Cruise Packing Tips and Hacks!

Are you planning a cruise? Wahoo, good for you! Cruising is a great way to see the world and have some fun. Before you set sail, here are a few tips and tricks for packing to make your trip as smooth as possible and help keep your cabin clutter free!

• Swimsuits: Between excursions in tropical destinations, multiple pools, hot tubs, thermal suites, and even water slides on most boats these days, you’ll likely be spending a lot of time in the water, so make sure you pack plenty of swimsuits.
• Cover-ups: You’ll also want to pack some cover-ups to throw on over your swimsuits when you’re not in the water.
• Travel Alarm Clock: Sure you can rely on your phone but I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve had issues with my cell arm and while on a boat with a port call and shore excursions that wait for no one, in my opinion it’s not worth the risk of my cell alarm failing for one reason or another. This $7 from Sharp is a great economical choice to save you from stressing about being on time.
• Over the door shoe organizer (our favorite hack for saving space and staying organized!) With cramped cruise ship bathrooms this comes in so handy especially when traveling with a full stateroom. It’s also allowed us to plan, pack for many eventualities, and stay organized.

• Heavy duty magnet: Cruise ship walls and ceilings are usually metal, so a heavy duty magnet can be used to hang things like towels, hats, and bags. This frees up valuable counter space and can help to keep things organized.

• Dirty laundry storage bag: A light weight dirty laundry bag is a must-have for any cruise. This will help to keep your cabin clean and organized. I prefer a lightweight nylon bag with a zipper in case it needs to double as a carry-on on the way back but you can always use whatever lightweight bag you have around. Also, be sure to stick a few dryer sheets in the dirty laundry bag, weather you do laundry or not it’s a great way to keep everything smelling fresh.

• Laundry detergent sheets: So laundry may not be top on your list of activities while on vacation but here us out. Especially on longer cruises, the ability to do laundry can lighten the load of items you need pack, and of course it also means no giant piles of laundry to tend to once you get home. Laundry detergent sheets are a phenomenal way to do laundry on a cruise. They’re small and lightweight, so they won’t take up much space in your luggage and no there’s no messy liquids to deal with.

• Anti-nausea medicine: Seasickness is a common problem on cruises. Even if neither you or anyone in your group has had issues with sea sickness in the past, it’s always a good idea to pack some anti-nausea medicine/sea sickness bands just in case.
• Luggage tag holders: Cruise line issues paper luggage tags are required on ships. Ordering a few plastic tag holders is a great way to keep your luggage tags from tearing/getting lost. Be sure to confirm the size required for your cruise line as each line has different dimensions.
• Quick-dry travel towel: A quick-dry travel towel is a must-have for any cruise. These towels are lightweight and dry quickly, so they’re perfect for use on the beach or pool deck.
• Towel clips: Towel clips are a great way to keep your light weight quick dry towel from blowing away in the wind. They’re also a good way to mark your territory on a crowded beach. And they can be used to hang wet clothes to dry.
• Waterproof phone case: A waterproof phone case is a must-have for any cruise. This will protect your phone from water damage if you’re caught in a rainstorm or go swimming.
• Packing cubes: Packing cubes are a great way to keep your clothes organized. They’re also a good way to save space in your luggage. We like to get a different color for each family member to simplify things.
• Travel insurance: Life intervenes, while it’s not fun to add that extra few hundred dollars to the already hefty cost of your trip, travel insurance is a good idea for any cruise. It will protect you in case of flight cancellations, lost luggage, or medical emergencies.
• Portable chargers: Portable chargers are a must-have for any cruise. These will keep your devices charged while you’re on the go. We love these portable chargers from Verger, they have a wall plug and cables built right in so no worries about forgetting cables!

• Underwater camera: An underwater camera is a great way to capture memories of your underwater adventures.
• Snorkel equipment: Snorkel equipment is a great way to explore the underwater world some excursions will have equipment available but we always prefer to have our own equipment.
• Goggles for kids: Pools and hot tubs on cruises are filled with ocean water which can burn tender eyes, goggles will protect their eyes from the sun and salt water.
• Mosquito repellent: Mosquito repellent is a must-have for any tropical cruise. This will help to protect you from mosquito bites, which can spread diseases like Zika and malaria. I try to use a solid stick repellent or wipes so it’s less messy and TSA friendly if flying.
• Activated charcoal (food poisoning): Activated charcoal is a natural remedy for food poisoning. If you do get sick, taking activated charcoal can help to absorb the toxins that are causing the illness.
• Rash guard: Don’t let a sunburn or jelly fish sting ruin your good time, wear a rash guard! A rash guard is a long-sleeved shirt that is worn to protect the skin from the sun and from jellyfish stings. We really like the options available through Lands End.
• Water shoes: Water shoes are a good choice for walking on wet decks or in shallow water. They’ll help to protect your feet from cuts and scrapes.
• Flip flops: Flip flops are a good choice for walking around the ship. They’re comfortable and easy to take on and off.
• Sunscreen: Sunscreen is a must-have for any cruise. This will help to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Even if you’re not going to a tropical destination don’t forget your sunscreen, water intensifies the suns rays! If you will be in ocean make sure you use a reef friendly sunscreen like Sun Bum!
• Money: Almost all ships have moved to a cashless system utilizing your lanyard/room key but, it’s always a good idea to have some cash for ports of call to buy souvenirs and drinks on the ship. American Dollars are accepted throughout the ports in the Caribbean and Mexico so no need to worry about having local currency. If you do use your credit card at port be sure and use a card with no international transaction fees and also be sure to always select pay in domestic currency vs US Dollars.
• Passport: Don’t forget your passport! You’ll need it to get on the ship.
• First-aid kit: A first-aid kit is always a good idea to have on hand, just in case.
• Reading material: You’ll have a lot of time to relax on a cruise, so pack a good book or magazine to read.
• Ear plugs: Given the very tight quarters and activities going on outside your stateroom earplugs can definitely allow for less interuptions when you’re trying to catch some zzzz’s.
• Travel Light: A personal travel light can be invaluable especially when in an interior room. When the lights are out in a room with no windows, it can be impressive just how dark the space can be. A personal light can help you navigate the room or wind down with a good book without disturbing cabin mates.

Bon Voyage!!

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