10 Smart Things to Pack for a 2024 Cruise

Setting sail on a cruise is an exciting way to vacation, but preparing for a cruise can be nerve-wracking, especially if it’s your first time.

But don’t worry! We’ve got a list of ten super smart, inexpensive things to pack that will make your cruise more organized, safe, and enjoyable. From deterring theft to making embarkation easy, we got you!

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Why Packing for a Cruise is Different

Packing for a trip anywhere can be stressful. The places you’ll be visiting, the weather, and the activities you’ll be doing all factor in to what you’re packing. But most of the time, if you realize you forgot to pack something, you can run to a shop to pick it up or even have it delivered to your hotel.

But cruising is different. While most cruise ships have shops catering to jewelry, cigars, liqueur, and souvenirs, you most likely won’t be able to pick up practical things that you accidentally left at home. And being on a cruise ship makes it impossible to Amazon something to yourself.

On top of that, space is limited. Being organized is a top priority. Rooms tend to be small and space can be tight in closets and drawers. But by carefully choosing what to pack, you can greatly enhance your cruising experience!

Smart Things for the Best Cruising Experience

1. A Lanyard

Gone are the days of sparkly cabin keys on fancy keychains. Like hotels, most cruise ships now use keycards to give you access to your cabin… and more! Keycards can also be used to control your cabin’s electricity, make purchases onboard, check in for dining reservations, and obtain cocktails and other drinks covered under beverage packages. In other words, you’re going to be using your keycard a LOT.

Now some people will disagree with me about this, claiming that pockets work fine to house your all-important keycard. I’m not that trusting of pockets, having lost a number of items that I thought were pressed deep enough into a pocket to stay secure. I can also attest there there are a lot of women’s clothes that don’t have pockets, so I advocate using a lanyard to keep your keycard on your person and secure at all times.

I like to use a fancy beaded lanyard that is versatile enough to be used with casual or fancy clothes. I also like to use a plastic ID holder instead of threading the lanyard clip through the punched hole on the keycard because I’ve broken the edge of the card by the hole so many times. The great thing about the plastic sleeves is your card can be scanned without removing it, so it makes embarkation and disembarkation quick and easy.

2. Magnets

As you can probably imagine, there’s a lot of metal on cruise ships. This includes the cabin walls, which may surprise you. They don’t appear to be much different than the walls in our home, as they are generally decorated with wallpaper. But since they are magnetic, you can definitely use that to your advantage.

I like to use small magnetic clips to post papers that I want to access frequently and those that I don’t want to lose. I like keeping invitations to events near the door so I can grab them on my way out. It’s also helpful to post my paper copy of the daily itinerary or changes to excursions in a central place, like by the desk, so they don’t get lost.

You don’t even have to buy magnets with clips. Just grab some from your fridge and use them to pin up information. Just think of your cabin walls as a huge refrigerator door!

3. A Bag Lock

If you’re on a cruise, chances are you’ll be spending some time in a pool or at a beach. And if you’re doing that, you’ll likely have a bag to carry your sunglasses, towel, sunblock, and anything else you might need for time in the sun.

Travelers have different feelings about leaving their possessions alone when they swim. If you’re in the pool and are a short distance from your things, you may feel fine leaving them alone. But if you’re at a beach, particularly a public beach, you may want some additional security.

I found a cable lock that “locks” my bag’s zipper by sliding a wire through the zippers’ eyes, making it impossible to unzip. Additionally, the wire also threads through a beach chair to make it more difficult for someone to walk off with the whole bag. This gave us extra reassurance when we opted to visit a public beach on Grand Cayman since we weren’t sure how crowded the beach would be.

While I didn’t use it on the ship, I did like having it in my bag in case I felt like I needed it. If nothing else, it gives peace of mind for those “just in case” situations.

4. Mini Tap Light or Flameless Candle

Ship cabins are smaller than the home bedrooms most of us are used to, and the bathrooms are no exception. In such tight quarters, it’s easy to whack a knee or trip over the threshold, especially in the middle of the night. This would be a great place for a nightlight, but not all cruise cabins have outlets. If they do have an outlet, it is wired at a lower amperage than bathrooms at home.

