What to Pack for a Cruise
26 Cruise Packing Hacks List
We’re often asked what to pack for a cruise and completely understand why it’s a very sought after topic. Cruise packing happens once every few years for the majority of us. Unless you’re an ice carver on the Lido Deck, you probably struggle with what to pack. This isn’t surprising – you’re vacationing in the middle of the ocean with occasional, sporadic stops at vastly different destinations. It’s an unusual way to travel. We’re here to help – with these Cruise Packing Tips and Hacks, you’ll be more prepared than the captain.
Also – don’t forget to add this to your Cruise Packing List Pinterest board using the pin below!
Before checking out the complete list, please watch our fun little video highlighting the 10 Best Tips on What to Pack for a Cruise!
Here are 26 Tips & Hacks on what to pack for your cruise. Enjoy!
Cruise Packing Tip #1 – Coffee Mug
Do you remember the last coffee you had on a cruise ship? I bet your scalded fingers do. If I had a nickel for every ounce of coffee I lost walking up and down those stairs, I’d have enough to treat my third-degree burns. And, you’ll have to make four or five trips there and back to get your regular caffeine fix. Bring your favorite coffee mug, fill ‘er up, and lounge around like Juan Valdez.
What to Pack for a Cruise, Tip #2 – Smarter Cruise Carry-on
Once you check your bags, you won’t see them again for roughly six hours. If you plan to hit the hot tub, bring your bathing suit. If you plan to hit the buffet, bring your dentures. Whatever you’ll need for the first half of the day, stick it in your carry on bag.
Cruise Packing Tip #3 – Extra Clothes Hangers
I need one hanger for my best tank top, but my girlfriend needs the closet to look like one of those long racks at TJ Maxx. The cruise line will provide roughly eight hangers. If you need more (particularly for the longer cruises), throw some extras in your bag. The wire types take up the least packing space.
What to Pack for a Cruise, Tip #4 – Bathroom Door Organizer
The typical bathroom vanity and sink-top has enough room for three cue tips, a hair tie, and a travel sized toothbrush. If you plan to use any of the normal tools for maintaining acceptable levels of hygiene, you’ll want a bathroom door organizer. You can stick shampoos, lotions, aloes, hair dyers, curlers, and all kinds of stuff in there.IMPORTANT: make sure your hanging organizer is “fire retardant” or the cruise line could confiscate it!
Cruise Packing Tip #5 – Power Strip (Non Surge)
The last cruise I was on had two reachable outlets. C’mon – it’s 2018… even my shoe-horn has a plug. If you plan on running and charging phones, cameras, gaming consoles, hair dryers, curling irons, etc, you’ll want to bring a power strip.
IMPORTANT: according to our helpful users, certain power strips are banned by the cruise lines and will be confiscated. Make sure to get a model WITHOUT “surge protection” to avoid angry security guards.
Cruise Packing Tip #6 – Dramamine
Motion sickness is one of the worst feelings you can have. And the captain isn’t going to slow down because you’re hugging a toilet. Even if you’ve never experienced seasickness, you might want to bring Dramamine or ginger pills just in case.
What to pack for a cruise, Tip #7 – Wine
The typical cruiser spends a LOT on booze. Check out the average alcohol consumption per cruise passenger. People aren’t aware that most cruise lines allow you to bring some alcohol. Generally, one bottle of wine per cruiser is acceptable. If it’ll save you $80 between the two of you, why not bring it?
Cruise Packing Tip #8 – Ear Plugs
Cruises have to squeeze in as many humans as possible to keep costs down. It’s creepy to think about, but there’s four strangers sleeping within 10 feet of you at night. And if you’re lucky enough to have 80 pound soft-talkers on both sides, you might still encounter other noises. If you’re near the ship’s nightclub, engine room, or any busy walkways, there’s likely to be some noise. Shove a couple of these in your listening holes, and let the ocean’s motions rock you to bed.
Packing Hack #9 – Roll Your Clothes
This obviously isn’t specific to cruising, but necessary to include. If you’re still folding your clothes, you’re also probably worried about sailing off the edge of the Earth. Rolling creates a denser space and allows more “I’m with stupid” T-shirts.
Cruise Packing Tip #10 – Keep a Stiffy
If you’re worried about your collar getting crushed while in transit, stick your alligator (cow also works as does a synthetic if preferred) belt in there for support.
What to Pack for a Cruise, Tip #11 – Avoid Shampoo Blouses
It’s happened to the best of us. You show up ready to party and your best silk shirt is covered in mouthwash. By placing a piece of saran wrap inside of the cover, you create a tighter seal when closed.
Cruise Packing Hack #12 – Inside Out Jacket
Your jacket can get wrinkled and dirty packed in there with your sneakers and floaties. Turn it inside out to keep it clean and avoid creases.
Packing Hack #13 – Business Card in Luggage Tag
We have a ton of respect for the guys working the docks. But, we’re guessing they lose a bit of motivation after tossing around the first few thousand bags on cruise day. Those stapled, paper luggage tags might work… but, you know what will work much better? These custom cruise luggage tags! We know how important it is for you to get your medication, lucky casino hat, special undies, etc. Don’t tempt fate in this circumstance.
Cruise Packing Tip #14 – Bring a Jacket
I don’t care what the forecast says – the meteorologist wasn’t referring to the middle of the ocean when he said it would be 80 degrees. It gets cold and windy out there. Bring a jacket, or at least a windbreaker so you’re not stuck below decks like a troll.
What to Pack for a Cruise, Hack #15 – Cotton Swab Holder
You don’t want to be sticking cotton swabs inside of your skull once they’ve been rolling around the bottom of that seven-year-old travel kit. Stick them in an empty pill bottle to keep them organized and sanitary. Please make sure it’s clean so you’re not medicating your inner ear canal.
Packing Tip #16 – Mark Bags as Fragile
This one may be a bit controversial. Marking your bags as “fragile” will result in better treatment of said bags. An added bonus is quicker offloading time. For those that don’t think their possessions are worthy of the “fragile” classification, follow Cruise Packing Tip #7 to earn that sincerity.
Packing Hack #17 – No Necklace Tangles
It once took two sea days to untangle a necklace. No more. Thread your dainty necklaces through a common straw to keep them perfectly neat and tangle-free.
What to Pack for a Cruise, Tip #18 – Drier Sheet Freshness
Your attic smells like a barn and you just pulled your luggage down three hours before heading to port. If you’d like to make new friends that prefer non-attic-smelling strangers, stick a couple drier sheets in there to eliminate odors.
