50 *Life-Changing* CRUISE PACKING HACKS You Wish You Knew Sooner!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 พ.ค. 2024
- These genius cruise packing hacks & tips will change the way you cruise! Whether you're a first time cruiser or a seasoned cruiser, these tips will help you to pack better for your cruise vacation.
From must-have cruise essentials to cruise accessories, clever cruise hacks that will optimize luggage space & help you to keep organized. Some of these cruise tips & tricks will help you to add storage to your cruise ship cabin. I've included some amazing amazon cruise essentials & travel finds & travel essentials.
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CRUISE ESSENTIALS & ITEMS IN VIDEO
Packing cubes: amzn.to/3wF1syG
Compression cubes: amzn.to/497vGeL
Travel shoe bags: amzn.to/4940GMw
Hanging travel shelves organizer: amzn.to/3Q9Ito4
Toiletry covers: amzn.to/3rT78FD
Jewelry organizer case: amzn.to/45GmlaS
Travel backpack carry-on: amzn.to/46FbHlX
Shower organizer: amzn.to/45IjduQ
Portable charger (plugs attached): amzn.to/46HxoBI
AirTags: amzn.to/3tIOttp
Air tag holders (for Medallion too): amzn.to/3Q5fjqo
Tile tracker: amzn.to/3FoMgcp
Pop up hamper: amzn.to/408lBtL
Sunhat: amzn.to/3Fqfzvd
Magnetic hat clip: amzn.to/45CLxyJ
Bonine: amzn.to/3NE87zo
Seabands: amzn.to/3LxvLvt
Ginger candies: amzn.to/370LBzP
Reef safe sunscreen: amzn.to/3QstR4C
Lip balm: amzn.to/46CBon2
Reusable straws: amzn.to/3FqKffN
Lanyards: amzn.to/3uNZBFb
Cruise card holder: amzn.to/3EWtRUL
Handheld fan: amzn.to/46XP0cr
Night light: amzn.to/33eMEqP
Collapsible bottle: amzn.to/3tXCtVw
Water bottle: amzn.to/46FLN1q
Over the door organizer: amzn.to/3Dx2m1N
Toiletry containers: amzn.to/405h1MS
Travel hairdryer: amzn.to/3xOxndy
Travel cabin fan: amzn.to/3uMc24t
Travel alarm clock: amzn.to/3iYuYXN
Magnet hooks: amzn.to/3wZgj77
Magnet clips: amzn.to/37bNh9W
Magnetic cable ties: amzn.to/3tJISWU
Electronics organizer: amzn.to/3wpIvxK
Towel clips: amzn.to/3b4cj9V
Towel band with clips: amzn.to/3XrB1aR
Hanging toiletry bag: amzn.to/3Nb8fFY
No surge power bar: amzn.to/3NCRu7d
Universal adapter: amzn.to/494sSPg
Passport wallet: amzn.to/3f6VqNW
Nautical carry on bag: amzn.to/2TH7L3T
Weekender carry-on bag: amzn.to/3ZYk8Gp
Poo-Pourri: amzn.to/3vJCaM8
Waterproof phone cases on lanyards: amzn.to/3iXCuT6
Travel luggage scale: amzn.to/3tIbzAX
Lightweight foldable backpack: amzn.to/49egVqp
Luggage tag holder:
*Royal Caribbean: amzn.to/3tvNzB5
*Celebrity: amzn.to/3JB36Fk
*Norwegian: amzn.to/3JzGiFP
*Princess: amzn.to/3wvgW8t
*Carnival: amzn.to/3uhaUFM
*HAL: amzn.to/3tz7tLs
Level 8 Luggage (10% Discount code LIFEWELLCRUISED): www.dpbolvw.net/click-1007209...
ULTIMATE CRUISE PLANNER: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-...
More Items we LOVE @ Life Well Cruised Amazon Store: amzn.to/3QaoV29
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FTC LEGAL DISCLOSURE - Some links found in the description box of my videos are affiliate links, meaning that I will make a commission on purchases you make through my links, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I personally like and trust.
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*Business inquiries & media: please contact Ilana at lifewellcruised@gmail.com
Please note that I am unable to give personal cruise and travel advice. If you leave a comment I try my best to answer.
ABOUT ME
Hi! I'm Ilana! I live in Montreal, Canada with my husband Frank. We can often be found dreaming about and planning future cruises, ideally to hot and sunny destinations! I believe in having fun, being kind and that you are never too old, or too young, to live the life of your dreams!
Please note that I do not sell cruises on Life Well Cruised. This and all other videos are for entertainment purposes only. I share my own opinions, personal experiences and information with other cruise travellers, which I hope can be helpful. Please contact your travel agent or the cruise line directly for advice and any information specific to your booking.
