trucker den Posted January 6, 2018 #1 Share Posted January 6, 2018 My wife and I are booked on our first ever cruise. What are some essential items to bring on a cruise that you don't bring on a land based vacation? Some things I have read include magnets to hold up dailies and other papers, bungee cords to hold shut drawers and doors in case of rough seas, and clorox wipes to wipe down cabin door handles and surfaces. What else should I bring? what do people use to carry around their seapass card? TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggertastic Posted January 6, 2018 #2 Share Posted January 6, 2018 We’ve never had the need for any of those things listed. We’ve found over the years that each of us are different and there is only one thing we bring on a cruise that we don’t take on land based ones and that’s a thermal coffee cup so my DH can carry his coffee about but most machines now have to go cups. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wave rider Posted January 6, 2018 #3 Share Posted January 6, 2018 We have not needed bungie cords but always have wipes with bleach along. That is the first thing we use when we enter the cabin. Everything gets wiped down carefully, including remotes and phone handsets. Think of what you like to do, read, play cards, etc to pass the time. But, the most important thing to bring along on your first cruise is a sense of wonder, openness and knowing that this is a vacation. Go with the flow and enjoy everything!:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHEZMARYLOU Posted January 6, 2018 #4 Share Posted January 6, 2018 We don't bring anything special like duck tape, bungee cords, etc. Besides the usual packing, our essentials are passport, credit card and cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekathy Posted January 6, 2018 #5 Share Posted January 6, 2018 ...people use to carry around their seapass card? TIA Pockets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted January 6, 2018 #6 Share Posted January 6, 2018 We don't bring anything that we don't need on a land-based vacation. Never felt the need to hang the daily newsletter on a wall....it will fit in a drawer, or trashcan.....either/or. Have never needed bungee cords for anything. I carry a small purse with lipstick, comb, tissues...stuff you need when "out and about"...hubby uses his pocket for his card. I do take wipes everywhere (land or sea!), to wipe the remote, and other potential dirty areas.... they make small packets that will fit in a purse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted January 6, 2018 #7 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Here we go again. DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billslowsky Posted January 6, 2018 #8 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Card - treat like a work id card. A lot of people get a lanyard to carry their shipcard around. Either in a plastic holder or have the ship punch a hole to hook it on. I use a retractable cord the casino gives out. Bring your OTC drugs like dramamine, pain reliever, a few bandaids. You can buy on board for really high prices. Same for toothpaste and personal care stuff. Sunscreen! Sanitizer. Most important, cookies and M&Ms. Too expensive on board! Seriously, if you have snacks you prefer, bring them. People also get those protective sleeves or wallets for their chip cards. I like the nylon type t-shirts that I can wash in the sink since they dry quickly. I also bring clothes I no longer want (like old t-shirts and socks) and throw them away at the end of the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jody75 Posted January 6, 2018 #9 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Waterproof money box for the beach - ebay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen haywood Posted January 6, 2018 #10 Share Posted January 6, 2018 On Celebrity you certainly don't need to pay for cookies or M&Ms! No need to bring your own. Definitely OTC stuff; shoes that are well broken in may rub a blister in the heat or humidity. You may get the sniffles...as mentioned, this stuff is really expensive onboard. We bring some clips to hold towels on our chairs on the balcony. Like sitting on the towels in case there is salt spray or anything on them. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
levramosis Posted January 6, 2018 #11 Share Posted January 6, 2018 We like having a battery powered night light, unscented bath products (we are scent sensitive and don't use the stuff provided) a lightweight compact backpack and some ziplock bags (They come in handy to put leftover food in the fridge, keep a cell phone dry in case of sudden downpour). We usually keep our seapass in a pocket or wristlet. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talex831 Posted January 6, 2018 #12 Share Posted January 6, 2018 People bring so much stuff! I just don’t get it. Pack half the clothes you think you’ll need and bring money. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare dsa181920 Posted January 6, 2018 #13 Share Posted January 6, 2018 On Celebrity you certainly don't need to pay for cookies or M&Ms! No need to bring your own. Definitely OTC stuff; shoes that are well broken in may rub a blister in the heat or humidity. You may get the sniffles...as mentioned, this stuff is really expensive onboard. Sent from my iPhone using Forums I remember our first cruise with kids. Our daughter got a cold and we had forgotten to bring any OTC meds. Children’s Tylenol was $20 for a small bottle in one of the ship’s stores. Now I pack all types of OTC stuff. Of course, since I have it with me, I haven’t needed any of the products. Cookies are free at Cafe Baccio and the Oceanview Cafe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealBatman Posted January 6, 2018 #14 Share Posted January 6, 2018 We like to bring a yellow, highlighter pen for highlighting events (in the daily activity pamphlet) we are interested in doing each day. We leave notes for each other if we are participating in events separate from one another so we can find each other during the day! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Tina Posted January 6, 2018 #15 Share Posted January 6, 2018 I bring an IPAD. Internet time is outrageously priced onboard - and very slow. I can download email in a very short time - using less internet minutes, I can read the email off line. I can write email messages off line and connect to the internet for only the short time it takes to send the messages. It is also handy in some ports where there is free WIFI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaBag Posted January 6, 2018 #16 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Welcome to Cruise Critic and the wonderful world of cruising. You sound like you are pretty well informed for a first time cruiser. Good for you. All I can add that has not already been mentioned is to use packing cubes. They make packing and unpacking much easier. We got ours from eBags but lots of companies sell them. Just google for them. We also get dollar bills for tips here and there. Enjoy your cruise. Where are you sailing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeachyVoyager Posted January 6, 2018 #17 Share Posted January 6, 2018 From experience we now take NyQuil and DayQuil capsules as well as our Netipot. I have found zip lock bags to come in handy also. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rjr0112 Posted January 6, 2018 #18 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Pockets That gave me a good laugh. Some people use one of those lanyard key holders and put money in it too but if your going off the ship you need your passport too so bring something water proof you can carry your passport, SeaCard, and some money in for getting off the ship. I use a drawstring bag so we can carry other things like water bottles, camera, etc Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolslc Posted January 6, 2018 #19 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Things I bring that are different than other vacations: highlighter for daily list of activities, clothespins to hang up clothes to dry on the bathroom line and balcony chairs, battery powered clock for the room (may be no place to plug in your phone next to the bed), variety of OTC meds, lanyard with clear plastic holder for sea pass, travel laundry soap to wash out things in the sink. Beach bag or backpack for port days but also to carry a few things up to the pool. We bring our own snorkel gear too. Have fun! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iluvspb Posted January 6, 2018 #20 Share Posted January 6, 2018 My wife and I are booked on our first ever cruise. What are some essential items to bring on a cruise that you don't bring on a land based vacation? Some things I have read include magnets to hold up dailies and other papers, bungee cords to hold shut drawers and doors in case of rough seas, and clorox wipes to wipe down cabin door handles and surfaces. What else should I bring? what do people use to carry around their seapass card? TIA We always bring an over the door shoe holder. Goes over the inside of the bathroom door. All our toiletries are stored in plain view and not cluttering the bathroom shelves. Got this tip on cruise critic many years ago. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare keesar Posted January 6, 2018 #21 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Prilosec,Imodium and allergy relief meds. They are the essentials. They don't take up much space and you may need them. Forget about cubes, cords, duct tape. You have enough to pack in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mom says Posted January 6, 2018 #22 Share Posted January 6, 2018 We don't bring anything different on a cruise than we do on a land based vacation except for OTC meds. Those MIGHT be available onboard (at ridiculously inflated prices), and they MIGHT be available at the next port, but it just makes sense to bring our own. Most of the extraneous items above fall into our "might come in handy but I can easily live without them" category. Which usually overlaps with our "not worth the space/weight in my suitcase" category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wine-O Posted January 6, 2018 #23 Share Posted January 6, 2018 I always bring the travel sized duct tape. It's come in handy on several occasions. I also use it on the "Do Not Disturb" sign. Put it on the back of the sign so when you hang it over the handle the backing sticks to the door. The draft of the next door neighbor opening and closing their door always seems to blow them off the handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudiaB Posted January 6, 2018 #24 Share Posted January 6, 2018 We don't bring anything special either. Just note that if you carry your key card in your hand along with your cell phone for taking photos, etc (and checking email if you have an internet package!) your magnetic strip will not work to get you back into your room. So make sure to put your key card in an RFID sleeve. I have a very very small cross body purse (more like a small wallet) that literally holds just my iPhone and a couple cards, and cash for when we're off the ship. You need nothing more than something like that. Mine is RFID. I take a large tote type purse on the plane as one of my two free carry ons (thank you Southwest) and that tiny purse is in there. The amount of paper that you'll get every day in your cabin is crazy. I immediately throw everything away that I don't want (the spa and jewelry ads to name a couple), tear off the one page of the daily, and literally the only paper we have in the room at any given time is that one page. We toss that the evening we go to bed. I'm astonished at how many people keep all the dailies and papers and such hanging on the walls. There are also sometimes some folders/folios/magazines on the desk area. I put those away somewhere out of sight. Also I get rid of any trays and other stuff in the room that takes up space. I hang nothing up on a magnetic hook, everything goes away to de-clutter the room. I bring emergency meds along with everything else we need on a regular basis. I have a zippered case that holds neosporin, hydrocortisone cream, bandaids, all kinds of pain meds, and antibiotics, my strong cough medicine, packs of heat pads, glasses wipes, antibacterial wipes in packets. If we have some kind of "surprise" we want to be prepared for it. Cold-Eze is great, throat lozenges, cough drops, nasal spray, decongestants. This zippered case goes everywhere we go. Land or sea. Many times the only thing that'll ever get used is an Advil or some plain aspirin the whole trip. But we want to be prepared. You can ask your cabin attendant for more hangers. We double hang items. I wash some things in the sink using their shower gel or shampoo (I bring my own shampoo and all soaps, etc. because I want to). Even though we get free laundry we don't always want to send away delicates or just an easy knit to hand wash in two minutes. Don't think you need a whole new outfit for every night. I repeat the same black slacks multiple times - they're under the table, I only have them on for a few hours. Also they pack small, wash and dry easily, don't wrinkle (Chico's Travelers). Some tops I wear at night under a jacket I might wear the next day during the day. Use scarves or jewelry to change up a look, and honestly, no one cares if you have the same thing on 3 nights in 10 days. Nobody notices, really. DON'T take too many pairs shoes. My first cruise was 10 night and I think I had 12 pair shoes. Seriously. I bring one pair black for nights. Sandals, non-athletic sneakers (Skechers), and flip flops. Might bring a basic sandal for walking and a cute sparkly one for day AND some nights. So maybe 5. Maybe 4. I need a 10X magnification for makeup. I bring my own. Suites have a magnification mirror included, don't know if other cabins do, but I bring mine. I bring a piece of rubbery textured drawer liner to put in the desk drawer where I put my makeup. Keeps things from rolling around. That's the only 'special' thing I bring, and it lives in a pocket in my suitcase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruise47 Posted January 6, 2018 #25 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Please do not lock the following items in your check luggage that you give to the dock longshoremen porter. Your passport, credit cards and your cruise sailing documents. We witnessed this several months ago; at the Fort Lauderdale Port and that was a mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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