Cruise Packing Tip #19 – Wine Armor
Now that we’ve established that you’re bringing a bottle of wine (see Tip #7), you’ll need to protect it from angry baggage handlers. Lodge it tightly inside of two shoes to make sure it’s well protected along the way. To see if your cruise line allows you to bring alcohol, check this Allowed Alcohol Cheat Sheet by Cruise Line.
Packing Tip #20 – Mobile Jewelry Case
For small pieces of jewelry, keep them safe and organized in a daily pill container. And, if super Type A, you can plan your nightly accessories and place them in the corresponding containers. Just don’t swallow your earrings hoping to cure that hangover.
Cruise Packing Hack #21 – Collapsible Travel Tote
You’ll be traveling up-and-down and back-and-forth the ship all day long while on vacation. Depending on where you’re headed, you’ll have all kinds of stuff to carry: cell phones, wallets, lotions, books, snacks, electronics, and more. Or, maybe you’re headed down to the port to acquire some new stuff. You’ll need some way to carry all of your goodies. With a collapsible travel tote, you can keep tabs on all of your old and new stuff. And, it takes up NO storage space in your luggage, purse, or pocket. PRO TIP: pack your travel tote with snacks (bananas, cookies, sandwiches) when headed down to the port to save in food costs!
Packing Hack #22 – Photograph Your Luggage
One time I was trying to explain my lost luggage to American Airlines. “Square-ish and with my underwear in it” didn’t make the hunt go any quicker. Always take a picture of your luggage and keep it on your mobile device. Added bonus: when new friends show you pictures of their baby, show them a picture of your luggage for an interesting reaction.
What to Pack for a Cruise, Tip #23 – Keep Copies of Your IDs
Keep a digital and physical copy of your license and passport when cruising. It’s likely you’ll never need them, but the peace of mind feels good. Not as good as that last shot of tequila, but whatever.
Cruise Packing Tip #24 – Bring a Pen
You’ll have embarkation and debarkation forms to fill out. Avoid the awkward circle of strangers all waiting for one pen by bringing your own. Also, it’s suggested that you don’t bring your best Mont Blanc because you know that guy that’s been coughing up the norovirus is going to ask you to borrow it. A few “throw aways” are ideal.
Packing Hack #25 – Button Your Earrings
This is the last jewelry organization tip, I promise. Keep your sets of earrings together and neat using buttons. This assures your timeliness on your cruise’s formal night. Hopefully this list will have you as efficiently accessorized as any human has ever been.
Cruise Packing Tip #26 – Ship Mate Packing Checklist
All of these tips are useless if you forget to bring the mentioned items. The Packing Checklist is one of the many helpful features in the Ship Mate Cruise App to keep you prepared and excited for your trip. It’s free and you can find more info about Ship Mate here.
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UPDATE: we had hundreds of ship mates reach out with suggestions. A bunch were from our truly intense cruisers. We got such great feedback, that we created another post: 14 Cruise Products for Ridiculously Hardcore Cruisers.
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Love this list. I use a lot of these tips already!! we also bring a refillable insulated cup for cold drinks. even if you purchase a soda plan, the cups are still tiny. I always bring a power strip on vacation for all those cameras and cell phones (i keep the cell on airplane mode and use it for a watch, camera, alarm)
Great additions – thanks, Lisa!
You are right, thanks for the help! Now I know what to pack and how to do it.
Super ideas. I also take a couple Command hooks which are easy to set up and remove, especially for use behind bathroom doors to hang a bathroom organizer.
We take flash lights also, digital clock(battery operated), extra duffle bag for new purchases and alcohol we buy
we also bring Walky-Talkies to be able to keep in touch with other people traveling with us.
I love this idea and we tried it last cruise but we kept having others talk on our channel because I guess we had the same type walkie talkies. Any ideas how to keep that from happening. It made it so they were almost useless. Thanks for the help!
Wow, I hadn’t thought of potential interference. I’m wondering if certain brands have more frequencies to use.
you need to buy the walkie talkies with the privacy codes
No need for privacy codes.. use a good pair lik Motorola…scan the higher bands until you find a frequency with low use. Been doing this for years.
I had that problem too…
We use post it notes and leave them on the mirror to let others know where we may be going if they need to find us.
I think perhaps power strips are banned because of fire risk. Especially one that’s overloaded or old. Otherwise some good tips
Thanks Carol – I’ll add an asterisk right now.
I have never had a problem with having a power strip on any of almost two dozen cruises. I charge whatever needs to be charged overnight while I am sleeping, and then put the power strip away. If you leave an overloaded power strip sitting on the desk while you are out of the cabin, you stand a better chance of having it reported, or confiscated.
Great pro tip – thanks for that!
Devices with surge protectors are also frowned upon or confiscated due to possible fire hazard. The Cruise Industry needs to clarify or list those devices that are approved; and increase the number of outlets and USB ports in cabins. (especially older ships)
I always bring a solar power charger for my phone and tablet.
Great idea!
I bring a power strip all the time….not a problem..5th cruise…
I carried a power strip for 12 years with no issues and on the last cruise it was confiscated. (same one!)
Carried power strip and no problem. Steward saw it every day. 3-27-16
Must sleep with a CPAP machine 4 cruises no problem having power strip.
I had our power strip taken away on our last cruise on, Royal Caribbean.
I know when we went on the Disney Dream on September 2013, they didn’t allow over the door organizers.
Good to know, Samantha – thanks for letting us know. I wonder their reasoning?
I found this link from their website: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/planning-center/my-cruise-plans/faqs/prohibited-items/stateroom-doors-prohibited/.
It states that it removes paint from the doors and they charge 100.00 to repair the doors.
The “dollar store” shoe organizers have grommets, not hooks, so I have sturdy ribbons through the grommets that I loop over the towel racks on the door. No damage to the doors–and you have your extra storage space.
Could you possibly hang it on the outside of the shower curtain?
Scratching up the door by the hangers if the ship starts to rock.
I use the organiser to put my underwear in and hang it in the wardrobe. Can see at a glance when you need to wash if you haven’t brought enough. Also allows more draw space for something else.
smart, Leigh! And that helps answer the age-old question, “underwhere?”
Clever!
We brought pieces of felt and put them under the hooks. Our stateroom host/hostess have not removed them yet (4 sailings). We use our over-the-door shoe organizers for FE gifts. :0)
Where is the checklist part of the app? I can’t find it.
It’s only on the iOS version right now, Denise. We’ll have that in the Android version asap.
I have an iphone 4s, is it part of that? I can’t find it..
nm… I finally found it! Yeah!
Glad you found it, Deb!
I don’t see it on my Android.
I’m sorry, Tami – but I’m not sure what you’re looking for. If you’d like to email our support line through the app, we’d be happy to help.
I’m looking for this checklist. It’s not on my Android phone either.