Some of the b-roll used in this video courtesy of RCCL and Princess Cruises.
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Music Credit: Surf Time by Lux-InspiraMusicMusic
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/
Got the Planner and I love it great way to get organized!!!
Taking your own wine on Norwegian cruise lines. Beware they do charge you a $15 de-corking fee. Corked bottles is the only type they permit. They will allow the larger bottles but the fee goes up quite a bit. So no savings there.
I use that dish soap on the sponge hack all the time when traveling. I get cheap sponges at the dollar store and cut them into 4 pieces. I wet the sponge, squeeze out the water, load it with dish soap, and place the pieces on a cooling rack to completely dry. When I need to wash out my water bottle, coffee cup, or hot pot, the little sponge already has soap on it. No need to pack another liquid.
This is a super idea! Thanks so much.
Brilliant!
Love this idea! Thanks so much!
Awesome hack! True great for all travel 👏
Excellent hint, thank you so much…
Yes, bring your bathing suit on Alaskan cruises! Sitting in the hot tub looking at the glaciers is one of my best cruise memories.
Me: watching video with Amazon open so I can shop these genius items while you’re explaining them!!
😂
I just hope you two know the joy and light you bring to this world. Not only informative and encouraging, but entertaining as well. Thanks for all y’all do.
To help cool your mini fridge down, OPEN THE CUPBOARD DOOR that "hides" the fridge. The heat builds up in the cupboard and the tiny vent isn't enough to let the hot air to escape and/or there is not a second vent to allow cool air to enter the cupboard.
You don't need to keep it fully open... just wedge something in to stop it fully closing... I've used a (clean) sock draped over the end of the door and that's left a small gap... and I've used a magnetic hook placed on the door of the fridge to the cupboard door can't fully shut (and then also used a rubber band to latch on the hook and the cupboard door knob to stop the cupboard from flying open.
Let you Cabin Steward that you are keeping the cupboard door open for this reason, so they don't shut on you during the day when they tidy up.
Interesting tip 😊
Interesting… Will try this on my next cruise! Thanks for the tip!
And if you’re trying to keep an ice pack cold, store it surrounded by ice in your refrigerator/cooler. I brought back some smoked salmon from Alaska this way
Great, thank you because I have medication that needs to be kept cold.
I always travel with swim shoes. Not necessarily for swimming. I wear them in the shower and tubs. They can get very slick and it can help protect you from falling due to a slippery floor.
If you're hand-washing clothing in the cabin sink, you can bring dry laundry detergent sheets instead of powders and bulky liquids.
So right, and also use your own dryer sheets so you don't have to buy them in the laundry room if doing your own laundry.
We have been using the WashEZE 3 in 1 sheet for years (Disney has laundrettes on all the ships). Great product.
I used the detergent sheets on my cruise last month. They work great. I bought a package of them to keep in my cruise necessities.
Smart idea
Bar of fels naphtha for me
Vitamin C drops or Cough drops etc can also help to keep you from getting a dry mouth. Especially in warm environments the AC really dries the cabin air.
I pack a thin bath mat for getting out of the shower. That was one of the best hacks. Trust me, you'll love it
One recent shower hack I learned was to pack 6-8 flat "fridge" magnets. Place one on opposite sides of the shower curtain, in pairs at the bottom edge. Helps keep them from flying about.
I just returned from a New England cruise and loved having the following items from your suggested list. Cabin magnets and clips, hanging toiletries bag, folding hangers, extra baggies, shower caps for shoes , wrinkle releaser, Tide pens, lanyards, portable charger and case and more. Thank you so much for your wonderful channel.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing 👏👏
I like all of your tips to save space in your luggage. However, for my checked bag I usually run out of weight before I run out of volume. With this in mind, never travel with old luggage, the newer ones are much lighter and the extra 3 pounds (5% of total allowance) are much better used by me for things that I want to pack for the cruise.
Thanks!
That’s so true!! Thanks for mentioning
That was my argument for replacing our old luggage recently. I won 😂. But it wasn’t until hubby lifted the old luggage off the shelf and placed the new luggage on it that he realized the difference. He was shocked.
She just practically added things that are not yet inside my already full luggage! 😆😆😆
I pack clothes pins to hold the curtains closed. The curtains on cruise ships never seem to totally meet in the middle.
Great video. After 24 cruises, I can always count on you to teach me something new. Since most devices now have 120/220 chargers, the idea of using the European plugs in the cabins is brilliant! Thank you. I use compression cubes for everything except my more formal clothes. Those get lightly folded and put into a regular larger packing cube. Since I travel pretty light, all of the cubes fit well into the hanging organizer and it goes in to my luggage leaving space around the sides for other packables. I also carry a couple of packets of Liquid IV as well as a few bouillon cubes in a zipper bag and a few crackers in a small covered container just in case anyone in the group overindulges, needs something light if motion sickness strikes. Finally, I carry a large trash bag- before I store my luggage under the bed or in the closet, I put the luggage in the bag and seal it. It is just one more level to avoid bringing any unwanted critters home after vacation. 🛳🚢
Great ideas!!! Love the last one 😂
😮😮😮 I've never thought about putting the luggage in a large trash bag. That is Brilliant!!!! Thank you so much for that tip! 🤗🥰
Very helpful. I'm going on my very first cruise. Thank you for your honesty.
