Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limted time). Details here: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner/
As a Flight Attendant, I learned a little toiletry hack that works like a charm. Just unscrew the top/lid to any bottle, put a piece of Saran wrap on top, and then screw the lid back on. I've never had any trouble with leaks and it's a cheap hack. Happy Cruising!
Magnetic hooks are a must have! We love them. Also, we take 2 small magnetic motion sensor lights that we put on the wall close to the floor, and on the bottom of the bathroom door. That way if we get up during the night, there is enough light to see, but not too much light that can disrupt being able to fall back to sleep.
My son and daughter-in-law invited me on my first cruise! I had no idea what to expect, so I have been binge watching videos. Yours are definitely the best! I have gotten so many tips on packing and what to bring. Thank you!
Omg me too. My son & soon to be daughter in law invited us to join them on a cruise this Dec (none of us have ever been in a cruise) in so excited but have NO clue what i need or how to dress. I've been binging her vids. It's gonna save my life lol. Hope you enjoy your cruise 🙋🏽♀️
My husband takes pictures of his dinner all the time. At home. I saw that light you had for the phone and said to myself, "Yep, that's exactly what he needs to really make that broccoli beautiful." He's going to laugh until he cries when I give it to him. Thank you!
I worked for a smallish store in a major national department store company for several decades. Our display gal did not use the wrinkle release product, it would cause spots on certain fabrics & could leave a residue. & the company sometimes wouldn’t alauthorize some expenses. She had a spray bottle filled with water. She’d lightly spritz the clothing & give the item a light “stretch”. This worked great in most things.
I bring towel bands too. But, as someone else mentioned, they are similar to the rehab/exercise bands. So I actually bring the exercise bands which I use for a quick workout, and I use them for towels. 😊
Believe it or not, after 50+ cruises over 20+ years our latest "cruise gadget" is a travel pepper mill! We really enjoy fresh, crushed pepper with our meals. Royal Caribbean used to offer it at every meal, but stopped a few years back. So we now carry our own. On our last cruise a passenger at a neighboring table borrowed it (she thought it belonged to Royal Caribbean and wondered why she didn't have one on her table!) It is pocket sized, and has a cap to keep ground pepper from ending up in your pocket. I do pack it in a zipper top silicone bag anyway, just to be safe.
On my first two cruises I used a sea-sick patch. This left me a little light-headed but I didn't get sea sick. Regular Dramamine (Diphenhydramine) makes me sleepy. I have switched to "Less Drowsy" Dramamine (Meclizine). I take two on embarkation day when we are in the buffet and then one a day with breakfast after that. The only time this hasn't helped is when we were near a tropical storm.
I always travel with 3 or 4 clothespins, the kind you squeeze. This way if the curtains don't close tight and you want to sleep in it helps keep the sun out better, plus you can use them as intended to hang up items to dry.
I’m not an RN but I had to use one for work for years and I absolutely hate them! My last 2 cruises I used a retractable lanyard clip and it worked great! 😊
The toothbrush cover is something I use even when at home, bathrooms are full of all kinds of bacteria and germs. Even flushing a toilet sprays germs all over. Any help protecting your toothbrush is a must.
Tbh, just the cover still leaves a part of the brush exposed! It’s far more hygienic to buy a toothbrush case! Colour code them for each individual toothbrush - you can effectively clean them after each cruise by popping them into the dishwasher!
Ilana, your recommendations are amazing. My husband and I went on our first cruise last summer and before we left I binge-watched all your videos. It made a huge difference to us. We were much better prepared than we would have been if we had gone on board without all that info. Thanks for all you do.
Best thing we have ever found was for the small showers on the cruise ship that never has a place for all of our stuff. Amazon has a "S&T INC. Shower Organizer, Shower Caddy or Bathroom Organizer with Quick Drying Mesh" that we can hang on the inside of the shower on the shower curtain hooks. Best shower addition ever!!
@@penny7205 Not sure if the showers are metal for magnets but this hangs on the inside of the shower hooks perfectly (as long as they are open hooked). I would also worry about magnet and moisture, I hung an outside thermometer on a Panama cruise and the magnet part of the hook is probably still part of that ship.
Instead of a backpack for myself....I wear a fanny pack. I have cinch bags packed for each excursion with water shoes, coverup, sunscreen, ziplock baggies, bottles of water, water camera, envelope of small bills for tips and paper work/ tickets for excursion. Then, on the day of excursion, grab and go...saves so much time!! I still like ziplock baggies for things that could spill. The cruise we just took in November we took magnetic hooks! Oh my gosh, great idea!!!
I don't leave my toothbrush out. I repack it along with other stuff in my small bag. If you take a bag on an excursion, I recommend one that zips or snaps shut. Your things like to jump out on excursions.
I do use a towel band, but mine has an added benefit it has a pillow attached to it. I absolutely love it you can use it at the beach or for camping . All you have to do is blow it up, and when done, just pull the plug and empty the air. It rolls up into a small tube and is lightweight.
A good tip use those throwaway shower caps . Sold in packs of 10 dollartree I use for shoes AND for liquid leakage on bottles works great Also I buy those clear plastic handle bags sold at dollartree. I separate everything and lable. Meds in one bag. Seasick items meds in another. Sanitizer, gloves, wipes in another I lable each bag makes it so easy to carry on and get to things quickly without looking for things. I hang on those magnetic hooks in the room Also I use black garbage bags for my husband dirty clothes and white for me to separate to put back in your own suitcase
Okay, my Virgo nature was stirred regarding pronunciation of Bonine;) Deep dive shows there is even a third way to pronounce it! Bowneenee. Mind blown! But the company website does appear to be utilizing the number nine and highlighting the 'nine' in the label to get us to remember it. So I leave you here, still confused and I say just pick which one you like and move on. I call it Bowneen and I can live with that;) (and it works great, thanks for recommending!)
