Do I Really Need All That "Junk"?

[geckog]

I will be a first time cruise on the Triumph on June 17th so long as it doesn't get cancelled due to repair delays. As you can imagine, I am super excited for my first ever cruise. We booked last fall and as soon thereafter, I was on here reading anything and everything.

 

All the reading has led me to my question today. I read about all these things people recommend you bring like: an alarm clock, a battery operated fan, first aid kit, bungee cord, clips to hang suits to dry, zip lock bags, etc., etc., etc. I'm sure you know the list goes on and on and on and on with stuff.......... :D Anyway, for you experienced cruisers, what extras do you really think would be of great benefit for me to bring? And, I'm talking of stuff other than the obvious of clothes, meds, travel docs, etc.

 

I'm really trying not to overpack too much and, after going through all the "extras" I've collected, I think I need to start there.

 

Thanks for your thoughts and advice!

 

~Amy

 

The "need" is really up to you. Some people think a fan is important, but I've never taken one. An extension cord for DH's CPAP is an absolute necessity, but some people probably have no need for an extension cord at all.

 

If something seems to be taking a lot of room, just think about why you think you need it before you pack it. If it's necessity, make room, if it's convenience, ditch it. I like to take a collapsible cooler, but if it uses up too much packing space, it stays home.

[lovebelle]

I have never brought any of those things and never felt like I was missing something. I say, keep it simple :)

[Gopherpharm]

I always end up bringing things I don't use, but the things I leave behind end up being the things I wished I had packed.

 

Isn't that the truth.

 

Items that take up little to no space that I would recommend include: ziplock bags, tide to go pen, band-aids, watch with alarm setting (I prefer not to use my phone at all and especially don't want to bring it to excursions).

[Boozebabe]

Definitely the large ziplock bag for a wet suit. Mine never is dry enough to pack for the trip home.

 

A flashlight just in case.

 

A nightlight to plug into the bathroom outlet. Its pretty dark at sea.

 

And finally no one mentioned............LOTS OF MONEY for casino and souvenirs.

[mchelle77]

2 things we don't leave home without... Febreeze (or you choice of odor eliminator) for the bathroom and baby wipes ;)

 

My two things are an over-the-door shoe organizer (for all the crap that comes along with a family of three) and a power strip. All other stuff I could go without.

 

Although, nothing wrong with throwing a couple of bandaids in a pocket.

[ch27088]

I will be a first time cruise on the Triumph on June 17th so long as it doesn't get cancelled due to repair delays. As you can imagine, I am super excited for my first ever cruise. We booked last fall and as soon thereafter, I was on here reading anything and everything.

 

All the reading has led me to my question today. I read about all these things people recommend you bring like: an alarm clock, a battery operated fan, first aid kit, bungee cord, clips to hang suits to dry, zip lock bags, etc., etc., etc. I'm sure you know the list goes on and on and on and on with stuff.......... :D Anyway, for you experienced cruisers, what extras do you really think would be of great benefit for me to bring? And, I'm talking of stuff other than the obvious of clothes, meds, travel docs, etc.

 

I'm really trying not to overpack too much and, after going through all the "extras" I've collected, I think I need to start there.

 

Thanks for your thoughts and advice!

 

~Amy

 

 

First off, can your cell phone be used as an alarm clock? If so (and it doesn't rack up roaming charges), then I would use your cell phone instead of buying an alarm clock. Just remember to check with your carrier. You don't want to use your cell phone as a clock if it is in roaming mode. Not sure about the battery operated fan...if you really need one, why not try a paper fan so that it doesn't take us so much space. I went on a cruise in April and May and not once did I feel that there was a need to use a fan. If you have a balcony cabin, then bring the bungee cord. I like having my balcony door open at night so that I could hear the ocean as we slept. I never took clothes pins with me as in the bathroom there is a clothes line for you to hang your bathing suit. I just draped mine over the clothes line and it worked just fine. Just remember that you want to try and pack light and not have to bring so much stuff with you. I would take a small first aid kit (I used a large make up bag). I put Band-Aids, Aleve, Alcohol wipes, Neosporin, Pepto, and something for diarrhea (just in case). Hope this helps.

[Ksea1961]

Here's what I recommend. Bring it all, then whatever you don't use, don't bring it next time. :p I am a big time overpacker...and I'm getting a little better each time. On my last cruise I only used one suitcase and one carry on! Compared to the cruise before with 2 suitcases and a carry on, I've improved!

 

 

I agree with this. I had not cruised in many years so I brought a lot of extras, but no fan. The thing we never used was the bungee cord. I can't belive I fell for that one! The over the door organizer was a fantastic suggestion.