Matching shirts is unbelievably helpful for vacationing with kids. Much easier to mentally “collect” and or watch/monitor one’s children when they are dressed alike. Made vacations so much easier and less stressful! I can count like items much faster/easier than identifying each child individually.
Recently discovered two-sided clean/dirty compression cubes on amazon. Love them. I just put my cubes on the closet shelves, pull out a clean outfit in the morning, put it in the dirty side at the end of the day. Worked so well on my last cruise. Left the drawers for my friend and I didn't have separate laundry bag taking up closet space!
Very smart!
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I travel light. I do have one checked luggage and a carryon but I bring a little as possible. I used to carry a packable duffel bag for souvenirs but now my back pack serves as a backpack during shore excursions, a swim bag and an extra bag for souvenirs. This backpack is super light, I got it on Amazon and I pack it into my checked luggage. I pack clothing into it when I pack it in my luggage. I bring a lot of plastic bags ranging in size from the ones you get when you buy shoes to grocery bags. These don’t weigh anything and don’t take up any room. I use them for dirty laundry, shoes, etc. I bring a lot of ziplock bags of all sizes, including an X-LARGE one for my camera in case it rains. If the cruise ship does not provide separate hair conditioner, I bring conditioner satchets. I bring dishwashing sponges but do not add dishwashing soap to them. Instead I use hand or body gel that is provided in the bathroom or I use shampoo. Instead of bringing Tupperware type containers, I keep disposable containers that are used by restaurants for take out food or wonton soup bowls that are disposable with lids and I bring those on a cruise. When the cruise is over I place them in the recycling bin. This saves weight and space in my luggage. I also bring very old shirts or sleep shirts. When the trip is over, I throw them away, saving luggage space for souvenirs.
Like uour ideas!!!❤
Re: matching cruise shirts for embarkation day - my bestie and I both sew, so we made ourselves different styles of sundress out of the same, obnoxiously LOUD fabric for our first cruise, coming up next month!
I recently got a set of compression cubes and discovered that they really didn't hold any more than regular packing cubes. Apparently I pack the regular ones *really tight* 😆
Awesome!! So fun! Lol, I pack my packing cubes pretty full too 😂
I've used modified puck lights that I bought at Five Below for my nightlight for the last couple of cruises. I removed and replaced the adhesive on the back with small neodymium magnets and toned down the light using dimming stickers. This works great in the bathroom where you want enough light to see but not enough to wake up.
That’s brilliant 👏
My entire family are cruisers and we love your videos. In regards to this particular one, you mention magnets with hooks. We had seen this hack on a prior video and ordered some through Amazon. They are very inexpensive and useful aboard ship. In quite a few instances, we have gifted them to crew members much to their delight. We were just aboard the Mariner of the Seas and when I mentioned the magnet/hangers to the head waiter, he was very interested so we gifted a set to Raj at the end of the cruise. He rushed to his cabin during the evening meal and put them away. We also gave him an additional gratuity thanks to his helpfulness in the buffet.
We did have one interesting experience, one night, three of us ordered French Onion Soup and we all complained to the waiter. He came back to explain to us that someone in the kitchen forgot to add the "onions". The next time we ordered the soup, there were plenty of onions.
Haha
I always plan my outfits. If I "map" out all the days it helps me to keep from overpacking. I will write that I am wearing a certain dress to dinner one day and then put in on a different day to wear again, maybe three days later. Honestly no one notices if you wear the same dress twice. If you want slippers for the cabin buy them at Dollar Tree.....then just toss them when you leave.
Poo-pourri is a great thing to bring. It even comes in a very small travel size (.34 oz).
I often use flushable wipes at home, but those a no-no for cruise ship toilets. So I bring some doggy poop bags, and then you can just toss it in the bathroom waste basket.
I am bringing car fresheners instead of poo-pourri.
Flushable wipes are actually not good for any sewage system and should not be flushed.
Also suggest thank you notes. Yes you can use the app on board but nothing like a TY note to personalize. They can show their boss. you can always add $$ as well, if you wish or save $$ till the end of the cruise
I left cash in a thank you note for our cabin steward last month and wrote a glowing review for his wonderful service.
Great idea
Yes! Greatly appreciated by the cabin steward! Personal is sooo much more thoughtful.
