While traveling on a cruise or land vacation, emergencies happen. Being prepared can keep minor emergencies from turning into expensive bills or ruining a trip. Emergency kits for travel are essential items to pack no matter if you are gone for a weekend, a week, or longer. Like many travelers, you might be unsure of what exactly to pack in your emergency kit but I’ll show you how to make your own DIY cruise emergency kit so you’ll be better prepared for your next trip.
Throughout years of traveling, camping, and hiking, I have been responsible for the care of family, groups of students, scouts, and travel buddies. Being certified to teach Basic First Aid, and “learning on the spot, I have had to perform first aid, “bush surgery”, or “Macgyver” items to get us down the road, and have been glad that I have been prepared with my emergency kits. You might be wondering:
Can I take a first aid kit on a cruise?
Certain things are not allowed on a cruise ship, however, a first aid kit is not one of these items. I have brought some kind of first aid kit or supplies on every cruise. The only item I ever had a problem with in my first aid kit was when we cruised on MSC Merivigilia. At each port when we were going through security to get back on the ship, my bag would go through the x-ray machine. The security officer always gave my bag extra to security. Honestly, I didn’t even remember there were scissors in there. Since he held up the line each time, I finally removed them from the bag.
Can I prepare for every travel emergency or scenario?
No, you don’t need to prepare for every, “what if ?” While traveling you only need to be prepared without going overboard: The hope is to try to prepare for any emergency that might arise, but don’t pack the entire kitchen sink or the operating room either.
You need to be prepared just enough to get to the next port, market, or pharmacy where you can resupply as necessary, or have someone take over for you. Your travel first aid kit could make a difference between grabbing a bandage or making a visit to the ship’s medical facility.
You might be thinking, I’ll be in civilization my entire trip and there is a medical center onboard. Why should I bring supplies with me?
If you were at home, would you wait to buy a bandage until your child fell or chose to buy a bottle of aspirin only after you already had a headache?
Don’t wait to purchase first aid items or over-the-counter medications on the ship or in the resort gift shop. Doing so might cost much more than necessary if you just make the effort and pack your supplies. You can also save yourself headaches and worry knowing you are prepared.
Typically while on a cruise, there are days you are out at sea and days you are in port. Unless you are going to very remote locations like the Amazon, or Antarctica, you will be near places you can resupply within a few days.
The travel emergency kit is to get you and your family through to the next port day where pharmacies and stores are readily available. Just bring enough supplies to get through a few days.
During our early travels, I was responsible for caring for and packing for the entire family. While I attempted to prepare for every scenario, I found myself bringing way too many items. This put stress on myself and my hubby having to haul so many items that ultimately went untouched. Now, while traveling with my hubby, I know exactly what to bring.
This post was written during COVID-19 and procedures may change by the time you set sail. As you would at any time, do your due diligence by actually reading your cruise documents, and cruise contract before checking that you agree. Good hygiene on your part cannot harm you.
So, What is an Emergency?
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
emergency noun, often attributive emer·gen·cy | i-ˈmər-jən(t)-sē plural emergencies Definition of emergency
1: an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action
2: an urgent need for assistance or relief the mayor declared a state of emergency after the flood
Now that you know what an emergency is, Do you know what are 5 items that every emergency kit needs when you cruise or travel?
- A plan
- Important Travel Documents
- Travel Insurance
- Travel First Aid Kit and pharmacy essentials
- Backup Electronics power
Start with a plan
A plan? You can’t pack a plan in a bag or box, so why is this part of my kit?
All good emergency preparedness begins with a plan. It doesn’t matter if it’s a plan you make together with your family on what actions to take if there is a fire at home or teaching your kids what to do if approached by a stranger. You always start with a plan.
Your emergency plan can be as simple as what will you be doing in port, where are we going, and with whom. What time do you plan on returning? What steps will you take if things don’t happen as planned?
Gallivanting Souls cruiser tip: Always leave a copy of the itinerary with someone not traveling with you just in case.
You made an evacuation plan for at home and you should also have an evacuation plan on what you will do if something happens on board your cruise ship, and even at your resort.
What if there is a fire on the cruise ship? Do you know where to go? What will you do if you or your family members get separated? Have you discussed this with the entire family or group?
If you have children in the kids club and there’s an emergency, the kids’ staff will make sure all participants get to their muster stations. Have you made a plan on how you will find one another?
On each cruise, before the ship is allowed to leave, a safety drill is done. This is your rehearsal to know where to meet. Depending on ship and ship protocols, all passengers may go to their station and find their lifeboats. When this muster is done, make sure to be an example for your children and pay attention. Talk to them about what is going on or what just happened and how you as a family will handle any emergencies like this that could arise.
If traveling with children that are old enough to come and go as they please, either leave the kids club or have free reign on the ship, have the conversation before you leave on your trip with rules of where, when, and who they can be with. What time are they expected back in the room? How to act when they are without adult supervision.
Parents, always request a duplicate door key for your kid’s rooms upon check-in from guest services.
For keeping in contact during the day, a whiteboard in your room or Post-It Notes and a pen might be a good idea to keep up with each others. You might also opt to purchase the chat feature on Carnival, but know that it might not work all the time, so have a backup plan.
On Princess ships, the Medallion App is available. Each cruise line has its options. Check the website for details.
