Cruising is, in our opinion, one of the most enjoyable ways to travel. But what should you pack for a cruise? Here’s a list of 34 essential items, some of which might surprise you. Out of these, there are 11 I’m so glad I packed and 23 I wish I had!
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the most organized person.
The fact that we were able to get on our cruise without losing one of our boarding passes was a miracle in and of itself.
So it comes as no surprise that throughout our trip, I kept thinking, “Darnit…” when I realized we had forgotten something (or just hadn’t thought of it entirely!)
I figured that instead of writing a traditional cruise packing list, I would share things a few of those things I forgot…as well as a few things that I did remember to bring along and really liked having.
Keep in mind that we went on a Caribbean cruise with Carnival – so some of these things are pretty specific to that experience 🙂
If you want to know some “secrets” before you go, be sure to read this post about what we wish we knew before cruising.
Still in the planning stages? Be sure to talk with our friends at Get Away Today before booking your trip. They are the best when it comes to vacation planning – including our cruise. Make sure to tell them Clarks Condensed sent you!
Cruise Packing List
What I’m Glad I Remembered
Water bottle
I brought my 64-ounce steel water bottle, and this was SUCH a good decision. They had water stations on the main deck where I could go and fill it up at the beginning of the day with a bunch of ice and water. It was nice to have around, because they don’t provide cups in the stateroom, plus the water in there wasn’t that great. Our other option was to purchase overpriced water bottles…which wasn’t about to happen.
One little tip though – you can bring cups from the main eating area anywhere you want on the cruise. That was nice for the times I didn’t want to carry around my water bottle!
Phone Waterproof Bag
Because we were going to some tropical islands where there was sure to be plenty of water to ruin my phone, I looked into getting a waterproof case. However, I stumbled upon a waterproof bag that was a lot cheaper.
I paid $6 for it, and it kept my phone bone dry – here is the one I bought. Forrest took it underwater for 20 minutes as he went snorkeling, and it did a great job. You can still type through the plastic screen. I saw them selling these for A LOT more as you got off the cruise ship, so I thought it was a great buy. We had people asking us a few times where we got it!
Portable charger
Although we didn’t have service on the cruise (thank goodness!), we did use our phones a lot as we were on the ship to take pictures, check the cruise schedule, and to use the Cruise chat to talk to each other when we weren’t together.
This definitely drains the battery, and you don’t want to be running back to your stateroom just to charge your phone. Portable chargers are definitely a must! We have a couple, and they were definitely well-used.
Sea-Band bracelets
I was SO nervous about getting seasick on the cruise. I had heard horror stories about seasickness, and it totally ruining a trip, so I decided to pick up some Sea-Band bracelets to help prevent it.
They work by using acupressure. I’m not totally sure if they worked, but I didn’t get sick at all – so who knows, maybe they did! There are a lot of people who wore patches behind their ears, so that’s a good thing to consider.
If you are into essential oils, you may want to bring along some Lavender or Peppermint. They can be helpful with nausea! This Tummy Time Roll-on is my absolute favorite (and this Bug Away would be great for anyone going to a buggy location). I really think any of the Roll-ons from Rocky Mountain Oils are fantastic for travel – I am partial towards the kids’ line for myself!
Jacket
Even though we went cruising during the summer, it still got chilly on the boat, especially at night! That cool ocean breeze definitely warrants a jacket, and I’m glad I decided to bring one along.
Lanyard
This is helpful for keeping your ship keycard handy. We got lanyards sent to use by Get Away Today, so I brought those along, and they ended up being pretty handy. Your keycard is your passport to just about everything on the ship – it’s your room key, it’s your form of payment, and you don’t want to lose it. I’m notorious for losing cards, so it was nice just to have it around my neck.
Faster to Fun
This one is specific to Carnival Cruises, and it’s not really something I brought with me…but it was SO worth purchasing before our cruise. It lets you go in a priority line when you board the ship, and you are given priority when leaving the ship. The lines were SO long, and we just skipped right on through. Our wait time was significantly less, and we were able to get on the cruise and settle in much more quickly and efficiently than we would have otherwise. We had to buy this ahead of time for around $75, but it was 100% worth getting.
