FROM SEASONED CRUISERS

So you are headed off on your first cruise. Congratulations! You chose the right cruise, but now comes the dilemma of what should I bring. Not to worry. I asked seasoned cruisers from a popular Facebook group to share their most important tips for new cruisers. From packing tips to must-bring gadgets, here are the best tips for first-time cruisers to cruise like a pro so you can make the most out of your next cruise. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first-time cruise or your fifteenth cruise. There are some great cruise tips here!

For the following tips, the names of retailers have been changed (they are intentionally spelled differently) to avoid any conflicts. No particular retailer is recommended* and no payments have been received from them. 

Before I go to the tips offered by fellow cruisers, I want to add an important one here. Do not pack your cruise documents or identification in your checked bag.

Do not put the important documents that you will need to get on the ship inside the bag you had over to the porters.

You will not be allowed to cruise without these important papers and documents!!!

1. Make a packing list

This is one of the most used tips that I highly recommend for new cruisers.

I don’t know about you, but I live by the list. I would (and have forgotten important items without a list. Just ask my husband)!

Make a packing list and cross things off as you pack them. Have different lists for different seasons or different locations. 

Tip by Gula R.

Are there different kinds of packing lists?

There can be many kinds of packing lists even for cruises. You may need different items to travel to cold climates such as Alaska than you do on a Caribbean Cruise or Europe in the Spring or Summer. Even if it is summer in Phoenix with temperatures of 100 + degrees, the temperature in Alaska can be chilly and unpredictable.

Having a packing list is a great packing tip, but also if your bag is lost, you know what items were lost. Keep a copy of your packing list in your email, the cloud, or snap a picture on your camera phone.

Having a packing list is just another way to stay organized. When you finally come up with a list that works for you, use it over and over again. Make copies of it. Laminate it. Do whatever it takes!

Why spend time wondering:

What do I need to pack? Have I packed “that _” yet?

As a Mom and Wife who has always had the task of packing for the entire family, I have forgotten to pack items, and usually, only they were my items. Do this once or twice, and you probably won’t let yourself do this again. Forget your husband’s shoes that go with his tux and you will never hear the end of it.

How do I find a packing list?

You can google packing lists or make your own. I keep a packing list for my clothing, port bag, and things to do. I’ll share my google doc with you below.

This is a packing list that I came up with and use all the time. Get your free Cruise packing list

If this packing list doesn’t work you can also find many packing lists on Pinterest.

How many clothes should I bring for a 7-day Caribbean Cruise?

What’s in my bag?

Here are all the clothes that I packed. More than enough for a 7-day cruise.

• 1 pair of dress shoes
• 1 pair sandals
• Bag with all my cords, plugs, and small accessories.
• Small purse (flowered).
• 5 t-shirts.
• Bras and panties for 1 week.
• 1 bathing suit and one rash guard.
• 1 cardigan and 1 light jacket.
• 2 pairs of pants.
• 1 skirt and 2 dresses.
• 3 dress shirts.

Tip: lay out all the clothes from your packing list before you add them to the suitcase.

Tip 2: You can bring fewer clothes if you are willing to wash out small items like undergarments in the sink or shower and hang them dry. There is a clothesline inside the shower that you pull out from the wall to the other side.

2.  Packing tips

There are all sorts of packing tips that you can help make life easier. There’s rolling, folding, squishing, and stuffing, and then there are packing cubes.

With packing cubes, you can just take the cube out and place it in a drawer. Great for families that pack multiple people in one suitcase. (Tip by Carla K.)

Don’t get me started on packing cubes. From the first time I used them, I loved them. They take up little space but do wonders to help you organize your bags. You can roll or fold with packing cubes, or do like I do and do a combination of the two. They come in many colors and you can assign a different color to each family member.

They are reusable and environmentally friendly and after you use them, you will find that you cannot live without them.

Packing Cubes are my favorite gift to give to all my friends who travel.  I will be doing a review of Pro Packing Cubes soon with a giveaway, so please come back and check that out.

This site may contains affiliate links, which simply means if you purchase something after following one of our links, we may get a small commission. Find out more in by reading the full affiliate disclosure.

Want to try out my favorite and well-used packing cubes? They can be found on Amazon.

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Need to know how to fold your dress shirts so they don’t wrinkle? Check out this video on how to pack dress shirts

Packing tip: roll and fold and use packing cubes!

Pro tip: use the thin-string sling backpacks to pack your shoes. You can then use them as your port bag or use them to take belongings to the pool during sea days.

Don’t bring

• Any item you would be sad about if it disappeared, such as expensive jewelry and electronics. If by chance you leave your expensive Pad sitting on your lounge chair to dip your toes in the pool or beach, they would walk away. Get stolen, etc.
• Beach towels. They take up vital room in your luggage. Your cruise lines provide them. Just make sure to not lose them, you WILL be charged.

After using beach towels, leave them on the floor of your bathroom and your room steward will replace them with clean ones.

3.  Stuff that requires a plug

I recommend a plug multiplier. Surge protected power strips are not allowed, they can cause a fire. (Tip by Linda W.) 

Today’s travelers carry many items that need to be charged, and on a cruise ship, there is normally only one outlet to plug everything in. A plug splitter is a necessity and is always kept in my cruise travel bag.

They come in several sizes and can be found in places like the $ Store, Fred Mart, Home Yard Depot, and even on Amazing.com.  The one I currently use is a (T shape)  with 3 outlets. A plug left, center and right. They also make them with five or more plugs. Many even have USB outlets. A plug splitter is a great tip for all cruisers. A must-have for your travel convenience.

Those who need to bring devices like CPAP or BiPap might want an actual extension cord.