Compression cubes are great for packing for cold climate cruises. Sweaters, puffy jacket, scarf, mitts, etc compress into a small space.
I bring small squirt bottles of flavoring for sodas. Also bring a shaker bottle of popcorn seasoning (parmesian cheese flavor) to put on the unseasoned popcorn some cruise lines give out at their "movies under the stars." Will pass it around to other movie goers, they seem to appreciate it...
Absolutely love these tips! 👏
Can you bring mio
With the nice smelling garbage bags (for putting dirty laundry in -- and this is a great tip) make sure to put them in SEALED ZIP LOCKED BAGS when you are packing for the cruise... and only take them out when you are packing the dirty laundry... otherwise ALL your clothes are likely to smell like Lavender or Lemon, or what ever "flavour" the garbage bags are.
They can also make your cabin smell like them too... so this can be a blessing or curse depending on what you like -- if you want to mask an odour in you cabin, then these garbage bags can often double as an air freshener... if you don't want that smell then wait to unseal them until you are packing the dirty laundry
Lol that’s a very smart tip
I think I would need an additional piece of luggage for all of the packing and organizing items you recommend. I always use plastic grocery bags for shoes. They are lightweight, free and I’m recycling. Instead of a hamper, I bring a tall kitchen garbage bag. It’s easy to keep my dirty laundry separate for the trip home.
Please remember it's illegal in most places to transport prescription medications in anything other than the original container...the pill box is ok for otc, but you def need to bring your rx containers.
How are officials going to know if the loose pills in the pill box are prescription or not?
True it’s important to know the rule of the country you are travelling to. When going from Canada to US or boarding a cruise my understanding is that this isn’t required
This past year we kept all our prescriptions in their original containers, had the written prescription and a letter from our doctor stating that they had been prescribed to us. Well guess what? Clearing customs in Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Bali, Singapore and Japan we were never questioned in any of those countries. I bet if we hadn’t been that prepared they would have questioned us or maybe even confiscated them……go figure!
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I will add that the original container for meds will be helpful if you need a refill or there is an incident where health workers need a record of what you are taking, how much and when.
I bring my normal “daily” pillbox, plus copies of the prescription label for each medication.
I wear a lot of blouses so I’ve found the perfect hack to come out wrinkle free. I bought plastic bags ( like dry cleaners use) and I put one on each blouse then pack in suitcase. Usually folded in half to fit. They come out beautifully and I reuse the bags each time I cruise.
I preferred compression cubes. And I roll, take things out as soon as I get into my cabin and bring the Downy wrinkle release (though I really haven't needed it - yet). I also bring clothes that don't normally wrinkle and are very lightweight. I learned this when I went backpacking Europe 2 years ago. All I took was a 40# backpack and a sling. 🙂
That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing 👏
I keep a swimsuit in my luggage at all times. I learned long ago that you never know when a swimming pool will be open at a particular resort or hotel. Also, we went on an Alaskan cruise when our day at sea was in the 80s and we had a pool day. After every trip, I wash the swimsuit and place it back in my suitcase. Thanks for mentioning in your video.
This is another great video letting us all know (new and old) about packing and things to make this all easier! The shower cap works great for shoes, the packing cubes works great because there are only so many drawers and these work wonderfully! The power pack is a must since you may need it if you are flying long distance or if you have a long layover because it seems you never know what you are plugging into. Magnets are a must with the large hooks! These also work great to hang your over the door shoe rack because it doesn't work over the door and there is always space on the roof. I found out that rolling you clothes gives me more wrinkles so I fold my clothes. Foldable hamper is needed if you are on a longer voyage because you might need to do laundry. we don't take soap because it's not that spendy on the ship, dryer sheets we take because they also keep your clothes with a fresh smell in your luggage. The foldable straws are great! Luggage tag holders are the best! Zip lock bags are a must! Bring all 3 sizes! Cable cases are great if you are going to carry a few in you carry on because they don't hold a lot and a zip lock bag works great for the majority of your cables and power plugs. Door decorations keeps the mood easy and they are fun to decorate the room also! If you bring your shampoo and conditioner it'll be yours not settling for what they have for you. Bring you own hairdryer also because you know it and how it works. You never know if you're going to get sick so it's always better to be proactive! Also you will want to bring cold medication also! You will be around a lot of people and you never know if someone has a cold and it's not easy to find cold meds if/when you need them! A power bar is a must! I don't know if the European plug is 220V? It is good to take a power cube with you that can be used in the 4 major regions because if you find yourself traveling a lot in different country's you'll need different types of plugs and you might even want to think about a 220v to 110v step down converter. USB plugs seem to be a standard 5 volts even if you are using 110v or 220v. Sun screen is a must but make sure that you get the Reef Safe sun screen because it's better for the environment! There are so any other things that I know I'm missing so, keep watching Life Well Cruise and you'll get more and some better ideas!
