The Best Cruise Essentials -The nice thing about going on a cruise is that everything’s provided for you – the food, the drinks, the entertainment. That’s what first time cruisers think, anyway. If you’re planning a cruise vacation soon, there are a few cruise travel essentials you need to pack. Visit here for The Best Cruise Vacation Tips, or visit us on Pinterest.
The Best Cruise Essentials
Multiple Plug Outlet Extender
One of the things everyone should bring on a cruise is a multiple plug outlet extender (or 2) that allows you to add additional outlets. Your cabin may have one power outlet or maybe two if you’re lucky. Probably not sufficient since we all have cellphones and other electronic devices we will need to charge. Think about everything you will be bringing and what you will need to plug in to charge. Recommended: Powsav Multi Plug Outlet. Most cruise ships don’t allow surge-protected power strips on board for safety reasons. This multi outlet plug is designed with non-surge, compliant with major cruise lines.
Hanging Travel Toiletry Bag
If you and your family stay in one cabin with only one bathroom, the over-the-door organizer may be the way to go. There is not enough surface space in the cruise cabin bathroom. This will hang over the bathroom door, and everyone can stick their toiletries and other items for later use into their pockets. Recommended: Narwey Hanging Travel Toiletry Bag for Men & Women. This Toiletry bag has a large main compartment with 7 mesh pockets, 4 zipper pockets, 2 open sides with several organized pockets for more storage, easy to grab exactly what you need. Plenty of colors/designs to choose from.
Most cruise ship cabins are small, so getting ready for the night with someone else in the room can become cumbersome. If you want to apply your make-up with a good mirror, then try our Recommended: The deweisn Folding Travel Mirror
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Packing Cubes
Once your suitcase is dropped off in your cruise cabin, just take your packed packing cubes from your cruise luggage and slip them into the drawers or shelves provided. You can also hang up the few things that needs to go in the closet. Recommended: Veken 6 Set Packing Cubes No need to worry about it, this packing cube system neatly packs all your clothes tightly into our space saving bags. Available in assorted colors.
Cruise Luggage Tags
Maybe they’re not exactly a cruise essential, but cruise luggage tags are a small investment, especially if you’re an avid cruiser. These luggage tags make you look like a professional cruiser. You slip in your printed cruise e-tags into these plastic slips that are sealed and then locked onto your luggage with a steel loop. Recommended: Highwind Cruise Luggage Tags These Highwind Cruise Ship Tags come with a Zip Top Seal Enclosure and Stainless Steel Loop Cord and is the only one in the market that provides a durable cruise ship tag holder.
Water Bottle
You will want to carry an insulated water tumbler off and around the ship. Bottled water is not provided on the ship. Fill it up with ice and water at the buffet. Recommended: Iron Flask Sports Water Bottle This is a great 40 Oz, 3 Lids (Straw Lid), Leak Proof, Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel, Double Walled, Thermo Mug, Metal Canteen.
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Lanyards
Lanyards are sold on the cruise ship. If you don’t want to wait, there are plenty of pretty options on Amazon for great prices. And yes, you’ll need to carry your cruise ship card whenever you leave your cabin. Recommended: Amazon Lanyard Selection
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Beach Towel Clips
I remember seeing these on other chairs, and I wondered why?? The towel does not stay draped onto the back of your deck chair. It’s the most frustrating thing having to fix it over and over again. And if it’s windy, forget it! Recommended: O2COOL Bocaclips – Beach Towel Clips for Beach Chairs Enjoy the sun without the hassle of re-adjusting your slipping towel! Make sure to take these on the cruise ship and use with your lounge chair.
Waterproof Cell Phone Case
A waterproof cell phone case is great to have on any vacation that involves water activities. It will come in handy during any cruise shore excursions that involves water. Recommended: Hiearcool Waterproof Phone Pouch – Designed for underwater, swimmers, surfers and scuba divers. This waterproof bag can not only protect your phone, but also the carry-on passport, cards, or cash.
Beach Bag
You’ll need a beach bag or travel backpack that you can carry with you to the port. It will also help carry some of the items on this cruise packing list like the sunscreen, water bottle, beach towel clips, beach towel, etc. Recommended: View a Great Selection of Beach Bags Here.
