In July 2026, I headed out on a bucket list cruise through the Baltics. It was an incredible 9-day adventure that started in Helsinki and ended in Copenhagen on board the beautiful Norwegian Sun. Packing for this cruise was a little tricky, but the one thing I learned is to just be prepared for everything. Of course, you’ll want to be sure to pack all the staples that will apply for any cruise, but here are a few things to not forget to pack for a Baltic cruise!
Read More: Full Review: 9-Day NCL Sun Baltic Cruise
Layers, layers, layers!
The most important items to not forget to pack for a Baltic cruise? Layers! You’ll want to be prepared for almost every type of weather. Even cruising in late July/early August like I did, I saw it all. Mornings and evenings were cool and I needed pants and a sweatshirt to be outside or walking around the ship. During the day when in port, you can get everything from rain to sunny days with a high UV index. Be sure to pack base layers, long and short sleeve tops, sweatshirts, pants, shorts, a light jacket or windbreaker, and maybe even a beanie or headband. I had a feeling that I overpacked on this trip, but I wound up wearing just about everything I brought. In fact, a few more sweatshirts would have been great just to be comfortable while lounging around the ship. You can’t be too prepared!
Rain gear
As mentioned, it’s important to be prepared for every type of weather in the Baltics! Unfortunately, that does include rain. I’d recommend bringing a light windbreaker that is water resistant for mist or light rain. That’ll keep you dry but will allow airflow to also keep you cool when it is muggy! For heavier rain however, you’ll want a waterproof rain jacket. I always prefer rain coats instead of umbrellas. I find it easier to maneuver around and I don’t risk getting in other people’s way. However, if it’s calling for heavy rains and a downpour, a rain jacket and umbrella may be your best bet. Plan to pack it all, just to be safe!
Swimsuit
It’s not all doom and gloom in the Baltics! There will be plenty of sun, too! Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit to hit the ship’s pool during the warmer and sunnier days. Even if you don’t look out with sun, you’ll still want your suit to enjoy the hot tubs. As an added bonus, consider signing up for a spa pass so you can also utilize their saunas and spas. One suit should be enough for your cruise, as you can hang it to dry in your stateroom during the days while you are out in port.
Good walking shoes
Baltic cruises are typically very port-intensive itineraries. On my 9-day Baltic Cruise on the Norwegian Sun, we had a port every single day. With ports comes a lot of walking. Having sturdy walking shoes is an absolute must. Before my cruise, I invested in a new pair of Hoka Clifton 11 sneakers. These sneakers were the MVP of the trip and I wore them most days. They offer tremendous support. I also packed Oofos sneakers for lighter port days (like in Gdańsk, when we were only in the city for about four hours). Oofos are widely known as a “recovery shoe” so they are very comfortable and make for easy walking. Not the most supportive shoe, but they were great for the short days. On the ship, I would walk around in by Birkenstock Arizona Essentials sandals, also for support and stability. My feet never felt better!
Small day pack
When planning on what to pack for a Baltic cruise, it’s important not to forget the pack! Your day pack, that is! You’re going to rack up a high step count in these Baltic cities, so you’re going to want something small and secure to carry around with you. Most days, I used my Travelon backpack. The bag is small enough to not add a ton of weight to my back, but is also large enough to hold a water bottle, my camera, wallet, and other essentials. Plus, it’s theft-proof, which gave me a lot of peace of mind. On shorter port days where I had fewer necessities, I opted for my lululemon belt bag. I have both the 1L and 2L versions, but found the 2L to be perfect for port days. Large enough to carry what you need but not big enough to weigh you down.
Sunglasses and sunscreen
It can be so easy to focus on the worst-case scenario with weather in the Baltics, but don’t forget that you’ll likely have beautiful days, too! I had sunglasses on just about every day in port. They were an absolute necessity walking around the cities. You’ll also want to pack sunscreen and apply to your face during the day. On our port day in Klaipeda, I took a tour out to the Curonian Spit to hike “The Lithuanian Sahara.” They weren’t kidding, this really was like the Sahara! Direct sun, high UV index, and zero shade. I was so happy to have applied sunscreen or I would have gotten very burned!
Small amount of cash
Europe in general is a very cashless society. More places than not will accept credit card, and most of the time tap-to-pay is the norm. That being said, it is nice to have a bit of cash on hand for smaller purchases. The majority of Europe uses the Euro, but in the Baltics there are a few countries that have their own currencies. Denmark (Danish Krone), Poland (Polish złoty), and Sweden (Swedish Krona) are three outliers. I found all of these countries to be very cashless, and I personally didn’t take out any of these currencies for my trip. I instead just took out a small amount of Euros to use at the majority of the other stops. You can always visit an ATM if you need cash. Just be sure to have your card handy and notify your bank of your travels!
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