March 2015 and still no checklist on the android appp….this was your comment 1 year ago
ShipMateMike
on February 1, 2014 at 8:40 am said:
It’s only on the iOS version right now, Denise. We’ll have that in the Android version asap
Correct, that was my comment. Unfortunately, we haven’t had the ability to add that yet.
mike replied Unfortunately, we haven’t had the ability to add that yet.”
ok.so when then?
When then?
Pat – the packing checklist is not in our dev road-map for the near future. We’ve prioritized our upcoming improvements and new features based on feedback from our users. The packing checklist doesn’t seem to be a priority for the majority. We have some amazing new features that are in the pipeline, though – expect those very soon. If I had to give an estimate on the packing checklist, I’d say not before the end of the year. Sorry – I wish that we had a larger team to be able to cater to all users.
Its 2015 and I still cannot find the checklist in the App. Android and most current app version. help :}
its 2016 and I still cannot find the checklist on my android ShipMateMike
Happy New Year, Holly! On that checklist, we’ll add a calendar 🙂
Is the check list on android version yet? Would be very handy since my cruise is only 4days away 🙂
Sorry, Liz – we’ll have it in there, but not in time for your sailing. Have a great cruise!
I do not think that travel mugs/ reuseable drink bottles are a good idea to use. On my last cruise on Allure of the Seas in December I witnessed many cruisers refilling at drink stations where there are clearly posted signs stating not to do so. The reality is that not everyone is thoroughly sanitizing their reuseable beverage containers and are refilling them where they are NOT supposed to . Call me paranoid, but I would prefer to have less causes of something like noro-virus spreading than to risk literally flushing my vacation down the toilet. Other than that, I already practice some of the other great tips!
Great points, Michelle. Thanks for your feedback! I’d definitely sacrifice some coffee for a norovirus-proof vacation.
When filling your cup just make sure no part of the cup were your mouth will be touches the drink dispenser.
Use their cups at the dispenser and then pour into your own cup.
Lisa that is a genius idea.
On our last Norwegian trip, Sept. 2015, there were personnel at the drink dispensers to enforce use of their cups. Many people did just as you suggested, fill up with their cups and then pour into your own water bottle or insulated cup.
It is an issue, but if you fill the cups there, and then pour it into your cup, happy happy joy joy all around.
How is there a problem if you keep your mug clean, and don’t touch any faucets or dispensers with it?
I always take my refillable mugs. Just fill them from a clean cup or glass. Don’t actually touch your mug to the machines.
Reasonable concern. On my cruise, I didn’t see signs. But for hygiene, I filled one of the ship’s glasses or mugs at the drinks station, then poured it into my insulated mug.
I drink slowly, so my drink stayed at the right temp and I had a very low risk of spilling, even if someone bumped our table while I was sketching.
Carnival actually suggests bringing your own cup!
Hi Mike 🙂 I pretty much do most on this list but would like to add that I do pack a few large zip lock bags and put underwear and bathing suits in them. They can also be used to put your soiled laundry in for the trip home. Packing shoes or sandals into a used plastic grocery bag will keep your clothes clean when packed. Another is a small can of Off for those places where you might get bitten by sand fleas or other bugs. As for the coffee mug, I do bring it but only use it for the first and only coffee of the day. After that it gets thoroughly washed in hot water.
Ziploc bags and bug spray – great additions, Susanne!
Those deet toweletts work great and take up less space then a can. Available at Walmart.
What if you’re menstrual cycle acts up again during the time of your cruise? Where do you dispose everything?
There are paper bags in the cabin bathroom just for that purpose; fill the paper bag then dispose in the trash can. The room steward is very discreet about it. He will refill each day when he sees they are being used.
I bring a small pad of paper (sticky notes) for my husband and I to leave each other messages. We don’t usually have cell coverage on the ship so this is the old fashioned texting!
I like that!
We have had a book on the cruise we have been on, and left messages for our family, and the group we were staying with. We would write “Gone to the pool, meet us at 7pm for dinner” so we could have some family time.
We like to have Expo Whiteboard markers with us on cruises to leave notes on the mirror for each other.
Whiteboard… great idea!
I also pack a “pop-up” clothes hamper to stand in the closet or out of the way corner so I don’t have to keep accessing my suitcase (which is usually stored under the bed) to separate the dirty clothes from the clean ones … when I pack at the end of the cruise I can pull the hamper next to the bed for easier repacking ~
I’ve never thought of that… good one!
i bought a duffle bag for dirty cloths. i hang strap in closet and when i leave all my dirty cloths are ready to leave ship.
I’m using empty foil roller for documents like birth certs etc so I don’t have to fold them.
I like that idea, Tammy!
Why would you need a birth certificate on a cruise
“U.S. Citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country on the cruise with proof of citizenship, such as an original or copy of his or her birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) and, if 16 or older, a government issued photo ID.”
Pack 3M Command Damage-Free hanging hooks in a variety of sizes. There are never enough hooks for hanging up jackets, bags, hair dryers, etc. They can be hung in the bathroom, near the cabin/room entrance, in the closet, on mirrors and more. When you leave just remember to remove and repack them. Bonus: you will leave no damage to wall surfaces.
Nice, Geri! Good tip.
WOW all great ides thanks for sharing….a friend of mine suggests always bringing along a small pump bottle of antibacterial hand soap for the bathroom, the little tiny bars don’t cut it for her. Im packing wet ones antibacterial hand wipes and pocket size hand sanitizer
Glad you like these, Stacey and thanks for the great additional tip!
I’ve been on several Royal Carribean cruises and they have hand sanitizers all over the ship. Before you go into the buffet there is a staff member standing at the door squirting some into your hands yelling “washy washy.” I’m leaving on my next cruise in two weeks.
A night light for the bathroom is always good too.
That is one of my peevs… getting up in the middle of the night for a potty and getting retina burn from the bright lights. I use a small LED light that sticks to the door by a magnet. Its also motion sensor controlled. I wave my hand the light comes on and then shuts off a few minutes later,
Great tips, but bringing your own hangers is not necessary. Every cruise I’ve been on, the steward has been more than willing to bring as many hangers as we needed!!!
Good thought, Jamie – that will save some suitcase space!
Our steward did bring hangers–but they were the wire variety. This, after my hard plastic ones, which were in my checked bag, were broken in transit. Now, I pack inexpensive, bendable plastic ones.
On our 1st cruise, our room steward looked everywhere and could not find extra hangers for us. So now, I save those disposable plastic hangers that come from some clothing stores. They are really light weight and you can leave them on the ship to make room for the “treasures” you bring home.
These tips were sooo helpful! Thanks so much! Here are few tips that have helped us. Bring some games like cards to play on the beach/deck/balcony. And bring Febreeze spray which can be used to freshen linens, clothes or even as bathroom spray.
