The internet is an invaluable tool when it comes for researching upcoming travel, but, like most things in life, you learn the most about how to travel by just doing it yourself. As I was packing for our second family cruise, I felt so much more prepared than the first time. In so many ways, I didn’t know what I didn’t know on that first cruise. That experience taught me what we needed, what we didn’t, and what we absolutely couldn’t live without on a cruise ship. Some of these “must haves” are things that I never would have thought to pack for a cruise, but experience has taught me what often forgotten and random items I will throw into my cruising suitcase from now on.
Must Have Items for a Family Cruise that Aren’t Already on Your List
1.A power strip. Power outlets are very limited in your stateroom, and unless you are planning to unplug completely, you will need more than a couple of spots to plug in your gear. Complete electronic shutdown would be tantamount to torture, as far as my kids are concerned, so we need to max out our power. Also, keep in mind that the outlets are often not located conveniently, so you may want to bring an extension cord. Some cruise lines (like Disney) have extension cords onboard to borrow for the cruise, but they are first-come, first-served.
2. A Refillable Drink Container. Tea, lemonade, and sometimes soda flow freely onboard a cruise ship at any hour of the day or night. That’s the good news. The bad news is that they are served in teeny, tiny cups to keep you from overindulging. Ha! Overindulgence is the hallmark of any good cruise, and you don’t want to be left out. A refillable drink container will allow you to fill your cup to the brim, and carry with you throughout the ship or ashore for a port adventure.
3. An empty duffle bag. Much like dirt never goes back into the hole, clothes never go back into a suitcase quite the way they did when they were first packed. An empty duffle bag allows you to relieve your overflowing bags and even have some room for those souvenirs.
4. A day bag. Whether you are going ashore or just exploring the ship, you will have a few items that you want to carry with you. A small shoulder bag will do the trick.
5. A light jacket or sweater. Oh sure, it’s all about sun and surf, and I am sure you are dreaming of soaking up some rays. When the sun goes down and the wind blows (if the ship is moving, the wind is blowing), it can be downright cold on deck. Indoor areas are often over air-conditioned, as well.
6.Ziplock Bags-quart and gallon sized. Ziplock bags, oh how I love you. Let me count the ways. I love you for holding wet swimwear and for packing a snack to take ashore when we are in port. I love you for holding ice when a race down the stairs ends in abruptly with collision. I love you for containing the sunscreen and not letting it leak all over my luggage. I love you for gently encasing that ridiculously overpriced picture I purchased. Your uses are just too numerous, my dear.
7. Highlighter . One of the highlights (pun totally intended) of any day on a cruise ship is coming back to your room after dinner and finding it prepared for the evening. It’s not just the thrill of the little chocolates on your pillow, and the too cute towel animals that excite; it’s also the arrival of the schedule for the next day. A highlighter will help you emphasize what you don’t want to miss on the schedule.
8. Map. Of course, it’s the captain’s job to know where you are going and how to get there, but you can have a little geography fun of your own while onboard. Bring a laminated map and see if you can find the home countries of your servers and other people you meet onboard. The servers love to show the kids where they live, and the kids will be picking up a little geography as a bonus. (Shhh! Don’t tell!)
9. Wipes. Don’t leave home without them.
10. Sticky Notes. Great for leaving your family a note in the stateroom, or let your cabin attendant know that you need something extra. It’s fun to leave little notes for your kids on the bathroom mirror, too. It’s a vacation, after all. Enjoy it!
Thanks for good ideas! One of the best cruise tips I received before we went on a family Disney cruise was to bring a magnet of some kind to put on our door to identify it. I as amazed at how clever some families were, with Mickey labels surrounding their portholes with Disney-font names emblazoned on them. But just having our own flowers with my girls' names on them made it so much more fun to find our door in the long hallway! Also a small dry-erase page and marker is good for memos about who is where.
Not all cruiseships have doors that support magnets . We are big door decorators and none of the Carnival ships will support them (due to decorative overlay). We suggest the use of Command Strips (NEVER use tape!).
I would add an alarm clock! Most cruise cabins do not come with alarm clocks like hotel rooms.