I am not in *any* way affiliated with Life Well Cruised--other than being a subscriber--but Ilana's Ultimate Cruise Planner document was *invaluable* for helping us keep our 3 cruises (all within 6 months!) organized. Well worth every penny for this downloadable document. It's easy to choose/print the pages you need/don't need (e.g. our kids are grown so those pages are irrelevant). If you purchase only one thing mentioned in this video, the planner should be the one. (FYI, most other cruise channels pronounce it BOH nine, i.e. a long 'O'. But maybe the Canadian pronounciation is different, sort of the opposite of the way you pronounce "process" vs. your neighbors to the south. 😁)
Thanks for your purchase & for sharing your experience with the LWC Ultimate Cruise Planner. I’m so glad it was helpful & appreciate your feedback 😊 lol, it seems like pronouncing Bonine is going to be a continual challenge 😂
I find the towel bands so easy to pack and use! Bonine...pronounced BowNeen. I orded the travel clock, toothbrush covers and bottle cover skins. Great additions to my cruise supply box. You always have such great advice!!!
The one thing I have found SUPER useful on a cruise, especially older ones is Febreeze small spaces air fresheners. I put one in the bathroom and in our room! They last the whole week and I am sure our cabin stewards appreciate it too! 😅 Thanks for all the tips & tricks! It helps so much! 😊
Packing cubes are an absolute GAME CHANGER! Our whole family has their own colors. I'll never pack without them again. I used to do the hanging toiletry bag but have since switched to an inexpensive, over the door hanging shoe organizer. Just the cheap fabric ones with plastic pockets. Super lightweight and easy to pack. I hang it on the door and everybody's toiletries can go in different compartments. Everything is out for everyone to see, no one loses things, but it keeps the counters clutter free. Really helps save space!
It seems like cruises are starting to discourage over the door organizers and I do believe there's one that has already banned them. If I find the video (I've watched so many from different cruisers) I'll link it, but the explanation was that they can cause damage to the door/door frame near the hooks and any other components that are constantly touching/scraping it.
You can’t hang anything over a door in a disabled cabin as it interferes with the automatic closures …even the towels on the rails do if too close and doors swing open again ..
Hi Llana, love your channel and all the tips. We will be going on a cruise for our 50th anniversary, can't wait. So, till packing day, I've been looking for a few really cute items. Your beach cover-up is so fabulous. Could you share where you got it? Happy cruising. ❤️
Tip on towel bands…. Order thise rubber bands for trash cans and then you have a more multi functional item Especially for one time cruisers These large rubber bands come in handy at home and will also work for towel bands.
I have not cruised in a long time … over ten years and now I’m going in August on a 9 day Mediterranean cruise … so excited … your videos help me a lot thanks for sharing
When I take off my clothes, I fold them up on a shelf. When it’s time to pack to go home, they can be put in a plastic bag and right into the suitcase. This saves a lot of time .
I leave on my next “girls cruise” in 9 days! So excited! I do believe your videos are solely responsible in helping me get it together. 😂. Thank you for sharing! About the towel bands, I’m a year out from recovering from 2 total knee replacements. Those band look so much like something used in rehab physical therapy. I just can’t. Too many bad memories. lol. I’ll pass on this one and keep my flamingo 🦩 clips. 😃🏝️🚢
Bought the towels bands for our Caribbean cruise next week. Saw them on your prior videos and thought they were a good idea. Also bought the plastic luggage tag holders (for the paper printouts) that you have spoke about.
Hi Ilana, I really appreciate all of your videos. Great ideas and info! I have found the compression travel hand roll up bags work really well to bring home dirty laundry. You can really roll them tight for a good vacuum seal that takes up even less room than the regular compression packing cubes.
I’ve been watching you for a while now and love your tips. I bought the motion sensor light last year and we use it all the time. Not just on cruises, but in hotels too. Also have the magnetic hooks, lanyards and bought the plastic luggage tags for specific cruise lines after seeing them on your channel. We had the paper ones ripped off one time and that was a nightmare.
Great tips Ilana!!! I also changed from towel clips to towel bands and it is so much easier to pack and take up a lot less room. Touché on the idea of using a packing cube for your dirty clothes on your return home. It is so simple when you get home to do your laundry and, then I wash the packing tube separately in Coldwater and hang it up to dry to reuse on my next trip
I used to bring towel clips, but switched to towel bands. Unfortunately, they were to stiff and I found it hard to stretch them to fit some chairs, so now I just bring very large rubber bands I bought at Walmart. Cheaper and they work perfectly.
My first cruise was May 2023 and I didn't know what to expect so I got a lot of stuff I didn't even need/use. My family just booked family cruise #2 for August 2024 and I'm so excited. It's gonna be on the same ship ( Carnival Sunrise) and I'm excited bout that cause I know where everything is and the slides were so fun!!! I didn't get to relax in the pool at all ( my monthly friend came) so hopefully I can enjoy the pools this year! Imma see if that black swimsuit cover up comes in my size and I might get the towel bands too. My favorite thing I got for my cruise last year was the waterproof phone case! Definitely bringing it again in August! Also I learned so much before my cruise last year by watching your videos so thanks so much for all the tips! ❤️
I hadn’t been on a cruise since pre Covid so the ultimate cruise planner was very handy. I was able to leave behind stuff I really didn’t need and lived without just fine. Thank you!
Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer- must haves. Nice to have- tech cord organizer (Amazon) and TSA locks for luggage. Love the hanging toiletry organizer and Fabreez for the bathroom. Thanks for all the tips!😊
Hi Ilana!!! Sometimes you get lucky in that both the Celebrity Apex and Holland America Rotterdam cruises gave us total bags! Also, on our 4-day mini cruise on the Carnival Conquest (Old ship, Oceanview), we forgot our motion sensor light.. as luck would have it, our old cabin had its own motion sensor light underneath the closet doors! Enjoy your "old ship/Oceanview/mini cruise"! Often those old ships have character and beauty of their own!
Love your videos! Going on my first ever cruise to Alaska this year with NCL. So excited for it. Your videos have give me so much advice and help on what to take and not to take. 😊
I always take bandaids, gauze pads and Leuko tape. Never needed any of it… until this cruise. St. Maarten was very rainy and I slipped and fell on the metal grating leading back onto the gangway and really scraped up my knee. Gauze pad and Leuko tape to the rescue to make a big “bandaid!” Then I went to Guest Services to get some spares.
I had very bad luck with that particular motion sensor light you pictured. The magnet wasn't strong enough. It just slid down the wall. Returned it when I got home. Holland America- at least the 2 ships I was on- has amber colored motion sensor night lighting built into a cabinet along the floor. Works great for middle of the night bathroom trips. Oh, I say Bo-9 :)
Thanks so much for introducing me to towel bands! Genius idea and so easy to pack 👌 I’ll be ordering some for my summer cruise on the new Sun Princess - can’t wait!
We bought a kids travel alarm clock that lights up and even had the temperature (I can’t figure out how to share it but it was on Amazon). I got the night light you recommended. I really enjoy your videos!!!
Hi Illana! Purchased those lanyards on your recommendation & they are best that I’ve seen! I have my Tide to Go & Downey wrinkle release ready as well & have ginger pills( although never needed them) I always brought too much jewellery so now I have a list on what goes with each evening outfit Keep the great videos coming & will let you know how we liked the Bus trip to Ship in May! Happy Cruising 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
Floating hammocks are a must when going to the beach (my favorite thing to bring to Coco Cay). They pack up very small and easy to inflate. It makes our beach time so much more enjoyable and relaxing!
I’ll try the towel bands. I don’t bring the laundry hamper, love the magnetic hooks and clips, and I use the separate click just because I like looking at a clock in my room. Even though I cruise solo, I still bring along poo pourri. I save the clear plastic bags from buying curtains to re-use to hold my toiletries for travel. I’ll try to toiletries covers.
Great video, as always! I have also switched to the towel bands for travel due to weight. And on my recent cruise, I stuffed my laundry into my compression cube and put it in my carryon. It weighed quite a lot but this kept the weight down in my checked luggage. Can I also suggest that, especially if you are doing a cruise or trip that is not your usual holiday, you keep a diary so you will remember all the little details of what you saw, who you met, etc. I just do it on my ipad so I can print it out later and keep it with the hardcover photo book I do for the trip.
Princess has an annoying motion activated foyer light that doesn't include the bathroom light. I bought the motion activated light for the bathroom so I didn't have to wake up when the Hubs got up, based on your recommendation. Great idea and great product. Thanks much 😊
Ilana , just came back from our first family cruise & used a lot of your recommendations ! Thanks so much for your time & consideration we had a blast ! 🏝️💓
So glad you enjoyed your family cruise!! I’m actually thinking of doing a bit more tips geared for sailing with kids so please share any tips you picked up 👏😂
I use a towel clip to clip my sun hat to my tote bag if I’m wanting to bring it, but not wear it all the time- perfect for embarkation day and on excursions
I always think I have learned it all and then you do another video. thanks for the great work you do. I so enjoy watching and learning new things about cruising. I now have several (and about to buy more) of your travel items. I love them all.
We're going on our very first cruise in June (me, my husband, our 5 kiddos, and my father-in-law)! I'M SOOOO NERVOUS! Your videos have been very helpful, especially since I have no idea what I'm doing! We're going on a 10-day Mediterranean cruise, and I'll definitely be getting some of the items you discussed. Fingers crossed that I'm not seasick the whole time!! 🤞
I wanted to share that I found an over the door laundry hamper to be more efficient. Hung it inside the closet door the just stuffed the whole thing in the suitcase at the end
Thanks Illana! Another great video! My fave tip ive learned, not just for cruising, is to pack spild versions of things for carry on only travel. Even shampoo and comditioner bars!
I went on my 2nd cruise a month ago (my 1st was 30 years ago). I watched lots of your videos & bought near every suggestion, them I couldn’t fit everything in my luggage 🤦🏻♀️😄. It didn’t help that I traveled with a friend, so I brought doubles of most things and packed all of it in MY luggage.
You got all the best chochkas. All the latest trendy stuff. As a solo cruiser so far much of it is unnecessary for me but good to know about. My lanyard water pouch protector broke but then again I got it for free as someone left it on the bench at my kayak hike snorkeling excursion at St. Thomas. I have the waist pouches too. I passed the Independence of the Seas this morning on my way to the Fisher Island Ferry to pick up a customer and they must have been testing the life boats as I saw like seven of them in the water. On Saturday the Icon will be there ready for it's first cruise. I saw it two weeks ago when it arrived. Simply Awesome. That's all I got. Bye for now.
I always carry a tiny travel alarm clock, but it is analog, not digital. Just twisting the little knobs on the back to change the clock time or alarm time is so quick and simple. Best thing about an actual clock (with glow in the dark dial) beside your bed is that your phone doesn’t need to be right beside you bed. So it doesn’t matter if there isn’t a handy bedside charger plug, you can just charge your phone anywhere in the room. P.S. Don’t worry about the lighting, girl. You look terrific. Anybody can look passable with the right lighting, you’ve just shown you don’t need it.