Before hauling a long cord with you, contact your cruise line’s Special Needs Department, and see if they provide extension cords or the restrictions on bringing your own. Also, ask if they provide distilled water if your machine calls for it.

If you do plan on bringing an extension cord, leave your yard extension cord at home and bring one around 6 feet long, and make sure it has access to 3-hole prongs before you carry it and realize it is not going to work for you.

Do not bring a cord with a surge protector. They are not allowed. Tip: check with your cruise line for particulars.

Carnival Cruise Tip

Can I bring a CPAP or BIPAP machine to a Carnival Cruise?

Carnival permits guest who use BIPAP, CPAP, Concentrator, and Nebulizers onboard. You must bring your own equipment on board for personal use. Please hand-carry these items and do not place them in your checked luggage. There is one electrical outlet in each stateroom located in the area of the desk/vanity.

Do I need to bring water for my CPAP on a Carnival Cruise?

Cruiser tip: If you will be using a CPAP you will need to order your distilled water through the cruise line.

Some lines offer this at no charge, while others charge for this. Consult the Special Needs Department before boarding.

4.  Tips for Staying organized

A cruise cabin is a tight space for two, but when you have 3 or more bodies and belongings in there, you should do all you can to stay organized.

When traveling with a group of ladies (or any over-packers), you might want to discuss what hair tools you plan on bringing. Maybe you can share.

Princess Cruise Tip

Do you need 3 or 4 curling wands or straighteners?  You won’t need a hair dryer in most cases. Every ship on Carnival and Princess that I have been on has had a hair dryer. It may not be your 100k watts, but it should do the job. Hair dryers can usually be found in one of the drawers in your stateroom.

 An over the door shoe organizer holds all kinds of stuff to keep the cabin organized. (Tip by. Kristin H.)

If there are just two in the cabin, this is probably unnecessary. Three or Four, go for it!

Kristin H. also says bring command hooks for the bathroom and cabin – great for wet swimming suits.

Small magnets to tack all the papers and reminders to the metal walls. Strong ones with hooks for wet swimsuits, a jacket.

Tip by Linda W.

What other uses are Command Hooks used for on a cruise?

Command hooks and magnets can both be used to hold decorations to your stateroom door.

Can I bring magnetic hooks on a cruise?

Will magnetic hooks stick on cruise walls, ceilings, or doors?

Yes, you can bring magnets, and yes, they hold to most cabin walls and ceilings. They may or may not hold to the doors.

If you bring a magnet hook, the strongest location to hook them is the ceiling.

Watch for the fire sprinklers, and NEVER hang anything from them.

The 50# hooks can easily hold a full-length formal dress for Elegant nights when you are letting it hang to allow the wrinkles to fall out. I also like to hang damp items on a cloth hanger from the hook at the cowling to air dry. There is a clothesline in the bathroom, but damp items may not dry quickly, especially with the door closed.

Here are the ones that I bring each cruise found on Amazon

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5.  Gadget Tips

Take a battery operated night light for the bathroom. The light switch is on the outside and turning it on in the middle of the night lights up the entire cabin and can wake up light sleepers.

Tip by Judy C.

This is one of my favorite cruise tips. Along with the plug splitter, battery-operated tea lights can be purchased at the $ Store, and have found a permanent home in my cruise bag so I never need to hunt for them.

I also just recently found small tap lights. They are LEDs and are nice and bright. If you set it in the same spot each time, you will know where it is and can just push it as you enter the bathroom. These tap-type lights take 3 AA batteries. When not being used, I remove the batteries.

Bring a mini flashlight. You never know when the power might go out, or you might want to find something without turning on the cabin lights and chance waking your companions.

MSC Cruise Tip:

I did not need my tea lights on MSC Davina. The step going into the bathroom was lit up for convenience, However MSC Meraviglia did not have this feature.

Another item I like to bring is a laundry bag or pop-up hamper. These items can be found at the $ Store. The pop-up hamper that I use folds completely flat, or very small into a circle.

I keep this laundry hamper stored in my empty suitcase when we are not traveling. While traveling it either fits inside the closet or under the desk. If you bring a few extra dryer sheets and a clothespin, you can be attached and keep that stinky sock smell at bay. If you decide you need to do laundry, the dryer sheet is there for you to use.

Is there laundry service on cruise ships?

Do they have laundry facilities on Carnival Cruises?

CCL has two options for laundry. Full-service laundry is sent to the laundry facility. You can ask your room steward for a paper laundry bag and he will send it to be cleaned. Please check with him for prices.

Carnival ships also have laundrette facilities on most if not every other floor. In these facilities, you can purchase detergent and dryer sheets. Some of the ships take cash. Others use your Sail and Sign card. We always bring one or two laundry tabs and several dryer sheets just in case we need to do a load of laundry. If we don’t end up washing clothes, I toss the dryer sheets in the bag with the dirty clothes to cut down on odor.

Cruise Safety tip

Here is a great safety tip from Catherine C. Locate Life jackets and adjust the straps to fit, just in case.

I have found the life jackets are stored in the closet on the top shelf. They may be stored in other spots depending on your cabin. On our recent Carnival Panorama cruise while in an inside cabin, our PFDs were kept under the bed.

If you have trouble locating your life preservers, ask your room steward and if you have an infant or small child, or are a person of size, please consult with your room attendant for a properly fitting life jacket.

Another safety tip, know the location of your muster station. This should be found on your cruise card and also on the back of your cabin door.

Eunice S, says make sure to bring Gallon Zip bags. Ice melts down to cold water when going into port. Also to hold those addictive cookies for late night snacks for the teens.

Zip bags in assorted sizes are a must-have for me. I do bring quite a few of the gallon, but also the smaller sizes. Very large 2-gallon bags from the $ store are great for keeping wet swimsuits contained in the bag.

