Shopping

9 Essential Items You’re Forgetting to Pack for a Cruise

Don't be the person stuck without a power bank or rain jacket. 
What to pack for a cruise Yeti Patagonia Tesalate

Prepping for a trip almost always brings about some level of stress. No matter how many times you’ve organized your bags, the lingering feeling of “Am I forgetting something?” persists when you're deciding what to pack for a cruise. On cruises, creating—and sticking to—a packing list becomes even more important. Depending on your itinerary, it could be a day or two before you reach a new port, and when you do, there’s rarely a familiar drugstore ready and waiting with your go-to conditioner and a spare phone charger on sale. Read on for nine often-forgotten items that will make your time on board all the more enjoyable.

Want more shopping recommendations from our editors? Sign up for our Packing List newsletter.

All products featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

  • Yeti Rambler 26oz

    Reusable water bottle

    First and foremost, when you're making a list of what to pack for a cruise, make sure to bring a reusable water bottle. It’ll save you from buying water bottles every time you get off the ship and is nice to have on board—not to mention better for the environment. Fill it up with water or coffee from the pool deck or buffets; most are open all day and well into the night. One exception to this rule: Those sailing on Oceania receive a free reusable Vero Water bottle upon embarkation. For others, we recommend Yeti’s insulated stainless steel water bottle; it comes in a dozen colors, can be used to keep water cold and coffee or tea hot, and is lightweight on its own.

    Buy Now: Yeti 26-Ounce Stainless Steel Bottle, $40 at amazon.com

  • Travel adaptor

    Nearly every cruise ship is equipped with both American and European plugs, but don’t let that stop you from tucking a travel adaptor into your bag. If you’re doing any additional travel before or after your cruise, or have a long layover on either end, there’s a good chance you’ll want an adaptor on hand. Flight 001 makes an extremely affordable, lightweight adaptor you can use again and again. It works in 150 countries, so wherever you’re going, you’re almost guaranteed to be set. With the user-friendly color-coded plugs, it’s no wonder it’s an Amazon’s Choice buy.

    Buy Now: Flight 001 4-in-1 Adapter, $25 at amazon.com

  • Portable charger

    Cruises offer the best of both worlds: utter relaxation when you’re sailing from port to port and loads of adventure for when the ship is docked. For the days you’re off the ship from morning to night, you’ll want a portable charger to keep your phone juiced up—there’s nothing worse than finding your camera and map suddenly unusable. Anker’s PowerCore Speed 20000 model can charge a phone six times before needing to be refueled and is designed to not overheat, saving you from lugging two hot bricks around in your cross-body.

    Buy Now: Anker PowerCore Speed 20000 Portable Charger, $60 at amazon.com

  • Casual sandals

    Finding a comfortable pair of sneakers or boots to wear while exploring the various ports is key, but don’t forget to pack something to slip on when walking around the ship, too. You’ll want something that you can easily wear on the ship, either to the pool or the buffet or the spa. Birkenstock’s Arizona Essentials are both lightweight and waterproof, so they won’t take up precious poundage in your bag or become uncomfortable after a dip in the pool or a trip to the spa.

    Buy Now: Birkenstock Arizona Essentials, $40 at freepeople.com

  • Rain jacket

    Best case scenario: All seven days of your cruise are bright and sunny. More realistic scenario: You encounter a little rain. Whether you’re going to the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, a rain jacket is always worth packing, especially one as lightweight as Patagonia’s Cloud Ridge Jacket. It’s less bulky than an umbrella and weighs less than a pound, so you won’t mind carrying it around on days when the weather looks iffy. It works for multiple climates, too, keeping you cool in humid weather and functioning as an outer layer when it’s chilly. Pack it flat or roll it up into the included stuff sack.

    Buy Now: Patagonia Cloud Ridge Jacket, $249 at backcountry.com

  • Toiletries

    The “I’ll buy it when I get there” mentality doesn’t quite work when it comes to toiletries—especially if you’re particular about what you use. While sunscreen is perhaps the most important, regardless of your destination (those UV rays hit just as hard in cloudy weather), shampoo, conditioner, and face and body wash should be considered, too. All of these items will be much more expensive on the ship and in port, and the selection won’t be what you’re used to in either place. Do yourself a favor and bring enough for the trip at the start; the few extra pounds in your suitcase are well worth it. If you’re looking for a set to slide into your carry-on (a wise move since your luggage won’t arrive at your cabin right as you do), Malin+Goetz makes a handy essentials kit with six one-ounce products. On the sunscreen side, Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen will leave your skin grease-free and moisturized.

    Buy Now: Malin+Goetz Essentials Kit, $32 at malinandgoetz.com
    Buy Now: Supergoop! SPF 50 Everyday Sunscreen, $22 at sephora.com

  • Beach towel

    While you’re correct in assuming ships lend out towels, don’t rely on them for a day at the beach. The ones in your stateroom and by the pool aren’t meant to be taken off the ship, so unless you’re going to a resort or private island, like Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay, you’ll need to bring your own or purchase one to use on land. Tesalate’s fast-drying towels are lightweight, ultra-absorbent, and easy to roll up and stash in your beach bag or backpack; even better, the microfiber design keeps your bag from turning into a sandbox. Plus, the towel comes in dozens of chic colors and patterns.

    Buy Now: Tesalate Beach Towel, $59 at tesalate.com

  • Wrinkle-release spray

    No matter how devoted you are to your iron at home, you’ll need a plan B while on a ship. There are no irons in staterooms and since onboard laundry is notoriously expensive (though some luxury lines include it in the price of suites), it’s good to pack a wrinkle-release spray to smooth out clothes that have been wrinkled in transit. The Laundress makes an eco-friendly spray that checks all the right boxes: It’s made with nontoxic, biodegradable, and allergen-free natural materials. It’ll work on nearly all of your clothes, too, whether you’ve packed cotton, linen, wool, or silk.

    Buy Now: The Laundress Crease Release Spray, $14.28 at amazon.com

  • Wine

    Many first-time cruisers don’t know you can bring wine onboard. (The limit is usually one to two bottles per cabin.) While there’s no shortage of alcohol on cruise ships, if you’re celebrating a special occasion, are particular about your wine, or just want to unwind and enjoy a bottle with room service your first night onboard, coming prepared is never a bad idea. Which wine to bring is entirely up to your taste, but to ease your mind about the bottle in transit, we recommend wrapping it in a WineSkin. The adhesive-locked bubble-packaging enclosure offers more peace of mind than the old wrap-it-in-a-sweater trick.

    Buy Now: WineSkin Bag, $15 for six at amazon.com

Madison Flager is the Senior Commerce Editor at Condé Nast Traveler, where she oversees the title's shopping, booking, and credit card coverage. After a childhood spent in sunny South Florida, she attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she holds a bachelor's degree in Media and Journalism... Read more
Senior commerce editor