10 Things to Pack for a Cruise Vacation

Packing for a cruise is a little bit different than packing for flights or train trips. Although many of the packing tips that normally help you will still be useful on a cruise vacation, there are some specific things that you need to make sure to pack for a cruise. Following you will find a handy list of ten of those items that can serve as the basis of your own cruise packing checklist.

1. All of your important documents. Many cruise vacations take you to one or more international destinations. For that reason it is more important than ever to make sure that you have all of your important documents with you. These documents include:
   • • Cruise documents / itinerary / tickets
     • Passports, ID and required visas
     • Proof of citizenship (if required, check with your cruise line)
     • Health insurance card, medical history list, prescription list
     • Auto insurance card in case you rent a car when the cruise docks
     • Emergency numbers including cruise information and consulate / embassy information for your destinations
2. Medications for motion sickness. Many people do experience some problems with motion sickness when they are on a cruise. You should meet with your doctor before a cruise to get medications for motion sickness including anti-nausea medication.
3. Layers of clothing. The weather on a cruise can change a lot depending on the location, wind, etc. It is important to pack layers of clothing so that you can always be comfortable during the trip. This includes packing a lightweight rain jacket just in case you encounter some rainy days during the vacation. Note that you should have a variety of different types of clothing including everything from workout clothes to formal attire.
4. Swimsuit. Almost everyone packs a swimsuit for their cruise vacation although this can vary depending upon your destination. Note that it may be smart to pack at least one extra swimsuit so that you have one to wear while the other is drying out. You may also want to pack a cover-up so that you can comfortably wear the swimsuit to cruise dining areas.
5. Snorkel equipment, boogie board, wetsuit, etc. Many cruise vacations provide you with the opportunity to enjoy water activities such as snorkeling during the trip. In most cases, the equipment that you need will be provided on the cruise ship or at the areas where the boat docks. However, you should check into this before you leave and bring any extra equipment you want that is not provided.
6. Camera. You will get to see things during your cruise vacation that you may never get to see again in your life. For example, you may see glaciers, sunsets over huge expanses of water and views of city skylines as you approach destinations where the cruise ship will dock. Airports start to look the same after awhile but every cruise ship represents new opportunities for seeing things that you have never seen before. Make sure that you pack a camera. A second underwater camera or waterproof camera may be a nice thing to have on the cruise ship as well.
7. Toiletries. Many people save themselves the trouble of packing toiletries for a trip because they figure that they can get what they need at their destination. It is different when you are on a cruise vacation. You don’t have the same range of convenience stores, supermarkets and drug stores that you would have at a typical vacation destination. Don’t worry; you will be able to get most of what you need on board the ship. However, the prices on cruise ships can be high so it is important to pack the main toiletries (shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc.) that you will need to use on a daily basis during the cruise vacation.
8. Reading material, writing utensils, etc. There are many activities to enjoy on a cruise ship. However, you will also have a lot of downtime during the cruise. You will have time to just sit still and think. You may want to bring a travel journal or a book series with you to enjoy during this plentiful downtime on the ship.
9. Travel alarm clock. Many people don’t realize how disorienting it can be to be on a cruise ship. You often lose track of time especially if your room doesn’t have a window. It helps to have a timepiece that shows you what time it is. You may want to bring along a travel alarm clock so that you can make it to specific events and dining times on the trip.
10. Power strip. The majority of cruise vacation rooms only have one outlet in them. This can be very inconvenient when you have multiple items that you need to plug in at the same time. Consider bringing a travel-friendly power strip on the cruise. Make sure that you check with your cruise line to ensure that you won’t draw too much power by using it.