Lisa-Anne W. recommends bringing a bungee cord clothesline to hang wet items in the cabin. Also if you have things you might need to hand wash, bring a small rubber sink stopper. She also brings a small bottle of Dawn Dish soap that can wash her reusable cup or items that need hand washing.

I found that one of the easiest ways to wash a few items is just to take them in the shower with you. After coming back from the pool or beach, I just automatically toss my wet/dirty suits in the shower stall. You then can squirt some of the body wash and do a bit of scrubbing before you exit the shower.

Wring items out or roll them in a towel, and then hang them from a provided clothesline in the shower. A few clothespins and you’re set.

If you have lightweight items like bras and panties, you can hang them on clothes hangers inside your cabin. Never hang anything from a fire sprinkler.  I make sure that I don’t leave those personal items out when I know the room steward will be coming into the room.

6. Tips for comfort & health

Staying warm enough

Some sort of sweater is necessary, according to Ken D.

It can get chilly in the dining room and you never know if you might need it [a sweater] walking out on the deck or during a show.

I always bring something to cover my shoulders that is dressy that can be worn for elegant nights or regular nights, and a light sweatshirt for comedy shows or walking around the deck or in port. I also started bringing a pair of comfy pants like sweats or yoga pants for when I am bumming around the ship.

Pamela W. suggests bringing new sealed container of foaming hand soap for the cabin bathroom rather than use those small bars of soap. She also says check the clearance section at the Fredmart, it can often be found for less than a dollar.

Pamela is right on. Washing hands is one of the best ways to stay healthy on board a ship. For some reason, maybe it’s the close quarters; sickness spreads like wildfire.

Noro Virus[Noro] is a stomach bug that I hope you never get. How do avoid getting this dreadful virus?

• Wash your hands.
• Wash your hands.
• Wash your hands.

Hand sanitizer or hand gel does not kill NoroVirus.  I found a special soap and lotion that kills even NoroVirus. One bottle has lasted over 8 cruises now. It is called Zylast XP. You can get it directly from their website* here. 

A family pack includes both soap and lotion.  I am getting no kickbacks from this product. It is just a product I use and trust.

You can read more about Noro prevention at the CDC website

Updated: 1/20-2022: Since we are now going on 2 years of dealing with the COVID Panic, there are many new health protocols. You need to make sure to bring masks for your face [N95 recommend], and disinfecting wipes to clean off surfaces. Make sure to have a copy of your COVID Vaccine Card stored on your phone and keep the original in the safe with your travel documents. Protocols will continue to change as time passes and we learn more about COVID and how it is transmitted. Protocols will continue to changes so make sure you check your cruise website and know the requirements before sailing.

Other tips for health and comfort

To ensure liquids don’t leak, take the lid/cap off, cover the top add plastic wrap, put the lid/cap back on and then place in a zip bag. Double protection! (Tip by Diane F).

For keeping bugs at bay and keeping itch away, Amanda C. recommends bringing a small bottle of insect repellent plus a small bottle of After Bite.

Besides insect repellent, make sure to bring sunscreen. Either bring it from home (the cheapest option), purchase just before getting on the ship or buy it in port. If you forget and buy it on the ship, expect to pay way more than what it is worth!

My favorite sun protection is Think Sport. (I get the Think Baby because I have sensitive skin).

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You might also bring Aloe Vera Gel in case of sunburn. I have also heard that cold creams like Noxema work great.

Be sure to bring a small Cruise 1st aid kit and a pharmacy bag with all the over-the-counter items that you might need. Just like sunscreen, items may be found on board in one of the shops, but at an extreme price.

You don’t need a bunch, just a day or two’s worth until you can get to port. If you have a small child or infant, please bring your baby or child strength fever reducers. The likelihood of infant medicine being stocked is slim to none, or expensive.

Can I bring soda on a Carnival Cruise?

Can I bring wine on a Carnival Cruise?

Yes, you can bring both soda and one bottle of wine on the Carnival Cruise!

Bringing your allotted 1 bottle of wine per adult and twelve-pack of soda per person are great tips for cruisers to save money on board. If bringing wine, make sure to remember your bottle opener

8.  Hydration Tips

Most people take cruises to the Caribbean where it is warmer than where they live. This poses a problem because people can get overheated and become dehydrated. Make sure you are drinking more water than you do at home.

Neil A. Recommends bringing a lunch box size collapsible cooler. This can be easily filled with ice at the Lido and brought to your room, which makes the room steward have one less thing to remember.

When you go into port, you can pack your cans of soda or bottles of water in this cooler or even stop in the port and pick up some sandwiches for the beach.

Instant picnic for an inexpensive meal while in port.

Another tip to stay hydrated is by drinking plenty of water. You can find water, lemonade, and tea near the buffet area. Bottle water can also be ordered/purchased ahead of time and delivered to your stateroom.

Tina A. Suggests to bring your own insulated coffee mug or cup for your beverages.

This is a great tip because the cups found on the Lido are small, just a few swallows. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to keep running back to the buffet area to grab more coffee, juice, or tea.

Don’t’ bring your favorite cup. There is a chance that the cup could be lost or stolen if left unattended.  I picked up some cheap cups for my 1/2 lemon aid 1/2 ice tea mix, which I like to drink on board,  and if they never saw them again, the world would continue to turn.

Before our last trip, we stopped and picked up better cups that keep our drinks cooler. Think stainless steel like the Yetti Cups. As nice as it is to have a larger cup of tea on your deck chair, no one wants it warm. It does take up more room, but it is a great convenience. Make sure to label it with your name. Just like all luggage looks the same, big cups get mixed up too!

7.  Money Tips

You will hear this over and over: “Bring twice as much money as you think you’ll need and half as many clothes.”

Catherine C. reminds us to take cash to tip the room steward.

