Are you excited to go on your upcoming cruise? If you’ve never done it before, let me tell you the experience is UH-MAAAAAAAY-ZING!! Which is probably why we’ve already done it 5 times. Check out our last travel adventure, here.
I want you to enjoy your cruise and have an awesome experience, so I’ve created this packing list to ensure you have everything that you need. Who wants to be on vacation and upset because they forgot something essential at home? I don’t want that to be you, so take note and get packing.
First Time Cruisers Packing List
Passport/Travel Documents Holder
You may only need this at the beginning and at the end of your cruise, but this is the most important thing that you must have before traveling. Find an organizer to store all your required travel documents in one place; passport, state ID, boarding pass, birth certificates. Check with your cruiseline so that you know which documents you are required to walk with to legally board their ship.
I promise you, the ship will leave without you if you don’t have the correct travel documents. And unless you have travel insurance that can either help you meet them in the next port (after you get the right documents) or reimburse you for the oversight, you would have just paid for a vacation that you won’t be able to take.
ID Holder
You will need this to hold your ship card, which is basically your key to get on/off the ship, into your stateroom, and to buy anything on the ship that’s not free. Now there are ways to get a ‘free’ lanyard. Check out my video here for more info. However, if you have a preference for color and quality, you should buy yours before you go and can use it over and over again on future cruises.
Charging Station
Whatever electronics you plan on walking with, be sure to have all of their equivalent charging plugs. There’s no sense in having a dead iPhone or iPods for your morning run on the top deck. I know, you turned up your nose at that last part, but don’t knock it ’til you try it. The sights on the ship when the sun is rising are breathtaking. Plus, who wants to go home with an extra 5 pounds to lose after all of that free food.
But back to the chargers, if you forget yours I’m sure you can borrow or buy one for your phones. Specialty chargers on the other hand, may cost you more than you want to spend, especially when you know you already have the charger you need at home.
Backpack or Tote
If you plan to get off the ships in port, you will need somewhere to put your towel, sunscreen, keys, and phone. Get a backpack or tote, choose your carrying preference, and you can even use it as a carry on bag at the beginning of your trip. Plus, it will come in handy when you buy souvenirs. You don’t want to be walking around with loads of plastic bags like a bag lady. Don’t leave home without one or buy one as a souvenir for yourself in the first port you visit.
Sun Protection
Trust me when I say, if you wait to buy these things on your ship, you will be paying twice as much as they are worth. These are the most forgotten items, as well as the most necessary items because you need sun protection from head to toe. Check these off your packing list by grabbing them before you go:
- hat
- sunglasses
- sunscreen
Happy Packing!!
Now, I left the more obvious stuff off the list, like clothes, swimwear, shoes, and XXXX. Check out my list of what not to pack here to make sure you leave these behind. Get cruising, good looking. Enjoy the sea life!!
Don’t forget to come back and tell me how you enjoyed your first trip!!
