15 Cruise Packing List Essentials at Amazon

I grew up in a cruise family, meaning that while my classmates were jetting off to all-inclusive resorts, I was traveling the world by boat. I hopped aboard my first ship at age nine and have set sail countless times in the 23 years since, cruising everywhere from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean. Some of my favorite travel memories have been on a cruise—just a few weeks ago, I explored the remote islands of the Galapagos aboard a 20-passenger megayacht with Ecoventura, and now I’m preparing for an Alaska cruise aboard the Regent Seven Seas Explorer.

In my two decades of cruising to an array of destinations on board different types of ships, I’ve become an expert at what to pack. Cabins are often small, and cruises pack in a lot of activities in one day, so you’ll want to focus on items that help you maximize the space and time. Amazon’s cruise storefront makes it easy to stock up on everything you need in one place before your next trip. To help you narrow down the options, I’ve highlighted the essentials you won’t want to set sail without below—from comfy flip-flops to a retractable clothesline for wet swimsuits and clothes—from just $4.

Cruise Luggage Tags

To board a cruise, you’ll generally drop off your bag in the ship’s loading area, and it will be brought directly to your room. Major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian provide luggage tags to make this process seamless; however, they often don’t have their own adhesive. And if they do, they can easily fall off as bags are shuffled around—this happened to me on a Disney cruise, and I had to wait all day to retrieve my luggage from the lost-and-found. 

After watching my dad scramble for a stapler at the last minute, I ordered these luggage tags for our last family cruise, and it made the boarding process so much easier. “The plastic is thick and durable, and the seal at the top made it easy to open to get the tags in, yet felt sealed enough that I didn’t worry about it coming open,” said one reviewer who sailed with Royal Caribbean, adding that the tags stayed in tact for the trip. 

Foldable Travel Hangers

I’m always impressed at how smartly cruise cabins pack in as much storage space as possible. That said, I’m the type of packer who likes to bring a different outfit for every activity, including dresses for the ship’s formal dining room. My brother always packs extra hangers when we share a room, and it helps us maximize the space even more. These hangers feature a tri-fold design so you can collapse them to pack and adjust them to hang various garments.

Compact Binoculars

One of the perks of sailing is being able to spot wildlife as your boat moves between locations. On my recent trip to the Galapagos, we spotted a playful group of dolphins that enjoyed riding the waves with us. I’ll be packing these mini travel binoculars in hopes of bear sightings along the coast for my upcoming trip to Alaska. They’re compact, lightweight, and foldable but still offer 8x magnification and a clear lens.

Packable Power Strip

Traveling with a power strip is another hack I learned from my brother, and I’ll never board another ship without one. A smaller room means fewer outlets, and this one allows you to plug in more devices at once. Trust me, it will come in handy when you’re charging up in your room before dinner while simultaneously styling your hair. The lightweight, compact design is perfect for stashing in an inner section of your suitcase—even the flat braided cord is designed to be thinner than the typical extender.

Motion Sickness Relief

Don’t let sea sickness hold you back from booking a cruise. I’m extremely prone to motion sickness, and Dramamine is the first thing I stock up on before every trip. These pills last for 24 hours, so I like to take one preventively every night to ensure I feel my best. They don’t make me feel drowsy, but you can also go with a similar alternative. On my recent trip to the Galapagos, another passenger raved about these patches that can last up to three days. 

Comfy Flip-flops

I recently had a friend ask me for advice on what shoes to bring on her first cruise, and Archies immediately came to mind. These comfortable flip-flops have built-in arch support, including extra cushioning and shock-absorption, to keep your feet pain-free. They seamlessly transition from sea days to land excursions in a tropical destination. 

I brought eight pairs of shoes on my most recent cruise and found myself reaching for my Archies the most for everything from beach hikes in the Galapagos to casual dinners on board. These sandals come in 16 different colorways, but I love the tan as a match-everything neutral. Over time, they will mold to your feet, becoming more and more comfortable with each wear.

Retractable Portable Clothesline

Whether you’re sailing to a more adventurous destination or have multiple beach days on your itinerary, this clothesline is sure to come in handy. On my last trip aboard Ecoventura, we snorkeled multiple days in a row, were caught in rain during hikes, and sweated under the Galapagos sun. My brother and I ended up hanging clothes all over our room to get them to dry.

