I'm going on a cruise, what should I bring?
4We’re going on a cruise soon and I’ve never been. It’s a short one, 4 nights to the Bahamas. When we vacation, we normally pack what we think we’ll need and say “Walmart will have whatever we forgot,” but in this case, we’ll be stuck on the boat. There’s a ton of websites out there that have lists of suggested items, but I can’t tell if they’re just trying to sell crap or if we’ll actually need it all.
So, I ask the community… On your first cruise, what did you bring (or forget to bring) that made your experience that much better?
- 13 comments, 18 replies
- Comment
Bring enough space for my gift. Hint: Cool coffee mugs or pint glasses.
I’ve never been on a cruise so I am not much help.
Most of what you read are pretty accurate as to what to bring given that if you have to buy any of those things on the ship, you will pay an arm and a leg. Its almost impossible to give you a list of everything you should take, but if you develop a list or have specific questions about items and whisper to me, I’ll say yea or nay to things on your list. Not an expert by any means, but with our 20th cruise coming in two week, we have a pretty good idea what to and what not to take.
Extra money.
You’ll spend noticeably more than you think.
Bring: A good multi-device phone charger with the USB cables you need, sunscreen, swimsuit, very obviously not-the-cruise-line’s towel that you can bring back to the cabin and not get dinged for failing to turn it in, hat with chin strap for windy conditions if you plan on going ashore (or hanging out on the pool deck), and prescription meds preferably in their pharmacy containers.
Don’t bring: It is important to carefully read the cruise line’s published list of prohibited items before you pack. Universally, they all seem to forbid power strips, particularly ones with a surge protector. You won’t find a water bottle to be very useful on board if you’re buying any beverage package. Don’t bring anything you can’t bring on board an aircraft (particularly anything knife-like), and no vaping or smoking stuff (check the cruise line’s rules, some allow smoking tobacco products on the uppermost deck outside).
Some sort of USB charging hub to charge all your phones and other gadgets.
Flip flops/hat/sunscreen/sun glasses
Sea sick patches or bracelets, just in case
@Ignorant
Yes I second the antinausea medication, bracelets, patches or whatever. I’ve grown up on a lake, lived in the water during the summer, stayed on house boats on the Great Lakes for week long trips, I spend all summer on/in the water and never get sea sick but the second I stepped foot on a cruise I was so sea sick. Bring it just in case bc everything on a cruise is so much more expensive to buy than it would be if you packed it.
Some things that we use a lot.
(Different cruise lines have different rules so make sure yours is compliant.)
There are many other things we’ve learned not to bring. (Towels, too many changes of clothing, etc.). There is a lot of good advice online and some bad so just look for a consensus among multiple sites and you’ll be fine.
@Willijs3
Good advice above on stuff to bring (magnetic hooks, beach/sun type stuff, USB charging hub etc)
Cash is great for small shops/purchases. Pay attention to ATM fees and exchange rates. Remember you will (probably) pay a flat fee each time you use one (ATM) so try to get a lump sum at one time (ie get $200 worth in local currency rather than 4 x $50 if that’s what you think you will spend)
In a lot of Caribbean countries you can use American dollars at a (frequently) favorable exchange rate. Be aware of what the exchange rate is if you plan to do this and practice the mental math to make it work.
AmEx and Discover are not as widely accepted as VISA or MasterCard in a lot of countries. Be sure to bring at least one of those last two. If you don’t travel often be sure to notify your cards you will be out of the country so as not to trigger a fraud alert and freeze your cards.
The HERE app is an offline (free) GPS app that allows you to download local maps to your phone to use if you don’t have data service. Be sure to download and install the maps before you go. Your phone should get a GPS signal for this, even if you’re not on a network.
Some Cruise lines have an on board app that allows you to text the people in your party without having to sign on for full blown wi-fi. It will also frequently have on-board GPS/directions and event scheduling, dinner menus, etc, available. We found this very handy when we went with our kids and grandkids a couple of years ago, to the point of even buying a cheap phone for our youngest granddaughter (think pay-as-you-go plan phone or even an old-ish one you have hanging around) who didn’t have one before. This gave us contact ability and let her take pics on the trip.
Make sure to notify the cruise line of any food issues. When we traveled with our daughter’s family, Royal Caribbean was extremely accommodating of their vegan dietary needs. They had fantastic meals every night.