Your plan should include:
A place to meet
Have a designated meeting spot onboard. It can simply be a spot that you like to hang out at. Cruise ships are huge places packed with people.
Don’t assume members of your group will know what to do or where to meet in an emergency. Make the plan ahead of time, and not on the fly.
On a recent family cruise, the family knew that for lunch no matter which food joint I choose, I liked to sit on deck ten near the BBQ. They could find me there. I also knew that after nine in the evening my adult sons enjoy sitting at the back of the ship on the Lido deck playing card games.
Create a meet-up place, this will give peace of mind in the crowded environment. Everyone should know where the meeting place is.
Our meeting place for any reason will be on deck (fill in the blank) near a (certain landmark.)
Have an evacuation plan
After seeing active shooter situations evolve on the news and participating in Active Shooter training, I will never go anywhere in public and feel the same.
Am I afraid or paranoid? No. I just put things into perspective. Traveling on cruise ships or any other place where large numbers of people come together gives bad people the opportunity to do terrible things.
So now, no matter if I am on a cruise ship, at the mall, or in a movie theater. I always survey my surroundings. Next time you go anywhere, look around and think:
- Where are the exits?
- How would I get out of that room or area if needed to?
Emergencies do happen on cruise ships, hotels, and theme parks.
One of the worst emergencies is fire. Would you know what to do if there were a fire on the ship?
Not that long ago, the MSC Lyrica caught fire while in the port of Corfu. Thankfully, there were no passengers on board. See the ship on fire here:
https://youtu.be/bZjDqj1AkAU
According to Cruise Industry news, 51 crew members were on board and no injuries were reported. Find out more at https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24553-msc-lirica-fire-put-out-minimal-damage.html
Recently, while in port at Grand Turk, a fire broke out in the smokestack or whale tale. The crew took swift action and put the fire out quickly. All passengers were evacuated and no persons were harmed, all because the crew had a plan on what to do if a disaster like a fire were to happen. You might still be thinking, I’m just a passenger, and I’m here for a good time. Everyone has a job, even as a guest on a cruise vacation.
How can I prepare for emergencies on the cruise ship?
- Go to the emergency briefing as instructed.
- Muster drills may be virtual when cruising resumes. We don’t know yet. On some cruise lines, a muster drill is held in large rooms such as the dining room, lounges, or even on your stateroom television or smart device. No matter how to safely drill is taught you should:
- Check your stateroom closet for your life jackets. Make sure there is the correct number of emergency life jackets for each member staying in this stateroom. If you are traveling with an infant or small child, check with your room steward to make sure you have the proper size. If you are a person of size, request a PFD that will fit you as well.
- Go to your muster station in person.
- Know where the location is. Can you find your muster station later in the week from any location on the ship? Your stateroom key card should be labeled with your muster station number. This information is also listed on the back of the stateroom door.
- While at the emergency briefing, pay attention to instructions.
- Stay quiet and off your phone, even if this is the 99th time you have heard this presentation. It is someone else’s first time hearing this important information. You might need this information.
- In my experience, Muster Drills on Carnival, Princess, and MSC have taken fifteen to thirty minutes, once everyone is present. All passengers must attend and be checked in. You cannot opt out of this emergency presentation. All bars and food outlets will be closed. Do not try and hide somewhere to get out of it. If you or a member of your family has special needs or needs additional assistance, please notify guest services at embarkation. They may have other options for you to participate.
- Check out the informational briefings on your stateroom television. While flipping through the channels you will see a safety channel that will repeat all the information. This will give important information that you may not know or need to know.
Important Travel Documents
Travel Documents
The documents you choose to travel with may vary. In some instances, you might opt to travel with just your driver’s license and birth certificate. This is permitted when you are starting and ending your cruise at the same port, but visiting a foreign country (port) on Closed-loop cruises. If you are traveling on a repositioning cruise or a one-way cruise, a passport will be necessary. Also, if someone gets hurt or something happens to the ship and the cruise is unable to continue, a birth certificate may not get you home.
I would strongly encourage all travelers to make sure to travel with a Passport. If anything happens and you don’t make it back to the ship your only option may be flying home and since the tragedy of 911, it has become very difficult with a driver’s license only. However, if you are traveling with a passport, this will be much easier.
Smart traveler tip:
Before your travels begin, make a copy of your travel identification and your credit cards.
Stash a copy of these documents in a pocket of your bag or the bottom of your suitcase, email a copy to yourself or a friend who is not traveling with you, or save it to a cloud service such as Google Docs or Dropbox.
Why? If anything were to happen to your documents, (lost or stolen) at least you would have the information to be able to get through Customs or TSA with less hassle. Keep copies of both sides of credit cards in case of loss or theft.
Once you are allowed to go to your stateroom usually after 130 PM, the first thing you should do is to put these items in the safe.
If anything happens and you don’t make it back to the ship before all aboard time, ship security will come to your room and attempt to locate these items and leave with the port agent.
Keep a copy of your travel insurance emergency contacts either in your wallet or the safe where you can easily find them later if needed.
Travel Insurance
What is travel insurance?
Travel insurance is elective insurance that you purchase in case of travel emergencies. You can purchase travel insurance through your cruise line, travel advisor, or from a third party. It’s up to you to decide if you want it or not. It’s not mandatory, but in a travel crisis, you will be glad that you have it.
What does travel insurance cover?
