The ONE Thing That Could Ruin Your Cruise (And How to Fix It)
Don’t Forget These Essentials for Your Cruise Vacation
As you prepare for your upcoming cruise vacation, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and overlook some essential items. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip, here’s a list of easily forgotten items:
Documents and Essentials
Passport and Visa (if required): These are crucial for international travel. Make sure you are taking your current passport and it has at least 6 months before the expiration date.
Cruise Documents: Keep your cruise tickets, boarding passes, and other relevant documents organized. If you are on a Virgin Voyage, this information will need to be entered into the Virgin app. Depending on your cruise line, you may also be required to upload your documents in advance to make your check-in go faster.
Driver’s License: A valid ID is often required for various activities and in many places, you can leave the ship without taking your passport as long as you have a national ID.
Travel Insurance: Protect yourself from unexpected events. We like to keep a copy of our travel insurance info in our cloud. If we lose our documents and our phones we still can get documents if we can find a computer to use at a local hotel.
Health and Wellness
Medication: Pack all necessary medications, including prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications. Taking an extra day or two of medication can be a good idea in case your return home is delayed. General over-the-counter medications that you might need are also a good idea to take with you. I always take meds for headaches, tummy issues, and allergy meds. You should take whatever you and your family might typically need. There are many travel-size pill organizers for medications, no need to bring your large bottle from home. While you can get things while you travel, not only will meds on the ship be expensive but the ship shops are not always open.
Sunscreen: Shield your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Since we typically arrive a day before we sail we like to use that as an excuse to go to a local store near the hotel where we are staying so we can get a fresh bottle/can of sunscreen. That way we are not restricted to travel-size bottles since we often just take carry-on luggage for our cruises. However, if you are traveling on embarkation day, purchasing sunscreen, or anything for that matter, on the ship will be more expensive than shopping at your local stores.
Insect Repellent: Protect yourself from pesky bugs, especially in tropical destinations.
Motion Sickness Medication: If you’re prone to seasickness, be prepared!
First Aid Kit: A basic first aid kit can be handy for minor injuries. I try to bring an assortment of bandages in case of injury. Which, for me, are most likely blisters from shoes that were not as broken in as I had thought they were.
Electronics and Gadgets
Phone and other Electronic Chargers: Don’t forget to pack your phone charger and any necessary adapters. After being unable to use my Fitbit watch I ended up purchasing an extra charger that I could keep in my travel gear. Take an inventory of your electronics and even things that might use a battery and put it on your travel list to be sure you don’t forget.
Power Bank: A portable charger can be a lifesaver, especially if you’re using your phone for navigation or capturing memories.
Underwater Camera: If you plan on snorkeling or diving, a waterproof camera like a GoPro is a must-have. Or one of the popular plastic covers for your phone that serves as a lanyard and a way to keep your phone dry but still usable.
Headphones: Enjoy your favorite music or movies without disturbing others. I recommend getting an anti-loss strap lanyard. One of the flight attendants I follow says they find lost earbuds often after a flight, so hook those earbuds to yourself!
Comfort and Convenience
Reusable Water Bottle: Stay hydrated and reduce plastic waste. I like to keep room in my suitcase so that I can purchase one while on the ship as a souvenir that will remind me of my trip throughout the year.
Earplugs and Eye Mask: Ensure a good night’s sleep, especially if you’re sharing a cabin.
Comfortable Walking Shoes: Explore your destinations comfortably.
Beach Towel if not provided by your cruise line: Relax by the pool or beach.
Hat and Sunglasses: Protect yourself from the sun.
Items you need to use the day you travel: Be sure to add anything that you might need to use the day you are traveling so that you don’t forget that item the day you leave.
These are just the most common list of forgotten items, long before you leave, take stock of the things you use daily and if you have any special equipment like a C-Pap and extension cord, a special charger for your fitness watch, etc. By remembering these essential items, you can make the most of your cruise vacation and avoid any unnecessary stress. Bon voyage!
