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Stuff to Pack to Make Your Cruise Clear Sailing
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items Whether you're planning your first cruise or you're a seasoned traveler, this collection features my favorite cruise essentials, packing must-haves, travel accessories, and onboard tips for sailing with popular cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carn...
Sections
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Choose Your Cruise
Pack Your Bags
Choose Your Cruise
Every cruise line has their own personality or “flavor.” Some are great for families, others for couples. Some are a bargain, others will cost you an arm and a leg. All of them let your inner explorer play!
My family LOVES Royal Caribbean sailings. They're known for adventurous, energetic, "wow factor" voyages. They have HUGE ships with surfing, skydiving simulators, zip lines, and neighborhoods and parks within the ship. It's a great line for families,...
Royal Caribbean
If you're thinking Disney cruises are basically a theme park at sea, think again. While they do obviously cater to families of kids, around ⅓ of each ship is adults-only, so it's great for mixed groups. The incredible details throughout each ship are...
Disney Cruise Line
Princess is known for being classic, refined, and easygoing. They have excellent Alaska itineraries and destination-focused cruising. Great for couples and mature travelers!
Princess Cruises: Award-Winning Cruises & Deals
Celebrity is Royal's more upscale line. Think sophisticated but approachable. It provides modern luxury, excellent food, and stylish ships. It's good for couples, foodies, adults who are looking for a little more refinement without a staggering price...
Celebrity
MSC has a European vibe. It's a good value for travelers who want cosmopolitan, beautiful ships wth an international atmosphere.
MSC
Norwegian offers relaxed, flexible, modern "Freestyle Cruising" with no formal dining times. It's good for travelers who dislike rigid schedules.
Norwegian
Holland America offers a more traditional, cultured, relaxed trip. Expect music, enrichment (like lectures), longer voyages, and interesting cultural destinations. It draws a lot of retirees and seasoned cruisers.
Holland America Cruise Deals
Fun-loving and casual, Carnival offers affordable vacations, lively atmosphere, comedy clubs, and parties. It's a great option for first-time cruisers who want to try it out without a huge monetary commitment, groups of friends, and budget travelers.
Carnival Cruise Deals
Viking offers both ocean and river cruises. It has a quiet, intellectual, Scandinavian vibe. No casinos or kids, so it's great for adults interested in history, lectures, cultural enrichment, and exploring the diverse ports.
Viking Cruises
Regent Seven Seas offers ultra-luxury, all-inclusive voyages. Expect spacious suites, the finest of everything, and the hefty price tag to match. lol
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Navigating a ship (especially the bigger ones) can be a bit daunting, especially if it's your first cruise or your first cruise on a particular class of ship or cruise line. These handy reference cards keep the main info you need at hand and you can ...
Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Deck Guide™ - Cruise Wayfinder Cards - RCL RCCL RCI Wayfinder Cards - Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Pack Your Bags
Packing for a cruise is a little different from packing for a hotel vacation. Your room is compact, there are security rules similar to airports, and forgetting certain items can mean paying much higher prices onboard. But a little foresight and plan...
The door and some walls are metal in cruise ships, perfect for magnets! I like bringing an assortment of magnetic organizing items to make the most of small spaces. Magnetic hooks are great for hanging up lanyards, bags, robes, etc.
Grtard 10Pack Magnetic Hooks Heavy Duty, 110 lbs Strong Magnet Hook for Cruise Cabins, Large Magnetic Hooks, Magnets with Hooks for Hanging, Cruise, Curtain, Home, Kitchen, Workplace(Black)
Magnetic backed organizers are perfect in the bathroom for toothbrushes, toothpaste, and small items to keep the sink area clear.
INTIGE 3-Grid Mesh Wall Mount Pencil Holder, Small Magnetic locker accessories, Black
If you're traveling with a group, a magnetic dry erase board is a great old-school way of passing info & meeting times.
Pen+Gear Magnetic Dry Erase Whiteboard, 8.5" x 11", Rich Black, for School & Office
I swear up, down, left, and right by TravelPro MaxLite suitcases. They're lightweight, durable, and spin on a dime. In short, the perfect suitcase. Depending on the length of your cruise, you might want to get their large or medium luggage (or both).
25 Inch Suitcase - Medium Check-In Spinner | Travelpro Maxlite 5
Like most women, I've tried more swim suit brands than I can count, and I love Hapari tankini sets. They're well-made, flattering, comfortable…what's not to love? They also have one-piece and bikinis that are designed for you to feel cute and confide...
Swimsuits - Hapari
A sarong is such a nice light option for running to the pool and back.
LOFT Beach Garden Stripe Sarong
It's nice to have swim cover-up options to toss on so you can run to grab food without going back to your room.
Ruffle-sleeve Tiered Cover-up For Women
A lot of people go on a cruise to celebrate milestones. Whether it's your anniversary, birthday, wedding, honeymoon, make sure that if you have any celebration supplies, that they're fully biodegradable, preferably water soluble natural materials.
Biodegradable Confetti
Your room key serves as your payment method and port ID as you travel. You use it everywhere. A quality lanyard is a definite must. You can buy a lanyard when you get on the ship, but it will be overpriced. This pack of 4 has your whole crew covered ...
Qweryboo 4 Sets Cruise Lanyard for Cruise Ship Cards, Retractable Cruise Lanyards with 4 Pcs Cruise Luggage Tags & Waterproof Id Badge Holder
Lululemon everywhere belt bags can be worn as fanny packs or crossbody bags. They're so versatile, and they're the perfect travel accessory, especially on a cruise ship where you'll only need the barest of necessities as you explore.