You will have many opportunities for tipping, so bring an envelope with lots of ones and fives.

I found that the desk drawer in your stateroom where the hair dryer is kept is a great place to stash an envelope for tipping room service.

What is the envelope system?

I pre-plan out what excursions we will be taking. We are usually on private tours that are paid in cash. All the money for that day, including the cost of the excursion and tip, is kept in an envelope specific to this tour. Another envelope for spending money at this port.

Try the envelope system.

Prior to going into port, divide any money you plan on using that day in half (usually spending money and tour money separately). My travel companion holds half and I take the other half, just in case.

Envelopes for subsequent days stay inside the safe until the designated day. Important documents such as our passports and additional credit cards are also stored in the stateroom safe.

Smart cruiser tip: Make sure to make copies of travel documents and leave them with a friend (at home) who can email them if necessary or store them on a cloud-like Google Docs.

An important tip for all cruisers is to be cautious with valuables such as money. Using the envelope system, you only bring the money necessary on a particular day.

Each envelope is labeled with the port name and activity. Envelopes that are not being used that day are stored in the room safe.

9.  Tips for thrift

Vacations are expensive and many cruisers need to find ways to stretch their travel budget. There are ways to be thrifty and save money here and there. One tip is to bring whatever drinks you are allowed to bring on board. On Carnival, each adult is permitted to bring one bottle of wine and one twelve-pack of soda.

Can I bring a bottle of wine to a Carnival Cruise?

Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages on board with the following exception – at the beginning of the cruise during embarkation day only, guests (21 years of age and older) may bring one 750-ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or champagne, per person, in their carry-on luggage.

https://www.carnival.com/help?topicid=2633

Here is a wine tip:

Make sure to open it in your room,pour a glass, and carry the glass to dinner.

Tio by Gula R.

Do yourself a favor and leave the bottle in your room. We first learned this lesson the hard way and my hubby had to take the bottle back to our stateroom.

Depending on the ship or your dining team, you may or may not be charged, so just because you didn’t get charged on your trip on the Vista last year doesn’t mean that you won’t be charged on the Horizon this trip.

Corkage Fee

Should guests wish to consume their wine or champagne in the main dining room, specialty restaurant or bar, a $15.00 USD corkage fee, per 750-ml bottle, will be charged. A corkage fee is a charge that is assessed, at time of service, for every bottle that is served and not bought [purchased from cruise line] on the premises.

https://www.carnival.com/help?topicid=2633

Wine glasses are available at any bar. If you bring wine, make sure to bring a wine opener. This is another item that I store in my cruise bag. Also, go ahead and fill your glass as full as you like. No judgment here.

If you find that you need more than a bottle or two of wine and don’t have enough friends to schlep it on the cruise for you, ask about a wine package that you can be purchased. The bottles are less expensive than buying the glass or bottle each time. Check with your cruise line for details.

If you do purchase wine from the ship, you can have the bottle/s stored in the dining room and they will be brought to your table at dinner. No need to haul your wine back and forth.

Let me stress this to you again, even if you open the bottle in your stateroom, do NOT bring the bottle to the dining room, you WILL be charged a corking fee.

If your waiter does not charge you and the Matre’ D finds out, the entire wait team can get into trouble and possibly lose their jobs. Please don’t risk their jobs!

Carnival and MSC Cruise Tips

Do MSC Cruise lines allow you to bring a bottle of wine on board?

MSC does not allow passengers to bring wine or soda. They however have reasonably priced beverage packages to help you save money. Their security, getting on and off the ship is some of the strictest I have encountered.

Many cruise lines offer deals if you buy so many bottles of wine during the week, you get it at a reduced rate. You must decide this when ordering the first night. You will pick which wines you want and be charged for them the first night. MSC had a good selection of wines to choose from. Since they do not allow you to bring soda or wine you will have to find other ways to save money on an MSC Cruise.

A budget-friendly suggestion for passengers who drink more than a few drinks per day, consider a drink package.

The benefit of buying bottles of wine in a package is that you don’t need to finish the bottle in one sitting. Your wait staff will secure your bottle and serve it to you again at your request.

Maybe tonight you are drinking red, but tomorrow you want white. They will hold your bottle and you won’t have to haul an open glass to the table.

Additional tips for hydration

Carnival Cruise Tip

In addition to wine, all passengers are allowed to bring (1) twelve-pack (cans only. no bottles) of soda, water, or juice. Unlike wine, each passenger, no matter the age can bring (12) cans of soda.

Can soda be in different flavors or brands? You are not limited to bringing twelve cans of the same brand or flavor. Feel free to open your half rack and place whatever varieties of soda you plan on drinking. You can bring less than twelve cans, but no more.

Bring energy drinks, even f larger than 12 ounces. Just do the math. No more than 144 ounces total. So if you choose energy drinks, you might end up with just 8 cans or 6 cans.

Got a baby who is not even old enough to drink pop? They can bring some too!  Just like taking a baby trick or treating! You, however, can not bring a bottle of wine in the baby’s name.

Water is available on board and is safe to drink. It is probably better quality than the water you drink at home. Bring a reusable bottle and fill it (using a clean cup from the Lido) with ice and water.

Please don’t put your dirty cup or bottle up to the picket. Using a dirty cup or bottle on the water faucet is one of the leading ways that Noro is spread.

Please use a clean cups to fill your vessel.

Bottled water can be preordered before you leave home and it will be delivered to your room. You also can order after you arrive.

You might also get a free (large) bottle of water if you are returning Carnival Cruiser.

The large bottles you find in your stateroom as well as any other items that you might find in your mini-fridge are not free.

If unsure, ask your room steward or call customer service, or room service. The bottle might be your free one or might not. Don’t be surprised by getting a hefty bill for a bottle of water.

