Few things in life are more thrilling than a cruise. With an upgraded cabin, a non-stop ocean view, and a host of on-board activities, you can sail from port to port with little more on your mind than whether or not you’d like a mimosa with your morning croissant.
Sometimes, however, they can be tricky to pack for. Depending on your ports of call, you may feel like you need to pack everything but the kitchen sink. You may be passing through warm and cool climes on the same trip. And what if you get seasick?
Fear not! We’ve got you covered with 15 travel essentials that will jump-start your packing list and see you all the way through to the end.
Checked Bag and Carry-On
We know… Obvious, right? But there’s a specific point we’d like to make here. On most cruise ships, a porter will be happy to take your luggage straight to your room for you. Fantastic, right?
But, with hundreds – possibly thousands – of people coming on board with you, it will take the crew a little while to get that luggage to your room. In the meantime, this is a great opportunity to grab a bite to eat and hang by the pool.
This is where your carry-on comes into play. If you plan well enough ahead, you can put a change of clothes in there, some toiletries, your bathing suit, your iPad, or anything else to keep you entertained on deck while you’re waiting for your luggage to arrive.
Money Belt
Not just for cruise travel, but any travel, a money belt offers a wonderful sense of security. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to lose track of items along the way. The one thing we simply cannot afford to overlook is our passport, driver’s license, credit cards, and local currency.
A money belt is a very thin pouch that ties around our waist and hides under our clothing. The only time we should ever be separated from our money belts is when we’re going through airport security. This makes it very difficult to lose track of things or be pickpocketed by a bad actor.
AirTags
Between the flight crew and cruise crew shuttling your luggage around for you – and, thankfully so – you’ll want to know where everything is at all times. How did we ever even travel without the comfort and safety of an AirTag before?
Be sure to pop one into every item of luggage – both your checked bags and carry-on. As for the checked bags, it’ll help you feel safe, knowing your luggage is making its way to you. As for the carry-on, well, in the worst-case scenario that you lose track of it, hopefully, you’ll still have your cellphone in hand to track its whereabouts.
Magnetic Hooks
The TSA crew might wonder why you’re carrying magnetic hooks in your checked bag (if you have to fly to your port before boarding the ship). But cruise aficionados consistently stand by this pro tip.
The walls in your cabin are bound to be metal. Because of this, you can pop a few hooks on the wall to hang your jackets, bathing suits, or other personal items that might not fit in the closet.
Some people also use the hooks simply as magnets to post the daily newsletter that’s usually brought to your door each morning. Either way, if you’re a stickler for organization, these simple little tools may come in mighty handy.
Travel Steamer
As you’re hanging up your clothes, be it in the closet or on your magnetic hooks, you might want an easy way to release some of those wrinkles that have appeared. Packing for a cruise can be tricky at times. You may need everything from a bathing suit to a winter coat – depending on where you’re traveling to.
Fitting all that into your luggage is certainly possible, but it might create wrinkles in some more delicate fabrics. Some folks prefer a small bottle of wrinkle-release spray, but a travel steamer is far more effective.
Cocktail Dress or Suit
This one is highly debatable. Most people like to travel light and stay nimble when they’re traveling through airports and cruise ships. And, for the most part, cruises are very casual.
But, once in a while, isn’t it nice to get all dolled up and indulge in a fabulous gourmet meal? Then, at the end, you can savor a delicious cocktail from the fanciest bar on the ship. (Cruise ship bartenders are often at the top of their class.)
If you think you might like to have one or two of those evenings, throw a dress in – or a suit and tie – for good measure. And why not? You’ll have that handy travel steamer on standby!
International Adapter and Surge Protector
Most ships are equipped with North American and European outlets. Still, you’ll want to pack an international adapter and surge protector to protect your cell phone, tablet, and laptop from any mishaps.
Also, if you’re spending the day ashore in a different country, you might want the ability to quickly plug your phone in for 30 minutes while you savor that delicious cup of coffee at a Viennese coffee house.
Tech Organizer
Speaking of which, purchasing an affordable tech organizer from Amazon before you go will work wonders. First, it keeps things easily accessible—the laptop charger, cell phone chargers, adapters, power banks, and everything else.
Second, when you’re packing up – if you’ve become familiar enough with your organizer, it’ll be easier to see that a charger is missing, preventing you from leaving the almighty phone charger plugged in on your night table.
