What to Pack for a Small Ship Cruise: Your Packing List
Cruise guides · Before you go
Packing for a small ship cruise is simpler than you might think. Cabins are compact, the dress code is casual, and most days end with a swim in a quiet bay rather than a black-tie dinner.
This cruise packing list covers everything you need, from your passport to your water shoes, and a few things you can happily leave at home.
In short
A small ship cruise packing list is short: your passport and travel documents, light layers and a jacket for breezy evenings, swimwear, water shoes for pebbly beaches and tender landings, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, and any medication. Bring soft luggage that fits under your bed, one smarter outfit for the Captain’s Dinner, and leave formal wear at home. New to cruising? Read our first-timer’s guide.
Documents
Before You Pack: Your Travel Documents
Three things decide whether your holiday goes ahead: your passport, your tickets, and your travel insurance. Sort these first, well before you think about clothes.
- Passport, checked against the entry rules for every country on your route
- Booking confirmation, flight and cruise tickets
- Travel insurance documents
- Copies of everything saved on your phone or tablet
- Any visas your destination needs
For Greece, Croatia, Italy and the rest of the Schengen area, a British passport must have been issued less than ten years before the day you arrive, and must stay valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave. The EU’s Entry/Exit System is also being introduced at Schengen borders. Our Travelling to Greece post explains what that means for you.
Rules differ outside the Schengen area and can change at short notice. Check the entry requirements for each destination on GOV.UK foreign travel advice four to six months before you travel.
Source: GOV.UK, Greece entry requirements, checked 3 November 2026.
Pack light
Why Packing Light Matters on a Small Ship
If there’s one thing you don’t want to be doing, it’s manhandling a lot of baggage through two airports, onto a coach and then finally onto your ship, only to do it all again on the way home.
Small ship cabins make clever use of their space, so soft-sided luggage works best: it stows easily under the bed, and a hard case doesn’t. Pack clothes and shoes that mix and match, and you’ll need far fewer of them.
Remember that our cruises are casual and informal. One smarter outfit for the Captain’s Dinner is plenty, so leave that tuxedo at home.
The list
Your Small Ship Cruise Packing List
Tick these off as you go. Most of our destinations are warm and sunny, so you’ll live in light clothes during the day.
Clothes
- Light, casual clothes for warm days
- Shorts and T-shirts
- A couple of layers for cooler evenings
- A light jacket for breezy nights at sea
- One smarter outfit for the Captain’s Dinner
Shore days and swim stops
- Swimwear, and a spare
- Water shoes for pebbly beaches and tender landings
- Comfortable walking shoes for cobbled streets
- A sun hat and sunglasses
- High-factor sunscreen
- A small day bag
On board and health
- Any prescription medication, in your hand luggage
- Seasickness tablets or ginger
- Foam earplugs, if you’re a light sleeper
- A reusable water bottle
- Phone charger and a travel adaptor
On many of our sailings, you’ll stop in quiet bays where you can swim straight from the ship, and the crew take you ashore by tender or inflatable boat on some days. Water shoes make stepping off onto a pebbly beach far easier.
Your destination
Pack for Your Destination
Always check the weather for your destination and time of year before you pack. If you’re going somewhere warm, such as the Seychelles, Tahiti, Cape Verde or West Africa, sun protection comes first: a high-factor cream and a hat to keep your ears and neck covered.
In Greece, Croatia and Italy, days are hot in summer, but conditions at sea can differ from those on land. A sweater for windy evenings on deck is always worth the space.
Leave at home
What Not to Pack for a Small Ship Cruise
Leave at home
- Formal wear and black tie
- Hard-shell suitcases
- More than three pairs of shoes
- Bulky beach towels: ask your cruise team what the ship provides
Worth the space
- Water shoes
- A light jacket
- Seasickness remedies
- Copies of your documents on your phone
Snorkelling gear is available on selected cruises, so check with us before you pack your own. And remember: packing should be a fun part of the trip too. Nothing beats the anticipation of a good cruise.
Common questions
Cruise Packing List: Your Questions Answered
Do I need formal wear on a small ship cruise?
No. Our cruises are casual and informal. One smarter outfit for the Captain’s Dinner is plenty.
Can I bring a hard suitcase?
You can, but soft-sided luggage is easier: it stows under the bed in a small ship cabin, where a hard case won’t fit.
What shoes should I pack?
Comfortable walking shoes for cobbled streets, water shoes for swim stops and pebbly beaches, and one smarter pair for the evening.
Is snorkelling gear provided?
Snorkelling gear is available on selected cruises. Ask our team when you book, and we’ll tell you what your ship provides.
Ready to pack?
Find your small ship cruise
Ask our team about your cruise, or request a personalised quote.
Call or email us
Monday to Friday 09:00 to 19:00 · Saturday 09:30 to 17:00
Book with confidence. Seafarer, a family company, has specialised in small ship cruising since 1995, and every payment you make to us is financially protected: ATOL licence 9511 for holidays with flights, ABTOT member 5660 for holidays without.