Travel insurance can cover any or all of the following depending on the policy you elected to purchase and might include:
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption
- Trip delays
- Lost or delayed baggage
- Missed connections
- Medical and Dental costs
- Accidental death
- Rental car coverage
- Trip Cancelation for any reason
According to Alliance Travel Insurance some important things you should know about travel insurance:
- [Travel insurance]Benefits vary by plan. It’s important to choose a plan that fits your needs, your budget, and your travel plans…
- Travel insurance can’t cover every possible situation…It covers the specific situations, events, and losses included in your plan documents, and only under the conditions we describe.
- Travel insurance is designed to cover unforeseeable events— not things you could easily see coming, or things within your control. If, for example, you wait to buy insurance for your beach trip until after a named hurricane is racing toward your destination, your losses wouldn’t be covered.
- In some cases, you may be able to purchase travel insurance just before you leave on your trip. You won’t be eligible for the cancellation for any reason, but your trip can still be covered, even when purchasing at the last minute. Check with your travel advisor or travel insurance vendor for details.
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Travel first aid kit
A first aid kit with all essential items that will get you by for now is very important. Blisters happen, but they don’t require a visit to the ship’s doctor. Maybe you stumbled and scraped your shin or bumped your knee? A bandage is all you need, not a visit to the medical center.
Make sure to have a first aid kit put together and carry it with you in your day bag when you get off the ship during a port day. Your DIY first aid kit may come in handy. There have been times when we have been on tours and other guests on our tour need a bandaid or a couple of Tylenol. I’m happy to help them out.
Don’t be caught off-guard. Be prepared with your ship’s emergency kit.
What to pack in a travel first aid kit
It is very easy to make a DIY first aid kit. Just grab assorted sizes of bandages. Cute bandages if you have junior sailors. A small roll of bandage tape can do wonders to keep bandages on or hold small wardrobe mishaps.
Throw in a small amount of a pain reliever such as Excedrin or Ibuprofen.
Add the items into a sandwich-sized zip bag, a pencil bag, or even a food storage container.
Next, add a label to the bag or container either by writing directly on the bag with a permanent marker or applying a sticker or label.
It doesn’t have to be fancy. If using a premade store-bought first aid kit, add additional items you might need.
Make sure to check the condition or expiration date of items you will be adding to your travel first aid kit if you are reusing it. Bandages, tape, and medications all degrade or expire over time. Some medications can even become toxic after time.
Making a DIY first aid kit
- Options for putting together your first aid kit will differ depending on how many people you are taking care of. You could just purchase a pre-made first aid kit, but it might not be exactly what you or your family needs.
- However, a store-bought first aid kit (such as this one available on Amazon) might be a good place to start and add on items depending on your needs. I cannot stress this enough, you don’t need enough supplies to last a month, just enough to last until the next store on land.
What sort of first aid situations should I prepare for?
Minor scrapes, cuts, burns, and blisters will be the most common kinds of first aid you will likely encounter on your cruise vacation. First aid for families might be different than adults need.
If you will be doing lots of walking or breaking in new shoes, you might add moleskin and a small pair of scissors. Anti-chafing cream might also be helpful.
When flying, pack scissors in your checked bag to comply with TSA. Not sure what you can pack in a carry-on bag or checked luggage. Do your research at the TSA website
Bring a zip bag with assorted sizes of bandages. Add in a couple of small gauze pads, antibiotic ointment, and first aid cleansing or alcohol pads. A small roll of bandage tape, a few safety pins, and a single-use bottle of super glue. Look for the tiny single-use
Also, bring a few empty zip bags. They can be used as instant ice packs. What I like to do is have a smaller zip bag with the ice inside placed inside a larger zip bag to prevent leaking.
Wrap a small towel or cloth around your ice pack so that you don’t damage your skin. When ice melts, dump out the water, empty it, and save it for future use.
- If you found this article helpful, pin it for later!
What’s the difference between a first aid kit and an emergency kit?
A first aid kit will be for treating minor medical injuries, cuts, wounds, or sudden illnesses. Your medical kit should contain a limited number of bandages, ointments, and cleaning wipes and could also contain some of your pharmacy essentials.
A travel emergency kit on the other hand is used to provide initial use in any emergency, medical or non-medical situation. In this case, while traveling, by cruise ship, or on a land vacation, your emergency might be quite trivial, but an emergency nonetheless. Your cruise first aid kit is just one part of your travel emergency kit.
Tips to maintain health and wellness while traveling
- Wash your hands often.
- When out and you can’t wash your hands use alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wipes.
- Try not to touch everything, and wash your hands.
- Only use the restroom facilities inside your stateroom when at all possible.
- Social distance and follow rules on wearing your mask as necessary.
- If you encounter anyone who seems sick or coughing, go the other direction.
- Report sickness as required.
- Use common sense.
- Eat and drink normally and not overdo it.
- Get enough rest.
- Protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays by wearing protective clothing and applying sunscreen regularly.
- Stay well hydrated.
- Be mindful of your surroundings.
- Have an emergency plan.
Being prepared doesn’t just mean making a list or a bunch of things. Being prepared means knowing what to do with those things, or what to do if something happens. While traveling you are in a huge public setting. Sometimes things happen. Sometimes things go south.
As a child, my Mom always used to remind me of this quote.
