5 must pack items for your next cruise

With five cruises under my belt, I’ve become a cruise packing expert. Packing for a cruise, & having to store your clothes & luggage in a tiny cabin, means it’s all about taking only what you need &, if your cruise is long enough, planning on doing laundry during the trip. Here are 5 must pack items for your cruise, many of which you probably never thought of packing, but will be a huge help during your time at sea.

Sticky notes
When your traveling as a couple (or a group) on a cruise, you’re probably not going to spend every waking hour together. Someone will always be running off to the pool, the gym, the cafe or the theater. Since cell phones aren’t really an option at sea, simply sending a text message that says “Hey, I’m going to read on deck 5 while you’re at the gym” doesn’t work. Some cruisers, especially those with kids, like to purchase walkie-talkies to bring with them on board to stay connected, but I prefer a much simpler method: leaving a note in the room.

Unfortunately, unlike hotels, the cruises we have been on don’t always include a little pad of paper in the room. We’ve found ourselves scribbling notes to each other on every surface imaginable, usually scraps of paper advertising bingo night or the margins of the day’s daily newsletter. A much easier option: pack a pad of sticky notes. They take up virtually no room & can be used to leave notes for your partner, your room steward (“more ice please!”) or take down phone messages. For good measure, make sure you throw a pen in your carry-on, although every line I have sailed has included one in our stateroom.

Plastic bags
Next time you go to the grocery store, leave the reusable bags at home & stock up on plastic bags -they will serve a multitude of purposes on your next cruise! Undoubtedly, you’ll be in the pool or jacuzzi up until the last minute before disembarking & you definitely don’t want a soaking wet bathing suit sitting in your luggage the whole way home. In addition, your shoes may have gotten muddy or dirty while hiking or beaching on a shore excursion, so it’s great to have bags on hand to put them in. Resealable plastic bags are the perfect way to keep your toiletries, even the non-liquid ones, organized in a tiny stateroom bathroom. Resealable bags also work well to take non-perishable snacks on shore (think crackers & nuts, not fruit – we don’t want to spread diseases!).

Reusable water bottle
On our second cruise we had an epiphany while wandering the ship gift shop: we discovered could buy reusable water bottles for the price of two liter bottles of Evian! Ever since then, reusable water bottles are at the top of our packing list. You’ll see us take them everywhere with us on the ship & on shore. Ships usually have water stations throughout the ship & taking a full bottle of water on shore with you will at least get you started for the day. Be careful to only refill your bottle on shore if you’re sure about the water – the Bahamas are probably okay, Mexico definitely isn’t! If you’re not sure, it’s better to spend the money on a sealed bottle of water from a reputable source (so probably not the guy on the street corner) then face stomach problems later. Having your own water bottle will also be a lifesaver if you’re doing active shore excursions, like hiking & kayaking.

Sometimes I feel a little nerdy being the one “hogging” the water machine on the ship to refill my bottle (often you have to go through a painstakingly slow process to use a cruise line provided glass to transfer water from the tap to your bottle, for sanitary reasons), but when I think about how much money I’m saving, it’s worth it.

A cheap watch
In the same spirit of not having a phone to text your companion your whereabouts, not having a phone to check the time presents an interesting challenge on a cruise. Like a Vegas casino, the cruise ships I’ve been on don’t have many clocks around. So if you’re trying to make the show, not be late to dinner or not miss the boat when you’re in port, you’re on your own. I do own a watch, but it’s much nicer than what I would want to wear for a day on a Caribbean beach. Which is why on our last three cruises, I’ve ended up buying a cheap watch, either on the boat or in port. I’ve never spent more than $10 on this piece of plastic, & shortly after the cruise is over it usually stops working, but, as someone who always likes to be aware of the time, it’s priceless. Save yourself the hassle & stop by Target, Wal Mart or another discount store before you leave to pick up a cheap watch for the occasion.

A light sweater/pashmina wrap
Ladies, this one is for you. Like the airplane that brought you there, cruise ships are often over air conditioned & freezing. Even on a Caribbean cruise in the middle of August, you’re going to want to pack a lightweight cardigan sweater or pashmina wrap to wear to dinner & while you’re hanging around the ship. If you get cold easily, as I do, I’d even advise to go easy on the summer dresses & pack pants to wear in the dining room & yoga pants for hanging around on sea days.