Love it! Thanks for your comments 😊
I'm just not seeing the packing cubes. I do make me a list of clothes I need for each day then add a tiny bit to that. I roll clothes for suitcase. Shoes I put in plastic bags. Ziplock bags are great for sandy sandals or water shoes.
Also Aloe Vera. One cruise I forgot it and it cost me 13.00 for a very small bottle. (live and learn).
I have always used the little snack size ziplock bags for my daily vitamins. I mark the date on the baggie for each day of cruise. Then at night when I add it to my cinch bag and it is ready for the next day. I also wear a fanny pack....hands free is great.
I also pack a multiple port charger since some cruise ships don’t have enough ports for charging.
Yes power bar!
I would love to see a what to wear on your cruise video. I always struggle to find outfits and accessories. Maybe you already have one on your channel. Love your vids ❤😊
Great idea! I’ll do this for my next cruise
Using g my tablet to view. Don't see the links . Interested in the pretty white seen ear the end of the video.
I always bring the clothes hamper. It’s a great way to keep dirty laundry organized
Took a pop-up clothes hamper on our cruise a few weeks ago. It was great. Kept all the dirty clothes in one place and made it easy to do laundry.
Just a note about the alarm clock, most people use their phones, but if you are in a different time zone that what the ship time is, your phone will adjust to the time zone. This can cause you to be early or late for something if it does.
I've cruised recently on Celebrity and I found all types of attire both in the main dining room and Blu. Even in Blu the attire was less dressy. I hate packing the additional clothing and shoes!
Dollar tree carries a half size hanging shoe bag. It has 8 pockets.
Awesome!!
I am a doctoral student and have had to submit an assignment or two online. Look, I don't care if others don't like it. I don't care that they choose not to use their electronics. I would appreciate a quiet area with more outlets as well as the nonjudgment of other cruisers.
There is always something new in your videos! Will have to order the cord ties, have used elastic bands but those look so much handier. I will add a few laundry tips. We do take the fold up laundry hamper as we cruise Princess but also two large compression bags that I use to sort the dirty clothes into lights and darks for the trip home. They take up less room in the suitcase leaving room for your trip purchases and then they are dropped directly in the laundry room and the loads are ready to put in the washing machine.
Very smart laundry idea 👏
The luggage tag holders and cruise card holder with lanyard are very practical. I love the hanging toiletries bag, it saved so much space in the bathroom and it held all my medication, travel size bottles, q-tips etc. You did not mention the waterproof phone cover with lanyard. Great for excursions on the water like kayaking😊
Very true 👏
This is by far my favorite cruise video of all time. I have been on many cruises and can appreciate the suggestions/reminders
It was presented beautifully and well articulated.
I’ve already listened to this but since I just returned from a cruise there’s mistakes I made…
I had a suitcase & toiletry bag I was going to check. At the port, we were rushed & I left my toiletry bag in the car. We decided to not return to get it & buy the products on the ship. Text time I’ll put everything into a larger suitcase. On Caribbean Princess the essentials are sold at the liquor store-yes the liquor store. We didn’t discover this until 2 days later. They sold contact solution, so I was finally able to wear my contacts. They don’t sell shampoo/conditioner, so I tried the combo in the shower, but my hair looked like straw. I tried my husband’s shampoo & I had straw hair again. Next I tried dove soap which was a little better but not a lot.
On the 2nd day of my cruise my hair dryer died. They don’t sell those on the ship. The 3rd day, my curling iron died. Again, they don’t sell those either. Buy new inexpensive ones & try them before cruising.
My husband got sick on the cruise so I was so glad I packed ibuprofen, alka-seltzer, Emetrol for his nausea( they now sell chewable, instead of liquid. The Emetrol & alka-seltzer were life saving!
I purchased cheap silicone straws at Aldi & only left one in my glass- glad they were cheap
Every morning we had danish/coffee served in our cabin. I’d taken a knock off yetti so I filled my cup with the coffee & only had to add creamer & sugar once instead of having to refill those little cups- this worked so good! There was limited ice so I would fill my cup with ice & I could refill my cup with drinks & the ice lasted for hours
Your suggestion to buy magnetic hooks works great. Make sure you get the ones that hold 50 lbs. I used them for sweaters, my purse, my beach bag. So handy!
Don’t depend on being able to use the washer dryers on the ship. I arrived to find two women who had been there fur hours & walked back & forth. Only one washer & 2 dryers worked . One load had to be dried 4 times in order to completely dry them. So I used my foldable hangers I brought with me, hung more magnetic hooks, & dried the rest of my clothes.
We don’t fly to Fla for our cruise, so I want a toiletry bag that holds tall items. LLBean sells one that holds tall items, along with your curling iron, & dryer. It’s my favorite one!
