How I Pack for a 5-Day Carnival Cruise With a Single Carry-On

There’s nothing quite like the anticipation of a cruise—endless sunsets, ocean swims and tropical drinks are finally on the horizon. The only thing you need to worry about beforehand is packing, and for some people, that can be a complete headache.

As a former cruise ship performer who now travels on them for leisure multiple times a year, I know a thing or two about packing for life at sea. My first tip is: if your cruise is 10 days or less, you only need a carry-on. Not only will this save you time in the airport and stress about handling your baggage, but it will also make embarking the cruise ship a breeze. You’ll be able to carry on your luggage right away, and you won’t have to wait for your bags to get delivered to your room hours after leaving port.

With 29 ships in Carnival’s fleet, there are always a ton of 5-day cruises available. Many can end up being incredibly affordable, and they are a great option for people who can’t take a full 7-day cruise, but still want a long enough vacation. For this cruise, I’ll be heading out of Miami and going to two of Carnival‘s private islands: Celebration Key and Half Moon Cay. There will also be a stop at Nassau, Bahamas as well as a sea day. I’ll need clothing for lots of beach and pool time, nice dinners and bar hopping, and some casual options as well. Without further ado, let’s get packing!

Related: The 3-3-3 Packing Rule You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

View this post on Instagram

Bathing Suits Are The Most Important

For this type of cruise, you will most likely be living in bathing suits. I decided to bring three suits, but in all honesty, I could have fit a few more into my packing cube. Alas, I like to have fewer options to choose from day to day, so three is the perfect number for me. At the end of the day, I always wash my bathing suits by hand in my stateroom bathroom, keeping them clean throughout the trip.

I also packed a comfortable cover-up, which I can easily throw on over any bathing suit to then head to lay out on the pool deck or head out to the beach on one of the private islands. It’s light, cozy and keeps things simple when deciding what to put over a swimsuit each day.

Related: Carnival’s New Private Island Just Became the First ‘Sensory Inclusive’ Cruise Destination

Maxi-Dresses Are The Perfect Night Look

Whenever I’m thinking about what to put on after a day out in the sun, all I want to wear is a dress. On cruise ships in particular, I love to wear maxi-dresses. They look great when they blow in the wind out on deck, are comfortable if you’re a little bit sunburned and look incredibly chic. I decided to pack three maxi-dresses for the nicer evenings onboard, and then two shorter dresses for more casual nights.

Related: Carnival Just Solved the Biggest ‘Time Tax’ of Your Cruise Vacation

Casual Day Clothing Is Needed, Too

One thing that you need to remember about going on a cruise is that you might change your outfit multiple times per day. Maybe after spending the morning relaxing by the pool, you want to change into a casual outfit to get lunch and enjoy some other parts of the ship. Or, if you have time between a day out in port and your evening plans, you might want something to wear for those in between moments. For any of these instances, I like to have a few options. I always choose thin and light pieces that don’t take up a lot of room in my carry-on. Here, I packed two pairs of shorts and five tops, which could be mixed and matched to equal 10 total outfits. They fit perfectly in a small packing cube, and barely took up any room.

Leave Room For The Basics, Too

Everything else that you need to pack is the “less-fun” type of things, but hey, you need them! I was able to easily fit my full bag of makeup, a bag of toiletries (no shampoo, conditioner or soap needed since Carnival provides that), hair products, pajamas, underwear, socks and accessories.

Shoes are definitely important, however I firmly believe that three pairs of shoes is all you need for any trip. I will wear a pair of sneakers on the plane that I can workout in, and then I brought a pair of simple sandals that can be worn both at the beach and with my evening wear. Then, to have another comfortable yet chic pair of shoes to wear with my day and night outfits, I brought a pair of ballet flats.

Lastly, one of my favorite things to do on a cruise ship is to wake up early and workout. There’s nothing like a complimentary gym, right? For this, I just pack a pair of workout shorts and leggings and two athletic tops.

5 Smart ‘Fun Ship’ Extras

When you’re packing light for a Caribbean itinerary—especially with multiple private island beach days on the schedule—you’ll want to toss these extras into the corners of your bag:

• A Sleek Waterproof Phone Pouch: Between the brand-new splash zones at Celebration Key and the pristine ocean swims at Half Moon Cay, you’ll be spending a lot of time around the water. A clear, touchscreen-friendly waterproof pouch on a lanyard lets you capture beach memories, carry your Sign & Sail card and protect your phone from sand and salt water.
• Over-the-Door Hanging Organizer: Stateroom vanity space is precious, especially when you’re keeping things streamlined. A clear, hanging shoe organizer over the bathroom door is the ultimate way to store sunglasses, sunscreen, makeup, hair products and chargers so everything stays organized and off the counters.
• Multi-Plug Outlet Extender (Non-Surge): Standard cruise cabins are notoriously light on power outlets. To keep your phone, camera and smart devices powered up, bring a compact multi-plug extender. Just make sure it is strictly non-surge protected, as surge protectors are banned by the cruise line and will be confiscated at security.
• A Packable Mesh Beach Tote: You don’t want to lug your sleek travel carry-on down to the beach. A lightweight, mesh tote folds completely flat into the bottom of your suitcase but expands to hold your towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a book when it’s time to disembark for a private island day.
• Towel Clips or Bands: The top decks of a cruise ship and the shores of the Bahamas can get incredibly breezy. A simple pair of colorful towel clips or a thick elastic towel band will keep your pool towel securely attached to your lounge chair, ensuring it doesn’t blow away the second you get up to grab another drink.

And there you go, that’s all you need! Now, you won’t have a million different options of clothing to pick from every day on your trip, and you can spend more time out of your stateroom, enjoying your vacation. Bon Voyage!

Related: Why Carnival’s ‘Category 1A’ is the Best-Kept Secret in Cruising for 2026