TOP CRUISE PACKING TIPS:

Smart Physical and Digital Decisions for Trouble-Free Travel

In this article you will find:

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Your Physical and Digital Stuff

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Shared Packing Lists and Digital Housecleaning

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21 Forget-Me-Nots

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Packing Lists Worth Checking

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International Phone Plan

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International Phone Plan

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Things You Must Take or Purchase Along The Way

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Try The "Half-Full" Packing Rule of Treasure Hunters

Packing is always a tricky business. Do you follow the old 20/80 packing rule – only use 20% of what you pack; the other 80% becomes excess baggage? Should you take it or leave it? What items are prohibited from coming on board? What should you pack to make cruise travel more convenient and comfortable? After all, you don’t want to pack too much or too little, or find that you’re missing an essential travel item.

But knowing exactly what to pack is another story. And what about your digital baggage – what’s on your smart phone that will make life on both the road and water easier? Is your smart phone travel-cruise ready? 

Let’s look at what packing best works for smart cruisers, including both you and your travel companion(s).

Not long ago packing lists were all about what physical items you stuffed into your suitcases, bags, and pockets for combined air and sea travel – checklists of permitted/prohibited items and decisions about meeting weight requirements. Well, those where the “old days” of travel – not necessarily the “good old days” — when the contents, size, and weight of your bags counted the most.
Today, all that has changed with the dramatic increase in smart phone (iOS and Android systems) usage and the proliferation of user-friendly travel apps. Much of travel increasingly revolves around the use of touch-free technology for acquiring information, contacts, and access – the keys to trouble-free travel. For example, U.S. and Canadian citizens still need to travel with the traditional paper passport, but they are well advised to also set up MobilePassport (mobilepassport.us/) on their smart phones for skipping passport control lines (just head for the faster-moving Mobile Passport Control line) for entering 34 major U.S. airports and cruise ports (March 2021). Welcome to the rapidly changing and fascinating digital world of travel!

Your Physical and Digital Stuff

If you have a travel companion, work on both your physical and digital packing lists together.
Avoid duplication by sharing items on this list. For example, there’s no need to pack 2 flashlights (smart phone is another), 2 hanging door organizers, 2 first aid kits, 2 large tubes of toothpaste, or 2 bottles of sunscreen (assuming neither of you are heavy users) nor the same language, weather, booking, mapping, and news apps. Better still, you may want to do some app housecleaning – delete ones you never use (seemed like a good idea at the time!) that just clutter your screen. Better still, set aside a “technology and digital makeover day” to upgrade your smart phone with some of today’s best travel and cruise apps before you take your next trip (see my 30 best travel category recommendations below).

Shared Packing Lists and Digital Housecleaning

21 Forget-Me-Nots

Please don’t start out with disappointments – forget to pack essentials. Get your packing right from the get-go. The 21 most commonly reported items travelers forget to pack include:

 

  1. Electronic chargers and cords, from phones to iPads. These items also are frequently left behind in hotel rooms and cruise ship cabins and are popular lost-and-found items.
  2. Extra padlocks
  3. Toothpaste
  4. Hat
  5. Swimwear
  6. Prescriptions/medications
  7. Seasickness medication (Dramamine)
  8. Laundry bag
  9. First aid kit
  10. Copies of travel documents
  11. Sunscreen
  12. Lip balm/chap stick
  13. Umbrella
  14. Reusable water bottle
  15. Sunglasses
  16. Snacks
  17. Warm item – sweater, sweatshirt, scarf,  or jacket
  18. Toiletries
  19. Nail clippers
  20. Lint remover roller
  21. Door hanging storage holder

Packing Lists Worth Checking

The good news is that several free packing apps are available for quick and easy download, starting with the highly praised PackPoint (packpnt.com). These packing apps include numerous checklists to ensure that you leave home with everything you need for a trouble-free trip. Here’s my recommended packing list, starting with one of the most important gateway packing decisions you need to make – your powerful smart phone for becoming a very happy digital road warrior!

International Phone Plan

You’ll want to pack your smart phone, which may well become the ultimate passport to wonderful travel and cruising. However, make sure you’re able to use it abroad without incurring expensive roaming charges. Start by setting up an appropriate international call plan, which includes data (text and email), so you can use your phone when traveling abroad. Check with your phone carrier for an inexpensive international plan. Verizon, for example, offers a $10 a day international plan.

