Before setting sail on your cruise, you’ll first need to pack your suitcases with everything you need for the voyage. Some people get excited about packing for vacation, while others (such as my own mother) get extremely stressed about packing perfectly for their cruise.
Of course, even the most seasoned cruisers forget cruise essentials. Even after I’ve taken 50 cruises in my life, I still find myself occasionally forgetting items in my suitcase! I find that longer itineraries with varied weather are often the most difficult to pack for.
In the end, it’s impossible to pack perfectly, but it’s also important to have everything you might need onboard for a smooth cruise. Forgetting critical items can lead to unexpected costs and inconvenience during your vacation.
Additionally, cruises could be considered more complex to pack for compared to other vacations. For instance, guests need to consider themed parties, evening dress codes, daily attire, adventurous excursion requirements, travel attire, weather predictions, and onboard activities when packing for their cruise.
With the holidays approaching, it’s a great time to start planning for your upcoming travels with many cruise essential items on sale. Whether you’re embarking on your first cruise or you consider yourself a cruise veteran, there might be a few items you didn’t think about packing.
Recently, one cruiser asked followers on Reddit to share their packing regrets as they prepare for an upcoming cruise. The thread was titled, “What is an item you wished you had brought with you on your last cruise?”
The thread was posted by user @djwilliams100, who shared they were embarking on a 16-night cruise this week and wanted to see if they missed something useful to pack. The inquiry prompted hundreds of responses from fellow cruisers.
Many of these easy-to-pack essentials can mean the difference between a smooth vacation and scrambling to the overpriced onboard shops. Even better, many of these items are majorly discounted with Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up. As such, it’s the perfect time to stock up before you embark on your next adventure.
Here are the top items that cruisers regretted not packing on their last trip, including why these often-forgotten essentials should be on your packing (and holiday shopping) list.
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Over-the-Counter Medication
Perhaps one of the most common responses from cruisers, many suggested packing a variety of over-the-counter medication. Getting sick on vacation is a huge bummer, but spending an absurd amount of money to get overpriced medication onboard or visiting the medical clinic for a hefty fee worsens the situation.
Whether you simply catch a head cold or you have a mild allergic reaction to a bug bite, having a variety of over-the-counter medication can make all the difference. Personally, I always pack my always-prepared “traveling pharmacy” with an assortment of medication. On every cruise, I’ve needed to use something in this pharmacy, from Immodium to Benadryl, sleep aids, NyQuil, and more.
“I bring a small OTC pharmacy for every ailment and a first aid kit. No way am I paying hundreds or thousands to visit the ship’s doctor,” proclaimed one cruiser.
Cold and Flu Medication
- Cherry Cough Drops, 160 count for $4.76 (20% off)
- Daytime and Nighttime Combo Pack: Cold & Flu Medication, 48 count for $12.50
- Max Strength Mucus DM, Expectorant and Cough Suppressant Extended-Release Tablets, 42 Count for $13.47
One of the top responses reads, “I think I overpacked, but 100% bring medicine cabinet type stuff! We both got cough/cold second to the last day and it came on hard - and we went through all of the medicine and then had to pay 6 dollars for 2 doses at the airport on the way home.”
“I ALWAYS pack Tylenol Cold and Flu. And if we don’t use it, new friends in the cruise having symptoms can use it (I’ve had this happen and people are SUPER grateful),” responded another cruiser.
Similarly, one cruiser agreed, “Definitely take cold meds! My son caught a bug the 2nd day of our cruise and I am thankful that I had the liquid-gels with me.”
“Cough drops and cough syrup. I felt fine except for the nasty cough (COVID test was negative) but everyone looked at me as if I was spreading the plague,” commented another cruiser.
Stomach Relief and Digestive Aid
- Loperamide Hydrochloride Tablets, 2 mg, Anti-Diarrheal, 24 Count for $3.19 (20% off)
- Pepto Bismol Chewable Tablets, 48 count for $8.45
- Stool Softener Laxative, Docusate Sodium 100 mg, Softgels, For Constipation Relief, 100 Count for $3.41 (5% off)
All of the delicious cruise food is a highlight for many, but sometimes your stomach doesn’t agree. Combine this with drinking alcohol and dehydration - and your stomach might not be feeling the best. Many cruisers regretted not bringing enough medication for these symptoms.
“Don't forget Imodium and Pepto because while you can get it onboard the markup is astronomical. And last time I got the runs and was glad I insisted on bringing Imodium,” wrote one responder.
Another replied, “TUMS really came in handy, I was giving out my supply like candy to my food-loving family group.”
“Pepto. It is very effective in helping prevent Montezuma’s Revenge (travelers diarrhea). Always travel with chewable Pepto tablets,” explained one cruiser.
Seasickness Medication
- Dramamine Motion Sickness Relief Less Drowsey Formula, 8 Count. $3.90 (35% off)
- Non-Drowsy Bonine for Motion Sickness Relief, Travel-Sized - 16ct Raspberry Chewable Tablets. $5.94 (26% off)
We always recommend cruise passengers consider packing seasickness medication. Rocky seas and rough weather can strike at any time, so it’s best to be prepared.