We bring an over-door hanging pocket organizer. It hangs perfectly on the bathroom door and is a great place to stow all the little clutter that can take up horizontal surfaces. I found it a very useful place to stash my tip dollars as it was right by the door. I want to go on another cruise!
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This is such a great list. Nothing on it takes up that much extra space in a suitcase but having these items will definitely come in very handy on many occasions.
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Most of the time they will not let you bring power strips on board a cruise ship (fire hazard on a boat does not equal pleasant.) A lot of the time they will take then when your bag goes through security. So it’s best to just not bring them at all.
I guess that varies from cruise line to cruise line and even ship to ship, Robyn. We have included power strips on three separate trips and never had them confiscated.
Which cruise line? We’re leaving on carnival victory from Miami .
Safe travels to you all and to those who helped with great suggestions thank you!
Just wondering, did Carnival Victory allow the power strip? I’ll be on the Victory real soon and wanted to bring a power strip for our electronics 🙂 Thanks!
Royal Caribbean has taken my power strip away 🙁
Since most electronics have the USB charging option these days, you’re best just getting a huge portable charger and charging the devices that way rather than risking a power strip. Even if they do let them through, they are a huge fire hazard so please don’t put everyone on the ship at risk.
i always bring a flashlight with a magnet. It fits on any wall or door. Found mine for $2.00 at Harbor Freight. For fun I found a map of the U.S. And used command strips to put it on our door. I leave a bunch of gold stars with a note to tell passers-by to please put a star on their state or city. The reaction is always great. Have fun is the game!
We are going on a cruise next month and some of these are things I hadn’t thought to throw in, like the power strip, great idea!
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We have been on 2 cruises and could of really used your tips on them! Our next cruise I will be sure to pack according to your tips!
I’ve never been on a cruise! Saving this so I can reference in the future!
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Great post! We are definitely adding the items you highlighted in your blog post on our next travel packing list! Carnival Cruise Lines… here we come! 🙂
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Royal Caribbean doesn’t allow power strips with cords but now they have some great ones on Amazon that you just plug into the outlet, the one I use has 4 sockets and 2 USB ports in case you take a laptop or tablet. I always take Command hooks to put by the door to hang lightweight jackets or something you might need on the way out and you can remove them easily when done. We also take duct tape you know the great fancy colors or designs that they have now, we use it to put on all our luggage so we can easily identify it at the airport and in the customs area when you get off the ship plus you would be surprised at all the things that might come up that you could use it for. We almost always have something to use it for on every cruise. When we were in Alaska it stays light out so late it was great to help keep the curtains closed so you can go to sleep when it’s still light out at 1 am.
On one of our cruises, the airline somehow put a big cut into our suitcase. We went down to the shops and bought duct take to repair the cut so we did not have to buy a suitcase to go home.
I also pack a night light. Those cabins are pitch black when that door slams behind you.
A lanyard is great for holding you onboard/room key. Easy to have around your neck and keeps it from getting lost.
I am planning s 50th Anniversary cruse for my in-laws. I got everyone going small lightweight duffle bags to use for carrying their stuff around on ship and on excursions, I embroidered each person’s name on then and included insalated water bottles, walkie talkies, post it notes highlighters,sunscreen, aftercare if they get sunburn, bug spray and Chapstick with sunscreen. Each room gets an over the door storage, a magnetic chalkboard, a couple of magnets, room deodorizers toilet bombs for oder control, hanging clothes line with clips for wet clothes. Nightlights sunhats for the woman and baseball hats for the men. I looked at s lot off sagestions from various sites and included them as well. I also made wooden life preservers for the cabin doors with postcards showing where the people in the cabins were from. They will be turned into picture frames with our group cruse picture. Cant wait to see everyone’s reaction.
Holy crap. You’re amazing!! Invite me please!!
This stuff is amazing for controlling toilet odor in small spaces (& anywhere). My friend lived in Hawaii for several years & it was sold in Drugstores there. I think she said it is used a lot by Asian culture. You can buy it at Amazon. One bottle lasts forever. It works great on airplanes, too. https://www.amazon.com/Two-Pack-One-Drop-Concentrated-Deodorizer-0-67/dp/B00D1X47E8/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1466380786&sr=8-1&keywords=One+drop
Sticky notes are also good to leave thank you notes for the room staff that work in your room every day!