What to Pack for a Southern Caribbean Disney Cruise: Family Edition
Sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico with Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line is setting sail from one of the Caribbean’s hottest destinations—San Juan, Puerto Rico, not once, but three times between late October and mid-November 2025. Two of these cruises are Halloween on the High Seas themed, while the last transitions into a classic 7-night Southern Caribbean voyage.
If cruising to dream destinations like Antigua, St. Lucia, Aruba, Barbados, Dominica, Curaçao, and Bonaire is on your family’s bucket list, we can help you book it, give you some insider tips, and share exactly what to pack for a smooth and memorable trip!
As a Puerto Rican family who’s done this route twice (once on the Disney Magic and once on the Disney Dream), we know how to prep for the warm weather, themed nights, and multiple excursions. Here’s our family-approved packing guide to get you cruise-ready!
📝 Packing List Overview
- Sun Protection: Rashguards, reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats for everyone in the family.
- Health & Comfort: Motion sickness aids, basic medications, and a small first-aid kit.
- Beach & Pool Gear: Swimsuits, wet bags, beach totes, goggles, and optional snorkel gear.
- Theme Night Outfits: Costumes for Pirate Night, Halloween on the High Seas, or other special events.
- Stateroom Decorations: Custom cabin door magnets to make your space stand out.
- Day-to-Night Clothing: Casual wear, activewear, cruise casual, and formal outfits for dinner nights.
- Essentials: Luggage, refillable water bottles, and organized travel documents.
☀️ Sun Protection Essentials
The Caribbean sun is beautiful — but intense! Be prepared with:
- Rashguards (our favorites: Roxy, O’Neill, Under Armour long-sleeve swimsuits)
- Wide-brim hats, baseball caps, or bucket hats for each family member
- Reef-safe sunscreen (Sun Bum SPF 50 in spray or lotion)
- Sunglasses for those scenic catamaran rides
- At least 2 swimsuits and rashguards per person for rotating during excursions
🚢 Seasickness & Medications (Stay Healthy at Sea)
Don’t let motion sickness ruin your adventure, and don’t forget your doctor-prescribed medication in its original packaging:
- Non-drowsy Dramamine or Bonine (avoid Kids Dramamine, which causes sleepiness)
- Seabands – acupressure wristbands for gentle nausea relief
- EmeTerm band – high-tech, FDA-approved motion sickness relief. We use these when we cruise and they help us with any nausea or motion sickness we feel.
Also pack a travel first-aid kit with:
- Cold/flu medications
- Antibiotics (if prescribed)
- Pepto-Bismol tablets
- Imodium
- Pain relief (Motrin/Tylenol Dual Action)
- Zicam and ginger chews (Gin Gins)
👜 Wet Bags, Beach Totes & Lanyards
If it’s your first cruise, bring:
- Wet bags for damp swimsuits (Castaway Gold Club Members and up will get one in their stateroom with beach tote)
- Lightweight beach totes ( Castaway Club members will get one in their stateroom) or Lightweight Backpack
- Lanyards for your Key to the World card and Cove Café punch card
🛍️ Forgot something? San Juan has Costco, malls, and local stores where you can grab any last-minute essentials!
🐠 Swimming Gear & Beach Toys (For Port Days)
Water fun is everywhere, so don’t forget:
- Goggles for kids who love underwater views
-
Snorkel gear (optional; often provided on excursions)
- Small bucket & shovel (great for beach days; pack or buy beforehand)
🧺 Laundry Tips for Busy Itineraries
With multiple beach days, you’ll want to keep things fresh:
- Portable laundry cord and heavy-duty magnets for drying swimsuits
- Laundry facilities are available onboard if needed with laundry detergent for a fee or bring your own laundry pods.
🎃 Costumes & Pirate Night Outfits
Pack smart for Disney’s themed nights:
- Halloween costumes (follow Disney Cruise Line guidelines)
- Pirate night attire: Disney provides bandanas, but full costumes are encouraged!
The video shows an example of the
decoration on our stateroom door on the Disney Wish.
🎨 Stateroom & Cabin Door Decorations
One of the most fun traditions on Disney Cruise Line is decorating your stateroom door with magnets. It’s a great way to make your cabin stand out, help kids find your room, and add a touch of Disney magic to your stay.
- Custom magnets: Showcase your family name, favorite Disney characters, or cruise date.
- Holiday or theme designs: Match your door décor to events like Halloween on the High Seas or Pirate Night.
- Photo magnets: Feature your own Disney vacation memories for a personal touch.
Since we like to share who we are, we recommend Salon Boricua. They offer educational designs reflecting Puerto Rican culture — perfect for Southern Caribbean sailings — and they ship to Puerto Rico and the mainland U.S.
By supporting them, you support a local Boricua business. You can also take home a unique souvenir of your visit to the island and learn a bit of Puerto Rican history in the process.
🧳 Luggage & Hydration
Smart packing = smooth travel:
-
Travel bags we love:
- Away luggage & backpacks
- Yeti backpack (sturdy for excursions)
-
Hydro Flask Refillable water bottles (we bring two 24-oz bottles + sling carriers)
- Use these for excursions and to avoid purchasing bottled water onboard.
✅ Our Family’s Cruise Packing Checklist
We’re a family of three (two adults + one teen), and here’s what we always include:
Our Family Packing Checklist
- Pack 2 swimsuits and rashguards per person
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen
- Don’t forget sunglasses and sun hats
- Include wet bags, beach totes, and lanyards
- Pack medications, motion sickness aids, and first-aid kit
- Bring goggles, snorkel gear, and beach toys
- Use a laundry cord and magnets for drying clothes
- Include Halloween and Pirate Night costumes
- Pack casual outfits, formalwear, and activewear
- Bring water shoes, sneakers, and slip-ons
- Don’t forget luggage and refillable water bottles
- Carry travel documents: passports, birth certificates, IDs (18+), and insurance (digital + printed)
FAQs About Packing for a Disney Cruise from Puerto Rico
Packing for a Southern Caribbean Disney Cruise—especially when sailing from San Juan—comes with unique questions. Whether you're wondering about theme night outfits, sun safety, or essential documents, these answers will help you feel more confident and cruise-ready.
No, Disney Cruise Line provides towels, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in every stateroom, as well as beach towels at ports of call.
Most cruises have 1–2 themed nights like Pirate Night and (seasonally) Halloween. You can rewear pirate gear across both or dress casually—costumes are encouraged but optional.
Yes, self-service laundry rooms are available. You can also bring a portable laundry cord and magnets to hang wet swimsuits in your stateroom.
Passports are recommended, but U.S. citizens sailing round-trip from San Juan may use government-issued photo ID and birth certificate. Check your cruise confirmation to be sure.
There are Walmart, Costco, and malls near in the San Juan Metro area where you can grab anything you may have forgotten before boarding.
Ready to Cruise the Southern Caribbean with Disney?
Planning a Disney cruise can feel overwhelming — especially with a family in tow. That’s why Laugh and Gear Travel is here to help you every step — from booking your cruise out of Puerto Rico to sharing expert tips like this packing list. You can also read our Disney Magic Cruise from Puerto Rico Guide for more port tips and strategies.
🎉 Contact Laugh and Gear today to start planning your unforgettable Disney Cruise Line adventure—at no extra cost to you.
Let’s make magical memories together in the Southern Caribbean! 🌴🛳️
