12 Items to Pack for a Cruise
12 Items to Pack for a Cruise Packing
Some savvy cruisers bring spare hangers for closets (or ask cabin stewards for extras). Another tip: Bring gallon-size sealable plastic bags, which are great for taking home damp bathing suits and preventing packed toiletries from leaking in your luggage.
Veteran cruiser and travel writer Kitty Bean Yancey rarely boards without her pashmina, used as deck chair leg warmer, nighttime stole and beach cover-up.
Packing for a Cruise in the COVID Era
12 tips to prepare for a safe and enjoyable voyage
aprott/Getty Images Cruise bookings are rebounding to record levels as COVID-19 and occupancy restrictions are loosening, and cruise veterans and newbies are packing their bags. What to stow in those bags depends on where you’re sailing, length of the trip, anticipated weather and the sort of ship you’ve booked. But there also are new considerations, due to the pandemic. On board, you might find that masks are required in some public areas or that testing, vaccinations and boosters may be mandatory, says Gene Sloan, senior cruise and travel reporter for The Points Guy website. “Nothing is uniform, line to line or even ship to ship, when it comes to COVID-related protocols,” he says. Even fully vaccinated passengers may be subject to testing. Vaccinated veteran cruiser Bill Harriman of Spring, Texas, sailed to South America in May on the 229-suite Seabourn Odyssey. The retired oil company exec and his wife had to test before embarking. Masks weren’t required but recommended, and he packed them. “It’s not back to cruising as it was, but not very restrictive,” he reports. “Though there is a lot of sanitation and hand cleaning.” If you’re ready to sail, heed these tips to maximize your experience.1 Look to the CDC for guidance
In late March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dropped its two-year-old advisory against cruising, leaving it up to passengers to assess the risks. In May, it dropped the percentage of unvaccinated passengers allowed per ship from 5% to 10%, though some lines require 100% vaccination. The Cruise Critic website lists . Another planning aid is the that rates vessels from green (no reported COVID cases) to red (high level of cases). Some cruise lines refuse to say how many passengers are infected, and COVID still is causing passengers to quarantine on board or before returning home. The CDC recommends buying trip insurance to cover health care overseas and trip cancellation.2 Pack masks br
On some other ships, both crew and passengers must mask up in public areas, but protocols are changing fast. Prior to departure, get an update from your cruise provider, including pre-trip testing time frames and requirements for shore excursions. So bring a mask, or a few, in case you need or want to wear one on the ship, on tenders ferrying passengers ashore or in port.3 Choose bags carefully
Getty Images The typical stateroom is too small to leave suitcases out in the open. Closets aren’t likely to fit all your bags, so bring luggage that can be stored under the bed. “Think longer rather than wider,” says Chris Gray Faust, managing editor of the Cruise Critic website. The under-bed bag can be used to store extra clothes or dirty laundry. Expandable luggage is a good option in case you need extra inches to bring back souvenirs. Consider a fanny pack or small backpack to keep hands free on shore excursions. A mesh or cloth tote bag can double as a beach or shopping bag, without taking up precious space. And an over-the-door shoe organizer can hold toiletries and cosmetics in the bathroom, making up for cramped counter space in standard cabins.Some savvy cruisers bring spare hangers for closets (or ask cabin stewards for extras). Another tip: Bring gallon-size sealable plastic bags, which are great for taking home damp bathing suits and preventing packed toiletries from leaking in your luggage.
4 Coordinate your wardrobe so you can pack light
“People tend to overpack,” Gray Faust says. “We’re always saying, ‘Scale back.’ ” She suggests planning shore excursions before you leave home so that you’ll bring appropriate gear for those activities. If formal attire isn’t mandated on your cruise, you can get by with more casual evening wear. And check whether your ship has a laundromat. If so, you can pack fewer items. Rely on wrinkle-free fabrics, since staterooms aren’t equipped with irons for safety reasons and you aren’t supposed to bring one aboard. Laundromats may have irons, and you can pay to have items cleaned or pressed. Getty Images5 Be shoe smart
Comfortable footwear for excursions and walking around the ship is essential. (Traversing mega ships can make getting in your daily steps a snap.) Women do not need more than one or two pairs of heels or evening flats. Flip-flops serve as great slippers or poolside wear. Rubber water shoes can be helpful if you don’t want to cut your feet in rocky swimming areas or on coral reefs.6 Don t forget sunscreen and medication
You’ll probably need more than you think, so pack a hat with a brim, sunglasses, sunscreen and a sunburn remedy for warm-weather cruising. Bug spray is a good idea for some shore outings. Bring seasickness patches if you need them and over-the-counter medication for possible digestive problems. It doesn’t hurt to pack a prescription drug in case of serious gastric issues, if your doctor agrees. And while ships tend to have plenty of dispensers with these days, it’s a good idea to carry your own bottle, as well as wipes. Use wipes on the TV remote or cabin surfaces. Sanitizers are cheaper if you buy them at a drugstore before your trip rather than on the ship or in port.7 Bring binoculars and other handy items
You’ll probably float past spectacular scenery. Why not enjoy a close-up view? Other useful items to consider are lanyards to hold cards used as door keys and onboard IDs, a waterproof pouch for your smartphone on beach days, and magnets to add a fun, personalized touch if your door is metal. Some savvy cruisers bring a refillable water bottle and insulated coffee cup with a lid to get their caffeine jolt at the buffet, and then carry the cup on their rambles around the ship.8 Be prepared to power up
Ask if you’ll need adapters. Most cruise staterooms have plugs to accommodate American electronics, but check with non-U.S. cruise lines to see if adapters are needed. People with multiple electronic gadgets pack a power strip. Don’t forget phone chargers and perhaps a portable one to use ashore. Know that your phone probably won’t get a signal while at sea and calls are pricey, so put it in airplane mode. Computer time can be costly on the ship, so consider buying a package from the cruise line.9 Download the cruise line s app
Free apps such as and allow you to chat with fellow passengers in addition to perusing deck plans, schedules and menus, and researching and booking shore outings. In the era of “touchless” everything, apps — if the ship offers access to one — are taking on greater importance. And they can be used in airplane mode at no charge.10 If you want to bring booze check the cruise line s policy
The ship likely will forbid you from — or limit — bringing on beer, hard liquor or even bottles of water, so that it can sell you drinks. Sometimes you can board with a small amount of beer, soda, water or a bottle or two of wine or champagne. You’ll probably pay a corkage fee if you drink it in the dining room.11 Reserve a wheelchair or scooter beforehand
While most ships allow you to bring your own, some travelers opt for assistance getting around the vessel or port. Your cruise line may loan or rent assistive devices, and companies such as (888-441-7575) or (800-513-4515) can outfit you. The newer and larger ships offer the best-designed cabins for people with disabilities, according to The Points Guy website. If you can’t book an ADA-compliant stateroom, make sure a wheelchair can fit through your cabin door.12 Keep important documents in your carry-ons
You’ll surrender large bags before boarding, so keep your passport, photo ID and COVID vaccination card close at hand. It’s a good idea to have photos of those documents on your phone just in case. Also keep handy anything you might want to use soon after you board (a bathing suit or change of clothes), along with prescription medication and sunscreen. Sometimes it takes hours for larger luggage to reach your stateroom. Editor's note: This article was originally published on February 14, 2019. It's been updated to reflect new information.Veteran cruiser and travel writer Kitty Bean Yancey rarely boards without her pashmina, used as deck chair leg warmer, nighttime stole and beach cover-up.