Power Bank
Being out at sea, taking countless pictures, and using your phone as a GPS can be draining on the battery. Nowadays, popular brands like Anker make affordable and compact power banks that can charge up your cell phone and laptop from the same device.
Be sure to charge up your power bank each night, just like your cell phone. Then, you can tuck it into your crossbody or backpack throughout the day. Whether you’re sunning by the pool on the ship deck or roaming the misty streets of Venice, you can rest assured that you’re always powered up.
Waterproof Phone Case
Are you going island hopping? Perhaps you’ll rent a catamaran for a little sunset magic. Or, maybe you’ll sea kayak in Alaska. Either way, you’ll probably want your phone with you for any number of reasons.
Like your money belt, this won’t be the chicest item in your wardrobe, but it’ll serve the most important purpose – preventing your cell phone from dropping to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea or getting splashed by someone else’s paddle.
Essential Toiletries
If you forgot to pack the sunscreen or toothpaste, it’s going to cost you more on the ship than back home. Depending on where you’re traveling, the exchange rate on land may not be in your favor, either.
Take the time to jot down a toiletries checklist so you don’t have to buy any of these items on the fly. This includes common essentials like toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, etc. But don’t forget some of the more specialty items like sunscreen, aloe vera gel, perfume, and a small first aid kit.
Hand and Surface Sanitizers
Let’s stick with the essential toiletries a moment longer. If you’ve traveled via plane to get where you’re going, you’re likely to arrive rather dehydrated. You can recoup with some water while you’re sunning on the ship’s deck.
Once you’re settled in for the night, relaxing with an aloe vera face mask and hydrating lotion might be nice. Under-eye masks might help you get ahead of any puffiness or dark circles. And, before you get to the room, you might want some hand or body wipes to freshen up a little before you can shower and wind down.
It’s also nice to bring a travel-size pack of surface wipes with you. This will help you clean that sticky spot off your table tray on the airplane, as well as any small spots that may have been missed in your cabin.
Mix-and-Match Clothes
One of the best things about cruises is that they can take you through many different countries – and climates – in less than a week. That also makes it one of the hardest things about cruises. How can you pack your entire wardrobe into your suitcase?
Unfortunately, you can’t. But, what you can do is pack clothes that easily mix and match together, forming multiple outfits. Stick to neutral colors. You can always provide a pop of color with a light scarf or pair of chandelier earrings.
You can also choose to layer outfits. So, what might be just a T-shirt one day can go under a blazer the next. This opens up more space for you to be able to take both a parka and a bikini on the same trip.
Beach Towel
Most people bring a towel from the cruise ship while spending a day on the island. But if you have room for it in your luggage, you might want to bring your own beach towel. It’ll be softer, more to your liking, and easier to spot on the beach when it’s time to pack up.
There are also nice sand-free options out there on Amazon, mainly made of Turkish cotton, that won’t carry all that sand back to your room and will dry a lot faster than denser cotton.
While it’s not a “mistake” if you choose not to bring a towel, these 27 no-nos may be. With each cruise, we learn more and more about our personal preferences. And, hopefully, some of those “mistakes” will help you find your perfect rhythm.
Seasick Patches
It’s an interesting phenomenon. Even if you’ve spent your life on power boats, sailboats, and ferries, a major cruise liner can creep up on you and douse you with a dose of seasickness. It’s one of the most miserable ways to spend your day at sea – with your equilibrium off-balance, a headache, and a constant feeling you’re about to lose that morning’s bagel and lox.
Some of the most popular brands go behind the ear, and they’re an absolute wonder. If we can’t fully understand the science behind them, they’re worth their weight in gold, especially if you have a full itinerary – on and off the ship – and don’t want to lose any time lying flat on your back, wondering when the torture will end.
Happy Sails to You!
Cruising is becoming an increasingly popular way to see the world. This style of travel tends to feel far less frenetic than airport travel and can still expose us to a multitude of colorful cultures. It’s a wonder that we can hop on what’s essentially a moving city, enjoy decadent meals, meet new friends, and sail right up to a new harbor.
We hope these items make it into your bag. They should increase your comfort levels exponentially and ensure smooth and happy sails. Wherever you’re headed next, know that we have a destination guide for that city already lined up for you. Here’s hoping we meet you out on the great blue sea someday!