[DEL67]

I bring:

 

-A travel alarm clock - there are no clocks in the cabins

 

- Zip lock bags in case I need to pack a wet suit and to prevent any liquids that could leak from ruining my things.

 

- A small travel first aid kit with antibiotic cream and Bendryl cream

[Spring1onu]

Large ziploc bags are a must for us along with basic medications, just in case! Never needed a power strip as we just rotated items to be charged, no fan, no alarm clock (getting a wake up call works fine). Of course depending on who you're traveling with will likely dictate what you need to bring. Have fun!!!

[Laurie S.]

I bring my battery-powered alarm clock, a small flashlight, and a bungee cord to stop the bathroom door from banging in rough seas. Don't need anything else special and the alarm clock and flashlight always travel with me.

[srlafleur]

I take the shoe hanger thingy because it doesn't take up much room packed and does curtail some of the mess and clutter from the limited horizontal flat surfaces. Basically, everything that's small enough and doesn't really have a logical home elsewhere gets stored there.

Sometimes, I even put shoes in it.

I pack some things in ziplock bags - socks & underwear, primarily - and when that same stuff is dirty, it goes back in the bags.

I bring my itty-bitty LLBean travel alarm clock, because I like to know what time it is if I wake in the middle of the night or whenever, and because I don't even know how to set the alarm function on my phone, nor do I care to learn (I'm a Luddite at heart), and, my luck, it'd be roaming the whole trip because I'd screw it up.

I don't bring duct tape or clothespins. BTW, some people use these to keep errant, uneven curtains closed, so I can see the value, if a little sunlight peeking in would be problematic in the morning or at naptime. A binder clip would serve the same purpose, if you happened to use one to keep all your papers together.

I bring a small sewing kit (the kind some hotels give you)

[OCruisers]

Basically, we only take what we do anytime we are out of town -- nothing special because it's a cruise.

 