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Suntan Lotion
Broad spectrum sunscreen protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. These rays are responsible for premature skin aging. They can cause sunburn and play a role in the development of skin cancer. All Sun Bum Original sunscreens are broad spectrum to help prevent skin damage. Recommended: Sun Bum Sunscreen Products
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Sea Sickness Relief
If you know you’re especially susceptible to seasickness, avoid itineraries that spend a lot of time sailing in open water. Cruise itineraries that stay within a sea is often a good bet for having relatively calm waters during cruises. If you want to venture out in open water, then a sea sickness band is your best bet. Recommended: MQ Motion Sickness Patch This 100% Natural Herb, MQ Sea Sickness Patch is a safe and effective solution for almost anyone who has struggled with motion sickness.
Prescription Pill & Vitamin Organizer
Plan Your Pills & Vitamins a Week In Advance—Am pm pill organizer 7 day is easy to load and fit all size pills, you can easily plan your am pm pills for an entire week in advance, that will save you much precious time. Recommended: Sukuos Large Daily Pill Cases
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Binoculars
You will want to have a good pair of binoculars to see the sights from the ship, and even some marine life that might pop out of the water. Recommended: occer 12×25 Compact Binoculars These waterproof binoculars have a 12x magnification,25mm objective lens, and large eyepiece. These binoculars are pocket size and very compact and suitable to carry everywhere.
Thank you this was the perfect article for me. I am planning a cruise with my extended family. It is my first cruise and I don’t really know what to expect or to bring. I love this list because it reminded me of all the things that I will need but probably would have forgotten. These items are so smart! Thank you for making me a little more prepared on my very first cruise!
I am so glad I could help Heather! Really these essentials will help you have a wonderful time! If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask! And thanks for stopping by.
I have been on a cruise before and the hanging toiletry bag would have really been helpful.and the extra outlets with surge protector. I really.like the luggage cube. My bag of clothes was a wreck after digging through it every day and night and then the dirty clothes? I did not pack any rain gear and thank goodness did not need it but, considering we went to tropical.Islands we sure could have needed it.
You have a great page here, just might want to update the picture at the bottom.that says Des cruises of 2017?
Thank you and glad you enjoyed reading. The video at the bottom is an overall guide to the best cruise for the last full year, 2017. It still is great in providing great info on cruises. Thanks for visiting Cruise Ship Essentials.
Hi there, there are some great ideas here!
I particularly like the mini-surge protector, the carry-on backpack, and the pocket juice.
There are never enough plugs when you go on holiday, cruising or hotels in my experience.
Also, I like having a variety of things to keep me entertained on the journey, especially during the waiting around times, so the backpack would be great for this.
Great glad you enjoyed my list of essentials. True about the plugs, we can never have enough for sure! Thanks for stopping by Julia!
Great post! My parents are going on a cruise this summer for their 60th Birthdays and I now have a few gift ideas for them. I particularly like the Downy Wrinkle Release Spray Plus as a joke present for my dad as he is obsessed with ironing. I think I might get the 4 Set Packing Cubes as this is a great way to save on space and looks really sophisticated. You really know your stuff! I always enjoy reading your posts.
Thank you Vicki, and I love you prank gift, that would be too funny. The packing cubes are great for a cruise because of the space. I am an organized person, so I love that I can use these to organize and unpack easily. Thanks for reading Cruise Ship Essentials!
Hello,
I have finally found a very comprehensive list of everything I might consider to take with me. In my case after last year, Aloe Vera seems like a really good thing to have as I got massively burnt. Useful article, thanks 🙂
Eugen
Glad I could help Eugen! Yes, I think everyone gets a sunburn the first time, and this product I love. Thanks for stopping by Beach Travel Destinations.
Great tips and suggestions Leahrae. Thank you for sharing!
I wish I had seen this list before I went on my cruise around the Greek Islands. I really could have done with most of the items you mention.
You are 100% right these items are, as you say, Cruise Travel Essentials and I would recommend them to anyone thinking of going on a cruise.
You have a great site and you provide so much value on your site… keep up the good work!
Thank you so much Moni, and yes, what I listed are items I do not forget to take. All essential for a cruise. Thanks for stopping by!
We are frequent cruise travellers and we have almost all on the list, but the ‘4 Set Packing Cubes,Travel Luggage Packing Organizers with Laundry Bag Or Toiletry Bag’ caught my attention. It seems an intelligent choice.
What tips do you have your kids?
