If you’re planning a three or four night cruise, you may not want to bring out the big guns when it comes to luggage. After all, this is a quick, relaxing get away – just enough to reinvigorate your spirit and tide you over until you can do it again. You don’t want to add stress by overpacking or having to worry about a ton of luggage.

You’ll need the basics, of course, but let’s talk about what exactly that means – and why you shouldn’t worry about not packing enough.

1. Weekend cruises are usually a little less formal
   • You rarely find the ball gown and tuxedo crowd on a quick weekend trip to the Bahamas. Although some people may still go all out, you’ll find that “formal night” attire runs the gamut from nicer jeans and a polo shirt all the way up to gowns and suits. If you’re there to have fun, you’ll probably want more of a club vibe, but you can definitely get by with a sun dress, slacks and a top, khaki pants and a button down shirt – don’t take up space in your bag for Spanx if you don’t have to! Oh, and remember, many main dining rooms don’t allow shorts to be worn at dinner time!
     
2. Bathing suits
   • I recommend you bring two. Even though it may only be a three or four night cruise, you’ll be beaching it or soaking up the rays by the pool as much as you can. You will have a clothes line in your bathroom to hang a wet suit up to dry, but if you’re like me, you dread the thought of pulling on a damp, cold swimsuit. Because there are back to back ports, plus time for swimming or sunning on the first day, bring a backup, just in case!
3. Closed toe shoes
   • For what? I know, you’ll be on the beach and at the pool, and the last thing you want is to lug a big pair of closed toe shoes. Well, on a recent sailing, we were invited to watch sail away from the helicopter pad, which required closed to shoes. There were free cocktails and snacks, and I’m so glad I had my sneakers! Plus, you might need them – or prefer them – for an excursion.
     
4. Documents
   • We HIGHLY recommend using a passport when cruising, even if it’s not required that you do. Emergencies happen all the time, and we would never want to see someone stranded because they lack the necessary documents to get home right away if something should happen.
   • For a closed loop cruise – which means it starts and leaves from the same US port – you will need at the very least your government issued birth certificate and a government issued photo ID.
     • A lot of people have the hospital birth record handy – this is NOT going to get you onboard your ship. It has to be the one the jurisdiction in which you were born issues, with their seal. Double check your docs now so you have time to get the real deal before you sail.
     • Children will not need a government issued photo ID, but they will need that birth certificate. And “children” means anyone 15 years of age or younger. Keep that in mind if you live in a state like NJ, where you can’t get a driver’s license until you are 17 – those kids will still need a government issued photo ID.
5. Refillable water bottle
   • If you’re not on the drinks package, which includes bottled water, you may want to bring a refillable bottle from home. Even if you are on the drinks package, having your own water bottle means you can bring it on excursions or to the beach to have water when bar service isn’t always convenient.
     
6. Reef Safe Sunscreen
   • You’re gonna need sunscreen – we hope. Short cruises are usually beach cruises, with most having at least two port stops that involve beaches. Many island locations are requiring visitors to have reef safe sunscreen to protect the island ecosystems. Will someone come to every beach blanket to check that you’re using the right product? No. Are some locations stricter than others? Yes. Can I tell you which spots will have sunscreen police and which won’t? No.
     • When it comes to short cruises, some ports in Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands require reef safe sunscreen. Bimini in the Bahamas “recommends” that you use the reef safe stuff. Enforcement is hit or miss. I have heard of people who have been stopped in Cozumel by beach security to make sure your sunscreen checks out okay, and I’ve heard the opposite from others. YMMV – but bring the reef safe stuff and save the world.
7. Patience
   • This is essential to pack everywhere, but it may be even more necessary on a short cruise. These cruises can be crowded, and the crowd can be a mix of older cruisers to babies, seasoned cruisers to first timers. If someone in line ahead of you forgot documents or is taking a hot second to pull out docs for their whole family, be patient. If some old dude cuts in front of you at the buffet, maybe he’s just taken meds that need for him to eat right away, be patient. If the bar is busy and the bartenders don’t get to you for a few minutes, be patient. Patience will take you far in situations where people are crowded, stressed, and in chaos.

We hope this quick list will help you know what to put in your suitcase when you are prepping for a short cruise. Don’t feel like you’ll need everything – a couple of pairs of shorts, a couple of t-shirts, and an outfit or two for dinner (don’t worry if you repeat something, no one is watching) is plenty.