Packing for a cruise in the Mediterranean has unique challenges. As an American, you’ll definitely be flying rather than driving to your cruise port, so over-packing isn’t a good option (unless you want to pay extra fees). Plus, the Mediterranean region is large and cruise ships regularly call at over a dozen different countries. The weather in the northern Mediterranean city of Venice can differ greatly from that of the cruise ports in the southern Greek islands like Santorini and Crete. Your packing list will have to adjust — especially if you’re on a long cruise that covers lots of ground.
After five Mediterranean cruises, I’ve learned some tips and tricks to pack everything I need for cruising in Europe without needing a second suitcase or paying overweight baggage fees. Here, I share my packing secrets and a handy Mediterranean cruise packing list to streamline your vacation preparation.
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The dress code of your cruise line and how you expect to spend your time play a big role in what goes into your suitcase. On most cruise lines sailing the Mediterranean, you'll be fine with casual attire. Toss in a few items that allow you to dress up a notch in the evenings, and you'll have your onboard wardrobe all set.
How you expect to spend your time on vacation is also key. Your Mediterranean cruise shore excursions might include anything from hiking volcanoes and ancient ruins to attending cooking classes or wine tastings. You may be touring museums, cathedrals or mosques on some days and taking boat rides, lounging on the beach or doing water sports on others.
I find it useful to organize my packing around the activities I have planned, but throw in a few items that allow for spontaneity. For example, I always pack a swimsuit, even if I don’t have any water activities planned. You never know when the hot tub will start calling your name.
Shorts, lightweight shirts, capris and sundresses all work well for most daytime activities on and off the ship throughout the Mediterranean during the warmer summer months. Plan on adding long pants and layers for spring and fall cruises. Hats, caps, visors and sunglasses are a good addition for excursions any time of year, as is a long-sleeve sun protective shirt. If your onshore adventures will take you to a church or mosque, plan to bring clothing that covers the knees and shoulders.
And remember that not all Mediterranean ports of call are touristy. In some cases, you will be walking city streets alongside businesspeople. Couple that with the fact that Europeans tend to dress a bit more conservatively than Americans, and you will find that what would fit in on a port day in Rome is a bit dressier than what you’d wear in The Bahamas.
Mainstream cruise lines in the Mediterranean like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises have casual buffet dining options if you prefer not to dress up for dinner, as does Viking. For most main dining rooms and specialty dining venues, eveningwear consists of slacks or skirts with nice shirts. If there is a dedicated formal night, jazz things up with accessories or a sparkly top, or go all-out with a suit or cocktail dress. Jackets and ties for men would be optional except on formal nights, where they would fit in nicely on most ships.
Related: Best Mediterranean cruises for every type of traveler
This is the clothing category that can bust your plan to pack lighter, but it’s important to have the right footwear in Europe. With so many places to explore on foot, the most important shoes to pack for a Mediterranean cruise are comfortable walking shoes.
Beyond that, you'll need flip-flops or water shoes if there's a beach in your cruise plan, and a dressy pair of shoes for the evening. You could get by with a nice pair of deck-style shoes like Sperry's or hiking sandals like Tevas or Keens for almost everything if you can color coordinate with your outfits. I recently managed a nine-day cruise in the Mediterranean with a pair of slip-on hiking shoes, a pair of black Teva sandals and one pair of black heels, which I could have done without (and been more comfortable).
The number one piece of gear for a Mediterranean cruise is a day bag or backpack. I use a fold-up lightweight nylon backpack that allows me to carry snacks, bottled water, sunscreen and even a beach towel — anything I think I might need on a day in port — but still has plenty of room to stash my souvenirs. It’s designed to zip up into its own built-in pouch the size of a large wallet, so it takes up little packing space or weight.
If you are a snorkeler, pack your own mask and snorkel so you can take advantage of surprise opportunities to see what's beneath those brilliant blue Mediterranean waves at the beaches of Sardinia, Santorini or even in Croatia. If you’re a hiker, consider collapsible hiking poles — which can come in handy on walks to hilltop ruins. Photographers will want their camera gear if their cellphone camera won’t cut it for vacation photos.
It's easy to overpack for a Mediterranean cruise. To avoid that, choose a neutral base color like black, navy or tan and plan your outfits to mix and match that color scheme. Pick clothing items you can dress up or down as the event requires. Neutral colors will make you feel more at home throughout most of the Mediterranean, where daytime fashion is rarely flashy.
Keep your materials lightweight for hot summer afternoons, but plan for a possible added layer on board the ship, where air conditioning can be chilly. Lightweight layers also come in handy on cruises in March, April, October and November when daytime temperatures can be in the 50s and 60s.
I can get through a weeklong cruise with a base of two pairs of black shorts, a pair of black capris, a pair of casual black slacks and a black tank dress. I mix those up with lightweight shirts or tanks each day, dressier tops at night, some scarves and a black sheer blouse. Keeping clothes to a minimum leaves me more room for important things like snorkeling and scuba gear.
Related: Best Mediterranean cruise tips to enhance your European vacation
Many travelers check their bags on long flights to Europe. To hedge your bets should your luggage go missing, divide your necessary items among multiple suitcases, including your carry-on bags. That way you'll have a few clothing changes if one bag is lost.
Also, since Mediterranean cruises often begin with a preboarding hotel night, pack what you need for that first night in a packing cube in your carry-on to make it readily accessible, even in your jet-lagged daze. If your airline supplied an amenity kit, be sure to toss that in your carry-on for the first night so you aren't rummaging through your suitcase for a toothbrush. I have been known to make up my own little amenity kit if I'm flying cheap and know I won’t get one from the airline.
Related: Carry-on vs. checked bags: Which is the better choice?
Here's a handy packing list for your Mediterranean cruise.
Packing for a cruise in the Mediterranean isn't that different from packing for any other cruise. Check the weather and the shoreside activities for each port, make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes, then double check your cruise line's recommendations for eveningwear and you'll be all set.
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