Did you know that many items are banned on cruise ships? And they might not be what you expected! Did you also know that the cruise ship will have some essentials, so you won’t need to bring them? I’m going to tell you about 10 items you should NOT bring on a cruise, but to make up for it, at the end I’ll give you six items that will become YOUR cruise essentials!
Iron or clothes steamer
What? I can’t take an iron or steamer onboard? But my clothes are wrinkled! Cruise lines don’t like things that heat up being taken onboard, for fire and safety reasons. So don’t pack that travel iron or steamer. Some ships have a passenger laundry with an iron you can use, some offer ironing services (at a cost!) or you can use a wrinkle release spray – I’ll link one in the description. But I reduce my travel load by not bringing a spray and just hanging clothes in the bathroom while we shower. The steam usually helps all the wrinkles drop out!
Coffee maker or kettle
I can’t imagine that anyone would do this but according to stories online, people do sometimes stash their Nespresso machine in their luggage! But like the irons and steamers, coffee machines and kettles are also forbidden! I know, I love my tea, so it’s a bit of a bummer but there are options. Sometimes the room steward can provide a kettle although a coffee machine is unlikely to be available. Or you can get tea and coffee from the buffet. And on some ships, you get complimentary breakfast room service so you can order your early morning hot drink, and have it brought to you – I can’t say this is my preferred option because the tea arrives too strong and stewed but I can always send Michael out to the buffet!
Beach towels
Hang on! What’s wrong with beach towels? Surely they aren’t banned? No, of course not but when it comes to beach towels it’s unnecessary to fill your luggage with them because the ship will provide them! Sometimes you need to check them out with your cruise card and if you don’t return them, you’ll be charged. Or sometimes you can just grab them from a pile for free. In beach ports you’re allowed to take them off the ship too – just make sure you return them!
Clothes hangers
Clothes hangers aren’t banned either but again you can save your luggage space by requesting them from your room steward. We don’t go overboard on the clothes we bring so I never have to do this, but maybe for a longer cruise you might find it necessary. Of course, you can buy folding travel hangers but why waste the space and lug extra weight?
Spirits
Most cruise lines permit passengers to bring wine and soft drinks onboard, subject to certain limits. But spirits, such as whiskey, gin, vodka and tequila, are a no no. There’s lots of information online about smuggling them aboard but why risk it? You can be fined, refused embarkation and even banned for life!
Toiletries
This is a bit of an iffy one. The ship will have toiletries onboard for you to use. However, depending on the cruise line and your cabin type they may not be the best quality. I don’t mind using liquid soap and body lotion from the cruise line, but I’d never use the shampoo! If there’s a separate conditioner, I’d use that but mostly they have a combination shampoo and conditioner that does a really poor job of both tasks! Make sure you read online reviews or even contact the cruise line directly to find out what they provide and only bring what you need.
Candles or incense
By now you can probably see that the cruise lines don’t like fire or safety risks, so I probably don’t need to tell you that candles and incense are also banned! Remember that your luggage will be scanned before it’s brought onboard, and anything banned will be taken from you. There should be an opportunity to get it back when the cruise ends but don’t bet on it!
Snacks
Snacks are another one that’s in the “why bother” category. One thing you’ll never be on a cruise ship is hungry! And if you like to have some snacks in your room you can always take a zip lock bag or two to the buffet and save some for later!
Expensive jewellery
In my video on travel safety for women I said that flashy clothing and expensive jewellery shouldn’t be taken and that applies to cruising too. Not only do you run the risk of having items lost or stolen; by wearing them you can attract unwanted attention. Thieves or pickpockets in port may think you’re likely to be carrying lots of cash and target you. Or they may just go for the jewellery you’re wearing. And putting it in the cruise cabin safe isn’t necessarily going to work – there are heaps of videos online showing how to get into those safes without the passcode – how do you think hotels or cruise lines open them when travellers leave them locked?
Too many clothes
This isn’t something I’m guilty of – I have a fairly simple wardrobe – just a few dresses and layering pieces and accessories for different climates and situations. But some people think they need a different outfit for dinner every night, something different to wear each day, and a tonne of shoes to go with it all! Just remember, people don’t really notice what other people wear! And unless you’re in a particularly hot and sweaty climate you can re-wear your clothes. I don’t wash clothes (not including underwear of course!) unless they are dirty, or they smell. It’s actually hard on your clothes being washed so by not washing them you give them a longer life! I’ve seen stories of people wearing a pair of jeans for years without washing them – that’s taking things a bit too far for me, but if you look clean and don’t smell, you do you! And shoes take up so much space – take shoes that work for multiple situations. One pair of neutral sneakers, one pair of neutral sandals or dressier shoes, one pair of pool or beach shoes – you get the idea! I’m about to go on a six-week trip and I’m taking one pair of sneakers, one pair of combat style boots and one pair of sandals. They’re all black so they work with everything. Oh and a pair of hotel slippers.
Six things to bring with you
Well, I’ve been a bit bossy here, telling you what NOT to bring so how about we switch gears and look at some stuff that will enhance your cruise!
Make sure you have a bag that works for taking things to the pool or visiting port. A lightweight backpack, beach bag or a tote bag are all great to stash your gear in for a tough day of relaxing by the pool or exploring a new port.
Maybe it’s because I’m Australian but sunscreen is an absolute non-negotiable for me. I always have sunscreen for my face and body and a separate SPF lip balm with me, even if I’m travelling in the middle of winter. It doesn’t have to be hot and sunny to get sun damaged skin, which can lead to premature aging and even skin cancer – which can be deadly!
Zip lock bags are always handy to have, whether it’s for packing a few snacks from the buffet or putting a wet swimming costume in when you’re packing at the end of your cruise. Grab a few of different sizes! I like to use reusable silicone zip lock bags so I’m not adding more plastic to land fill.
If you like to enjoy the pool, or the beach when in port, a waterproof phone case with a lanyard is a must, so you can keep your phone and other small valuables on you without worrying about them getting wet. I will confess, I’m not a water lover so I don’t have one but I can see how useful they’d be if you loved to swim, snorkel and enjoy water-based activities!
Out at sea it can be incredibly dark at night and if you’re in an inside cabin it’s always pitch black when the lights are off. I take two magnetic motion-activated, rechargeable lights. Various ones are recommended online but the ones I take are actually ones that I use in some of our cupboards at home – I just grab a couple and pack them, rather than having separate ones sitting around waiting for the next cruise!
Cruise cabins can get a bit stuffy so a portable, rechargeable fan can be useful. A fan that plugs into the power may be confiscated so get a rechargeable one and you can stay cool without worrying!
I’m sure you’ve now got a few great ideas about what to pack and what not to pack so to learn more about cruising, check out this playlist, or learn some other travel tips in this one.
Waterproof phone case with lanyard
Motion activated rechargeable lights