Home »>> Cruising »>> 8 Packing Necessities For Every Cruise Vacation

You have booked your cruise vacation. You are excitedly anticipating a vacation of a lifetime. If you are anything like me, you are already starting to plan for this vacation though the actual sailing date may be months away. What should I pack? In addition to traditional items such as a hairdryer, toothbrush, razor, cute cruise garb, I would recommend the following packing necessities for every cruise vacation

Passport:

If you are traveling outside of the United States, most times you will need a Passport. When cruising, the rules differ slightly. If you are starting your cruise itinerary from a port within the United States and the final port for disembarkation is also in the United States, most cruise ships will not require a Passport.

Having said that, it is my recommendation to still travel with a Passport if you plan on disembarking the ship in any port outside of the United States. Why? If your cruise starts and ends in a United States based port, you will be permitted back on the boat and back into the United States. But what happens if you are stopped while off the boat or something occurs while you are off the boat in a foreign country? Having a Passport is a safe guard when traveling abroad.

Alarm clock: 

There are no clocks in your cruise cabin. I like to know what time it is in the middle of the night so bringing an alarm clock is very helpful. I know you are saying, “You are on a cruise, why are you worrying about waking up to an alarm instead of relaxing?” On the contrary, if you have any shore excursions planned and need to disembark the ship at a specific time, an alarm clock is helpful. You can set a wake up call to ring your room as an additional precaution so you do not miss your exciting adventure.

A multi-plug outlet or surge protector: 

Every ship we have been on has one plug in the living area of the cabin. If you have two people who need to charge their cell phones, you have no additional plugs for your alarm clock (see above), your camera battery charger, or your significant other to dry their hair while you are in the shower. Therefore, you need extra plugs! Trust me, you will not be sorry!

A sweater or hoodie: 

Some cruise destinations may require a jacket because the temperature outside is chilly. For any cruise, whether in a cold climate or a tropical one, I highly recommend you bring a sweater or a hoodie. They tend to keep the ship pretty cold. You will want your sweater when you are watching the shows or hanging out in the bar. It is a must have!

Poncho:

Lord knows you hope you will not have rain, but it happens. It rained while we were visiting Ketchikan on our recent Alaskan cruise. I was thrilled I had packed ponchos. Walmart sells disposable ponchos that are small enough to fit in your pocket, purse, or backpack. They are small, convenient, and cost less than $1. Stock up!

Related link: WHAT TO PACK FOR AN ALASKAN CRUISE?

A cup:

An insulated cup is always a cruising essential. Forgetting one is a huge disappointment! Why do you need a cup when you have the unlimited drink package? Or why should you need a cup when the cruise provides cups in the dining and buffet areas?

You can definitely use the cups provided to you, however if you want water, tea, or juice in the room, it can be a hassle to fill up small cups from the buffet and bring them to your room. In addition, you need to fill them up two at a time or go back several times in order to have enough water to sip on during the night or while getting ready. In addition, most ships allow you to bring on a bottle of wine, some allow you to bring on waters and/or sodas, so having a larger cup will allow you to bring your wine with you to dinner or to a show.

Cash: 

The ship does not allow you to use cash while on board, however you should have cash if you disembark. Though a credit card may work, you may need cash for locker rentals, a taxi, food, etc. while in port. Many credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee for using a credit card, therefore in order to save money cash is an essential.

Related link: 10 Reasons To Choose the Norwegian Bliss For Your Next Cruise?

Bathing suit:

Even on our Alaskan cruise with chilly temperatures, I was happy I had brought bathing suits. There are Jacuzzis, pools, and many times water parks on board all cruise ships. Make sure you pack your bathing suit and take advantage of the fun. In fact, I highly recommend packing your bathing suit in your carry-on luggage. Your checked luggage will not arrive to your room for hours so having your bathing suit with you will allow you to start your vacation the minute you embark the ship!

In summary:

As you look forward to your upcoming cruise vacation, start making a pack list. Add these eight packing necessities for every cruise vacation to your list now so you do not forget. You you will happy you did!

What packing essentials would you recommend? Drop me a comment!

Bon Voyage!

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