Ready to head on a cruise? Here are some must-pack items to add to your cruise packing list!
And don’t forget to read my blog post with all the things you need to pack and my full printable cruise packing list.
Now that I’ve finally completed my commentary regarding our family Caribbean cruise aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line ship, Norwegian Pearl, I wanted to share some tips for when you next pack for a cruise. You’ll find below a list of items that were either a lifesaver for us or something we wished we would have packed. (affiliate links included below)
CRUISE PACKING LIST EXTRAS
Low Denomination Bills
Make sure you don’t just take some $20 bills from the ATM on your next cruise. The low denomination bills ($1, $5, $10) come in handy for tipping drivers and negotiating prices in ports.
Lanyards
Everybody aboard the ship gets an ID keycard, including kids. These are used for room keys and for getting on and off the ship. They also are used for charging privileges, however, you can prohibit kid’s charging permissions. I recommend getting a lanyard that has a pouch holder. You can also find them at your local party supply store and even the dollar store sometimes.
Multi-Port Wall Outlet
If you’re a family who relies on electronics (ipods, ereaders, tablets, etc.), you’ll likely need a few extra plug outlets in your stateroom. Outlets in the rooms can be limited and when everyone wants to charge up their devices, there may be a shortage.
Be sure you DO NOT get a surge protection device – such as a power strip. These are banned from cruise ships due to fire safety. Instead, look for a multi-port outlet plug that doesn’t have surge protection.
Water Shoes
This was something we didn’t pack and wished we had. At Great Stirrup Cay it was really rocky in the water. Our whole family was envious of those who were wearing water shoes. And again at Dunn River Falls in Jamaica, you had to have water shoes to climb the falls. They had rental water shoes, but you could save some money by packing your own.
There are lots of options, like these Speedo Women’s ZipWalker Water Shoe available at Amazon. You can also find these in most stores during the summer, but Amazon is your best chance if you’re not cruising in the summer.
Water Bottles
We were so happy we thought to pack water bottles with us on our cruise. We’d fill them up in the Cafe before heading ashore, and have fresh water to sip on while exploring the ports. Note, that some cruise lines don’t want you filling water bottles directly at the spout, instead, you’ll need to use a cup and pour the water into your bottle.
These Nomader collapsible water bottles work great. They can collapse down to make them easy to pack and have straps that can be fastened onto bags. They also have a variety of colors, which is great for a family so each member has their own bottle! Insulated bottles are convenient for hot weather, but they do take up a lot of room and are difficult to put ice into.
Waterproof Digital Camera
We’ve used some simple point-and-shoot waterproof cameras on past cruises, but now we rely on our GoPro.
I’ve also used a LifeProof Waterproof Case and Catalyst Case for my iPhone. These are waterproof cases for your phones and they’ve worked perfectly for me when I’ve used them. Just be sure to go through the set-up testing as directed before using it for the first time.
Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer
This has got to be the best tip I can offer for a cruise packing extra. We use this Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer in our home for winter hats and mitts, but I grabbed it and added it to the zipper pouch of my suitcase when we were getting ready to leave. It was such a lifesaver!
We hang it with magnets on one of the metal doors and each person had a “row”. Don’t use the metal hooks included with the organizer as they can scratch the cabin room doors.
We store flip-flops, lanyards, electronics, and other stuff in the pouches. It really helped keep things off the floor and make sure all our little things had a home in our home away from home. You can see it in use in the second photo of our stateroom.
Cover-up
When you’re heading off the ship to visit a beach you’ll probably want to wear your swimsuit when disembarking. A cute cover-up is the perfect way for ladies to wear their swimsuit and still feel comfortable riding in taxis or walking around town. These also work well for grabbing a snack after taking a dip in the pool.
Day Bag
Each time you head off the ship you’ll probably want to bring some things along with you so a day bag is a must. I really like these shoulder sling bag styles. You’ll be able to store your wallet, camera, and a small water bottle for excursions.
I hope this list has helped you get ready for your cruise vacation. And if you don’t have a cruise planned yet, bookmark this page and come back when you’ve got one booked. Check out my Customizable Packing List for packing all your other cruise necessities.
You can also read my posts about:
- the Norwegian Bliss
- the Celebrity Edge
- Cruising with Teens
- Alaska Cruise Packing List
- Disney Cruise Packing List.
And take a peek at our cruise on the Norwegian Pearl: “Part 1: Car Rental & Arrival”, “Part 2: Stateroom & Dining“, “Part 3: Ports of Call“, and “Part 4: Activities Aboard“.
These are GREAT ideas and would work for any kind of tropical/beachy trip. Power strip is genius! I love the shoe organizer idea. I hate trying to stake out a place for my keys, phone, etc. in a hotel room and then have everyone else piling their stuff in the same place. I am putting a shoe organizer in my suitcase permanently now.
The shoe organizer is so handy! I actually just bought another one so I could have one permanently stored with my luggage. :) Thanks for stopping by!
We use the shoe organizer, too, and love it. Each family member gets a row for their stuff… and my youngest gets the bottom row for toys. She tucks her dolls into their “beds” each night and I don’t trip over them or worry about losing them in the room somewhere.
If the organizer doesn’t work on the bathroom door (my last Royal cruise), it can hang in the closet.
Yeah, we hung ours on the closet door and we each had a row. Was so great!
I might suggest, too, to bring T-shirts, or hats, of the same color for excursions so it is easy to spot one another. Good idea??