Things You Must Take or Purchase Along the Way

Essential documents. Be sure you’ve packed your passport, driver’s license, Global Entry card, COVID-19 vaccination card, travel insurance policy, cruise documents, credit cards, membership cards/numbers, hotel reservations, eyeglass prescriptions, list of medications, and key contacts. TIP: While you’ll need to carry originals of most such documents, be paranoid enough to create an electronic backup (never leave home for a trip without one) of all documents by scanning and emailing them to yourself. In so doing, you’ll be able to quickly access them on your smart phone or on any computer with Internet access. Be sure you include a scanner on your smart phone, such as Google Drive or CamScanner, so you can scan documents and receipts as you travel rather than clutter your pockets and bags with paper receipts and God-only-knows-what-that’s-all-about notes! Consider scanning and emailing the following to yourself:

  • Passport
  • Birth certificate
  • Global Entry card
  • COVID-19 vaccination card
  • Health insurance card
  • Medicare card
  • Hotel and cruise reservation documents
  • Driver’s license
  • Travel insurance documents
  • Credit cards/ATM Card
  • AARP card
  • AAA card
  • Eyeglass prescription
  • List of medications
  • Contact information (emergency, doctor)
  • Passwords for accounts online (you can also use these free apps for managing your passwords — Myki Password Manager & Authenticator or LogMeOnce)

Smart Phone Apps. Your smart phone should be loaded with useful travel apps, including a foreign language translator, and a good quality camera with special settings and shared functions. Be sure to download the travel app for your airline, which will enable you to monitor flights and board without a paper ticket. Your cruise line also offers apps for booked passengers. Azamara Cruises, for example, offers apps dealing with pre-cruise and onboard issues. In pre-cruise mode, customers can view their upcoming booked cruises, explore entertainment and dining venues, examine deck plans, review spa offerings, book onshore excursions and specialty restaurants, and check in for their sailing. Once on board, they can browse daily activities, customize a calendar, monitor their expenses, local fellow passengers, navigate the ship (decks, elevators, staircases, restaurants, casino, theater, spa, etc.), and review and settle their bill. These 30 categories of free travel and cruise apps are available for both iOS (Apple) and Android devices (smart phones, smart watches, and tablets); most of these apps also operate from dedicated websites.

Whatever you do, please do not misplace or lose your smart phone. If you do, that loss may well ruin your trip since much of your electronic life and identity is on that phone. Therefore, you’re well advised to secure your smart phone with cross-body holder that slings around your neck and shoulder . . . or get a smart phone holster for your belt. One of the best and most stylish slings is made by Bandolier (bandolierstyle.com). Put that sling around your neck and you’ll never be alone without your wonderful smart phone that’s loaded with essential travel apps and contacts!

Grooming Items/Toiletries. While your cruise ship will have some of these items in your bathroom, it’s best to also pack them yourself, especially if you are brand-conscious:

  • Nail clippers and file
  • Hand sanitizer/wipes
  • Tissues
  • Shampoo/conditioner 
  • Toothbrush/toothpaste
  • Dental floss
  • Soap
  • Deodorant
  • Sunscreen
  • Lip balm/chap stick
  • Moisturizers
  • Makeup
  • Hairspray/hair gel
  • Comb/hairbrush
  • Shaving supplies
  • Cotton balls
  • Cotton swabs (Q-tips)

Health-Related Items

  • Prescription drugs (include 5 extra days, just in case of travel delays)
  • Over-the-counter medications for colds, diarrhea, headaches, cuts, motion sickness, and assorted pains 
  • Eyeglasses, contacts, and eye prescription
  • First aid kit
  • Masks
  • Gloves
  • Hand sanitizer/wipes
  • For women: birth control pills, feminine hygiene products, condoms
  • For men: condoms, Viagra or Cialis for men with ED issues

Tools/Equipment

  • Water bottle
  • Laundry bag
  • Ziploc bags (7)
  • Flashlight (small LED)
  • Charge cords for electronics (smart phone, notebook, laptop computer)
  • Extension cord – prohibited by some cruise lines; pack in check-through luggage
  • Multiple electrical outlet strip 
  • Lanyard
  • Small lightweight backpack for daytrips
  • Extra luggage tags
  • Personal/ business cards
  • Rain gear if rain is in the forecast (small collapsible umbrella)
  • Small expandable lightweight bag for carrying, shopping, packing
  • Multi-purpose all-to-one pocket tool (Black Swiss Force, Leatherman, High Sierra)
  • Pocket knife (preferably an all-purpose Swiss knife with scissors and cork screw) – some cruise lines prohibit knives, but that’s questionable. Similar to airlines, it’s best to pack this item in your check-through luggage (put in first aid kit) which will be delivered to your stateroom.