Thanks Jennifer! Febreeze is a great idea.
Great idea. Re: fabreeze!
In addition to Febreeze, I also use the body spray from Bath and Body Works.
I like to bring the small, battery-operated tea light candles to use as nightlights in the bathroom or in different spots in the cabin.
good idea, Valerie – it can get really dark in there… particularly in those inside cabins!
Great list – and great reader add-ons.
Here are some of our adds — a flashlight or two for getting to the bathroom at night without waking everyone else up, plastic garbage bags for dirty clothes on the way home, a highlighter for daily activities sheets and a few clothes pins to keep curtains shut
Thanks for the great contribution, Lisa!
A few pieces of bubble wrap for that breakable souvenir and/or bottle of wine. Pack it on the outside pocket of your suitcase. I do this on every trip.
We love all wine-related tips! Thanks, Dottie!
I like the bubble wrap idea.
Our first time crusing, both use cpap machines. I am guessing we may need extension cords. And reserved 3 bottles of distelled water.
My husband and I also use cpaps, we bring our own power strip and extension cords. The cruise ship charges you to rent theirs. I pack it in our cpap bags= no questions asked.
I have a Power Wheelchair and a Bi-Pap machine. I not only take a power strip, but 2 extension cords. The mat beside the balcony fits nicely over the cords on the floor so you won’t trip over them in the middle of the night . The Cruise Line will usually supply Distilled water for your breathing machine if you let them know.
Of course, you unplug everything when you are not using it.
My shipmate App doesn’t have a checklist that I’ve been able to find
Could you please add 2 cruises I am booked on. Mar 7 2015 P&O Comedy Cruise and 30 Aug 2015 Carnival Singapore to Sydney. My app doesn’t have the Checklist app either. Shipmate is looking useless to me.
Hi Raelene – we’d be happy to. Please contact our support email through the app.
We also bring magnets. The walls are metal and you can hang all those loose papers up:)
that’s brilliant, Brandi – I never thought about the fact that the walls are metal!
Nice. We’ll bring these to our first cruise
Why bring alam clocks or flashlights when you mobile phone has these features? I bring S-hooks (various sizes) and use them to hang everything from my shower cap to my toiletries bag. I also use this trick in normal hotels. There are never enough hooks!
We took our mobile phones but when you cross different time zones it all goes pear-shaped when you set an alarm and the phone automatically updates and the alarm is either too early or too late.
We bring small suction cups, adhere to inside of door to hang our sea passes so we don’t forget them when we leave the room. Also bring jumbo ziplock bag (4 ft) hang on bathroom door for dirty clothes
I didn’t see this listed, but I’ve always done it: Leave a copy of your itinerary with a family member or friend. It’s one of those “just-in-case” things.
I have a few more adds as well:
1. Baby wipes
2. A small sewing kit – I made mine using a bobbin with basic (neutral dark and light) thread colors, a few straight pins, two hand-sewing needles, two safety pins, and four buttons (two light, two dark). This can be stored in an empty pill bottle and takes up no space at all. Your nail clippers can double as scissors for snipping threads.
3. Black electrical tape – I use it to seal the caps of anything that can spill and the adhesive doesn’t leave any type of residue.
4. Clothes pins (to hang up your wet bathing suit, etc)
5. A list of any allergies you have and a list of all your prescription medications and keep a copy of this on you (in your purse/wallet/pack/etc.). You might want to signify your religion as well, since your beliefs may affect the type of medical treatment you need or wish to receive/not receive (not trying to start an argument but this very situation happened on the last cruise I took).
Wow – thanks, Jodi!
I take pictures of all medicines and important documents on my cell phone.
An addition to the sticky notes – Get a bright color and stick one on the exterior of your cabin door. Finding your cabin can take a while… especially if you have a few adult beverages under your belt. Something that will draw your eye really helps! If you write a note on it for your roommate, staff will leave it alone.
The group we traveled with had a couple birthdays during our cruise. We brought some scotch tape and a few simple decorations for the doors. This was a fun way to find friends rooms. You could always use the same picture for everyone’s door to find your friends rooms instead of memorizing room numbers.
Any tape like “scotch tape” will leave residue, pull off paint or otherwise potentially damage the surface of the door. A better idea would be command strips.
Leavning tomorrow for 2nd cruise! Thanks for all of the tips. Helps to calm my nerves about forgetting important items to bring.
So glad to help, Erika! Have an amazing cruise!
We bring our Space Bags so that as we have dirty laundry, we put the laundry in the bag and store under the bed in a suitcase. Then as we pack our suitcases for heading home, we squeeze out the air and it saves more room for the souvenirs!
If you have a balcony cabin and want to dry swimsuits in the fresh air, that can be done over the back of the chairs ….. but normal pegs are often not large enough to go over the chair backs. I took some tooth type plastic hair clips that would open very wide over the chair back and hold the swimwear firmly if there is a breeze.
Good idea, Helen… don’t want our swimmies to take a dip without us
The ship specifically asks that clothes not be left on the balcony. It’s pointless anyway on a tropical cruise. The hanging ideas are good.
I love that idea!! Thanks!!
So many great ideas!!! Thanks for sharing!!
SEWING KIT…I’ve sewed my suitcase and my beach bag. Never know when a hole will creep up.
Dental floss is great instead of thread as a temporary repair on heavy-duty items. I would redo it when I got home, but some travel bloggers have used it for permanent repairs.
Thanks so much for all the great tips. We love cruising and look forward to many more, I’ll be more prepared now !!!!!!
Binder clips (2 inch is best) to use instead of clothspins. They hold tighter and can fit over almost anything.
Duct tape. You can re-wrap a small amount around a marker cap if you don’t want to take a big roll. Luggage fixes, clothing fixes… Endless uses.
Small pocket chart (can be found at any teacher supply store) is great for holding smaller items on the wall like door keys, tip money, chapstick, or anything else that you want readily accessible. Most small ones have a single hook similar to a clothes hanger, but command hooks work well too.
Sticky notes for messages to cabin mates or requests from the steward that can be stuck on the mirror.
Mesh bag for dirty clothes in the cabin, but a big trash bag for the trip home.
# 2 is a no brainer, especially for experienced travelers. Will definitely use some of these on our next cruise – Alaska 2016 for our 25th Anniversary!
Gina, we’re doing Alaska 2016 also. Have you picked a cruise yet?
I laminate our luggage tags to prevent lost luggage.
We take sticky notes so our children can keep us informed of where they are at all times. They put time and where they will be and if they go somewhere else they drop by the cabin and leave another note.
Most cruise lines will confiscate travel irons and power strips.
