Our Offbeat Life contains affiliate links & participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program & other affiliate programs. If you buy something using an Amazon or other link, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure for more details.
Our 53 Favorite Must-Have Cruise Items + What to Leave at Home
Wondering what must-have cruise items you really need? You’ve come to the right place!
As digital nomads since 2019, my family has become repositioning cruise aficionados. We love taking long cruises from one place to another, usually between countries or continents.
We’ve become experts on what’s essential for a cruise since our preferred cruise length is well over two weeks. And we couldn’t keep our expertise and knowledge to ourselves, so we’re sharing it here with you!
The key to successful cruise travel is a good cruise packing list with all the must-have cruise items and accessories. Yes, you can have fun whether you take suitcases for a week or just a backpack.
However, you’ll navigate the airport better and have an easier time throughout your trip if you have the right things in your bag(s).
These are our favorite must-have cruise items, organized by category, that will make any itinerary more enjoyable.
Must-Have Cruise Items: For Preparing to Cruise
Start your pre-packing stage off on the right foot! These are our must-have cruise items that you’ll need before you even get to the cruise ship.
1. Cruise Planner
👉 This cruise planner is filled with helpful guides to ensure you’re fully ready to cruise.
Having all of your thoughts and plans in one place can help you relax on a cruising vacation. If this is you, then a must-have cruise item is a cruise planner. It’ll help put your mind at ease on vacation.
It has dedicated pages for budgeting, planning shore excursions, tracking cruise packages, setting up daily itineraries, and tracking your cruise packing list.
There’s even a post-cruise section for final thoughts and follow-up items!
2. Compression Packing Cubes
👉 We have one set of these compression packing cubes for each person in our family.
Compression cubes are packing cubes that have an extra zipper to compress the cube once it’s been packed. Used effectively, one can fit more items into the same bag.
When packing for a cruise, every inch counts in your luggage. After all, there’s only so much storage room in cruise ship cabins. So skip the regular packing cubes and invest in compression cubes!
Pro Tip: Buy a different color for each family member so you can stay organized when unpacking in your stateroom.
3. Cruise Luggage Tags
👉 We like these cruise luggage tags because they fit the dimensions of all major cruise lines.
If you’re new to cruising you may not realize why you need special cruise luggage tags in addition to the ones you put on your bags for flying.
All major cruise lines use e-tags that are emailed to you. However, the only option they give you is a cheap paper tag that can rip. And they often do.
They have a zip seal, steel rings, and are made of PVC. So they will keep your luggage safe and secure with cruise luggage tags. Trust me, this is a cruise item must-have for any trip.
Pro Tip: Even printing on cardstock, the printouts alone don’t hold up well in boarding processes. Ask me how I know… 😕
4. Lanyard & Keycard Holder
👉 We recommend these cruise lanyards!
![Cruise Lanyard Essentials for Ship Cards [2 Pack] with ID Holder, Key Card Retractable Badge & Waterproof (Blue & Royal Blue)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Ar+q1JcSL._SL160_.jpg)
Cruise lanyards are one of the most popular must-have cruise items. They help you stay hands-free and organized. This is especially true on embarkation day!
They have a retractable component so you don’t have to remove the lanyard or bend over to use the keycard. Plus they come in a variety of colors so everyone in the family can get their own style!
Storing your cruise key card in a plastic water-proof lanyard is super practical both on the cruise and as you get off the ship at a cruise port.
Pro Tip: Once you’re off the cruise ship for your excursion, store your lanyard in the pocket of your day bag. You don’t want to worry about it getting stolen off your neck or flying in your face on a breezy day ashore.
5. Luggage Set with Spinner Wheels
👉 I recommend this luggage set because it’s cheaper than Amazon basics, well-reviewed, and a nice, bright color.
We are huge advocates of soft-sided luggage. I need those extra outside pockets to shove in last-minute cruise must-have items!
What I didn’t realize I needed until I got it was luggage with spinner wheels. It’s a game-changer!
Luggage with four spinner wheels makes it so much easier at both the airport and at the cruise terminals.
Especially for embarkation and disembarkation days, not having to worry about your luggage tipping over when you turn a corner is wonderful.