Oh! Caribbean Princess don’t supply hair dryers & you can’t buy them on the ship either. So I had no shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer or curling iron. Let’s just say my hair didn’t look great …😊
Your videos really help! Thank you
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences!
So interesting. I just don’t bother to fuzz a lot with my hair when traveling/cruising. Im no longer trying to impress anyone and just enjoying life. If cruising and I forget something I look for a grocery store or a local pharmacy or a market going away from the port areas. Take a bus, taxi or uber to get there. It’s also so interesting for me that way.
I did not appreciate much about cruising on sapphire princess except for the fantastic and incredible crew and entertainers.
Ohhh. I’m definitely bringing those reusable straws next time.
Lol, right?
I am soooo excited to go on my first cruise!!! I came across your channel and I love it. I feel like I am going to be so prepared!! I do have a suggestion for you. It would be awesome if you could do a video on the cruise ship from your cabin. That way, you can show us how you use and set up things!!! Love your channel!!
Great idea! I actually have a video coming shortly of our cabin & some of the things we set up & how we used them
My tip: Be selective of the fabrics that you chose for your cruise clothes. Some fabrics such as linen are wrinkle nightmares. Also, just pony up and pay for laundry. Then you dont have to pack as much.
Hi, Ilana! I loved this video and I took a couple of notes about some tips. Something that I always bring with me when traveling is some sheets of paper towel. When I forget them at home, I always need them. Many times we bring coffee or wine to the cabin, or we order room service and we spill something and that's the moment in which you miss your paper towel if you don't have it. I always put it at the bottom of my suitcase just in case. I loved the tip of using shower caps for my shoes. I am packing now for a cruise next week and I put my sandals in a bag, but that takes more place than putting them by pairs in shower caps and making them fit in different corners of the luggage. Changing my packing right now.
Compression cubes are great - you can squeeze in much more. Just be careful about weight - compression doesn’t make the stuff lighter. If you are flying on one of the international lines who are strict about the 7kg weight for carryon, you can quickly get overweight.
Lol, good point
One thing I pack is one of those cube power adapters that converts to most countries. It's not only useful for foreign countries, but you can use it to connect to the European outlet in the stateroom for extra power. The ones I use have USB outlets, so I like to devote that one to charging my electronics.
I always pack a few special cubes. One is backup clothing that goes in my carry-one (sweatpants, socks, underwear, and shirt). I have another for overnight stuff (nightwear, power adapters, tooth care) and a third with embarkation day stuff (clothing, swimwear, sunglasses, deck shoes). Everything else can be packed away by type, and unpacked in my stateroom.
I like airflow, so I use a portable fan in my stateroom. I can take it with me in hot / humid ports.
We always bring a hi-lighter pen with duct tape wrapped around it just in case you need to repair a rip or tear. We usually take Amtrak to a port and there are rattles in the roomette, so we can tear off a bit of tape to top the rattle. The tape comes in handy for many issues.
Yes went on Princess to Alaska , my relatives laughed when i took my bathing suit, i was in a heated pool LOVE POOLS!
I always have a separate small suitcase for my pre cruise hotel stay, then I just leave it my trunk of my car.
Another great review and summary of cruise packing tips. We utilize many of the techniques that you mentioned. Regarding luggage, we normally travel with two large roller bags and two backpacks. We take advantage of self-carry option on debarkation (much faster) and this makes handling the luggage much simpler for exiting the ship and taking it to your car or taxi. Pill boxes are good organizers, but when going into some countries you will need someway to identify the medications in the pill box. We have a photo of each prescription bottle and a written list of all the prescriptions we take to address the identification issue. We also take a few plastic zip ties in various sizes (3 to 6 inches) with us as they are great for attaching items. On one cruise, we had a zipper failure on one of our suitcases and three zip ties secured the bag and got us home. They fit great in the bottom pockets of your luggage. We also use our roller bags stored under the bed as additional clothes storage, especially on longer cruises. This works great for socks, underwear, and t-shirts - this way the drawers are not stuffed and you can find what you are looking to wear. Mid-cruise, just replenish the drawers with clean clothes. We also use the luggage to store items we have purchased on the cruise. Relative to lanyards, I normally go to guest services and have them punch a hole in my sea pass card (only certain places can be punched due to the card's electronics) so I can clip my card directly to the lanyard and not have to have the card in a plastic holder - just makes the card more accessable.
Great idea with the suitcase to hold half of your clothes. I also get guest services to punch my card. Been doing thar for years.
Great tips & suggestions 👏
I have a portable USB charger like that because it was recommended for my Disney trip this year. It was the best thing we had!!! Great idea.
Take a large decorative pillow case. I use it to put clothes in to make a pillow for the flight. They don't care... it helps in the end with souvenirs too. Gives lots of extra weight as well.