You could absolutely do that! For our small family it hasn’t been necessary, but it’s always a good idea to know what your kids are wearing when heading into a crowded area!
When we travel, I take a family pic in the morning as we leave the hotel or cabin. If I ever lose a kid (it happened once, long before cell phones and my son handled it quite well), I have a photo showing their clothes, hair style, everything. I don’t need to commit it to memory!
We used to do this and then I kind of stopped when the kids got older. I always carry their student IDs that come in their school photo packet, but I need to get used to the photo thing again!
That is such an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing!
You should also bring a large beach bag or a small carry on bag. On many cruises you are required to leave your packed suitcase outside your room the night before. Then in the morning you get off the boat. You will need a bag to carry your sleeping clothes, toiletries, the clothes you had on the night before and so on. You don’t want to be the person carrying your dirty clothes, shampoo and toothbrush around the next morning. It takes a pretty long time to deboard a large ship.
We were lucky to get to take our carry-on suitcases with us off the ship. A beach bag or tote is a good plan for shore excursions too!
I always bring a light weight grocery bag style tote even for our jackets in the airport. it folds up easy, and flat in the carry on bag but its so nice not have to worry about little hats, scarves and jackets falling our of your already full arms as you chase your “too warm” toddler through that terminals.
That’s brilliant Tash! I have some of those ones that stuff into themselves, looks like a strawberry I think. :)
On my last Carnival cruise, Fantasy, January 2014, we needed special permission to use a power strip. Because my friend used a power chair, they allowed it. Check with the cruise line to learn whether power strips or extension cords are still allowed.
I’ve never heard of this Karen. Thanks for the tip! How did you hear that you needed permission to use it?
I traveled with a friend who uses a power scooter. Our cabin had only ONE outlet (old ship). When I called to make sure there wasn’t another one hiding somewhere, the guy told me it’s an old ship…. And then he told me that for special circumstances they allow an extension cord or power strip. They determine it on a case by case basis. Thankfully, they allowed it for us.
Generally, though, when we travel, we lock phones and other electronics in the cabin safe and forget about them till it’s time to go home. It’s nice to unplug sometimes.
I have used power strips on my last three carnival cruises, once with an extension cord plugged into it, and never had an issue. I plan to pack one for my upcoming cruise also.
Good to know Sandy, thanks!
I believe that was just because it was the Fantasy. I’ve been on it 2x and it is one of the fleet’s smaller & older ships. The Fascination was the same way, but I’ve been on the larger ships since those 2 and have been able to use my power strip every time.
just FYI a lot of cruise lines like Disney’s that we are going on this next week (January 2015) won’t allow the over the door shoe hangers anymore because of the damage caused to the doors from the hooks. There is a $100 charge for any damage to the door. They also have a policy against adhesives and things with gel clings. So check with your cruise line before packing the shoe holder. This of course I found out after I bought mine because thought it was a great idea
That’s good to know Dot. I do know that you can line the hooks with some felt, which we’ve done at our own home. But, you’d have to decide if it’s worth the risk. We’ve used a shoe organizer a few times and never had any marks left, however I can see that irresponsible people might just throw something up and cause damage. Thanks for letting us know!
To avoid damage to doors i have used cheap heavy duty magnetic hooks to hang up shoe over door storage as long as its not too heavy and magnetic clips to hold ship events newsletters, lanyards, cables etc.
These are great tips! I love the Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer idea! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Missi! A few people have said that some cruise lines are forbidding the shoe organizers since I guess some have caused damage to the cabins, so be aware of that possibility. We didn’t have that on our recent Norwegian cruise, but someone said Disney is fining people for using them. If you are allowed to use it, some simple inexpensive felt might be useful to make sure the hooks don’t scratch the furnishings! You can also hang it in the closet instead of over a door if you like the pocket organization.
Thank you for putting this list together – we used your suggestions on our trip in Dec 2015 and the shoe organizer was an absolute must for our family of four. Along with the power strip (which instead we just got two plugs that had USB outlets so our 4 iphones and ipad and camera battery could all stay charged up.
I would also add bringing a few command hooks (the kind that peel off the wall) so that we could have extra places to hang things like baseball caps and lanyards.
Thanks for sharing Virginia! I’ll be sure to add the command strips to the list. You’re right, those would be helpful!
We have travelled with a shoe organizer for years — both cruising and for hotel stays. We carry a lightweight towel to protect the door. In a pinch, we used socks! The command strips have heavy duty hooks now, which would also likely work for the organizer.
One other item I won’t travel without is a small roll of duct tape. On stormy waters one night, the shoe organizer and the curtains had way too much movement. A couple of rolls of strategically-placed tape, and viola! No more noise from the organizer hitting the door or flashes of light from the curtain sway. The tape has also been used to repair a broken latch on a camera, to emergency hem a pair of pants, and to fix broken suitcase handles and zippers.
Thanks so much for sharing Jonene! The duct tape is handy to know about – and the command strips!
Excellent list! I would add in a nightlight if you have kids. While opening the bathroom door slightly works too, but not if you hit rough seas.
Thank you — and that’s a great additional must pack item!
I always pack a couple of plastic skirt hangers (the ones that sometimes come with a garment purchase are fine). These are great for hanging rinsed out garments in the shower.
I need to update my post because we’ve used suction cup hooks in the shower for the same thing, but love the hanger idea!