Pro Tip: If you have dark-colored luggage, like black or navy, remember that many other people do, too. Make yours stand out by tying bright-colored ribbons to the handles.
6. Air Tags
👉 Get some Air Tags for peace of mind!
Let’s be honest. There are far too many stories of luggage getting lost or misplaced lately.
While cruise ships are more reliable than airlines with not losing stuff, chances are you’re probably flying to your cruise port destination.
You don’t want to be part of those statistics! Don’t risk not having any luggage on your cruise because your airline lost your luggage.
7. Electronics Organizer
👉 We love this electronic organizer!
We travel everywhere with an electronics organizer. It’s the only way to ensure we have all the charging cables and wall plugs for our laptops, tablets, and phones.
We’ve had it for over three years. As full-time travelers, it’s in use almost constantly. After all that time, it is still going strong.
It’s roomy enough to fit an iPad mini inside! And there are plenty of spots to store every single cord you could ever need.
8. Portable Luggage Scale
👉 We travel with this portable luggage scale and love it!
This is a must-have cruise item especially if you’re a habitual over-packer. No judgment! Just make sure you have a portable-luggage scale.
We cram a lot of stuff into our luggage. Sometimes airlines even want to weigh our carry-on bags. This luggage scale helps me balance our bags so we don’t get hit with over-limit fees.
The scale weighs big suitcases up to 110 pounds and has a built-in battery.
Fun Fact: It’s so accurate I’ve even used it as a food scale in the kitchen!
Must-Have Cruise Items: For Stateroom Organization
Cruise Staterooms are small. Even for a one-week cruise, staying organized is essential to living happily in a tiny space. These must-have cruise items will help you do just that.
9. Multi-Outlet Adaptor
👉We recommend this outlet adaptor for cruising because it doesn’t have a surge protector on it.
Some people don’t want an extension cord for their luggage. Or, they want extenders for every outlet. After all, you can never have too many options!
If this is you, get a multi-outlet travel protector. These offer the same sort of extended plug and USB options as an extension cord.
It’s approved by all major cruise lines, except Disney. They have their own rules, so you’ll have to look into what they allow if you’re planning a cruise with them.
10. Magnetic Hooks
👉 Take at least a six-pack of magnetic hooks.
Cruise cabin walls are metal. This means you can bring your own supplies to help organize your stateroom during your cruise.
Pro Tip: Use the hooks to hang hats as well as wet swimsuits.
The longer your cruise, the more essential it is to organize your living space. Get magnetic hooks that can actually hold something. The 4 pack from Dollar Tree won’t work. I tried them.
Depending on the size of your family and your room, you may want to take a second pack. They’re so small that you can never have too many, but you can certainly take too few.
11. Door Decor
👉 We love to use these gel clings as our door decor.
Walking down any cruise ship hallway, the stateroom doors all look the same. Our first time, we didn’t have any decor and lost our way to our room a bunch of times.
Other people had beautiful, custom-made door decorations. They were giant hanging signs that stretched the entire height of the door.
The gel clings are much smaller and easier to pack than the beautiful custom jobs.
Little Man is in charge of our door decor design. With the set we recommend, he can even redesign it a few times! Or we can use it on a few different cruises because there are so many great options.
Pro Tip: Since door decor is essential for helping you not get lost, don’t spend a ton of money on this one.
12. Magnetic Clips
👉 I recommend these magnetic clips. They come in a pack of 12!
In addition to hanging clothes and hats, you can also store light items on clips. We used these primarily for the daily activities schedule that was slid under our door each day.
They can also be used for event invitations and safely storing shore excursion tickets.
Little Man even used them for displaying his kid’s club artwork and hanging the certificates we got for crossing the international date line on our cruise!
13. Travel Power Strip
👉 This power strip has a set of international adaptors to plug into any wall socket.
Cruise ships are notorious for never having enough wall plugs. That makes a power strip an essential must-have cruise item.
When cruising, you can’t take just any power strip though. A cruise-ship-approved power strip cannot have a surge protector. Major cruise lines won’t allow them and will confiscate them on embarkation day.
