As I sit here and check, double-check, and re-check our suitcases, I'm reminded of things that are essential to make cruising as comfortable, easy and home-like as possible. If you're thinking about cruising in the near future, these five items are crucial!
I get a lot of questions about items that should be packed for a cruise. After our first cruise, I realized just how important these five little items are in playing a big part in helping us feel more at home. Let's chat about these items and why they are so important to bring with you.
#1 : Extension Cord
I put this item first because, not everyone knows this, but your stateroom only has one, I repeat one, outlet. Which means, if you plan on charging cameras, cell phones, tablets, or really anything, you only have room for two items. To me, that's silly! E and I bring cellphones to use as alarms and for taking photos on the ship, a GoPro, a video camera, and a mini fan (see item #2 for details on why). If we only had to use the one outlet in the stateroom, none of our stuff would ever get charged. So, if you are planning on bringing a whole slew of items that require charging, do not leave home with out an extension cord.
#2: Mini Bedside Fan
Sure, the stateroom is nice and cosy, but if you are like E and I, getting into bed and under the covers gets hot! On our first cruise, we brought our favorite little white Massey bedside fan and it worked so well. We were comfortable and the room, at night, never felt stuffy. Another thing to keep in mind is that you do not have control over the thermostat, so if you like to have a breeze either spend 600 extra dollars on a balcony suite, or just grab a small bedside fan at a nearby Wal-Mart.
#3: Dawn Dish Soap
Really, you could bring any type, but for us, Dawn is our gal! Why do we need dish soap? Well, while you are enjoying your long cruise, you might not remember that access to a Washer and Dryer is basically impossible. Sure, you could fork up a few more dollars to get them washed by the crew, but why do that when you can do it in your own room? On our first cruise, E and I only had one bathing suit each. This posed an issue for us because not only is the ocean water sticky when dried on a bathing suit, but the pool waters on the cruise ships are filled with the water your ship is floating on. You know when you get out of the beach and you hang your bathing suit to dry and it has that gross, sticky, and just nasty feeling? Well, that is exactly how it feels on the ship. If you are like us and only bring one bathing suit, putting on that crusty thing is a nightmare! So, grab a little travel sized bottle filled with Dawn and before bed, wash your bathing suit in the sink with the Dawn, hang it in the bathroom to dry, and in the morning, not only will it smell amazing, but it will be nice and soft.
#4: GermX
I don't think I need to explain this one, but yet everyone I meet on a cruise forgets this item. I will admit that I have an addiction to being clean. Maybe I'm crazy for wanting clean hands? But, if you share this same obsession with E and I, then you will not want to forget this. Let's be reminded that on a cruise ship, you are stuck with 3,000 plus bodies! I don't even want to know how many germs that creates. Yes, the cruise employees try their best to keep the ships clean, but let's face it, if you have trouble keeping every single inch of your home clean, imagine having to clean a ship with multiple floors and thousands of people running rampant, you would probably miss a few spots too. In addition to the germs on the boat, I know many people who go to port, touch items at that port shops, and then wonder why a few days later they caught a bug. Well again, you are touching items with germs from thousands of people who have touched those same items before. Keep in mind that being out of the country poses stress on your body. You are in a new place with new sites and smells, and with that comes germs! So be prepared and have some GermX bottles with you at all times. I try to keep one in our backpack that we use to carry our items around and off the ship, I also keep one bottle in the room.
#5: Pen and Paper/Notepad/Notebook
Too many times in our first cruise, pens and paper came in handy. From planning the next days activities, to writing our order for the in-room delivery, and even writing thank you notes to our stateroom steward. Pen and paper are so important! *sidenote* we always try to write our room steward a nice note, which usually is laid on top of their tip. We always pre-pay gratuities but leave a few dollars every day with a note on top. The note can be something simple like a thank you or, like with our last cruise, a request. During our last cruise, we requested that the steward leave extra Carnival chocolates. I was obsessed with these little delicious chocolates but typically you would only get two, one per person in the room. This frustrated me because I wanted more than just one, so I would write a polite note requesting the steward leave a few extra chocolates, thanked them for their service to our room, and placed the small tip under the note. Another great use for the pen and paper is if you are traveling with kids. Say you wake up before they do and decide you want to go grab coffee, well you can leave them a little note stating where you will be and request that they meet you there upon waking up. Of course, this is dependent on the age of the children and your trust, but it comes in handy regardless.
I hope you found these items to be helpful. Next time you cruise, be sure to add these to your packing list!
Thanks for reading, Bon Voyage!
*Bonus Item*
Reusable Water Bottle
Starting July 2015, cruise lines will no longer allow passengers to bring water bottles on to the ship, which means you will be stuck grabbing water with the little cups provided. Don't be that person that has to collect a million cups, instead, bring an empty reusable water bottle with you so that you can fill it up and enjoy! No worry about extra charges for using the water in your stateroom, no need to purchase the water the cruise line provides, and no more "let's see how many plastic cups I can collect in my room."
