How to Put Together Your Passport Pals Journal

Q: How do I print my Passport Pals Port Pack?

Print on standard 8.5x11 white paper. Color printer gives the best result but black and white works fine too — the pages are designed to be colored in. Always print at 100% scale (turn off 'fit to page') so nothing gets cropped.

Q: Do I need to bind or laminate the journal?

No laminating needed. A mini 3-ring binder is the easiest option — pages can be added and rearranged easily. Binder clips, a folder, or stapled sections all work too. There's no wrong approach.

Q: Can my child help put the journal together?

Absolutely — and it's one of the best ways to build pre-trip excitement. Kids can decorate the cover, color pages, add stickers, and help organize sections. Getting them involved in building it makes them far more likely to use it on the cruise.

Q: When should kids fill in their cruise journal?

Anytime! Sea days and cabin downtime are the most natural. Port Pack pages work best the day of each port — while everything is fresh. Waiting for food in the dining room, quiet time in the cabin, and the evening before bed are all great moments to write and draw.

Q: What if we have multiple kids — do they each need their own journal?

Each child benefits from having their own — it becomes their personal keepsake from the trip. You can print multiple copies of the Port Pack pages from your single download, one set per child.

Download & Print

Check your email for the download link • Takes about 5 minutes

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Freshly printed pages

→Color printer preferred — B&W works fine too
→Print at 100% scale, turn off “fit to page”
→Standard copy paper or light cardstock
→Print one full set per child

💡 Tip: Print the free journal pages at the same time. Grab them at thepassportpal.com if you haven't already.

Assemble the Journal

Slot Port Pack pages into the port day section • 5 minutes

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Sliding pages into place

→Start with the free journal pages in order
→Insert Port Pack pages before each port day
→Multiple ports? Add each pack in itinerary order
→Mini 3-ring binder recommended

💡 Multiple kids? Print one set per child — each journal becomes their own keepsake.

Personalize It Together

Get the kids involved • Builds pre-trip excitement

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Making it their own

→Write their name on the cover
→Stickers, drawings, or washi tape
→Color pages now or save for the cruise
→Add a photo of the ship to the front
→Pick a special “journal only” pen
→Fill in the “about me” page together

💡 Make it an event. Snacks, a cruise playlist, journal-making night. Kids remember it as part of the trip.

Pack It in Your Carry-On

Not the checked bag • You'll want it from minute one

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Ready to travel

→Colored pencils or markers
→Glue stick & scissors for mementos
→A sheet of fun stickers
→Their own small pouch or bag

💡 Let them carry it. Kids who own their supplies take better care of them — and are more excited to use them.

Use It on the Cruise

No schedule, no pressure • Just let it happen naturally

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The journal in action

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Sea Days

Unstructured hours, calm energy — perfect for writing and drawing.

🏝️

Port Days

Use Port Pack pages while the port is still fresh in their mind.

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Waiting for Food

Journal at the table instead of screens. Every parent's favorite.

🌙

Cabin Downtime

Bedtime wind-down, quiet mornings, pre-dinner calm.

🌍

Still need a Port Pack for your destination?

Browse all available Port Packs and build your complete custom cruise journal before you sail.

Browse Port Packs 👉

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How do I print my Passport Pals Port Pack?

Print on standard 8.5x11 white paper at 100% scale with “fit to page” turned off. Color printer gives the best results, but black and white works great too since the pages are designed to be colored in. Use regular copy paper or 32lb paper for something sturdier.

Where do the Port Pack pages go in the journal?

Port Pack pages slot into the Port Day section of the free Passport Pals Cruise Journal. If you have multiple ports, add each Port Pack's pages in itinerary order before the corresponding port day so they're ready when you arrive.

Do I need to bind or laminate the journal?

No laminating needed. A mini 3-ring binder is the most flexible option since pages can be added and rearranged easily. Binder clips, a folder, or stapled sections all work perfectly too—whatever is easiest for your family.

Can my child help put the journal together?

Absolutely—and it's one of the best ways to build pre-trip excitement. Kids can decorate the cover, color pages, add stickers, and organize the sections. Getting them involved in building the journal makes them far more likely to use it on the cruise.

When should kids fill in their cruise journal?

Sea days and cabin downtime are the most natural moments. Port Pack pages work best the day of each port while everything is fresh. Waiting for food in the dining room and bedtime wind-down are also great times—it naturally replaces screen time without any fuss.

What if we have multiple kids—do they each need their own journal?

Each child benefits from having their own—it becomes their personal keepsake from the trip. You can print as many copies of the Port Pack pages as you need from your single download, so one purchase covers the whole family.

Your journal is almost ready. 📔

If you still need the free Passport Pals Cruise Journal to go with your Port Pack, grab it here. Print, assemble, personalize—then get on that ship.

Get the Free Journal 🚢

The journal you put together at the kitchen table the week before your cruise is going to come back full—full of drawings, port day notes, first impressions of the ship, and whatever your kids decided was most important to remember. That's the whole point. Twenty minutes of prep, a week of memories.

Have a question about assembling your journal? Drop it in the comments—we read every one.

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Written by the Passport Pals Team

We designed the Passport Pals journal system to be simple, fun, and genuinely useful from the moment you print it to the moment you get home.

How to Put Together Your Passport Pals Journal

You've got the Port Pack. 📦 Now let's build something awesome.

Download & Print

Assemble the Journal

Personalize It Together

Pack It in Your Carry-On

Use It on the Cruise

Still need a Port Pack for your destination?

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Your journal is almost ready. 📔

Written by the Passport Pals Team

Ready to Start Your Cruise Adventure?

How to Put Together Your Passport Pals Journal

You've got the Port Pack. 📦 Now let's build something awesome.

Download & Print

Assemble the Journal

Personalize It Together

Pack It in Your Carry-On

Use It on the Cruise

Still need a Port Pack for your destination?

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

📚 Keep Reading

Your journal is almost ready. 📔

Written by the Passport Pals Team

Ready to Start Your Cruise Adventure?