What are some essentials I will need when I go on a cruise?

Question

I am so afraid that I will forget something that I will absolutely NEED.

Answer 1

Clothing:  

Basics for touring around and beachwear, a formal outfit for the formal dinner, "business casual" clothes for the other dinners if you plan to eat in the dining room - no shorts etc in there, but you can wear whatever you want at the buffets.  

Toiletries:  Bring your basics, but don't overpack- you won't have an awful lot of space to store things.

Camera:

If you aren't up to keeping your hands on it, get a cheapie so you won't be upset if it gets lost or left behind

PASSPORT:  check online regarding passport requirements!!    No passport (or other accepted documentation), no cruise.

Cash for on the boat: leave it in the bank- you'll have a "sign-and-sail" card that acts as a credit card onboard.  Be sure to track what you spend- if you go over your limit, you'll get an embarrassing page to see the purser!

Cash for on-shore shopping:  Use your credit card- you'll get a better exchange rate, and protection.  Just be sure to visit "good" stores- the cruise will have a shopping briefing you'll want to go to- they'll tell you where to go to get the best deals and what to avoid so you don't get cheated.

Other than that, you shouldn't need much more- and if you forget something (other than your passport, that is), consider it an opportunity to go shopping!

Have a great cruise!

Answer 2

airline tickets or e-ticket confirmation

cruise documents

passports and visas (if necessary) or proof of citizenship (check with your cruise line for requirements)

vaccination certificate (if required)

driver's license and auto insurance card - in case you decide to rent a car when ashore

medical insurance cards and medical history (especially if traveling alone)

another picture ID - if you don't take driver's license

credit cards - be sure to call credit card companies before traveling to alert them you are traveling outside your normal area ATM card

watch

pre-paid phone card

cash or traveler's checks (be sure to keep traveler's checks receipt in separate location)

3 copies of airline tickets, cruise tickets, passports/visas, itinerary - pack 1 copy in carry on, 1 copy in checked luggage, and leave one copy with someone at home

contact numbers to report lost/stolen credit cards or traveler's checks

emergency numbers at home

prescription drugs and any other essential medications in carry on bag

glasses, contacs, contac cleaner

extra reading glasses

sunglasses

reading sunglasses

guidebooks and other port of call information

foreign language phrase book or dictionary

maps

reading material - books to read while on the plane or lounging by the pool

journal or notebook and pen/pencil - for making notes to tell your friends back home about your experiences

business cards with email address to give out to new cruise friends

Answer 3

I have been on about 20 cruises, so here's what I suggest based on my experiences:

Always pack your passport and cruise documents in your carry on bag ONLY.

The dress on ship is casual all day until 6:00PM, so take:

-swim wear (at least 2),

-shorts, tank tops and "T's"

-sandals, flip-flops, beach shoes,

-your snorkel equipment if you have it,

-sun glasses and sun screen, & lotions,

-a cap, visor or big hat for the sun,

-a book if you are a reader,

-your music player,

-sneakers and clothes to workout in if you like to use the gym,

-good walking shoes,

-your camera, and your cell phone (depending upon your service plan your phone will work in ports)

-other personal toiletries including tooth paste, mouth wash or lotions.

Your cabin will have towels and soap provided, including pool and beach towels, and a hair dryer. It will also have a generic hair shampoo so you do not need to bring that unless you like a specific brand.

After 6:00 PM they request that you wear "sports or resort casual" attire. That's attire that you would expect a person to wear in a business office, (like a bank employee), shirt with a collar, slacks, skirt, blouse, etc. You can still wear shorts and swim wear in the pools and spas but not in public areas like dining rooms and restaurants, show rooms, bars, casino, etc. Don't over pack , take clothes that you can mix and match tops and bottoms and plan to wear each piece twice. If you are going to the Caribbean you will likely be in shorts and/or swim wear most of every day so evening clothes don't usually get much wear.

Your cruise will have a formal night or two when you can wear your best stuff and get pictures taken, and maybe meet the ship’s Captain. The formal nights are REQUESTED not required attire. You will not be denied entry to the main dining room if you decide not to dress up, as long as you are at least sports casual. But most people do dress up. A gown or party dress for women and a suit or tux for men. Some people dress up both formal nights, some don't. We always take the formal stuff off after dinner and a photo or two and go back to casual stuff.

- Its best to pack using soft-sided luggage because with space limited in your cabin it fits under the beds better if its not hard sided luggage.

- Pack using the vacuum clothing bags (about $20 for 3 at Target) so that you can get more in your bag AND so that if the TSA at the airport opens your bag they can see what's inside without rummaging through your things.

-Take a small carry-on bag for the last night of the cruise. On the last evening you will be required to put your luggage outside your cabin by about 2:00 AM so that they can start taking it down to the lower deck for offloading the next morning. So you will need a small bag for your toiletries and your clothes that you sleep in.

- If you can take a six-pack of bottled water and soft drinks in your carry-on for your cabin. You will have to pay for both on the ship and its nice to have those handy in the cabin.

- If you are taking your cell phone, MP3 player or other item that needs to be plugged in take an extension cord as the plugs in the cabin are generally not in the best places and there are usually only one or two.

- Take a small bottle of hand sanitizer and/or hand-wipes. There are generally sanitizer dispensers at the entrances of restaurants, the buffets and dining room, but some times the are not there or not working. The sanitizer helps prevent the spread of the Norwalk Virus that sometimes occur on cruise ships.

-If you plan to get into the pools or hot tub as soon as you get on ship (they will be open), bring those clothes in your carry on bag; you other luggage may not get to your cabin until much later in the afternoon.

- Take a can of air freshener for your cabin bathroom. The bathrooms do not have exhaust fans.

- Take a few zip lock bags of various sizes; they always come in handy.

- Take some one dollar bills (also maybe a few $5's) for tipping the porters in the airport, at the pier (they do not work for the ship), and the small bills will come in handy in port stops for buying small items in the markets and at vendor stands; especially bartering places.