WHAT TO PACK FOR A CRUISE
The destination will dictate the clothing and accessories you bring, but here are a few essentials:
Fun Door Magnets. On cabin doors they give flair and helps you easily spot your cabin upon approach. Not all cabin doors are made of metal and some lines don’t allow magnets.
Accessories for any themed nights. Disney has Pirate Night, Norwegian – White Hot Night and Carnival an ’80s Rock ‘n’ Glow Deck Party. Check in advance and pack a few items accordingly.
Key card lanyard. You’ll need to keep your cabin key card — that also acts as your ship ID and conduit to your onboard cruise account — at the ready. You need to swipe it as you leave the ship for the day, upon your return, as well as when making a purchase in the ship’s boutique or buying a drink at the bar (unless you’re cruising on a true all-inclusive line like Regent Seven Seas or Silversea). It may even be what unlocks your room, so you’ll want it handy.
Power strip. Older ships may be a bit skimpy when it comes to the number of outlets in the stateroom — especially if you’re a family or a group of friends sharing one room. It’s wise to bring a power strip so you can turn one outlet into several. Just be sure that your power strip doesn’t include a surge protector — they are banned from most cruise ships, as are extension cords.
Savvy cruisers look for power strips that not only have several plug receptacles but also USB charging ports. We like lightweight, low-profile options like this Omoton travel wall tap sold by Amazon. There’s no cord to take up valuable space in your suitcase.
Power adapter/current converter. You may wonder if you need any type of power adapter or current converter. Many cruise ships have both 110V and 220V outlets so you won’t usually need to buy anything new (other than maybe the power strip we suggested above).
Consult your cruise line’s online FAQ or call your travel agent to confirm what type of outlets are in the cabin you’ve booked to be certain.
Wet bag. Having the right bag to use at the right time is super-important on a cruise. A waterproof wet bag comes in handy if you’re visiting beach destinations or going on shore excursions that include time for a dip. (For example, a kayak trip with some beach time.) A good waterproof, leakproof wet bag is ideal after you change out of your wet layers and are carrying your bathing suit back onto the ship.
Dry bag. You may also need a dry bag. It’s also waterproof but the goal is to keep water out and not in as is the case with a wet bag.
A dry bag seals tight so you can stow your camera gear, smartphone and other electronics. Even if the bag falls into the water, the contents will stay dry for a good amount of time — long enough for you to rescue them. (As a not-very-coordinated kayaker, I wouldn’t take that kind of shore tour — and bring along electronics — without a dry bag to keep them safe.)
Lightweight backpack. There are some itineraries, like transatlantic voyages, with very few ports of call. But your cruise is probably a nice mix of sea days and port visits. You’ll want a strong but lightweight backpack to stow everything you want to take off the ship with you as you explore destinations or join shore excursions or independent tours. It holds snacks, sunscreen, a hat and more.
Look for a backpack with mesh pockets on each side. Those pockets are the perfect place to tuck away a water bottle. Don’t worry if your pack isn’t big enough to stow more than one sweater or hat; the next accessories on our “must-pack” list will come to the rescue.
Jacket gripper. Frequent travellers usually have several of these straps to take on trips. They are marketed as jacket grippers and luggage straps. There are a ton of uses, from attaching your airplane neck pillow onto your carry-on to making sure your jacket, sweater or hat stays close to your backpack.
Waterproof cases. You might want to wear a waterproof smartphone case if you’re spending time at the beach, on the pool deck, in the ship’s hot tub or heading out on a shore excursion on the water (think catamaran tour, kayak excursion or glass-bottom boat ride). Most of these cases are roomy enough to also store your key card and some cash, if need be. Or, a waterproof sports case that floats may be a good idea if you are taking a small variety of items into a wet environment.
Water shoes. Many cruises visit warm-weather destinations with a beach visit or two on the agenda. Packing water shoes — also known as aqua socks — is essential, especially if you don’t know what the beaches will be like. Water shoes protect your feet from rocks, shells and coral. If the ship’s pool deck is a little slick, it’s also wise to wear them there for extra traction.
Hand-sanitizing wipes. Staying healthy on vacation should be everyone’s priority. When you fly, board a cruise ship or check into a hotel, you should have some sanitizing wipes in your carry-on. Use them to wipe down the TV remote, phone and door handles in your cabin. Also, take them with you on shore excursions so you can always “wash up” when you need to. Or use a gel-style hand sanitizer.
Seasickness remedies. Hopefully, you won’t feel queasy on your cruise. Some people never feel seasick on a cruise while others may feel a bit wobbly the first hour or so on the ship or during moderate to rough seas. It never hurts to have a few items packed to help prevent or alleviate seasickness if it pops up. To begin with, you can use an over-the-counter product like Bonine (meclizine hydrochloride) that’s effective in preventing or treating motion sickness, airsickness and seasickness. Try the raspberry-flavored chewable tablets or the ginger softgels.
You can also try snacking on ginger candy (you’ll often find a bowl of it in front of each cruise ship restaurant entrance) or bring your own. We like Chimes ginger chews. Or wear anti-nausea acupressure wristband like the Sea-Band.
If you do start feeling a bit green, go up on deck in the fresh air and look out over the horizon. It really helps. And visit the ship’s medical station or front desk to ask for seasickness remedies if you forgot to bring your own. They’ll hook you up.
Pack with caution — wine. If you want to enjoy a glass of your favorite wine on the ship, it can be tempting to pack your own. The good news is on some lines you can. For example, Royal Caribbean allows two 750 ml bottles of wine or Champagne to be brought onboard per stateroom. Disney allows either two 750 ml bottles of wine or six beers per stateroom. Carnival permits one bottle of wine per adult.
DON’T PACK THESE. There are a few items that you should always leave off your cruise packing list. They include the following:
Liquor or (often) beer. If you’ve never been on a cruise before, you’ve probably never heard of the “naughty room.” This is the room in which the crew quarantines luggage that contains an item that the cruise line has banned. That could be an electric kettle, a weapon of some kind or liquor/beer. You’ll be called to this room to have a discussion with the crew about these no-no items.
Most cruise lines have strict rules about the type of beverages you can bring aboard at embarkation and throughout the voyage. Some mainstream cruise lines let you bring some bottled water and soda, or a bottle or two of wine, but you generally aren’t allowed hard liquor or beer. Before stopping off at the packy on the way to the port, check the rules with your cruise line.
Candles and electrical appliances that create heat. When you’re aboard a cruise ship, safety comes first. That’s why things like candles with a real flame and electrical appliances that produce heat should stay at home. Forget about bringing your clothes iron and steamer, or electric tea kettle. These are often banned for onboard use. (Ladies: Some cruise lines allow curling or straight irons and some don’t, so consult your cruise line’s online FAQ, call to ask or inquire with your travel agent.) Instead of an iron, you can bring a product like Downy’s Wrinkle Release that comes in a travel size with a pump spray.
Drones and kites. You might want that perfect aerial shot from above the ship but you can’t bring a drone on board. Same goes for kites and other similar items that are meant to be deployed in the air around the ship.
Guns and knives. Guns aren’t allowed on cruise ships and although some cruise lines allow knives up to a certain blade length, others ban them altogether. Check your cruise line’s online FAQs or check with your travel agent for the rules that apply to your ship.
BOTTOM LINE
First-time cruisers tend to overpack when it comes to clothes and shoes but sometimes forget about other necessities. When you take your suitcase out of the closet and begin packing for your next itinerary, refer to this list and be sure you’re covered when it comes to those all-important accessories. Happy cruising.