White Noise
Our room was right next to the engine, and it was REALLY loud at times (of course, usually when we were sleeping). White noise saved me a couple of nights! I have a white noise app on my phone that I used, but you can always bring along a white noise machine if that’s easier (we have liked both the Marpac Dohm and the Hatch Baby Rest. The Hatch Baby Rest can double as a nightlight, too).
Insect Repellant Band
I bought this on a whim, but I walked away with no bug bites…so I think they were a win. I bought them for just a few dollars at Walmart.
Poo Pourri
I didn’t actually bring this, but Forrest did. He never travels without it, haha. The staterooms can be rather tight quarters, and the bathroom is right next to the beds…which can make for a rather unpleasant experience whenever someone has to go to the bathroom. This really does work pretty well and disguisting the smell! Hopefully, no one will get food sickness or some other kind of stomach bug while on the cruise…but if they do, this will be your best friend. On another note, I also made a cruise food guide to help you with your meal choices while aboard.
Swim Coverup
I brought a swim coverup dress that I really liked. It was nice to throw over my swimming suit when we went to the casual buffet (it probably wouldn’t have been the best option for the formal dining room). I liked wearing it when we went to the excursion on our day in Nassau as well. We went over on a boat, and I think I would have felt a little uncomfortable had I just been wearing my swimming suit. But it was a casual and easy to take on and off outfit.
What I WISH I Brought
Power Strip
It’s like the goal of the cruise ship is to make sure you can’t charge your devices so you can really disconnect 🙂 There was literally one outlet in our stateroom (though I think there was one hidden that I heard about later).
Regardless, there was a definite shortage of outlets, and we were wishing we’d brought along a cheap power strip. They have them at the Dollar Tree (I will be putting up my Dollar Tree Cruise Prep list soon!).
If you are mainly wanting to charge devices with USB cords, this type of contraption is a little smaller and might be a good option.
UPDATE: We have gotten several comments that many cruise ships will confiscate power strips. Instead, a multi-outlet is a better option (one with USB ports like I mentioned above might be the best of all).
Beach Towels
Carnival provided us with one large beach towel per person…which was nice in theory, but it totally stressed me out. If you lost it, you had to pay for it, and it was like $25-30 bucks. Plus, if you had two beach days in a row, it doesn’t have a ton of time to dry out. So I think it would have been helpful to bring our own towels – and more than one of them.
I know some people scoff at this idea, but honestly, if you are like me and it stresses you out about losing the towel – why not?!
This microfiber towel folds up really small, which is helpful for packing space.
European adapter
There was a European outlet in our state room, so if we’d had a European adapter, we could have made use of that.
Headphones splitter
Although we didn’t spend a lot of time just relaxing in our room, when we did, it would have been nice to have headphones with a splitter so Forrest and I could watch a show or movie while the boys slept.
Baby Powder
But not for the reason you might think. Baby powder is apparently the BEST way to get sand off your body quickly and easily. We were SO sandy – even after taking showers. And it was super annoying. This would have been a much better option in my opinion.
Downloaded movies and shows on iPad
Again, we didn’t spend a ton of time just lounging in the room watching TV and movies, but there was definitely a limited number of shows available. Most of them weren’t that exciting 🙂 I wish we had downloaded some movies and TV shows to our iPad before we got on the cruise (because we definitely couldn’t stream!). Netflix and Disney on Demand are two apps we use that allow us to download movies and shows to be used while offline.
Snorkeling mask and gear
When we got to the beach, Forrest realized how much he wanted to snorkel…and we didn’t have any gear. He ended up renting some, but it was pricey – as was buying it at the beach gift shops (shocking, I know). I wish we would have brought some gear beforehand because you can typically get a better deal.
Going a little further, I would recommend getting the full face masks. I tried snorkeling with the gear that Forrest rented, and I felt like I was going to suffocate. The full face masks look like they would work a lot better!