I always bring wooden clothes pins to hang wet stuff. You can get them from the dollar store.
Travel size febreeze
Wrinkle release spray
Chair clips for towels at the pool
A beach bag
Put your shoes in cheap plastic shower caps
Great tips – I’m going to use some for sure in April !!
A small pair of binoculars are handy to have, especially if you have a balcony. We also take an eyeglass repair kit. My husband’s lens popped out of his glasses while he was on our balcony. Luckily, the lens did not go overboard, but the teeny tiny screw was never found. The gift shop, nor any of the ports, had anything to fix it. He used a needle and thread from our travel sewing kit to hold it together until we got home.
Small plastic container with suction cups to stick up in shower for razors, etc. these items can slip through wire shelves in most ship showers. Can find at Walmart, or any Dollar store.
I follow almost all of these suggestions!
Here’s a few more that I include:
-A small supply of various medicines-cold/cough, heartburn, etc. since these are so pricey on the ship. Then you have a small amount to get you through to your next port.
-Collapsible hanging shoe and sweater organizers for the closet.
-Pre-printed labels with cabin number, name and address that can be slapped on luggage debarkation tags. Saves time so that you can enjoy more of your last night on board!
-A flat bed sheet. Doesn’t take up much space and comes in handy if going to the beach on port days.
-a small collapsible cooler to use for buckets of beer on board or to have at the beach. Keeps drinks much cooler than their open air buckets!
I always use a plastic shower curtain rather than a bed sheet for the beach – the sand doesn’t stick to it and it’s just as light!
Can get the shower curtain at the dollar store so they are cheap, very thin and don’t weigh as much as a sheet.
I use most of these tips after reviewing cruise boards for years but some will be used in a few weeks when we go on cruise #9.
On our last few cruises we put a sign on the outside of our door with our first names and where we are from and asked others to “Sign In”. Almost everyone is polite but of course there is always that one, so be ready to cover up what needs to be.
I loved all of the tips. I am going to go thru them and see which ones will be the most beneficial ( or I will have to add another set of luggage ), I am leaving in a few days for my 20th cruise and I am still learning.
So glad you like them. Have an amazing cruise!
Good list and great comments. I only have one helpful addition: Static Guard. Very helpful for the obvious reasons and more. Hair can get a little frizzy and flyaway with the added humidity, but a tiny bit on the brush can help without adding grease, weight, etc.
If you spray hair spray on your brush, it removes the static from your hair. 🙂
I take a camping clothes line that i hang up in the bathroom
Take your old underwear and throw it after it has been worn! don’t bring it home to wash.
I had heard of this before.Going to try it on my next cruise.
Great – have an amazing trip!
I did this the last time I went to Europe. Got rid of a lot that I didn’t need!
My husband and I are going on our very first cruise in August and all of the tips are really helpful, thank you
Thank you cards (12 in a pack) $1.00 cost from Dollar Tree for the crew who went above and beyond. You can write you own words or buy prewritten cards and leave a few $$$ to say you appreciate the service.
Very good idea.
Take a travel size can of Lysol to spray down the life jackets, etc. Nothing like a smelly life jacket that has been worn for the muster station drill by thousands of people.
now a days most major cruise lines don’t have u take life jacket to muster drill.
Thank you for all the suggestions.
I have found that packing some cardboard helps if you purchase photos onboard. That way you don’t have to be concerned about bending in your suitcase or carryon.
Thanks for all the tips! Going on my first cruise next month! Will definitely use a lot of these ideas!
So many great ideas and helpful hints. I am going on my first cruise next month and all is very helpful. Thank you everyone,
So glad to hear, Phyllis – have an amazing cruise!
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Where is the checlist on android app?
We bring lanyards with a clip on the end which you wear like a long necklace. The customer service desk will punch a hole in your ship card, and you can wear it when you don’t have pockets.
You can buy them online, but many of us have them from conferences, etc.
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I cannot find on the Ship Mate app where the packing check list is. Where is it? I downloaded ShipMate for Samsung Galaxy S4 via PlayStore.
Awesome.. Awesome idea!!! Thannk you!!
I didn’t see the Grand Bahama Cruise Line on the list here. But I am taking my first cruise in Oct. for my 60th b-day. I have stayed up all night reading all these comments and have 4 pages of notes, lol. My big question is ….How much clothes should I bring??
You can purchase mesh laundry bags with a zipper at the $ store I roll all our clothes and put them in the bags nothing moves around in the suitcase.
Use those leftover lanyards from the casinos also. And they can double as a small bungee cord to hold items together, mini clothes line, etc. I have found them at thrift stores. Great idea to reuse and make a donation at the same time.
Pack your carry-on bags wisely. Pack a change of clothes and important meds or toiletries in the bags you will take on the plane and personally transport on board. Don’t assume your favorite toiletries will be in your cabin. Most importantly keep all important documents with you.
All cruises don’t allow clothes iron. I use my hair straightener as my clothes iron, it take all or most of the wrinkles of my clothes.
Downey wrinkle release comes in a travel size, works great and also smells nice and fresh. Especially handy if you want to re-wear something, (like a basic sundress for dinner) and change up shoes and accessories. Less to pack!
Oh girl, you fresh!
I have use Downey wrinkle releaser but it wets my clothes so I rather use my hair straightener to iron my clothes, plus I need to pack it anyways, I use it everyday for my hair. You can buy a small one that won’t take much room in the luggage.
Most safes onboard Carnival cruises use any credit card magnetic strip. You can take an expired card and remove numbers and have a hole punched at same time as your ship card and add it to your lanyard.
great one – thanks, Farrell!
We used a AAA card.
We are in and of the enclosed deck areas all day. The new magnetic sunglasses holders are inexpensive and allow you to hang your sunglasses anywhere on your clothing or swimsuit. Your glasses don’t get scratched and banged around like they do on a lanyard.
baby powder will take the sand off your feet and legs after time at the beach. Dry your legs first, then put some baby powder in your hand and rub the area. Afterwards, you can rinse the baby powder off.
Great cruise tip – thanks, Jeremy!
Do we need to take our own beach towels or can we use the ones from the ship for our excursions/beach days?
the ship has beach towels you can use. There’s no need to bring towels from home, they take to much room in you’re luggage.
I bring a cheep night light for the bathroom. This way I do not need to turn on the lights in the bathroom, in the middle of the night, causing that blinding glare.
The clear plastic bags with zippers that hold full size sheet sets are ideal to put toiletries and personal care items in and they fit perfectly on the small bathroom shelves, and contents are easily seen and the zippers keep the items secure in case the ship starts rocking…
Don’t forget your water shoes as they’ll come in handy when going in and out of water at the beach, pool, etc. They are light weight and flexible, which means they don’t take up a lot of room in your luggage.