If you get to your room on embarkation day and the mini-fridge is full of water, sodas, and alcohol (mini-bar set up) ask your room steward to remove these items. By no means tamper with the items. You will be charged a fee for them, again hefty.

Update on this: When traveling on our recent MSC Davina cruise, I asked our room steward to remove items. He stated he could not. I did not question this to a higher authority. Other cruisers I spoke to call BS on this.

In my opinion, our steward was just lazy, but I still did not tamper with the items in the mini bar as I did not care for extra charges to my bill.

Bringing your allotment of wine, and soda or using a reusable water bottle are great money-saving tips during your cruise, for new and experienced cruisers.

10. Things not to overlook

Some of these tips are just handy tips and other tips are very important tips. This next tip is to make sure you don’t get left at the pier as the ship sails off into the sunset.

Cathy U. says be sure to take a watch with you for when you visit a port because you MUST be on SHIP time and your cell phone might switch to local time! A good way to be standing on the pier as the ship sails off without you!

Most people don’t even own a wristwatch these days because they depend on their cell phones, but you really need to invest in (or dig out) a good ole fashioned analog watch.

 It doesn’t have to be an expensive one.  A five-dollar watch from Fredmart will work just fine.

Ship time and local time aren’t necessarily the same. If you are depending on keeping time with a cell phone, it could automatically try to update to local time. This could be the reason that you miss the ship.

I have had the same five-dollar watch from Fredmart for many cruises now. It has never failed me and does not connect to a satellite or WiFi and change time.

Don’t depend on your step counter watch to tell you the time, as it is also connected to WiFi.

For those port days when you have an excursion scheduled, it might also be nice to have a travel alarm clock. I have also had the same one for years. Always remove batteries and store them separately when not using them.  The batteries may need to be replaced, but at least they are not going to leak and ruin the alarm clock.

Some people choose to use their phones as their alarm clocks. Again, I am not sure if this works as I keep my phone in airplane mode and have not tried it.

Before you head out the door at home, be sure to double-check your bag and make sure you have your passport or your birth certificate, marriage certificate, and driver’s license. Check with your travel agent to find out what documents you can board with.

On port days, bring your sail and sign cards and your driver’s license (unless your ship says otherwise).

Leave your passport in the safe of your stateroom. If anything happens and you don’t make it back to the ship, someone from the ship will go to your room and get your passport and leave it with the port authority.

Final Thoughts

Other tips were submitted to me by experienced cruisers, but sadly not enough room for this one post. Experienced cruisers have much to offer.  If you are a first-time cruiser, I hope you seek out knowledgeable resources and are not afraid to ask questions.

Experience cruisers: don’t be too good to share the knowledge that you have learned. We all were once first-time cruisers.

From items to not overlook, to tips on packing and ways to save some money on your cruise. I hope you found a few tips to help you whether it’s your first cruise or your 21st!

Were these tips helpful?

Did you find any of these tips new cruiser tips helpful?  Do you have any tips that we left out? Let me know. Maybe your tip will be featured in a future post! Let me know.

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10 Important Tips for first-time Cruisers

HOW TO CRUISE LIKE A PRO: TIPS FROM SEASONED CRUISERS

So you are headed off to your first cruise. Congratulations! Now comes the dilemma of what should I bring? Not to worry. I asked seasoned cruisers from a popular Facebook group to share their most important tips for new cruisers. From packing tips to must-bring gadgets,here are the 10 important tips for first-time cruisers so you can make the most out of your next cruise. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for first time cruise tips or it is your fifteen cruise. You might find some great cruise tips here!

For the following tips names of retailers have been changed (they are intentionally spelled differently) to avoid any conflicts. No particular retailer is recommended* and no payments have been received from them. 

1. Make a packing list 

This is one of the most used tips that I highly recommend for new cruisers.

I don’t know about you, but I live by the list. I would (and have forgotten important items without a list. Just ask my husband!).

Make a packing list and cross things off as you pack them. Have different lists for different seasons or different locations.  ( Tip by Gula R.)

This is a great tip for packing, but also for if your bag is lost, you know what items were missing.

Having a packing list is just another way to stay organized. When you finally come up with a list that works for you, use it over and over again. Make copies of it. Laminate it. Do whatever it takes!

Why spend time wondering:

What do I need to pack? Have I packed “that _” yet?

As a Mom and Wife who has had the responsibility of packing for the entire family, that I have forgot to pack items, and usually they were my items. Do this once or twice, and you probably won’t let yourself do this again.

How do I find a packing list?

 You can google packing lists or make your or own. I keep a packing list for my clothing, port bag, and things to do. I’ll share my google doc with you below.

You can get my list here: Cruise Packing list

You can also find many packing lists on Pinterest. 

What’s in my bag?

Here is all the clothes that I packed. More than enough for a 7 day cruise.

• 1 pair dress shoes
• 1 pair sandals
• Bag with all my cords, plugs, and small accessories.
• Small purse (flowered).
• 5 t shirts.
• Bras and panties for 1 week.
• 1 bathing suit and one rash guard.
• 1 cardigan and 1 light jacket.
• 2 pair of pants.
• 1 skirt and 2 dresses.
• 3 dress shirts. 

Tip: lay out all the clothes from your packing list before you add to suit case

2.  Packing tips

There are all sorts of packing tip that you can help make life easier. There’s rolling,folding, squishing and stuffing, and then there’s packing cubes. 

With packing cubes, you can just take the cube out and place it in a drawer. Great for families that pack multiple people in one suitcase. (Tip by Carla K.)

Don’t get me started on packing cubes. Since the first time I used them, I loved them. They take up little space but do wonders to help you organize your bags. You can roll or fold with packing cubes, or do like I do and do a combination of the two. 

