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What to Pack for Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

The complete cruise packing checklist. Every essential item with explanations — so you don't forget anything for your cruise from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.

23 packing items · researched from public reviews and official sources

Packing for a cruise from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

Cruise terminals are not shops. Whatever you forget has to be bought before you reach the curb, so pack the checklist below and use these Brooklyn Cruise Terminal notes to plan the last stop on the way in.

Red Hook has a real high street, but it wakes up late. Food Bazaar at 480-500 Van Brunt Street is the full supermarket — the successor to the Fairway that closed here in 2020 — open 7 am to 10:30 pm daily, with a large free lot. Associated Supermarket at 58-60 Lorraine Street opens at 6 am on weekdays and is the earliest door in the neighborhood. For a bottle to bring aboard you need a licensed liquor store: New York supermarkets and drugstores may sell beer only, so Wet Whistle Wines at 357 Van Brunt Street is the walkable answer, though it does not open until noon. There is no chain pharmacy in Red Hook itself — the nearest is the CVS at 395 Court Street in Carroll Gardens, across the Hamilton Avenue expressway. IKEA at 1 Beard Street sells bags, towels and chargers but does not open until 11 am, 10 am on Saturdays, which is after most boardings begin.

Forgot something? Stops near Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

Food Bazaar Supermarket — Red HookFull supermarket in the old Fairway building — sunscreen, water, snacks, and a big free lot; open 7 am

480-500 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Associated Supermarket — Lorraine StreetOpens at 6 am on weekdays — the earliest door in Red Hook if you are boarding in the morning

58-60 Lorraine St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Wet Whistle WinesClosest wine and spirits shop to the pier — New York supermarkets can only sell beer, so this is the stop for a bottle

357 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

CVS Pharmacy — Court StreetNearest chain pharmacy for Dramamine, chargers, and travel toiletries — Red Hook itself has no chain drugstore

395 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

The complete cruise packing checklist

Packing for a specific itinerary or wondering what each cruise line actually lets you bring aboard? Read the full cruise packing guide, or jump to the Alaska and Caribbean lists.

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Carry-On Day Bag

Pack these in a bag you keep with you at boarding — your checked luggage won't arrive until 3-4pm

Swimsuit and flip-flopsHead straight to the pool after boarding
Phone charger and portable batteryYou'll drain your battery exploring and taking photos on Day 1Amazon
MedicationsBoth prescription and OTC — don't risk them being in delayed luggage
Sunscreen (reef-safe)The pool deck sun is intense — apply before you even get on the shipAmazon
Government-issued photo IDRequired for boarding — keep it accessible, not buried in a suitcase
Snacks and water bottlesKids get hungry in the boarding line. Sealed snacks are allowed through security
Change of clothes for each kidPool splashes, spilled drinks, cruise ship excitement — be ready

Cruise Essentials

Things that make the whole trip better

Magnetic hooks (for cabin walls)Cabin walls are metal — these give you hanging space for hats, lanyards, wet swimsuitsAmazon
USB multi-port charger (no power strip)Cabins have 1-2 outlets, but most cruise lines now ban power strips and surge protectors outright — a USB-only charger is not confiscated at security
Packing cubesCabin drawers are small — cubes keep things organized in tight spacesAmazon
Insulated tumblerFill it at the buffet drink station — stays cold by the pool all afternoonAmazon
Lanyard for cruise cardYour cruise card is your room key, ID, and payment method — keep it around your neckAmazon
Night lightCabins are pitch black. A small night light prevents midnight stubbed toesAmazon
Over-the-door pocket organizerWith three or more in one cabin there is no counter space — the pockets hold toiletries, chargers and sunscreen on the back of the bathroom door
Pop-up laundry hamperFolds flat in the suitcase and keeps a week of kids' dirty clothes separate from the clean ones in a cabin with nowhere else to put them

Easy to Forget

The things people buy overpriced at the port gift shop

Motion sickness remedyEven experienced cruisers can get queasy on rough sea daysAmazon
Wrinkle release sprayIrons aren't allowed on cruise ships — this saves your formal night outfitAmazon
Highlighter or penFor marking up the daily activity schedule — old school but effective
Small OTC medicine kitPain reliever, antacid, anti-diarrheal, cold and allergy tablets, bandages. The onboard shop stocks little of this and the medical center charges for a visit — the pharmacy at home is where it costs a few dollars
Small battery clockMany cabins no longer have a bedside clock, and an interior cabin at 3am is too dark to find a phone
Waterproof phone pouchPool photos, water slides, port excursions — protect your phoneAmazon
Small whiteboard for cabin doorLeave messages for teens: 'We're at the pool deck' — most cabins don't have cell serviceAmazon
Children's medicines (their usual brand and flavor)Ships rarely sell children's formulas at all, and a feverish kid at midnight is not the moment to discover that

Want the complete Brooklyn Cruise Terminal cruise guide?

Restaurants, activities, hotels, terminal tips, parking, packing lists, and boarding advice — all in one page.

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Let them watch you sail

Brooklyn Cruise Terminal has a live camera pointed at the water. Send this to whoever is staying home and they can watch your ship leave.

We sail from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. You can watch our ship leave on the port's live camera: https://cruisedayguide.com/guide/brooklyn/webcam