What I Packed for Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas: A Family of Four’s Cruise Essentials
Taking a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is an experience like no other—especially with kids! Our family of four recently set sail on this floating resort. Packing smart made our vacation stress-free and fun-filled from day one. Here’s our Icons of Seas: What to Bring!
🧳 Luggage Strategy: One Bag Rule (Almost)
Each of us packed one rolling suitcase and a backpack or tote for carry-on. We used these packing cubes, which helped keep clothes organized by activity: swimwear, casual, dinner, and excursion gear. Highly recommend air tags for tracking your bags and of course, my favorite luggage scale!
👙 What I Wore Most
1. By The Pool
Between Surfside, Thrill Island, the water park, and multiple pools, swimwear was our most-used gear. Here are my top picks for swimsuit and cover up:
2. Casual Daywear
I lived in lightweight, breathable outfits:
Here’s a breakdown for myself and the family:
- Mom: Flowy dresses, shorts, tank tops, and a wide-brim hat
- Dad: T-shirts, polos, swim trunks that double as shorts
- Daughter: Crop tops, athletic shorts, sundresses
- Son: Graphic tees, athletic shorts, swim trunks
3. Evening Attire
For dinner in the Main Dining Room or specialty restaurants, we packed a few dressier items:
- Women: Long and short dress options, clear shoes, fun bracelets, and clutch
- Men: Collared shirts, khakis or dress shorts
- Kids: Cute casual looks (no need for tuxedos or gowns, unless you’re planning on formal night)
4. Footwear & Clutch
We each packed:
Casual sandals (dinners & ship roaming)
Flip flops/slides (pool & beach)
Sneakers (excursions & walking)
Some other favorites:
🧼 Toiletries & Room Extras
Royal Caribbean provides basic toiletries, but we brought:
- Reef-safe sunscreen (you will need lots)
- Aloe vera
- Hair detangler spray
- First-aid kit
- Pill Organizer
- The BEST shimmering sun tan oil
- Over the Door Shoe Organizer
- Sound Machine
- Motion sickness medicine (just in case)
Bonus: We brought a hanging toiletry organizer and magnetic hooks (walls are metal!) to keep things tidy in the stateroom.
🏝️ For Around the Boat
- Towel Bands
- Lanyards with card holders for SeaPass cards
- A good book or Kindle
- Deck of Cards and Travel Game
- Faux Diamond Ring
- Collapsible Bag
- Collapsible Cooler
✅ Final Tips
- Pack a swimsuit in your carry-on: You’ll want to hit the pool before your checked luggage arrives.
- Bring a laundry bag: Makes sorting dirty clothes way easier mid-week.
- Don’t overpack! Closet space is tight—mix & match outfits.
Whether it was FlowRider wipeouts, sun-soaked days on Hideaway Beach, or family dinners at the AquaDome Market, hope this Icon of the Seas: What to Bring is helpful!
Check out all of our adventures here for travel ideas for your family!
