Cruise Ship Security Officer Packing List: 12 Things to Bring

Your cruise line gives you a uniform, a cabin and the security equipment for the job. What it does not give you is everything that makes six months of shift work in a shared steel box bearable: decent shoes, sleep, storage and a way to keep your documents and devices under control.

This is a packing list for cruise ship security guards and officers, written by security people. Every product below is a top seller with a high number of monthly purchases, and each pick says what it is for and what to watch out for.

The 12-item packing list at a glance

Item	What it is for	Popularity
Skechers slip-resistant work shoes	Long shifts on wet decks	Overall Pick · 400+/mo · 4.4★ (18K+)	Check price
FuelMeFoot copper compression socks	Legs on long shifts	10,000+/mo · 4.4★ (68K+)	Check price
MZOO sleep mask	Day sleep, shared cabins	Overall Pick · 50,000+/mo · 4.6★ (101K+)	Check price
Mack’s Ultra Soft earplugs, 50 pair	Engine and cabin noise	40,000+/mo · 4.5★ (51K+)	Check price
BAGAIL packing cubes, 8-piece	Tiny wardrobes	Overall Pick · 10,000+/mo · 4.6★ (44K+)	Check price
TOPBAG document organizer	Passport, visas, certificates	Overall Pick · 3,000+/mo · 4.7★ (2.7K+)	Check price
Casio digital watch	Accurate times for reports	Overall Pick · 1,000+/mo · 4.6★ (12K+)	Check price
LE LED pen flashlights	Night rounds	Overall Pick · 2,000+/mo · 4.5★ (11K+)	Check price
Owala FreeSip bottle, 24 oz	Hydration on hot decks	20,000+/mo · 4.6★ (141K+)	Check price
Single-port USB-C wall charger	Charging without a power strip	9,000+/mo · 4.6★ (5.6K+)	Check price
Anker power bank	Phone on long port days	Overall Pick · 10,000+/mo · 4.3★ (3.7K+)	Check price
Retractable ID badge holder	Crew ID card on duty	4,000+/mo · 4.5★ (2.9K+)	Check price

“/mo” means bought in the past month. Purchase figures are from the product’s “bought in past month” badge on its store page, checked October 14, 2026. They change often.

Before you pack: documents

Nothing on this list matters if you are turned away at the terminal. Put these in one organizer, in your hand luggage, and keep scans in your email:

• Passport with plenty of validity left
• C-1/D crew visa for ships calling at U.S. ports, and any Schengen visa your contract requires
• STCW Basic Safety Training and security certificates
• Seafarer medical fitness certificate
• Seaman’s book or discharge book, if your country issues one
• Your contract or letter of employment and joining instructions
• Any prescription medicine, in original packaging, with a copy of the prescription

If you do not have these yet, start with how to become a cruise ship security officer.

The 12 picks

Health and seasickness

Most crew get used to the motion within the first week or two, but rough seas catch everyone eventually. Talk to your doctor before you join about seasickness medicine, and pack enough of any regular prescription for the whole contract plus a few weeks, because refills in port are not guaranteed. Acupressure wristbands such as Sea-Band have tens of thousands of ratings and are worth trying if you would rather avoid tablets on duty.

Pack sunscreen and a cap for deck and gangway duty, lip balm for wind, and a small kit for blisters. The ship has a medical center, but the basics are cheaper and easier to carry yourself.

Uniform and laundry care

Security staff are judged on appearance, and uniform standards are strict. Crew laundry is usually available, but pack a small lint roller, spare black socks and a few plastic hangers. A collapsible laundry bag keeps clean and dirty uniform separate in a shared cabin. Label everything with your name or cabin number; crew laundry mixes thousands of identical black items every week.

What not to pack

• Power strips, surge protectors and multi-outlet adapters. Royal Caribbean and other lines confiscate them as fire hazards.
• Clothes irons and steamers. The most commonly confiscated items at embarkation, for the same reason.
• Kettles, rice cookers and coffee machines. Electrical appliances not designed for personal grooming are not allowed in cabins on many lines.
• Weapons of any kind, including knives and personal defense sprays. Check your line’s crew policy before packing anything you would carry on duty ashore.
• Too many clothes. You will be in uniform most of the time.

Packing tips from people who have done it

1. Pack your documents and medicine first, in hand luggage.
2. Bring one smart outfit for crew events and one set of comfortable shore clothes per few weeks; the crew laundry handles the rest.
3. Pack a small first-aid kit with blister plasters, pain relief and seasickness remedies.
4. Bring photos or small things from home. Contracts are long.
5. Leave space for things you buy in port.

For what the job pays and what daily life looks like, read cruise ship security pay, contracts and life onboard.

Frequently asked questions

What should I pack for a cruise ship security job?

Pack your documents first, then black slip-resistant work shoes, compression socks, a sleep mask, earplugs, packing cubes, a digital watch, a pen light, a water bottle, a single-port USB charger, a power bank and a breakaway ID holder. The cruise line supplies uniforms and security equipment.

Does the cruise line provide uniforms for security staff?

Yes, cruise lines issue uniforms and duty equipment. Check the uniform standard for shoes, watches and personal items before you buy them.

Can crew bring power strips on a cruise ship?

Cruise lines confiscate power strips, surge protectors and multi-outlet adapters from passengers as fire hazards, and crew rules are usually just as strict. Use a single wall charger with USB ports instead.

What documents do I need to join a cruise ship?

A valid passport, any required visas such as the C-1/D for U.S. ports, STCW certificates, a seafarer medical certificate, your contract or letter of employment, and any prescriptions for medicine you carry.

How much luggage can cruise ship crew bring?

It depends on the cruise line and the airline on your crew flight. Check your joining instructions before you pack, and remember you will be in uniform most of the time.

Should I bring a flashlight on a cruise ship as security?

A small pen light is useful for rounds and reading cabin numbers, but always use the equipment your ship issues where procedures require it.