10 reasons why you need to use packing cubes

They are reusable and environmentally friendly and after you use them, you will find that you cannot live without them. 

Packing Cubes are my favorite gift to give to all my friends who travel.  I will be doing a review of Pro Packing Cubes soon with a giveaway, so please come back and check that out. 

Need to know how to fold those dress shirts so they don’t wrinkle? Check out this video how to pack dress shirts

Packing tip: roll and fold and definitely use packing cubes!

These are all the clothes that were laid out on my bed.

This is everything: Pro tip: use the thin string back packs and pack your shoes. You can then use them as your port bag.

Don’t bring

• Anything you would be sad if it disappeared, such as expensive jewelry and electronics. If by chance you leave your expensive I Pad sitting on your lounge chair to dip your toes in the pool or beach, they could walk away. Get stolen, etc. 
• Beach towels. They take up vital room in your luggage. Your cruise lines provide them. Just make sure to not lose them, you WILL be charged.

After using beach towels,leave them on the floor in your bathroom and your room steward will replace them with clean ones.

3.  Stuff that requires a plug

I recommend a plug multiplier. Surge protected power strips are not allowed, they can cause a fire. (Tip by Linda W.) 

Today’s travelers carry many items that need to be charged, and on a cruise ship, there is normally only one outlet to plug everything in. A plug splitter is a necessity and is always kept in my cruise travel bag.

They come in several sizes and can be found in places like the $ Store, Fred Mart, Home Yard Depot and even on Amazing.com.  The one I currently use is a (T shape)  with 3 outlets. A plug left, center and right. They also make them with five or more plugs. Many even have USB outlets. A plug splitter is a great tip for all cruisers. A must-have for your travel convenience.

Those who need to bring devices like Cpap or BiPap, you might want an actual extension cord. Before hauling a long cord with you, contact your cruise line’s Special Needs Department, and see if they provide extension cords or the restrictions on bringing your own. Also ask if they provide distilled water if your machine calls for it.

If you do plan on bringing an extension cord, leave your yard extension cord at home and bring one around 6 foot long, and make sure it has access for 3 hole prongs before you carry it and realize it is not going to work for you. Do not bring a cord with surge protector. They are not allowed. Tip: check with your cruise line for particulars. 

Carnival Cruise Tip

Carnival permits guest who use BIPAP, CPAP, Concentrator, and Nebulizers onboard. You must bring your own equipment on board for personal use. Please hand-carry these items and do not place them in your checked luggage. There is one electrical outlet in each stateroom located in the area of the desk/vanity.

Cruiser tip: If you will be using a CPAP you will need to order your distilled water through the cruise line.

Some lines offer this no charge, while others charge for this. Consult the Special Needs Department prior to boarding.

4.  Tips for Staying organized

A Cruise cabin is a tight space for two, but when you have 3 or more bodies and belongings in there, you should do all you can to stay organized. When traveling with a group of ladies (or any over packers), you might want to discuss what tools you plan on bringing.

Princess Cruise Tip

Do you need 3 or 4 curling wands or straighteners?  You won’t need a hair dryer in most cases. Every ship on Carnival and Princess that I have been on has had a hair dryer. It may not be your 100k watts, but it should do the job.

 An over the door shoe organizer holds all kinds of stuff to keep the cabin organized. (Tip by. Kristin H.)

If there are just two in the cabin, you really should not need this. Three or Four, go for it!

Kristin H.  also says bring command hooks for the bathroom and cabin – great for wet swimming suits.

Small magnets to tack all the papers and reminders to the metal walls. Strong ones with hooks for wet swimsuits, a jacket.(Tip by Linda  W.) 

If you bring magnet hooks, the strongest location to hook them is the ceiling. Watch for the fire sprinklers, and NEVER hang anything from them. The 50# hooks can easily hold a full-length formal dress when you are letting it hang before Elegant night to allow the wrinkles to fall out.

5.  Gadget Tips

Take a battery operated night light for the bathroom. The light switch is on the outside and turning it on in the middle of the night lights up the entire cabin and can wake up light sleepers. (Tip by Judy C.)

This is one of my favorite cruise tips. Along with the plug splitter, tea lights can be purchased at the $ Store, and find a permanent home in my cruise bag so I never need to hunt for them. 

Bring a mini flashlight. You never know when the power might go out, or you might want to find something without turning on the cabin lights and chance waking your companions.

MSC Cruise Tip: 

I did not need my tea lights on MSC. They has the step lit up for convience.

Another items I like to bring is a laundry bag or pop-up hamper. These items can be found at the $ Store. The pop up hamper that I use folds completely flat. I keep it stored in my empty suitcase when we are not traveling. While traveling it either fits inside the closet or under the desk. If you bring a few extra dryer sheets and a clothes pin, you can attached and keep the sock smell at bay.

Cruise Safety tip

Here is a great safety tip from Catherine C. Locate Life jackets and adjust the straps to fit, just in case.

I have found the life jackets are stored in the closet on the top shelf. They may be stored in other spots depending on your cabin. Do locate them on the first day.

Eunice S, says make sure to bring Gallon Zip bags. Ice melts down to cold water when going into port. Also to hold those addictive cookies for late night snacks for the teens. 

Zip bags in assorted sizes are a must have for me. I do bring quite a few of the gallon, but also the smaller sizes. Very large 2 gallon bags from the $ store are great for keeping wet swimsuits contained to the bag. 

Lisa-Anne W. recommends bringing a bungee cord clothesline to hang wet items in the cabin. Also if you have things you might need to hand wash, bring a small rubber sink stopper. She also brings a small bottle of Dawn Dish soap that can wash her reusable cup or items that need hand washing.

