Must haves on a cruise

[Arwen]

I am sure this thread has been done before, but rather than search for it and continue on, I am starting it anew:

What are the little "must haves" that you take for your cruise vacation? After 11 cruises, I know what I like to take along :)

1. Wisps: these are terrific! Colgate's little disposable and very light weight toothbrushes with embedded toothpaste, ready to go without needing water! These are very handy on long flights and also to take along when you are on a long shore excursion.

2. A keychain flashlight. I bought a number of these from Brookstone. I hook one of these onto my tote bag or fanny pack. It has come in very handy and on a recent shore excursion, the bathroom stall was VERY dark and the light did not work. The little LED flashlight was wonderful.

3. I also take a little goose neck book light. I keep this hooked to the Bible next to my nightstand. If I have to get a sip of water, or take a pill or even trek to the bathroom.

4. Several little tea light battery candles. I had two or three of these in our BR and it was just enough light to see when getting up in the middle of the night. You can buy a whole bunch of these in bulk from Costco.

5. Powder Detergent and powder color safe bleach. Also, deodorant soap. I am an old hand at doing laundry in the stateroom B/R. It came in handy during our code Red on the Rotterdam when the self service laundries were closed.

6. Wet wipes and Purell. More than just a few shore excursion bathroom stops have no soap and/or water.....oh and I take plenty of those little travel "Charmin" toilet paper rolls. Many B/R's do not have TP.

7. A mesh pocket toiletry holder. Mine is small and I am able to hang it on the center bathroom hook.

8. A money belt. I have a Rick Steve's one that goes around the waist. It is made of silk and is very comfortable around the waist and against your skin. I spoke with three people on our most recent cruise who were pick pocketed. And one of those individuals had his wallet lifted from his jean's front slash pocket, while cramped and standing up in a train.

9. Adding an international phone/data plan to your smart/ cell phone.

10. If you have dietary restrictions, be sure to take LOTS of snacks. I did not this last time, and I regretted it. My hubby and I did fine with not paying extra to the airlines for being overweight with luggage. However, next time I will gladly pay the extra fee to carry enough of the snacks I like. We were gone a month, and the only place I was able to buy a few snacks was in Barcelona. The ship does have nuts and candy bars for sale.

11. I take an empty plastic disposable water/drink bottle. I select a strong plastic bottle, like Fuji Water or the Vitamin Water bottles. I carry those empty through security and then can fill before getting on the plane. I used and refilled my bottle over and over on the ship and shore excursions. These plastic bottles are much lighter weight than my own water bottles. Halfway through our cruise, I discovered that the Explorer's Cafe' sells the Vitamin Water.

12. Plastic recyclable grocery tote bags. I take two of these (I like the ones from Whole Foods Market). WFM's tote are very colorful and attractive. They are terrific for carrying stuff to and from the beach. This last cruise, I used my tote to carry my clean laundry.

12. Always make sure you have the proper country's currency and take plenty of dollar bills with you or if in Europe, plenty of Euro coins. You'll need these for pay restrooms.

13. Don't make the mistake we made in Rome, Italy. We had a turn around day there and a private tour and we figured that we had enough Euros because we assumed our guide would want U.S. dollars. He would only accept Euros. We did not have enough Euros and neglected to do an exchange on the ship. The fee charged by the Rome exchange was a complete rip off.

14. Compression socks for long flights.

15. A first aid kit with Bonine, bandaids, Bacitracin, and a wide spectrum antibiotic along with a Tylenol, ibuprofen and a prescription pain killer. Our kit also has a dental crown repair kit and a kit for a lost filling.

16. Moleskin.

[mountainmare]

Flamingo party lights and flamingo wind sock.
Cork screw.
Wine.
Diet Dr Pepper

[Hawaiidan]

A suit case of money...... they have stores where ever I have been,

[iancal]

passport, money, credit cards, prescription medication, eyeglasses.

Any thing else we can get on board or in port stops.

[barante]

You never know when you might need it. Even if you don't, better safe and sorry.

[Sea42]

You never know when you might need it. Even if you don't, better safe and sorry.
I would think a ship, hotel, airport any place with a maintenance department would have duct tape if the need arises. Just ask. We did when my suitcase had a malfunction and it took about 10 minutes for a worker at ORD to find some duct tape for me and helped me fix it.
I was very surprised though by reports of rough seas causing drawers in cabins to open and close (citing the need for duct tape). Now, I have have a boat and not a ship but all of cabinets are fitted with little slides that can be put in place to keep things secure. Why don't ships have these???

[barante]

Yes, duct tape -- just to avoid delays of 10 minutes or longer. And sliders. In an assortment of sizes.

