Cruise Essentials - Must Have Cruise Accessories and Great Things To Take On A Cruise
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Cruise Essentials
As I’m about to embark on my 2nd ever cruise, a 17-day tour of South America and Antarctica, I started to think about what I needed for this exciting adventure. Cruise travel is a different experience from my usual land travel and requires a few specific items. There are a few items unique to a sea voyage that you’ll need to make the trip smooth and enjoyable. From organizers to help make use of that tiny cabin space, to practical items like towel bands and power strips with USB ports for your nightstand these cruise essentials will make the trip a lot easier.
I’ve put together a list of these cruise accessories, so you can get everything you need for your trip. Luckily, all of these items are available on Amazon for easy shopping and free shipping if you’re an Amazon Prime member. Read on for all the great things to take on a cruise.
Great Things To Take On A Cruise
There are a few cabin accessories that will make life on your trip away from home a lot easier. I’ve also included a few things that will be great for excursions and your time on the beach.
A Cruise Ship Approved Power Strip
You won’t have much outlet space in your cabin, so a power strip is a definite cruise necessity. I like this cruise ship approved power strip with 2 USB ports, 1 USB-C port, and 3 outlets. It’s great for charging your phone, tablet, and other electronic devices.
A Cruise Cabin Over Door Organizer
This over door organizer holds your cruise ship essentials. From toiletries to shoes, the 15 pockets hold your belongings and help keep your cabin organized. It’s a real space saver and the low price makes it well worth the purchase.
Cruise Lanyards
One of the absolute cruise necessities is a cruise lanyard. You’ll want to carry your room key and ID at all times and a lanyard makes this super easy. Many cruise lines will have these for sale, but you’ll get a much better price and more style options on Amazon.
Cruise Card Holder That Attaches To Your Phone
If you don’t want to go with cruise lanyards, another great way to keep track of your cruise card, ID, and credit cards is this handy pouch that attaches to the back of your phone.
Cruise Luggage Tags
Every cruise line will require you to print their luggage tags and attach them to your bag. Annoyingly, every cruise line prints these tags in different sizes, requiring a specific tag holder. I’ve included all the major cruise lines below with their uniquely sized luggage tag protector.
Carnival Cruise Luggage Tag Holders
Royal Caribbean Luggage Tag Holders
Norwegian Cruise Lines Luggage Tag Holders
Princess Cruise Lines Luggage Tag Holders
Disney Cruise Line Luggage Tag Holders
Things To Bring On A Cruise Ship For Health
This part of the cruise essentials list is specific to health and hygiene. These are all items that help with keeping you looking and feeling your best while at sea.
A TSA Approved Travel Bottle Set
Fill these TSA-approved bottles with your own shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion to have everything you need to stay clean while cruising.
Hand Sanitizer
One of the most important things to bring to a cruise, these small hand sanitizers fit easily in your bag and help ward off nasty germs. Trust me, there are plenty of bacteria and viruses scattered around cruise ships, so it’s good to sanitize your hands after touching communal surfaces.
Sunscreen
If you’re spending tons of time outdoors on your trip, sunscreen is a must. I love this reef-friendly Sun Bum SPF 50 spray. It comes in a handy 2 pack so you’ll have enough for your whole trip.
Sea-Band Sea Sickness Acupressure Bands
I’ve never had an issue with sea sickness on cruise ships, but this time I will be going through the Drake Passage where water swells up to 15 feet or more. If you are prone to sea sickness or have a particularly rough route as I do, you may want to invest in some motion sickness relief. These anti-nausea wristbands help you get your sea legs.
Dramamine
Another great option for sea sickness is good old-fashioned Dramamine. You may not need it, but if you do you’ll be grateful you have it. It’s a cheap, small bottle that’s easy to include in your cruise items.
Motion Sickness Patches
The final option for motion sickness are these handy behind the ear patches. Again, you may not need them but if you do you’ll be grateful you packed them.
Upset Stomach Relief
It’s easy to overeat at those fabulous cruise ship buffets. If you do manage to overindulge and get an upset stomach, you’ll want to have fast-acting upset stomach relief. These Kaopectate chews are the perfect remedy.
