My family and I have been on a couple of cruises recently and are getting ready for another adventure. We cruised along the Mediterranean on the Enchanted Princess and we had such a great time that we booked a Caribbean cruise on the same ship for New Year’s, just six months later.
Sailing with Princess was wonderful for all of us and especially our kids, who loved everything about the experience, from all the on-board activities to all the ports of call. Princess is family-friendly without being over the top so it’s great if you’ve got kids and great if you don’t.
While preparing for our trip last summer, we learned a lot about what to pack and what not to pack. As we gear up for our summer trip next month, here are some of the cruise essentials we will be packing:
1. Non-Surge Protected Power Strip
We all need plenty of outlets to keep our devices charged while on a cruise. A power strip is always a handy item to pack, but here’s something you might not know: Surge-protected power strips are prohibited by most cruise lines. To stay compliant, make sure you pack a power strip that isn’t surge-protected. This one is under $15, has three AC outlets, three USB-A ports, one USB-C port and an extension cord and it’s not surge-protected. I recently got an email from a reader, John J, which inspired me to update this post. He wrote: “My wife and I just returned from a 7-day Celebrity cruise, and I took your advice to bring an extension cord. GREAT advice!”
2. Magnetic Hooks
Two summers ago, a reader suggested this little-known cruise essential that I never knew about and she was spot on with her recommendation. She suggested packing magnetic hooks like these to use inside our cabin. Since most cabin walls are made of metal, you can stick hooks to the walls and give yourself some much-needed extra storage. It’s a great way to help you stay more organized inside your cabin.
3. Princess Cruise Medallion Wristband
If you’re sailing on a Princess Medallion-class ship, you’ll be given a medallion that can be used in a variety of ways. It’s part Apple AirTag (you can track your shipmates with it), part credit card (you can pay for on-board purchases with it) and part room key (your cabin door will automatically unlock upon your approach if you’re wearing it). Since you’ll have to have it on your person at all times and since the lanyard it comes with isn’t the best option, consider a wristband that you can discreetly tuck your medallion into and wear discreetly without it swinging from your neck. You can also affix your medallion to the back of your phone with this holder if you’d prefer not to wear it. This is what I did on our last cruise and this is my preferred option. Or, if you wear an Apple Watch, you can slide this silicone holder on to your watch band.
4. Beach Towel Clips for Beach Chairs
I didn’t even know beach towel clips were a thing until I strolled around the pool deck and saw so many chairs reserved with them. That’s when it clicked; they’re genius! It’s so frustrating when your towel keeps slipping off your chair at the beach or pool. If you plan to spend some time poolside on your cruise, these little clips will be a game-changer. They’ll keep your towel in place, so you can focus on relaxing. You can go for the basic ones or pick up some cute, fun designs.
5. Wet Bags
My wife never travels without a wet bag. This zip-top waterproof bag can be used in a multitude of ways to carry anything but it’s specifically for wet items so if you’re headed to a pool or beach and plan on changing, just throw your wet bathing suit in the bag and zip it up until you’re able to wash and/or dry them. If you have wet items to pack before you head home, you’ll be glad you have this. They’re washable and won’t leak and can even be used for dirty shoes or anything else you want to keep separate from other items in your suitcase.
6. Wrinkle Release Spray
If you can’t stand wearing wrinkled clothes, you might want to grab a bottle of Downy Wrinkle Release Spray for your cruise. Since irons are only available in the laundry rooms (they’re not allowed in cabins due to fire hazards), this spray is a lifesaver for smoothing out wrinkles. It also doubles as an anti-static spray and can help freshen up clothes by eliminating odors when needed. It’s a total must-have for keeping your wardrobe looking sharp without the hassle!
7. Disinfectant Wipes and Hand Sanitizer
I’ll admit it, I’m a bit of a germaphobe, and the pandemic only made it worse. I’ve been the weirdo wiping down airplane seats, trays, and seatbelt buckles with disinfectant wipes long before it became the norm. These days, though, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer are a must-have for any trip, especially on a cruise ship. They’re the easiest way to stay on top of hygiene while you’re surrounded by so many people and high-touch surfaces. Better safe than sorry.
8. Travel Insurance
The CDC recommends that all cruise travelers check with their health insurance providers to ensure coverage, and if it’s not included, consider purchasing additional insurance for medical evacuation and health services received both onboard and in foreign countries. For travel insurance, my family uses a policy from Allianz. Full disclosure: Allianz Travel Insurance was a sponsor and/or partner of JohnnyJet.com for years. When it comes to medical evacuations, we rely on MedjetAssist to ensure we’re covered in case of an emergency.
9. Portable Wi-Fi Router
Most cruise lines charge an arm and a leg for Wi-Fi but tech guru Kim Komando turned me onto a pocket-sized, portable Wi-Fi router. She wrote in her newsletter, “think of a travel router as your own private hub on the ship’s network. Pay for the internet for one device but share it using this.” We haven’t tried this yet but if the Amazon reviews are accurate, it works well, though others report that some ships don’t allow them so you’ll want to verify first. At the time of this publication, the device is 34% off.
10. Small Bills
While the beauty of a cruise is that you don’t need to pay for food and drinks as you go along, you may want to have small bills on hand for tipping during other parts of your travel like transportation, bellhops, hotel housekeeping, etc. I always travel with a small stash of $2 for this purpose.
KEEP READING
–Going on a Cruise? Be Sure to Bring This
–One Thing I Wish I’d Bought Before Going on a Cruise
–A Reader Suggested This Little-Known Cruise Essential I Never Knew Existed and She Was Spot-On
–Johnny Jet’s Top 10 Cruise Tips
–12 Things I Learned From Traveling to Europe This Summer
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