Want to learn how to save on your next cruise? Make sure you read this post – How to Save Money on a Cruise: The Best Tips For Cruising on a Budget.
Sand Toys
My boys had so much fun playing in the sand, but they were really wishing they had some toys to play with. Of course, the sets available for purchase were WAY overpriced. This would have been an easy and inexpensive find to bring – even just a shovel and pail would have been fun!
Towel Clips
You can get little clips that will hold up your towels on the chairs. This can be a great way to save your spot – chairs often go fast on a cruise ship – as well as keep track of your towel amongst all the identical ones that are inevitably going to be there.
My own shampoo and soap
Our shower had a dispenser with some soap and shampoo…but let’s just say it’s not exactly top of the line. Or even close to it. I wish I would have gotten some little bottles beforehand to fill up with my favorite shampoos, conditioners, and soaps. It would have made the showering experience better (as good as it can be – I could barely turn around in the shower. It’s tiny!).
Two swimming suits
Similar to wanting to bring multiple towels – my swimming suit just didn’t have time to dry off, and it was full of so much sand. It made the second day on the beach not quite as pleasant 🙂
Goggles
I’m sure you are reading this and thinking, “Well, you forgot everything.” And that would be true. Because that’s what it felt like. Our boys love goggles, and we totally forgot to bring any with us.
Diaper Trash Bag
This is mainly applicable to those of you who are taking a child in diapers on a cruise ship. Believe me – you will want something that you can store those stinky diapers in. They can easily make the room really smelly, really quickly, if they aren’t stored properly until the trash can be taken out. You can get diaper trash bags pretty cheap at the Dollar Tree. We did not do this, and we paid for it!
Good Beach Shoes
We all brought sandals, but they ended up not being the best options. I brough my Sanuk sandals, which were great around the cruise…but they have fabric straps, and the ended up getting soaking wet on the beach…and they never really dried out.
I accidentally packed the wrong shoes for Oliver, and they were tennis shoes. Not ideal for the beach. I wish I’d just grabbed several pairs of cheap flip flops from Old Navy before we left. We ended up paying $25 for a pair of VERY overpriced (and too big) flip-flops for Oliver when we realized our mistake.
Poncho
There’s always the possibility of rain while on a cruise – pack a few inexpensive ponchos so if there is rain, you don’t have to be stuck inside. This is another good Dollar Tree buy.
Marker dabber
This one might seem a little bit silly, but if you plan to play BINGO on the ship (which is a huge rip-off but fun to do once, in my opinion), grab a dot marker to bring along with you. They aren’t required to play, but they do make it easier, and they cost at least $3. It probably ends up being the same per marker through Amazon, but if you can find it cheaper than $3 per marker, it might be worth buying a pack (especially if more than one person wants to play).I have also seen them at The Dollar Tree.
Nightlight
We were in an interior stateroom, which meant there was ZERO outside light. As soon as we turned the lights off at night, it was pitch dark. I had my phone that I could grab and turn on to get some light from, but in the middle of the night, a nightlight (assuming you have an extra plug 😉 is wonderful. We had our kids with us, so this would have been extra helpful for them.
Aloe Vera Gel
I tried as hard as I could to prevent a sunburn…but I still ended up with one. It was not fun, and I really didn’t have much relief. I wish I’d brought some Aloe vera along. I’m sure I could have found some on the ship for like $30 😉
Sunglasses
Pretty standard, but I definitely forgot these. I’m really sensitive to the sun, so you’d think I’d have these everywhere I go…but alas, I did not bring them on the cruise, and I regretted it.
Travel Clock
Our stateroom did not have a clock in it. While we did have our phones, I would have much preferred to just be able to roll over, look at the clock, and decide if I wanted to wake up rather than relying on my phone (which looking at – even just for the time – makes it hard to fall back asleep).
Watch
Your cruise time will be based on the time zone of the port you left – not necessarily your destination. This makes it easier if you are traveling through different time zones…but it can get confusing.
If you put your phone on airplane mode, it shouldn’t update to the current time zone. But in the off chance it does, just have a regular, analog wrist watch that won’t change regardless of where you are. Even when you are at your port destinations, you
Magnets with Hooks
There are a lot of magnetic surfaces in the stateroom, so bringing heavy duty magnets that have hooks on them can help with storage.
Basic Medications
Pretty much everything on a cruise is expensive – make sure you bring along your own mini pharmacy. Just the basics – Advil, Tylenol, Anti-diarrheal, heartburn medicine, band-aids…in both adult and children versions 🙂 This is an amusement park walking pharmacy, but I think it would be helpful for a cruise as well.
Did I miss anything? Chime in below!
Be sure to book your cruise through Get Away Today. We have used them for all our Disneyland trips in the past, so when we saw they offered cruises, it was a no-brainer. They made the process SO easy, and we couldn’t have been happier with the experience.
Other Cruise Posts You May Enjoy:
- How to Choose a Cruise: Tips for Picking the Best Cruise Itinerary
- The Ultimate Guide to Carnival Cruise Food
- How to Not Gain Weight on a Cruise (From Someone Who Didn’t!)
- Cruise Clothing 101: What to Wear on Your Cruise!
Yaya says
We recently went on RC Mariner of the the Seas which offers ice skating. Since we were traveling to the Bahamas we did not pack any long pants, needless to say it’s a requirement if you want to ice skate. So note to self…if you want to ice skate on one of your sea days pack some long pants : )
Katie Clark says
Great recommendation!
Pte says
Thanks for all your tips! My daughter and son in law are planning on a cruise(1st time) I am thinking of making up a basket for them with many of these great ideas
Susan says
Goiing on my first cruise in a few months. Your tip list great. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Vicki Johnson says
The power bars and extension cords are only confiscated if they have surge protectors. That is the problem. All others are fine to travel with. I am a Travel Agent and Cruise Specialist and am fortunate to have been on 35 cruises during my four decades working in the travel industry, I travel with extension cords or cubes on every cruise. Just remember to get ones with NO SURGE PROTECTORS.
Leslie says
I came across this from Pinterest. While your suggestions are great, please do NOT recommend full face snorkel gear. They are very very dangerous, as you are breathing in the same air that you are breathing out while intentionally being face down in the water.
Katie says
Thank you for your insight!
Meghan says
No you aren’t. The snorkel vents above the water, it’s just one piece and nothing in your mouth.
kalika says
I have a full face snorkel and that is only true if you go under water and continue to breathe. If you keep the snorkel above water it is the same as any other gear, except I don’t panic and think I’m going to suffocate. If you are going underwater it will keep the water from coming in but you should hold your breath.
Ashlea says
I don’t like dirty clothes lying around, so I always bring a mesh pop up hamper. I also bring an over-the-door shoe organizer not only for our shoes, but also for toiletries and other items that take up space on counters, vanity, etc.
Katie says
Great ideas!
Natalie says
And you packed all of this in your suitcase?
Camille says
I do the same. The hamper and hanging organizers fold flat on top of my cloths in my suitcase. 🙂
Libby says
If anyone reads this far – so many great tips – this is my contribution.
– Collapsible funnel for pouring water into water bottle (the ships I’ve cruised on don’t allow you to top up your bottle from the dispensers. Fill a glass with water and pour it into the bottle)
– Gel air freshener for the bathroom – just in case it smells stale
– I pack my dresses with their hangers on. This makes it quick to unpack and hang clothes up. It does, however, require a big suitcase and no weight limit on luggage.
– Big handbag for excursions, and small shoulder bag for going round the ship – just big enough for a kindle, phone and tissues
– 3-in1 pods for use in the laundrette. Cheaper than buying on board.
Katie says
Thanks for sharing!!
Donna says
Your tips are so helpful, Katie! I’m writing my packing list now and wanted to let you know the few extras I’ll be packing. My husband and I dance every single chance we get – the bands on the cruise lines are phenomenal! So dance shoes are a must – two pair! A few thank you notes are nice to let your favorite staff know how awesome they were. We also like decaf in our rooms and bring along the Starbucks Via packs. We also pack ginger chews which help a lot during rough waters. Enjoyed reading everyone’s suggestions!
