Essential Packing List: 10 Must-Haves for Your 7-Day Caribbean Cruise Adventure

I can’t wait for my first-ever cruise! We’ll be cruising for seven days, with stops in the Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Going with my mom and sisters has made cruise talk non-stop, and they’ve already wrapped up most of their shopping. Me? I’ve barely started, but I’m aiming for a beachy vibe that’s both comfy and stylish.

My vacation wardrobe will be all about easy-breezy linen pants and dresses, versatile sandals perfect for both the cabana and beach strolls and swimwear that can double as tops for some extra mileage. I tend to overpack, but this time I managed to narrow it down to 10 essentials from brands like Madewell, J.Crew, Levi’s, Birkenstock, and Coach. And to keep everything organized, I’ve got my favorite Calpack packing cubes and a sturdy suitcase from Béis on the list as well.

Béis Medium Check-In Roller Suitcase

Having a good suitcase is essential for your travels so I had to place this first. This is durable and the wheels make it easy for you to carry around the airport or wherever. This can hold all your travel needs without going overweight and it’s also chic.

Linen Flowy Wide Leg Beach Pants

White on a cruise being comfortable is a must, but still want to be in a trendy piece. So I had to pack flowy wide-leg pants, they offer style versatility, I could style it over my swimwear or choose to wear it with a casual top for a tropical look. It comes in small to extra-large and has 12 different colors to choose from, so I got four. What I also love about these are the lightweight and the drawstring.

Tank Tops

I packed 3 of these blouses because they are not only casual but they have a design a little more elevated than the basic tank tops. Althought I was wearing a swimsuit most of the trip these went well with my lining pants and denim shorts.

Arizona Big Buckle Slide Sandal

I was seeking a shoe that’s hassle-free and versatile, something I can easily slip on and off and dress up or down. These Birkenstock Arizona Big-Buckle Slide Sandals fit the bill perfectly. Available in black, beige, pink, and green, they come in sizes ranging from 5 to 11.5.

What sets these slides apart is their cork-latex footbed, which provides excellent shock absorption, arch support, and molds to your foot’s shape over time for a custom fit. Plus, they have two straps with an oversized, gold-plated buckle that adds a touch of elegance, making them suitable for more formal occasions.

Swimsuits Obvisouly

During my Caribbean vacation trip of course I will need swimsuits. I packed plenty of these but this was one of my favorites. The floral pattern is pretty and with the right color top, I feel lovely wearing this.

Sleeveless Vintage Flowy Pocket Tshirt Tank Sundresses

The Caribbean is hot so this dress was perfect for me and the price is affordable. I love a dress with pockets and it’s sleeveless so it’s a good choice for the summer vacation. The dress is flowy so you can feel comfortable and when I overeat not have to feel self-conscious about looking bloated. This dress already oversized also comes in XXlarge so basically anyone can fit into it.

10 set Packing Cube

This is an essential item for your packing it will not only look neat but everything will be better organized. I packed my makeup and underwear and everything was just so easy to find I was ready to unpack.

Other items worth getting:

• Apple AirTag Four-Pack, $79.96 amazon.com
• Detachable Mesh Beach Bag with Insulated Cooler $29.87; Inspired-Beauty
• Coach Small Straw Pocket Tote, $295; nordstrom.com