10 Things I Won’t Cruise Without

There are a lot of things you are going to pack when you go on a cruise. Some you will need, some you will use but could do without, and even a few things that may never leave your suitcase. I’ve gone on several cruises at this point, and there are definitely some things I always make sure to have when I cruise. 

I made up a list of 10 Things I Won’t Cruise Without. Now, this isn’t a complete list because I’m not going to mention the obvious like bringing shirts, shorts and underwear. No. This is a list of things new cruisers may not think to bring, or may not realize how important they are to have.

1. Passport – If you are American and taking a cruise that begins and ends in the US, then you technically do not need a passport to sail, and there are definitely people out there who choose to cruise without a passport, I am not one of them. While it may cost a little more time and money to have a passport, it lasts 10 years and can save you a lot of headache and grief if something were to happen and you found yourself stuck in a foreign port and needing to get back home. Which brings me to the second thing I won’t cruise without…

2. Travel Insurance – I hope that I never need to use my travel insurance, but the more cruises I go on, the more likely I will one day need it. Whether it’s because something comes up prior to the cruise that forces me to cancel, maybe its lost luggage, or needing medical attention while in a foreign port, insurance can save you a lot of money if you find yourself in the wrong situation.

3. My Phone – Your phone is actually an important thing to make sure you have with you on your cruise. It’s unlikely most people would travel without their phone, but first time cruisers, especially those planning on not getting a wifi package, may not realize how important your phone will still be. Most cruise lines will have an app that you can download onto your phone and depending on the ship, you can go from the app being useful, to almost necessary. Some things you can do in the apps are: look at deck maps, keep track of your purchases, see what is available to do during the day, get reservations, order food, see where your shipmates are, and even send them messages. The ship apps are becoming more and more useful and important. Your phone is also going to allow you to capture memories through photos and videos. Gone are the day when you need your phone and a camera as most smartphones have better cameras than anything an average person would own. Even people who do have expensive DSLRs may find that it is much easier to use a phone that they are already going to have with them than carry around a camera and multiple lenses.

4. Cruise bag. Now, I actually bring 3 bags with me when I cruise: a backpack, a beach bag (because so far I’ve only cruised the Caribbean), and a small purse. However, It’s not necessary to have all three, even for women! However, there is one of those three that I wouldn’t cruise without, and that is the backpack! I like to have a beach bag if I know I am spending a day on the beach. It is better than a backpack when it comes to carrying a towel and other beach items, but I could still use my backpack as a beach bag if necessary. Having a small purse to carry around the ship in the evenings is convenient. I use a crossbody that fits my phone, chapstick and some cash. Something small is nice for going to the MDR, a show, or a bar. But like the beach bag, I could do without that crossbody if I needed to because I could replace it with my backpack or just make sure to wear something with pockets. It is the backpack that serves the most functions when traveling. I spent a long time picking out just the right one for me, and I love it. When I’m in port, it has a hidden section if I’m worried about pickpockets. It had a section that almost acts like a wallet. It has a place for a water bottle. And any small purchases I make can fit inside as well. During a sea day, I like to pack a book, maybe some embroidery, and head somewhere to relax and people watch. A backpack is perfect to keep everything with me. My next “must have” is also a multipurpose item.

5. A pair of comfortable, multipurpose shoes. At this point you might be saying, “thanks for the advise Captain Obvious,” but give me a minute to explain. The average cruiser is going to be walking A LOT! Whether on the ship or in port, you’re probably going to be getting in a lot more steps than you are used to. I’m of the belief that you really only need three pairs of shoes for most cruises, but I’ll leave that explanation for another video. One of those pairs though should be a pair of shoes that you can use most of the time. For me, that is usually going to be a lightweight pair of tennis shoes. I like to have something that I can use whether I am walking around the ship on a sea day or hiking up hills during a Mayan ruin excursion. 

6. Charging Station. If you have ever been cruising before, or done any research into it, you probably know two things: there aren’t a lot of outlets in the cabins and you can’t bring anything with a surge protector. That is why I bring something like this (show charging station). It has a long cord so I have a little more length if the outlet is in an inconvenient location, There are several outlets where I can plug things in as well as USB outlets. These are relatively inexpensive and come in all shapes and sizes to meet your needs. This one stays in my travel bag along with charging cords for all my devices. 

7. Magnetic hooks and clips – People new to cruising may not realize this, but the ship’s cabins are made of metal. Cabins, or staterooms as they are often called, are actually made individually and then pieced together like building blocks when a ship is being built. Because they are made of metal, you can use magnets on the walls and ceilings. I always bring some really strong magnetic hooks with me when I cruise because they create places to hang things like hats, purses, jackets, and your lanyard. Storage space is often a premium aboard ship, so hanging items on the walls for easy access just makes sense!

8. Speaking of lanyards, I never cruise without my lanyard. So far, I have only cruised on ships where you get a card, not a medallion. For me, using a lanyard is the easiest way to have access to that card. I prefer one with a clip at the end so I can easily remove my card and hand it to bartenders without having to take the lanyard off from around my neck. I know not everyone likes to use a lanyard, but whatever it is you choose to keep track of your card or medallion (whether that is a purse, bag, cell phone wallet, a medallion wristlet), don’t leave home without it. Wether its a card or a medallion, you will need it to purchase anything aboard ship, get on and off at ports, and get into your room. So you don’t want to lose it!

9. Medical Kit – I like to make sure I have any medications I might need. Of course I make sure to bring my prescription mediation, but I also make sure I have any over the counter meds I might need. Unless it is something I use regularly, I will buy travel packs of most over the counter medications so they don’t take up much room, but I am still able to bring a variety. I even bring sea sickness medication even though I’ve never gotten sea sick. And I have experienced rough seas where half the crew was out sick. When it comes to traveling with medication I highly suggest that you make sure all your medication is in its original packaging or prescription bottle. This is why I buy travel sized versions of pain medications; I don’t want to pack the full sized bottle. I know people like to use the weekly pill containers; however, if you were to have your bags checked by law enforcement at any point in your travels, you could find yourself temporarily detained while you attempt to prove that you have a prescription for that schedule 2 narcotic or that your Advil bottle full of random over the counter meds isn’t hiding opiates. Is the ship going to check your pills? No. But weird things happen. What if you get pulled over driving to port as a suspected drunk driver because you dropped something and swerved, or you were paying too much attention to your gps and kept floating over into the other lane. Law enforcement has a legitimate suspicion that you might be an impaired driver. That can lead to searches of your bags. You want your medication to be in its original packaging and subscription bottles.

10. Sun protection! I make sure to have plenty of sunscreen and at least two pairs of sunglasses. I have been made fun of multiple times for coming back from a cruise to the Caribbean without a tan because I actually avoid the sun most of the time; however, that doesn’t mean I don’t bring sunscreen for those days walking in port or lounging on the beach (even though it is is usually under an umbrella). When it comes to sunglasses, I rarely go anywhere without sunglasses even when I’m not closer to the equator. Going without sunglasses isn’t good for your eyes and I don’t need to bring on more wrinkles due to squinting.