be had, and you’ll want to capture photos of your family splashing in the pools, snorkeling on Disney’s private islands, and enjoying the splash areas. This waterproof case is perfect for throwing in your beach bag and using any time you’re hoping to capture some magical memories near water.

Lioscre Mesh Beach Tote

I’ve sailed Disney Cruise Line itineraries everywhere from Disney’s private islands to Europe, and I’ve found that having a lightweight, mesh tote for taking off the ship is essential. It really comes in handy, whether I’m toting sandy shoes and bathing suits from the beach to the ship or using my mesh bag to carry the souvenirs I’ve purchased in France or Italy.

Freshly Picked Mickey Mania Park Pack

Although much of cruising is tied to your stateroom card, eliminating the need to carry a wallet or money, I love having a crossbody bag so I can tote things like SPF, lip balm, my smartphone, a power bank, and other supplies for the day. This Freshly Picked fanny pack-style bag can function as a belt bag or crossbody and has plenty of spots inside for organizing your belongings. What’s more, it’s got an adorable Mickey Mouse design but still looks elegant enough that you won’t mind carrying it into the ship’s dining rooms or wearing it with your dressier evening outfits.

Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen

With multiple outdoor pools and water slides on each Disney cruise ship, along with stops to private islands like Lookout Cay and Castaway Cay, sun protection is a must. My favorite sunscreen to pack for a cruise is Neutrogena’s Beach Defense Sunscreen, as it’s SPF 50, water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, and made to stand up to things like sweat and sand. Considering the sunscreen available on a cruise ship can be pricey, I always come prepared with a few spray cans.

Cozwish Cordless Hair Straightener

As a mom of two, I’ve learned that cruise ship staterooms are limited on both electrical outlets and space for getting ready. I never cruise without my cordless hair straightener, which has three temperature settings, and allows me to do my hair without monopolizing a plug or precious bathroom space. 

One Beat Flat Plug Power Strip

While long power strips lined with plugs are a no-no aboard Disney Cruise Line, I’ve had luck packing this smaller version that’s no bigger than a phone charger power bank. Electrical outlets in cruise ship staterooms are often hard to come by, and this flat power strip opens up more options for plugging in with regular sockets and USB-A and C ports. Having just a few more spots to charge smartphones, earphones, and other electrical devices can really help cut down on the stress of rooming with several people in a tight space, so I always toss one of these in my bags.

8-piece Pirate Accessory Kit

A highlight of most Disney Cruise Line itineraries is Pirate Night, an evening where restaurants serve pirate-themed menus, guests dress up, and there’s a special pirate-themed fireworks show on the upper decks of the ship. Plenty of guests wear full pirate attire, but I often pack a small set of pirate-themed accessories to throw on before heading to the pirate show. The best part of a Disney cruise is that you can dress up as much or as little as you want — and bringing a few on-theme accessories, rather than a full ensemble, can help you pack a bit lighter and still have fun.  

Bumkins Disney Waterproof Wet Bag

Waterproof wet bags are essential for any cruise, especially on days when you get off the ship at a port and plan to change from a swimsuit to dry clothes mid-day. I have a few versions of this Bumkins wet bag that I often pack since it’s small, lightweight, and holds plenty of wet clothes. The bags zip closed, so they’re also great for packing toiletries, sunscreen, or other things you want to keep from spilling onto the rest of your belongings.  

Loungefly Disney Minnie Poolside Mini Backpack

Loungefly makes so many adorable Disney mini backpacks, and they’re great for toting all of your essentials. This Minnie Mouse bag is top of my wishlist for my next Disney cruise, as it’s perfect for onboard pool time, with plenty of room to stash sunscreen and my Kindle.

K’lani Embrace Bracelets for Women

As a travel writer who’s always trying to pack maximum style in minimum spaces, I love these hair tie bracelets from K’lani. Not only are they soft and gentle on my sensitive scalp, but they’re also really beautiful and pull double-duty as bracelets. 

Disney Mickey and Friends Autograph Book

One of the most magical parts of Disney cruising is the amount of characters available to meet and take photos with. Whether you’re excited to meet Captain Mickey or you’ve got a kid in your group who wants to meet as many Disney princesses as possible, the characters on a Disney cruise ship come out in full force. A great way to remember your trip (and to keep kids motivated to wait in long character lines) is to collect autographs from each character you meet. An autograph book is perfect for this, and it becomes a great souvenir after the trip. 

Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier With Immune Support

Something I often toss into at least one cup of water daily while cruising is Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier with Immune Support. Not only does this version of Liquid IV contain electrolytes, but it’s also packed with vitamin C and zinc to help boost immunity, something that’s important when traveling on a cruise ship with lots of other Disney fans. 

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