Decide what kind of day it is

Most port days with a toddler fall into one of three types:

1. Beach day. The simplest and often the best with little ones.
2. Walk around town. Short, flexible and easy to cut off when someone gets tired.
3. Stay on the ship. Underrated. The pools and play areas are often quieter on port days.

With a toddler, one main activity is plenty. Plan to be back on board well before the all-aboard time. Many families aim to return during the hottest part of the day for lunch and a nap.

The port day bag

Keep it lighter than a theme park bag, because you may be walking, taking a tender boat or using local transport.

• Your ship ID cards and photo ID for every adult, in a zip pouch Hiearcool Waterproof Phone Pouch, IPX8, black & green 2-pack Check price at Amazon
• Water in an insulated cup or bottle
• Snacks. Many countries restrict bringing fresh fruit and some foods ashore. Check the port's rules (your ship usually announces them) and stick to packaged snacks.
• Sunscreen stick and strapped hat Aveeno Kids Continuous Protection Zinc Oxide Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50, 1.5 oz Check price at Amazon
• Diapers, wipes and a changing pad Skip Hop Pronto Signature Portable Changing Mat / Changing Station (Black) Check price at Amazon
• A spare outfit in a wet bag Bumkins Waterproof Wet/Dry Bag (Watercolor Floral) Check price at Amazon
• A small amount of local currency or small bills, if you plan to buy anything
• Your phone and a portable battery Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 (A1229), 10,000mAh USB-C power bank (Black) Check price at Amazon

Stroller or carrier?

Port areas can include cobblestones, steep streets, sand and tender boats with steps.

• A compact stroller Ingenuity 3D Mini Convenience Stroller (lightweight, compact fold) Check price at Amazon works well in smooth, modern port areas.
• A soft-structured toddler carrier Ergobaby Omni Breeze Baby Carrier (all carry positions, mesh) Check price at Amazon is often easier on tenders, stairs and uneven streets. Check the carrier's weight limit.

Some families bring both. If your stroller doesn't fold quickly, a carrier will save you a lot of hassle at the tender.

Beach port days

Everything in the >Florida beach day packing list applies, but lighter:

• A packable sun shelter WolfWise Pop Up Beach Tent, UPF 50+, 3 Person (Blue) Check price at Amazon if you're not renting shade on site
• Swim diaper, rash guard, water shoes VIFUUR Kids Water Shoes, hook-and-loop, quick-dry aqua socks (Black Circle, toddler sizes) Check price at Amazon
• A quick-dry microfiber towel Dock & Bay Beach Towel, quick-dry sand-free microfiber (Cabana) Check price at Amazon, which takes less space than ship towels (and some ships charge if you don't return those)
• A mesh bag for sand toys EocuSun Large Mesh Beach Bag / Drawstring Beach Toy Backpack (Blue) Check price at Amazon
• A U.S. Coast Guard-approved swim vest if you'll be in the water Body Glove Paddle Pals USCG Kids Learn-to-Swim Life Jacket PFD Check price at Amazon, in a size that matches your child's weight (check the label; many arm-float vests are 30–50 lb, so lighter toddlers need a smaller USCG-approved vest), and an adult within arm's reach at all times

Beach port days: three quick habits

• Check the beach flags; purple means marine life like jellyfish or stingrays.
• Do the stingray shuffle in shallow water.
• Under 6 months, the plan is shade first: keep the baby out of direct sun, and use a small amount of sunscreen on small areas only if shade isn't possible (>AAP, >FDA).

Heat and timing

Caribbean and Bahamas ports can be even hotter than Florida. All the advice in >Keeping a toddler cool in Florida heat applies: go early, plan a midday break back on the ship, use a top-rated USB-C stroller fan Momcozy Clip-On 4-Speed Stroller Fan Check price at Momcozy, and never cover a stroller with a blanket.

Getting back on time

• Set a phone alarm for an hour before all-aboard, not at it.
• Make sure your phone is on ship time, which can differ from local time. Your ship will tell you which to use.
• Lines to re-board can be long. Keep a snack and a small toy handy for the wait.
• Keep the ship's port agent information handy, which is usually on the daily program.

Back on board

Rinse sandy feet and toys before heading to the cabin. A quick nap or quiet time after a port day makes the evening much easier. Wet swimsuits go in the wet bag, and the over-door organizer gets restocked for tomorrow. See the >family cruise packing list for cabin setup.

Checklist

• Ship cards and IDs in a waterproof pouch
• Water and packaged snacks (check port food rules)
• Sunscreen, hat
• Diapers, wipes, changing pad
• Spare outfit and wet bag
• Phone battery
• Compact stroller or toddler carrier
• Beach extras: shelter, swim gear, microfiber towel
• Alarm set an hour before all-aboard
• Carrier for tender boats and sand
• Baby: shade plan, feeding kit
• Small first-aid pouch
• Spare shirt for you