Packing for your cruise might be a little stress-inducing. There’s nothing worse than getting onboard your cruise ship and realizing you forgot something back home.
At the bottom of the page there is an in-depth cruise list to help in creating your own personalized cruise packing list.
Here are a few items that are a must have and make packing a breeze:
1: Packing Cubes
Packing cubes help keep your suitcase perfectly organized. I’ve also found that I can simply pack more because they slightly compress everything. Since I often cruise with just a carry-on, optimizing the small space is important.
The best part of it all? Once you get onboard your cruise ship, packing cubes make it so much easier to get settled into your stateroom. You can whip out your packed cubes and simply place them in the drawers and shelves of your stateroom.
2. Compression Travel Bags
In addition to packing cubes, I’ve also started to utilize these compression travel bags that are super convenient and easy to use.
Simply pack your clothes inside and roll the bag to release air. These types of compression bags truly save so much space, especially for bulkier items that you need to pack, like your winter coat for an Alaskan cruise! Another reason I love these compression bags is that they will protect your clothes from any water that gets inside your luggage.
3. Portable Phone Charger
If you’re going on a cruise, it’s essential to pack a portable phone charger, especially if you’re sailing on an older ship with limited outlets and plugins. Older ships might only have one or two outlets in each stateroom – and they likely won’t be near your bed.
A portable charger is also great for long days spent in port exploring or on an excursion. You won’t want your phone battery to die, so having a portable charger is a must.
4. Electronics Organizer
If you’re like me, you travel with quite a few electronics. I probably cruise with more electronics than the average cruiser if I am doing work for my blog because I need to pack multiple cameras.
As such, I purchased this electronics organizer for traveling and cruising – it’s been a total game changer! This organizer has tons of pouches and mesh pockets to keep everything perfectly organized in my carry-on bag and even in my stateroom.
5. Reusable Water Bottle
Staying hydrated on your cruise is very important. It’s super easy to get dehydrated when you’re drinking alcohol and spending a lot of time in the sun. In general, traveling dehydrates our bodies.
It’s essential to pack a reusable water bottle for your cruise. I never cruise without mine and I bring it everywhere from my stateroom to the pool deck and off the ship for excursions. Granted you can get disposable water bottles from the bars and restaurants for a fee, unless you have a drink package, but it is easy nonetheless to bring one and refill it in your stateroom. All the ships are equipped with state of the art filtration with clean water right from your sink.
6. Hanging Toiletry Bag
There are a few different cosmetic bags that I travel with, but I absolutely always cruise with my hanging toiletry bag. The bathrooms are so tiny on a cruise ship and counter space is limited. I prefer to have my toiletries hanging in a cosmetic bag on the door to keep the counter less cluttered.
I’ve cruised with these hanging cosmetic bags for decades; it especially saved space when I cruised with my family having four of us share one bathroom!
7. USB Outlet Extender
If you’re cruising with multiple people in your stateroom, you will likely want more available plugins in your cabin. While newer ships are starting to incorporate more outlets in each cabin, older ships are still limited to just one or two outlets.
Consider packing this foldable power strip with multiple outlets and USB plugs. This will allow you to charge many more devices.
8. Lanyard for Cruise Card
Onboard your cruise, you will have a SeaPass card to use, which is how you will purchase items onboard and access your stateroom. As such, you have to carry it everywhere!
I prefer to have a lanyard with a card holder that I can take around the ship. This can easily go over my neck as I wander around the ship without having to bring my purse or wallet.
9. Luggage Tag Holders
Printing off your luggage tags is an essential step for preparing for your cruise, but I always find that I never have a stapler or tape to properly add them to my luggage.
These plastic tag holders are perfect for cruising and it protects the tag from getting ripped off at the cruise terminal.
10. Magnetic Hooks
Your cruise ship cabin is made of magnetic walls, so you should definitely pack these handy little magnetic hooks for your stateroom!
These magnetic hooks are very strong and perfect for a variety of uses, from holding your hats, towels and jackets to decorating your cabin or door.
11. Motion Sickness Medication
In the way of seasickness, it’s essential that you always pack motion sickness medication for your cruise. You never know when nausea will strike when you are sailing at sea.
I prefer to cruise with these travel-sized containers. Dramamine makes a less drowsy formula, which is perfect for during the day when I don’t want to get too sleepy from the medication. The small container is easy to keep in my purse or bag while ashore too – as bus, boat and taxi rides can all induce motion sickness.
12. Travel Size Hand Sanitizer
Keeping healthy is a top priority when cruising. Illnesses can spread in a variety of ways, especially on a cruise in close quarters. I keep these hand sanitizers attached directly to my lanyard.
I find myself sanitizing frequently while I cruise, especially after using the tongs in the buffet before indulging in my plate of food.
13. Variety of OTC Medication
One essential that I never cruise without is my tiny ‘pharmacy’. In a small pouch, I bring a variety of over-the-counter medication just to have on hand. Because medicine is so expensive onboard and I do not want to buy medication in port, I cruise with a small amount of medication.
It’s essential for me to bring a multi-symptom combo pack of daytime/nighttime cold and flu because it covers a variety of symptoms. Other essential OTC medication that I always cruise with in my tiny pharmacy includes laxatives, Imodium, sleep aid, nasal congestion spray, antihistamine, and cough drops. Everyone is different and thankfully my wife is a nurse so we have a large amount and varying medications just in case, just be sure to plan ahead and have extras if need be.
14. Mini First Aid Kit
You never know when an emergency will strike, even on your cruise vacation! For this reason, I always travel with a mini first aid and emergency kit.
This mini emergency kit includes band-aids, gauze, alcohol wipes, a mini tweezers and so much more. I have peace of mind cruising with this little kit – and it’s the perfect size to fit in a backpack. NOTE– Knives and other cutting equipment most likely will not be allowed on the ship, although some cruise lines allow small scissors as ones found in sewing kits.
15. Wrinkle Release Spray
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to wear a wrinkly dress on a cruise ship! Without an iron onboard due to fire hazard, it’s not uncommon to have very wrinkly clothes.
For this reason, it’s essential for me to pack wrinkle release spray. This travel-sized bottle is perfect for cruising and really helps get out those big wrinkles after I stuff my suitcase full of cruise clothes.