What to Pack for a Catamaran Cruise: List Generator
Packing for a day on the water is easy to overthink — and just as easy to forget the one thing you actually need. Tell us about your cruise and we will build a personalised checklist you can tick off, including what you can happily leave at home because it is already on board.
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Now the only thing left is to pick the day. Browse the DanEri cruises and lock in your spot — everything for a perfect day on the water is waiting on board.
Pack swimwear, a light cover-up, sunglasses, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen, plus a dry bag for your phone. Add a light layer for a sunset sail or the shoulder season, water shoes if you will snorkel, and a few extras for children. Food, drinks and water-sports gear are already on board, so you can travel light.
What is already on board (so you can pack light)
Every DanEri cruise includes a menu cooked fresh on board, soft drinks plus wine or beer, and the equipment for water activities such as stand-up paddleboards and snorkelling gear, along with shaded seating. That means there is no need to lug a cooler, drinks or your own SUP — the essentials you bring are really just sun protection, swimwear and a few personal items.
What to wear on a catamaran
Keep it simple and quick-drying. Wear your swimwear under a light cover-up with shorts or a t-shirt, and pack a second swimsuit — sea air and humidity mean the first rarely dries before the next swim stop. Natural, light fabrics beat anything heavy or tight.
Footwear is easy: most guests are barefoot on deck, so all you really need is a soft, flat pair with non-marking soles for boarding and the tender, plus flip-flops for any shore stop. The thing people forget is a light layer — the ride back can be breezy and you will be damp, so a thin jacket or long-sleeve top turns a chilly return into a comfortable one. Bring it even in high summer if you are on a sunset sail.
Sun protection at sea
The sun is stronger on the water than on land — the sea reflects it straight back at you and the breeze hides how much you are getting. Pack a reef-safe sunscreen of at least SPF 30 (many guests prefer SPF 50) and reapply after every swim, plus a hat with a strap so it survives the wind, UV sunglasses, an SPF lip balm and a soothing after-sun for the evening. Bringing sunscreen from home is worth it — it is pricier in resort pharmacies, and a reef-safe formula protects the clear water you came to swim in.
For the water: the small things that matter
The single most useful thing to bring is a dry bag or a waterproof phone pouch — it keeps your phone, keys and cash safe from spray and lets you film the swim stops without a second thought. Add water shoes if you are sensitive underfoot or expect rocky entries, since many of Crete’s prettiest spots are pebbly rather than sandy. Your own mask is nice if you are particular about fit, and a GoPro or waterproof camera earns its place at the snorkelling stops — though masks, snorkels and paddleboards are already on board.
Sailing with kids and babies
A catamaran is one of the easiest boats to bring children on — it is stable, there is room to move, and the swim stops keep everyone happy. Pack kids’ sunscreen, sun hats, a change of dry clothes and snacks they like, and consider a rash guard for extra cover in the water. For babies, add swim diapers, a baby sun hat and a muslin or light cover so you can rig a patch of shade for naps. Everything else — food, drinks, shade and water toys — is already taken care of on board.
What to leave at home
Pack into a soft bag or backpack, not a hard suitcase — it stows easily and there is no need for a big case on a day trip. Leave the cooler, your own drinks and your own paddleboard behind, since food, drinks and water-sports gear are all included. Skip glass bottles, and leave any valuables you would hate to get wet back at the hotel. The happiest packers bring less than they think: sun protection, swimwear, a dry bag and a light layer cover almost everything.
A quick note on the season
In high summer (June to August) the priority is sun and water — extra sunscreen, plenty to drink and a second swimsuit. In spring and autumn the sea is still lovely but the air and the breeze are cooler, so a proper light jacket or fleece earns its place, especially on a sunset sail. Whatever the month, the early-morning departures are the calmest — the gentlest option for anyone prone to seasickness.
A day on a DanEri catamaran
Prone to seasickness? A catamaran is far steadier than the boats most people picture, and the great majority of guests feel nothing. If you do tend to feel it, pack a motion-sickness tablet and take it about an hour before boarding — and gauge your odds first with our seasickness risk calculator.
How this list is built. The generator starts from the essentials everyone needs, then adds items based on your cruise length, the season, the time of day, whether you will be in the water, and who is travelling with you — so you only see what is relevant to your day.
This is a general guideline to help you plan. Exactly what is included can vary by cruise and season, so check your specific booking, and pack any personal medication you need.
Packing for a catamaran cruise — common questions
What should I pack for a catamaran day trip in Crete?
The essentials are swimwear, a light cover-up or t-shirt, sunglasses, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen, plus a dry bag or pouch for your phone and a little cash for tips. Add a light layer for a sunset sail or the cooler shoulder season, water shoes if you plan to snorkel over rocks, and extras such as kids’ sunscreen and snacks if you are travelling with children.
What is included on board, so I do not need to bring it?
DanEri cruises include food cooked fresh on board, soft drinks plus wine or beer, and water-sports equipment such as stand-up paddleboards and snorkelling gear, along with shaded seating. You do not need to bring a cooler, your own drinks or your own SUP — just sun protection, swimwear and a few personal items.
What should I wear on a catamaran cruise?
Wear your swimwear under a light cover-up or t-shirt, with sunglasses and a hat. Footwear is easy — most guests go barefoot on deck or wear soft flat sandals, since hard soles are not ideal on a boat. For a sunset sail or a breezy day, bring a light jacket or long-sleeve layer for when the sun drops.
Do I need water shoes?
They are useful but not essential. Water shoes help at rocky entries and around some snorkelling spots, and protect little feet, but they are unnecessary at sandy or open-water swim stops where you step straight off the boat. If you are unsure, a light pair packs flat and is handy to have.
What should I pack for kids and babies?
For children, bring kids’ sunscreen, sun hats, a change of dry clothes and snacks they like. For babies, add swim diapers, a baby sun hat and a muslin or light cover for shade and naps. A catamaran is very family-friendly, but sun protection and a few familiar comforts make the day easier.
Should I bring seasickness tablets?
If you are prone to motion sickness, yes — take a tablet about an hour before boarding. A catamaran is very stable and most guests feel nothing, but it is a sensible precaution if you tend to feel it. You can gauge your own likelihood with our seasickness risk calculator.
Should I bring a dry bag or a waterproof phone case?
Yes — it is the single most useful thing to bring. A dry bag or waterproof pouch keeps your phone, keys and cash safe from spray and from the swim stops, and lets you take photos in and around the water without worrying. It is the item guests most often wish they had packed.
What kind of bag should I bring on a catamaran?
A soft bag or backpack, not a hard suitcase — it stows easily in a locker or under a seat, and a day trip needs very little anyway: sun protection, swimwear, a dry bag and a light layer. Keep your quick-access items (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen) near the top.
Do I need to bring a towel, water or cash?
Bring a little cash for tips and pack any personal medication you need. Water and food are provided on board, so there is no need to carry drinks. Whether towels are provided can vary by cruise, so check your booking — if in doubt, a quick-drying travel towel packs small. It is also worth bringing sunscreen from home, as it is more expensive in resort pharmacies.