When traveling as a couple put half of your clothes, underwear, shoes, etc in each others luggage. If one bag is lost or delayed you’ll have something to wear until the other bag catches up.
Fantastic tips. Sticking bottle in your shoes is the best idea ever. I am going to show your article to my husband. He will love it. I can`t believe I have never thought of putting bottle in the shoes. You made my day. Thank you.
So glad you liked it, Sherri!
I think we have to pack a little bag of various over the counter medication, band aids, ointments and anything else you think you might need on your trip. I always do the same for my trip.Thanks…
I have never known that one bottle of wine is permitted. Thank you for sharing it. I love your tips. They are soooo useful. I am going on a cruise with my husband next week. I hope it will be fun. Best regards!
You’re very welcome, Jo! Have an amazing cruise. Cheers!
A waterproof container that wraps around your neck to keep phone and cards/cash dry is something I purchased for the water excursions I have planned 🙂 Thought that might be useful
All the hints but no help in what clothes to pack, Help
Shorts,capris,summer tops, one long sleeve shirt, 2 swim suits, hat, sunglasses, tennis shoes, flip flops, water shoes, swim suit cover up, summer dresses, nice summer dress for dinner.
This is a helpful list, Cindy – thanks for contributing!
Some of these tips are invaluable. Going on my 6th cruise in a week and never thought of some of these. Thanks all!
We’re really glad that we could help, Carol! Have an amazing cruise!
Carry offline maps in mobile. Comes in handy if wilderness is a plan post cruise. Regards
We print out the decks plans and take blue tack. It is handy to see at a glance where the places you want to go are in the privacy of your own cabin. We also take highlighters to highlight the areas we need or that are of interest to us.
We use the deck maps in our Ship Mate app, Felicity 🙂
The ships walls are all magnetic so you can simply take a couple of magnets, or magnetic tape instead of using blue tac. You can also buy some magnetic hooks that will go easily onto the walls in any cabin.
A great cruise hack is to bring sticky notes. Write where you’ll be and put on the outside Of the door. This is much easier than carrying around walkie-talkies listening to other people’s conversations.
Good idea – we use a dry/erase board!
We bring Zip lock bags. Then on sea days we load them up with snacks or dry cereal (or a PB&J sandwich) to take to port so we don’t have to stop every 6 minutes because one of the kids are hungry. Often, we can skip lunches and return to ship for dinner–no added costs. As a side note, once in Hawaii we brought some bananas. The snorkel crew had a FIT when they saw bananas in my bag (actually yelling at me!!). They said it’s a bad omen (or something??) to bring a banana on a boat. Being totally perplexed, I explained I got them OFF of a boat. I think it’s something to do with a fishing boat (however we were not fishing). Anyway…so not to upset the locals, don’t bring bananas 🙂
Great info – thanks, Paula!
Old seamen superstition to bring bananas on a boat. My husband is a Merchant Mariner and he told me about it. There are some captains in the company he works for that will not put bananas on the grocery requisition.
Ha – weird! Did you see this post, Susie? https://smblog2.michaelsiegle.com/cruise-ship-superstitions-red-heads-are-bad-luck/ It has a bunch of other weird cruise superstitions!
We always take a couple of wire coat hangers and pegs, great for socks and undies, we hang them in shower overnight then on the back of chairs on the balcony or from the roof or window, there is always somewhere a wire hook can wedge into! This cuts down on luggage also. We also buy a plastic bucket or small tub to soak clothes overnight then rinse in the shower in the morning. Very handy for long trips with weather changes (we just did Alaska then Hawaii in the same trip!
Great tip – thanks, Jenny!
How do you keep refrigator medicine cold on the plane?
Good question, Michele – I’d try asking our ship mate cruise app users in the app’s chat rooms. They typically have some great ideas!
Do you have this list in printable format?
We don’t yet, Sian – but, I’ll try to put that together for you.
Thank you. I tried to print and its 66 pages
Thank You! I tried to print, but its 66 pages
Thanks for all the great ideas. Leaving in a month for our cruise! I always take a night light on all vacations. I also always bring a small portable fan. It drowns out any unwanted noise and I need the fan to sleep these days.
That’s the first we’ve heard of that one. Great idea, Suzette! Thanks!
A lot of Awesome ideas — cruise in 30 days — Dallas to New York to Hogwarts (Florida) to Bahamas
DO NOT take unsealed food off the ship. It can cause major problems for the local ecosystem.
I pack a roll of paper towels too. And we found a great compact charger that has 5 outlets and 2 usb ports. We’ve never had a problem. We also bring a case (or two) of bottled water, depending on the length of the cruise. On our upcoming cruise, I plan to bring some coconut milk creamer, since they do not have it onboard. We will see if they allow me to carry that on, with a mini ice pack.
Thanks for the contribution, Robbyn!
we need a print version of the checklist PLEASE!
I always take a small can of WD40 when travelling.to lubricate the bathroom door hinges. Most squeak or squeal on ships or hotels. I don’t want to wake my wife if I get up in the night.
Hair spay works well also for the doors
The best cruise hack I ever found is book a cabin mid-ship or forward and use the spa/ gym showers and restrooms. My adult son and I did this on our last cruise and left the cabin restroom to my wife. The spa/ gym has full size shower stalls and restroom stalls and has plenty of counter space for hygiene. There is also all the towels you want. We never had to wait for shower or toilet. I would think most guys could take their school age son with them to do this. There was enough room to shower and dress unseen by public. It was way more private than a public gym shower area. A small bag is all you need to take clean stuff in and bring soiled stuff out. Don’t forget your comb like I did the first day!
This is brilliant, Bryan!
I discovered this on my second cruise.. tell everyone..take your shower at the spa/gym…
We take a small (mini composition book) from Dollar Tree to make notes about everything that happens on the trip. I found it is hard to remember things like the great waiters and other people you might meet that you want to have later.This little notebook is only 1.00 at Dollar Tree (for a pack of 3) and is a great way to remember names in order to properly thank these wonderful people. I also take a few different sized ziploc bags and put souvenirs and beach things, shells, coral ect. If you use ziploc bags , you can write on them and know which port everything comes from. We also take a disposable camera (just in case), My mother in law set hers down one time and it “disappeared”. This way you can at least take pictures anyway, and no one really wants your cheap disposable one 😉 Lastly one of the best gifts we were given for a previous trip was a “solid” air freshener for the bathroom. It smells good all of the time and you don’t have to keep spraying it and gagging everyone else in such a small space. The one we use is made by Scentsy and comes in a tin 🙂
Thanks, Julane! Would you keep this info in your Ship Mate app rather than a notebook if it were easier to do… or do you prefer paper and pen?
