What to Pack Your Cruise Embarkation Bag

The key to a successful cruise is preparation which is why I ensure I have all of the essentials in my embarkation bag. Taking the time to take care of and organize things before leaving for your vacation can help it go much more smoothly. Making sure that you are organized from day one is the key to a successful vacation. Today we’re going to focus on what you should have with you in your cruise embarkation bag.

Embarkation day is one of my favorite parts of the cruise simply because it means that my vacation has officially started! Of course, days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are my favorite parts of the cruise as well! Embarkation day can be stressful though, even to a veteran cruiser, like me. Checking in can be quite the process but if you do a little preparation beforehand, it most definitely helps move things along a little faster. Let’s put it this way, the more prepared you are- the faster you can get to the fun!

Whether you’ve cruised or not, I strongly suggest taking a look at my 12 Things You Should Do Before You Cruise to help ensure you don’t miss any important steps! Part of being prepared is having everything you need on hand and easily accessible.

Table of Contents

Six Things Cruisers Should Have in their Embarkation Bag

1. Passport– All cruisers must have a passport or a birth certificate with a raised seal in order to board the ship.

2. Bank Cards– Although you set up your expense account prior to boarding the ship, I always keep my bank cards on me during check out just in case they need them.

3. Boarding Pass– Keep your boarding pass and passport handy at all times! Both of these documents will be checked multiple times before you board the ship.

4. Medical Information Sheet- One of the documents you’ll need to have filled out before you board the ship is a medical information sheet. The information is pretty generic, they’ll ask if you’ve had a fever or been sick within the last few days. Make sure you fill it out in advance.

Pro-Tip: All of these items can be stored in a Travel Wallet to keep them organized and all in one place.

5. Medication- It may be awhile before you get your luggage. Make sure you carry any necessary medication in your carry on.

6. Pens- I may go a little overboard in this department. I pack a couple of pens, a Sharpie, and a highlighter. These items stay in my bag during excursions so I like to have a few extras on hand, just in case.

Naturally, I throw some non-essentials in my bag as well. These include:

A notebook
A book
A sweater
A pouch with hand sanitzers
Chapstick
Small pouch (for my key fob)
Hair ties (again, I keep these in my bag for excursions so I like to have extras on hand.)

With these items in your embarkation bag, you’ll surely get your trip started off on the right track! You should also check out 12 Things You Should Do Before Your Cruise and 10 Things To do on Your Cruise Embarkation Day, two posts that will help you get your trip started off on the right track.

All of these items get neatly placed inside a backpack. I keep my passport and documents in one section with my wallet and the remaining items in a different part of my backpack so they aren’t in the way if I need to grab something. Although I carry a bookbag (which is also the same bag I use in port), all of these items could easily fit inside of a large purse as well.