I found that one of the easiest ways to wash a few items is just take them in the shower with you. After coming back from the pool or beach, I just automatically toss my wet/dirty suits in the shower stall. You then can squirt some of the body wash and do a bit of scrubbing before you even exit the shower.

6. Cruise Tips for comfort & health

Staying warm enough

Some sort of sweater is necessary, according to Ken D.

 It tends to be chilly in the dining room and you never know if you might need it walking out on deck or during a show. I always bring something to cover my shoulders that is nice that I can wear for dressy nights, and a light sweatshirt for comedy shows or walking around deck or in port.

Pamela W. suggests bringing new sealed container of foaming hand soap for the cabin bathroom rather than use those small bars of soap. She also says check the clearance section at the Fredmart, it can often be found for less than a dollar. 

Pamela is right on. Washing hands is one of the best ways to stay healthy on board a ship. For some reason, maybe it’s the close quarters;sickness spreads like wild fire.

Noro Virus[Noro] is a stomach bug that I hope you never get. How to avoid getting this dreadful virus?

• Wash your hands.
• Wash your hands.
• Wash your hands. 

Hand sanitizer or hand gel do not kill NoroVirus.  I found a special soap and lotion that kills even NoroVirus. One bottle has lasted over 8 cruises now. It is called Zylast XP. You can get it directly off their website* here. 

I got the family pack that includes both the soap and lotion.  I am getting no kick backs from this product. It is just a product I use and trust.

You can read more about Noro prevention at the CDC website

Other tips for health and comfort

To ensure liquids don’t leak, take the lid/cap off, cover the top add plastic wrap, put the lid/cap back on and then place in a zip bag. Double protection! (Tip by Diane F).

For keeping bugs at bay and keeping itch away, Amanda C. recommends bringing a small bottle of insect repellent and a small bottle of After Bite. 

Besides insect repellent, make sure to bring  sunscreen. Either bring it from home (the cheapest option), purchase just before getting on the ship, or buy in port. If you forget and buy it on the ship, expect to pay way more than what it is worth!

You might also bring Aloe Vera Gel in case of sunburn. I have also heard that cold cream like Noxema work great.

Be sure to bring a small pharmacy bag with all the over the counter items that you might need. Just like the sun screen, it can be found on board in one of the shops, with an extreme price. You don’t need a bunch, just a day or two’s worth until you can get to port. If you have a small child or infant, please bring your baby or child strength fever reducers. The likelihood of this being stocked is slim and expensive. 

You can have your wine and drink it too!

Bringing your allotted 1 bottle of wine per adult and twelve pack of soda per person are great tips for cruisers to stretch their cruise dollars on board.

8.  Hydration Tips

Most people take cruises to the Caribbean where it is warmer than were they live. This poses a problem because people can get over heated and become dehydrated. Make sure you are drinking more water than you do at home.

Neil A. Recommends bringing a lunch box size collapsible cooler. This can be easily filled with ice at the Lido and brought to your room, which makes the room steward have one less thing to remember.

When you go into port, you can pack your cans of soda or bottles of water in this cooler or even stop in the port and pick up some sandwiches for the beach.

Instant picnic. 

Going into port will you do Indepe lolndent excursions best choice 

or Booking tours through your ship ?

Another tip to stay hydrated is by drinking plenty of water from the Lido.

Tina A. Suggests to bring your own insulated coffee mug or cup for your beverages.

This is a great tip because the cups found on the Lido are very small, just a few swallows. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to keep running back to the buffet area to grab more coffee, juice, or tea. 

Don’t’ bring your favorite cup through. There is a chance that the cup could be lost or stolen if left unattended.  I picked up some cheap cups for my 1/2 lemon aid 1/2 ice tea mix, that I like to drink on board,  and if  they never saw them again, the world would continue to turning.

Prior to our last trip, we stopped and picked up better cups that keep our drinks cooler. Think stainless steel like the Yetti Cups. As nice as it is to have a larger cup of tea at your deck chair, no one wants it warm. It does take up more room, but it is a great convenience.

7.  Money Tips

You will hear this over and over: Bring twice as much money as you think you’ll need and half as many clothes. 

Catherine C. reminds us to take cash to tip the room steward.

You will have many opportunities for tipping, so bring an envelope with lots ones and fives.

I found that the desk drawer in your stateroom where the hair dryer is kept, is a great place to stash an envelope for tipping room service.

Try using the envelope system. I plan out what excursions we will be taking. We usually to independent excursions and these need to be paid in cash. The money for that day, including the cost of excursion and any tip is kept in that envelope.  Another envelope for spending money at this port.

When going into port, divide money in half (usually spending money and tour money separately). He holds half and I take the other half, just in case. 

The other envelopes are left in the safe until we need them. Important documents such as our passports and extra credits cards are also stored in the stateroom safe. 

Make sure you made copies of these documents and left them with a friend (at home) who can email them if necessary or store them on a cloud like Google Docs.

Envelope Method

An important tip for all cruisers is to be cautious with valuables such as money. Using the envelope system, you only bring the money necessary on a particular day.Each envelope is labeled with port name and activity.

9.  Tips for thrift

Vacations are expensive and many cruisers need to find ways to cut spending. There are ways to be thrifty and budget here and there. One tip is to bring whatever drinks you are allowed to bring on board. On Carnival each adult is permitted to bring one bottle of wine and one twelve pack of soda.

Here is a tip about how to drink your wine:

Make sure to open it in your room,pour a glass, and take the glass to dinner. (Tip by Gula R.)

Do yourself a favor and leave the bottle in your room. We first learned this lesson the hard way and my hubby had to take the bottle back to our stateroom. Depending on your ship or your dining team, you may or may not be charged, so just because you didn’t get charged on your trip on the Vista last year doesn’t mean that you won’t be charged on the Horizon this trip.