Before our 24-day repositioning cruise with Carnival, we invested in a power strip that allows for up to two plugs of any type to be plugged into it. There are also multiple USB charger slots. It’s really versatile!
We have used it as a regular extension cord in the US, and we used it in the EU plug on the cruise ship. Having a plug converter is incredibly helpful, even for just a one-week Caribbean cruise. It ensures no outlet goes unused during your cruise vacation.
14. Poo-Pourri Bathroom Spray
👉 This Poo-Pourri set has three scents in travel-size spray bottles.
We have been using Poo-pourri for years. It goes with us on all trips, not just a cruise. It’s a life essential for our family.
Cruise ship staterooms are really small. The cruise cabin bathrooms are tiny. When sharing a small space, this must-have cruise item will make living in a small space so much easier.
I prefer the original citrus scent but David likes the Tropical Hibiscus scent best. Little Man often forgets to use it, but such is the life of a parent.
Pro Tip: One or two squirts onto the water in the toilet bowl before you sit down is all it takes to prevent stink when you go #2.
15. Shoe Organizer
👉 Hang this shoe organizer on your bathroom door.
No, this doesn’t mean you’re going to take a bunch of shoes! You could I guess, but that’s not the best use for this.
It will hold and organize all your bathroom supplies as well as other life essentials. Since cruise ship bathrooms never have a place to put even the most basic of supplies, this will ensure that you know where to find everything.
With four hooks on top, it’ll fit any size bathroom door. On our Carnival cruise, we only needed 3 of the hooks because the door was so narrow. It stayed on just fine!
Bonus: If you get a rough sea day, your bathroom stuff won’t fly all over the cabin!
16. Laundry Bag
👉 I recommend this laundry bag because it’s very durable.
I’ve never heard of a cruise ship offering a way to store dirty laundry. In order to prevent random piles of dirty clothes in your stateroom, get a laundry bag.
We’ve been using it happily since 2019! Yes, it’s that sturdy! So I understand why it has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon from over 3,500 reviewers.
It’s really easy to carry around on board if you need to do laundry on the cruise ship. We always do because repositioning cruises are pretty long. Plus, the drawstring is very sturdy.
Must-Have Cruise Items: For Living Onboard
Day-to-day life on a cruise ship is always totally different from daily life at home. That’s what makes it so fun! These are a few must-have cruise items that make cruising life easier and more enjoyable.
17. Waterproof Phone Case
👉 I recommend this waterproof phone bag to keep your phone safe. It comes in a set of two!
Whether you want to go swimming or in the hot tub on the ship, or are taking some sort of water-related excursion, a waterproof phone case is vital. This is one of our top cruise essentials.
It’s also just an easy way to carry your phone around the ship if what you’re wearing doesn’t have pockets. Like when you’re strolling the main deck in your swimwear!
18. Wrinkle Release Spray
👉 I like this brand of wrinkle-release spray.
If you don’t primarily pack low-wrinkle fabrics, such as jersey knit or dri-fit, then a can of wrinkle release spray is essential.
It also offers odor elimination and an anti-static guard. So it’s everything you need to look your best on deck or on formal dinner nights.
Plus, it comes in a two-pack so you can have one at home and on board!
19. Towel Clips
👉 I love these towel clips! They’re perfect for cruise ships & resorts.
Cruise ships are known for being quite breezy. If you’re planning on spending any amount of time at the pool or lounging on the deck, towel clips are a top cruise essential.
They’re also really great as beach accessories during excursion days.
They’re better than the boring, plain-color clips because you can tell them apart from everyone else. Lots of cruisers have towel clips these days, so get some that stand out.
20. Towel Bands
👉 We used these towel bands on our first transpacific cruise.
Not all cruisers like the towel clips because they can be bulky. Towel bands are a great alternative! They take up a lot less space which is why we had to try them!
While not as fun as the clips, they held up well. And although there are cheaper ones on Amazon, these have much better reviews. That’s a good reminder that cheaper isn’t always better.
21. Cabin Alarm Clock
👉 I recommend this travel alarm clock because it glows in the dark.
While David and I have phones to look at, we bring a cabin alarm clock for Little Man. This allows him to see what time it is as easily as we do.
