I go on a Royal Caribbean cruise about once a month, and I always seem to forget to pack something minor that could have made my trip so much better.
Most of the time, I think I do a good job remembering to bring the essentials with me, but it's the small things that seem to elude me from time to time.
It might be because they're not critical elements that I cannot cruise without. Rather, they're ancillary items that improve the experience for me.
An example is when I went on Liberty of the Seas for a short cruise and forgot to pack liquid hand soap. There's nothing wrong with the bar soap that the cruise line provides and it didn't ruin my cruise by any means, but I prefer the liquid soap because it's easier and faster to use.
With that in mind, there are other cheap things everyone can pack for a cruise that makes a small difference. I call these "good to have" items that aren't essential, but still helpful.
So before you zip up that suitcase, double check you have these things that cost less than $10 make your cruise better.
This article contains affiliate links to products I've mentioned, which means it costs you absolutely nothing extra, but I make a small commission if you buy it.
Liquid hand soap
$9.88 on Amazon.
I mentioned already liquid hand soap, but it really is worth bringing on every cruise.
It's so important to stay healthy on a cruise ship, and washing your hands is step one in that process. You'll hear the mantra of washing your hands quite a lot.
In your cabin bathroom will be a bar of soap that you can use, but I find liquid soap is so much easier to use and completely cover your hands in a good lather.
Also, bar soap always leaves my hands feeling dry after I use it.
An added benefit of liquid soap is my hands smell better too.
Pop-up laundry hamper
$6.79 on Amazon.
I never thought a cheap laundry hamper could make such a difference in my cabin, but it really does.
I originally started bringing a laundry hamper with me as a way to test out inside cruise cabin hacks, and I've brought one with me ever since.
When I've forgotten it, I thought I'd be fine with just a pile of dirty laundry in the corner somewhere, but that pile becomes a mountain quickly and expands with it.
The hamper makes laundry more manageable and it collapses down when I'm done with it.
Some readers recommend instead to put the dirty laundry in a suitcase, but I keep my suitcase under my bed and I'll admit I'm too lazy to take it out and put it away everyday.
Plastic luggage holders
$5.99 at Amazon.
I probably forget to actually print out luggage tags more than I've forgotten to pack the luggage tag holders, but that's a different blog post.
When I use my luggage tag holders, I don't worry about my luggage tags accidently getting ripped off in the transit process to my cabin.
A pack of them are cheap and they last forever.
Shampoo and body wash
$9.52 at Amazon.
Anytime I've gone on a cruise and forgotten to bring my own body wash or shampoo, I've regretted it every time I showered.
If you're the type of cruiser that can rely on the 2-in-1 mystery liquid that comes out of the dispenser in your cruise ship shower, I salute you, because I cannot.
Just like the hand soap, I find it makes a difference in how clean I feel to have my own stuff. I don't have any scientific evidence, but I have a hard time believing 2-in-1 stuff can work as effectively.
Plus, I prefer the scent my own toiletries have.
I should point out if you're staying in a suite, you'll get higher end toiletries that come with separate body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. I can tolerate these a bit more, but if you have specific needs for your hair, I'd recommend bringing your own.
Your hair products might cost more than $10, but I feel that even some of the cheap stuff from your local store is better than what's waiting in that shower dispenser.
Over the counter medications
$5.39 at Amazon.
When I cruise solo, I seem to always forget to bring a bag of medications with me and always realize it when I unpack in my cabin.
Most of the time I never need any, but if you're fighting a hangover, upset stomach, or stuffy nose, having medications with you makes a big difference in feeling better quickly (and cheaply).
Royal Caribbean does sell some medicine in its shop, but they charge a high price for it and the shop is only open when the ship is at sea and during certain hours. Plus, who wants to get up and go out when they have a hangover and just want to take an aspirin to help with the headache?
Lip balm
$9.99 at Amazon.
When I cruise to Europe or Alaska and I encounter a humidity level that's far less that the Caribbean, I regret not bringing Chapstick with me.
Chapped lips hurt, and it seems the drier air in these itineraries almost always hits me.
More things that are must-haves on a cruise
Of course, there are plenty of other things I bring on a cruise that cost more than $10, but I think are very helpful.
I thought it would be helpful to include other items that I would be disappointed not to have with me onboard.
Besides the basics that everyone packs, I wanted to include a few other items I'd recommend to anyone going on a cruise.
AirTags
It's not just for a flight, AirTags are great for a cruise too.
The idea is simple: keep track of where your luggage is to make sure it's on the ship and not lost somewhere in the terminal. Plus, you can use them when flying too.
Water bottle
One of the top trends right now is to bring a reusable water bottle so you can keep hydrated easily on your cruise.
It means you can make less trips to get water, but is also really useful when on a shore excursion. During the hot summer months, this is a must-have.
Headphones
I love bringing noise-cancelling headphones because it's the perfect accessory for enjoying quiet time on the ship.
I really love putting them on when I'm on the pool deck so I can enjoy the breeze and sun while laying out in a lounger, without all the conversations, music, and noise you'd have to put up with around you.
For years, I've used and recommended the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless noise-cancelling headphones for over-the-ear comfort and unbeatable noise cancellation.
I know a lot of other people that prefer the Apple AirPods Pro because they offer noise cancelling without the heft and size.
Air freshener
Whether you're sharing a cabin with a friend or family member, what happens in the bathroom shouldn't be well-known to everyone else.
Poo pourri and other air fresheners are a must-pack item to keep your cabin bathroom from being a point of contention (or embarrassment)
Magnetic hooks
Magnets that can you can affix to the walls are so helpful and you can use them almost anywhere in your cabin.
There's a lack of storage space on cruise ships, so magnetic hooks provide convenient ways to hang clothes and accessories.
I recommend these magnetic hooks if you have not purchased one yet.
E-reader
If you're a reader, bringing a Kindle or other e-reader is a must-have on a cruise.
You'll find lots of opportunity to read while on a cruise, especially on a sea day. The Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for the pool deck as well as in your cabin.
Night light
It shouldn't come as a shock that inside cabins are really dark at night because they have no natural light source.
This night light not only offers lighting, but it will only come on when someone moves around.
