Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Cruise Packing 101: Cruise Essentials for Your Next Trip

cruise ship essentials

I prefer to unpack my suitcase right away in my cruise cabin to feel settled and organized. I simply remove the packing cubes from my suitcase and place the cube directly in a drawer or shelf in my stateroom. If you’ve never sailed in a cruise cabin before, you might be surprised to find that staterooms are often limited when it comes to power outlets. Older cruise ships in particular have very limited outlets for charging devices. Some cruise ships will only have one or two outlets available for the entire cabin to share. Most cabins on a cruise ship are smaller and more compact than most hotel rooms.

Portable Glamour: Your Essential Travel Vanity Mirror

This is especially true if you are spending extra time in the sun, whether this is on the pool deck or ashore on the beach. When cruising with Royal Caribbean, you’ll need to keep close tabs on your SeaPass card. This is your onboard key that will allow you to enter your cabin and charge your onboard account, along with embarking and disembarking the ship at port stops. One of the most popular essential items to pack for your cruise cabin is a set of magnetic hooks. The walls of your cruise cabin are metal, which allows you to use anything magnetized on the walls. Because of this, packing some sort of power extender is crucial.

CRUISE PLANNING & PACKING LISTS

If you’re cruising to Alaska, bringing a set of binoculars is a must! Whether on the cruise ship or on a whale watching tour, travel binoculars should be on your Alaska cruise packing list. Whether it’s your first voyage or you’re a seasoned cruiser, it’s time to organize your cruise essentials to pack for your cruise. On the first day of your cruise, it may take a few hours for your luggage to be delivered to your stateroom, but you don’t have to wait to have fun. Stuff a carry-on backpack with essentials like your cell phone, wallet, bathing suit and sunglasses, and start swimming, sunning or exploring your ship immediately.

What to bring on a Caribbean cruise? 23 essentials to pack - Royal Caribbean Blog

What to bring on a Caribbean cruise? 23 essentials to pack.

Posted: Wed, 11 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Daytime clothes and accessories

Put in your passport, cash, cell phone and more, so they are always at an arm’s reach, but safe from pick pocketers. In other words, an investment of less than $10 can give you peace of mind. First, passports are smart in case something comes up and you have to leave the cruise early to return home. To be honest, however, the vast majority of cruises go off without a hitch. Having a few episodes to binge on a cruise is one of our guilty pleasures.

Water Shoes

Are you going to the Galapagos or somewhere with a lot of spectacular nature? Your phone camera won’t do justice to distant sightings no matter how good it is. Think about bringing an actual camera with a zoom lens for wildlife-viewing. The key word there is “layers,” including wool socks that won’t absorb water and can keep feet dry, gloves, and a hat — even in summer. Being out on the water can get cool, weather changes quickly, and altitudes will impact temperature in our 49th State.

Prohibited Items on a Cruise (Do Not Bring)

It’s also true that even if you forgot your own toothbrush, you could probably buy one in an onboard shop. But relying on the ship for your toiletries isn’t always the best idea. Essential items like deodorant or toothpaste are often overpriced once you’re on the ship with few other options. One piece of advice that isn’t as repeated is to bring a few additional days’ worth of your prescriptions with you on any cruise. This can cover you in the event of a delayed or canceled flight, or if you lose a pill somewhere along the way. It’s not possible to obtain prescription medicine onboard a cruise ship and it’s unlikely in port.

cruise ship essentials

Clothespins Have More Than One Use

These are hydration multipliers that you can add to water to boost your electrolytes. 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. It’s super easy to get dehydrated when you’re drinking alcohol and spending a lot of time in the sun. A new essential thing that I’ve started to bring on a cruise is an empty duffle bag.

Most cruise ship cabins are constructed from metal, making magnets a very handy tool for organizing your room. Use fun magnets to decorate or leave notes on your cabin door. Ships are surrounded by water and we’re all surrounded by electronics. If you plan to be spending a lot of time out on the water or near the sea on excursions or at the beach, consider purchasing dry bags. Of course, you can ignore formal evenings all together and head to the buffet or an alternate dining venue on a large ship.

40 essential things to bring on a cruise - Royal Caribbean Blog

40 essential things to bring on a cruise.

Posted: Sat, 18 Feb 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

A small backpack also works great if you are going ashore as well. Personally, I prefer this tinted moisturizer, as it’s perfect for cruising because it’s protective, easy to travel with and adds a little color to my skin. You’ll also need to cover up before you can grab food in the Windjammer on Royal Caribbean ships, so it’s best to always have one on hand. 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.

Where a passport is truly handy is getting off the ship at the end of the cruise. These days most ports have facial recognition to process passengers. If you have a passport, you simply walk off, take a quick photo, and then walk out of the terminal. Those with birth certificates usually have to wait in line to meet an agent.

If you don’t need it, the bag also folds down into a small pouch that takes up hardly any space in your luggage. It’s been said that the key to a happy marriage is a good bathroom fan (ok, we just made that up). Unfortunately, cruise ships don’t offer fanned vents and the cabin is pretty small.

Beyond the time you’ll spend exploring each port, some cruise ships are truly massive. You’ll be surprised how many steps you get in simply walking from your cabin to the pool to the buffet and then over to the theater. Your luggage might take its sweet time reaching your cabin, and you wouldn’t want to be stuck in your travel clothes all day. In your carry-on bag, include your swimsuit, sunscreen, an additional pair of clothes, plus any necessary medications. In cruising, as in life, it’s all about being prepared for the next fun adventure.

Because you never know what could happen, I always cruise with extra doses of my prescription medication. I don’t want to ever rely on the cruise ship or a local port to accommodate my health needs. If you’re planning to spend any amount of time in the sun on your Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s essential to pack sunscreen to protect your skin. 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. There are a few different cosmetic bags that I travel with, but I absolutely always cruise with my hanging toiletry bag.

You should go ahead and put the charger in your suitcase now. The last thing you want is to be in the middle of the ocean and realize that your phone battery is flashing red. The walls and ceiling of the cabin are actually made of metal. So you can place these hooks just about anywhere and have a place to hang hats, lanyards, clothes, and anything else.

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