What to Pack for a Cruise from Los Angeles: My Real List for 2026
Every time I’m at the port, I see the same things.
Someone dragging a suitcase the size of a mini-fridge. Someone buying sunscreen on the ship for $18. Someone realizing on the first evening that they forgot an adapter and now their phone is dying.
I’ve been there. More than once. Here’s what’s left on my list after I cut everything that didn’t earn its spot.
Quick Answer
For a 7-day cruise from LA to Mexico, a mid-size suitcase and a small backpack is all you need. The most important things – magnetic hooks for the cabin, a powerbank, an unlocked phone for a Telcel SIM, and decent sandals. Everything else is situational.
How I Pack
I live in Sacramento. The port in Los Angeles is a six-hour drive. That means I pack at home, calm, no airport rush.
Over the years my suitcase has gotten smaller, not bigger. Early trips – I brought things “just in case.” Now I only bring what I know I’ll actually use.
A cruise to Mexico is not an expedition. It’s beach, dinner, port, beach again. The wardrobe should match.
Clothes: Less Than You Think
For 7 days I get by with:
- 5-6 t-shirts or shirts
- 2-3 pairs of shorts (one can go on your body the day you board)
- 1 pair of light pants or chinos – for Elegant Night
- 1 collared shirt – also for Elegant Night
- Swim shorts – 2 pairs, they dry fast
- A light jacket or hoodie – the AC on some ships runs cold
Elegant Night on Carnival is not a black tie situation. A collared shirt and decent pants is enough. I’ve seen people in jeans. Nobody sent them away.
Shoes: sandals for the deck and ports, sneakers for walking, one pair of closed shoes for dinner. Three pairs – that’s it.
One thing worth mentioning for those who burn easily or take medications that increase UV sensitivity – bring a light long-sleeve shirt and a wide-brim hat. Mexican sun on open water is not something you want to underestimate.
Tech and Gadgets: This Is Where People Lose Money
This is the most important section. Because on the ship, everything costs way more than it should.
Powerbank – non-negotiable.
Outlets on the ship exist but there aren’t many. Usually one per cabin, near the mirror. If there are two of you, you’re already taking turns. On shore in a Mexican port, finding a place to charge is basically not happening.
I’ve been carrying an Anker 20000mAh for three years. Gets me through two full days without plugging in. That’s not a sponsored mention – it’s just what works for me.
One thing to know: the same rules that apply to powerbanks on planes apply at cruise terminals – anything over 100Wh can get flagged. The Anker 20000mAh is around 74Wh. No issues.
Magnetic hooks – sounds silly, works seriously.
Carnival cabin walls are metal. Magnetic hooks hold everything – hats, bags, towels, jackets. The cabin feels twice as organized.
I picked up a set of 6 on Amazon for $12. They’ve been on every cruise with me since.
Phone and connectivity.
If you’re going to Mexico – Telcel solves the port internet problem. A Mexican SIM card runs about $12-15 a month, and you get 4G/5G in Ensenada, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta. Your phone needs to be unlocked.
I wrote a full breakdown on this separately – [link to Telcel article].
Beach and Ports
Waterproof phone case.
Not because you’re planning to snorkel. Because splashes, wet hands, one unexpected moment near the water – these are real. A decent case is $15-20 on Amazon. A new iPhone screen is $300+.
Sunscreen – buy it at home.
On the ship and in ports it runs $18-22 for a small bottle. The same Neutrogena SPF 50 at home is $9. Get a big tube and stop thinking about it.
One note: some Mexican ports – especially natural reserves – require reef-safe sunscreen without oxybenzone. I just always bring reef-safe to keep things simple. It’s not more expensive.
A belt bag or crossbody.
In port you want your hands free. Wallet, phone, a card, some cash. A full backpack all day is more than you need.
Cash.
Cards work in most Mexican ports but not always smoothly. Street food, local markets, taxis – you want pesos. I either exchange $50-80 before leaving or pull from an ATM right at the port. Don’t exchange money on the ship – the rate isn’t worth it.
First Aid Kit: The Minimum That Actually Matters
This is the section most people get wrong in both directions. First cruise – they bring nothing. Second cruise – they bring half a pharmacy.
Here’s my balance.
The basics that apply to almost everyone:
- Motion sickness medication (Dramamine or Bonine) – even if you’ve never had an issue. The Caribbean is one thing. The Pacific between Cabo and San Diego in November is a different conversation. Swells come without warning.
- Band-aids – blisters from new shoes on day one is a cruise tradition
- Ibuprofen or Tylenol
- Imodium – Mexico is Mexico, even when you’re eating at decent spots. Tap water in some places is a risk.
Personal medications – this deserves its own section.
If you take anything regularly – prescriptions, blood pressure meds, blood thinners, insulin, antidepressants, anything – bring a 2-3 day surplus beyond your cruise length. Bags get lost, delays happen, and finding a pharmacy in a Mexican port is possible but not the vacation moment you want.