Silicone Bottle Covers
If you’re going on a longer cruise, like I am, you may want to take some full size toiletries with you. Prevent an explosion in your luggage with these handy silicone bottle covers.
A Travel Razor
With all that time by the water, you may want to shave your legs. This handy travel-size razor comes with its own little travel case making it the perfect on-the-go shaving necessity.
First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is one of my top items to pack for a cruise. It’s great to have band-aids, Neosporin, and other items for blisters and small cuts. You; ‘ll also want to have ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and other basic items, particularly if you don’t have travel insurance. Visits to the cruise ship doctor can be upwards of $500! You can avoid going for little things if you carry a first aid kit as part of your cruise essentials.
Practical Cruise Essentials
These are some more practical items you may want to include when you think about essentials for cruise packing.
A Beach Bag
This collapsible travel tote bag is the perfect way to store all your beach content. Carry a water bottle, flip flops, sunblock, bathing suit, snacks, and other cruise wear and sundries in a waterproof, lightweight bag such as this.
Towel Bands
It can get windy on a cruise ship. Secure your towel to your chair with towel bands to make sure it’s there when you return from the pool. It also keeps your towel from slipping off your chair as you relax and get some rays.
A Portable Motion Sensor Light
Find your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night with this little motion sensor indoor light. It makes the cabin easy to view when you wake up for that late-night pee.
Wrinkle Release Spray
I hate pulling my clothes out of my suitcase only to find them a wrinkled mess almost as much as I hate ironing. Enter Downy wrinkle release spray. Give your clothes a quick refresh on the go with these travel-sized bottles.
Tide Travel Sink Packets
Laundry Detergent Sheets
One of my top tips is to save room in your luggage by washing a few essential clothing items in the sink with these Tide hand wash packets. These are ideal if you’re going on a longer cruise and don’t want to pack 20 outfit changes. They’re the perfect addition to any cruise packing list.
Cruise ships also have laundromats. If you want to pack light and do a load of wash I highly recommend carrying these Arm & Hammer laundry sheets. They spare you from carrying pods that might explode in your bag or liquid detergent which is a pain.
Bathroom Spray
This is a vital item if you’re traveling in a cramped cabin. Prevent nasty bathroom smells from taking over your living quarters with Poo-Pourri. This stuff really works!
Water Proof Cellphone Protectors
If you’re taking a cruise to tropical locations and spending time on the beach, these waterproof phone cases are an absolute must. I’ve taken tons of great snorkeling videos courtesy of these inexpensive little phone protectors. They’re also great for keeping your phone sand-free and on your person.
Portable Cellphone Charger
A great portable charger is a must for any travel. I love this little power bank though because it comes with 4 built-in cables in USB, USB-C, and lightning capable of charging any device on the go. Plus, it takes up very little space.
Travel Hangers
You’ll only get a few hangers in your cabin so unless you want to be living out of your suitcase in the middle of the room, I recommend these folding portable travel hangers. Again, I thrive on organization and making the most out of the space you have on a cruise.
Water Shoes
These are another great beach accessory for those of you going to tropical locations. These beach shoes are a great alternative to flip flops and will keep your feet ultra comfy. Slip one pair into your bag and have happy feet.
The Ultimate Cruise Packing List
Save time and energy wondering what to bring on a cruise with this handy packing list. I love gifting these to frequent travelers as it helps them stay organized and allows them to check off everything they’ll need to pack for the perfect vacation.
A Portable Clothes Line
Wet bathing suits, in-room laundry, and spot cleaning, all require a place to dry. This magnetic clothesline is cruise ship approved and perfect for quick, easy drying of clothing items.
3-In-1 Wireless Charger
I love an all-in-one charger like this wireless magnetic charging station. Charge your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple watch with one handy device.
Final Thoughts on Cruise Essentials And Cruise Accessories
So there you have it, what to pack for a cruise, cruisewear not included. I hope this list of Amazon cruise essentials to pack for your next adventure has been helpful. If you need help organizing it all you can always check out my list of the best packing cubes.
I hope you enjoy your next cruise and remember to share this list of things to pack for a cruise if you found it helpful.
