5 Essential Accessories for Your Disney Cruise (Don’t Skip #3!)

As I’ve said before, packing for a cruise is like packing a house. It’s not your normal vacation! For some reason it always feels like I’m bringing everything I own just for those few days at sea.

So what do I actually pack first every single time (outside of clothes)? These are the non-negotiables I can’t cruise without — they make my stateroom more organized, boarding day less stressful, and the whole trip more enjoyable.

And don’t worry — as always, I’ll link what I use so you can grab them too.

1) Water bottle

My water bottle is always the very first thing I pack! Disney ships have refill stations on the pool deck where you can grab coffee, iced tea, soda, and water throughout the day. Since I’m not a coffee drinker, my day starts with filling my bottle first thing in the morning—and then I top it off whenever I pass by a station. Before heading back to the room for the night, I make one last refill (because… midnight snacks via room service definitely need hydration!).

It’s easily my most-used accessory on any cruise. And here’s a little bonus tip: bring a crossbody water bottle holder. I picked one up for my last cruise, and it was a total game-changer! It kept my bottle handy, hands-free, and—most importantly—kept me from leaving it behind everywhere I went.

2) Door Magnets

Door decorating is an optional—but super fun—way to personalize your Disney Cruise stateroom! My favorite doors are always on the Merrytime Cruises, where guests really go all out with festive designs. I haven’t sailed during Halloween yet, but based on what I’ve seen, I’m guessing those doors are just as amazing!

Honestly, I start planning my door décor the moment we book a cruise. I have a Cricut, so I love making a lot of my own designs—but there are a few staple magnets that come with me every single time. My absolute favorites are our stateroom marker magnets. We get a new one made for each cruise, featuring the ship name, cruise dates, and our family name.

By the end of the trip, they all go up on the door—a little collection that doubles as a brag board and a memory wall. It’s such a fun tradition and an easy way to make your stateroom door feel special and uniquely yours.

3) Luggage Tags

I know—this one seems like a no-brainer. But trust me, a unique luggage tag is so important. Picture this: it’s disembarkation morning. You’re feeling a little sad because vacation is officially over. You left your bags outside your stateroom the night before, and sometime after dinner, the “luggage fairy” came and whisked them away.

After breakfast, your character group is called, and it’s time to leave the ship. You make the long walk to the luggage area—which is massive—and find your section. Perfect… except now you realize everyone has the same color luggage tag. And about 75% of you have identical black suitcases. Welcome to the nightmare. And don’t forget—you still have to get through customs.

So, what’s a person to do? Sure, you could splurge on brightly colored luggage (I talk about that in another post), but the easier and cheaper solution is to buy stand-out luggage tags. Choose ones that really pop so you can spot your bag in a sea of black suitcases with navy tags.

I use these adorable Mickey luggage tags, and with my purple suitcase, they’re impossible to miss! Bonus: we’re slowly upgrading our luggage piece by piece—but those tags are staying no matter what.

4) Phone Pouch

You’d be surprised how useful a waterproof phone pouch is—both on and off the ship. There’s water everywhere. Between pool decks, unexpected rain showers, and beach days at Castaway Cay or Lookout Cay, keeping your phone dry becomes a full-time job.

We’ve tried a few different brands over the years, but the one we keep coming back to is the Hiearcool waterproof pouch. It’s affordable (around $10 for a two-pack!), comes in fun colors, and gets the job done. My husband is a total photo snob, and while none of these pouches are perfect for pictures, this one does a surprisingly good job.

Another bonus: you can use them for more than just your phone! They’re great for keeping your passport, key to the world card, or small papers safe from water damage. Just make sure you test them first before relying on them—peace of mind goes a long way when you’re surrounded by water.

5) Fish Extender

If you’ve never heard of fish extender gifts, you’re in for a treat! Every Disney Cruise does it a little differently, and the tradition has grown so much over the past decade. On our first few cruises, we went all in—five rooms, multiple kids, and all handmade gifts. Since then, we’ve become a bit more selective depending on the cruise length and theme.

For our next Merrytime Cruise, we’re doing an ornament exchange, which I’m so excited about! No matter what, though, we always hang our fish extender. These can be as simple or as elaborate as you want—some families go basic, others go full-on Disney magic.

In the past, I made our fish extender myself, but it’s starting to show its age. I think I’ve finally picked out our replacement for the next cruise! It’s fully customizable—you can choose the number of pockets, add your favorite characters, and it’s beautifully embroidered. I love supporting independent artists, and this one is truly a piece of art.

There you have it—my five essential accessories for your Disney Cruise! These are the things I pack every single time because they’ve truly made my cruises smoother, easier, and a little more magical. Whether it’s staying hydrated, spotting your luggage, or joining in on a fish extender exchange, it’s the little details that make the experience even more special.

Every trip, I find new tips and tricks, but these five items have definitely earned their permanent spot in my suitcase. If you’re planning your first Disney Cruise (or your tenth!), I hope this list helps you set sail with confidence—and a little extra pixie dust.

Bon voyage, friends! 🚢✨