British Isles Cruise – Complete Packing List + Printable Checklist

If you are considering a British Isles cruise you may be wondering what you need to pack.

The unpredictable weather can make packing for a British Isles cruise a little harder than other locations but I have successfully managed it. I will tell you everything I packed in this article.

I took British Isles cruises in 2018 and 2022, and both were amazing!

This is a photo of me during my British Isles cruise. Note the red coat – that came in handy! We talk about clothing later in this article.

British Isles Cruise – Packing List: Essentials

Your Passport is The Most Important Item You’ll Pack

Even if you are from Britain and are taking a British Isles cruise, you will need a passport.

If you are from America or Australia, you can go on certain cruises without a passport, but this isn’t the case in Britain. All passengers must have a valid passport.

All guests coming from overseas will need a valid passport. After the trip, a six-month validity period is required. 

Bring Your Cruise Ticket to Make Everything Easier

Before your cruise, you will either:

• Be emailed a cruise ticket (most common).
• Be able to print off your ticket via the cruise line’s website
• Have a ticket sent to you in the mail (less common). 

If you can print out the cruise ticket, checking in for the cruise is much easier.

At check-in, you need only this cruise ticket, your passport, and a credit card to charge your onboard spending against.

In theory, the cruise line could find your booking from your passport, but it’s much easier if you print the ticket yourself.

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance Confirmation

You will need travel insurance for a British Isles cruise – even if you are British.

If you did become unwell or injure yourself, treatment onboard is still incredibly expensive, and getting you back to land to seek further treatment can cost a lot.

If you are from outside of Britain, this is even more important.

As well as medical cover, travel insurance can also cover you for things like lost luggage and possibly even missed ports.

I always use a comparison website to buy my cruise-specific travel insurance. Check out my recommendations here:

Travel Insurance Recommendations.

If you are not yet convinced that you need travel insurance to cruise, read this post next:

5 Cruise Nightmares Caused by Not Having The Correct Travel Insurance (Real-Life Examples)

Bring Any Prescriptions You May Need (Plus Extras!)

When cruising, it’s always important to bring any prescription medicines you may need and, if possible, your prescriptions with you.

This way if you run out of your medicine when on board for any reason you may be able to get more, and it provides a useful record of which medicines you take.

It’s important that when you check in for your cruise, you bring medicines in your hand luggage rather than your checked-in bag. You will be separated from your checked-in bag for a while, and there is always the possibility that it will be lost.

Cruise ships do have pharmacies on board, but the medications they can supply are limited. To learn more about the onboard medical facilities, check out the post below:

Cruise Ships Don’t Have Full Pharmacies on Board – Here’s What They Have

Print Your Own Luggage Tags if Possible

Some cruise lines will send you luggage tags. Others require you to download and print your own at home.

This isn’t usually mandatory, and if you don’t do it, you can get the tags at the port, but it makes things much easier if you have already done it at home.

The last thing you want is to have to stand in another line when you get to the port!

You usually have to either staple or tape your luggage tag to your suitcase. I now used plastic wallets to put my luggage tags in. If it rains or the weather is bad, this protects the label from getting damaged, and they are far easier to attach securely.

These are the plastic wallets I always use. They are cheap and efficient:

You NEED to Pack Travel Adapters For Your Cruise

When I took my first British Isles cruise with a friend, she forgot to bring travel adapters (I had a spare).

Don’t assume that cruise ships cruising the British Isles will have UK plug sockets because the majority don’t.

Generally speaking, cruise ships have a combination of UK and US plug sockets, so bring an adapter for both. You can usually buy adapters onboard in the gift shop, but these are incredibly expensive.

Have a look at which plug sockets you will find on the ship you are sailing on here:

Complete Cruise Ship Plug Socket Guide: Search by Ship

Bring Your Phone/Camera to Take Photos

I think this one goes without saying, but make sure you pack your phone if you have one.

I use mine primarily as a camera and carry it with me everywhere.

If you have a separate camera or action camera bring this too but don’t forget to bring all the chargers that you’ll need!