Proper preparation prevents piss poor performance.
Mom didn’t make this up. It’s an old military saying. You might know this other saying. It’s easier to remember and I learned it while volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America. You don’t need to be in the military or even be a Boy Scout to be prepared or to benefit from emergency preparedness. It’s simple and just two words.
The Boy Scout Motto: Be prepared
Boy Scouts of America
Essential medications
Your mini pharmacy bag could play a part in helping you feel better when you are under the weather. This pharmacy kit should contain any prescribed medications you normally take and essential over-the-counter medication items that you may need to feel better.
Good to know: When traveling with prescription medications, always keep them with you in your carry-on bag. Never check prescription medications with others in your checked luggage. Treat prescription medication as valuables. These could be your lifeline.
You wouldn’t check your computer or camera inside your luggage. Don’t check lifesaving prescriptions.
Good to know:
If you happen to be at the airport and are asked to gate check your carry-on, take a few moments and remove prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Even though you are only gate-checking the bag, you never know if your bag could be lost or stolen. Bags are mishandled every day and you would be without your medications. Your medications could be your lifeline.
Get tips on handling your luggage at the airport including what to do if your bag gets lost.
Always carry enough medication for the number of days you will be gone and then some if possible. Remember to refill prescription medications before leaving on your trip and have more than enough to get you by.
If you are diabetic or use needles for any medical reason, sharps containers are available for the stateroom. Contact Guest Access (Carnival) and they will provide you with this at no charge. Your stateroom attendant might even be able to get one for your room if you ask.
Sharps disposal is also in the public restrooms around the ship. For other medical regards check the website https://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/special-needs/diabetes-medicine-storage.aspx
Why do I need a Pharmacy Essentials kit?
Any place with people in confined spaces equals opportunities to get sick. Purchasing medications at the ship store is an expensive way to get your medications. Also, keep in mind that selection in the gift shop will be limited.
The most common illnesses that you should plan for in your DIY pharmacy bag are common cold, flu, stomach issues, sunburn, pain, seasickness, cuts, burns, bites, and blisters.
Cold, flu, and allergy medications
How much medicine should I bring? Should I pack over-the-counter or prescribed medications?
Depending on how many people you are caring for, you might need just a couple of cold pills or an entire bottle of cough medicine. You will need to decide if you can get by with over-the-counter (OTC) or need to get prescription medications.
During our cruise vacation to the Western Caribbean, I found myself with bronchitis and a sinus infection. I have had these very symptoms before and knew what medications I needed to combat my illness.
While in the port of Roatán, I was able to go to a local Pharmacia (pharmacy) and ask for the specific medication that I needed.
It helped that I could speak minimal Spanish, and tell the pharmacist the generic drug name, and the dosing of the medication.
Keep in mind your junior cruisers and their needs. Babies and toddlers need different medicines both in strength and preparation. Don’t bring adult medications and think they will do for your toddler. You also wouldn’t want to depend on junior’s baby Tylenol to take away your back pain. Remember to carry both cold and pain reducers if you are traveling with a baby or toddler.
Don’t forget:
Medicine spoons or droppers to measure the correct dosage of the medication for children and babies. Vacation is not the time to guess if you gave Suzy too much cold medicine and she sleeps for the entire week.
For two adults traveling together, bring enough cold medicine to last at least 3 days. Pack these in small, labeled zip bags.
Consider purchasing small bottles of over-the-counter medications from a place like a dollar store. There, bottles will be small and already labeled. Just make sure to check the expiration dates on bottles if you go this route.
Bring medications that can take care of more than one problem. For double-duty to cover allergies and trouble falling asleep, Benadryl can be used. Consult the bottle for dosages.
If you take a daily allergy or any medication every day, bring enough for the length of time you plan to be gone, and potentially a week or two more than you think you will need.
It might also be a smart idea to bring a copy of your written prescription either in your bag or available on your cloud. If an emergency arises, you will be able to access your prescriptions and potentially not have to see a doctor either at the ship medical facility or in a foreign port of call.
This past year when many cruisers were quarantined onboard their cruise ships for weeks after they were scheduled to go home due to COVID-19, many were without their much-needed prescriptions.
The cruise lines stepped in to help passengers get their required meds, but imagine the stress that could have been avoided if only everyone brought more than what they needed.
Pain relief
Traveling or being on a cruise, you might be doing more activity than normal, so don’t be surprised when you experience more pain than normal. Some pains might be from overdoing activity or alcohol, normal headaches, migraine headaches, muscle aches, and even sunburn.
There are many over-the-counter medications to choose from. Only you know your body and what works for you.
Where I prefer to take Excedrin for minor headaches, and Ibuprofen for body aches, you might prefer to take Naproxen or Tylenol.
If you suffer from chronic pains, you might have prescription medications, creams, or patches. If you are bringing prescription pain killers such as Schedule 2 or 3 drugs, it is a good idea to bring these in their original labeled bottles. You might even bring a copy of the prescription in case you get hassled by customs or immigration.
Be careful mixing pain medications with alcohol. Read packages and warnings before mixing pain medications and alcohol.
Don’t bring full-size bottles unless you are packing for multiple people. If you are a migraine sufferer, bring more than you normally use or think that you will use.
If you don’t want to bring a large bottle of your prescription medications, speak to your pharmacy and see if they can label a smaller container for you for a vacation to add to your pharmacy essential bag.
