Weird/important stuff to bring on a cruise

[kps7795]

Hi all, planning for my first cruise in about 70 days and I’ve been watching waaaay too many YouTube videos of things I need to bring.

Do you all have any specific recommendations?

I got a hanging tolietry bag that I probably didn’t need. Do I need luggage tag holders? I saw an old thread that Disney uses the same sort of thing that airlines do so you don’t need them.

Are we allowed to have outlet expanders that are not extension cords or surge protectors? There is at least one that claims to be cruise line approved, but I’m not dropping $20 to have it be restricted.

I got some cabin door magnets and a pin trading hanging thing to put outside the door. I don’t want to do a fish extender. I have a card for the light switch and magnetic hooks to hang our lanyards on (funny story, I bought one on clearance from Disney shopping like 10 years ago in the hopes that I would get to use it some day!)

Anything else that is maybe more Disney specific or that a first timer would not think of even after watching hours of youtube?

WOW! You are certainly prepared for your first cruise. My family and I are Platinum Castaway Club members and I never heard of or thought of bringing magnetic hooks to hang our lanyards. We always just use the coat hooks in the cabin.

 

[Trera]

we always bring a small bluetooth speaker to play music when we are on the beach at CC. we also bring a small magnetic dry erase board so we can leave messages for kids if they want to know where we are and they are not in the room when we leave. Zip lock bags are always helpful too.

 

[KantLose]

For what? Bathing suits in the bathrooms (they have the cords like WDW right) and for the curtains?

If you have a balcony, I hang our bathing suits on the chairs and use clothespins to secure them. They dry much faster than on the cord in the bathroom and also aren't in the way when we are showering.

 

[brentm77]

My opinion may be controversial, but you don't need 95% of the little knickknacks others recommend. Our first cruise, our bags were stuffed with all the extra stuff we saw online, and we didn't really need most of it. We pack light now and don't miss anything. If you have clothes, swimsuits, and basic toiletries, you have most of what you need to have a fantastic cruise. If anything, we might take a small nightlight and hanging organizer for the bathroom.

Generally speaking, we have been pushing towards the one-bag type of travel anyways. I have a carryon suitcase that has a permanent electronics bag with all my chargers/cords (including a plug with four USB outlets), a permanent toiletry bag with everything I need, and other basics I like to travel with (sanitizer, wipes, compact umbrella, laundry bag, and noise canceling headphones). All I need to do now is stuff the bag with the appropriate clothes for the trip, and we are on our way.

But, I get that others love to have every little convenience, and it's worth lugging it along for them. Just food for thought.

 

[harleyquinn]

I really appreciate all of the thoughtful responses. I know there are a lot of posts like this on here, but I ALWAYS learn something new from posts like these and this one is no different!!

My opinion may be controversial, but you don't need 95% of the little knickknacks others recommend. Our first cruise, our bags were stuffed with all the extra stuff we saw online, and we didn't really need most of it. We pack light now and don't miss anything. If you have clothes, swimsuits, and basic toiletries, you have most of what you need to have a fantastic cruise. If anything, we might take a small nightlight and hanging organizer for the bathroom.

Generally speaking, we have been pushing towards the one-bag type of travel anyways. I have a carryon suitcase that has a permanent electronics bag with all my chargers/cords (including a plug with four USB outlets), a permanent toiletry bag with everything I need, and other basics I like to travel with (sanitizer, wipes, compact umbrella, laundry bag, and noise canceling headphones). All I need to do now is stuff the bag with the appropriate clothes for the trip, and we are on our way.

But, I get that others love to have every little convenience, and it's worth lugging it along for them. Just food for thought.

Definitely not controversial! We are driving, so we don’t have to worry about baggage fees, but we do still need to be smart about space. Since this is our first cruise, I kinda want to bring most non necessities so I can learn for (hopefully) future adventures. I’m already packing WAY less than I have to bring on a typical Disney World trip, so we’re doing well! We go to Disney in August most years so packing is an adventure of cooling and hydration!

 

[Kennywood]

Two additional things we've used that have come in handy:

• Vacuum storage bags - They truly do save space in the luggage. When you're ready to head home, your stateroom steward can help in securing a vacuum cleaner for a short while.
• Luggage scale - The one we use has a strap on one end (to hold) and a hook (like a hanger) to hook onto the luggage. When you're traveling, you tend to pick up a lot of souvenirs. This scale allowed us to weigh each bag before we got to the airport. It saves time and embarrassment at the airport when your bags get weighed and found to be over the limit.