We use a neoprene mini first aid kit which holds basic first aid items and has room for aspirin, cold/flu meds, cough drops, etc. I carry the laundry kit in my toiletry bag with almost identical to what you have, lol! And for my purse, the same pill container you use. It really is such a great item as it does not spill. I also bring sanitary pads/tampons. Not for myself (I'm too old) but have had people in bathroom ask. Sadly, these items are not readily available and cost more (when they have them) in the onboard shops. I've saved a few fellow cruisers this way. A simple thing, but so much needed when you don't expect it. Instead of the pop up laundry, we use a large laundry bag that can hang in the closet. Then we can just close it up and pack away. It takes up so much less room. We also have a beach bag. It is a water bag, waterproof and floats, that holds our SPF, lip balm, cell charger, books, hidden cash and our towels. It is always ready to grab when we head to the pool or the port. Mine is a small size, hubs has the large but we usually just use his and save mine for our own boat on Lake Erie. It works as a backpack so easy to carry. I love your tips and reviews, thanks for posting!
I asked my dr about sea sickness medicine. She said that the main ingredient can be very harmful to people over 65 and that I could take dramamine non drowsey because it's mainly ginger. She also suggested patches that go behind the ear.
Great advice! Strong wall magnets are a game changer for me. One other thing I recommend is a hand pump soap. I’m not a fan on bar soap to wash my hands. Also, mini refill perfume bottle. Instead of carrying those bulky body sprays and perfume bottles! ❤
Well, I won't be drinking on my cruise, which is okay. I'm not a drinker anyway, but like the convenience of the drink package. I'll go without the booze binge I partake in while cruising. Carnival. I'm happy with lemonade and iced tea! The bottle I bring is plenty enough, plus the bottle you get with specialty dining on day 1. More money for me to spend in port! Thanks Carnival 😅!
My wife is old school and still likes to read a book at night before bed. She has a small light that clips on her book so she doesn’t bother me with a bright light while I’m trying to sleep.
Good video. Wow. Have never thought about the toothbrush cover to avoid possible cleaning spray, I need to get the covers for the bottles. Great ideas because I bring way too much stuff, but have everything on your list except the covers for bottles for leakage. No towel bands but I don’t lay in the sun. Thanks for always bringing the best info.
“On location” may have been the funniest thing I’ve heard you say I wasn’t looking and had this on in the background I thought you were standing outside a ship or something news reporter style 😂
I start watching this and I'm like OK this isn't for me. Wife is in the other room and hears your video and she comes in and highjacks my computer.......happy wife,..happy life. Love you hun!
Thanks for you hints and tips. I have purchased quite a few of the things that you have recommended . The latest purchase is the towel bands as the clips are so bulky! I’m looking forward to my cruise in April to try them out. I like my cabin to be neat and tidy too. I will soon be a pro 😊
Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limted time). Details here: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner/
I do this every time. 😊
As a Flight Attendant, I learned a little toiletry hack that works like a charm. Just unscrew the top/lid to any bottle, put a piece of Saran wrap on top, and then screw the lid back on. I've never had any trouble with leaks and it's a cheap hack. Happy Cruising!
I do this too and it works great! 😊
THanks for this tip!
I do the same.
Magnetic hooks are a must have! We love them. Also, we take 2 small magnetic motion sensor lights that we put on the wall close to the floor, and on the bottom of the bathroom door. That way if we get up during the night, there is enough light to see, but not too much light that can disrupt being able to fall back to sleep.
My son and daughter-in-law invited me on my first cruise! I had no idea what to expect, so I have been binge watching videos. Yours are definitely the best! I have gotten so many tips on packing and what to bring. Thank you!
So exciting!! So glad my videos have been a help as you plan :)
you've got a great son & DL, there, lady! have an amazing time. cruises are the BEST!
Omg me too. My son & soon to be daughter in law invited us to join them on a cruise this Dec (none of us have ever been in a cruise) in so excited but have NO clue what i need or how to dress. I've been binging her vids. It's gonna save my life lol. Hope you enjoy your cruise 🙋🏽♀️
@@justjessy0115 so exciting!!!
Which Cruise line and to where??
Just be sure not to overpack, which is easy to do.
My husband takes pictures of his dinner all the time. At home. I saw that light you had for the phone and said to myself, "Yep, that's exactly what he needs to really make that broccoli beautiful." He's going to laugh until he cries when I give it to him. Thank you!
I worked for a smallish store in a major national department store company for several decades. Our display gal did not use the wrinkle release product, it would cause spots on certain fabrics & could leave a residue. & the company sometimes wouldn’t alauthorize some expenses.
She had a spray bottle filled with water. She’d lightly spritz the clothing & give the item a light “stretch”. This worked great in most things.
I bring towel bands too. But, as someone else mentioned, they are similar to the rehab/exercise bands. So I actually bring the exercise bands which I use for a quick workout, and I use them for towels. 😊
Great idea!
Very smart 👏
Great hack!
Believe it or not, after 50+ cruises over 20+ years our latest "cruise gadget" is a travel pepper mill! We really enjoy fresh, crushed pepper with our meals. Royal Caribbean used to offer it at every meal, but stopped a few years back. So we now carry our own. On our last cruise a passenger at a neighboring table borrowed it (she thought it belonged to Royal Caribbean and wondered why she didn't have one on her table!) It is pocket sized, and has a cap to keep ground pepper from ending up in your pocket. I do pack it in a zipper top silicone bag anyway, just to be safe.
Love your channel, the lighting doesn't matter. You look great!
On my first two cruises I used a sea-sick patch. This left me a little light-headed but I didn't get sea sick. Regular Dramamine (Diphenhydramine) makes me sleepy. I have switched to "Less Drowsy" Dramamine (Meclizine). I take two on embarkation day when we are in the buffet and then one a day with breakfast after that. The only time this hasn't helped is when we were near a tropical storm.
