What I Packed for a Two Week River Cruise Using Only a Carry-On
Hello, future river cruiser! If you’re reading this I’m going to assume you’ve booked a European river cruise, like the Viking Grand European Tour, and now you’re wondering, “What the heck do I pack!?” Packing for a 14+ day international trip can seem like a daunting task, but what if you don’t want to check a bag? You’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re a chronic over packer (like me!) and looking to streamline your packing or just need some ideas on what to bring, this Viking River Cruise packing list will help you pack with confidence.
My Viking River Cruise Packing List Strategy
Before I start packing for any vacation I do two things. First, I look at the weather. Yes, weather can be unpredictable and change day to day. My Viking River Cruise was in late April and May. I knew I would need mostly warmer clothes, so I could leave the shorts and dresses at home.
Next, I make a list of all the possible combinations I can make with each top. The goal is to be able to make 2-3 outfits. If I can’t wear it in at least two different ways, then it’s off the list.
And because I’m extra type A, I also take pictures of each outfit combination before I finalize my list to make sure I like how it looks and/or it looks flattering in a photo. (Trust me, there are some outfit combinations that are good in theory, but don’t translate in photos.)
After a lot of planning, this is what I ended up packing in only a carry-on suitcase:
- 7 sweaters
- 5 t-shirts
- 4 pairs of socks
- 4 pairs of jeans
- 3 pairs of shoes
- 2 jackets
- 2 night shirts
- 1 pair of pajama shorts
Yes, I packed underwear and it was a laughable amount. I have a fear of not having enough due to a freak accident or other irrational thought.
Viking River Cruise Packing Essentials
I know what you’re thinking. How did I fit all that into my 21 inch x 15 inch x 8.5 inch suitcase? Compression packing cubes. This was my first time using compression cubes and I highly recommend them since they get all the extra air out.
I also used the Nomad Lane Bento Bag for my personal item. It had so much space. Anything that didn’t fit into my suitcase, like my toiletry bag, tech bag and gadgets, went in here. (More on that below.)
The Clothes
Because my cruise was in spring and the weather can be unpredictable, my Viking River Cruise packing list was all about layers.
On most days I wore a variety of Quince Mongolian Cashmere crewneck sweaters over white crewneck t-shirts paired with jeans. When we experienced hot, summer-like weather, I’m talking high 70s and low 80s, a t-shirt and jeans sufficed.
➡️ Click here to save $20 on your first Quince purchase of $100 or more.
When I needed an extra layer of protection from the rain, my Cloud Cap Insulated Trench by Eddie Bauer. (I wear a Petite Small.) It’s lightweight, waterproof, covers my butt and includes a hood, which really came in handy in Passau and Vienna. I also brought a more casual jacket for when it wasn’t raining, a J Crew Factory short utility trench, but I only wore it a couple of times.
The Shoes
If you go on the Viking Grand European Tour, be prepared to do a lot of walking. (I included the number of steps I took at each stop in my review of the Grand European Tour shore excursions.)
I packed three pairs of shoes for my cruise:
All Bird Courier sneakers — I wore these on days where there was a lot of walking or on excursions where there was unevent terrain, like the Marksburg Castle.
Bob’s Slip on Sneakers — These are my everyday shoes at home, so I brought them to wear on days where the walking tour was short or if I wanted something to wear around the ship.
Ballet Flats — I also packed a pair of ballet flats to wear when I wanted to give my feet a break from being crammed into a shoe. They were also perfect for early morning trips to the Aquavit for breakfast or hanging out in the lounge.
The last time I did a lot of walking in Europe, I didn’t wear the right socks and got blood blisters on my toes. This time around I wore Bombas Lightweight No Show Socks and Bombas Cushioned No Show Socks and my feet were super happy.
The Toiletries
I’m not going to list out all of the items I brought on my Viking River Cruise. BUT I do want to share some of the items that I brought to reduce space, plus some liquid swaps.
Flat Liquid Pouches — This was my first time using flat pouch bottles and I’m now a convert. Unlike silicone bottles, which are bulky and take up a lot of precious space, these don’t. (I used this travel set by Kitsch. 10/10 would recommend.) I used up almost all of the contents, which made them even more flat for the return flight.
Timeless Skincare Pouches — Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean your skincare routine has to suffer. I was really excited to bring along these single-use Vitamin C Serum, Coenzyme Q10 Serum and Matrixyl® Synthe’6® Serum pouches. Since each pouch is for one use, I came back with more room in my liquid bag. They’re also super affordable!
Mini Spray Bottles — Sometimes travel size toiletries are still too big. I bought these mini spray bottles to fill with liquids like hair detangler/heat protectant, hypochlorous acid and Downey wrinkle release. If it was something I knew I wouldn’t use a lot of, I only filled it with what I thought I would need.
