Did you recently book a cruise and now you’re trying to figure out what to take with you? I have got you covered! I am an Emerald Crown and Anchor Society member, which means that I have sailed with Royal Caribbean for at least 55 nights. I have also sailed with Disney, Norwegian, and Carnival cruise lines, so I have tons of experience on what the necessities are for your next cruise vacation. Take a look below at my list of items that I have taken with me on my cruise that help make the entire experience easier. All of these items are available on Amazon for quick and easy ordering/shipping!
For Traveling
Your travel documents will include your luggage tags for your cruise that you will then print (in color) and then staple to your bags. Don’t put these tags on until you arrive in the city of the port that you are sailing out of. You don’t want them to get crumpled or broken if you are flying. I love these tags because they keep the tags from ripping or coming off the luggage. That way in the event something happens from the moment your bag leaves your hand to arriving on the ship your bag’s tag will likely remain intact.
You want to keep your passport safe when traveling. A passport with a rip or tear on the cover is considered invalid, so keep it safe while you are traveling. You’ll also want to bring a copy of your passport for backup in the event you lose it somewhere. Having a copy makes it a bit easier in the event you have to visit the embassy for a new one.
This is a great way to keep your sea pass card safe. You’ll also be able to easily spot it if you put it in your bag. A lot of guests like to wear them for convenience so this is a great item to have.
Space is limited in a stateroom on your cruise. I love these packing cubes because each cube has designated items. That way I can unpack the cubes, put them in the closet shelves, and put my suitcase away but still keep my items organized and easy to find once onboard.
For Your Stateroom
I will admit that I overpack. I love to have my options and want to have everything (just in case!) I love these travel hangers. They are lightweight and fold up in your suitcase so they don’t take up a lot of space. I love using these because then I’m not hogging all of the hangers and I can unpack quickly. I don’t have to worry about waiting for my stateroom attendant to bring me hangers with these.
Packing an outlet adapter is a good idea. Staterooms typically only have one or two plugs. This device offers 3 plugs (one on each face). This way you can charge multiple items at once.
You are typically gone all day from your room when on a shore excursion. Having a portable charger keeps your phone charged for all the pictures. This charger is one I have had for years and it does multiple charges and lasts a long time.
The pillows are fine on the ship. However, I love making it feel more cozy when I’m sleeping, especially if I’m on a ship for 7 nights! Having my own pillowcase makes me sleep better and this pillowcase is one of my favorites.
I love bringing my own blanket with me (along with my pillowcase!) This travel blanket is soft and cozy. I love to have our stateroom really cold, especially after coming in from a hot sunny day in port. Having this blanket is great and keeps you warm while snuggled up at night.
The cabins on a ship can get dark (especially if you’re staying in an interior room that doesn’t have windows). Waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom can be hard, especially when you are trying to navigate a small space with others trying to sleep. The bathroom light typically turns on from the outside of the bathroom, so you then have to open the door and shine the bright light on everyone trying to sleep. Having the nightlight is great because you can turn one on in the cabin as well as in the bathroom and have soft lighting instead.
Cabins don’t have clocks. It’s nice to be able to see the time at a glance if you are not using your phone or it’s charging away from the nightstand.
Cruise lines no longer allow you to bring a steamer on your cruise. This spray works really well! Pro tip: Plan what you are going to wear before you shower. Then, hang your item in the bathroom while showering so that the steam can touch your clothes as well. Then, spray and hang with this spray and watch it do its magic!
This shoe organizer isn’t actually for hanging up your shoes. Say whaat?! Hang it over the bathroom door and you have a perfect place to put small items like deodorant, shampoo, sunscreen, etc. This way you don’t have to take up valuable counter space in the small ship bathrooms. This space is SO limited that you’ll want to use something like this.
Put one magnetic hook for each guest in the cabin near the door and some in the bathroom for towels and swimwear. These hooks hold enough weight for jackets or backpacks.