We have found that there is no need whatever to take extra coat hangers. The cabin stewards are quite happy to supply you with however many extras you need in your wardrobe.
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Great ideas, just wanted to add as far as dirty laundry goes, you can get the mesh laundry bags for $1 at Walmart or any Dollar store. They work great to keep your laundry together and you can just throw it in an empty luggage bag when you go to leave.
We went on a 5 day cruise during thanksgiving. Like most people we ate A LOT! And we felt terrible. I would recommend packing some probiotics and some fiber, to keep yourself from being bloated the whole trip. Our ship had yogurt on the breakfast buffet but it didn’t contain probiotics.
Good thought, Lisa!
One problem that I encountered is that you need a wireless connection to pull up the deck plans in ShipMate. Therefore you need to pull them up before you put your phone into airplane mode. Then you will have them as long as you don’t close the app.
Also we bring a number of Ziploc bags in various sizes. The 2-gallon size is great for doing in-cabin laundry, size the bathroom sink is usually big enough for a pair of socks.
There is no need to bring Dramamine or Bonine (unless you have a preference for one) as the customer service desk will provide these for free. They realize that the alternative is having the cabin stewards clean up the mess.
I travel with a CPAP, and have always found that the electrical outlets are on the opposite side of the cabin from the beds. I run an extension cord across the floor and under the bed, and tape it down with low-residue duct tape to prevent tripping over it.
All good sound advice. Also pack sandals and light change of clothes in your carry on. Your luggage takes some time to arrive in your stateroom!
Good list except
.coathangers. stuart will give you more if you need them
.seasicknes tablets. Get them at service desk when you board
.batroom door organizer. Depending on the hooks they are sometimes not happy be ause of possible damage
.powerstrips. some cruise companies will ask to remove them as you are putting 4 or more devices on 1 socket really. We have 2 slit into 2 sockets.
I always take a collapsible mesh laundry basket. Fold it flat on top of the suitcase to hold the clothes in place while i do up the inside straps; then stick it in the closet, throw in the dirty clothes, then carry it along to the guest laundry when needed. I carry lots of quart and gallon size plastic bags too. Never know when you are going to need them, or for what!
I bring a small (empty) water spray bottle. Each night I select what I am wearing the next day and lightly spray water on the wrinkles and by morning it looks like I freshly ironed them. It also works wonders on my husband’s suit for formal night!
No more packing wrinkles!!
So, if you bring on a bottle of wine how can you avoid the cork fee? Can’t I just keep the bottle in my room?
Also, if you take the drink package for soda and wine are you allowed only so many glasses of wine per a day?
Yes, you can avoid corkage by drinking it outside of the dining rooms.
The wine packages are for a certain number of bottles, typically.
I brought a bottle of wine and a cheap corkscrew on our first cruise last year. They were both in my carry on, and made it through security. The corkscrew probably wasn’t allowed but oh well ?
My husband and I are taking a cruise to New Zealand from Sydney in November 20161. I wanted to add, when traveling in Australia and Europe, bring an international plug adapter. The Australian plugs have 2 opening and it won’t fit american charges or other american devices. Be aware also that some cruises will have this type of volt plugs. When you are on this side of the world volt is usually 110v and americans volt is 220v. We have one adapter in each of our suitcases, and one in the carry one when we travel.
Wrinkle Releaser from Dollar store is cheaper than Downey Wrinkle Free spray and works just as well. Select outfit, gently spray and allow to hang. Never pack without it!
I just want to know are full size liquid soap are allowed? The trial sizes won’t work on a 7 day cruise.
I think that this blog was helpful being I have never been on cruise. Getting to know the small things that might a big difference in taking a cruise matters as much as the thought of getting away for a vacation in a desired elaborate location. Being prepared on top of having fun is a great combination. This blog leaves me with the impression that by including these things on my up coming trip would leave me satisfied with my excursion into the open waters on a cruise liner.
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For double-purpose, use a towel clip to close curtains. 🙂
I took strong singe magnet hooks to put on wall of cabin on last cruise {as ship is made of steel) Works well
I strongly suggest you to bring a small portable clip fan. I like my room cold and the fan helps tremendously. Also, bring a highlighter so you can highlight your daily iteninary. Maybe even bring your own bingo markers if you plan to play bingo. They will charge you for them. I bring my same Lanyard every cruise to put my ID in it to make purchases easier at the pool.
Just remember that the norovirus is NOT killed with hand sanitizer. Soap and water is the only remedy.
We use our drivers license in Australia for ID. Same size as a credit card.
The walls are metal. Magnetic hooks are great, too.
The Carnival Hub app is $5 for entire cruise and allows you to text family on board from your phone. Totally worth it!
Yes, that’s what we do for the bathroom…that step to the bathroom is a lot in the middle of the night & so we just leave it on…with the door closed, you cannot see it until the door is opened, works great! LeD light tea light works perfect
Often, room outlet (1 may be common) is not near head of bed. If you use a CPAP, you might need the extra length of a good extension cord. Many of the other tips are terrific!
Went on a cruise 2 years ago, we were going on food/wine excursion in Barcelona. With all of the new foods we were trying and drinks my stomach got a little upset. Because of the tour I was afraid we wouldn’t have facilities close, and I needed the bathroom when I needed it… None of the ship stores have Imodium. Went down to the Ship Medical and got sequestered to my room for 24 hours because they are afraid it may be the stomach flu. So I missed the Barcelona port. Take Imodium, pepto, tums extra. Lesson learned. BTW, when you are sequestered to your room they are serious – your ID card doesn’t work and if you attempt to leave ship you will be removed and have to find a way home. They don’t play.
great tip
Great list but I would add a first aid/ emergency kit. Include bandaids for cuts or blisters from new shoes. Antibacterial ointment or buy the bandages with the antibiotic already in them. I also add safety pins and a needle and thread for fashion emergencies.
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I was looking forward to the checklist too. Do you know when it will be available on android- if ever???
Where can you get that motion sensor LED night light with magnet?
Can you tell me where is the checklist part of the app? I have an Iphone.
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Thank you everyone for all the tips!! They were amazing! I am going on my first cruise during April and since I am such a type A girl, I’m already planning everything. Make sure to bring jackets, long sleeves, long pants and formal wear just in case. Also can we bring snacks on the cruise?
Glad you found these useful, Leanna! I don’t think you’ll need any snacks… if there’s one thing in abundance, it’s food!
I can’t find the packing list and it sounded great.
I didn’t read through ALL the comments, but here’s a great tip. Bring a small insulated bag, and ziplock bags. Order room service sandwiches before going ashore, pack them up, and have a picnic! Did this on St. Thomas, and was awesome! Definitely saved some $.