Cabin alarm clocks also come in handy so you can manually program them to ship time. Ship time does not always correspond to actual time.
A couple of times, my phone was set to actual time while the alarm clock stayed on ship time. We only knew it was time for dinner thanks to the alarm clock. Now we’ll always have one of these basic essentials as a must-have cruise item.
22. Portable Fan
👉 I recommend this Honeywell travel fan.
Cruise ship staterooms can get stuffy. Even with the air conditioning running, you can’t always feel the airflow in the room. A small travel fan can help you sleep better.
The fan angle is adjustable. What I like best is it can run off a traditional outlet, a USB plugin, or battery power. I even used it when we went glamping in Malaysia!
While you could take a larger fan for additional airflow, I wouldn’t recommend it. After all, everything you take onto the cruise ship you’ll have to take back off again. A smaller fan is better for traveling, and it fits better in a small cruise stateroom.
23. Travel Corkscrew
👉 We prefer this corkscrew!
On most cruise lines, you’re allowed to bring a bottle or two of wine per person on board with you.
If you bring your bottles to dinner, they usually charge you a corking fee. Instead, bring your own corkscrew so you can enjoy your wine whenever you wish!
It’s low profile and doesn’t poke your leg if you have it in your pocket while walking around.
If you do bring wine from home, make sure to pack it well. One of the worst things I can imagine is opening my luggage to unpack in my stateroom to find a broken bottle of Merlot all over my clothes!
👉 We like this leakproof wine bottle protector. It’s reusable!
These also come in handy if you buy alcohol in ports, so you can safely fly it home once you’re off the cruise ship.
24. Reusable Straws
👉 We like this reusable straw set.
To decrease the amount of single-use plastic on board, cruise ships have mostly stopped using plastic straws. If this is a dealbreaker for you, invest in your own reusable straws.
I don’t recommend stainless steel straws for cruise ships. If there’s a sudden wave while you’re drinking, a steel straw could damage your teeth!
The set we like includes a cleaning wand and storage bag. Make sure you use the cleaning wand daily, though. Reusable straws can get really gross really fast.
Pro Tip: Before buying these, check with your cruise line to see what they offer. Carnival serves cookie straws on request. Little Man ended up using those on our cruise instead of this set.
25. Polarized Sunglasses
👉 I have these fold-up polarized sunglasses and I love them!
These sunglasses have a zip-up storage case, so they easily pack into my bag when I’m not using them.
Regular sunglasses will do just fine for driving around in the car at home. On a cruise ship, though, polarized sunglasses are a must-have cruise item.
Polarized sunglasses will help you see the water, and the wildlife within it, with a lot more definition. The naturalist on our last cruise showed me the difference. Now I’m hooked.
Any time you do a water activity, be sure to have polarized sunglasses with you.
26. Earplugs
👉 I take these earplugs everywhere we travel.
Even if you have a stateroom in a quiet part of the cruise ship, there will still be unfamiliar noises at night.
Because they’re different than what you’re used to, the noises may negatively impact your sleep. If you’re a light sleeper like me, these are going to be a must-have cruise item for your trip.
I admit I bought them because they’re purple. But they do come in other colors. They’re also incredibly soft and last more than one use.
Depending on where your stateroom is located on the ship, you may have extra noise from ship activities. Check the floors above and below your stateroom when booking to see if you might need earplugs. Just in case.
27. Wet Wipes
👉 This travel pack set is perfect for your bathroom or day bag.
They aren’t just for people with babies. Or toddlers. Even when I go out on solo excursions, I have wet wipes in my day bag.
Let’s be honest. The toilet paper in the bathrooms on cruise ships is notoriously bad. Both staterooms and public area toilets have that gross one-ply stuff.
Instead of relying on the shipboard paper, and risking a rash, bring a pack of wet wipes. They also come in handy in your day bag on shore days, too!
Wet wipes can solve everything from sticky hands at an ice cream shop to a weird grease mark on the back of your leg after a cycling tour.
You just never know when you’ll need them. But I promise you’ll find a weird need you didn’t know you’d have. At some point.
28. Stain Remover Stick
👉 The Tide to Go Pen is my favorite stain removal stick.