Also, if you're a light sleeper or a side sleeper, you might want to consider bringing your own pillow. (That's where the vacuum storage bag comes in handy.) The pillows we experienced were very fluffy but collapsed to almost nothing when we put our heads on the pillows.

 

[harleyquinn]

Two additional things we've used that have come in handy:

• Vacuum storage bags - They truly do save space in the luggage. When you're ready to head home, your stateroom steward can help in securing a vacuum cleaner for a short while.
• Luggage scale - The one we use has a strap on one end (to hold) and a hook (like a hanger) to hook onto the luggage. When you're traveling, you tend to pick up a lot of souvenirs. This scale allowed us to weigh each bag before we got to the airport. It saves time and embarrassment at the airport when your bags get weighed and found to be over the limit.

Also, if you're a light sleeper or a side sleeper, you might want to consider bringing your own pillow. (That's where the vacuum storage bag comes in handy.) The pillows we experienced were very fluffy but collapsed to almost nothing when we put our heads on the pillows.

I use vacuum bags that don’t need a vacuum. You roll them and push the air out. They aren’t as good as true vacuum ones, but I like not needing to worry about a vacuum. We use them as our hamper after unpacking. Dirty clothes go in and it makes it easy to carry to laundry or take home and dump in the washer.

I will be bringing my noise machine and ear plugs, but thanks for the reminder that I need to add it to the “how many plugs do I need?” Total!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

My opinion may be controversial, but you don't need 95% of the little knickknacks others recommend. Our first cruise, our bags were stuffed with all the extra stuff we saw online, and we didn't really need most of it. We pack light now and don't miss anything. If you have clothes, swimsuits, and basic toiletries, you have most of what you need to have a fantastic cruise. If anything, we might take a small nightlight and hanging organizer for the bathroom.

Generally speaking, we have been pushing towards the one-bag type of travel anyways. I have a carryon suitcase that has a permanent electronics bag with all my chargers/cords (including a plug with four USB outlets), a permanent toiletry bag with everything I need, and other basics I like to travel with (sanitizer, wipes, compact umbrella, laundry bag, and noise canceling headphones). All I need to do now is stuff the bag with the appropriate clothes for the trip, and we are on our way.

But, I get that others love to have every little convenience, and it's worth lugging it along for them. Just food for thought.

YES! We try to pack lighter now and don't bring most of what we used to bring, but I do still want my sharpie. Hahaha!

I have reusable shopping bags that stay in my luggage. Use them for beach or pool tote, laundry bag, extra packing space on the way home, etc. They fold flat and take up almost no room. Tip--if I use one for a laundry bag, I often hang it on two hangers (each handle on a separate hanger so it hangs open in the closet). These go on every trip, not just cruises. So does the sharpie!

 

[insureman]

Both carry ons and checked luggage get x-rayed. Checked luggage behind the scenes and carry ons in the terminal.

I have been cruising DCL since 1998 (Maiden voyage of the Magic) and never brought a night light with me but someone in our FB group posted one they got on Amazon. I checked it out and bought it. Well, I have to say it really helped on my cruise last week. I was traveling with a friend and did not want to wake her when I visited the bathroom in the middle of the night. The cabin light switches are very close together and in the past, on several different times, I turned on the main cabin light instead of the bathroom light. The set of 2 night lights are motion activated and worked great. When I entered the bathroom it came on and stayed on for about 30 seconds. A simple wave turns it back on. No more accidentally turning on the overhead lights! I just placed it on the glass shelf in the bathroom.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MHVTHQS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

MJ

We also bring a motion activated light although on our cruise this past February I forgot the batteries.

 

[HeatherLassell]

We also bring a motion activated light although on our cruise this past February I forgot the batteries.

Do they sell batteries in any of the stores?

 

[insureman]

Do they sell batteries in any of the stores?

They do I just never got around to get them.

 

[Akck]

An insulated cup with a top. My wife bought one on the ship and loved it as there would be ice in it the next morning. I was jealous enough that I bought one at the resorts for our next cruise and other travels.