Keep medications in your carry-on or day bag – not in the checked bag going into the hold. That’s a rule I learned once and never broke again.
If you take something that needs refrigeration – insulin, for example – contact Carnival ahead of time about storage in the medical center. They accommodate this, but it needs to be arranged in advance, not figured out at the gangway.
For those with allergies.
Antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec) – based on your situation. But if you have a serious allergy with anaphylaxis risk, bring your EpiPen and keep it on you, not in the cabin. The ship has medical staff, but response time is still response time.
Sunburn.
A small tube of aloe vera gel. Seems unnecessary until it’s 10 PM and your shoulders are radiating heat. Then it’s the best thing in your bag.
Joint and foot issues.
A cruise involves a lot of walking. Multiple decks, long corridors, ports. If your knees or back give you trouble, bring whatever you usually use at home – a pain relief cream, a knee brace, good insoles. The ship’s medical shop carries basics, but not necessarily what you need.
Everything above costs almost nothing at home. On the ship – three times the price, if you can even find it.
Documents and Money
Passport – the foundation of everything. It needs to be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.
I know a couple – friends of ours – who had to turn around 150 miles from the port because they left their passports at home. That’s 300 miles round trip, racing against the clock. The rest of us were already on the ship watching the gangway, genuinely not sure they were going to make it. They did – sprinted on board in the last minutes, practically as the crew was getting ready to pull it. The ship really did seem to wait for them.
For the rest of that trip, they were the running joke of the group. Every time something went even slightly wrong, someone would say “well, at least we didn’t forget our passports.” They took it well. But I don’t think they’ve forgotten their documents since.
Check the expiration date before you start packing – not the morning you’re leaving.
A credit card with no foreign transaction fee – this matters more than people realize. Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture, Charles Schwab debit – there are good options. Regular cards charge 3% on every purchase abroad. Over a week-long cruise that adds up quietly.
On the ship, Carnival runs the Sail & Sign system – you link a card at check-in and everything on board gets charged to it automatically. No cash needed for that part.
My Full Packing Checklist
Documents:
- [ ] Passport (valid 6+ months past return date)
- [ ] Booking confirmation (printed or saved offline on your phone)
- [ ] Credit card with no foreign transaction fee
Clothes:
- [ ] 5-6 tops
- [ ] 2-3 bottoms
- [ ] 1 Elegant Night outfit (collared shirt + pants / dress)
- [ ] 2 pairs of swim shorts or a swimsuit
- [ ] Light jacket or hoodie
- [ ] Long-sleeve shirt (for sun-sensitive skin)
- [ ] 3 pairs of shoes (sandals, sneakers, closed-toe for dinner)
Tech:
- [ ] Powerbank under 100Wh (Anker 20000mAh works)
- [ ] Magnetic hooks (6-8)
- [ ] Unlocked phone + Telcel SIM
- [ ] Waterproof phone case
- [ ] Charging cables
Beach and ports:
- [ ] Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
- [ ] Aloe vera gel
- [ ] Belt bag or crossbody
- [ ] Cash in Mexican pesos ($50-80 equivalent)
First aid:
- [ ] Dramamine or Bonine (motion sickness)
- [ ] Band-aids
- [ ] Ibuprofen or Tylenol
- [ ] Imodium
- [ ] Personal medications with 2-3 day surplus
- [ ] Antihistamines (as needed)
- [ ] EpiPen (if you have a serious allergy)
- [ ] Pain relief cream / joint support (as needed)
When This List Doesn’t Apply
Alaska cruises – completely different game. Rain gear, warm layers, waterproof boots. That’s its own article.
Cruises longer than 10-14 days – the list grows, but not proportionally. The laundry service on board handles the clothes problem.
If you’re flying into LA – factor in airline baggage limits. And move your medications to your carry-on before you even leave home.
Traveling with kids – separate topic entirely. Children’s first aid kit, water toys, kid-safe sunscreen. I’ll get to that one.
What I’ve Figured Out Over the Years
First cruise, I showed up at the port with an oversized bag. Half of it never got opened.
My rule now is simple: if I’m not sure, it stays home. Almost everything can be bought on the ship or in port. Expensive, but available. The exception is medications. Those come from home, the ones you know, the ones you trust.
The list above isn’t “bring all of this.” It’s what I personally don’t leave without before a cruise.
Your situation might be different – kids, specific health needs, a longer route. But the foundation is the same.
What do you bring that I’m not listing here? Leave a comment – I’m genuinely curious. Some of the best ideas I’ve picked up over the years came from people who read these articles.
Related articles:
- Telcel instead of roaming in Mexico – [link]
- How to catch a last-minute cruise from LA – [link]
- Is the Carnival CHEERS! package worth the money – [link]
Last updated: April 2026
Comments are closed.