One thing we have found whenever we take a Carnival cruise is that we always seem to forget at least one thing we wished we had put in the bag. This is our list of 11 Things not to forget to pack for your cruise vacation!
11 things not to forget to pack on your cruise
Your cruise won't be ruined if you don’t have these things but it will certainly be a bit easier with them.
1. Laundry Pen
It is a given that at some point during our cruise vacation we are going to drip, dribble or downright drop something on our brand new clothes. A Laundry Pen
is perfect for these occasions. You can quickly attack the spot and hopefully prevent any staining. If you are worried about staining the cruise ship will have laundry services available. You'll be able to have your clothes cleaned and pressed during the cruise.
2. Adhesive note sheets
We like using these note sheets to leave messages for our cabin steward. You can place them on the mirror and let your cabin steward know if you need something for the room. They also work well for keeping in touch with family members during the cruise.
3. Waterproof bag
A Waterproof Case is a nice way to secure your phone, cruise card and cash while visiting the beach or the pool. These come in various sizes and types. If you can find one that is clear on both sides you can shoot pictures through it while playing in the water. They may not always be the best pictures but they are better than nothing.
4. Electric charging bar
We bring phones, laptops, camera batteries, and so many other electronics with us when we cruise. So we like to pack a brand new electrical extension bar to keep things charged (new, still in packaging, because the cruise line can confiscate one they consider to be potentially unsafe). We don’t use every slot so as not to overpower the socket, but we can get a few things charged each time.
We use this Belkin Charger that also has USB plugins and love it.
5. Refillable water bottle/coffee mug
Depending on where you are cruising it can be super hot or cold. Having a refillable coffee mug lets you enjoy your favorite hot beverage. A reusable water bottle will help you stay cool and hydrated during your cruise.
6. Highlighter
Have a couple of highlighters handy so you can highlight the activities in the Fun Times that you'd like to participate in.
7. Mesh Bag
Some stores do not provide shopping bags for your purchases. Having a Mesh Bag lets you carry all of your purchases without having to juggle them. Mesh bags also work well for wet towels and beach items.
8. Magnet
A magnet gives you the chance to leave notes on the door for your family and friends. You can also put up the fun times schedule so it is easily accessible.
9. Key Card Holder
A hanging Cruise Card Holder
is a good thing to have if you don’t want to worry about carrying your cruise card in your pocket.
10. Sealable Baggies
Sealable baggies in various sizes are an essential addition to your suitcase. They can hold purchases, wet clothes, and so much more. I like to use the gallon size ones to keep my Fun Times so they are safe and dry in my suitcase. I like bringing them home so I can look back on them and remember the cruise.
11. Small purse
Bring a small purse to hold your cruise card and camera when walking around the ship. I always like to have my camera with me so carrying a small purse means I don’t have to always have it in hand.
Extras
If you like to bring wine or alcohol home with you. We also pack Wine Diapers with us. We have taken them around the world and use them over and over again without any issues.
What are your must packs for your cruise vacation?
Additional Cruise Articles
Courtney
What unique tips! Love them all! 🙂
Wayne
Some cruise lines don't allow charge/power strips.
Good list tho. I bring a cheap $1 message board that the crew is happy to mount on the entry door for messages for your traveling entourage.
Steve
Los and lots of aspirin, and some pepto bismol as well.
Kathy
A night light for the bathroom. If you have to get up in the middle of the night, that bathroom light can be pretty cruel.
Buck
Tammilee, DW and I are fairly seasoned travelers (Carnival Gold). I ran across your posts quite by accident and stopped to read one. Reading the first led to the second and so on. I congratulate you on a well written, comprehensive and informative series of posts. Here are some things I do every cruise. We purchase Faster to the Fun ($45 for both, not apiece) well worth it to us to board early, have our cabin ready when we board, have our bags delivered to the cabin quickly and have priority when tendering. I make sure to meet and introduce myself and DW to the room steward early on the first day. I leave an envelope with a $5 bill on the desk, with the steward's name on it, every day. Improves the already great service to a new level. We prefer late dining so we can visit the taste bar before heading into the dining room. We visit the Steak House on sailing day (free bottle of wine you know). I also introduce myself to our waiter, shake his hand and leave a folded $10. Finally, ignore the snaky comments for the ignorant bullies who hide behind their anonymity.
Nicholas Van Dam
What a stupid list. Magnets? Stickies? Hanging card holder? Who is on this cruise? My grandmother? I take condoms, lube, sunscreen, alcohol and more condoms.
dp
An extension cord is a great idea. they are not available for purchase on ship.You may need one for your electical appliance which you brought along. Available ourlets are not always easy to get at.
Pam Miller
Alarm clock, small flashlight, calling cards (like a business card with my name and phone number, and email address) to share with friends we make on board, colorful duck tape to mark our black suitcases.