You can also carefully remove the label from the bottle and attach it to a zip bag with the desired amount of RXs inside.
If you suffer from migraines and are wondering about how to travel successfully with migraine, check out Traveling with chronic migraine
Tummy troubles
Tummy-related problems are probably the most common ailment on a vacation. You overeat, eat strange foods, and eat late. Acid indigestion, heartburn, upset stomach, diarrhea.
Sounds like a commercial, but cruising and traveling in general, one tends to eat more food and drink including foods that your body doesn’t like, causing tummy trouble.
What kinds of over-the-counter meds do you normally take for these problems? Imodium, Alka-seltzer, and Tums all help that rumble in your tummy. Just make sure you have something to settle your stomach in your pharmacy kit for emergencies.
Motion Sickness
Motion sickness or seasickness, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness are common side effects of travel. Travel sickness happens when traveling by car, bus, and train. Airsickness when flying on airplanes and seasickness when traveling on boats or ships and sometimes even walking on a dock near the water.
What causes this motion sickness? Any unusual movement that confuses our brains can cause motion sickness.
- When you travel in a car on windy roads
- Unexpected bumps or turbulence on airplanes.
- Rough seas on boats and ships.
Will I get motion sickness or seasickness every time I go on a cruise ship? Usually, rough seas tend to be culprits.
These symptoms can be reduced by doing research and choosing the best location for your stateroom, using preventative over-the-counter medications, taking medications as soon as you get the warning you are being bothered, and doing something about it.
Do your research. Some routes that cruises take are just prone to be rough sailing. We have been on the Mexican Riveria cruise from both Los Angeles and San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. Each time, especially on the return trip, the ship has felt a lot of motion. Part of the problem is that the ship is trying to travel as fast as it can and fight the current at the same time.
Also, some areas tend to be rougher seas at certain times of the year.
Is there any help?
One common over-the-counter medication that can help combat seasickness is Meclizine or Bonnie. Meclizine can be bought at many big box stores and pharmacy counters. The average price is less than $10 for 100 pills. Just ask for “travel sickness pills”. This over-the-counter sea sick medicine is normally found in two strengths and is chewable.
I begin taking one chewable pill before going to bed the night before we travel, and continue to take one each night before bed.
Some motion sickness medications have a side effect of drowsiness, I prefer to have that when I am sleeping.
Even if you never have suffered from seasickness, it is a good idea to always have something for motion sickness in your emergency kit. There are even non-drug cures that you can try.
Can foods calm symptoms of seasickness?
Many foods are known to help calm seasickness. Ginger is said to help many people. Ginger Ale is an old standby. Other options to try are dried ginger or ginger candies, or even chewing on small bits of fresh ginger.
Saltine crackers also work for some people. If you are feeling seasickness hit you suddenly, ask your room steward or dining team what they recommend. Remember, they deal with that churning feeling week in and out.
Green apples were recommended to us by one room steward we had and our Dining team recommended chamomile tea. If you want to eat something that will taste the same coming up as it went down, I am told that is pineapple.
What about the patch for motion sickness?
There are over-the-counter patches available on Amazon and patches prescribed by a doctor called Scopolamine Transdermal patches.
Many cruise passengers use these patches for motion sickness. Be sure to discuss with your doctor if this or any other medications are a good fit for you. I would not use them as my research has shown that these patches have too many unwanted side effects.
With any medication for you or a child consult with a licensed medical provider before taking any over-the-counter travel sickness medication or herbal remedy. Some remedies might have adverse effects or need particular dosing for age or weight or not be suitable for those with underlying problems.
To find out more about motion sickness and other options for treating it check out https://www.montavit.com/en/areas-therapy/motion-sickness
Experiencing seasickness on land
A small percentage of people suffer from Mal debarquement syndrome (MdDs). This is when you leave the ship to dry land and still feel the rocking sensation. This rocking sensation can go on for several days.
In our experience, if this happens, we just continue to take the travel sickness pills for two or three more days until the body figures it out again that he is on dry land. If it continues for more than a few days, seek medical advice.
Non-medication options for dealing with seasickness
Other options for motion sickness on board that you can try are Sea-Bands Wristbands. These bands come in pairs and are meant to be worn one on each wrist. There are two in the package.
This is not a family pack. It’s not to share with others. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen cruise passengers wearing just one Sea-Band and then complain that the bands do not work.
These bands and other brands can be bought in major box stores, pharmacies, and online. I cannot recommend or deny these. I tried wearing them and they just felt uncomfortably tight on my wrists. You can, however, wear them twenty-four hours a day as needed and there are no ill side effects as from medications.
Other uses for your emergency kit
Not all emergencies involve the need for medicine or bandaids.
Wardrobe malfunctions
You want to look your best on Elegant Nights or out on the beach in that bikini. What happens if your hem comes loose on your pants or your button pops off mid-way through dinner or worse?
No, this is not a Super Bowl Halftime Show, but wardrobe malfunctions are one of the biggest emergencies you might encounter on a cruise vacation. Hems on pants fail. Buttons pop off. Seams blow out. Stains happen. Flip flops fail. Bathing suit straps break.
With just a bit of preparation, you can be ready for these wardrobe fails to not ruin your night. In a pinch, the hem of your pants can be held up with a simple piece of tape or safety pins.