You never know when you may spill and it can be a while before you get back to a laundry machine. I like these Tide pens because they are small and work!
For Around the Ship & Shore Excursions
I have always loved Sun Bum products. I apply lotion before leaving the stateroom. I take the spray sunscreen with me to the beach so that way it’s easy to reapply. Lotion and sand don’t mix, so that’s why the spray is so great to have. The sun is so much stronger in the Caribbean/Mediterranean so having spray to reapply easily and quickly is great. I also love the face stick so that it’s easy to reapply as well. Remember to get multiple face sticks so that every family member has their own stick. You don’t want to share your face grease with others!
I love having all of my sunscreen in one spot. It makes it super easy to find in my beach bag and I love how cute the bag is too!
I love this sun hat for the beach. It’s floppy and soft so it folds/rolls up nicely. A straw hat is great too, but I like this one for space. There are tons of cute sayings to pick from too!
The ships have hand sanitizing stations all around the ship. However, I love having these in my purse, pocket, or bag for times I can’t get to the station.
You’ll want to pack a small float (like the one I linked!) if you are heading to the cruise ship’s private island. That way they take up small space in your suitcase and can easily blow them up. You do have the option to rent floating mats on the islands, but if you’re trying to save money, this is a great alternative.
If you are planning to go to the beach, you’ll want somewhere to keep your passport, credit cards, room key, and cash dry. If you’re hanging out in the water and want your phone to take pictures, this is great to use.
A lot of cruise lines use paper straws to help with the littering on the ship or if the litter falls overboard into the water. Bringing your own plastic straws to use is something I recommend because you don’t have to worry about them getting soggy and not being able to use them – Plus they are super cute too! You’ll be able to wash and reuse as well.
Fill up your bottle with ice and water to keep yourself hydrated.
I don’t like water shoes, but if you’re doing an excursion where it could be rocky or visiting a less touristy beach with less groomed sand, you’ll want to bring a pair.
You never know when you can get a blister or a cut. Having these readily available is great for convenience so you don’t have to go searching all over or finding a store on an island that sells them.
You can use them to keep small items (like medicine, liquids, etc.) together. They are also great for keeping wet clothes separate from dry.
Binoculars are great, especially for Alaskan cruises because you never know what you will spot (ahem- whales!) while sailing.
I LOVE these fans. The clip fan is great to clip to a stroller, table, or beach chair. I love the hand fan because it folds up and fits in my purse. It’s great to have especially in ports on hot days.
I don’t get seasick, but my husband does! He loves Bonine because he thinks it’s the only one that doesn’t really have a drowsy effect. Dramamine is another brand that works well, but it is known to make you a little sleepy (even the non-drowsy kind). Ear patches and wristbands also work.
I love these clips when at the beach! They keep my towel from slipping down when I’m sitting in the chair or from blowing over. I also like to get off the ship early, find my spot on the beach, and then explore a little bit. Clipping my towel claims my chair and makes it easy to identify on my return.
If you’re going to be in the water or walking around the private island of your cruise line and don’t want to bring your items with you, this money bag is great because it keeps your items safe. I would still only bring your Sea Pass card and photo ID with you in your lanyard while walking around (as well as your phone if you have it!) and leave all valuable items on the ship.
I’m not a big fan of snorkeling, but when I have snorkeled, I did like the facemask. It’s so much easier than wearing goggles and trying to breathe out of a tube at the same time.
Looking for more items to purchase and pack for your trip? Check out my Amazon Storefront!
Other Items You Should Bring
Undergarments
T-shirts
Shorts/Jeans
Dresses
Swimsuit/Coverup
Pajamas
Walking shoes/ Sandals/ Casual Shoes
Socks
Medicines (ibuprofen, prescriptions, etc.)
Toiletries
Accessories / Sunglasses
Nice clothes for formal (“wear your best”) night
Books/magazine
Travel documents
Chargers
Click below to visit my Amazon Storefront for the full list of recommended travel items that you need for your trip!
Check out my Amazon Storefront here
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