 

[tobikaye]

I try to bring a few of the fold up bins from the Dollar Tree when staying more than a couple of nights in one place. I use these to just contain items in place instead of just laying them around the room and they do not take up much room in luggage. I think this was the only extra that I took on my first cruise and it was very helpful. My parents started traveling with them on their own trips after they found out how useful they were on that cruise.

An insulated cup with a top. My wife bought one on the ship and loved it as there would be ice in it the next morning. I was jealous enough that I bought one at the resorts for our next cruise and other travels.

I almost always travel with an insulated cup or bottle, especially over the last 5 years. They really are helpful. When flying, I leave empty and then once through security, I find the water bottle fountain and fill up. This way I have a drink when I need instead of when the FA can get to me.

 

[lklgoodman]

Do you happen to have a link to the laundry bags you use? I finally remembered to get a laundry bag for our last cruise but it was a 'whatever Target happened to have' situation and they're kind of giant and unwieldy so I'd be interested in a better alternative.

I don't have any links because I bought them years ago, but they are like the ones TestingH20 posted.

 

[elsawasajedi]

For what? Bathing suits in the bathrooms (they have the cords like WDW right) and for the curtains?

yep. we used our clothespins a ton

 

[elsawasajedi]

We also bring a motion activated light although on our cruise this past February I forgot the batteries.

I brought a light too and it was invaluable. as someone who is up a lot at nite to pee and has two small kids and haaaaaates lights being turned on thus was a must for me.

I seriously yell at my husband for turning on lights to pee. he reminds me that I only need to "stick the landing"

 

[gatordoc]

Things we found handy:
An old Key to the World card to stick in the slot to activate the lights. We were on the Dream and there needed to be a card in the slot by the door to make the lights work. Rather than keep putting in and taking out one of our cruise keycards, we just brought an old one from a WDW trip and left that in the slot. Not sure every ship is like that.

I have one with a piece of magnetic tape on the back. That way when we leave the room we can take it out of the slot and put it on the wall next to the slot (the walls and ceilings in the staterooms are all metal so anything magnetic will stick).

 

[Mrlogboy]

My opinion may be controversial, but you don't need 95% of the little knickknacks others recommend. Our first cruise, our bags were stuffed with all the extra stuff we saw online, and we didn't really need most of it. We pack light now and don't miss anything. If you have clothes, swimsuits, and basic toiletries, you have most of what you need to have a fantastic cruise. If anything, we might take a small nightlight and hanging organizer for the bathroom.

Generally speaking, we have been pushing towards the one-bag type of travel anyways. I have a carryon suitcase that has a permanent electronics bag with all my chargers/cords (including a plug with four USB outlets), a permanent toiletry bag with everything I need, and other basics I like to travel with (sanitizer, wipes, compact umbrella, laundry bag, and noise canceling headphones). All I need to do now is stuff the bag with the appropriate clothes for the trip, and we are on our way.

But, I get that others love to have every little convenience, and it's worth lugging it along for them. Just food for thought.

Agree 100. % with you when we travel by air to Europe and other place. Lucky for my first cruise I am driving so don’t have to worry about air. We will bring out one bags each and one big bag to check so carry on to boat will be small.
That is the key a balance of luggage. Night lights are like the most important next to multi usb plugs

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

We learned (the hard way) that we couldn't have too much sunscreen. While they have it onboard it was stupidly expensive. Now that it's just DW & I cruising, we still go through a can/bottle every 2 days. With the kiddos (who aren't so small any more) it was 1 can/bottle every day for the 3 kids. YMMV, our kids were water babies in the pool on the slides...

 

[CaptainAmerica]

WOW! You are certainly prepared for your first cruise. My family and I are Platinum Castaway Club members and I never heard of or thought of bringing magnetic hooks to hang our lanyards. We always just use the coat hooks in the cabin.

Those magnetic hooks damage the stateroom doors. Please, please, please bring a felt pad or some kind of other material to put in between the magnet and the door or you're going to damage the paint.

(I say this to appease my guilt of having not known this and just damaged the cabin door myself.)

Regarding the outlets, how much stuff are people plugging in? We have phones, tablets, a Nintendo Switch, a sound machine, and two power toothbrushes and we had more than enough outlets without extension cords or anything like that.