I believe Bonine is millions also. For me it works better than Dramamine and not drowsy!
I always travel with 3 or 4 clothespins, the kind you squeeze. This way if the curtains don't close tight and you want to sleep in it helps keep the sun out better, plus you can use them as intended to hang up items to dry.
As an RN, I will do anything to NOT wear a lanyard so card holder works for me!!!!😂
Haha it seems a lot of people have a negative association to lanyards & work. I hear you 😂
RN here - no more lanyards for me!
On board, I use one of those small cross body wallets, big enough for a phone, your card, some tissues and a chapstick.
I’m not an RN but I had to use one for work for years and I absolutely hate them!
My last 2 cruises I used a retractable lanyard clip and it worked great! 😊
I have a coach card holder. Caught on a black Friday sail for little of nothing
The toothbrush cover is something I use even when at home, bathrooms are full of all kinds of bacteria and germs. Even flushing a toilet sprays germs all over. Any help protecting your toothbrush is a must.
Good point
Tbh, just the cover still leaves a part of the brush exposed! It’s far more hygienic to buy a toothbrush case! Colour code them for each individual toothbrush - you can effectively clean them after each cruise by popping them into the dishwasher!
Ilana, your recommendations are amazing. My husband and I went on our first cruise last summer and before we left I binge-watched all your videos. It made a huge difference to us. We were much better prepared than we would have been if we had gone on board without all that info. Thanks for all you do.
Best thing we have ever found was for the small showers on the cruise ship that never has a place for all of our stuff. Amazon has a "S&T INC. Shower Organizer, Shower Caddy or Bathroom Organizer with Quick Drying Mesh" that we can hang on the inside of the shower on the shower curtain hooks. Best shower addition ever!!
Very good!! Thanks for sharing
Wonder if this mesh shower organizer can hang from a magnetic hook in the shower?
@@penny7205 Not sure if the showers are metal for magnets but this hangs on the inside of the shower hooks perfectly (as long as they are open hooked).
I would also worry about magnet and moisture, I hung an outside thermometer on a Panama cruise and the magnet part of the hook is probably still part of that ship.
@kengodbold1142 oh goodness too funny. Thanks for sharing though. I've already added your SNT mesh shower organizer to my Amazon cart!
Thank you! I’ve got this in my Amazon cart.
Instead of a backpack for myself....I wear a fanny pack. I have cinch bags packed for each excursion with water shoes, coverup, sunscreen, ziplock baggies, bottles of water, water camera, envelope of small bills for tips and paper work/ tickets for excursion. Then, on the day of excursion, grab and go...saves so much time!!
I still like ziplock baggies for things that could spill.
The cruise we just took in November we took magnetic hooks! Oh my gosh, great idea!!!
Oh brilliant! Going on my first cruise this spring & I love your tips! Will definitely be doing this!
I don't leave my toothbrush out. I repack it along with other stuff in my small bag.
If you take a bag on an excursion, I recommend one that zips or snaps shut. Your things like to jump out on excursions.
I do use a towel band, but mine has an added benefit it has a pillow attached to it. I absolutely love it you can use it at the beach or for camping . All you have to do is blow it up, and when done, just pull the plug and empty the air. It rolls up into a small tube and is lightweight.
That’s awesome 👏
A good tip use those throwaway shower caps . Sold in packs of 10 dollartree I use for shoes AND for liquid leakage on bottles works great
Also I buy those clear plastic handle bags sold at dollartree. I separate everything and lable. Meds in one bag. Seasick items meds in another. Sanitizer, gloves, wipes in another I lable each bag makes it so easy to carry on and get to things quickly without looking for things. I hang on those magnetic hooks in the room
Also I use black garbage bags for my husband dirty clothes and white for me to separate to put back in your own suitcase
Okay, my Virgo nature was stirred regarding pronunciation of Bonine;) Deep dive shows there is even a third way to pronounce it! Bowneenee. Mind blown! But the company website does appear to be utilizing the number nine and highlighting the 'nine' in the label to get us to remember it. So I leave you here, still confused and I say just pick which one you like and move on. I call it Bowneen and I can live with that;) (and it works great, thanks for recommending!)
Can’t believe u got me and my mom in your ascent videos at the pool 😂😂😂
lol, was that in my Ascent video or this one? I’ll have to look back
I am not in *any* way affiliated with Life Well Cruised--other than being a subscriber--but Ilana's Ultimate Cruise Planner document was *invaluable* for helping us keep our 3 cruises (all within 6 months!) organized. Well worth every penny for this downloadable document. It's easy to choose/print the pages you need/don't need (e.g. our kids are grown so those pages are irrelevant). If you purchase only one thing mentioned in this video, the planner should be the one.
(FYI, most other cruise channels pronounce it BOH nine, i.e. a long 'O'. But maybe the Canadian pronounciation is different, sort of the opposite of the way you pronounce "process" vs. your neighbors to the south. 😁)
Thanks for your purchase & for sharing your experience with the LWC Ultimate Cruise Planner. I’m so glad it was helpful & appreciate your feedback 😊
lol, it seems like pronouncing Bonine is going to be a continual challenge 😂
Yes but Ross, is it boh-NINE or boh-NEEN?
Really enjoyed this video.
Just trying not to get carried away buying so many things 🤦♀️
We bought towel clips (because they're cute);and they broke on the first trip. We love the bands. So lightweight.
I find the towel bands so easy to pack and use!
Bonine...pronounced BowNeen.
I orded the travel clock, toothbrush covers and bottle cover skins. Great additions to my cruise supply box. You always have such great advice!!!
