July 29, 2024 by Leah | A Relaxed Gal

7 Top Essentials To Pack For Your Cruise

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I have a confession. I go on cruises. I like going on cruises. I think they are a great way to see the world with very little fuss. I’ve been on a handful of cruises, so while I’m not a cruising expert with all of the tips I have been able to improve and may I say even perfect my packing.

With each cruise I’ve taken, I’ve learned what is helpful to take and what isn’t. This makes my packing so much easier and less stressful. Plus, I don’t have to worry about making sure I have everything I need and then some.


Here are some of my must-have items to pack for a cruise. All of them are available on Amazon.

woman packing suitcase with colorful items for a cruise
(This post includes affiliate links for which I will receive a commission if you click and make a purchase.)


Portable Charger

When you’re on a cruise, you’re always on the go. Whether on the boat or going on excursions off the boat. So it’s helpful to have something available to charge your phone.

I’ve started taking a lightweight, compact, portable charger with me when I cruise. My favorite options are


Reusable Water Bottle

Most of the time when I cruise, it’s during the summer or in warm climates. So, staying hydrated is extremely important. I like to take a reusable water bottle with me, in particular for the flight to the port and when I get off the ship.

When looking for a water bottle, I want one that will keep my drinks cold or hot for hours. And it doesn’t leak, so I can put it in my bag. These fit the bill


Packing Cubes

I love packing cubes! I’ve been using them for a few years now. They’re my little secret for being able to overpack and still fit everything in my suitcase (shh…don’t tell).

Packing cubes are also helpful in keeping what you pack organized and neatly packed. A good set of packing cubes has multiple sizes, giving you options for how to use them. I share more about the packing cube set that I use here.

Portable Fan

I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of this before. Having a portable fan can be a simple way to cool off when in the sun or chilling on the ship deck.



Foldable hangers

Unless you have a large suite, you’re going to be staying in a cozy stateroom that, despite best efforts, doesn’t have a lot of room. So, making the most of the in-room storage available, like the small closet, is paramount.

Unfortunately, like hotel room closets, there aren’t a lot of hangers available. Now you can ask for more, and depending on the cruise line, you may get them. What’s a little easier is to take your own hangers, like these that fold up. You can see more about foldable travel hangers here.


Hanging toiletry bag

I’ve been using hanging toiletry bags when I travel for several years now. They are so helpful when you have a bathroom with little to no counter space.

What I’ve found is that the key to a good hanging toiletry bag is having multiple compartments that are easy to access when the bag is hanging and when it’s not.

Bagsmart has a few different options for hanging toiletry bags. The Bagsmart toiletry bag that I have is the large-sized hanging Toiletry Bag Travel Bag. It's big enough that I can put all of my makeup, hair, and skincare products in it. But the bag is compact enough that it fits in my carry-on and larger checked bags. See more about the Bagsmart Hanging Travel Toiletry Bag here.


Magnetic hooks

If you’re going to have more than two people in your ship cabin, you’ll find there are very few places to hang things. Such as hats, towels, clothes, or purses. What I’ve found out is that cabin walls tend to be metal, so you can place magnets on them.

When it comes to selecting magnetic hooks, the more weight they hold, the better.



Luggage tag holders

Not just any type of luggage tag, but ones specifically for your cruise ship tags. Typically, when you check into your cruise, they provide you with large tags to attach to your luggage. You can either use tape or a stapler to attach them. The kicker is that most of the time, you're not at home and don't have easy access to staples or tape.

For my last few cruises, I've been bringing Scotch tape so I can attach the cruise tags to my luggage. On my last trip, though, I stayed at a hotel where several cruise passengers were staying, and I saw that they were using large, clear luggage holders. Before the cruise ship left the port, I found some cruise ship luggage tag holders on Amazon and put them in my cart to purchase when I got home. 

These luggage tag holders are so handy and have made it easier for me to attach my cruise tags to my luggage, and I don't have to worry about having tape anymore!

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