Katie says
Thanks for sharing, Donna! Have a great trip!
KeLLy says
Great tips- thanks for sharing.
Lynn says
You included a lot of great ideas. I don’t take towels. I make sure the bathing suit I wear on my last day is definitely the one that dries the fastest. I like my suit as dry as possible before putting it in a plastic bag. I take a throw blanket (love my cashmere one). My sweater/light jacket is often not enough in the cold theatre or dining room. I also started taking tights for the same reason. I can wear them under my pants at dinner if needed. Some nights are colder than others indoors.
The cards are now already hole punched (at least on Carnival). They don’t just give printed itineraries anymore they just assume everyone will use the app. Same for menus. Printed menus are only available in certain locations around the ship. If you are going for more than 4 days, don’t forget a razor. I take extra batteries for any battery powered device like my little fan or my clock. Don’t let your kids go without their shoes on deck even if it’s not too hot when they first go out. It gets hot fast. We heard many screams during our last cruise.
Katie says
Thank you for all these great ideas!
Stuart Twiddy says
I dont want to be the one to tell you this…butnyou can trade towels in as much as.you want!
Sydney says
Ha, yeah, that’s true!
Paula brown says
Making a note of all tips. First time cruiser planning a vacation on ROyal Caribbean. So excited! Thanks for the list and the thought behind it.
Katie says
I’m so happy to hear that!
Nancy King says
No need to bring beach towels. You can always turn dirty towels into your Stewart or on the pool deck. Even if lost they are pretty good about being understanding.
Judy L says
We cruise 1-2 times a year as we have gotten “more mature” we tend to cruise Carnival less and Royal Caribbean and Holland America more, but I digress.
My favorite place to buy gadgets and things is TJ Maxx/Marshall’s. I literally haunt the clearance sections for things to add to my cruise stash. I purchased the waterproof phone bags for less than $5.00 and luggage straps for $3.00 each.
I bought this outlet splitter from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QV13WLN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). It is compliant with most of the cruise lines. My husband travels with a C-PAP machine so extra outlets are a must.
I take a tap-light (from Dollar Tree) to use as a night light in the bathroom. We just sit it on the counter inside the door, but I may try gluing a magnet on the back for our next cruise and sticking it to the wall.
Eileen says
Carnival will replace your towel after excursions as you get off the ship yo the side there is a steward with a k angry basket and clean towels
Becky says
An over the door shoe holder works great for all the little things.
Lisa says
I’ve never actually been on a cruise, but I do swim, so when reading the snorkel one, I just couldn’t help to think of bringing flippers/fins. They help you move fast. However, If you want to take your time and enjoy it, fins might not be the best option😂.
lara says
hi katie! thanks for the tips! going on my first cruise aka honeymoon next month and i have no idea what i’m in for, hubby on the other hand is enjoying this surprise factor! lol
Julienne Schaeffer says
I purchased some travel hangers – they fold up small and flat and are easy to pack. The rooms never have enough hangers, and I tend to hang all my clothes so any wrinkles will fall out, so extra hangers are a must for me! I also purchased a charger organizer – it keeps all my chargers, power cords, and power packs in a neat, organized bag. This is great for all trips, not just cruises. A small first aid kit is nice to have as well!
kathie says
For nightlights, I use battery operated tea lights (no outlet required). They use button batteries like garage door openers. I found that I like the submersible style best for the smaller bulb and I got them with a yellowish tinged bulb so not quite so bright. Depending on where/how the cabin is set up, I place on a shelf near the bathroom or near the front door of cabin (leaving a closet door open to expose the shelf. The batteries are rated to last about 60 hrs or about 7-8 nights depending on how long you leave them on each time. Some have on/off switch and others you rotate like a screw bottle cap.
James says
I am a long time cruiser and I also use the T Lights for night lights. Gives just enough light to get around at night. Usually put one in the bathroom and one on the cabin desk shelf.
Lori says
Thank you so much for these tips! Even though some might think these are no-brainers, as a first time cruiser, I’m grateful for ALL tips.
