Many items recommended by luxury cruise experts are specifically helpful when on board a cruise ship, including magnetic hooks and over-the-door organisers for essential items.
Luxury cruise holidays are booming in popularity, and now experts have told passengers the ten must-pack items to take with them on their trip of a lifetime.
Cruise holidays can last many weeks, so travellers must think carefully about everything they need to take with them as there are limited opportunities to buy most items whilst away.
Luxury cruise experts at Panache Cruises have named the top ten items travellers should take on board to ensure that their holiday is all plain sailing.
James Cole, founder and managing director at Panache Cruises, said: “Before getting on board, there are several cruise-specific essentials that passengers can bring to get the most out of their luxury cruise holiday.”
“Motion sickness tablets are also worth taking along for peace of mind, and it’s always worth having essential basic medication like paracetamol, antihistamine and bite-sting cream close to hand if needed.”
“Even cabins on luxury cruise ships can start to feel cluttered – especially when travelling with children, so bringing along magnetic hooks and over-the-door organisers is a great way to keep everything tidy.”
Despite being smaller than the mass market cruise liners, luxury cruise ships give passengers more than twice the personal space and larger cabin sizes.
But items that allow passengers to stow items better to keep cabins clutter-free are still recommended making it easier to find personal belongings quickly and easily.
“Taking just a little bit of time before you travel to pick up some of these items will help you to relax and enjoy exploring the world with peace of mind.”
A small bag to keep essential belongings close by at all times is handy on a cruise holiday, both around the ship and while exploring each destination.
It’s worth packing essential medication – such as Paracetamol – as this can often be expensive and seldom found onboard a cruise ship.
“Pack some high-quality binoculars to take advantage of stunning once-in-a-life views and a snorkel to explore the underwater life too.” Anti-sickness medication can also be reassuring for first-time cruisers, although it is seldom needed as all luxury cruise ships are so well stabilised.
And no one wants to have no power on their phones and cameras when breathtaking views are there to be photographed – taking a socket bank with the right plug adapter to charge different devices simultaneously is a brilliant idea. Why spend valuable time on your holiday looking for something in a shop you could have taken with you? People never pack enough sun cream either – all these items can be expensive when you are away.
An underwater camera is always a great choice as well.
Panache Cruises’ 10 must-pack items whilst out at sea:
- Magnetic hooks
Most cruise cabins’ walls are made from steel – meaning magnetic hooks are a great idea for storing smaller items like lanyards, hats or jewellery instead of leaving them around the cabin.
- Over the door organiser
Another great way to keep the cabin in order is to have an over-the-door organiser for all the smaller essential items. Fill it with suncream, sunglasses, snacks, water bottles, and anything else that may be left lying around. It’s an easy way to keep the cabin feeling spacious and organised.
- Towel clips
When cruising, the best way to let your towel and wet swimwear dry is outside on your balcony. A towel clip is a great item to pack to stop your belongings from blowing away into the ocean when it is windy outside. Towel clips can secure your towel to your sunlounger on the pool deck.
- Socket Bank
Some cruise cabins may not have as many plug sockets for charging all different devices simultaneously as a family might need. That’s why buying a socket bank is an excellent solution for charging many things simultaneously. It’s also worth taking a plug adapter to ensure you can use any socket type.
- Binoculars
Investing in high-quality binoculars is a good idea before boarding the cruise ship. The water depth and the draft of the vessel you are on will determine how near the shore you sail and anchor. Having high-powered binoculars will let you enjoy details you wouldn’t otherwise be able to see.
- Small personal bag
Bringing along a small bag you can keep on your person, such as a bum bag or a money belt, is a good idea for both ship and shore to help ensure you keep belongings such as cabin keys, money and phones close to you and safe. On larger cruise ships, you may spend much of your day far away from your cabin, so keeping a ‘day bag’ will allow you to access essential items without needing to keep going back and forth. It is also worth remembering that it may take several hours for your luggage to arrive in your cabin on the day of embarkation. Ensure you keep everything you might need with you in a separate bag.
- Water activity essentials
Depending on your cruise itinerary and the time of year, you might be able to swim at your ports of call – so bring along a mask and snorkel so you can swim and explore the underwater life. Water shoes are also a good idea to help avoid nasty foot cuts and scrapes.
- Appropriate dining clothes
If there are formal dinners on your cruise, you will want to pack appropriate dress clothing to make the most of the experience. Also, travellers might not be able to dine in certain restaurants if they are not wearing the appropriate clothing so it is worth checking with your cruise agent before you go and packing appropriately. Be mindful of the local traditions in your ports of call and cover up where necessary out of respect for local cultures and religions.
- Essential medication
Remember to pack essential medication that might be needed whilst holidaying – such as paracetamol, Imodium and allergy tablets as well as travel bands and motion sickness tablets in the unlikely event that you may need them. Although it may be possible to buy these items on board the ship, it is more convenient and cheaper to take them with you. Suncream regulations differ markedly across the globe too, so ensure you take enough to protect your family.
- Cruise repatriation insurance
These documents are essential to take onboard any cruise holiday. They provide the peace of mind that if anything does go wrong, you will be protected. It’s worth knowing what the insurance covers explicitly and having these documents to hand at all times – taking a picture or having the email saved on your phone is a good idea. Alternatively, take a printout with you.
Find out more about luxury cruising by contacting your professional travel advisor.
Edited by: Matthew Thomas