JONAH
Is an alarm clock really necessary now that pretty much everyone has a smart phone?
John
We always carry an alarm and lock our phones in the safe for the duration of the trip.
Vicki Olson
No not everyone has a smart phone
Daniel Saenz
A penlight and a/or small flash light is critical, Power has been known to go out at times. Most phones have automatic time changes but also have wake-up alarms. You're on vacation no need for wake-up alarms. Duct tape could be useful and so would clear shipping tape as well. How about a hat and sunscreen? Stamps for Post Cards? Sandals? Snorkeling gear? Sea sickness capsules or pills until your sea legs kick in. Be friendly, enjoy yourself, involve yourself in the activities provided by the Cruise Ship - you'll have more fun befriending those on board. Lastly, never get yourself hung over, your get sick from the ship rocking and rolling and may take two to three days before you are feeling better enough to get back to enjoying the trip. Meet people and enjoy your trip. God bless...
bob
Read your list - I've never packed any of these items and I've never felt like I missed them while aboard ship.
I use a 21" carry on for my 7 or 10 day cruises, no need to bring more. I am not moving, just going on vacation.
I do bring a small penlight flashlight and binoculars.
Ellie Perry
This has to be my second favourite writing in the last
few days, i can't let you know number 1, it may offend you!
Hannah Reynolds
Extremely interesting article
Cynthia Mora.
We drove to our port, so we brought a couple of gallons of drinking water. Water is available at meals, in a glass and bottles to purchase, but expect to pay a hefty price for water. I also recommend a wrinkle releaser. Downy makes a good one. Cruise ships don't allow irons in staterooms. I know they have somewhere that you can go to iron on the ship, but it takes time away from fun and the realer works good enough....your on vacation right...and everyone's close just came out of a suitcase.
Tammilee
wrinkle releaser is a great idea!
joe
condoms
Zena
We take walkie talkies on the cruise to stay in touch.
K. M.
I have a good many of these items I bought off Etsy. That way they suit my purpose and my personality 🙂
I like bringing a crossbody purse because I feel more secure and it leaves my hands free.
Something I always bring is Bonine and QueasyBeads. They're just like seabands but are made of various colored beads. You can be fashionable and protected at the same time
Jenny Cornell
Thank you for recommending QueasyBeads. I just looked them up on Etsy, and ordered a pair for my upcoming cruise. These are much more fashionable!
Joyce Gentry
I always put a spiral notebook on my kitchen bar and start making a list of items to pack for our cruise. When I pack an item I cross it off the list. When I think of an item I add it to the notebook. I start this list about two months prior to our sailing date. Has worked well for us on our 17 or so cruises.
Kelly
Immodium. I know it sound silly but they do not sell it on the boat. I had to go to the doctors office on the boat and they wanted to quarantine me. I drank a few too many beers with my brother the night before plus ate very much uncharacteristically for me which wrecked my stomach the next day. I have never cruised without it again.
KArgo
As a travel consultant, I always advise bringing a small 1st aid kit - neosporin, band-aids, Tylenol, Imodium, sinus/cold tablets, benedryl, eye drops. You can get travel kits in the "sample" section at Walmart or the grocery. Takes minimal space and expensive onboard. A portable phone charger is great if you run out of juice in port. Ladies - a pashmina scarf is great to stick in your bag for chilly evenings in the theater or lounge.
Julie
I always pack a garbage bag along with ziplocs. This way I can pack wet or dirty clothes in one location and protect my clean clothes. We also bring props for fun photos. This tine we broyght a fake paln frond. My husband fanned me. Last time i fed him grapes. The photographer loved it and we gave some great memories! I do like the power bar idea as there are never enough outlets! I also carry a portable scale $10 so I can manage my souvenir purchases.
Tammilee
Julie, I love the props for photos idea. I am going to surprise my Husband for our next cruise and bring some fun photo props. I bet the pics you get are hilarious!
Quinton
A weight limit for souvenir purchases? Please tell me about this! We take our first cruise in two months...
Tammilee
I am not sure about a specific weight limit for purchases. We just try to keep in mind the airline requirements for baggage
Grace Mowczko
Check with the airline you are flying with for the size and weight limit of all bags: checked and carry on. When we cruised many European ports in 2000, we knew about the weight limits, so ended up buying almost nothing. Believe it or not, we got some beautiful glass from Italy in TJMaxx after coming home, so that's where we purchased some of our gifts. We also pack a nylon tote bag for odds and ends that we may need to get at on a long flight...it usually counts as a "personal item".
julie
No, a weight limit for my bags as I travel by air to the ports. I do not wish to pay extra!
Tammilee
I would check on the airlines website to see what they have for weight limits. Most of the time the ones we fly are at 50 pounds for checked bags.