Pam says
As for the door decorations….we like to put something on the door, especially if we are not near something otherwise very recognizable – those corridors can be very long and it helps to have a visual for your cabin. BUT…my husband read somewhere recently that some of the cruise lines were no longer allowing this. I didn’t read the article so I don’t know why, but we’re still going to try it.
And magnetic hooks are a LIFESAVER! We hang several on the wall to hold hats, swim coverups, towels, etc. But the best use of the hooks (for us) is for our room keys. You can get someone at the purser’s desk to punch a hold in the corner and then hang them on a hook. Always where you can find them.
My last tip is about the lights in the newer ships. Many of them now require that you put your keycard in a slot right inside the door in order for the lights to work. We just stick an old hotel key in ours. I think any card with a magnetic strip will work — old gift card perhaps?
Happy cruising!
Lynn says
Update for this: all cards now come with a hole already.
Samantha says
Depends on the line. Some companies do not allow holes at all.
Jane says
Good tips, however, that towel they give you isn’t to use for the entire week. Just like your bath towels, those are to be switched out for clean ones every day. You can also switch out for clean ones at the pool AND you can get extras at the pool. Silly to waste valuable suitcase space on a towel when there are millions on the ship for free.
One bathing suit on a Caribbean cruise? That’s just insane. I don’t think this is a good tip. That’s like having underwear as a tip to bring. It’s just common sense. And sunglasses? For the Caribbean? Who knew!?
Maya says
I think it was more of a reminder, when you’re excited for a trip and going with children there’s so much to remember!! Be kind to everyone
Sheila says
Some of these may have been said but I’m gonna go ahead and list them. After 23 cruises I have pretty much nailed it down. Ziplock bags are a must! You can use to stash wet bathing suits, bring along snacks, or get cookies for night time snacks. I saw that pop up laundry baskets were listed…we use every cruise. Can’t stand dirty clothes on the floor. Bring along a couple of dryer sheets in a ziplock bag…put all your dirty laundry in one suitcase and clean in the other. Put the dryer sheets in the dirty clothes bag and it will not be such a stench when you get home and open. A small mesh shower caddy holds our shampoo, razors, conditioner, etc. It can hang on the handle of the shower. I got mine at Bed Bath and Beyond. Some cruises we have been on the doors or walls were not metal…imagine that!….so I have accumulated quite a few over the door hooks and clothes pin hooks. Be prepared for anything! Something new I got this year is the plastic covers that you put your luggage tags in…you have NO IDEA how many times we have struggled with trying to staple or tape them without tearing them UGH!!! Don’t forget a hat of some sort. That Caribbean sun can be brutal! A book if you are a reader. Hope this helps!!!
Quinn says
Great tips. Ziplock bags are good for so many things. I pack all my toiletries in them and bring extra. I used packing cubes which helped keep underwear etc together. I love those and they were cheap to buy. I bring a small flashlight, yellow marker to highlight daily activities I want to attend and a hot and cold portable bottle so I won’t need two. I also pack twice because I take some things out since I tend to overpack! I bring a small portable fan. I like the breeze and I make room for it and it helps with the noise in addition to the white noise app on my phone.
Julie says
Omg! My list is super long now!
Thanks all
It’s our first cruise and I think I have it down pat!
Bon Voyage🧳🛳
Katie says
Have so much fun!
Jennifer Haag says
Here are a few of the thing we bring.
Tape. Duct tape keeps the curtains closed.
Things to put on your door. 1000 doors and they all look alike.
Sophia says
You can also use your towel/beach chair clips. Or bring a bulldog clamp (Office kind)
Missy says
We are about to leave in 5 days for our 8th Carnival cruise! Let me tell you the one thing I forgot to pack one time was dental floss. You would think this would be no big deal but none of the shops on the ship have it and not a single souvenir shop in Mexico had it and we checked at least 20! And yes we have had our power strip confiscated on a cruise before! I would also add that remembering to bring a lot of dollar bills for room service tips is also important. We love getting our morning coffee, fruit and pastries delivered to our room and while it’s free you always need to tip the server!