One commenter stated, “A better selection of seasickness treatments. I've now got ginger candy, sea bands, anti-sickness glasses and some Bonine for my next cruise. Don't want anything to ruin it.”
“Bring some seasick remedies like bonine pills, patches and ginger chews. We don’t get seasick but on high seas day after day it could get nauseous,” agreed one cruiser.
One cruiser even stated, “Motion sickness meds! I’ve been motion sick on one cruise ever and it happened to be the most recent one I went on. I’ve sailed in a hurricane and been fine but this last cruise was horrible…. Sometimes it just hits hard when you’ve never really had it be an issue.”
Insulated Tumbler or Coffee Mug
- 12oz Stainless Steel Insulated Coffee Mug with Handle with Lid, $9.99 (23% off)
- 20oz Tumbler, Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated, $9.99 (23% off)
- Stanley Classic Legendary Camp Mug, $18.99 (17% off)
Another popular response from cruisers involved forgetting their insulated water bottle, thermos, or coffee mug. Cruise ships provide complimentary drip coffee, but the cups are extremely small and easy to spill. Moreover, insulated cups keep your drinks either hot or cold for extended periods.
In the replies, one of the top responses reads, “Travel coffee cup/water bottle. The coffee cups near the buffet are small and I like a cover on my cup so I can walk around and not spill.”
In response, another cruiser agreed, “Great for coffee, tea and frozen drinks! There's nothing worse than your margarita blowing over on the sundeck because it's in a cheap plastic glass that weighs nothing.”
“Many of my must haves are already mentioned but in addition, my Yeti so I can take my ice and soda everywhere with me all day and evening and it stays fresh,” replied one cruiser.
Binoculars
Compact HD Binoculars for Adults and Kids High Powered, $29.99 (59% off)
One item you might not think to pack is a set of binoculars. But, many cruisers regretted that they did not pack a set of binoculars during their last cruise. You might spot wildlife from your cruise ship balcony or simply want to get a better look at the scenery during your cruise.
“Binoculars. I usually bring a pair, but I forgot once. If you have a balcony room, it’s nice to sit and stare at the ocean, but occasionally something catches your eye and you want to investigate.”
“We brought some cheap ones on the last cruise on a whim and it was excellent! Even out on the excursions it really added to the experience.”
“Seconding binoculars. We went on an Alaska cruise and didn't have any and feel like we missed out on seeing a lot of wildlife.”
Magnetic Hooks
- Neosmuk Black Magnetic Hooks,30lb+ Heavy Duty Earth Magnets with Hook for Refrigerator, Extra Strong Cruise Hook for Hanging, Magnetic Hanger for Curtain, Grill Black, 10 Pack for $5.93 (24% off)
Cruisers love magnetic hooks, but do you really need them? Many Redditors argued that you should never forget to pack magnetic hooks for your cruise. These would make a great stocking stuffer because of their small size, affordable price, and overall practicality for travel!
“Having magnetic hooks are great as the walls in your room are metal,” commented one person.
Another replied, “Magnet hooks. I hung them outside on the balcony and in the cabin. Excellent for swim suits, lanyards, and other small items.”
“Magnet hooks, especially for longer cruises. Helps organize the room better and perfect for dry stuff,” explained another cruiser.
Dish Soap
- Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap, 7.5 fluid ounce. $1.24 (38% off)
Another cruise essential that many consider a must-pack item is liquid hand soap or dish soap. Don’t feel like you need to do dishes on vacation, as we aren’t suggesting that! Instead, you can have some liquid soap to wash your hands in your stateroom if you prefer liquid soap over the typical bar soap. The soap is versatile for washing other items as well.
“Dish soap. I use it for so many things, washing my jewelry, cleaning my coffee mug, getting out stains. I forgot it on my last cruise,” said one responder. In agreement, another person stated, “Liquid hand soap - most ships have bar soap in the bathroom”
Entertainment and Reading Material
- Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet, 8” HD Display, 32 GB, 30% faster processor, 3GB RAM, wireless charging, (2022 release), Gray. $59.99 (50% off)
- Apple iPad (10th Generation), 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display, 64GB. $259. (26% off)
Although cruise ships have plenty to do, there are still many opportunities for downtime. Many responders regretted not bringing enough personal entertainment for their cruise. Some cruisers might not consider gameshows, bingo, and trivia to be their idea of relaxation. If you’re like me, you might prefer catching up on your favorite show or reading a book you’ve put off for a while.
“I downloaded movies from Netflix so I could unwind at night. It just brought some normalcy to the day. It's nice to be able to download as many as I want,” commented one cruiser.
One responder shared, “I wish I had downloaded more audiobooks and podcasts because the wifi I had did not let me use those apps last I sailed.”
“My tablet! I could have downloaded some movies, books and games,” stated one cruiser.