[maxout]

A smile, good attitude and patience. :)

[IndyDenise]

An over the door shoe holder with clear pockets. I hang it on the outside of the bathroom door. Camera, batteries, cruise sail card, first aid stuff, water bottles, tour books, maps etc are in it..very handy to see it, grab it, and go. Plus it gets rid of the clutter ! I hate stuff laying around..unless it is me in a lounge chair!:D

[IndyDenise]

Yes, duct tape -- just to avoid delays of 10 minutes or longer. And sliders. In an assortment of sizes.


I am a duck tape bringer too...bright purple. I have never used it but it is so pretty :p.

[RMLincoln]

A 3 from 1 outlet expander
a small extension cord with the right kind of holes, 2 prong or 3 prong;
cable ties (maybe these are the sliders mentioned above) were great for holding a broken luggage strap ring.
And a big smile, but that's not hard on a cruise ship! What's not to smile about!

I bring cold medicine tables because I seem to pick up a cold easily and i've never found what I needed in a port!

[O2B@C]

A pad of brightly-colored sticky notes. Very handy for leaving requests for your cabin attendant, or notes to your cabinmate(s) about where you can be found, or when and where you expect to meet them.

For cruises with a lot of beach stops, a waterproof diving wallet so you can take your cabin keycard, your credit card, and a little cash with you to the beach, and not worry about leaving them behind when you go in the water.

[AkAz]

Wow! Great tips. Thank you to all who posted.

[NMLady]

A highlighter to highlight the newletter, marking activities I want to take part in.

A journal to keep track of travel memories.

Small scissors to cut port descriptions from the dailies, for my journal.

A folder to keep receipts, and any other papers I'm keeping for any length of time.

Hook hanger-clips for hanging items on the line in the shower.

A shamu cloth or similar for wringing out excess water from dainties I handwash and for hubby's compression socks which I don't send to the laundry.

Of the items already mentioned by others I always take:
duct tape, and have sometimes used it.
first aid kit of meds I might need, bandaids etc. I put it in a softside shaving kit.
A small notebook for writing notes if needed to cabin steward. I don't like post-it notes for this purpose. They're a bit small for me.

Instead of an over-the door shoe pockets I use a set of small collapsible cubes, one for cosmetics, one for tubes/bottles/jars, one for other stuff.
Cubes are color coded. I buy them from ebags.com

Each of us has to find what works best for our personality and needs.

[nothriver]

baby wipes

great for cleaning anything, skin, furniture, clothing, dishes

in the unlikely even of major travel mishap - they serve as "shower substitute"

[jkrislc]

baby wipes

great for cleaning anything, skin, furniture, clothing, dishes

in the unlikely even of major travel mishap - they serve as "shower substitute"

I'll second baby wipes. I never thought I still be using them now that my DS is nearly 5, but they're great for everyday cleaning, removing spots from clothes, etc.

I'm also a highlighter, zip tie, journal, pocket flashlight, duct tape kind of guy.

[IndyDenise]

Another thing I sometimes bring is a PAC SAFE cross body bag if I am going to do a walking tour/shopping tour in an area known for pickpockets or very congested historical sites ...and always remember that pickpockets are often well organized, well dressed, and so good at what they do.

For the beach I bring instead a water proof neck pouch, which I tuck inside of my swim suit...and nothing else of value except maybe a disposable water proof camera .

[Caribbean Chris]

I bring a round red plastic jar lid and use it as a small tray on my nightstand for keeping small items like rings, watch, earrings, hearing aid case together so they don't get lost. Sometimes little chocolate wrappers find their way there too. :)

I also bring a few Purex "all in one" laundry sheets instead of powder or liquid detergent. These are like dryer sheets but include the detergent. They are wonderful space savers for luggage or RVs, use them in laundramats on longer Europe trips. You can cut them into narrow strips just right for sink laundry if you are doing a few things. Walgreens sells this and many grocery stores.

Those two tips I got from the Rick Steve's website. I also bring a mesh black laundry hamper from Walgreens, often on sale for about $2. Flat for your suitcase, weighs almost nothing but pops open to a hamper that fits perfectly in a HAL closet. Has little carrying handles if you are strolling to the laundry. Great for longer cruises.

[RuthC]

I bring a round red plastic jar lid and use it as a small tray on my nightstand for keeping small items like rings, watch, earrings, hearing aid case together so they don't get lost.
An ash tray from one of the lounges serves the same purpose. I get one on every cruise.
Oh, and if you put it in the drawer, the items stay contained better if there is a bad wave.

[surfsidemary]

For longer cruises where there may be rough seas, I bring a placemat-size piece of the material you place under small rugs. Wonderful for keeping small things from rolling around on the vanity or desktop.

I also bring gallon-sized ziplocs on a port-intensive cruise. Works great as I sail away to put in all the little papers/souvenirs and stash it away.