I do matching outfits with my daughter because she finds it cool that “ mommy looks like me”😂😂
I was quite ok with the space on my HAL trip (Oosterdam) last summer during european holidays for 3 weeks in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. There are three cupboards with folding shelves, here we easily stored the contents of our 3 large suitcases. For shoes we used the foldable basket from the video (we put dirty laundry directly into the laundry bag and attached it to the wall with magnetic hooks). You can also use the empty suitcase for jackets, shopping or beach bags etc. these usually fit well under the bed. We didn't bring an extra fabric shelf, there are also drawers in the bedside tables where we stored socks, bath clothes and underwear and a shelf at the desk. There are also wall cupboards above the sofa where I could easily store all of my daughter's clothes for 3 weeks. In the bathroom you have a small integrated shelf, that was enough for 3 persons tooth brushes and daily cosmetics, next to this we hang our cosmetic bag with hooks, so this was enough space. We usully use the shower products on board but have some litte plastic bottles with special conditioner etc. so we never felt cramped by luggage in the cabin. However, we didn't have any special evening wear if you have evening dresses or suits with you, you may need more space. I really loved the magnetic hooks for our hats and caps. In any case, you have to keep your cabin tidy and put your clothes away straight away, otherwise you quickly end up in chaos, even if the crew cleans up several times a day.
We used the laundry service on board, I mean it was 30 dollars per bag, we used it once a week, if you fill the bag very well, you can fit a lot in it, especially underwear, socks and T-shirts, of course you can only wear it for one day when it is very warm. I have seen many cabins where the laundry bags were hanging on the doors only half full, which is of course a waste of money. Maybe these people have the flat rate for laundry, but I don't think it's worth it. We take a lot of clothes with us that don't wrinkle or that can be washed quickly under the tap and then left to dry on the hanger overnight (dont put them on the balcony, if you want to see them again). This might be different when you go to cold places. I haven't had any vacuum bags so far, but since I like to buy souvenirs and always end up with a space problem, I'm going to try it this time and buy a small pump to go with it.
We found the food in the Lido Buffet very good, it's more or less the same every day, but there's something for every taste and if you're not very demanding, that's more than enough. I am a vegetarian and was really content. My children were also happy, there is always rice, french fries, vegetable and bread for the very picky ones. The dining restaurant is not always a good option, especially with children. You have to be on time and there are often no dishes that the children like. For me, the buffet has always been the better option and we haven't been to the restaurant once in 3 weeks. What is very nice is the tea time on sea days in the afternoon. Here there are small cakes served at the table with tea (come early, otherwise there will be a long queue).
The entertainment program didn't appeal to me personally. There were two pianists in the evenings and a few bars with music, nothing I would want to stay in for longer. I rarely attended the evening shows unless there was a dance performance or magician.
Otherwise there are paid courses or meet ups for different groups like beer-hopping from bar to bar. Every day there was an LGBTQ meeting (where no one came) and which I found very strange and unnecessary. There is a small room with a few games for children, I would say up to about 12 years old. There isn't really anything for teenagers, I think there was a cinema once. There isn't really any sport, apart from a table tennis table and the basketball court, which is in the blazing sun. The fitness studio is small and instructions are chargeable. The pools are not as crowed as in the video but of course pretty small, so its ok for the children to swim and dive and laying around having a drink. Otherwise, the ship is very much designed for American interests such as bingo and casino, which most Europeans are not interested in (sorry). This didn't bother me personally, as I don't travel to make acquaintances or be entertained by others, but you should be aware before your booking of how you can possibly organize your time yourself or if you like this kind of entertainment.
We really liked the Crown Nest, my children enjoyed doing puzzles with others in the evenings or looking at a picture book and it's a very quiet, relaxed atmosphere up there. And I really recommend the french fries at Dive In pool bar. There is also a tacco station (which I didn´t try however).
As far as the app is concerned, it's a real disaster, it's actually a little better on board. It's a shame that this isn't being improved. The homepage isn't really helpful either. Most evenings we had a short introduction about the next harbour. In my opinion, this could have been more detailed; no videos or pictures were shown, but only a few things to see were told verbally. Since I am well prepared for my travels, this is not a problem, even if you go on a guided excursion, otherwise the information is too poor.
What you should really take seriously: don't leave anything on the balcony and don't dry your laundry there!!! It can get windy quickly and several times we had someone else's clothing on the balcony and probably 90% of it ended up in the sea.