Buttons can be sewn back on by either carrying a sewing kit or asking your room steward for one and doing a quick sew job.
Need a quick how-to on how to sew on a button? https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/sewing-on-a-button/
- Ate too much and now your jeans or khaki pants don’t fit? Not to worry. In a pinch, find a rubber band or hair band, and thread it through the buttonhole. Next, take the remaining loop and attach it around the button. Finally, make sure your shirt is long enough to cover the waist of your pants. The rubber band will hold your pants closed enough to make it through the wardrobe emergency. You shouldn’t be too uncomfortable.
- Blew out your tennis shoe and don’t have a replacement? Duck tape. Flip flop flopped? If you can find a plastic bread tie, you can tape it to the bottom and it will hold hopefully until you can either make it to a store in port or down to the ship’s store in a pinch. Or you can just tape the bottom.
There are so many uses for tape. Am I telling you to bring an entire roll of duck tape? No, but duck tape is great to bring if you have it.
Here’s how I carry a small amount: Since I always bring a marker or pen, I take a length of duck tape out and wrap it tightly around, a pen, marker, or pencil. Wrap it high enough that you can still use the writing utensil. By wrapping it on itself, you are essentially making a new roll of tape. Don’t get carried away, just enough for an emergency!
- Did your bra strap or bathing suit top break? Hopefully, you brought a few safety pins. This is an easy fix. Just pin or tie it in a knot.
- Stained your shirt at dinner? As soon as you get back to your stateroom, remove the shirt and squirt some of the body wash or shampoo from the shower, dab it on the stain and wash it out in the sink.
There is a line to hang dry your clothes inside the shower on both Carnival and Princess ships. This is what it is there for. Just pull the line away from the wall and insert it into the slot on the other wall.
You can also hang wet items on hangers and hang them around your stateroom to dry. It’s okay to hang in the overhang near the wall but never hang from a sprinkler in the ceiling.
With a little bit of preparation and ingenuity, small wardrobe malfunctions will not ruin your day!
Electronic issues
Cell phone dead or your computer won’t turn on?
Issues with your electronics might feel like the end of the world. Plan and bring an extra charge cord in case one fails or is lost. Bring a power bank or travel battery for extra battery life while in port. Remember to bring a plug splitter to easily make one outlet into three.
Never plug in your cell phone or camera and leave the item unattended in public areas. Theft even happens on vacation.
Don’t forget extra batteries or rechargeable batteries and a charger for that camera. Make sure to put your cell phone in airplane mode as soon as you board to avoid getting a huge cell phone bill.
Good to know:
When you stop at a port of call for your port day, you leave the safety of the ship. You need to return to the ship at a set time. Do not depend on keeping time with your cell phone in a port. Doing this could be the worst emergency of your travels and get you left behind. Ship time is not necessarily the same as port time and if you allow your smartphone to connect to wifi, it will update to the current port time.
People have been known to get left behind or become peer runners by depending on their smartphones.
Please: don’t become a pier runner. This can be expensive and embarrassing.
Check out this video of people that almost missed a Norweigan ship
PIER RUNNER CHAMPIONSHIP: BERMUDA! (Norwegian Escape)
Loss of belongings, identification, or getting lost
Losing your identification, money, car or house keys, and credit cards can be an expensive emergency. Prepare ahead of time. Make plans ahead of time.
If you drive to the port and have car keys or house keys, decide on exactly where you will be leaving the keys and tell your travel buddy where you are keeping them. Set a reminder with Google if you use those features.
Are you hooking the keys on the loop in your blue backpack? Great. Maybe text yourself the location too, or take a quick photo of your keys and where you put them. just in case you both forget.
Next, as soon as you get to your room, get out your wallet and remove all of your credit cards and leave your travel documents (hopefully you are traveling with a passport) in the safe. You do not need to lock the safe.
If you are traveling with a buddy and have credit or debit cards that are tied to the same accounts, one of you should put your card in the safe and leave it there until you disembark. The same goes for money. Only carry the amount of money you estimate you will need on that day.
Most cruise ships use a cashless method. Except for tips, every charge that is made onboard should be on your room ship key card. You can choose to carry cash for the casino instead of adding charges to your onboard account.
Ports of call are another story. For the most part, you want to use cash while you are in port. Only use your credit cards at large, stand-alone locations like grocery stores, and restaurants. Bring cash or prepay for your tours. Research before you leave on your trip to know if your credit card charges a foreign transaction fee. If you have the choice to use a debit card or credit card in a foreign destination, always use the credit card. Credit cards have added protection. See your credit card for details.
You might try the envelope method, a method where you divide your money by each day or activity. All days besides the day you are on are kept stored in your room safe. All envelopes are labeled with the day or activity and the amount of cash inside.
On the day you will be using them such as doing an independent tour, you take the envelope that has the money for the tour and another envelope that has spending money. Next, divide the amounts as even as possible between you and your travel partner. If traveling alone, hide the money in more than one place.
One envelope might be in a pants pocket and the other is in your port bag or backpack. Never put all your eggs in one basket. If your bag ends up getting stolen or your wallet lost, hopefully, all your money is not gone at the same time. Maybe the day’s money is gone, but the rest of your vacation spending money and credit cards are in your safe, resting safely in your stateroom.
What happens if my wallet is lost or stolen?