Katie says
Great tips! Especially the floss one! Have so much fun on your cruise.
Linda says
Thank you for sharing this list of should haves. It was very helpful. My husband and I are going on a Carnival cruise next month.
Candy says
Zip ties to secure your luggage when you leave it outside the night before disembarking
Linda P says
Great list! Don’t forget lots of colorful ribbon on your luggage to find it after the cruise. Pack a carryon and carry off with essentials, in case you don’t get your luggage right away. Water shoes for some excursions that flip flops would not be appropriate like hiking the falls. Non refrigerated Creamer for your morning coffee. There are games in the library. I love the carnival HUB app. If traveling with lots of adults the wine package was worth it and I am not a big drinker. I love the dining room experience except for breakfast. I like the omelets on the Lido deck.
J. C. says
If you have a balcony room bring clothes pins. You can dry your bathing suits on the deck chairs and pin them and the won’t go flying away.
Angela Karitis says
Poo~Pourri is such a lifesaver on cruises! I highly recommend the “Ship Happens” scent. All natural, safe to flush, and TSA approved in the 2oz size. Happy spritzing and happy cruising, folks!
Katie says
Thanks, Angela!
Jennifer says
I have boys and another good tip I’ve learned is always bring butt paste to the beach! The liner in the swimsuits irritates them when sand gets in and this prevents rash and pain. We never go anywhere without it.
Katie says
Great tip!
Julie says
Lots that I hadn’t thought of- and we love cruises! I also bring something to decorate our cabin door with for fun and to make it easier to find in those long hallways. Most are metal so magnets work well (Dollar stores have celebratory ones sometimes) or something that is kind of identifying- we have a dairy farm- love putting at least one cow on there 😂. We also bring sticky notes to tell others where we will be and when- especially if you can’t use your phones. Command hooks are awesome- I always try to wear things more than once it helps if wrinkles can hang.
Katie says
Thanks for sharing some of these ideas!
Nancy says
You can get the bingo dot markers at Dollar Tree. And they replace the beach towels every day if you use them.
Liz says
Make sure those power strip/outlet connectors are not surge protected. It’s the surge protectors they will confiscate. The grounding on a ship is different on land and they see the surge protectors as fire hazards
Katie says
Thank you!
Tracy says
On Royal Caribbean the walls are metal so we bought some heavy duty hook magnets. It was great to hang up our hats and small bags for extra storage space.
pamala glover says
If you are prone to sunburn no matter how much sunblock you use, get a uv shirt. If you blister up on your first beach day the rest of the cruise can be really uncomfortable.
Carol Weisberg says
If you are going to do a lot of walking in socks and sneakers, bring along some Vaseline to rub in all over your feet before you put on your socks. It prevents blisters!
Katie says
Good tips!
Ella says
I found it really helpful to have baby powder since it gets the sand right off if you put it on. The sand brushes right off! Anyway, I also think the pop-up clothes hamper and packing cubes are nice since your clothes stay separated and organized. As a now teen, I also enjoy having a notebook and book to relax with and jot down my adventures or just sit on the veranda and read. Thank you so much for the great tips! I’ll be sure to recommend this to the other family I’m traveling with! Bon voyage!
– Ella
Jpnaz says
Loved the travel tips. We are experienced cruisers but this will be the first time we will be cruising with a just turned two year old and his parents to Hawaii. Since we will never be to far from shopping, we should be able to buy sand shovels and toys at any Longs or ABC stores. Is there anything I might be missing?
By the way, if you use a breathing device such as a CPAP, just notify steward and they will provide distilled water and approved extension cord.
Lisa says
This may be the best tip list for essentials that I’ve seen. I have a few similar articles pinned from my previous 2 cruises, but this is a great summary of the best points from each of the others.
I’m no expert after 2 cruises but my VIP list includes: water bottle, sunglasses (I bring 2 because they cracked on my first cruise and or was not fun), lanyard with pouch for cards( I found a fun colorful print one like a mini wallet/card holder-it’s great!), air freshener for bathroom, moisturizer &after sun-aloe gel, good sandals and comfy walking shoes! …you’ve covered it all above.