[Crazy Gramps]

Antibiotics.
Never leave the US without them

Gramps

[Typhoon1]

Immodium.

[RMLincoln]

Sea Bands and Bonine

[e_brick]

Keeps those drapes closed from the outside lights.

Use the ice bucket tray to carry those 2 cups of coffee on the before-breakfast coffee run for 2 or more so you can still open doors.

[ricki]

Don't forget a power strip!

Also, many cabin walls will accept magnets. Great for posting a map of your itinerary, family photos, invitations, etc.

Ricki

[innlady1]

I bring a round red plastic jar lid and use it as a small tray on my nightstand for keeping small items like rings, watch, earrings, hearing aid case together so they don't get lost. Sometimes little chocolate wrappers find their way there too. :)

I also bring a few Purex "all in one" laundry sheets instead of powder or liquid detergent. These are like dryer sheets but include the detergent. They are wonderful space savers for luggage or RVs, use them in laundramats on longer Europe trips. You can cut them into narrow strips just right for sink laundry if you are doing a few things. Walgreens sells this and many grocery stores.

Those two tips I got from the Rick Steve's website. I also bring a mesh black laundry hamper from Walgreens, often on sale for about $2. Flat for your suitcase, weighs almost nothing but pops open to a hamper that fits perfectly in a HAL closet. Has little carrying handles if you are strolling to the laundry. Great for longer cruises.

I've seen these...do they do a decent job?

[innlady1]

LOL...all of the above...no wonder there's not much space left for clothing! :o

[IndyDenise]

Bring Knowledge!!

Research your cruise line by hanging out on Cruise Critic :D and learn the tips from other cruisers!! Check out the thread " must haves on a cruise" on the HAL boards!!!;)

Read your cruise contract and FAQ's. Some cruise lines let you bring unlimited wine, some one bottle. Know the proper dress code, the tipping policy etc so you are not surprised. If you are not sure then visit Cruise Critic :D and ask.

Visit Trip Advisor and check out ratings for things that you may be doing in port or pre/post cruise (hotel, food, tour, etc ) . Make notes of places to avoid like tourist trap restaurants and such, and notes of places that rate high. Learn about the port you are visiting especially if you are touring historical sites. Google is your friend!!!! Buy guide books etc.


And always remember that nothing ever sails smoothly. You have to pack your patience and sense of humor and adventure...oh and your trip insurance policy because if you are like me then you are accident prone!:eek:

[Caribbean Chris]

Innlady, yes, I think the Purex sheets are fine. I used them on our last two Europe + crossing trips in public laundramats, and used all summer while traveling out west in the RV.

But my favorite use is cut in strips for suds in the sink to wash small items. I tried buying the little dry soap leaves to keep in my travel kit and felt they were useless as well as pricey.

[knarf]

We always take a calendar..a blank page where I put the dates in the squares we are cruising, where we are on certain days, the time we arrive in the port and the time we leave the port, and any other little ditties that we have scheduled (meetings, private dining nights, excursions, etc.
Then I post this homemade calendar somewhere in our cabin so it is easy to see. We find it to be very handy !!
We also bring along a plastic coffee mug(with lid) so that I can bring back coffee to the room for my sweetie !!
For what it is worth dept. !!

Frank

[Arwen]

Innlady, yes, I think the Purex sheets are fine. I used them on our last two Europe + crossing trips in public laundramats, and used all summer while traveling out west in the RV.

But my favorite use is cut in strips for suds in the sink to wash small items. I tried buying the little dry soap leaves to keep in my travel kit and felt they were useless as well as pricey.


I have not seen the Purex sheets in the stores, but then I didn't know they existed :rolleyes:

They sound like just the ticket to do "sink laundry". To the OP, thanks for the tip!!

[dpump]

I have not seen the Purex sheets in the stores, but then I didn't know they existed :rolleyes:

They sound like just the ticket to do "sink laundry". To the OP, thanks for the tip!!

You can get them at WalMart. When they first came out I bought a bunch. They do the trick. I didn't realize you can cut them in little strips,for the sink. I buy those 'sample' sizr Tide liquid packs for the sink. Does the trick.

[nothriver]

For travel laundry soap, I've found that powdered laundry detergent to be lighter and more compact in the luggage than the Purex sheets. I prepackage powderded soap in small ziplocs, pack those in a double bagged in larger freezer ziplocs.

Alternately, I sometimes travel with Dr Bronners liquid soap. It is an all purpose soap, you can use it as laundry soap, dish soap, human soap, all of which I've done, says on the bottle you can use it as toothpaste but ick, no, haven't tried that; and if you ever get stranded while traveling, you can spend an hour or so reading the fine print on the bottle. You used to have to get this at a natural food store but I think I've seen it recently at Target.