Everywhere Belt Bag 1L | Bags, Purses, Wallets | lululemon
I'm a big fan of Vera Bradley backpacks. They're sturdy, lightweight, super cute, and they have a perfect number of pockets. Whatever brand you're partial to, you'll definitely want a good-sized bag, both for the essentials that you need before your ...
Large Bancroft Backpack
Okay, so this is definitely not a necessity, but you can buy a snorkel mask for about the same amount that you can rent one at a port-of-call beach. Plus, it avoids the ick factor of a used snorkel mask. A nice thing to pack if you're not short on sp...
Aqua Dolfino Full Face Mask for Snorkeling, Teal, Small/Medium, Ages 12+
Pack a lightweight mesh laundry bag to keep your small cabin neat. (This is actually something I pack whenever I travel!)
Mesh Laundry Bag Heavy Duty Drawstring Bag, Factories, College, Dorm, Travel and Apartment Dwellers, 24 x 36 Inches, 2 Pack, White
Even if your itinerary is somewhere warm and tropical, bring a sweater or jacket. The evenings and indoor spaces can get quite chilly.
Seasoft Full Zip
Don't let weather dampen your fun. Be sure to pack a rainjacket or poncho.
Patagonia Houdini Jacket - Women's | REI Co-op
Different cruise lines have different fun little traditions. For instance, on Royal Caribbean cruises, passengers often bring along little ducks to leave around the ship in common areas to exchange. Don't go overboard (literally) but get creative and...
Bag of 100 Quacky Cruise Ducks – 3D Printed Mini Ducks
Okay, so this definitely takes the duck fun up a level (and by no means is this a necessity), but it's very cute and would make so many memories, especially if you're cruising with kids.
Cruising Duck Exchange Mailbox Door Magnet | Leave One Take One Box Cruise Door Decoration
Most cruise ships have more outlets than they used to, but if you're traveling with a lot of devices, a cruise-approved power strip is a great thing to toss in your bag.
BOHASHIN Power Strip with USB Ports,Cruise Essentials,Power Strip with 3 Outlets and 3 USB Ports(1 USB C), Non Surge Protector for Cruise Ship, Travel, Home Office, ETL Listed
Binoculars are a great things to bring on Northern cruises where you're doing a lot of scenery and nature-watching.
CORSICAN (BLUE) | Field Issue 8x32 Waterproof Binoculars
I have sensory issues, so I'm very picky about my sunscreen. Sun Bum works great and has a light, coconut scent. The spray makes it easy to get hard-to-reach spots.
Sun Bum Original Sunscreen Spray - SPF 50 - 6oz
This is my absolute favorite sunscreen when I don't have to cover my entire body. It's not greasy at all and absorbs almost instantly with no scent.
2024 New Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen Sweat proof SPF50/PA+++ Sunblock Sunscreen Blue,3PCS Mineral-Based Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin
These sunscreen application brushes revolutionized sunblock application for myself and my kids. My hands stay clean, and the unbelievably soft, dense bristles are great for people with sensory issues.
Mothercould Sunscreen Brush Set - 2 Pack
For face, shoulders, and décolletage, this brush-on sunscreen is fabulous, quick, and easy!
(Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder Sunscreen SPF 35 PA+++
I still like to have a little color and glow to my otherwise pale skin, so in the summer or when cruising, I use this self-tanner on my legs. It's a very natural-looking shade and doesn't have a strong scent to it.
Love at First Tan 1 Hour Self Tan Mousse - b.tan
The secret to a nice, natural-looking, non-streaky self tan is to exfoliate well before applying and then use a mitt to apply it evenly in small circles.
Double Sided Luxe Tan Applicator Mitt
One of the best ways to protect yourself from the sun is by covering up strategically.
Woven Palm Sun Hat
Even though today's cruise ships have stabilizers that minimize motion sickness, I always start the voyage with a low-drowsy Dramamine to avoid any issues because I'm susceptible to seasickness if I don't nip it in the bud before it starts. It's also...
Dramamine All Day Less Drowsy, Motion Sickness Relief, Sensitive Stomach, 8 Count
A lot of people book their shore excursions through Viator. It's a great option to save money on the exact same tours and activities and they have free cancellations. BUT be aware that if you go on a non-cruise line sponsored excursion, they will dep...
Viator
This cute cruise shirt just makes me laugh.
Comfort Colors We Cruise At Dawn Shirt, Funny Frog Meme Cruise Tee, Cruising Squad Shirt, Girls Trip Cruise Shirt
Cruise ship door magnets are far from necessary, but in a long hallway of cabin doors that all look alike, it really is nice to have something on your door that sets it apart and makes it easier to find. There are so many cute and fun options on Etsy...
Stained Glass Cruise Ship Magnet - Personalized Cruise Door Magnet with Custom Text
One of those not essential but definitely nice and convenient, a reusable cruise luggage tag holder makes it super easy to switch out your bag tag. Especially helpful if your bags are going straight from the airport to the cruise port.
WLGJL 20 Pack Luggage Tags for Cruise Ship Essentials for NCL, Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Necessities
Great little portable fan. This is a great addition for hot sleepers, especially.
DXIMRX Small Desk Fan, Portable USB Rechargeable Fan with 5000mAh Battery and LCD Display, Strong Wind, Ultra Quiet, Mini Table Fans for Office, Home, Travel Fan, Beige
I always travel with ear plugs for sleeping, but it's especially nice to have them on a cruise with tight corridors and small spaces.
Flents Quiet Time® Soft Comfort Ear Plugs (NRR 33) (10 Pair)