Pay attention to the staff and crew you interact with. You will notice that they show up in a ton of different spots at all hours of the day and night. They work incredibly long hours. Be friendly and smile and acknowledge them and it will go a long way towards making the journey pleasant. (for both of you). Yes, you are paying their salary but that does not give you the right to be an asshole. I’ve gotten into amazing conversations with crew members by paying attention to the country ID on the name tag for people I notice in the dining room or the stateroom staff, etc. I try to learn to say thank you in whatever their native tongue is (thank you, Google) and use that when they do something for me. It’s amazing how such a small gesture can light up someone’s face!
Remember when you leave the ship that you will need whatever ID card they are using to ID you on your return.
Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t put yourself in a position where you are a target for petty crime. Look out for yourself and others in the group. In general violent crime is not as common as petty theft/pickpocketing. Don’t wear flashy jewelry, be discreet with your cash, keep your billfold in a front pocket, purse with a shoulder strap etc. Be alert and aware, but try not to be paranoid in new or different situations and environments.
Do a little research about your ports of call before you depart. This will help you to hone in on places you might want to visit – be they cathedrals, restaurants, museums, natural wonders, rum distilleries, etc. The cruise ship will have (generally overpriced) excursions available. It’s convenient if you don’t want to do all the planning and prep work on your own, but we’ve had great luck using tour guides we found online or local taxi/Uber drivers on many of our trips.
Try to get a chance to sample some of the local foods and drinks. Typically, local dishes are mostly made with indigenous products that are not always available at home.
Remember that you’re in an ex-british colony. Traffic will be the reverse of what you expect. Pay close attention when you cross the street so you don’t get clipped unexpectedly by traffic coming from the “wrong side”
Above and beyond all that, be sure to pack and bring your sense of wonder, curiosity, humanity, humility and people skills. By and large the cruisers on the ship are there to have a good time and will be friendly and engaging.
Remember the staff and folks ashore are not your servants nor there to mistreat. Be a good person and show them we are not the people they see on TV. Be respectful of local cultures, learn a few niceties in the local language (please, thank you, excuse me, do you speak English, etc). I’ve had some wonderful interactions with locals in places where I had only rudimentary local language skills and they spoke little English.
TL:DR Have fun
@chienfou “Mèsi.”
@therealjrn
@chienfou Thank you for the thorough answer!
@Willijs3
My pleasure.
A lot of those tips apply to any traveling you do, by any means, be it planes, trains, or automobiles, (or even boats).
I’ve not been on a cruise but from what I understand taking any/all of the OTC meds you might need is helpful. They’re likely available on the ship but will cost significantly more than at the local big box store (or even CVS/airport convenience store). Also there are cheap temporary tooth filling kits you can get on Amazon. They cost few dollars and are pretty small. I hope to never need one. But I’ve had cracked teeth/loose crowns before (at home) and have been happy to get into the dentist quickly to get those fixed. Having a temporary fix could definitely help you enjoy the rest of your trip vs having to figure out how to see a dentist on ship/shore or deal with the pain.
Cruising has been my favorite vacation mode for several years now.
If you have the unlimited adult beverage package, remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint. A hangover the first day makes for a un-fun cruise.
Bring any OTC meds you think you might need. Tummy meds, allergy, seasickness meds, etc.
Wash your fucking hands because some people don’t and covid and this year’s mega flu is out there.
Some ships have a slot that you have to put your cruise card in to keep the lights on. You don’t have to have use the cruise card. Any card will do. An old casino card, dead gift card, etc.
Speaking of casino’s. A trick I was taught. The ATMs on the ship are expensive. But you can get cash out of any casino slot machine. Put your cruise card in the machine, enter the pin (the machine will tell you what it will be, like your birth year or something), enter the amount you want that will be charged to your cabin for a much smaller fee than the ATM. Cash out and done.
Be safe in the Bahamas. Everyone says to go to the Straw Market for the best shopping. I found it to be a shyster hell. It’s basically a flea market and the booth owners are pushy as hell trying to drag you over to show off what they are selling. The farther you got in, the darker and unsafe it felt. The streets all along the port are filled with safer shops.
There will be all sorts of huskers at the port pushing tours like swim with the pigs (gross) and other animal encounters. I prefer sticking with cruise line sold excursions. They are safer and they guarantee they will get you back to the ship on time.
Another note on time… Island time is not necessarily ship time! This is where an old fashioned analog watch comes in handy. Note when all aboard time is. I try to get back at least 30 minutes before all aboard time to be safe. They WILL leave you. Just look up cruise ship pier runners on youtube for some amusing examples. Lots of people yelling “Run Forest, Run!” from their balconies!
Lastly, have fun! I’m counting 27 days until my next cruise.
@ironcheftoni I have read the same sort of thing about the Straw Market. The ATM tip is a good one!