[Caribbean Chris]

Re flat laundry sheets...

I just take a few of the sheets out of the package, not the whole box...cut one up into strips for sink use and double wrap them in ziplocks because they have a strong scent. Takes almost no space.

Came in handy on the ship when I spilled a whole bloody Mary down the front of my white jacket!

Note for those who may look for these at the grocery store or drugstore, the actual name is Purex Complete Three in One. There is a choice of several scents. Now and then, you can find sample trial size in the store that includes coupon for one dollar off next purchase. When they are two-for-one at Walgreens, I stock up.

Heard about these laundry sheets on the Rick Steve's website graffiti wall which has lots of other good tips from travelers...like Tide pens for spots, Or Walmart's version, which I now carry in my purse everywhere.

[brainyblonde]

Mechanical pencils for puzzles.

[thetexasaggiecruiser]

Ziplocs are a great idea. These are great tips! Also, I'd suggest a Tide detergent pen (or whatever brand).

[Arwen]

I found out that the "Wet Wipes" take out most stains very nicely.

A few years back when we were on a shore excursion, hubby spilled or dropped some sort of food on his pants and I pulled out a Wet Wipe and said try this. It works amazingly well in a pinch! I still like these a lot. Strangely, I have found that the Tide stain pen doesn't work so well....that was a few years ago and maybe it was a bad batch or they have since then, improved it.

[JamesEM]

Duck Tape

[Eris0303]

One of my biggest suggestions is for ladies to pare down their purse/wallet. Many of us have fairly large wallets to accommodate club cards, stamp cards, etc. But you don't need ANY of that on vacation. No one on the cruise is going to ask for your Barnes & Noble, Sam's Club, or Hallmark cards. I always sit down with my wallet the night before I leave and take out my driver's license, insurance cards, credit cards I plan on using, and my AAA card. I transfer them into a travel wallet my mother gave me. Much easier to travel with.

And what happens if you decide to pop into a store where you're a member after you've left home? Most can simply look you up by email or phone number.

[CruisinTexans]

I always take a small travel clock that illuminates when pressed. The only cabins that have clocks are the suites, and even if you are in a suite you can't see the clock at night.

[Rinderoo]

My own snorkel equipment.

[Host Walt]

My own snorkel equipment.
Suggest just the tube and mouthpiece. Flippers take up too much space and add a lot of weight to the luggage.

[mountainmare]

Suggest just the tube and mouthpiece. Flippers take up too much space and add a lot of weight to the luggage.
I have funny feet, I take my own snorkel equiptment, also there are times when you want to just have it along for a beach day, just in case there is something to see.

[sunnygidget]

Didn't think about cutting up the Purex sheets, great idea. I usually take a 1/2 bar of Felsnafta soap to do sink laundry, it works great. I take a Tyvek Priority Bag from the Post Office (they are free for the asking) to put papers in, they don't rip and are really tuff and light weight.

[Willsot]

On one cruise we sailed out of Copenhagen with no luggage. DW was reunited with her suitcase on Day 6 and I did not see mine until Day 12 (the end of the cruise). What we learned from the experience was how well we could get along without any of the "must haves." The only thing that I absolutely needed was my camera battery charger and the photo staff were kind enough to charge my battery overnight after each day's use. Since then we have become much more efficient in our packing and have very much enjoyed the lighter luggage.

[oldbluff]

Shelley here, Cliff's sidekick of 32 years. We always bring packs of Via coffee with us. Run and get some hot water from the tea station and you have a drinkable cup of coffee in the morning! Heaven in a cup.

[iancal]

good weather

[May4]

Must haves lately.....
extra cable ties for small suitcases that have no locks

small scissors for opening cereal packages (no kidding, they're tough to open)

a certain slotted serving spoon from our kitchen (excellent as an ice scoop)

Excedrin

[RMLincoln]

Extra pair of glasses for each of us.

[jkrislc]

If you must have real coffee, a french press might be another option if you're willing to bring your own coffee onboard.

[twodogmom]

One thing I bring now are cloths pins, so much easier than just putting your laundry over the line. For tops I just use hangers.

[innlady1]

Shelley here, Cliff's sidekick of 32 years. We always bring packs of Via coffee with us. Run and get some hot water from the tea station and you have a drinkable cup of coffee in the morning! Heaven in a cup.

Interesting. What is Via coffee? I've brought Starbucks instant tubes but haven't heard of Via! Oh, how I crave for a great cup of coffee on a ship!

[jkrislc]

Interesting. What is Via coffee? I've brought Starbucks instant tubes but haven't heard of Via! Oh, how I crave for a great cup of coffee on a ship!


Those instant tubes are the Via coffee by Starbucks.