Thanks for the tip 👏
The one thing I have found SUPER useful on a cruise, especially older ones is Febreeze small spaces air fresheners. I put one in the bathroom and in our room! They last the whole week and I am sure our cabin stewards appreciate it too! 😅
Thanks for all the tips & tricks! It helps so much! 😊
We use the Gain scented version and love them!
Packing cubes are an absolute GAME CHANGER! Our whole family has their own colors. I'll never pack without them again. I used to do the hanging toiletry bag but have since switched to an inexpensive, over the door hanging shoe organizer. Just the cheap fabric ones with plastic pockets. Super lightweight and easy to pack. I hang it on the door and everybody's toiletries can go in different compartments. Everything is out for everyone to see, no one loses things, but it keeps the counters clutter free. Really helps save space!
It seems like cruises are starting to discourage over the door organizers and I do believe there's one that has already banned them. If I find the video (I've watched so many from different cruisers) I'll link it, but the explanation was that they can cause damage to the door/door frame near the hooks and any other components that are constantly touching/scraping it.
@@izzybizzy-v3j That's only Disney, I believe.
You can’t hang anything over a door in a disabled cabin as it interferes with the automatic closures …even the towels on the rails do if too close and doors swing open again ..
I bought a collapsible laundry hamper after one of your videos and I wouldn’t be without it now. I pack it for all my holidays, not just cruising.
We just use a washing bag to store our dirty clothes. Takes up way less space.
Love your planner. I have used it several trips. It really helped on our 74 day cruise
Wow!! What an incredible cruise! So glad it was helpful for you :)
Hi Llana, love your channel and all the tips. We will be going on a cruise for our 50th anniversary, can't wait. So, till packing day, I've been looking for a few really cute items. Your beach cover-up is so fabulous. Could you share where you got it? Happy cruising. ❤️
I loved those magnet clips and the hanging toiletry bag. Never would have known about those without your videos.
Tip on towel bands…. Order thise rubber bands for trash cans and then you have a more multi functional item
Especially for one time cruisers
These large rubber bands come in handy at home and will also work for towel bands.
I have not cruised in a long time … over ten years and now I’m going in August on a 9 day Mediterranean cruise … so excited … your videos help me a lot thanks for sharing
When I take off my clothes, I fold them up on a shelf. When it’s time to pack to go home, they can be put in a plastic bag and right into the suitcase. This saves a lot of time .
That phone case lanyard is a GAME CHANGER! We loved them on our last cruise!
I leave on my next “girls cruise” in 9 days! So excited! I do believe your videos are solely responsible in helping me get it together. 😂. Thank you for sharing! About the towel bands, I’m a year out from recovering from 2 total knee replacements. Those band look so much like something used in rehab physical therapy. I just can’t. Too many bad memories. lol. I’ll pass on this one and keep my flamingo 🦩 clips. 😃🏝️🚢
Oh no!! lol definitely bring the cute happy clips 😂
I absolutely love the towel bands! They are very sturdy and as you mentioned, lightweight and take up little to no space in my luggage.
Exactly!!! What took my so long 😂
Bought the towels bands for our Caribbean cruise next week. Saw them on your prior videos and thought they were a good idea. Also bought the plastic luggage tag holders (for the paper printouts) that you have spoke about.
Hi Ilana, I really appreciate all of your videos. Great ideas and info! I have found the compression travel hand roll up bags work really well to bring home dirty laundry. You can really roll them tight for a good vacuum seal that takes up even less room than the regular compression packing cubes.
That’s smart!!
I saw towel bands somewhere and made a bunch for ourselves and our cruise party. Everyone has a different colour elastic!
Ooh! How do you make them? 😊
Yes!! How did you make them please?
Wow!! Great idea
Love the shoes you are wearing with your cute coverup! I literally fill my Amazon list with all your suggestions! 😁Then go back and start ordering!
Haha thank you 😊
I’ve been watching you for a while now and love your tips. I bought the motion sensor light last year and we use it all the time. Not just on cruises, but in hotels too. Also have the magnetic hooks, lanyards and bought the plastic luggage tags for specific cruise lines after seeing them on your channel. We had the paper ones ripped off one time and that was a nightmare.
Yes, per your recommendation I bought and use those towel bands. Wonderful space saver not only in my luggage but in my beach bag on beach trips!!
Great tip! True so good for all vacations
Great tips Ilana!!! I also changed from towel clips to towel bands and it is so much easier to pack and take up a lot less room. Touché on the idea of using a packing cube for your dirty clothes on your return home. It is so simple when you get home to do your laundry and, then I wash the packing tube separately in Coldwater and hang it up to dry to reuse on my next trip
I love these videos as well as links. I recommend you to everyone! Even as a seasoned cruise traveler I love it!!
We love the toiletry bag you recommended. It's been a year and it's so convenient.
I used to bring towel clips, but switched to towel bands. Unfortunately, they were to stiff and I found it hard to stretch them to fit some chairs, so now I just bring very large rubber bands I bought at Walmart. Cheaper and they work perfectly.
My first cruise was May 2023 and I didn't know what to expect so I got a lot of stuff I didn't even need/use. My family just booked family cruise #2 for August 2024 and I'm so excited. It's gonna be on the same ship ( Carnival Sunrise) and I'm excited bout that cause I know where everything is and the slides were so fun!!! I didn't get to relax in the pool at all ( my monthly friend came) so hopefully I can enjoy the pools this year! Imma see if that black swimsuit cover up comes in my size and I might get the towel bands too. My favorite thing I got for my cruise last year was the waterproof phone case! Definitely bringing it again in August! Also I learned so much before my cruise last year by watching your videos so thanks so much for all the tips! ❤️
Thanks for sharing! It’s true the second cruise will allow you to relax more now that you know what to expect
I hadn’t been on a cruise since pre Covid so the ultimate cruise planner was very handy. I was able to leave behind stuff I really didn’t need and lived without just fine. Thank you!