Also, I have seen some YouTube videos of people being left at the port as the ship sails away and it’s hilarious. It’s a bummer for the people, but I get a kick out of their reactions. My wife and I are very punctual people, so barring a complete disaster, we shouldn’t be in that situation.
Congrats on your first cruise! For a 4-night Bahamas trip, focus on comfort and convenience:
Must-haves: comfy shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, lightweight bag, power strip/USB charger, reusable water bottle.
Nice-to-have: seasickness remedies, snacks, one dress-up outfit.
Don’t overpack—2–3 outfits per day is plenty, and most toiletries are provided. Anything you forget can usually wait until a port stop.
@dhoni45 This just smells like a bot…
Are you packing 1 dress-up outfit, @Willijs3?
@therealjrn I’ve heard that some ships have dress up/gala nights, but this is one of those areas that gets a bit grey because of all the bots posting content on travel sites. One “person” will say that a Polo is fine, but the next will say that you MUST have a tuxedo to participate. I think there is a lot of confusion between European longer cruises and the USA vacation style booze cruises. And people have vastly different ideas for what “Dress-up” actually is.
We’ve been to a few all inclusive resorts in the past. My normal m.o. for those is a polo/Bermuda shorts for casual meals, and some chinos/slacks and a light button down for the fancier dining. I’ve never felt under-dressed with that. I’ll probably stick with what I know and let the snooty people judge me all the way home. I’m on vacation and I’m going to relax in comfortable clothing.
@Willijs3 Damn straight
@therealjrn @Willijs3
In my experience dress up night has changed dramatically in the 20+ years that we’ve cruised. Most ships now have so many different dining options that it’s not as big a deal as it was when you had dinner for everyone in two seatings.
OTOH check to see if they have a theme night ((pirate/60’s/disco/star wars/whatever.) Those can be fun to participate in. Try to attend any character/crew parade events as they’re a fun way to mingle with/meet people. It’s amazing how you start to recognize certain people you see on the boat within a couple of days even though there’s 6,000+ on some ships. During our last cruise with my granddaughter (12 at that time) we salvaged a bunch of balloons, streamers, etc after the welcome parade they had. We used them to decorate our suite. Another good reason to bring those little magnetic hooks! I’ll try and find a pic to post.
Oh, and check out when the shows are and when you can register for them. Some of them have limited seating and you need to plan your attendance and get reservations in advance. I know this was true my last Royal Caribbean cruise. The show’s were spectacular and well worth attending. We saw a Cirque de Soleil quality-level show on the back deck of our boat which involved a ton of water activities including highdives from 30 or 40 ft and elevated acrobatics on zip lines etc. It was truly amazing. The storyline was great, costumes wonderful, lighting top notch. They also did the musical GREASE at a Broadway level and an incredible ice skating show (who in the world does flips on ice while the ship is in motion! That’s ballsy!)
If you haven’t already tried it out Cruise critic has a pretty good forum with a ton of useful information. They will frequently have specific forum topics for specific cruises which will allow you to connect with people before you even go, or if you look back at some of their prior topics give you information on what to expect.
Have fun.
@therealjrn @Willijs3
Found one!
I consulted my sister that has gone on more cruises than me. I mean it’s not hard when my number is zero, but she’s been cruising for years.
@UpbeatDuck Simple list! I can handle that. Thanks!
Is it still looked down upon to bring a collapsible drinking container?
@pakopako For use in the stateroom lav, there’s usually no need; they typically have two small glasses. If you’re buying any of the beverage packages, you’ll need their chip-equipped cup to access the dispensing machinery anyway, so the usefulness is extremely limited or absent. If you want to bring it along to take through airport security while empty and then fill from a fountain in the concourse, that’s still potentially worthwhile as long as it can be tightly sealed for boarding. For shore excursions, the utility (and gut offense resistance factor) can definitely be worthwhile.
@pakopako @werehatrack
I generally travel with a flip top stainless steel insulated water bottle (24oz). I can fill it with ice before I leave home and pass through security with it so I can have ice on the back side of TSA at the airport. I employed it on the ship as well, using it to keep drinks cold that I got from the restaurant/food service spaces during the day. It was also handy to take ashore, because again, I could fill it with ice before I left and keep things cold.
Thought I’d revisit this to see how it went (if you’ve already gone), or remind you to come back and let us know how you enjoyed it once you return.
@chienfou
Whoops forgot to tag the OP…
Paging
Phillip Morris@Willijs3@chienfou Oh we got a while before we go. I’m planning ahead.
Please revisit this thread to let us know how it went when you get back.