What Should I Pack for a Cruise to Europe?

Aside from deciding which cruise to take, one of the most common questions asked by our river cruisers is “what do I pack?” Being prepared for your European river cruise is important, especially if you’re coming from another country or continent. You’ll want to have everything you’ll need, but also have a little extra space set aside in case you pick up souvenirs along the way. 

Cruising on one of Europe’s rivers with one of our luxury cruise lines is an experience you’ll never forget, and that’s where we’re here to help. Continue reading to learn essential tips from our experts that ensure you’ll have what you need to make the most of your journey, whether you take a Danube River cruise, Rhine River cruise, or any other.

Prepare for diverse weather

Europe is, for the most part, a temperate weather region, where the temperature is never too hot or cold. While you won’t face below-freezing temperatures by any means, you should expect cold weather if your river cruise takes place in late Fall to early Spring. If your cruise is in the warmer months, you can plan for hot days on your ship’s sun deck, but it’s still best to bring a light sweater or jacket to face any cool winds blowing in on the water.

Layers worn in Budapest for Danube River cruises

In Spring and Fall, you can also expect a decent bit of rain. While Spring sees the heaviest downpours, it’s important to bring a rain jacket or umbrella. Alternatively, you can check with one of our cruising experts beforehand to see if your cruise line carries rain gear on board to help save room in your luggage.

Layer your clothes

Another important tip to help you prepare for your river cruise is to pack your clothes with layers in mind. Even if traveling in Summer, a light sweater may be helpful to fully enjoy a nice evening outside. Regardless of the time of year, this will allow you to add or subtract clothing layers for whatever activities you get into.

Make your clothes do double duty by dressing smart casual

Gone are the days of wearing suits and formal attire for cruises. With dress codes relaxing around the world, you can wear comfortable clothing on your European river cruise. Most days on the ship, you’ll be relaxing or exploring cities, dressed for the day's events.

European river cruises guests dressed smart casual

While casual dress is fine for most occasions, your cruise may have a captain’s welcome dinner or you may end up at a Michelin-starred restaurant. If that’s the case, you’ll want something a little smarter. That’s where smart casual clothes come in -- comfortable enough for relaxing, but classy enough for more formal occasions too. 

Smart casual often entails anything from dresses to button downs to chinos. Many brands now offer travel specific items in flexible, breathable fabrics that won’t require an iron.​

Enclosed, small bags for everyday essentials

A small, zippered bag, like a purse, fanny pack, or cross-body bag, is an incredibly helpful tool to keep your everyday items in one place. While you might not need it on the ship, since most cruises are all-inclusive, you may want your wallet or phone when you’re on an excursion. The zipper keeps pickpockets at bay in crowded areas, while an easy to carry format makes exploring a breeze.

Color scheme your clothes

When picking out which clothes you’ll bring, you’ll want to have the goal of maximizing the number of wears each item can have. By choosing a color scheme for your clothes, you’ll ensure that all your bottoms and tops are interchangeable, making for several option outfits. In addition, while we recommend wearing your clothes multiple times, that doesn’t necessarily mean wearing the same dirty clothes over and over. Many of our cruise lines offer laundry services or rooms so you can keep them clean along the way.

Bring an outlet adaptor

One of the most commonly forgotten items when traveling abroad is an outlet adapter. Around the world, different outlet styles are used. An outlet adapter will save you the hassle of finding a store, and allow you to charge any electronic devices you’ll bring along.

Use a carry-on

This one is a bit of a challenge for some, but we highly recommend packing a carry-on instead of a larger suitcase. If you can make do with just a carry-on, you'll avoid the potential hassles of lost luggage, have an easier time navigating ship elevators, and be able to pack and unpack with ease if your river cruise includes a hotel stay.

​These are a few of the most essential tips our experts have come up with, but make sure you consult your cruising expert to know exactly what you’ll need for your specific cruise. We hope these tips will help you make the most of your European cruise, and wish you an incredible journey!

Traveling couple with carry-on luggage