So glad it was helpful! Thanks for your purchase 😊
Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer- must haves.
Nice to have- tech cord organizer (Amazon) and TSA locks for luggage.
Love the hanging toiletry organizer and Fabreez for the bathroom. Thanks for all the tips!😊
Oooh yes!!
Ilana, we took your advice about the magnetic hooks and clips and they were brilliant! A must-have if you want to stay organized.
Awesome!!
I've always heard it pronounced "bo-neen". I just got towel clips at dollar tree today and a sleeping mask. Happy cruising
Hi Ilana!!! Sometimes you get lucky in that both the Celebrity Apex and Holland America Rotterdam cruises gave us total bags! Also, on our 4-day mini cruise on the Carnival Conquest (Old ship, Oceanview), we forgot our motion sensor light.. as luck would have it, our old cabin had its own motion sensor light underneath the closet doors! Enjoy your "old ship/Oceanview/mini cruise"! Often those old ships have character and beauty of their own!
Thank you, Ilana. You are helping me to get ready for my cruise. I especially like your Amazon links as the items are in Canadian dollars.
The $tore has a 6-pk towel clips $1.25 for the budget conscious.
Love your videos! Going on my first ever cruise to Alaska this year with NCL. So excited for it. Your videos have give me so much advice and help on what to take and not to take. 😊
Fantastic cruise!!
I always take bandaids, gauze pads and Leuko tape. Never needed any of it… until this cruise. St. Maarten was very rainy and I slipped and fell on the metal grating leading back onto the gangway and really scraped up my knee. Gauze pad and Leuko tape to the rescue to make a big “bandaid!” Then I went to Guest Services to get some spares.
I had very bad luck with that particular motion sensor light you pictured. The magnet wasn't strong enough. It just slid down the wall. Returned it when I got home. Holland America- at least the 2 ships I was on- has amber colored motion sensor night lighting built into a cabinet along the floor. Works great for middle of the night bathroom trips. Oh, I say Bo-9 :)
Thanks so much for introducing me to towel bands! Genius idea and so easy to pack 👌 I’ll be ordering some for my summer cruise on the new Sun Princess - can’t wait!
Nice vid. The towel bands will also help you find your chair.
We bought a kids travel alarm clock that lights up and even had the temperature (I can’t figure out how to share it but it was on Amazon). I got the night light you recommended. I really enjoy your videos!!!
That laundry kit was so helpful on my last cruise. I kept my wrinkle release spray in there too.
Hi Illana! Purchased those lanyards on your recommendation & they are best that I’ve seen! I have my Tide to Go & Downey wrinkle release ready as well & have ginger pills( although never needed them) I always brought too much jewellery so now I have a list on what goes with each evening outfit Keep the great videos coming & will let you know how we liked the Bus trip to Ship in May! Happy Cruising 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
Thanks for sharing! Yes let me know :)
Floating hammocks are a must when going to the beach (my favorite thing to bring to Coco Cay). They pack up very small and easy to inflate. It makes our beach time so much more enjoyable and relaxing!
How smart!
I’ll try the towel bands. I don’t bring the laundry hamper, love the magnetic hooks and clips, and I use the separate click just because I like looking at a clock in my room. Even though I cruise solo, I still bring along poo pourri. I save the clear plastic bags from buying curtains to re-use to hold my toiletries for travel. I’ll try to toiletries covers.
The lighting looks great😀
Great video, as always! I have also switched to the towel bands for travel due to weight. And on my recent cruise, I stuffed my laundry into my compression cube and put it in my carryon. It weighed quite a lot but this kept the weight down in my checked luggage. Can I also suggest that, especially if you are doing a cruise or trip that is not your usual holiday, you keep a diary so you will remember all the little details of what you saw, who you met, etc. I just do it on my ipad so I can print it out later and keep it with the hardcover photo book I do for the trip.
Princess has an annoying motion activated foyer light that doesn't include the bathroom light. I bought the motion activated light for the bathroom so I didn't have to wake up when the Hubs got up, based on your recommendation. Great idea and great product. Thanks much 😊
Ilana , just came back from our first family cruise & used a lot of your recommendations ! Thanks so much for your time & consideration we had a blast ! 🏝️💓
So glad you enjoyed your family cruise!! I’m actually thinking of doing a bit more tips geared for sailing with kids so please share any tips you picked up 👏😂
Magnets and magnet hooks are my must bring. 9 cruises in 12 months, you my hero
😂
I use a towel clip to clip my sun hat to my tote bag if I’m wanting to bring it, but not wear it all the time- perfect for embarkation day and on excursions
I always think I have learned it all and then you do another video. thanks for the great work you do. I so enjoy watching and learning new things about cruising. I now have several (and about to buy more) of your travel items. I love them all.
We're going on our very first cruise in June (me, my husband, our 5 kiddos, and my father-in-law)! I'M SOOOO NERVOUS! Your videos have been very helpful, especially since I have no idea what I'm doing! We're going on a 10-day Mediterranean cruise, and I'll definitely be getting some of the items you discussed. Fingers crossed that I'm not seasick the whole time!! 🤞
I bought the same nautical carry on bag a few years ago and it's been the best cruise purchase I've made so far. Absolutely LOVE it!!!
Great to see you!! We were your neighbor at Coco Cay!! We did the 7 day on Oasis that week. 😁
I’ll tell you I was jealous of my oasis neighbours 😂. Love that ship
@@LifeWellCruised it was our third oasis class ship! Next year we’re on Symphony! I’ve been on Independence three times, such a nice ship.
I wanted to share that I found an over the door laundry hamper to be more efficient. Hung it inside the closet door the just stuffed the whole thing in the suitcase at the end
I lay my garments on the bed, spray with the Downy Wrinkle Release and smooth out with my hands. I find this works best.
