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What to Pack for a Cruise from the UK: Our Packing List

Updated 30 October 2026 by The Ahoy Fares Team
One of the best things about cruising from a UK port is that there's no airline weighing your suitcase. That doesn't mean anything goes, though. Ships ban some everyday items, dress codes vary by line, and the sockets in your cabin might not take a British plug. This guide covers luggage allowances, banned items, what to wear on formal nights, plugs, seasickness and a checklist for each type of trip.
Example prices, checked 30 Oct 2026, 6:04pm UK time. Prices change, so for today's checked prices see the live deals below.
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How much luggage can you take?

No-fly cruises (sailing from a UK port)
P&O Cruises (Southampton): you can bring "as many bags as you can comfortably fit into your cabin". Each bag must weigh no more than 23kg for safe handling. If a bag is heavier, you may be asked to repack it, and it could be delayed when you get off.
Coach transfers: P&O's partner Cruise Connect allows three medium cases of up to 23kg each, plus one item of hand luggage per person.
Suit carriers: P&O suggests you carry them on yourself, so they don't catch on the conveyor belts.
Luggage couriers: for Southampton sailings, The Baggage Handling Company can collect your bags from home, from £36 per bag each way (P&O; price checked 30 Oct 2026, 6:03pm UK time). Fred. Olsen recommends Baggex.
Fly-cruises
When you fly to the ship, the airline's limit applies. On P&O fly-cruises, that's usually 20kg to 23kg per person. Even with a bigger allowance, no single bag should weigh more than 23kg. Power banks must go in your hand luggage, not the hold. On P&O fly-cruises between Tenerife and Valletta, the smaller Valletta flight's allowance applies.
Example prices, checked 30 Oct 2026, 6:04pm UK time. Prices change, so for today's checked prices see the live deals below.

What you can't take on board

Every line publishes its own prohibited list, so check yours before you pack. The common ones:
Item
P&O Cruises
Cunard
Royal Caribbean
Clothes iron or steamer
Not allowed (heating element)
Not allowed
Not allowed
Kettle or coffee machine
Not allowed (heating element)
Check Cunard's prohibited list
Not allowed (only grooming appliances are permitted)
Extension lead or power strip
Not covered on the page we checked, so ask P&O
Not allowed
Not allowed (including multi-plug adaptors)
Hairdryer and straighteners
Allowed
Check Cunard's prohibited list
Straighteners allowed; hairdryers may be banned depending on type (one is in your cabin)
USB chargers
Not covered on the page we checked
Check Cunard's prohibited list
Allowed if certified to US or European standards; multi-port USB blocks are fine
Item
Clothes iron or steamer
P&O Cruises
Not allowed (heating element)
Cunard
Not allowed
Royal Caribbean
Not allowed
Item
Kettle or coffee machine
P&O Cruises
Not allowed (heating element)
Cunard
Check Cunard's prohibited list
Royal Caribbean
Not allowed (only grooming appliances are permitted)
Item
Extension lead or power strip
P&O Cruises
Not covered on the page we checked, so ask P&O
Cunard
Not allowed
Royal Caribbean
Not allowed (including multi-plug adaptors)
Item
Hairdryer and straighteners
P&O Cruises
Allowed
Cunard
Check Cunard's prohibited list
Royal Caribbean
Straighteners allowed; hairdryers may be banned depending on type (one is in your cabin)
Item
USB chargers
P&O Cruises
Not covered on the page we checked
Cunard
Check Cunard's prohibited list
Royal Caribbean
Allowed if certified to US or European standards; multi-port USB blocks are fine
Sources: P&O's cabin power guide, Cunard's packing guide and Royal Caribbean's UK prohibited items page, checked 30 Oct 2026.
Other rules worth knowing:
Alcohol (P&O): each guest aged 18 or over may bring up to one litre of wine or Champagne when they first board. Drinking it in a bar or restaurant costs £20 corkage per bottle (P&O; price checked 30 Oct 2026, 6:04pm UK time). Spirits aren't allowed, and alcohol you buy in port is stored until the end of the cruise.
Knives and blades: Fred. Olsen allows a kilt and sporran on formal nights, but not a skean dhu.
Example prices, checked 30 Oct 2026, 6:04pm UK time. Prices change, so for today's checked prices see the live deals below.

