Going on a cruise trip is one of the most exhilarating experiences of life. Without the hassle of taking flights and switching hotels, you can wake up in a new city or country every morning. It’s a perfect ride to get an escape from reality.
However, the task of packing for a cruise is daunting for many travelers. Once you sign up for a cruise adventure, you need to take a lot of consideration, from outfits to must haves for a cruise. So, whether you are going for an outdoorsy cruise to Alaska or the Mediterranean, the cruise essentials packing list is going to look a lot different than a beach trip.
Therefore, if you’re wondering what to bring, this blog is going to serve you a travel-savvy guide about essential items for cruise to make your next cruise adventure unforgettable.
30-Second Summary
Cruising is an exhilarating experience, especially when you have all the cruise essentials along with you. The beauty of a cruise vacation is that when you have everything essential packed and you don’t have to experience any inconvenience.
A cruise trip covers a lot of ground, and for this, you will need more flexibility in packing. With all the listed cruise necessities packed along, you will be equipped like a pro to dive into the ultimate cruise adventure and save yourself from shopping for forgotten sundries.
20 Necessitous Cruise Essentials to Maximize Cruise Fun:
If you’re on the fence about booking your next cruise trip and wondering what cruise essentials to pack, don’t worry anymore. To help you with packing, here is a list of 20 cruise packing essentials that need to be with you before you step onto the cruise.
Read on to explore the essential items in detail!
1: Universal Travel Adapter
When you start packing for the cruise, the first thing that you need to pack is the universal travel adapter with a USB port. It is one of the must have cruise accessories that will keep all your devices working.
Keeping all your travel companion gadgets in your head, ensure you have a universal travel adapter that will work on any outlet regardless of the type of cruise and outlet option you will get.
This way, you can charge your devices on the trip without any worry of 220-volt or 110-volt outlets.
2: Backpack or a Beach Bag
Regardless of the adventure you are embarking yourself on, you will need to have a bag to stash all your goodies.
Whether you are planning to have a chilling beach day or a strenuous hike, you might have to carry a few essentials with you. These could be a towel, water bottle, sunscreen, camera equipment, sun hat, and more. It can be troublesome juggling all the things into your pockets.
A quality backpack or beach bag will be more convenient for you to carry all the things without any damage or juggling.
3: Magnetic Hooks
No matter how big the cruise you’ve booked for yourself, the cabins are always going to be small. With limited space to sleep and store your essentials – it can be challenging for you to keep the cabin organized.
However, many cruise lines thoughtfully plan the storage space with drawers, closets, and nooks. Still, you will find yourself getting out of storage space.
That’s why magnetic hooks can be helpful things to bring on a cruise. It can help maximize the space by hanging your day-to-day items, such as bags, robes, hats, and umbrellas.
4: First-Aid Box
Even though most cruise lines have medical assistance onboard, it cannot be available all the time. Moreover, it can be expensive for you for so many reasons.
Therefore, consider bringing a first aid kit along with you. It can be helpful for you to handle minor injuries, headaches, or stomachaches.
You can buy a pre-made first-aid or can make your own with all the medications you are prescribed to take or use. Once you create your kit, you can get it checked by a medical professional to know you are taking every essential with you.
5: Waterproof Phone Pouch
Gone are the days when you had to rush away from water to avoid getting your mobile affected. Nowadays, even if you don’t have a water-packed phone, you can turn your mobile into a waterproof camera with an inexpensive waterproof pouch.
With a waterproof phone pouch, you can confidently take your phone on a snorkeling expedition or pool without the worry of an accident dropping into the water. If you’re wondering where to buy this, worry not. You can check the waterproof phone pouch on the cruise essentials Amazon list.
6: Insect and Sun Shield
Regardless of the destination and activities you have signed yourself up for cruise adventure, there will be sun rays and insects to contend with. Even if you are ready to get a suntan from the trip, it’s advised to bring a shield for your skin to prevent sun damage or insect bites.
Therefore, consider packing the best quality and dermatologist-approved sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, and sun-calming lotion for yourself.
You can shop for all the items at your cruise retail shop if needed. But you won’t be able to get your favorite brand even by paying a premium.
7: Cash for Shopping and Tipping
The cruise lines are essentially cash-free nowadays. The cruise can give you a cashless experience of travel, and you can even pay crew gratuities on a credit card. However, there will be some situations when you will need some cash.
It can be tipping any crew member or shopping around the market near your destination. With cash, you will have more control and negotiate the price. So, consider bringing some cash along with you.
If you’re not a person carrying a thick wallet around, you can keep the cash in your toiletries for safety. This way, you can bring cash along with you according to your needs for a casino or tipping for a fine-dine- experience.
8: Important Contact List
It is highly crucial for one to pack a list of essential contacts along with other must haves for cruises. In case you lose your mobile, you will have a list to contact. In addition to this, don’t forget to get your important documents, such as passport, hotel information, and trip intermarries, to be photocopied.
This way, you can keep the original documents safe and carry photocopies along with you for your excursion activities. This will help you prevent the chances of losing your original documents.
9: Earplugs
Cruise adventure can be a one-in-a-lifetime thing for many travelers. That’s why some travelers do their best to make the most out of it. However, if you need to get some sleep or relaxation, the noise might annoy you.
Therefore, you are advised to bring earplugs along with you. This way, you can have a peaceful sleep by dodging the external noise of cruise activities and people. So, when you are carrying headphones, don’t forget to pack earplugs in the cruise ship accessories box.
10: Motion Sensor Night Light
No matter how luxurious your cruise is, the experts recommend bringing a motion sensor night light along with you for safety.