Thanks for visiting Dany! Do you mean tips for kids? I am not sure if you mean essentials. I will message you privately and then I might be able to answer that question better 🙂 I am just slightly confused on exactly what you are asking. Thanks for visiting and yes, the packing cubes are a wise choice 🙂 Great for any vacation as well.
Wow… So much stuff, I didn’t know I needed… 😉
I’ve never been on a cruise, but I can see how a lot of this stuff will come in handy in other forms of travel.
Great tips, and a very complete packing list. I definitely think I’ll be getting the Belkin mini surge protector pretty much right away. And the Gioberti jacket looks very cool as well.
Thanks for the awesome list.
You are so welcome Michael, thanks for stopping by and visiting Cruise Travel Essentials. Please let me know if I can help in any way with your cruise travel planning.
Great tips! These are definitely needed when taking a cruise. I especially like the airplane approved carry on backpack. There is nothing worse than being stuck for hours without any of your luggage! And yes, great for excursions too!
Agreed Heidi! That is the best thing on the list in my opinion. I remember my first cruise, and I did not have anything to change into. Couldn’t get in the pool, couldn’t do nothing but wait….no fun! Thanks for reading my cruise ship essentials.
This isn’t a comment about cruise travel essentials but I once forgot to clean out a toiletry bag I used in college. The weirdest kind of things will start to grow on everything, I went back to use it and discovered an entire colony of bacteria had set up shop for years. So just a warning to anyone else if you like the toiletry bag you have don’t forget to let it dry out before you store it.
Oh wow Eric! Great tip! I kind of like to switch mine out. I will throw it away if it starts to look dirty, and then just get a nice new one 🙂 The bathrooms are not big on a cruise ship, so this is a must! Thanks for stopping by!
I always wanted to go on a cruise but actually never thought what I need for it.. I have found exactly what I need to take for that on here, thank you very much!
Now you just have to take the plunge Emmanuel and get to planning your cruise! You will have a fantastic time. Thanks for visiting!
Awesome Post. Have been skeptical of taking a cruise. Now I am motivated since I know what to take and what to expect. Great tips and a good read.
Glad you enjoyed reading about taking a cruise and what essentials you will need. Kind of gets me excited for my next cruise just writing about it! Glad you enjoyed and come back and visit Beach Travel Destinations when you are ready to book!
That was a good read. My husband and I are planning to go on a cruise and this information will be very handy . I didn’t think of taking a backpack – like you said it is very handy when you got to the shore and shop !
Yes, and remember when you board the ship, they take your luggage. You are stuck to enjoy the ship without any different clothes such as swim wear or shorts or what not. Pack something you can throw on when you get on board 🙂 Glad you enjoyed my cruise ship essentials!
I must say you site is always amazing and I love and it, your tips and advice are out of this world.
I would like to say thank you for giving us these essentials because it will come in handy because we never know when we will go cruising. I for one am very scared of cruising but I know one day I will have to overcome that.
I like the Downy Wrinkle Release Spray Plus not just for cruising but for all my traveling I think it will come in very handy.
I am glad you enjoy visiting my site Beach Travel Destinations. I hope that some day soon, you will give a cruise a try. I think that you will find you love it! Thanks for stopping by.
Great webpage on the essentials to pack for a Cruise. Many good tips here. I like the 4 set packing cubes. Most people would find them very useful. I never leave home without Aloe Vera or something for sun burn relief.
Yes Mick, Aloe Vera is always good to take on any vacation where you will be in the sun. And the packing cubes…I love them. They are great for a cruise, and I am sure any vacation. Thanks for stopping by!
Great suggestions and I wish I had read this before I went on vacation last month! I could have definitely used the Hynes Eagle 38L Flight Approved Weekender Carry on Backpack, because we had to leave our luggage with the concierge because our rooms weren’t ready, and I had nothing to put a quick change of clothes into after the flight. This would have been perfect.
I also love the Hanging Toiletry Bag — so tired of putting all my stuff into a big, bulky zippered thing that is a mess whenever I get to my destination. Thanks for some great suggestions!
You are so welcome Amy, yes I never leave without the backpack. Well most of these items actually. On a cruise, in my opinion, you’ll want all of them 🙂 Thanks for reading about Cruise Ship Essentials.
Wow! I hadn’t even thought of bringing some of these items! I will be a lot more prepared for my next cruise thanks to this post!
Great Melinda, I am glad I could share this information with you. I think all of these items are necessary. I guess everyone is different, but hopefully this helps newbies to know what to take on the plane with them 🙂