I’ve carried one of these stain remover sticks in my purse for over 12 years. Especially with kids in tow, messes can happen anywhere.
It’s so small you can pack it anywhere from a fanny pack to a backpack. With this three-pack, you can have a few tucked away in several places!
With the rocking motion on a cruise ship, you’re sure to have an accident at some point. This is one of my top must-have cruise items for all travelers.
29. Nightlight
👉 I recommend taking this night light on your cruise.
It gets pretty dark at night in staterooms thanks to the blackout curtains. If you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, you likely won’t be able to see anything.
It is battery-operated so it won’t take up one of your rare wall outlets. In addition, it comes in several colors so you can choose a more muted tone, like purple, if you don’t like having a lot of light in your room at night.
Little Man loves that it’s cat-shaped. I like that the soft silicone is small and easy to pack.
30. Binoculars
👉 We travel with these binoculars and are very happy with them.
There is a lot more wildlife in the ocean than one might expect. We like to wake up in the morning, go on deck, and watch the birds.
Unless you’re an avid birdwatcher, you don’t need fancy binoculars. Just get something that includes a travel case so the lenses don’t get scratched.
We originally traveled with kids’ binoculars. However, they didn’t have very good visibility. So I’m happy we found these since they’re at least heavy-duty enough to have withstood the one time he dropped them on the ground.
Must-Have Cruise Items: For Excursions and Day Trips
There are certain things you’ll need for shore days that you want for the rest of your cruise.
While you could certainly enjoy a shore excursion without any of these things, they’ll be more fun if you have at least some of them!
31. Day Pack
👉 This Osprey daypack is our go-to for excursions as well as general travel.
It’s a bit pricier than the generic ones on Amazon but it holds up REALLY well. We’ve used it for over three years on our full-time travel adventures.
I love it because it’s incredibly comfortable. Plus it has a lifetime guarantee!
When you spend a lot of time out sightseeing, you need a day pack with sturdy zippers, storage for essentials, and comfortable shoulder straps.
Those tiny, nylon bags that fold into a tiny storage bag rip easily and are very uncomfortable. We tried them!
Look for a Day Pack with these features:
☑️ Ideal Size: 15L – 25L
☑️ Comfortable Back Panels
☑️ Mesh-Lined Shoulder Straps
☑️ Some internal organization/pockets
☑️ Chest Clip
Some people like waist clips, but for a day pack, I don’t think they’re necessary. In my experience, waist clips are only helpful for full-size travel backpacks that are the size of rolling luggage.
Fun Fact: We once sent a backpack to Osprey for repair 12 years after we bought it. We just shipped it to their US headquarters after a phone call with customer service. Keep your receipts for pricey purchases!
The replacement policy only applies to newly purchased items. It does not work if you buy used goods.
👉 We also use this day pack to hold our hydration bladder.
David wears this and I wear our Osprey. They’re perfect for holding all our family’s essentials on excursions or day trips.
32. Portable Lock Box
👉 This portable safe gets excellent reviews!
I see so many cruisers swear by their portable safe. It secures all personal items to any fixed object. You choose a custom three-digit code, put in your valuables, and then don’t worry about your stuff while you frolic in the sun.
If you’re going on an excursion that allows you to sit in one place all day, such as at a beach club, then this is an excellent option. These also come in handy in hotels that don’t have a secure safe!
However, we often choose more active adventures. In those instances, the waterproof waist pouch linked below is probably a better choice for your cruise packing list.
33. Waterproof Waist Pouch
👉 I love this waist pouch. It triple seals before rolling down to velcro shut. After 2+ years of regular use, I’ve had no problems.
If you need a way to secure more valuables than just your phone, invest in a waterproof waist pouch.
I use mine to hold my cash, credit card, driver’s license, and even a granola bar for when Little Man gets hangry (aka: so hungry he’s angry) between meals.
I’ve worn this waist pouch while swimming with whale sharks in the ocean, and while relaxing in hot springs on the side of a canyon. It can handle pretty much anything which is why it’s one of our must-have cruise items!
The waist on the pouch is so adjustable that it can also be used as a crossbody bag.