It is one of the most useful cruise gadgets that you can bring inside the cabin. When you find the need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, it can be a handy gadget to prevent you from falling.
11: Hand Sanitizer and Wipes
It’s true that some passengers on the cruise aren’t mindful about hand washing often. Even though some cruise ships have hand sanitizer stations, it is still helpful for you to bring your own sanitizer bottle along with you. This way, you don’t have to rush to the station every time you find the need to clean your hands.
You can also bring wipes in your bag as well for the high-touch areas like hand railings and buffet lines. This will help you disinfect your hands and areas that can contain germs and bacteria.
12: Organizers for Ultimate Storage
As the cabin space will be limited for you, it can be helpful for you to bring some organizers along with you as cruise necessities. While you are traveling, the last thing that you want to experience is juggling to find things.
Therefore, consider buying a portable storage box to keep similar items stored in one place. This way, you can avoid loss or damage to your things and have additional space to keep your things.
13: A Lanyard
Have you ever lived the dread of losing a cabin key or credit card when on a trip? If not, you don’t have to take this thing lightly on the trip. As you will be indulging yourself in a number of activities, you can forget your cabin key or credit card in other pants or bags.
Here comes a lanyard handy to help you keep your cards along with you every time and everywhere you go. With a lanyard, you don’t have to dig inside your pocket or bag to find the key.
14: A Watch
There will be a number of activities you will participate in during your cruise trip. You may also find the need to change the time zones while out at sea. Therefore, bringing a watch along with you is crucial. It should be on the list of cruise packing must-haves to keep you following the schedule.
A well-functioning watch will help you to return to the cruise from an excursion on time before it leaves the port. This way, you can save yourself from missing out on your ride.
15: Laundry Bag or Kit
Depending on the duration of your cruise trip, you will need to have a bag that can hold your laundry. If you’re not signing up for the laundry services offered by the cruise or find it over-priced, consider bringing a laundry kit or bag along with you.
This way, you can keep your dirty laundry separate from your wearables and keep the cabin organized.
16: Pleasure Reading
If you’re a bookish person, there is nothing more rewarding for you than having a nice book or magazine to read around the pool. It can be a soothing experience for many passengers to listen to the waves while reading some exciting fiction.
So, if you want to escape on your cruise trip as well, bring your favorite books and magazines along with you.
17: A Nice Suit
Cruises are known for offering the best ball or formal night where you can be dressed to the best. Even though some cruises allow casual wear, there can be a formal night that you should never skip.
For this, consider packing the best tuxedo or suit in your essentials if you like to dress up for a lobster dinner and fine wine fun.
18: An International Cell Package
We all need cell phone connection while on a trip. And when traveling around the sea and changing countries, it becomes essential to find the best package for it.
Otherwise, phone services are going to be a lot more expensive for you. So, consider contacting your cell phone service provider to tell them your trip and location to ask about the best packages for traveling.
This way, you can save yourself from whooping bills and have peace of mind in enjoying the calls while on the cruise.
19: Poo-Pourri Bathroom Spray
Another crucial cruise packing must haves is packing a poo-pourri bathroom spray in your bag. As the cruise cabins are limited in space, the bathroom will also offer tiny space for relaxation. Not many people talk about it, but this is one of the essentials that you must bring with you.
It will help you avoid foul odors coming from the bathroom if you share it with other passengers. The best hack you can do is spray a little poo-pourri in your bathroom before you go there.
20: Quality Water Shoes
Not many travelers invest in water shoes, even if their trip includes beach activities. But getting a quality pair of closed-toe water shoes can be handy for you on the cruise.
Not only will these shoes help you to have support in the water, but they will also allow you to walk around the rocky beach past the water line confidently.
Therefore, you must pack it as your cruise essential to protect your feet during the adventure.
FAQs:
Q1. Why Should I Pack The Universal Travel Adapter?
There are always different types of outlets that you can find around the cruise. Some cruise lines separate a few areas with 220-volt outlets from 110-volt.
Instead of risking your devices or juggling to find a compatible outlet for your devices, you can consider bringing a universal travel adapter along as the best cruise accessories.
Q2. Should I Carry An Iron Or Steamer?
Many cruise lines forbid the use of iron or a streamer while you’re on the cruise. These can be a fire hazard for you. Instead of carrying a steamer or iron along with you, you can have a wrinkle spray to remove the wrinkles from your garments.
If you forget to carry it, you can look for a self-service laundry and ironing station on your cruise to get ironing services.
Q3. Is It Okay To Bring Some Snacks On The Cruise?
Cruises are one of the famous traveling mediums that offer exceptional service regarding catering. There is a buffet and other snack bars for the passengers to get access to.
However, if you still want to bring some protein bars, you can pack a few. Ensure the food items or snacks you get are dry and well-packed. Don’t carry any liquor if your cruise has a strict policy for it.
Q4. How Many Shoes Should I Pack As Cruise Essentials?
When it comes to packing shoes for your cruise adventure, you will always find the need to pack several pairs. It can be tricky to choose the best pair for your onboard and excursion activities. However, you can think of practicality to make the best decision.
For example, you can carry sneakers, hiking shoes, water shoes, and flip-flops to walk comfortably during your trip. If you’re planning to attend a formal event, don’t forget your heels or formal boots.
Conclusion:
Packing for a cruise trip is one of the demanding tasks, but once you pack carefully, you will face no inconvenience during the entire trip. With so many basics and essentials, it can be confusing for travelers to decide what to pack and what to skip.
Therefore, this blog has brought 20 must-have cruise essentials that can make your trip comfortable. This way, you will not have to regret skipping essentials at home or carrying something useless with you.