I’d also suggest bringing a battery pack if your phone is likely to keep running out of battery.

There isn’t much more annoying than wanting to take a photo of something and realising your battery has run out.

You’ll Need a Credit/Debit Card and Cash

It’s usually easiest to attach a credit or debit card to your onboard account and to pay for your onboard expenses this way.

On many cruise lines, you can also ‘load’ cash onto your onboard account or pay in cash at the end. I suggest bringing some cash for things like taxis and tipping.

It can be difficult to know just how much cash to bring on a cruise, I usually bring very little, to find out what I do recommend, check out this post: 

How Much Cash Should I Bring on a Cruise? Budgeting Guide

Most public transport, shops and places you will visit in the UK are happy to accept contactless payment cards, so you probably won’t need too much cash.

Save Money on Laundry by Bringing Travel Wash

If you think you may need to wash some clothing but don’t want to pay for the onboard laundry, one option is to bring a small bottle of travel wash and wash some clothes in the sink.

I’ve done this on many occasions and it does work well for certain things.

Some cruise lines have self-service laundries, and if the line you’re cruising with has these, it is usually an easy way to wash your clothes.

That said, don’t spend too much of your cruise doing laundry!

Embarkation Day Bag

When you embark, you will check in your luggage, and it’ll arrive later in your cabin.

For a few hours on embarkation day you will be without access to your luggage so it is important that you keep any essentials that you need in your embarkation day bag.

I usually keep everything I need in my hand luggage bag.

A few things to keep in your embarkation day bag are:

• Any Medicines You May Need
• Your Passport
• Your Car/House Keys
• Cameras/Phones
• Cruise Tickets and Documentation
• Cash and credit cards
• Any valuable items – laptops, tablet computers, etc.

British Isles Cruise – Packing List: Clothes

For a 7-night British Isles cruise, I would recommend packing the following:

Pack More Underwear Than You Think You’ll Need!

I’d always recommend packing at least seven sets of underwear/socks and would suggest that you pack more than this.

You might go swimming mid-way through the day and want to change, or you might go on an excursion and get wet feet.

It’s always better to pack more underwear than you think you’ll need! If you do run out, though, you can use the travel wash that we mentioned earlier.

Underwear is very easy to wash using a travel wash and can be hung in the bathroom to dry.

Simple T-Shirt and Tops Are Key!

Seven T-shirts or tops should be more than enough. That said, you will probably want to get changed for dinner and may want to include some more formal T-shirts or blouses.

If you are planning on taking any exercise classes onboard, you may also need a couple of workout-appropriate tops.

Princess cruises cruise around the British Isles frequently and has free Zumba classes onboard. Don’t miss these if you are cruising with Princess!

Bring Evening Wear if You’d Like to Change

Depending on the cruise line, you may have formal nights.

Formal nights usually require men to wear a shirt and women to wear either an evening dress or a top/trousers combination.

I usually pack 2 or 3 ‘formal’ outfits for a 7-night cruise but don’t forget that things like formal shoes/cardigans/shrugs that can be re-worn!

It isn’t against the rules to wear the same thing for multiple formal nights, either. You’ll likely only be wearing it for a few hours, and if you don’t spill anything down your front, you are good to go!

You’ll Need Trousers/Jeans/Pants as The Weather is Unpredictable

The weather in the British Isles can be INCREDIBLY unpredictable.

I have been very lucky both times I cruised around the British Isles. We had glorious sunshine a lot of the time.

That said, even if it’s sunny in the morning it can be pouring with rain in the afternoon so it’s important you have enough trousers/jeans to wear every day if needs be.

For a 7-night cruise, I would pack around three pairs of pants/trousers/jeans.

Do NOT Cruise to The British Isles Without Multiple Sweaters/Jumpers/Hoodies

This is possibly the most important thing that you will pack for a British Isles cruise, and I would recommend that you pack more layers than you usually would.

For a 7-night cruise, I recommend packing three hoodies, jumpers, cardigans, or pullovers.