Wine glasses are available at any bar, and if you bring your own, make sure to bring a wine opener. This is another item that I store in my cruise bag. 

If you find that you need more than a bottle or two of wine and don’t have enough friends to schlep it on the cruise for you, there is generally a wine package that you can be purchased where the bottles are less expensive than buying by the glass or bottle each time. Check with your cruise line for details.

If you do purchase wine from the ship, you can have the bottle/s stored in the dining room and they will be brought to your table at dinner. No need to haul your wine back and forth.

 Let me stress this to you again,even if you open the bottle in your stateroom do NOT bring the bottle with you to dinner in the dining room, you WILL be charged a corking-fee. If your waiter does not charge you and the Matre’ D finds out, the entire wait team can get into trouble and possibly loose their jobs. Please don’t risk their jobs!

Carnival and MSC Cruise Tip

Many of the cruise lines offer deals if you buy so many bottles of wine during the week, you get it at a reduced rate. You must decide this when ordering the first night. You will choose which wines you want and be charged for them the first night. 

The benefit of buying your bottles of wine like this is that you need not finish the bottle at one time. Your wait staff will secure your bottle and serve it to you again at your request. Maybe tonight you are drinking red, but tomorrow you want white. They will take care of this and you won’t have to haul an open glass to the table. 

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Additional tips for hydration

Carnival Cruise Tip

In addition to wine, all passengers are allowed to bring (1) twelve pack (cans only. no bottles) of soda,water or juice. Unlike wine, each passenger, no matter the age can bring (12) cans of soda.

The soda can be different flavors or brands. You are not limited to bring all twelve cans of Dr Pepper. You can open your box and place whatever varieties of soda that you plan on drinking. You can bring less than twelve cans, but no more.

You can also bring cans of energy drinks, even if they come in larger than 12 ounces. Just do the math. No more than 144 ounces total. So if you choose energy drinks, you might end up with just 8 cans or 6 cans.

Got a baby who is not even old enough to drink pop? They can bring some too!  Just like taking a baby trick or treating!

Water is available on board and is safe to drink. It is probably better quality than the water you drink at home. Bring a reusable bottle and fill it (using a clean cup from the Lido) with ice and water.

Please don’t put your dirty cup or bottle up to the dispenser. Using a dirty cup or bottle on the water faucet is one of the leading ways that Noro is spread.

Please use a clean cups to fill your vessel.

Another option,bottled water can be ordered before you leave home and it will be delivered to your room. You also can order after you arrive.

You might also get a free (large) bottle of water if you are returning Carnival Cruiser.

The large bottles you find in your stateroom as well as any other items that you might find in your mini fridge are not free. If unsure, ask your room steward. The bottle might be your free one or might not. Don’t be surprised by getting a hefty bill for a bottle of water. 

If you get to your room on embarkation day and the mini fridge is full of waters, soda’s and alcohol (mini bar set up) you can tell your room steward to remove these items. By no means tamper with the items. You will be charged a fee for them, again hefty.

Update on this: When traveling on our recent MSC Davina cruise, I asked our room steward to remove items. He stated he could not. I did not question this to a higher authority. Some other cruises called BS on this. I believe our steward was just lazy, but I still did not tamper with the items in the mini bar as I did not care for extra charges to my bill.

Bringing your allotment of wine, soda  or using a reusable water bottle are  great money saving tips during your cruise, for new and experienced cruisers.

10. Things not to overlook

Some of these tips are just handy tips and other tips are very important tips. This next tip is to make sure you don’t get left at the pier as the ship sails off into the sunset.

Cathy U. says be sure to take a watch with you for when you visit a port because you MUST be on SHIP time and your cell phone might switch to local time! A good way to be standing on the pier as the ship sails off without you!

Most people don’t even own a watch these days because they depend on their cell phones, but you really need to invest in (or dig out) a good ole fashioned watch.  It doesn’t have to be an expensive one.  A five dollar watch from Fredmart, will work just fine. Ship time and local time aren’t necessarily the same. If you are depending on keeping time with a cell phone, it could automatically try to update to local time. This could be the reason that you miss the ship.

I have had the same five dollar watch from Fredmart for many cruises now. It has never failed me and does not connect to a satellite and change time. Don’t depend on your step counter watch to tell you the time, as it is also connected to WiFi.

For those port days when you have an excursion scheduled, it might also be nice to have a travel alarm clock. I have also had the same one for years. I just remove the batteries and store them separately.  The batteries might need to be replaced, but at least they are not going to leak and ruin the alarm clock.

Some people choose to use their phones as their alarm clock. Again, I am not sure if this works as I keep my phone in airplane mode and have not tried it. 

Before you head out the door at home, be sure to double check your bag and make sure you have your passport (first choice for travel) or your birth certificates, marriage certificates and driver’s licenses. 

On port days, all you need to bring is your sail and sign cards and your drivers license (unless your ships says otherwise). Leave your passport in the safe of your stateroom. If anything happens and you don’t make it back to the ship, someone from the ship will go to your room and get your identification and leave it with the port authority. 

Final Thoughts

There are many other tips that experienced cruisers can offer, but sadly not enough room for this one post. Experienced cruisers have so much to offer.  If you are a first time cruiser, I hope you seek out knowledgeable resources and are not afraid to ask questions. 

You can read more tips about what to expect in the dining room 10 easy dining room tips every cruiser should know

Experience cruisers: don’t be too good to share the knowledge that you have learned. We all were once  first time cruisers. 

From items to not overlook, to tips on packing and ways to save some money on your cruise. I hope you found a few tips to help you whether it’s your first cruise or 21st!

Were these tips helpful?

Did you find any of these tips new cruiser tips helpful?  Do you have any  tips that we left out? Let me know. Maybe your tip will be featured in a future post!

Let me know