Wow! That’s a bummer. A travel emergency. Hopefully, you purchased Travel Insurance. Suppose you purchased travel insurance before your vacation. Then your travel insurance company is your go-to for assistance on everything from replacing your identification, and credit cards, to getting you through TSA. The card with your trip insurance emergency contact number should be kept with your important documents, easily accessed on the cloud, or via the internet or email.
If you followed my instruction on keeping your travel funds in the safe, then this won’t hit you so hard. Your emergency preparedness will pay off by still having some funds for the rest of your trip.
If your purse or wallet were stolen, It might be necessary to file a police report with local police. If you were not able to do this, stop and consult with guest services once on board. They can advise you of your next steps and help you call your travel insurance company for more help.
You purchased travel insurance, right?
Getting lost or missing the ship
I misplaced my ship
Before you exit the ship to go into port, make sure you know where to find the emergency phone number for the port contact. If you still prefer paper, the Fun Times (on Carnival) or ship newspaper should have this important information on it. If you are a digital person, this emergency contact information will be found in the ship App.
If by chance you are lost or late getting back to the ship, you can call the representative and they will assist you.
The job of the port contact is to help you locate and book a hotel, make travel arrangements either to the next port of call or back to your port of embarkation, and help you contact your travel insurance company. The ship will not come back for you.
Missing the ship will be expensive. There are no discounts or budget accommodations for cruisers that missed getting back to the ship in time.
If you are going off by yourself to explore the port area, don’t so blindly.
Probably the most important tip:
Make sure you have done the research and know where you are going and places to stay away from.
As you exit the ship make sure to pay attention to the time you need to be back on board. There will be a sign at the gangway alerting you to the all-aboard time and if you are at a tender port or water shuttle, the time of the last shuttle.
Find out if ship time and port time are the same. If you are not sure, ask before you walk away!
Very important:
I recommend all cruisers have an old-school watch(like this watch found on Amazon) that is not dependent on wifi and change the watch to ship time. If you still want to use your cell phone, turn off automatic time updates.
Most smarts phones default to pick up (change time to local) time automatically based on cellular WIFI connections.
How to turn off auto date and time on android?
You can easily turn these updates on or off which is especially helpful if you plan on using your smart device while on your cruise.
For most android devices you can turn this option off by opening your settings (the little gear symbol), scrolling down to System, tap date and time. At this screen, just toggle to off all the automatic buttons (see image below).
When you are done with your cruise, remember to go back and toggle back on these buttons. Changing the time on an iPhone may use similar steps. Please consult your phone’s directions or someone who owns an iPhone.
In an emergency where you find yourself temporarily lost, stop and ask for help. Most locals working near the port speak some English and hopefully, you know at least a few words in the local language. Check out 10 Words Every Traveler Should Learn
Always head back to the ship with more than enough time to spare. Never wait until the last minute. Near most ports, traffic can be a problem and the reason you get left behind quickly becomes an all-out emergency. If all aboard time is 4 PM, be back to the port area by no later than 3 PM. Really.
Oh, Ship! Am I prepared for:
Too much fun
- Drinking too much
- Losing track of time
- “Sampling” stuff
You can never have too much fun, right? Well, sorta.
Drinking too much. Sometimes, especially when on vacation, we drink too much and do stupid things. Maybe you got offered some local ‘smokes’ or other drugs. You made some bad decisions. Now what? You could end up arrested on the ship or in port. Under no circumstance should you bring back any drugs or drug parafanela to the ship or port area? There are police and military. They have drug dogs.
Becoming intoxicated could make you lose track of time and this becomes a travel emergency because you are having so much fun that you either don’t make it back to the ship in time and are left behind, or end up being a pier runner and the entire ship pokes fun at you.
Another way to have too much fun is to not plan of what might happen if you meet someone and hook up.
Are you prepared for the possibility of being *intimate* with a stranger or depending on a stranger to make sure you are protected, or if that protection has been in a wallet for five years?
Do yourself a favor so that you don’t have emergencies later and wonder about that night or wonder who is this person that I married or who is the father of my child? Please be safe.
What if I am left behind?
Before the ship leaves, they will attempt to contact you if you have listed your cell phone number. Several announcements will be made overhead. The ship’s horn will sound several long whistles. If you hear this and are not on the gangway getting back on the ship, call the port emergency phone contact as instructed earlier.
If the ship cannot reach you or your travel companions, then they go into your stateroom directly to your safe. Hopefully, you stored your travel documents, passport, extra money, and credit cards in the safe and your prescription medications are within sight.
If so, the staff will grab those items and give them to the port contact. Your room will be locked. I don’t believe they have time to pack up all of your belongings, just the important items mentioned.
You will then be left on your own and at your own cost to either make it to the next port of call or port of embarkation. Stranded.
In this case, let’s hope that you did purchase travel insurance and have a credit card to get you back to the ship or back home.
So what happens if you miss your ship? Brand Ambassador, John Heald answered a cruiser’s question on the Carnival Facebook page:
“When a guest is showing as not on board this is what happens:
First, the A Pass machine ( the machine on the gangway that used to go “ping” but has been replaced by a much faster eye pad) is checked to make sure who is not on board. Those names are then announced once through the regular ships PA system just to see if they are on board and maybe their card did not register.
Those names are then announced once through the regular ships PA system just to see if they are on board and maybe their card did not register.