This clothesline, which stretches up to 12 feet long, would have helped items dry faster and prevented our cabin from getting as messy. “The hooks maintain a good grip on the clothes; therefore, clothes don’t slip off, even if the clothes are heavy/wet,” said one traveler.

Sunscreen Lotion

There’s nothing I hate more than the feeling of sticky sunscreen. On a quest to find a sunscreen that sinks into my skin without leaving a white cast, I discovered Vacation—and it’s quickly become a go-to brand of mine.

I brought Vacation sunscreen on cruises to Bermuda and the Bahamas, and it kept my skin protected while still feeling soft on both trips. Plus, its coconut-like scent literally smells like a tropical vacation. This sunscreen is also free of oxybenzone and octinoxate and accedes with the Hawaii Reef Compliant Act 103. The 3.4-ounce size goes a long way; one bottle has lasted me multiple tropical trips. 

Beach Towel Clips

A sea day spent poolside is relaxing, but it’s also sure to be windy as the boat sails to your next port. These clips prevent your towel from moving, no matter how much the ship rocks. Every time I take a Caribbean cruise, I spot these towel clips all over the deck—they’re a sure-tell sign of an experienced cruiser. Plus, you can also use them to hang up wet clothes in your room. 

Travel Hair Dryer 

My hair struggles to adjust to different climates, especially with high winds at sea, so it’s important to come prepared. Many cruises don’t supply in-room hair dryers, so I’m currently eyeing this travel-sized one for my next trip.

The T3 Aire 360, a styling brush with different attachments for at-home blowouts, has been my hair’s saving grace on my last few cruises. But while it comes with a handy carrying case, it’s a bit big to fit in a carry-on. The brand’s travel-sized hair dryer offers the same quick-smoothing abilities in a compact size that folds even smaller for packing.

Cruise Door Magnets

I recently went on a girls’ trip on a Disney cruise with two friends who hadn’t sailed before. They were fascinated by cruise culture, including the tradition of decorating your door with fun decals like these tropical cocktails. They’re magnetic for easy use and removal and come with markers to add your own message. If you’re sailing with Royal Caribbean and really want to get into the cruise spirit, be sure to bring rubber ducks as well—the cruise line has an unofficial tradition where sailors hide them around the ship for others to find. 

Scalp Sunscreen

I always struggled to use traditional sunscreen on my scalp until I discovered Supergoop’s Part Powder. This mineral sunscreen has a brush applicator that’s easy to apply to your part and hairline. The texture feels similar to a pressed powder, which rubs in quickly and feels weightless. Shoppers agree, “It doesn’t leave my hair greasy or oily, and I felt protected completely.” I finally came back from my last cruise without a red, flaky scalp thanks to this sunscreen.

Wet Bags

Chances are, you’ll need a wet bag during your next cruise, whether to stash a swimsuit or protect your possessions during a boat tour. I ordered these bags, which come in packs of three, before my Galapagos cruise to prepare for wet landings (these islands are so remote that many of them don’t have docks). They came in handy when we were caught in a rainstorm during a hike—while my bag soaked through, my camera stayed dry inside one of these bags. 

Plus, they can double as packing cubes to help you stay organized on your way to your destination. It’s no wonder they have over 6,000 five-star ratings, with shoppers raving about how much they fit (even a beach towel!) and how easy they are to clean. The pouches come in 39 fun colors and patterns, along with a strap you can attach to other bags.

Wrinkle Spray

Cruises will generally ask you to dress in ‘smart casual’ for dinner every night, and nothing ruins a nice outfit faster than wrinkles. I bring this wrinkle spray with me whenever I travel, and a quick spritz freshens and crisps up my clothes. “Not having an iron on a cruise is a big pain, but these make it easier,” agreed one reviewer. It’s currently in stock as a three-pack, so you can stock up for many trips to come.

Smart Sunglasses

If you’re the type of traveler who likes to capture every moment to look back on, I recommend the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses. In addition to protecting your eyes from the sun, they have a built-in camera that allows you to film what you’re looking at.

This has quickly become my favorite way to document travel memories because it’s easy to do while staying in the moment. Plus, when I took them on a boat tour in the Galapagos, the polarized lenses actually allowed me to spot more sea life in the water.

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