You may not know what to pack for a cruise before embarking. Every ship, every itinerary, and every cruise is just a little bit different, and so is every cruiser. While your wardrobe is important, you can buy clothing on the ship if you absolutely have too, and you can rent formal wear or just skip the dining room on formal nights if you forget to pack a suit. What you really want to bring with you, is that little extra bit that makes your cruise a little more comfortable from day-to-day, or the things you’ll really need in a pinch. Here’s our list of the top ten things of what to pack for a cruise.
Part of a cruise checklist is packing for a cruise. Before packing, have you booked all your accommodations before sailing out? First time cruisers don’t always know that booking a hotel the night before can save a lot of stress and money! Don’t miss your boat, book one of our Port Canaveral hotels with transportation packages. Call today for any assistance 855-755-4637
What to pack for a cruise
#10 Toiletries
You can’t always find a good selection of toiletries onboard. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival all offer basic hygiene equipment. Which means mystery soap squished out of a dispenser that’s bolted to the shower’s wall. The rough-and-ready sort may not be deterred, but pickier cruisers are going to want to bring their favorite soaps and shampoos along.
#9 Alarm Clock
Many staterooms do not come equipped with alarm clocks. We’re inclined to think this is more like a feature than an oversight, but cruisers who want to get up in time to make an early appointment with a charter are probably going to need one of these. You can always turn it off when you don’t need it.
#8 Sleep Aid (noise blocker)
Some people sleep like rocks. Others have trouble sleeping when traffic is a little heavier than normal. A cruise ship never entirely goes to sleep. Even when the passengers have stopped partying the staff has to get things ready for the next day. Cleaning, food preparation, and machinery like the engine and elevators are a constant source of noise. It isn’t the loudest, but it’s better to be prepared and pack a pair of ear plugs, a white noise generator, or some other way of getting to sleep.
#7 A Day Bag
When you’re at the Ports, you’ll want to bring things with you, and you’ll want to bring things back. Depending on what sort of cruiser you are, you’ll want to have a carry-on bag that can do double duty as a day bag once you unpack it into your staterooms closet.
#6 Refillable Water Bottle
One of the of things new cruisers pay for, pay for again, and keep paying for, is bottled water. Instead why not bring a refillable water bottle with you and fill it up with water at the soda fountain, and stay hydrated for free. Save buying the Evian for fancy meals, and exotic ports in distant lands.
#5 Sunscreen
This should seem like a no brainer, but it’s one that’s easy to forget. We all remember that time when we were kids that we got sun burned so badly that we slept sitting up, and were afraid to walk in direct sunlight. Imagine how that might ruin your fun on your cruise vacation, and pack a tube of SPF 15 to 30 in your carry on luggage.
#4 Over the Door Rack
Storage is a premium in most staterooms, and for voyages of a week or more living out of your bags (or if you’re a guy that is like most guys: a pile on the floor) can get a little wearing. That’s why we suggest picking up one of these. While not exactly the same as a dresser, they help you keep organized, and can help you avoid using (or keep your boyfriend/husband) from utilizing the sniff test.
#3 First Aid Kit
More than just a basic first aid kit. At sea you’re not going to be able to acquire prescription medication if you need to. Getting medicine in your ports of call won’t be much easier. It’s best you have all your prescriptions filled before you embark your cruise, and a first aid kit makes a handy place for you to keep your pill bottles. We suggest you bring individual doses in a baggie, or dispenser rather than risk losing the whole bottle in the pool, or on an excursion. Other basic supplies include bandages, gauze, and disinfectant just to be safe.
#2 Neck Wallet
There is one indispensable item you need while traveling abroad on a cruise ship. It determines whether you can get on and off the ship in exotic ports of call. Its…your sail away card. Your passport is incredibly important when you return to the US, but for many ports-of-call a photocopy will do, and it’s your unassuming room key that will determine if you can get back onto the ship after disembarking. If you’re having a day out keep your documents and card in one of these bad boys to keep them safe.
#1 Duct Tape
It’s duct tape. The world’s greatest fixer. It can remove lint from your clothes, keep the light from coming around the edges of your curtain the night after a few too many mojitos, and keep that over the door shoe rack we told you to bring firmly in place over the door. From marking your luggage to holding your shower curtain in place, there is always a use for duct tape. We suggest you bring a few rolls.
Recommend 