Then if there is no answer 5 minutes after making the page a second announcement is made this time through the general emergency system. “ Would guest John Buffetslayer please contact the guest services desk immediately “ etc.
If a contact telephone number is listed the guest services manager would try and call to see if they can be contacted.
When there is no answer to the call or page preparations are made. A guest services representative accompanied by a security team member will check the cabin to make sure the guest is not there. They will then look through the cabin and see if they can find any passports and they will also use the one safe master key that’s on the ship to open the safe and retrieve the passports if in there.
If no passports are found then it is assumed that the guests have them or their official ID with them. If they are found they are given to the ship’s agent ( we have one in every port of call) so that they can be used to rejoin the ship in the next port or the home port of call.
So, if it is late and you hear those horns blowing and you find yourself If you are on the pier, do not walk slowly. Do not stop in another shop or grab another Margareta. You better run for the gangway. You are now a Pier Runner. If you are lucky, you will still make the boat.”
Woman stuff
Is this as weird to read as it is to talk about? Let’s just say this: if you are within the age that is visited monthly by “Aunt Flo” no matter what the date is when you normally have that visit, make sure and pack a few days of hygiene products.
Toss a couple in your day bag and maybe one in the bottom of your luggage. You never know. Mother Nature has a way of throwing a wrench at you when traveling.
Keep in mind if you have a wardrobe emergency and need to hand wash undergarments, this is an easy emergency to deal with, and that garments like this dry quickly.
Just like you are packing a few extra feminine hygiene products for yourself.
At the same time, if you have a baby or toddler who wears diapers or pull-on diapers, make sure to bring more than necessary. Toss one or two in the bottom of the diaper bag. Toss a few extra in the bottom of your suitcase. For good measure throw in a bag of extra wipes and an extra outfit.
Don’t forget that hand washing small items is an easy fix for mishaps both of woman and baby stains.
When you can’t see
Sometimes the power goes out in your cabin, or you just don’t want to wake up your travel companion by turning on the lights. A small travel-size LED flashlight is a great way to shed some light on the room.
Dirty glasses happen slot on a cruise, so bring a glasses cleaning kit. Speaking of glasses, sometimes the little tiny screw comes loose or falls out completely. For an emergency like this make sure to pack a glasses repair kit. These can be found all over including at the Dollar Store. Throw it in your port bag.
Do you wear contact lenses? Bring an extra pair just in case one of the lenses gets lost or ripped. Sometimes being out in the sun and sand your eyes just don’t want to get along with contacts. In a pinch hopefully, you have a backup pair of glasses to get by with. This type of travel emergency should not have to ruin your trip.
Final thoughts
When properly prepared, cruise ship and travel emergencies can be less traumatic and more of an inconvenience. You can save money and worry by bringing simple items in small quantities such as medications, bandages, and small rolls of tape and by bringing your own DIY travel first aid kit as part of your travel emergency kit.
Don’t forget to save important travel documents to the cloud or email and keep the actual documents in your room safe just in case you don’t make it back to the ship, and that you’ve purchased travel insurance. Your family first aid kit and pharmacy essentials will keep you feeling well in case of sickness and an extra charge cord will keep your electronics powered for as long as you need.
- ✓ Know the identification needed for your trip.
- ✓ Find out if the destination requires a visa
- ✓ Make copies of IDs
- ✓ Leave passports inside your room safe
Prepare ahead of time with a plan for what to do if things go wrong, and know what you will do if you get lost, delayed, or have too much fun. In a pinch duck tape is your friend. It’s not necessary to overpack to be prepared. By taking a bit of time before your trip to prepare, you can keep yourself out of dire straits or prevent a crisis before it even starts. Hopefully, you can say, Oh Ship! I got my emergency kit! Make your travel emergency kit and let me know what items do you put in your ship emergency kit.
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FAQs
Do cruise ships have first aid?
All major Cruise lines have medical centers staffed with licensed medical professionals such as nurses and doctors. The medical staff just like the rest of the staff onboard may be from counties around the globe. The first aid received in the ship’s medical center will be charged to your ship account and payment will be expected at the time of service. Most health insurance will not pay for charges in the ship’s medical clinic. You may be able to request something small like a bandaid from guest services or your room steward in a pinch.
What medicine should I bring in a cruise?
You should bring a variety of over-the-counter medicines like pain relievers, stomach remedies, and medicine for colds and allergies. Bring any prescription medications you normally take and bring more than you think you will need.
Is it okay to take a survival kit on a cruise?
You can make your own DIY travel emergency kit but you don’t need to bring large amounts of any items, nor do you need to bring dedicated survival items like shelter or dehydrated food items, or fuel. O Each ship has small emergency lifeboats or pods equipped with enough supplies to keep guests fed and hydrated for several days until help arrives.
Can I use my FSA or HSA account to purchase items for my cruise emergency bag?
Certain items can be purchased using your FSA or HSA savings. Consult your plan for details or FSAStore.com. Be sure to check for coupons!
Examples of eligible items include:
- Pre-made first aid kits
- OTC meds like Ibuprofen, Tylenol, and Aspirin. You will need your doctor to prescribe to have these purchases covered.
- Prescription Sun Screen. Like OTC pain relievers, you will need a prescription. Brands may be limited.
- Sea sickness wrist bands.
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