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Are you taking a cruise from Los Angeles to Mexico? Find out exactly what you need to bring and leave behind with this 3 day cruise packing list! (It also works for a trip from San Diego to Mexico, too!)
What to Bring on a Cruise to Mexico from LA
Written By: Sebrin Elms
Table Of Contents
As an Angeleno, we’re pretty lucky to have such an exotic getaway like Mexico right in our backyard, filled with margaritas, dancing, great food, and rich culture!
If you’ve decided to take a weekend getaway cruise to Ensenada or a week-long cruise to Manzanillo or La Paz, get ready for an epic vacation along the Mexican Riviera! Here’s what to bring on a cruise to Mexico:
Start by reading these general tips for packing for a cruise:
- 10-Step Guide to Packing for Any Trip
- What to Pack for a Cruise Vacation
- What’s in My Carry-on Bag for a 2-Week Cruise
- What to Pack on a Cruise: 7 Things to Bring and What to Leave Behind
- Understanding the Cruise Dress Code
- 10 Unexpected Things You’ll Experience on a Cruise
If you’re traveling to the other side of Mexico in the Caribbean, read this Playa del Carmen Packing List!
Tank | Blouse | Tee | Long-sleeve | Linen Short | Shorts | Dress | Cardigan | Cover-Up | Swimsuit | Sandals | Shoes | Wedge | Bag | Hat | Sunglasses
3 Day Cruise Packing List
- 4 Tops
- 2 Shorts
- 1-2 Dresses
- 1 Sweater
- 1-2 Cover-Ups
- 1-2 Bathing Suits
- 3 Shoes
- 1 Crossbody Bag
- 1-2 Hats
- 1 Pair of Sunglasses
Michael Stars Jersey Lycra Draped Halter
Tops
Depending on the length of your cruise, you’ll need about 4 tops. This includes one tank top, a tee, a blouse, and a long-sleeve to keep you warm at night (one of these can double as a pajama top).
If your cruise is closer to 3 days, perhaps bring 2 tops and a casual dress so as not to overpack.
Read this to learn what to wear for casual and formal cruise dinner attire, as well as resort wear on board!
Amazon Essentials Inseam Chino Short
Shorts
There’s no need for long pants on this trip! Whether you’re traveling during the winter or the summer, you’ll find that shorts keep you comfortable year-round in Mexico. A light and dark pair should be perfect for pairing with your various tops.
These stylish summer shorts for women will take you from day to night, city to sea, and so much more!
Dress
Keep it casual and breezy with a beautiful dress as you explore the streets of Ensenada or La Paz. If you’re on a nice cruiseliner, you might want to pack an extra dress for date night on the boat.
There’s no need for refinement or elegance with these dresses. If you wish to pack two dresses, pack 1 maxi dress for dinner and 1 short dress for walking around and exploring Mexico.
Read this post for some stylish beach dresses that you can wear on and off the sand!
Three Quarter Sleeve Convertible Cardigan | Sizes 1XL-3XL Plus
Sweater
Of course, you really won’t need a jacket for any day explorations. However, you might find that the decks tend to be a little windy at night should you decide to take an evening stroll. Bright a light cardigan or sweater to keep away that sea-side chill.
Find out why we love these lightweight jackets for travel!
Farrah Smocked Cover-Up Maxi Dress
Cover-Up
Again, the quantity depends on the length of your cruise. I personally think 1 cover-up for your cruise should be enough. But if you love variety (and taking lots of Instagram pictures), you might want a second kimono, shirt, or dress to cover up around the pool onboard.
Here’s a list of cover-ups sure to amp up your swimwear style this spring and summer!
Miraclesuit Gypsy Odyssey One-Piece
1-2 Bathing Suits
Unless you’re taking a 7-day cruise to Cabo or Puerto Vallarta, you’re really only going to need a single bathing suit. Short cruises to Ensenada or Cabo won’t give you a lot of time to hang “at sea” and you’ll probably be spending your time on tours rather than relaxing in the sun.
But it doesn’t hurt to bring only 1 suit and buy a new one while traveling through Mexico!
Here are the 23 best one-piece swimsuits of the season!
Shoes
As I always say, you should bring no more and no less than 3 pairs of shoes on a journey. Depending on your favorite activities (both on and off the boat), it’s best to be prepared for the variety of occasions that might pop up.
Bring a pair of sandals for walks around the cities and boats, a pair of athletic shoes for working out or hiking, and heels for dinner. If heels aren’t your thing, a pair of dressy, gladiator sandals are equally feminine and easy to pack!
Here are the most comfortable walking sandals for travel that are stylish, too!
Travelon Anti-Theft Cross-Body Bag
Accessories
Unless you love to cover yourself in accessories, I find that less is more on a cruise. You’ll really only need a crossbody bag for day trips around Mexico, sunglasses, 1 or 2 hats, and a bit of jewelry in case you want to dress up in the evenings.
Cruise ports can be notorious for pickpockets, so don’t draw attention to yourself with too much bling. If anything, take this as an opportunity to shop for local gems and accessories!
Use these accessories and hats for a fun and stylish way to update your vacation do!
How to Organize a 3 Day Cruise Packing List
Once you have chosen your outfits for this exciting trip, we recommend using packing cubes to organize. We designed these ourselves and they’re the only ones that have a unique color and numbering system, so it’s easy to remember where you’ve packed everything on your wardrobe list which is demonstrated in the video below!
Learn our packing hacks with packing cubes in this video!
We also put together a five-part YouTube series showing the different methods to use packing cubes for travel. If you use this specific packing strategy, packing cubes can also compress your belongings. This is the secret to traveling carry-on only!
What are your tips on what to bring on a cruise to Mexico? Share your own 3 day cruise packing list below!
For more cruise packing tips, please read:
- What to Pack for the Bahamas
- What to Pack for a Mediterranean Cruise
- What to Pack for Alaska Cruise
- What to Wear on a Cruise to the South Pacific
- Caribbean Cruise Wear Essentials
Suggested travel resources:
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Author Bio: Sebrin is a newlywed, flower child, and travel-obsessed blogger. When Sebrin isn’t traipsing the globe with her husband, you can find her curled up with a book, snuggling with her kitty babies, or binge-watching Netflix. Follow along her travels on Instagram @theclumsytraveler or on her blog!
I’m going on a Disney Mexican Riviera Cruise and am looking for shoes to wear at the pool and at the beach (water, sand, walking) for my first cruise. I’ve researched Waterproof Arizona Birkenstocks and water tennis and can’t narrow it down. I’ll be with kids and older adults. Any recommendations on shoes?
Hi Karen, have a look at these roundups of our readers recommendations for shoes for being around the water:
– https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/beach-sandals/
– https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/water-shoes/
Hope this helps you in your search. Have a fantastic time on your cruise!