👏👏
I love those multi-country power adapters.
Thanks Illana! Another great video! My fave tip ive learned, not just for cruising, is to pack spild versions of things for carry on only travel. Even shampoo and comditioner bars!
I’ll have to try this sometime. I think it’s a great idea for packing light especially
I went on my 2nd cruise a month ago (my 1st was 30 years ago). I watched lots of your videos & bought near every suggestion, them I couldn’t fit everything in my luggage 🤦🏻♀️😄.
It didn’t help that I traveled with a friend, so I brought doubles of most things and packed all of it in MY luggage.
You got all the best chochkas. All the latest trendy stuff. As a solo cruiser so far much of it is unnecessary for me but good to know about. My lanyard water pouch protector broke but then again I got it for free as someone left it on the bench at my kayak hike snorkeling excursion at St. Thomas. I have the waist pouches too. I passed the Independence of the Seas this morning on my way to the Fisher Island Ferry to pick up a customer and they must have been testing the life boats as I saw like seven of them in the water. On Saturday the Icon will be there ready for it's first cruise. I saw it two weeks ago when it arrived. Simply Awesome. That's all I got. Bye for now.
I always carry a tiny travel alarm clock, but it is analog, not digital. Just twisting the little knobs on the back to change the clock time or alarm time is so quick and simple. Best thing about an actual clock (with glow in the dark dial) beside your bed is that your phone doesn’t need to be right beside you bed. So it doesn’t matter if there isn’t a handy bedside charger plug, you can just charge your phone anywhere in the room.
P.S. Don’t worry about the lighting, girl. You look terrific. Anybody can look passable with the right lighting, you’ve just shown you don’t need it.
Thanks for sharing! True it’s good to have the light/glow of the clock. Thanks so much for your kind words ☺️
We use a neoprene mini first aid kit which holds basic first aid items and has room for aspirin, cold/flu meds, cough drops, etc. I carry the laundry kit in my toiletry bag with almost identical to what you have, lol! And for my purse, the same pill container you use. It really is such a great item as it does not spill. I also bring sanitary pads/tampons. Not for myself (I'm too old) but have had people in bathroom ask. Sadly, these items are not readily available and cost more (when they have them) in the onboard shops. I've saved a few fellow cruisers this way. A simple thing, but so much needed when you don't expect it. Instead of the pop up laundry, we use a large laundry bag that can hang in the closet. Then we can just close it up and pack away. It takes up so much less room. We also have a beach bag. It is a water bag, waterproof and floats, that holds our SPF, lip balm, cell charger, books, hidden cash and our towels. It is always ready to grab when we head to the pool or the port. Mine is a small size, hubs has the large but we usually just use his and save mine for our own boat on Lake Erie. It works as a backpack so easy to carry. I love your tips and reviews, thanks for posting!
These are such great tips!! Thanks for sharing
I asked my dr about sea sickness medicine. She said that the main ingredient can be very harmful to people over 65 and that I could take dramamine non drowsey because it's mainly ginger. She also suggested patches that go behind the ear.
Great advice! Strong wall magnets are a game changer for me. One other thing I recommend is a hand pump soap. I’m not a fan on bar soap to wash my hands. Also, mini refill perfume bottle. Instead of carrying those bulky body sprays and perfume bottles! ❤
❤ we love the towel bands!! They are so much easier than clips but I do miss my cute clips. ❤
I also bring bands to save space but still Bring two clips if I have a balcony, to dry clothes and also to clip my hat on chair.
Smart 👏👏
That beach bag is cuuuute!
Ilana, the lighting is just right. You're good!
Woo, Didn't know there were towel bands out there. Thanks for sharing.
Well, I won't be drinking on my cruise, which is okay. I'm not a drinker anyway, but like the convenience of the drink package. I'll go without the booze binge I partake in while cruising. Carnival. I'm happy with lemonade and iced tea! The bottle I bring is plenty enough, plus the bottle you get with specialty dining on day 1. More money for me to spend in port! Thanks Carnival 😅!
The lanyard with detachable clip is also great when you are lounging by the pool and they need your sea pass for your drink
My wife is old school and still likes to read a book at night before bed. She has a small light that clips on her book so she doesn’t bother me with a bright light while I’m trying to sleep.
Good video. Wow. Have never thought about the toothbrush cover to avoid possible cleaning spray, I need to get the covers for the bottles. Great ideas because I bring way too much stuff, but have everything on your list except the covers for bottles for leakage. No towel bands but I don’t lay in the sun. Thanks for always bringing the best info.
Glad it was helpful!
“On location” may have been the funniest thing I’ve heard you say I wasn’t looking and had this on in the background I thought you were standing outside a ship or something news reporter style 😂
Thank you for your helpful and informative videos! You have made cruise planning much more enjoyable and worry free!
Do you happen to have a video showing how to pack your suitcase & do you ever bring a suit bag for dress & dress shirts?
Love this. My must have item is a scent cone that I place on a corner day 1 and hooks
Just the cone? You don’t light it, right? So does just 1 work for you? If so, that sounds like a great idea.
Yes the $1 one, these work great
@@caroleceres
I like those elastic towel bands too. I also have some with clips because the bands don't fit on all the pool lounges.
Thanks!! True
I start watching this and I'm like OK this isn't for me. Wife is in the other room and hears your video and she comes in and highjacks my computer.......happy wife,..happy life. Love you hun!
😂
Haha you’re a good man 😂
Thanks for you hints and tips. I have purchased quite a few of the things that you have recommended . The latest purchase is the towel bands as the clips are so bulky! I’m looking forward to my cruise in April to try them out.
I like my cabin to be neat and tidy too. I will soon be a pro 😊