WHey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re in Split, Croatia on a Croisi Cruise. We’ve found there are a few key items that everyone should pack for a cruise, whether it’s a European cruise, or a Caribbean cruise. Regardless of your cruising destination, make sure you pack these six cruise essentials! This isn’t a complete cruise packing checklist, but rather six things that you may not think of unless you’ve been on a cruise before.
#1 Air Freshener
Cruise cabins are quite small, and on some cruise ships, the windows may not open, so there’s very little air flow. Add to this the fact that cruise ships are all about eating, and you’ve got a stuffy, stinky cruise ship cabin. A little spray bottle of air freshener can make a HUGE difference and create a much more pleasant environment for your travel partners. I like Poo-Pourri; a tiny bottle is all you need!
#2 Febreze or Downy Wrinkle Releaser
These act like deodorant for your clothes, and it is nice to have for freshening up your clothes that haven’t been washed in a while. The Downy product has the added benefit of smoothing out wrinkles. These are both sold in travel sizes and are really great to have on a cruise. Cruise cabins are small, your clothes often stay smushed in your suitcase, and there’s not usually room for an ironing board. Chances are, you are also packing lighter, and possibly re-wearing some clothes, so it’s nice to freshen them up with something.
#3 Comfortable Headphones or Earbuds
This is especially for European cruises, which involve a lot of shore excursions that include historical tours and museums. Most cruises give you the cheap earbuds like the airlines hand out, and they get really uncomfortable after a while. I like to bring my own headphones which I know are going to comfortable. If you wear hearing aids, this is really important because you can bring something that works with them.
Read: Seven Reasons to Hire a Private Tour Guide
#4 Extra Batteries or a Travel Strip
No matter what kind of cabin you book, there are never enough electrical outlets. You will be lucky to have two outlets in your room. I like to have backup batteries for my camera so I can charge one while I’m out during the day. Another option is to bring a power strip, but you need to make sure you get one that is specific to cruises, called a travel strip. If you have one with USB ports, it’s even easier.
#5 Sunblock & Bug Spray
Things like sunblock, bug screen and hats are small and easy to pack. You can buy them anywhere, but if you buy them on the ship, or in the port towns, you will pay a ton more for them. You may also not always be able to find what you need. I wear 70SPF and the highest I could find in town is 30 SPF. (Don’t forget any prescription medication you need as well – pack enough for the entire trip; don’t assume you can get something refilled along the way.)
Watch: How to Deal with Seasickness
#6 Small Bills
Small bills will really come in handy on a cruise. You want to be able to buy small things at the ports of call, like souvenirs or snacks, and most vendors don’t want to take big bills. Even a 20 Euro bill may be too large for some areas. Small bills are good for tipping as well, both on the cruise and in the port.
These six cruise essentials can make a big difference in your travels. They will make you more comfortable in your cabin, and help you save time during your shore excursions. For more travel tips and guides, check out these blog posts and videos:
