10 Must-Bring Things To Ensure A Happy Cruise

How to enjoy the perfect vacay at sea!

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Published October 10, 2024
AARP (Getty Images)

Going on a cruise? No matter how big the ship (I’m looking at you, Icon of the Seas), cabins tend to be on the smaller side. And the closet space? It’s not ideal, especially if you’re sharing it with your family. So, your packing list needs to be nice and tidy.

Here are 10 things I always bring on a cruise, and I recommend you do the same.

Small Bag with a Swimsuit and Sunscreen

You’ll most likely board your ship around lunchtime, but you won’t be able to access your room and suitcase until about 3 p.m. I take an extra little bag, separate from my suitcase, to carry everything I’ll need during those first few hours. This also comes in handy on debarkation day, as you have the option of leaving your suitcase outside of your cabin the night before so it can be carried out for you. Use your little bag to store essentials for that final morning when you can’t access your suitcase.

Cruise Insurance

You’ve saved for this trip and counted down the days. Unfortunately, if the weather isn’t perfect on the day you plan on flying to your ship, you may be delayed. The cruise won’t wait for you to arrive, and without insurance, you’ll miss all the fun. Make sure the cruise insurance covers flight delays/cancellations, sickness and injuries.

Travel-Sized Toilet Fragrance

This advice concerns the size of your cabin again. I recently sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia (10 out of 10 recommend), but even with all the new technology on board, they still can’t figure out how to contain the poo smell in the bathroom. IYKYK.

A Magnetic Hook

Here’s a random piece of trivia: Cruise ship walls are made of metal. This means you can hang anything magnetic in your room. A hook is essential, especially if you place it by your door to hang your bag with your cruise card (the key to get into your room, buy drinks, get on and off the ship, etc.). You’ll probably be drinking a bit on your vacay, so make it easier on yourself by leaving your bag with your cruise card by the door on that hook.

Shampoo and Conditioner

You’re in the pool or spending time at the beach. You go back to your room for a shower only to discover the cruise only provides all-in-one shampoo, conditioner and body wash. I can assure you — if you want any cute photos from the cruise, you’re going to want to skip the 3-in-1.

Resealable Plastic Gallon-Sized Storage Bags

Use them for wet bathing suits, snacks for the flight home (I grab a sandwich on the last day so I’ll have something for lunch on the plane), small knickknacks you may purchase and more.

Motion Sickness Relief

The larger the ship, the less it tends to rock — but the unexpected happens. I was on a cruise with my daughter, and on day 2, her motion sickness got pretty bad, although I could barely feel the ship move. I learned the hard way that you can visit the ship’s infirmary for motion sickness bands — but the one I was on wouldn’t give my daughter any medicine because she was under the age of 12 (rules vary by ship). It was a pretty painful day until we hit the port and made our way directly to a pharmacy.

Power Strip

I’ve been on ships where there are only one or two outlets per cabin. And when you’ve got a family of four with phones, computers, Kindles and iPads to charge, it can get tricky and frustrating. Bringing a power strip is always a good idea but check the cruise line’s policy first, as some prohibit their use.

Pop-Up Hamper

Again, a reminder that the rooms are tiny, and storage is limited. You might not have a spare drawer to store your dirty clothing, which can get messy very quickly. A pop-up hamper takes up very little space in your suitcase and will keep your room clean. I like to line the hamper with a garbage bag so that at the end of the cruise, I can grab my dirty clothing, which will go directly from the garbage bag to the washing machine when I get home.

Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer

I typically only bring three pairs of shoes per cruise (flip-flops, sneakers and a fancier shoe), but I use this shoe organizer to store everything from toiletries to sunscreen to accessories.

Have you ever been on a cruise? Where did you go? Let us know in the comments below.

Danielle Braff is a Chicago-based writer who knows how to find the heart (and humor) in everyday life. When she’s not reporting or crafting smart, relatable stories, she’s juggling life with her husband, two daughters, two cats, and one very lucky dog. A devoted traveler, lifelong reader, and unapologetic ice-cream enthusiast, Danielle brings curiosity, empathy, and joy to everything she writes. Discover more of her work at Daniellebraff.com.