10 Things to Never Bring on a Cruise and What to Pack Instead From $11, According to a Former Crew Member

Don’t leave port with these common packing mistakes in your bag.

Travel + Leisure / Madison Woiten

Cruising offers a seamless travel experience. It combines the luxury of a floating hotel with the variety of destinations and the simplicity of unpacking your luggage once. However, novice and seasoned travelers often make common packing mistakes when preparing for a cruise, impacting how much they enjoy their voyage.

As a former cruise ship employee, I've seen it all after sailing short routes and long, extended world cruises; guests would make the same mistakes again and again, and in the worst cases, some would walk away from their cruise feeling like they didn’t make the most of it. To ensure that your next cruise is hassle-free, I've compiled some of the frequent mistakes cruise ship guests make and how to avoid them with my handy solutions and product recommendations — all of which you can find at Amazon (and have at your door in less than two days if you have a Prime membership).

Mistake: Overpacking

Pack this instead: Bagail Packing Cubes 

Amazon

$17

Buy on Amazon

Many travelers bring too many clothes, thinking they need a different outfit for every occasion. This leads to cluttered cabins, heavy luggage, and long wait times to have large bags delivered to your stateroom and later picked up on shore. My first tip to avoid this mistake is to plan outfits that can be mixed and matched by bringing versatile pieces you can dress up or down. But to really make the most of your suitcase space, you're going to need packing cubes. These useful accessories keep your clothing organized and compact so everything fits. They'll also keep your stateroom tidy by ensuring that everything has a place.

Mistake: Losing essential travel documents

Pack this instead: Hero RFID-blocking Neck Wallet

Amazon

$26

Buy on Amazon

New environments can often lead to confusion and panic, and today’s enormous cruise ships can easily have you feeling lost and overwhelmed. I frequently saw guests become frazzled after misplacing essential travel documents like tickets, passports, ship maps, room keys, and more. Keep your most important items close to you and organized with a handy neck wallet like this one from Hero. With it in tow, you'll be able to hold onto things like itineraries and schedules without rooting around in your pockets or purse. They're equally convenient when you’re traveling ashore, too.

Mistake: Ignoring dress codes

Pack this instead: Dokotoo V-neck Bow-tie Dress

Amazon

$40

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Though cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Disney are pretty casual; other cruise lines like Celebrity, Oceania, Silversea, or Holland America Line are more rooted in the classic tradition of cruising, which designates several "formal nights" of your cruise to dress nicely. On these nights, guests are expected to adhere to elevated dress codes after dusk. I would often see oblivious guests walking around in flip-flops and shorts, while others were in dresses and blazers. Formal nights are a fun part of cruising, and you’ll feel more comfortable in onboard spaces like restaurants and lounges if you embrace the guidelines. For the ladies, I recommend elegant options like the Dokotoo V-neck Bow-tie Dress or the Veiisar Sleeveless Lace Dress. For the fellas, a casual-leaning blazer like this one from Grace Karin will take your cruise outfits far.

Mistake: Not bringing the proper footwear

Pack this instead: Sorel Out 'N About III Low Waterproof Sneakers

Amazon

$66

Buy on Amazon

Cruisegoers often pack too many shoes or the wrong type, leading to discomfort during excursions. Always err on the side of comfort. If the ship encounters choppy waters, you don’t want to be walking the deck in heels. I’ve watched guests take a tumble when we hit a wave. When guests return to the ship after a day of exploring ashore, they’re often tired from walking in unsupportive shoes all day. Flip-flops, though convenient to slip on, offer no foot support and are not good shoes to wear out walking.

Look for comfortable walking shoes that dry quickly like the popular Sorel Out 'N About III Waterproof Shoes. These white-bottomed shoes are traditionally favored aboard ships because they don’t leave scuff marks on the vessel. For men, these Bruno Marc KnitFlex Breeze Mesh Sneakers are cruise-ready.

Mistake: Forgetting a water bottle

Pack this instead: Simple Modern Water Bottle With Straw Lid

Amazon

$21

Buy on Amazon

Sadly, I’ve seen more than one guest get overheated on a cruise because they’re not staying hydrated (indulging at the bar exacerbates the problem). I also see far too many single-use water bottles discarded in the ocean, littered around the ship, or left ashore. To protect your health and the planet, invest in a reusable water bottle you can always keep with you. Plus, it’ll save you money as water prices in hot locales can be high due to demand. Fill your water bottle from the ship’s buffet area, or ask a bartender to fill it from their filtered tap.

Mistake: Skipping sunscreen

Pack this instead: Badger Reef-safe Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40

Amazon

$16

Buy on Amazon

The cliche surrounding the sunburned cruise goer is all too true. Don’t be that guest who catches too many rays on their first day and spends the rest of the cruise hiding from the sun. Always go outside with sunscreen protection. If you’re cruising in Australia, you won’t be able to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef unless you’re wearing reef-safe sunscreen, but using the gentler protectant is a great practice worldwide.

Mistake: Not Bringing a Waterproof Bag

Pack this instead: Pedvsty Waterproof Floating Phone Pouch

Amazon

$15

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Failing to pack a waterproof bag can result in wet valuables during beach or pool trips, and bringing back sand on a soggy towel, which makes a mess of your stateroom. Bring a packable waterproof bag that can be your designated tote for trips to the water’s edge (and keep a handy waterproof inside to protect your essentials). Add a watertight bag to your cruise packing list for valuables like electronics, especially if you'll be taking part in any water sports and activities on and off the ship.

Mistake: Forgetting medication and first-aid supplies

Pack this instead: Johnson + Johnson Travel First-aid Kit

Amazon

$11

Buy on Amazon

A trip to the ship medical center can be pricey, so you should avoid it if you have minor cuts, scrapes, or discomforts that can be solved with over-the-counter solutions and a little planning. To build your first aid kit, pack your essential prescription medication. Then, include items like Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers, plus motion sickness tablets if you’re prone to sea sickness and electrolyte tablets to beat dehydration.

Mistake: Forgetting adapters and chargers

Pack this instead: Ceptics Universal Travel Adapter Kit

Amazon

$35

Buy on Amazon

If you’re cruising to many different countries, you’ll encounter different electrical outlets ashore, and many travelers overlook this detail. Your stateroom will likely have a US and EU port, but it’s always a good idea to check with your cruise line ahead of time. To charge your devices on board and ashore, get a travel adaptor like this one from Ceptics that conforms to many different outlet charging types. Don’t forget to bring the necessary charging cords for your devices.

Mistake: Bringing the Wrong Day Bag Ashore

Pack this instead: Waterfly Crossbody Sling Backpack

Amazon

$27

Buy on Amazon

Wearing the wrong bag all day can cause your back and shoulders to be out of alignment, leading to soreness and pain for the rest of your trip. When heading out into port, you’ll bring a lot with you (think: travel documents, a wallet, a water bottle, and a camera), so you’ll want to carry it comfortably all day. And if you’re going shopping, you’ll want extra room in your bag to bring back souvenirs. Avoid tote bags that easily slip off your shoulder and displace the weight of its contents all to one side of your body, and instead, look for a useful sling bag, crossbody purse, or backpack with a water bottle holder and a comfortable strap that keeps the bag close to your body.

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