I strongly believe a person with Passport in hand, credit card or cash in pocket, wearing a pair of shorts and tee-shirt can board a cruise ship and still have the best vacation of their life!
Packing for a cruise has always been a challenge. Either you pack more than you’ll ever need or you end up having to purchase the things you’ve forgotten.
The list below is divided into three categories: Important, Recommended and Optional.
The important items are things we believe you’ll probably miss if you don’t have them….. – this is, of course, up for debate.
The recommended items are things we feel you should try to take if possible and if applicable to your circumstances.
The optional items are a different story. These items are just to encourage you to think about each item and make individual decisions regarding the importance of each suggestion.
IMPORTANT THINGS
- Antacid
- Birth Certificate
- C-Pap Breathing Machine
- Camera
- Credit Card
- Diapers (if you bring your baby)
- Drivers License (or official photo ID)
- Glucose Meter (if you have Diabetes)
- Insulin (or other required medical supplies)
- Ladies’ Dress Slacks (for dining room)
- Medicine (prescription medicine and paper prescription receipts)
- Men’s Dress Slacks or Khakis (for dining room)
- Passport
- Passwords (if you plan to use the internet)
- Phone Charger (for when you return)
- Reading Glasses
- Sea Sickness Prevention Medicine (or patches)
- Sun Block (and Aloe Vera or Solarcaine)
- Sun Glasses (attached neckband optional)
- Shoes (slip-on water shoes)
- Shoes (comfortable sandals with grip soles – no flip flops)
- Shoes (walking shoes or tennis shoes)
- Shorts
- Socks
- Swimmers (if you bring your baby)
- Swimsuits (at least two)
- Tee-shirts
- Toothbrush
- Underwear
- Wheelchair or Electric Scooter (if you can’t walk far)
RECOMMENDED THINGS
- Address Book or List of Contacts (for “wish you were here” notes)
- Alarm Clock (so you don’t miss breakfast)
- Band-Aids
- Batteries (extra camera ones)
- Bug Repellent
- Birth Control
- Deodorant
- Dress Shoes (one pair for formal night)
- Ear Plugs (for sleeping or for swimming)
- Extension Cord (small hidden power strip)
- (anything electrical must be heavy duty and still may be confiscated)
- First Aid Kit
- Flashlight (two small ones for emergencies)
- Formal Dress or Pant Suit (for formal night)
- Lanyard (for your room key)
- Laundry Detergent (small packets or bottle)
- Makeup Supplies
- Man’s Dress Suit (for formal night)
- Maps Of Ports
- Medicines (aspirin, etc.)
OPTIONAL THINGS
- Air Freshener
- Ash Tray (small personal one if you smoke)
- Back Pack (for excursions)
- Bath Soap
- Beach Towel (to mark your lounge chair)
- Beach Toys (inflatable)
- Binoculars (only strong ones)
- Board Games (and playing cards)
- Books (reading material)
- Bottled Water* (to save money)
- Bungee Cord (for holding balcony door open)
- Business or Address Cards (to give to new friends)
- Camera (extra camera and SD cards)
- Camera (waterproof & disposable for snorkeling)
- Candles (battery powered flame-less)
- Candy (favorites)
- C-Clamps (two small ones for clamping beds together)
- Cell Phone Case (waterproof)
- Chap-stick
- Chewing Gum
- Cigars
- Clamps (spring loaded for towels on balcony)
- Clothes Hangers (ones that fold up – if you hang all your clothes)
- Clothes Iron (battery powered only)
- Coffee Creamer
- Coffee Mug (if you have a favorite large one)
- Collapsible Luggage (for souvenirs)
- Cooler (small, collapsible and insulated for excursions)
- Copies (back up copies of docs and excursion receipts)
- Cork Screw
- Costume (if it’s a Halloween cruise)
- Creamer (your favorite)
- Curling Iron (battery powered)
- Disinfectant Spray (like Lysol spray)
- Door Decorations (to help find your room)
- Drinking Cup (favorite insulated)
- Duct Tape (for repairing things)
- Electric Razor (battery operated)
- Electronic Book Reader
- Envelope (large manila & cardboard to fit inside)
- Fabric Spray (Febreze or Downy for wrinkle release)
- Fan (battery powered for white noise or white noise machine)
- Flat Iron (battery powered for hair)
- Game Boy (or similar portable player)
- Gift (for room steward or meet and mingle)
- Ginger Pills (for motion sickness and sour stomach)
- Hair Accessories
- Hair Dryer (battery powered)
- Harmonica (if playing relaxes you)
- Hat (for the sun or baseball cap)
- Highlighter (for the daily schedule)
- Hobby Supplies (something you love to do)
- Hole Punch
- Hooks (suction cup kind)
- Koozie (for your drink)
- Laptop (or iPad)
- Laundry Bag (heavy duty for shipping dirty clothes home)
- Laundry Hamper (collapsible for dirty clothes)
- Lint Roller
- Luggage Scale
- Magazines
- Mp3 Player
- Music (your favorites)
- Night Light
- Pillows (small personal one or body pillow)
- Puzzle Book (like Word Search, etc. for relaxing)
- Mardi Gras Beads (and any other festive accessories)
- Nail Clippers (pliers to cut zip ties)
- Nail Glue (for broken finger nails)
- Plastic Zip Bags
- Post-it Notes or Magnetic White Board (to leave messages on your stateroom door)
- Q-tips
- Radio (wind up kind with light)
- Reading Glasses (extra pair)
- Reading Light (for books)
- Rubbing Alcohol (or sore muscle lotion)
- Safety Pins
- Scuba Gear
- Seasoning (small bottle to fit in pocket)
- Sewing Kit (or cloth repair tape)
- Shoe Organizer (over-the-door kind)
- Shoes (house slippers)
- Shower Gel
- Snorkel & Fins (to save money)
- Soft Drinks (if you have a favorite)
- Sprinkles (for your ice cream cones)
- Stain Remover Stick (for food spills)
- Stuffed Animal (or any comfort item)
- Sweater (or long sleeved shirt)
- Swimsuit (extra one for hot tub)
- Tea Bags (if you have a favorite)
- Thank You Cards (for crew and new friends)
- Toilet Tissue Roll (if you have a favorite)
- Tooth Ache Kit
- Tuxedo
- Umbrella or Poncho (small fold-up)
- USB Thumb Drive
- Viagra (or equivalent)
- Walkie Talkies (or equivalent)
- Water Flavoring (liquid or powder)
- Wine Or Champagne (your favorite – if you drink)
- Zip Ties (for luggage)