Money matters

  • Cash – $500-$1,000 may be plenty if you’re using your credit card and ATM card
  • Credit cards – take 2, one should include travel insurance (United MileagePlus, Chase Sapphire, MasterCard, or Platinum American Express. AMEX is not welcomed in many places because of their high merchant charges which merchants would rather pass on to their customers who use this card)
  • ATM Card
  • RFID credit card protection sleeves – protect yourself from unknowing credit card theft by storing your cards in RFID sleeves that prevent thieves from scanning them unprotected in wallets or purses
  • Personal checks – take 2 which you may need for purchasing high-ticket items from places that will not take or will add 5%+ to prices for using high commission credit cards and paying for customs duties when returning home
  • Tipping money – take several $1, $5, and $10 bills for tipping purposes. Also, check out local tipping customs with these two smart phone apps — GlobeTips and Piper
  • Money belt – for those who are very active, carry a lot of cash, and don’t use their room safe

Clothes and Accessories (easy and fun to purchase along the way)

  • Shoes (3 pairs for men and maybe more for women) and sandals – one pair should be comfortable but sturdy walking shoes
  • Hat/cap
  • Swimwear
  • Sleepwear
  • T-shirts
  • Pants
  • Socks
  • Jeans (questionable)
  • Shorts
  • Belt(s)
  • Purse(s)
  • Scarves/shawls
  • Sweater (for cool days/nights)
  • Gloves
  • Underwear/undershirts/bras
  • Casual clothes for day and night – five coordinated/interchangeable outfits
  • For men, one black dress-up suit, white shirt, and tie for formal night (in lieu of a tuxedo) – skip if not interested in dress-up events
  • For women, one dressy dress for formal night — skip if not interested in dress-up events

Should consider taking these items but not essential for a successful trip

  • Walkie-talkie for staying in contact with your travel mate in unfamiliar places both on board and on shore.
  • A dedicated camera and extra flash cards – if you travel with the latest model iPhone, spend some time learning about the awesome capabilities of its camera. You could easily make this your primary camera since it has better capabilities than most expensive cameras. But you may want a separate camera with more telephoto capabilities.
  • Headphones
  • Earbuds
  • Travel blanket
  • Travel pillow
  • Snacks
  • Hangers
  • Safety pins
  • Packing cubes
  • Coffee tumbler
  • Padlocks
  • Towel clips or clothes pins
  • Memory cards
  • Night light
  • Plug adaptor (for hotels before/after cruise)
  • Wristwatch (ideally a multi-functional one that syncs to your phone and other devises)
  • Laptop/tablet
  • Extra batteries (but best not to pack — refresh all batteries before traveling)
  • Paperback books – cruise ship will have a library, however limited, and you may already travel with a tablet of downloaded eBooks.
  • Water shoes
  • Collapsible hand fan (especially if traveling in warm climates)
  • Door hanging storage organizer – get a transparent hanging shoe organizer with 24 pockets (Amazon, $10-20) – put all your small items, such as toothbrush, tooth paste, deodorant, shaving cream, shaver, sunglasses, jewelry, medications, in the pockets)
  • Portable mirror
  • Mini fan
  • Binoculars
  • Laundry kit – use travel size detergent packets for doing laundry in your cabin sink
  • Laundry stick stain remover (Tide To Go or Laundry Stain Remover Stick)
  • Anti-wrinkle spray
  • Tape measure (or download these measuring apps –Tape Measure, Moasure, Ruler AR)
  • Sewing kit
  • Lint remover roller (small)
  • Rubber bands
  • Metal clips and paper clips
  • Scotch tape 
  • Packing tape and/or duct tap
  • Suitcase strap
  • Seasonal clothes if traveling to different climates on same trip
  • Insect repellent
  • Jewelry – take inexpensive and basic pieces (3) that work for several coordinated outfits

What you don’t need or want to pack or prohibited items

  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Slippers
  • Hard liquor
  • Illegal drugs or substances
  • Fire arms and ammunition
  • CBD oil or products
  • Clothes irons
  • Travel steamers
  • Candles
  • Flammable liquids and explosives
  • Perishable food and meat products
  • Pepper spray

Try the “Half-Full” Packing Rule of Treasure Hunters

In the end, you can probably travel on much less than you initially planned to pack. To avoid the 20/80 rule, put an asterisk (*) next to your “must pack” items, such as medications, a hat, and sunglasses, and then add only those items you can’t live without. You may be surprised at how many things you don’t really need on a 7- to 30-day cruise. 

The number one packing rule we’ve followed over the years is to travel with one suitcase half full. The empty side is reserved for bubble wrap, Ziplock bags, packing tape, and quick consumables (items that will be gone by the end of your cruise, such as snacks and a bottle of wine) – the space for STBA (Soon To Be Acquired) shopping treasures. After all, carrying home a suitcase full of dirty laundry and the 80% of unused items you packed because of latent travel insecurities is a lot less attractive and fun than going home with some wonderful new clothes, accessories, art, and gift items acquired on a memorable journey. If you are a smart packer, chances are you’re also a happy traveler with stories about how you filled that half-full suitcase!

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