LuLu

~~~~

[deedle7544]

Less is more! We don't take cell phones on the ship, and all that other stuff just gets in the way. We do pack a few meds, Bonine...tylenol....that kids of thing.

 

But I think it also depends on the # of ppl in the cabin. For two of, no problem, wwhen I cruised with 2 kids also in the cabin, the door hanger thing was helpful.

[MrPete]

I will be a first time cruise on the Triumph on June 17th so long as it doesn't get cancelled due to repair delays. As you can imagine, I am super excited for my first ever cruise. We booked last fall and as soon thereafter, I was on here reading anything and everything.

 

All the reading has led me to my question today. I read about all these things people recommend you bring like: an alarm clock, a battery operated fan, first aid kit, bungee cord, clips to hang suits to dry, zip lock bags, etc., etc., etc. I'm sure you know the list goes on and on and on and on with stuff.......... :D Anyway, for you experienced cruisers, what extras do you really think would be of great benefit for me to bring? And, I'm talking of stuff other than the obvious of clothes, meds, travel docs, etc.

 

I'm really trying not to overpack too much and, after going through all the "extras" I've collected, I think I need to start there.

 

Thanks for your thoughts and advice!

 

~Amy

 

I've never packed anything you mention.

 

Don't forget to pack patience, kindness, smiles, a positive attitude, and sunscreen. Things happen, and with these accessories, you can get through anything.

 

Dad always said to make something, you need the right tools!

 

Bon voyage!

[Thebosn1]

I will be a first time cruise on the Triumph on June 17th so long as it doesn't get cancelled due to repair delays. As you can imagine, I am super excited for my first ever cruise. We booked last fall and as soon thereafter, I was on here reading anything and everything.

 

All the reading has led me to my question today. I read about all these things people recommend you bring like: an alarm clock, a battery operated fan, first aid kit, bungee cord, clips to hang suits to dry, zip lock bags, etc., etc., etc. I'm sure you know the list goes on and on and on and on with stuff.......... :D Anyway, for you experienced cruisers, what extras do you really think would be of great benefit for me to bring? And, I'm talking of stuff other than the obvious of clothes, meds, travel docs, etc.

 

I'm really trying not to overpack too much and, after going through all the "extras" I've collected, I think I need to start there.

 

Thanks for your thoughts and advice!

 

~Amy

 

One thing I make sure to bring is over the counter meds like pepto, aloe for sunburn, alka seltzer, stuff like that. The goal is to avoid going to medical if at all possible!

[texascop2]

I would take it all...most of it takes up little/no space. Worst case scenario (triumph breakdown) having some extra stuff makes you much more prepared. But in all seriousness, you can use most of those little extras. 1st aid kit, zip locks, power strip, flashlight. I consider these a must have. You are living in a 1000 ft long steel tube...if the power goes out a flashlight is invaluable. Some folks are ok waiting for help to come. I like having the tools ready to help myself.

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[joeyancho]

It depends if you are type A or type B person. I am type B so I don't bring much extra other than small binoculars for the balcony and my small camera. My wife is type A and tends to bring more stuff, but she is getting better. She is down to 12 pairs of shoes, LOL.

[Calkacky]

Thanks everyone for your responses. You have all inspired me to go home and remove a lot of the "junk" I have in my cruise bin. I really don't want to take "everything" and need to evaluate what is necessary and what is not. For organization, which I'm all about, I will definitely be taking the shoe organizer. I think too the zip lock bags will be handy so those are a definite. And, of course, a few meds just in case. Those few things take up very little space. As for all the the other stuff, it is up for consideration.

[Donder1]

You don't need to bring any of that junk.

 

It's all a waste of time & space.

 

No lights, alarm clock, power strips, shoe holders. bungee cords, fans, air freshener, ect.

 

You will only be gone a few days, and will get by just fine.

 

I agree! We pack light and have never had the need for most of the "extras" recommended on so many of these threads. However, one extra I take is my lightweight Nikon binoculars from LLbean. There is so much to look at from the ship/at sea and at shore.

[EBONI325]

I've never packed anything you mention.

 

Don't forget to pack patience, kindness, smiles, a positive attitude, and sunscreen. Things happen, and with these accessories, you can get through anything.

 

Dad always said to make something, you need the right tools!

 

Bon voyage!

 

This is perfect

[Calkacky]

I've never packed anything you mention.

 

Don't forget to pack patience, kindness, smiles, a positive attitude, and sunscreen. Things happen, and with these accessories, you can get through anything.

 

Dad always said to make something, you need the right tools!

 

Bon voyage!

 

I'm very much a patient, kind and positive person who smiles a lot so I've got that covered. :D But...about the sunscreen. Is one normal sized bottle like you'd get a Walmart enough for the week for just me? My over-prepared self bought 2. Do I really need both?

[Scrapnana]

I'm very much a patient, kind and positive person who smiles a lot so I've got that covered. :D But...about the sunscreen. Is one normal sized bottle like you'd get a Walmart enough for the week for just me? My over-prepared self bought 2. Do I really need both?

 

1 shoud do unless you are very light skinned and are going to be out in the sun 8 hours a day.

 

The one thing that I never travel without is a flashlight.

 

If you are taking electronics, then an extension cord (some chargers won't fit where the sockets are located). Other than that it is mainly up to what you need.

[JimAOk1945]

I will be a first time cruise on the Triumph on June 17th so long as it doesn't get cancelled due to repair delays. As you can imagine, I am super excited for my first ever cruise. We booked last fall and as soon thereafter, I was on here reading anything and everything.

 

All the reading has led me to my question today. I read about all these things people recommend you bring like: an alarm clock, a battery operated fan, first aid kit, bungee cord, clips to hang suits to dry, zip lock bags, etc., etc., etc. I'm sure you know the list goes on and on and on and on with stuff.......... :D Anyway, for you experienced cruisers, what extras do you really think would be of great benefit for me to bring? And, I'm talking of stuff other than the obvious of clothes, meds, travel docs, etc.

 

I'm really trying not to overpack too much and, after going through all the "extras" I've collected, I think I need to start there.

 

Thanks for your thoughts and advice!

 

~Amy

 

The obvious is usually enough. Happy Sailing. It's a great way to see the world and have your hotel go with you! :D

[skoeper]

This time.....we are bringing a small alarm clock. Why? Because we have early excursions and have heard that cell phones sometimes change their times to local time and it's important to always stay on ship time. They sell really small travel clocks, so we are bringing one to avoid missing an excursion.

[varoo]

The one thing that I never travel without is a flashlight..

The same here. We each keep a flashlight on our nightstand and prefer it to a night light because you can point the light right where you want it and it doesn't stay on all night.

 

If one person wakes up in the middle of the night and wants to take a pill or find another blanket or step out on the balcony, or whatever, there is no need to turn on cabin lights and wake up anyone else.

 

Also it would be especially good to have in case of a power outage (thinking of Carnival disaster).

 

 

We have never needed an alarm clock on any cruise ship.

The ship's wake up calls are very reliable.

 

I suppose one could set a backup alarm on a wrist watch where you control the time zone yourself if concerned, but we have not found that necessary.

 

On some ships if you order room service, they give you a call to let you know it is coming, so you can even use that as your wake up call.

 

A necessity to me may be junk to you, and vice versa.

 

After cruising for a while, most people pretty well figure out what they will really use and what they won't.

 

But we still keep reading these threads because we never know when a new, helpful suggestion will come along -- something we never thought of before.