Packing Tips for Cruising

Many people bring along a fan for the cabin. Not only does it help to have some air circulating in the room (there are no ceiling fans in a cruise cabin), but it is also nice to have white noise to drown out any sounds while you sleep.  For about $20 on Amazon, this model has two speed settings and will fit on a nightstand.

One important tip — no matter which sort of fan you bring, you want something compact. Remember that you’re going to have to lug it to the ship and back home.

Have an iPhone? What about a tablet or a laptop? A small fan? A nightlight, curling iron or straightener? You can see that outlet space can be at a premium in a small cruise cabin.

That’s why we recommend packing an adapter or two that will expand the number of plugs. 

You can pick one up for just around $5 on Amazon. Just be sure it doesn’t have a surge protector, which isn’t allowed on the ship. 

 You likely already have a suitcase or a duffel bag to pack your clothes in, but it’s a good idea to switch over to a 4-wheel spinner suitcase if you don’t have one. The walkway from the cruise terminal to your cabin can be pretty long. There are often stairs, inclined walkways, and thresholds to pass. 

 Having a traditional rolling bag gets caught up in your feet and takes up a lot of space when dragging it behind you. A 4-wheeled suitcase like this one can be right at your side and is also much easier to navigate down narrow cruise ship hallways.

The cabins on a ship can get dark — especially if you’ve booked an interior room that doesn’t have windows. So, what happens if you get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night while trying to navigate a small, unfamiliar cabin with furniture? Your shins pay the price.

We like to pack along a glowing nightlight like the ones above to give us a little something to see by. The lights shown here cost about  $10 for two on Amazon.

 It’s been said that the key to a happy marriage is a good bathroom fan. Unfortunately, cruise ships don’t offer fan vents and the cabin is pretty small. If you have a balcony then you have a source of fresh air. Otherwise, you might want some Poo-Pourri to help mask bathroom odors. 

This stuff doesn’t go in the air. You spray the toilet water before you go and it creates a seal on the surface that keeps odors away. People who use it swear by it.

There’s no glossing over the recent health issues that have hit the world and the cruise industry. While cruise lines go to major lengths to keep people healthy on their trip, it’s a good idea to take matters into your own hands.  There are hand sanitizer dispensers all over ships, but it’s smart to bring your own so that you don’t have to hunt. Use it regularly throughout the cruise. The good news is that it’s not expensive. Just be sure to get smaller containers that can fit easily in a pocket or a purse.  

  Nothing beats sitting out on the balcony of the ship, watching the stars and sipping a glass of your favorite vino. The good news is that most cruise lines allow you to bring a bottle of wine or champagne along with you (sorry, beer and booze aren’t allowed).

We’ve all done the dance when we want to open a bottle of wine and search frantically for a corkscrew. If you can’t find one, it usually ends up with you cutting out the cork… and spitting out bits of cork every time you take a sip of your drink. So be sure to pack a corkscrew with your wine. A $4 purchase can save you a lot of headaches.

If you bring a bottle of wine, then you should always pack it in your carry-on. This way you don’t have to worry about it breaking, leaking through your clothes for the week, and possibly getting on other people’s luggage.

Still, it’s a good idea to protect those fragile bottles, even in your carry-on. A leakproof bottle protector offers some protection so you don’t have to worry about accidental breaking.

 +Let’s be clear. You shouldn’t bring enough shoes to fill up an entire shoe organizer. However, they serve more than one purpose.

Hang it over the bathroom door and you have a perfect place to put small items like deodorant, shampoo bottles, sunscreen bottles, and anything else. This way you don’t have to take up valuable counter space in the small ship bathrooms. You can find them for less than $10 on Amazon.

Sticky notes? On a cruise? Don’t laugh. They are awesome for leaving little notes in the cabin for your family to let them know where you are. You can also use them to write notes to the cabin steward should something need attention while cleaning the room.

No need to bring hundreds, but a dozen sticky notes come in handy every cruise.

 If you are planning to go to the beach, you’ll want somewhere to keep your passport, credit cards, room key, and cash dry. This bag is a best-seller and is less than $10 on Amazon. You can also use it for your phone if you want to bring it with you to the beach.