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Royal Caribbean has a two-bottle maximum for wine and Champagne — with no corkage fee if you imbibe in your cabin. Lanyards are a great idea for cruising kids, who aren't used to carrying around a wallet or ID. They'll need their cruise card handy to check in and out of the kids club and to get into your cabin when they run ahead. When you board a cruise ship, the items you bring with you in your carry-on might be the only possessions you can access for the entire first afternoon you're on board. An easy way to find your cabin is to put magnetic decorations on your door.
Must-Have Alaskan Cruise Tips, Tricks, and Secrets
Make sure your cruise packing list accounts for your pre- and post-cruise travel needs, as well as items useful for your time on board. Some savvy cruisers bring a refillable water bottle and insulated coffee cup with a lid to get their caffeine jolt at the buffet, and then carry the cup on their rambles around the ship. Because suitcases are delivered to your cabin, I always make two packing lists for every cruise I take.
Bags
After sailing on more than 50 cruises, I’ve learned a thing or two about what to pack for a cruise. Besides the necessary cruise clothes, my packing list includes key items, such as towel clips and a hand scale. A top tip for embarkation day is to pack a day bag with essentials. With swimwear, flip flops, cover-up, and sunblock in hand, rather than in your checked baggage, you can head straight for the pool once you’re onboard and let the vacation begin.
Phone Charger
The lower latitudes of the Caribbean mean the sun is much stronger than your skin is likely used to. First, passports are smart in case something comes up and you have to leave the cruise early to return home. To be honest, however, the vast majority of cruises go off without a hitch. It’s a completely different world under there, and the beauty of snorkeling in tropical waters shouldn’t be missed (especially if you have kids or teens!). And while you can rent gear from most places you’ll visit on your cruise, we’d actually recommend bringing your own equipment. You shouldn’t bring enough shoes to fill up an entire shoe organizer.
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Keep important documents in your carry-ons.
Meet the Ace Marks Travel Derby, which does exactly that. A not-too-dressy but not-too-casual chunky heeled sandal with an ankle strap is all you need to pair with your evening outfits, and this Vionic Rosabel is the perfect choice. It comes in several tempting colors (including a bright verde green and more subdued terra cotta), though the wheat will go with everything in your suitcase. These offer three-zone comfort with arch support and the built-in orthotic can help treat plantar fasciitis. Another easy way to switch from daytime casual to nighttime chic is with a jumpsuit, like this soft and adorable strapless number from ZESICA.
Apart from clothing, shoes, and accessories, you’ll want your stateroom bathroom and vanity well-stocked with all of your favorite personal hygiene products from home. If you are on a longer sailing, consider taking advantage of the onboard laundry service rather than overpacking. Keep in mind that ships are equipped with gyms and outdoor tracks, fitness classes abound, and many ports welcome runners, kayakers, bikers, and other active types. There’s no need to skip out on your fitness regime if you don’t want to, so bring along your activewear, too.
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Keep your daily newsletters, invitations and excursion tickets in order with magnetic clips affixed above the desk. While you're at it, download your cruise line, airline and pre-cruise hotel's app, as well as the Mobile Passport Control app to speed up the customs process. Also, remove all old cruise and airline tags and stickers from your luggage to avoid confusion. Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week. Pack sticky notes to leave notes for your cabin attendant or cabin mates. Tissue paper can be placed between clothing make of linen or cotton to reduce friction, which increases the chance of wrinkles forming in the clothing.
Hacks for getting started on your cruise packing
And remember that the beauty of a cruise vacation is that once you get everything into your bag, you only have to unpack one time after boarding the ship. So simply zip through this comprehensive list of things to pack for a cruise, and you’ll be packed like a pro and ready to go in no time. Shoe bags prevent sand or dirt from getting on your clothes and other belongings. I don't know about you, but my flip-flops and water shoes do not belong next to my snorkel or my water bottle.
Guests can also bring non-alcoholic beverages up to 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles, or cartons per stateroom. Milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use are permitted. Whether it is a beach day, bicycle tour, or snorkeling, there are a few things you should probably include for your port days.
Don't forget to pack outfits for cruise ship theme nights. Popular themes include white night, pirate night and Halloween — and, yes, cruisers do go all-out with costumes. Check with your cruise line to see which parties or theme nights will take place, and then pack accordingly.
In general, the same rules apply to men and women when it comes to packing for a cruise. Keep shorts, jeans and pants to a minimum and devote space to fresh shirts, tank tops, polos and what not. On nearly every mainstream cruise line, you can forgo a suit or tuxedo. If you'd like to spiff things up, consider a sport coat, but it's generally not required. In especially scenic destinations, such as Alaska or Scandinavia, you might want to bring binoculars and/or a DSLR camera (rather than relying on your phone for photos). Don't forget accessories like extra batteries, chargers and memory cards.
Here's hoping you find some useful and creative tips in this list of the top 26 cruise packing hacks. Packing for a cruise is an art form, and everyone has their favorite cruise packing hacks. These unisex Ray-Bans are durable, come in a classic black or tortoiseshell, and are sure to help you spot any whales or other passing ships at sea while protecting your eyes from wind. Pack some magnet hooks to hand your hats, sweatshirts and even backpacks in your cruise cabin. Many cruise ship cabin walls are metal, so magnetic hooks are genius!
In addition, some items may need a converter that, as the name implies, converts it to the proper voltage. This is more likely to be an issue for items like flat or curling irons. These can be much more expensive, so best to do your research ahead of time to determine what is needed.
It’s a good idea to pack along a warm hat, preferably one that will cover your ears. You may not need it all the time, but you’ll be thankful that you have for those times when it’s too cold to go out with your head uncovered. Best of all, they are cheap, don’t take up any space, and have a lot of uses. If you are packing, Ziploc bags can help you keep organized. While on your trip, they can keep things like a phone dry in a pinch. And back in the cabin, they can help you keep dirty clothes separate from clean ones.
Start by packing your essential prescription medications. Then, add bandages and antibiotic ointment for attending to small surface wounds. Bring pain relief medication and cold medicine, just in case. Don’t forget antacids and over-the-counter medicines to ease digestion. Sunscreen and aloe vera gel are must-haves so you don’t spend your whole cruise hiding from the sun. Bug repellent and after-bite lotion will also ease your sleep if you’ve run into sand fleas at the beach.
That way you can be sure you get back before the ship leaves port, as well as keep track of when any scheduled activities onboard are about to happen. This one is only around $15 and is water resistant (a must on a cruise). If you're ready to stretch your legs after a long flight and get in some exercise time at the gym, pack a pair of athletic shoes, socks and workout gear in the bag you bring on the ship.