Even if you are lucky and have the best weather possible, this is likely to be mid 20c’s (70f’s) and don’t forget, the weather can change fast!

I’d always recommend bringing something small like a fleece or a “pac a mac” in your bag, in case it does get cold and/or rain. The weather, particularly in Scotland, can be very unpredictable.

Bring Comfortable Shoes (and Formal Shoes Too)

For a British Isles cruise, I recommend that you first pack a pair of shoes that you are comfortable walking in, such as sneakers or trainers.

You will probably be walking quite a lot and if you are visiting places like Giants Causeway it’s important that you have a good grip and feel comfortable walking in the shoes.

I’d also recommend that you bring some waterproof shoes, such as boots. When it rains, it rains a lot, and having wet shoes is not ideal. I’ve been on cruises before, and it has taken multiple days for my shoes to dry after a rainstorm.

For formal nights or onboard the ship, I recommend that you pack a couple of pairs of heels, flats, or sandals.

It’s usually relatively warm inside the cruise ship, and you don’t have to worry about your feet getting wet!

Don’t be afraid to re-wear the same shoes, by sticking to neutral tones you can avoid having to change your shoes to go with every outfit.

I usually bring one pair of nude or black heels, which I pair with most outfits for dinner.

Consider Bringing Nightwear

This one is up to you, but I’d recommend packing some nice pajamas.

Some cruise cabins do include bathrobes but being able to step out onto your balcony in your pajamas is nice! 

The Most Important Thing to Pack for a British Isles Cruise is a Coat

I would recommend that you pack at least one good heavy coat.

The best thing to do is usually to wear this on embarkation day as then it doesn’t take up too much room in your suitcase.

As far as coat sizing goes bring a larger coat than you would usually wear because you’ll probably be layering up and wearing this over a sweater.

Don’t be fooled if you are embarking on a British Isles cruise in Southampton and the weather looks good that it will be for the entire cruise.

The weather changes quickly, and it can be sunny in one part of the country and pouring with rain in another.

Never take a British isles cruise without packing a coat, no matter what time of year.

British Isles Cruise – Packing List: Extras

Consider a Small Umbrella

Having a little umbrella in your bag can save the day when on a British isles cruise.

I wouldn’t recommend bringing a full-sized umbrella as having to carry this around can be quite annoying but a small fold-up one that can fit in your backpack or handbag is definitely a good idea.

Pack Hat and Gloves if Cruising to the British Isles

It can get incredibly cold, so having a simple hat and gloves is definitely a good idea.

You probably won’t need these in the peak of summer (July-August) as it’s more likely to be rainy than cold, but if you are travelling at any other time of year, I’d recommend packing some, just in case.

If you’re cruising outside of summer a scarf might be a good idea too.

You May Need Suncream/Sunscreen, Even in Britain!

This may sound silly given the suggestions above, but believe it or not, it can get pretty hot on a British Isles cruise!

Before you go, have a quick look at the weather forecast. If there is any risk of hot weather, make sure you pack sunscreen/suncream.

If you forgot it, you could buy it on the ship, but toiletries sold on the ship are usually very expensive.

To find a list of medications and first aid supplies I pack when I cruise, read this article next:

Staying Healthy When You Cruise, Avoiding Seasickness – Medications and First Aid Items to Pack

Always Bring A Small Fold up Coat

On my British Isles cruise, I took a very small fold-up waterproof coat that folded into a bag. (A “Pac A Mac” as we would say in the UK).

It was very inexpensive and not very waterproof, but it did the job when light rain was forecast.

Fold up coats like this are also great because they don’t make you very warm, sometimes wearing a big coat can feel too hot even if it is raining, especially if you are walking around a lot.

Have a look at all the exciting places I visited by cruise ship during my last UK cruise below:

Before You Go

Find out what the top eight packing mistakes are in the article below:

Top 8 Cruise Packing Mistakes You Need to Avoid

Find out what the top five things are that cruise lines confiscate from guest’s luggage here:

These Are The 5 Items Most Regularly Confiscated by Cruise Lines