Liquid Swap Tips — The more I travel, the more I’m looking for ways to reduce the amount of liquid items I bring. For example, instead of liquid face wash, I use a facial bar. There are also moisturizer sticks, like this Glow Balm by Hero Cosmetics (I used it on my Thailand trip), as well as sunscreen sticks, like Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen Stick.
Medication
If you don’t get sick on a cruise, did you even go? All cruise ships are basically floating infirmaries where germs spread like wildfire. In fact, our hotel manager had to remind everyone to cover their mouths when they cough and use the hand sanitizer stations around the ship. (I guess some people learned nothing from Covid…)
Trust me when I say the last thing you’ll want to do in a foreign country is to try and find a pharmacy. When I got sick in Europe the year before, I had to buy 5 different medications and I wasn’t going to do that again. This time I came prepared with an arsenal of cold meds and cough drops, and I’m glad I did because I got sick on the last leg of our cruise. Luckily I bounced back fast. Thanks, Tylenol Cold & Flu!
Also, European medication just doesn’t compare to our multi-symptom medications. So take my advice and come prepared with your own mini pharmacy that’s stocked with medications you know will work.
Tech Accessories
These are some of the items I used to keep my batteries charged.
Airfly — Don’t like looking like a tourist? Neither do I. So when I heard I could plug my Airfly into the Quiet Vox (the radio you take on walking tours to hear the guides) and use my Airpods, I was so happy. My mom could also connect her Airpods without needing her own Airfly.
Power Bank — On days we were away from the ship for long periods of time, I always brought my portable power bank. It saved me from having a dead phone many times.
Charger Block — The Viking River Cruise staterooms only have one USB plug and zero USB C plugs. To prevent me and my mom from fighting over the plugs, I bought a fast charging charger block with both plug options. (The staterooms have US voltage outlets, so a converter wasn’t needed.)
Cables and Cords — I brought a variety of cords and cables to keep my phone, Airpods and computer charged. I ended up using this 3-in-1 cable the most.
Airalo eSim — I noticed a lot of people ask how they plan to use their phone while in Europe. While there is WiFi on the ship, it kind of sucks. (Not surprising when 180+ people are trying to use the same network.) An eSim, like one from Airalo, costs less than most providers. AT&T charges $10-$12/day. I bought around 10 GB of data for maybe $40 and it got me through the entire 2.5 weeks with some to spare. I’ve used Airalo eSims in Thailand and Europe (twice now) without any issues.
Nice to Haves, But Not Necessary
There’s a huge debate in the Viking Facebook groups and forums about whether or not you need to bring space maximizers, like shoe organizers and metal hooks.
While I did bring a shoe organizer (I hung it in the closet using the clips on a hanger), it wasn’t necessary and I could have left it at home. I did get a lot of use out of the small organizer I hung in the shower. It kept all of our toiletries off the floor.
I also used the magnetic hooks in the room so we could hang our jackets and bags.
What I Wish I Packed
Even though I meticulously planned out my Viking River Cruise packing list, there were a couple of items that I wish I packed.
Laundry Detergent Sheets — I knew I would have to re-wear some of the t-shirts I brought, which I mostly wore under my sweaters on cooler days. However, I didn’t plan for the surprise summer-like temperatures we had for a couple of days.
In hindsight, I wish I brought some laundry detergent sheets so I could wash some of the more “used” t-shirts. (I ended up washing a couple with soap and letting them dry on the clothes line in the shower.) Because the sink is shallow, bring a plastic freezer bag to create a makeshift washing machine.
(While Viking does offer laundry service on river cruises, it’s stupid expensive. We’re talking 6 euros for ONE t-shirt. You could also wash clothes at a laundry mat in Regensburg.)
Warm Accessories — One thing I learned on the Viking Grand European Cruise: the weather is unpredictable. Like the warm summer temperatures, I didn’t expect rain and freezing (to me) temperatures in Vienna. It also didn’t help that I was sick. I ended up buying a scarf at an H&M. Gloves really would have helped, but those were hard to find since it was May.
If you’re going in spring like I did, or even fall, pack warm accessories like a beanie, gloves, and scarf. That way you’re prepared for any type of weather.
What You Don’t Need to Pack
You probably noticed that my Viking River Cruise packing list includes mostly casual clothes. Viking doesn’t have a dress code, so you absolutely do not need to bring formal or dressy clothes.
You also don’t need to pack a hairdryer; Viking provides a large hairdryer in each room. And it’s not like the weird European hairdryers where you have to hold down the power button the entire time.
There are also some items you can’t bring, like handheld steamers. You can view the complete list of prohibited items on a Viking cruise here.
Have you been on a European river cruise? Share your packing tips or hacks in the comments!