Katie says
Thanks for commenting and thinking this was a good list! I appreciate it 🙂 and thanks for sharing your essentials, too!
Amy says
I like to take one of those little pop up laundry hampers that you can buy at Dollar Tree. Keeping your dirty clothes separate is nice.
Katie says
Great idea!
Trish says
Katie,
This is a fantastic list! I am a Florida native and have spent a lot of time on cruise ships and the beach.
I love that someone let you in on the baby powder sand removal process.
It’s literally MAGICAL! I’ve shared with my readers as well in the past, that you can strip that baby down, rinse them in the beach shower, dry them, cover in powder and it’s like they had a bath! No more sand anywhere! 😍 we have baby powder in every beach bag and glove box in the car! (Although we just moved to Nashville so….)
Trish
Katie says
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed this post. And yes – the baby powder thing is an awesome tip!
Donna says
Great tips. One thing we won’t travel without (not limited to just cruising!) is duct tape. I wrap a 2 or 3 foot length around an old hotel room key card. Hardly takes up any space, you can tear it without needing scissors and tear it lengthwise if you don’t need a thick piece. We’ve needed it to repair our suitcase when the zipper broke, to tape back together the paper laundry bag the ship provided (for the fill the bag with dirty laundry and pay one set price, but the bag ripped), a quick sandal repair on my hubby’s broken strap, and even on a road trip to tape up electrical wires when our car hit debris on the interstate and it took out the front bumper.
Katie says
Great tip! Thank you for sharing!
Val says
I brought battery operated votives from the dollar store to use as a nightlight
Katie says
Great ideas!
Kathi says
The battery votives are a must for every trip. I keep a few in my travel gear. I hate the dark!
Cheryl G says
Look for a multi outlet instead of the power strip. Its the surge protection and power cord I think they dont like. We have brought our 3 place outlet/USB port that plugs directly into the outlet that has been accepted on our past cruises. I have also used the plain old 3 outlet version that plugs directly into the outlet as well with no trouble.
Katie says
Great tip!
Sarah says
There are so many great suggestions here! I brought a power strip on my last cruise, and they confiscated it. They don’t allow them on cruise ships due to the risk of fire.
Katie says
That is so good to know! Thanks, Sarah!
ReJeana says
You can trade in your wet or sandy towels as often as needed.
Katie says
Good to know! Thanks for sharing!
Jeanette says
Yea that’s what I was going to say. Don’t waste luggage space on towels. Cabin steward will replace wet ones and so will the towel stand on the lido deck.
LindaB says
I have been on 4 different cruise lines and have never had my power strip confiscated! Must be one of the lucky ones. The only thing I saw missing on your list was a hat. I always take a hat not only to shade my face but sometimes the glare off the ocean in port is so strong that sunglasses just are not enough. And btw, our favorite cruise line is Carnival! So much more relaxed and not as pressured to be somewhere at a certain time or loose your chance of doing whatever it was. Great tips.
Katie says
Thanks for sharing, Linda!
Chelsea says
YES! I agree with so many of these! I brought a lot of these things on our cruise last March, and they were so helpful! I especially loved my waterproof phone cover and having two swimsuits!
cherilyn says
Curious, how much luggage to they allow per person? I agree with all your “wish I had packed” items but I wondered how much luggage you can bring to fit it all. Also is there space in the room to store the suitcase? cruise ship room seem really tiny, but I’ve never been
Katie says
Great questions! Each person can bring two pieces of luggage, not weight more than 50 pounds each. So yes – you may not be able to bring all of this, but with some good packing, you could bring quite a bit. The rooms (especially ours – we got the cheapest one possible!) are small, but there was a surprising amount of space to put stuff. We had some good closet space, and you could put things under the bed and what not 🙂
Marion says
Also, the two bag max per person is “recommended”. I always bring more than that and have never been told anything. 🙂
Scott Coombs says
under the bed…check the website for dimensions