Dress codes and formal nights by line

Line
Daytime
Evenings
Formal nights
P&O Cruises
Holiday clothes; shoes away from the pool, no swimwear indoors
"Evening Casual": your best shirt, a dress or smart dark denim
"Black Tie": cocktail dress, ball gown, tuxedo, or suit or smart jacket and tie. New Year's Eve is Black Tie.
Cunard
See Cunard's packing guide
Most evenings call for smart dress: cocktail dresses, jackets or elegant separates
Gala Evenings, often themed (Black and White, Red and Gold, Roaring 20s, Masquerade). Themes are listed in advance on My Cunard.
Fred. Olsen
Casual (shorts, jeans, trainers); no swimwear in venues or restaurants
Smart dresses or skirts, chinos or smart jeans, button-down shirts; no flip-flops, and no shorts in the Main Dining Room
5–6 nights: one formal night. 7–12 nights: two. 13–20 nights: three plus the Captain's Welcome Party. If you'd rather not dress up, eat in the casual restaurants.
Ambassador
Casual
The Daily Programme suggests a dress code each evening
2–5 nights: one formal night. 6–20 nights: two. A lounge suit is acceptable. No jeans, T-shirts or shorts in the main restaurant on formal nights.
Line
P&O Cruises
Daytime
Holiday clothes; shoes away from the pool, no swimwear indoors
Evenings
"Evening Casual": your best shirt, a dress or smart dark denim
Formal nights
"Black Tie": cocktail dress, ball gown, tuxedo, or suit or smart jacket and tie. New Year's Eve is Black Tie.
Line
Cunard
Daytime
See Cunard's packing guide
Evenings
Most evenings call for smart dress: cocktail dresses, jackets or elegant separates
Formal nights
Gala Evenings, often themed (Black and White, Red and Gold, Roaring 20s, Masquerade). Themes are listed in advance on My Cunard.
Line
Fred. Olsen
Daytime
Casual (shorts, jeans, trainers); no swimwear in venues or restaurants
Evenings
Smart dresses or skirts, chinos or smart jeans, button-down shirts; no flip-flops, and no shorts in the Main Dining Room
Formal nights
5–6 nights: one formal night. 7–12 nights: two. 13–20 nights: three plus the Captain's Welcome Party. If you'd rather not dress up, eat in the casual restaurants.
Line
Ambassador
Daytime
Casual
Evenings
The Daily Programme suggests a dress code each evening
Formal nights
2–5 nights: one formal night. 6–20 nights: two. A lounge suit is acceptable. No jeans, T-shirts or shorts in the main restaurant on formal nights.
On P&O, some venues don't follow the dress code. The ship's daily Horizon paper tells you which.

Plugs and sockets

This is where packing catches people out. Here's what's in the cabin, according to a UK cruise agent's help centre:
UK three-pin sockets: P&O, Cunard and Ambassador (Ambassador's own FAQ). Cunard's Queen Anne also lists US, European and USB sockets.
European two-pin only: Fred. Olsen.
European and US: MSC, Celebrity and Oceania.
US only: Princess, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Pack a travel adaptor for each device you'll charge on lines without UK sockets. Royal Caribbean bans multi-plug adaptors, so a certified multi-port USB charger is a safer way to charge several gadgets at once.

Seasickness

The NHS advises:
On a boat, stay in the middle, where you'll feel the least motion.
Look at a fixed point such as the horizon.
Get fresh air.
Avoid heavy meals and alcohol before and during the journey.
Try ginger, as a tablet, biscuit or tea.
Pharmacies sell tablets, patches (for adults and children over 10) and acupressure bands, though the bands don't work for everyone. Ask a pharmacist which suits you, and buy before you go.

Documents and money

For passports, the EU Entry/Exit System and online check-in, see our first-cruise guide. Quick reminders for P&O:
Online check-in opens 21 days before you sail.
To complete it, you'll need your passport details, a payment card and passport-style photos.
Print your boarding pass and luggage labels at home.
On Ambassador, there are no paper tickets. You submit your Advance Passenger Information online, then check in and download your boarding pass 72 hours before sailing.

Packing checklist by trip type

Every cruise
Passport, boarding passes and luggage labels
Travel insurance details
Prescription medicines, kept in your hand luggage
Plug adaptor (if your line doesn't have UK sockets) and a certified multi-port USB charger
Seasickness remedy
Flat shoes for deck walks, since P&O warns decks can be chilly and breezy, "even in the tropics"
A light layer for evenings
Formal-night outfit(s) to match your line's dress code
A small day bag for port days
Norwegian fjords or a Northern Lights cruise
Waterproof jacket, warm layers, hat and gloves
Sturdy footwear for glacier and waterfall walks
Binoculars
For winter aurora sailings, see the packing section of our Northern Lights guide
Christmas markets or a winter city break
Warm coat, scarf and comfortable walking shoes for cobbled streets
A foldable shopping bag for market gifts
Black-tie outfit if you're aboard for New Year's Eve on P&O
Canaries, Mediterranean or Caribbean sun
Swimwear (only around the pool on P&O)
Sun cream, sunglasses and a hat
Light evening clothes, plus one layer for the breeze
Fly-cruise
Check your airline's allowance on your booking (usually 20–23kg on P&O)
Power banks in your hand luggage
One day's clothes and your medicines in your hand luggage, in case your case is delayed
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FAQ

