Top 12 Cruise Packing Tips

cruise packing

If you like to vary your look, pack different color shorts or breezy skirts. For evenings on board, pack a night light or battery-operated candles so you can find your way to the bathroom in the dark. A small, portable sound machine is helpful for blocking out hallway noise if your cabin is in a noisy area of the ship, such as close to the elevator banks.

Evening clothes and accessories

Carry all cameras, electronic games, jewelry and prescription medicine in your carry-on. We’re here with some of our best cruise packing tips, making sure that you remember the essentials and learn a few tricks that will turn you into a cruise packing star. Whether your goal is to avoid checked or excess bag fees by packing light or simply to make sure you pack everything you need, here are our top 12 tips to cruise like a pro. Because suitcases are delivered to your cabin, I always make two packing lists for every cruise I take. The first includes everything I need to pack in my suitcase. The second—more important—list has everything I need in my embarkation day bag, such as passports, medications, a swimsuit, and sunscreen.

Pack with Packing Cubes

If you’re big on collecting souvenirs and buying local handicrafts, leave room in your suitcase for what you bring home. You don’t want to get hit with paying for another checked bag or hauling both your regular carry-on and a shopping bag of loot on your flight home. I, for one, would have withdrawal symptoms if I couldn’t get online every day, so I would select a cruise ship with the latest internet connectivity and pack my laptop. On the other hand, if you want to get away from it all, a cruise ship is the ideal place—and you don’t have to pack any devices, converters, and such. Don’t forget your camera, and a travel extension cord can also come in handy. Travelers sometimes forget that they don’t need to pack a full closet full of personal-care products and accessories in their travel toiletry kit.

European or River Cruises

You won’t need cash to pay cruise ship tips or gratuities, as this can be charged to your credit card during your cruise. For your convenience, you can even prepay gratuities before your cruise if you like. Don’t pack dirty shoes straight into your luggage and next to your clothing. Shoe bags are great to keep your shoes protected, scuff free and are more sanitary. While having a mobile phone isn’t a necessity, it’s a good idea with you as you travel. Many cruise lines are now using apps for check in and even for new muster drills.

As we’ve mentioned, packing for a cruise is a little different than any other vacation. While you need to prepare for lots of different situations — everything from hanging out by the pool to formal night — we actually think it can be easier to pack for a cruise than other trips. That’s because the rules for packing are more relaxed than if you are flying for a vacation.

That groundwork starts with essential documents as part of your cruise packing list. Imagine arriving at the port, the buzz of excited travelers around you, only to realize you’ve forgotten a crucial piece of paper. Inexperienced cruisers have been turned away from the pier for having incorrect forms of ID for their specific cruise.

Children’s Items

Sockwell's compression technology maximizes circulation and reduces swelling in your tootsies, but incorporates merino wool and rayon from bamboo for a soft and moisture-wicking blend. The brand offers men’s and women’s compression socks in a selection of grades (light, medium and firm), as well as tons of colors and patterns. If your mood is saying, “lotus flowers with a touch of burnt sienna,” there is a pair for that. Socks that climb to your knees aren’t exactly suited for beachy shorts and coverups, but I usually wear them on travel days for flights or during hikes or long walking tours.

cruise packing

10 Things You Won't Be Able to Do on Cruises Anymore [2024] - Reader's Digest

10 Things You Won't Be Able to Do on Cruises Anymore .

Posted: Mon, 01 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Many river cruise lines have long provided filtered water in each cabin, along with a keepsake reusable water bottle to refill around the ship and to bring with you in port. When traveling from home to your next cruise, it’s best to have your own reusable water bottle on hand. After all, staying hydrated is key to surviving long travel days and jet lag. Some cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, have a relaxed attitude toward dinner attire, and you can come as you are.

I've Been Cruising 20+ Years — Here Are 17 Items I'm Shopping for My Next Trip With Royal Caribbean, From $6

Overall, pack what you are comfortable wearing, but do check your cruise line’s dress codes. Some are more casual (ie. Norwegian) and some are more formal (ie. Cunard), while others are somewhere in between. For Caribbean cruises, a big beach bag or good size backpack is essential to pack towels, sunscreen and everything you need for cruise shore excursions. While this serum can be used as a leave-in-treatment, I find that it instantly smoothes any frizz as well.

cruise packing

“The braided steel rings secure the tags to the bags much better than staples,” said one cruiser. It morphs from a cross-body, to an over-the-shoulder, to a handbag, to a backpack, as you go from one cruise activity to the next, all day long. Check out the barnacle print, navy anchor, and sea glass designs that are sure to be the talk of the ship. For many, a relaxing or adventure-filled cruise is the ultimate vacation.

Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Search SmarterTravel Hotels for great accommodations in your port of call. When booking a cruise you have two options—booking directly with the cruise line on their site or hunting down the best deals through an online travel agency.

You can grab the paperback books or download them all on your Kindle before you set sail on your voyage. If you haven’t discovered the joy of packing an extension cord yet, trust me it’ll feel like an unexpected luxury on your next trip. My brother and I will be sharing a room on our upcoming trip, so an extension cord is especially vital to lessen sibling bickering (yes, even as grown adults).

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