To get soft light for nighttime, I love to bring a mini tap light. It hardly takes up any room in my suitcase, but it’s bright enough for me to see the layout of the bathroom, locate medications, and do anything else I need to do in the bathroom without fumbling with the bright overhead lighting.

Flameless candles can also give the same soft lighting effect and they lend a bit of visual warmth to the otherwise stark bathroom decor. These are also nice in the room or on the verandah if you are looking for a romantic night on the seas.

Be sure to bring extra batteries along with you so you can replenish them as needed.

5. Hanging Toiletry Bag

As you already know, cabin bathrooms tend to be tiny on cruise ships. There isn’t a whole lot of counter space, and if the waters become rough, your toiletries may end up all over the place. Keeping everything secure yet easy to find becomes a bit of a challenge.

In trying to make life easier, we found hanging toiletry bags to be the best solution. Lay it out flat to pack your items in the many compartments, then just fold or roll it up and fasten it. When you get to your cabin, just hang it from the towel rack or shower rod. Your toiletries will be organized, accessible, and secure.

This is one of those things that we can’t do without!

6. Magnetic Hooks

We already talked about how nice it is to have magnets to pin up your itinerary. But given the limited storage and closet areas, magnetic hooks allow you a bit more flexibility. We used hooks that supported up to 25 pounds, but there are some available that boast support for up to 100 pounds! We may get some of those the next time we cruise to Alaska.

We used them for hats, lanyards, necklaces, scarves, and ties. I liked how it kept my necklaces from kinking up and tangling in my bag. We also liked hanging hats on the hooks to free up shelf space for other things.

We had an Orange Party on our last cruise, in which guests were invited to wear orange attire and accessories. I purchased an orange feather boa for the night and packed it in the original packaging. It was so nice to have a place to hang that boa once we arrived in the cabin. By the night of the Orange Party, it was fluffed beautifully from hanging!

7. Mini Flashlight

I know what you’re thinking. But hear me out!

If you need a flashlight, you probably grab your phone. I do, too. So I never really thought of packing a little flashlight when I cruised.

Then I took a cruise with my parents, who happily lent me a mini flashlight to use at night in my cruise cabin. It was a game changer, let me tell you.

If you’re like me, you probably plug your phone in to charge at night. When I’m at home, my phone is in reach, safely charging on my bedside table. But in my cabin, I didn’t have an outlet close to my bed. My phone needed to be charged at the desk, which was across the room. And since we were using the pullout couch as a bed, the desk was inaccessible.

I get migraines pretty frequently. I happened to wake up with one on one night of my cruise and wanted to nip it in the bud with meds. Luckily, I had my flashlight not only to guide me down the ladder (as I as in an upper bunk), but safely across the room without awakening everyone else. I also used it to rummage through my cabinet to find my medication easily.

Now you might not be cruising with a full room of people, and you may not need medication at 2am. But if there is an emergency (which no one wants to think about, but they do happen), a flashlight could be a valuable tool to bring along if an evacuation is needed. You’d want to conserve phone battery for communication as much as you could, so this little mini flashlight could come in pretty handy!

8. Reusable Straws

If you love to travel, reusable straws should be a part of your packing list on every trip!

More and more cruise lines, restaurants, and theme parks have begun using paper straws for environmental purposes. While I applaud this effort at reducing the amount of trash on our earth, I have to say that I hate paper straws. If you don’t drink your beverage quickly enough, the paper softens and eventually gets mushy and nasty.

Reusable straws are the way to go if you’re a drink sipper. Typically they come with a cleaning brush to make washing the straw easier. Some even fold into a carrying case that is about the size of an earbud case.

9. Passport Wallet

At first this may seem like an unnecessary item, but it truly makes the immigration process when traveling, as well as ship embarkation and disembarkation much, much easier.