Can I take a kettle or an iron on a cruise?
Not on P&O, Cunard or Royal Caribbean. P&O bans items with heating elements, such as irons, kettles and coffee machines, for safety reasons.
Can I take an extension lead?
Not on Cunard or Royal Caribbean. On any other line, check its prohibited items list before you pack one. A certified multi-port USB charger is the safer choice.
Is there a luggage limit when sailing from Southampton?
On P&O, there's no limit on the number of bags, as long as they fit in your cabin and none weighs more than 23kg.
Do I need a plug adaptor?
Yes on Fred. Olsen, MSC, Celebrity, Princess, Royal Caribbean and NCL. P&O, Cunard and Ambassador have UK sockets.

Sources

https://www.pocruises.com/essential-information/joining-and-leaving-your-ship
https://www.pocruises.com/help-hub/centre/life-on-board/cabins/power-outlets
https://www.pocruises.com/essential-information/code-of-conduct
https://www.pocruises.com/themed-cruises/festive-dining
https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/the-cunard-experience/what-to-pack
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en/faq/questions/prohibited-items-onboard-policy
https://www.fredolsencruises.com/faqs/on-board/what-do-i-wear-on-formal-night
https://www.fredolsencruises.com/faqs/on-board/whats-the-dress-code-whilst-on-board
https://www.fredolsencruises.com/cruise/l2711
https://www.ambassadorcruiseline.com/cruise/a22634-discover-germany-holland-belgium-s-festive-delights/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/motion-sickness/

Live deals

Live short cruises from UK ports (7 nights or fewer, no flights), cheapest first, with today's checked prices (these can differ from the example fares in the guide). Prices are per person, two sharing.
Flash sale

Ambassador Cruise Line, Ambition

4 nights round trip from London Tilbury via Zeebrugge (for Bruges), IJmuiden (for Amsterdam) and Rotterdam
Fri 27 Nov 2026 · 4 nights
Round trip from London Tilbury · no flights needed
Western Europe
Cheapest cabin at Iglu Cruise
£401
pp
£419
4% off
Inside · £100/night · two sharing
See deal
Price checked 30 Oct 2026, 3:46pm UK time
Flash sale

Royal Caribbean, Freedom of the Seas

7 nights round trip from Southampton via Le Havre (for Paris), Bilbao, La Coruña and Vigo
Sun 16 May 2027 · 7 nights
Round trip from Southampton · no flights needed
Western Europe
Cheapest cabin at Iglu Cruise
£568
pp
£628
10% off
Inside · £81/night · two sharing
See deal
Price checked 30 Oct 2026, 3:46pm UK time
Biggest savings

Cunard, Queen Mary 2

7 nights round trip from Southampton via Le Havre (for Paris), Zeebrugge (for Bruges) and an overnight in Rotterdam
Sat 5 Dec 2026 · 7 nights
Round trip from Southampton · no flights needed
Western Europe
Cheapest cabin at Iglu Cruise
£647
pp
£669
3% off
Inside · £92/night · two sharing
See deal
Price checked 30 Oct 2026, 3:46pm UK time
Flash sale

Cunard, Queen Victoria

Spain and France from Southampton
Sun 1 Apr 2029 · 7 nights
From Southampton · no flights needed
Western Europe
Cheapest cabin at Iglu Cruise
£832
pp
£854
3% off
Inside · £119/night · two sharing
See deal
Price checked 30 Oct 2026, 11:08am UK time
Flash sale

Disney Cruise Line, Disney Wish

Northern Europe cruise from Southampton
Fri 27 Aug 2027 · 3 nights
From Southampton · no flights needed
Cheapest cabin at Iglu Cruise
£1,232
pp
£1,292
5% off
Inside · £411/night · two sharing
See deal
Price checked 30 Oct 2026, 11:08am UK time
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Ahoy Fares is an independent cruise deals guide covering the whole UK market. Independent means we're not a travel agent, and no cruise line or agent owns us. Some links may be affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commission doesn't decide which deals we show; our own rules do (the whole market, cheapest cabin first). Prices are per person in GBP based on two sharing.
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