Since we don't drink alcohol and, with a few exceptions, have organized our shore excursions ourselves, the Have it all program is not worth it for us. I can't recommend the non-alcoholic drinks on deck either; it's usually cheap syrup with water. Anyway, the teenagers often got free soft drinks at the bar, even if they didn't have a have it all... In the Lido you can get free water, iced tea and lemon water as well es tea at any time and also fill your water bottles, which was more than enough for us. It wasn't a problem to bring shopping from the city on board, so we bought beverages and sweets for the evening on the shore excursions. We are Europeans and had free Wi-Fi on land in almost all countries on the trip, so we didn't need Wi-Fi on board in the evenings. In this respect, you have to calculate whether this have it all option makes sense for you personally. The ship is clearly designed for travel and not vacation, which is what I want. For me the ship is a pleasant means of transport from one port to another; I have no need for extraordninary entertainment 24/7.
For any questions about the Oosterdam please comment. I booked again for this summer for the western Mediterranean Sea
I am going to bring reusable silicone bags as ZipLocks on my next cruise- they are reusable. My next Virgin Voyages cruise is in January and they make me more environmentally conscious about single use plastics
Thanks 🎉
Awesome tips!
Thanks!
What I do have the habit to do, especially packing the carry-on and in cabin bag, is to have everything that has to be out at the customs pack at the most accessible spot. Like my toiletries ziplock will be the first thing out on top of my carry-on. Same for my electronics. It makes the belongings check faster and more efficient.
Great idea
love compress cubes
Thanks again for great tips and hacks
Great suggestions. Thanks!
Hi Ileana my husband & I went to Australian country town for 5 days we went by a special train Xpt for 6 hrs goes interstate I used the sensor light in the bathroom great my husband at the zoo used his hat clip I used 3 different sized zip up toiletries bags power board & recharger for my iPhone & iPad too on train so thank you for your help
This video was SO informative! I am going on my first cruise soon, and I watched many videos in preparation but I always find myself coming back to your channel and rewatching your videos (specially this one!) I ordered a couple things you recommended, there were many great suggestions and I got a ton of ideas for how to make the most of the trip by eliminating a lot of hassle and headache in advance, so Thank You!
Packing Cubes! Life changing!
Great video as always.😊
oh that’s so great to know! thanks so much
Great tips. Very useful for traveling!
Very informative. I liked it
We normally use traditional packing cubes, but we use a compression cube for our hotel stay prior to the cruise and embarkation day. This way it is kept in our carryon in case there is an issue with luggage, we have some essentials packed in our carry on!
love my compression cubes!
Soooo many new helpful suggestions!!! The hanging organizer is now on my list!!! Thank you!!! ❤
Thanks So Much For The Great Tips And Tricks For Packing
You had so many affordable great ideas to purchase on Amazon! Thank you so much!
Great resource. Please note that the Amazon Canada link to the non-surge protector power bar is actually surge protected.
Thanks! Uggh yes it’s frustrating unfortunately Amazon redirects links & doesn’t realize the difference
Packing cubes are a life changers. Your Life Well Cruised document is great❤
Collapsible plastic Tupperware containers are great and lay flat in our suitcase.
I use that travel alarm clock on excursions to remember to reapply sunscreen. I also keep it on ship time.
I always bring the hamper. Thanks for this tip
I am watching this for the second time to make a list so I don't forget when we cruise next year. Love your video's.
We watched her videos for our 1st cruise and were well prepared thanks to Llanas videos
I’ve found this a great video with a lot of information.some things I never even thought to bring with me on a cruise or even a trip in the car. Thanks for all of the information.
I haven't tried this yet, but am considering trying it.
totally cool ideas - but most would require me to take more than my carry on and back pack - I can usually get an 8 day cruise done that way and am always looking for tips to get even better at packing light
Thank you for the magnet hack - I brought some on my cruise and they were very useful.
I leave nexr sunday for first cruise thank u for the info
We are getting ready to sail on the escape. I have truly enjoyed watching all of your videos. Thank you for all of your efforts.
Ohhhh love the magnetic wire ties! I have bread ties lol I will be upgrading!!!
Excellent tips! Many I have used on cruises in the past but the laundry sheets for end-of-cruise make sense...
You have the BEST most COMPREHENSIVE cruise hacks! Thank you!
Your vlog/blog is awesome. We are taking our 1st cruise in Feb 2024 and this has helped us with everything from Drinks packages to packing the bags and essentials we did not think of. Thank you.
Your videos have been outstanding in preparing me for my first cruise. We leave in 12 days. So excited. I bought that same backpack. I love it. My daughter used that on her trip to Spain and Italy.
Great to hear your feedback on the backpack! Have an amazing cruise 🛳️👏
Hi Ilana! I'm so happy I found your channel! Our family will be going on a cruise soon and your videos have been a lifesaver. Our last cruise was at least 10 years ago.
Thank you for this video! This is one of your best for cruise essentials and hacks! Thank you so much! I am sharing this video with family and friends.
I love compression cubes. Because you can use them as packing cubes too.