34. Waterproof Drybag
👉 We have the 3L, 8L, and 20L wet dry bags from Sea to Summit.
If you’re planning a water activity on a shore day, you need a dry bag. This is where you’ll store your swimsuits (and possibly towels) after the excursion ends.
After you roll them down to keep the water from leaking out, they clip together in a circle that is easy to attach to the outside of your day bag.
Depending on our activity, we choose different sizes:
☑️ The 3L bag holds just our 3 swimsuits.
☑️ The 8L bag holds our swimsuits and rashguards.
☑️ The 20L bag holds our swimsuits, rashguards, and towels.
If I only took one on a cruise, it would be the 8L bag for our family of three. A larger family should invest in a bigger size.
35. International Hotspot
👉 The GLocal Me offers global data access at an affordable rate.
Almost everyone wants to turn on their data as soon as they land at an airport or arrive at a new excursion port. Some of us want to send a text to a loved one. Others may want to call a rideshare service to pick them up.
However, not everyone can or wants to pay for an ongoing global data plan from their provider. We sure don’t!
This device offers either international purchases through its servers, or it takes SIM cards from any country. The device works with local cell towers and provides hotspot access anywhere on Earth where there is a tower.
The GLocal Me comes with 8 gigabytes of North American data and 1 gigabyte of global data. That doesn’t expire. It comes in especially handy when an airport or cruise terminal doesn’t have kiosks selling SIM cards in the arrivals area.
Pro Tip: Use its initial allotment very strategically over a long period. Be conservative. Put your phone in airplane mode when not in use. Don’t blow through data playing on social media during excursion days.
For us, having peace of mind wherever we are in the world is worth the investment. The GLocal Me also acts as a wireless portable charger so its versatility makes it a worthwhile addition to any traveler’s packing list!
36. Water Shoes
👉 These water shoes come in a variety of patterns and sizes!
Many cruise excursions involve the water in some form. Even if you’re going to the beach, not all of them are soft and sandy. Water shoes are very highly recommended for any cruiser going on any beach or water-related excursion.
We didn’t have these when we went to Los Rapidos in Bacalar, so we had to buy them in town when we arrived. The quality wasn’t nearly as good as these, and they were more expensive.
We learned our lesson! Now we make sure that we have good quality water shoes like these any time we go somewhere aquatic!
37. Power Bank
👉 I recommend a portable power bank that can handle multiple devices at a time.
There’s a lack of wall plugs in many airports. Some airlines fail to put USB chargers on their planes.
Many people enjoy spending the day out sightseeing on excursion days, using their phones as cameras.
And let’s not forget the hours you may spend standing in line on embarkation day!
👉 I even use the USB-C input to charge my iPad with this adaptor cable. This gives me an extra charging option!
To get the biggest bang for your buck, ensure that your portable charger is a minimum of 20,000mAh. This means it will charge a laptop up to 1.5 times!
Note: Charging a tablet decreases the number of full phone charges the power bank provides.
This charger has two USB inputs as well as a wireless charging station on the top.
38. Reef Safe Sunscreen
👉 We love this sunscreen and regularly take it on trips with us.
There are chemicals in traditional sunscreen that are very harmful to natural ecosystems. While regular sunscreen is fine for pools and other chemically treated swimming spots, it’s not okay for snorkeling or beach activities.
Some places, like Hawaii, have banned chemical sunscreens. Some eco-parks in Riviera Maya (like Xel-Ha) have banned them as well. Excursions in places like that may not let you use traditional sunscreen if they see you have it with you.
I guarantee that it will be much more expensive to be forced to buy it from the excursion operator than to plan ahead with an Amazon purchase.
39. Hydration Pack
👉 Instead, we invested in a 2L water bladder that packs flat.
When looking at packing for our family, we realized that water bottles would take up a lot of needless space in our luggage. So I researched new options that would save us on space but still keep us hydrated on excursion days.
The one we ordered also comes in a three-liter size. In hindsight, we should have gotten the bigger version. I recommend upsizing because it doesn’t take up that much more room in your bag.
Especially when traveling in a tropical climate, you need to stay well hydrated. Don’t leave this off your list of must-have cruise items!
