I have been on 22 cruises now and have learned a lot about what you need on a cruise. I’m excited to share my essential items with you here! All of these items can be found at Amazon by following the links provided. #ad
Most cruise lines have you print your own luggage tags at home. This can be a problem- what if the paper tags tear or rip off your luggage? You can get luggage tag sleeves to tuck your tags into for security. They are inexpensive and durable. These tag sleeves work for NCL, Princess, MSC and Carnival. And these work for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.
It’s smart to bring a reusable water bottle or tumbler with you on a cruise. Fill up at the beverage station and you’ll be all set to chill out by the pool for hours! I love my Simple Modern 40 oz Trek Tumbler.
No one wants to lug their large purse or handbag around a cruise ship when all you really need are a few essentials. I carry a wristlet that’s large enough to hold my phone, some lip gloss, etc. I like this one- it’s casual enough for day, but the silver color dresses it up enough for evening.
Most cruise lines issue you a key card upon embarkation. This card is your room key, charge card, etc. for the length of your cruise. If you’ve cruised with your cruise line previously, you may receive a cruise line branded lanyard to carry your card. But if you’re new to the cruise line, you’ll need to bring your own. I like these with a retractable badge reel. They keep your card handy and are waterproof.
The walls and doors of most cruise line cabins are made of metal, and are woefully lacking of hooks and storage. These magnetic hooks hold up to 30 pounds and are perfect for storing hats, wet swimsuits, bags, etc. They are small and easy to pack.
Cruise ship hallways are long and can be identical to each other, making it difficult to find your stateroom. Most cruise lines let you decorate your stateroom door with magnets and magnetic decorations. This makes it much easier to find your room and it’s fun! I like this set that includes a small whiteboard so you can leave messages for your travel mates and/or other cruisers! Note- Norwegian prohibits door decorations.
Steamers and irons are not allowed in your stateroom on cruises, and sending your clothes out to be pressed can be pricey on a cruise. So I always bring a small spray bottle of Downy Wrinkle Release spray. It works quickly and smells great!
Nothing is worse than finally getting to your cruise stateroom, unpacking, and finding out your lotion or shampoo leaked everywhere in your suitcase! I use these silicone bottle covers and no more leaks! They stretch to fit just about any size bottle, making them perfect for travel.
Cruise cabins can be small, and no one wants to pull out their suitcase daily to put away dirty clothes. I always take our pop up hamper. I put it in the closet in our stateroom and toss all my dirty clothes in there throughout the cruise. It folds down really small and compact, so it’s easy to pack.
If you’re going on a cruise to a tropical locale, it can get really hot. And I hate to be hot! I love this rechargeable fan that’s compact but powerful. Plus it folds flat for packing. Bonus- white noise for when you’re sleeping!
If you wear makeup, then you need a lighted travel makeup mirror! I love mine- it’s lightweight and has 3 lighting modes. I also like this magnifying option.
Bonus tip! Most cruise line staterooms now have light switches right at the entrance to the room that operate only when your key card is inserted. But it’s easy to walk right out of your room and forget your key card in the light switch. So I always bring an extra card to keep in the light switch. A library card or an old cruise key card will work. Any card that’s credit card sized.
And there you have it, my top cruise essentials! I hope you found something helpful in this list, if so, let me know. Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments. Bon Voyage and happy cruising! 🛳
Bless Your Heart 