Passport wallets are two-sided, folded wallets designed to hold your passport and travel materials. I keep my passport on one side and other documents on the other, such as my COVID immunization card (when it was needed for travel to certain countries), my boarding passes, luggage claim ticket, and my drivers license.

Having all the necessary documents organized in one place allowed me to proceed through identification gates quickly and easily. Not only was it nice for me, but for the other passengers, too. No one wants to be “that guy” who holds up the line because a document has disappeared into the depths of your carry-on!

10. Water Bottle with Filter

This is an item that I have not packed on my cruises yet, but it’s something that I wished I had brought, especially on my Caribbean cruise. Generally speaking, I tend to drink a lot of water and that amo9unt increases when it’s warm outside. Add in a few cruise cocktails and I’ve got a genuine need for hydration.

I know that I can get water at ship buffets and other eateries, and cans or bottles of water can be purchased at most bars. But if I’m spending time in my cabin or I’ve settled in for the night, I don’t want to hike on a mission to find water. Having a water bottle with a filter would allow me to fill up from the tap in the room, which makes life a lot easier!

A water bottle with a filter would also be great to bring on excursions. It’s important to keep yourself hydrated if you’re exerting yourself, especially in the heat. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to fill a water bottle at any water fountain or tap?

I can’t believe I never thought of packing one before!

11. BONUS – Zipper “Locks”

While browsing the Inspired Home Show in Chicago, I came across a product that is a MUST HAVE for anyone who ever leaves their home, and especially travelers.

A genius of an inventor created a small but highly efficient way to “lock” any zippered bag, whether that is a purse, carry-on, fanny pack, or backpack. It fastens around the interior teeth at the top of the zipper. The zipper is pulled up through it and cannot be unzipped unless the proper, two-handed technique is used. This little device is called a ZippGuard.

Theft, whether you’re on vacation or just on your way to work, can happen at any time. It’s important to take precautions wherever you are, such as keeping your bag or purse on your lap when on public transportation. But distractions do happen, and pickpocketers wait for them. A ZippGuard is a fantastic deterrent to theft, but other precautions should be taken so you and your belongings stay safe.

As of March, 2023, the ZippGuard is still in pre-production. However, interested individuals can back the inventor by pre-ordering a set on Kickstarter. Prices vary according to the backing tier you choose, but the pre-sale prices are cheaper than they will be when the product officially goes to market.

This post will be updated once the Kickstarter campaign has ended. As more information is available, I’ll be sure to let you know!

Other Items to Consider Packing

• Gallon-sized Ziplock bags – These are a must-have for packing wet clothing or swimsuits
• A waterproof phone pouch – If you are going to a beach or like to use the pool, these keep your phone, room key, and any cash you might have safely on your person, even in water.
• Cash in small bills – Are a must-have for tipping room stewards, servers, tour guides, drivers, bartenders, and anyone you’d like to reward for good service.
• A travel adapter – Many cruise ships have some US outlets and some European outlets. With a travel adapter, you can utilize all the outlets, not just the ones that fit your country’s plugs.
• Dress clothes and shoes for dining – Most cruise lines have dress codes for dining rooms and restaurants that include long pants and collared shirts for men, dresses/skirts or pants for ladies, and no flip flops. Check with your cruise line before leaving home to ensure you are packing correctly.

If You Aren’t Sure…

Do a search online for more information. Cruise lines typically have information posted pertaining to dress codes, items that aren’t allowed onboard, special event attire, and more. If you can’t find it on the cruise line’s website, you can often find what you’re looking for on blogs or in cruise forums.

Social media is another great source of information if you have questions about what to pack. Try searching Facebook for groups that pertain to your cruise line. You’ll be able to ask questions and seasoned cruisers will be able to answer.

Finally, check out YouTube for videos on packing for cruises. You’ll be able to find packing videos specific to certain popular cruise destinations, like Alaska or the Caribbean. These are so helpful when it comes down to packing clothing, as well as other items specific to a destination.

What Else Should We Pack?

If you’re a seasoned cruiser, we want to hear from you! What unique items have you found to be helpful when you cruise? Let us know in the comment section below!

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