Use a Diva Cup. No, seriously.
Boots do a foam hand sanitizer that kills the norovirus.
Buy 2, use ribbon to tie them together but leave the ribbon long enough and drape them over the door, one hanging on each side.
My luggage had not arrived at my stateroom and I got a voicemail from security. I was called to the security area and asked if I had a power strip in my luggage. I told them that I did and they told me that they were not allowed on the ship. They confiscated it and gave it back when we disembarked. Apparently they saw it when they scanned the luggage when it came aboard the ship.
We contacted the cruise ahead of time about my CPAP machine. They told us to bring a power syrip/cord and also said they would provide distilled water!
Distilled water on Carnival s $3.00 a gallon!
I am going on my first cruise in April, I was told by the passport associate, it would be a good idea to take , Imodium, pepto and dramamine. Any other suggestions? Do we need to take shampoo? Soap?
I wear a lot of old cloths and dispose of them as they get dirty. No one knows I am wearing ratty panties(I cruise alone). I am famous at work for my disposable cruises!
My jeweler gave me a great tip about keeping necklaces from tangling. Put the necklace in a small plastic bag, such as a snack bag (depending on size of necklace), and close it with the clasp hanging outside of the bag. Lot easier to pack than a bunch of straws!
I also have aCPAP with O2have to have a power strip even when on land travels
One dollar magnetic white boards on your cabin door work well if you are in a group. Leave the pen inside though, or others will change up your note to say different things 🙂
Excellent idea in using the Command hooks
HI ALL!!!!
Thank you so much for this! My friend and I are taking 5 kids on a cruise in 53 DAYS! Super excited! These are great ideas. Things I would have NEVER thought of. Again Thank You!
Several cruise hint lists I have seen mention packing a pressure extension rod for the doorway. What would you use this for? Thank you.
I always print out extra luggage tags and place one on the outside of bag and then lay one flat inside the bag. That way if the tag on the outside is lost they can open our bag and still find out where it goes!
EVERY cruise we went on I had my periods! I was washing the toilet myself because it kept flushing up the red around the bowl and not clean up properly. If I didn’t, the steward did it so we left a very good tip each time at the end of the cruise.
We used a power strip last year. No problem
I’ve purchased lunch bags on Amazon that you freeze the actual bag and it stays cold inside for many hours. Search for “Freezable Lunch Bag with Zip Closure”
Here are some additional items I didn’t see in the main list or comments that I pack:
Wet bag to hold swimsuits (or other items) not yet dry when it’s time to pack
My own snorkeling gear (using fins, masks, and snorkels used by the masses creeps me out)
A travel laundry set with a bungee, clothespins, sink stopper, travel size laundry soap packets
Friction cream for feet to prevent blisters
Anti-chafe stick
portable phone charger
a first aid kit with bandages, various medications, tweezers, etc.
a mesh shower caddy to hang from shower head (and to transport to spa showers which are always much nicer)
A sunglasses strap so I don’t lose my prescription sunglasses in the water in port
Small travel toilet tissue rolls (available on Amazon) to bring into port because TP isn’t always available
A rain poncho that folds up into a little pouch
A collapsible silicone water bottle with a carabiner to attach to my bag for shore excursions
A tote bag that folds down into a tiny pouch for shore days in case I do some shopping and need an extra bag
Straps that hold a towel onto a beach chair in the wind
Aloe Vera in case of sunburn
Poopouri or some other spray that you put in the toilet to eliminate odor in tiny cabin
On my last cruise I took shoes, sandals, summer dresses, tops, underwear etc that I knew I would not wear again. No-one on the cruise knew my clothes were old. My suitcase was so light on the way back home! Plus, I emptied my closet making room for the new!!
We take a large trash bag and line our largest suitcase and put in the back of the closet for a makeshift clothes hamper.
I bring a highlighter to mark the schedule every night for the next day so I don’t miss BINGO or movie night.
I make/pack a daily size items Ziploc bag for when I leave the ship and put it the bottom of my backpack so I always have a day’s worth of bug spray, sunscreen, prescriptions, sunglasses, lip balm, hand sanitizer, TP for those exotic stops, etc. May not need it, but it’s in the backpack, waterproof, and it’s light weight.
Everybody gets a digital camera. If there’s only one, somebody is always left out of the pictures.You can edit the pictures when you get home.
If you have an early excursion, order a breakfast room service delivery and that will make sure you are up and at ’em.
I use magnets to clip all the papers, schedule, excursion tickets, etc. to the wall.
Order/get bottled water the day before your excursion so you don’t have to get it as you walk off the ship.
Take pictures of your documents, driver’s license, room number, muster station, table number, prescriptions, your luggage, jewelry, your travel companions, etc. You never know when you’ll need to produce some documentation or help for lost and found.
The last thing I do at night/first thing in the morning I take a picture of the cover of the schedule. Then I know all the pictures I took in between were taken on a certain day. Sometimes a cruise can be a blur and your forget what you did on what day.
When you get your luggage on the dock, get a porter to load up all the luggage on a cart and they will usually get you through customs ahead of the line.
Bring a TON of dollar bills for tips before and after the cruise. I tip my room steward on the first day, a day in the middle, and on the last day. I always get great service during the cruise.
Use salad plates or bowls when you go through the buffet so you don’t eat as much. Order two appetizers at dinner and skip the entree so you have room for dessert.
BEFORE you get to the ship, share the room numbers of everybody in your group. Use that list to call each other. Not everybody will be in the room next to you.
The make small kits with blue ice type inserts – primarily for insulin – it holds the needles and other supplies as well. Wal-Mart sells freezable lunch bags in various sizes. Put it in the freezer overnight, it will last through most of the day. I used one for work where we don’t have access to a refrigerator.
These were fantastic tips ! Thanks so much We have done many cruises ? & I use a lot of the tips . Just loved the idea of putting the necklace inside a straw. I will use it whenever I travel.
On one of our cruises I developed an itchy rash ,had No benedryl! Neither did the ship or the drug stores in Tortola . Never go without it now!
Nice tips thanks for sharing with us
Honestly I am totally amazed with these tips! One word: “WOW”!
I find it great when you suggested that one should place a custom cruise luggage tag on their bag to indicate whether the person is taking medication. Speaking of medicine, my suggestion is to visit a local clinic to ask their prescription from a doctor at least two weeks before the trip that would cover its entire duration. Doing this will help make sure that they can keep themselves healthy during the trip and prevent them from getting ill during the voyage as well.
This and the the 14 products for hardcore cruisers were very informative. TY
Try using a wet sponge and freeze it and put in a ziploc bag.