Are you thinking about what you need to pack for your cruise? Well, if you are old enough to sail out into the sea, then it is safe to assume that you know enough to pack your socks, underwear, and swimsuit for the trip.
Now that the essentials are done, what next? There are numerous items that most people would not even think about packing, unaware of how useful they may be on a cruise. This is primarily due to the fact that cruising is not like other vacations.
A majority of the vacations you take are not on a moving vessel, which is miles away from the port, and, consequently, the nearest store. In addition, most cruise ships are known for taking trips that could take over 100 days on the water.
So, now is not the time to be ashamed to pack heavy. Cruising entails planning well in advance and packing everything you may need. Below is a detailed list of things you should keep.
Portable Cabin Fan
Numerous people go on a cruise with a portable and small cabin fan in hand. This is because it always helps to ensure that there is some air circulating in your room since there are no ceiling fans on a ship. In addition, a portable fan can be a source of white noise to help you tune out any unwanted sounds.
Keep in mind that no matter which fan you bring, it should be compact. After all, you will have to lug it all the way to the cruise ships and then back home.
Outlet Adapter
Do you have an iPhone? Perhaps a laptop or a tablet? Maybe you are carrying a small fan or a nightlight with you on the cruise? Did you pack your straightener or curling iron? Do you think you will find enough outlets to plug in all your stuff? Of course not!
Therefore, you should pack an adapter to help you gain as much benefit as possible from a single outlet. Just make sure that it does not have a surge protector, as those are not permitted on cruise ships.
4-Wheel Spinner Suitcase
While it is probable that you already have a duffel bag or a suitcase to pack your belongings in, you may want to get a 4-wheel spinner suitcase right away. Remember, you will have to walk all the way from the cruise terminal to your designated cabin, which could be long. You may have to make your way through stairs, thresholds, and inclined walkways.
Hence, it is recommended that you get a 4-wheeled spinner suitcase to get you to your destination. It is especially helpful when navigating narrow hallways on the cruise ship. On the other hand, a traditional bag with wheels may get tangled up with your feet and take up significant space when you drag it along.
Hand Sanitizer
Did you know that the number of global cruise passengers in 2020 was 5.8 million, down from a record high reported in 2019 of 30 million? This was due to the coronavirus pandemic, which is a reminder of the health issues that exist around you, even on cruise ships.
Although cruise lines take significant steps to ensure that their passengers are healthy, it is never a bad idea to take your own steps. You will find dispensers of hand sanitizers on the ships, but it is recommended that you pack your own too so that you do not have to hunt for them.
Make sure to use it often and regularly. It is not expensive and comes in small containers to fit inside your purse or pocket.
Cabin Nightlight
You may not be aware of this, but the cabins on numerous cruise ships can often get dark. This is especially true for rooms in the interior which do not have windows. Thus, if you want to use the washroom in the middle of the night, you have to navigate through an unfamiliar and small cabin. As a result, your shins have to pay the price.
In order to protect your shins and easily find your way to the washroom, be sure to carry a compact nightlight with you.
Over-The-Door Organizer
While such organizers are usually dedicated to storing shoes, try not to pack enough of them to fill up the entire organizer. You may not know this yet, but your over-the-door organizer can also serve other purposes.
For example, you could easily hang it over the cabin bathroom door. This will provide you with the perfect place to keep small items, such as sunscreen bottles, shampoo bottles, deodorants, etc. Doing so will help you save up on valuable space on the counter, which is limited as it is in the ship’s bathroom.
Wet Wipes
Try not to be alarmed by this suggestion. Your cabin washroom will be equipped with enough toilet paper to last you the entire trip, but it is made up of one-ply material. Yikes! If you have ever used it, then you know that it does not leave you feeling all the way clean and is not good to use.
Therefore, it is a good idea to keep some wet wipes, which can help clean better. But bear in mind that you do not flush them. An average cruise ship is known to produce around 140,000 to 210,000 gallons of sewage in a week, and you do not want to add to it, do you?
Ziploc Bags
Resealable Ziploc bags are a smart addition to your cruise ship checklist because of how useful they are. You can keep your wallet and phone dry as you go for a swim and even keep wet clothes away from the rest of your dry luggage.
Be sure to get a handful in different sizes so that you can store whatever you want with ease.
All these items can come in handy at any time during your vacation, so make sure to tick off all these items. Happy sailing!