Weird/important stuff to bring on a cruise

[Cruise]

I dont get why people need nightlights.. isn't that what your phone flashlight is for??

I believe most people are talking about the kind you set up ahead of time in the bathroom itself so you can just get out of bed and walk to the bathroom using the glow from the light. I usually charge my phone at night, so not having to fiddle with unplugging and plugging it back in while half asleep is nice.

By the same token, a lot of people are mentioning sound/white noise machines and I would never bother packing one because I have an app on my phone with 50 different sounds on it that I use for white noise when I need it. To each their own!

 

[magsnwonderland]

I dont get why people need nightlights.. isn't that what your phone flashlight is for??

Kids and/or people who don't want the harsh light of a phone flashlight. I never packed anything like that before having kids, but we bring nightlights for our kids when we travel so they don't end up in a closet or opening the room door to the hallway in the middle of the night when they're looking for the bathroom.

 

[5Texans]

I have 5 kids, and I'm a bit of an over planner. Here are the "weird" things that I pack

pop up hamper: for those asking why not the provided bag- its not nearly big enough even now that we split up staterooms

pop up shoe bin: because It gives a "target" and keeps us from searching for shoes

a few pre-packaged snacks for shore excursions- protein bars, dried fruit, trail mix etc.

stainless steel water bottles

small packages of wet wipes- It will be a long time before you find me anywhere without wet wipes

ziplock bags in various sizes (including 2 gallon for wet clothes on the last day)

scissors- I always need scissors

a small first aid kit for excursions with a few advil/pepcid/benadryl

waterproof pouch for phone/id etc when i go into the water

portable phone battery pack

corkscrew/bottle opener

PACKING CUBES!!! I will not travel without these. Each person has a set in a specific color and is responsible for their cubes- makes unpacking and repacking a breeze

Post it notes and a pen to leave notes for stateroom attendant in case we miss them- for example, if we are planning on coming back for a nap and need the bed down or if we are skipping dinner but going to the late show

luggage scale

also, I agree about the full face snorkel masks- game changer, especially for kids.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I'm editing my response since I've been on the Wish. The Wish does not have a lot of drawers like the other ships do. I brought some collapsible fabric bins that I bought at dollar tree to keep our stuff organized on the closet shelves. This worked great because normally we dump all our toiletries in a drawer, dump all our electronics in a drawer, etc, and that would not have worked well on the shelves. Would only pack these for the Wish though.

Still 100% with the sharpie though. Always end up using that on every trip.

 

[KSL]

Still 100% with the sharpie though. Always end up using that on every trip.

Tell me again what you use it for (that a regular pen won't do)? I've added "Sharpie because DisneyCowgirl says so!" to my packing list...!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Tell me again what you use it for (that a regular pen won't do)? I've added "Sharpie because DisneyCowgirl says so!" to my packing list...!

Here's some examples:

• Write our names on things (this is the biggest). Ex: bought stainless cups onboard that we used on deck and wrote our names on the bottom. Write kids' names on toys, beach stuff, hats, etc. (This is also handy at Disney resorts with the refillable mugs.)
• Write info on luggage tags when I forgot to pack the ones DCL sends.
• Write last number of stateroom on keycard (I don't put the whole number, but just putting that one helps me remember which room is mine since we usually have 3 rooms in our group and I can't remember which is mine when using it to pay for drinks and stuff; at regular hotels, I note on the key cards which is my room and which is kids' room).
• Write postcards (sometimes they have a slick coating that a regular pen doesn't work on).
• Write notes to each other that stand out (my husband will notice something written in a black marker; he'll completely miss if I leave a note written in ball point pen. This might be unique to me.)
• Bought luggage tags in the shop and used the sharpie to write our info on them.

I just keep one packed in my toiletries bag so I always have it. I can't remember a trip where I haven't used it for something.

 

[suzannews]

scissors- I always need scissors

I also always need scissors but they must be a small size. I had a regular size pair taken out of my checked luggage and held until we returned to Port Canaveral.

 

[emmabelle]

By the same token, a lot of people are mentioning sound/white noise machines and I would never bother packing one because I have an app on my phone with 50 different sounds on it that I use for white noise when I need it. To each their own!

I just found this out last week! I had my grandson over and he has a white noise machine at home. I was like my iphone must be able to do something. Now it's like Living with the Land on steroids when he sleeps. (the rain scene)

 

[Girl of the South]

On my TATL cruise I brought some cardboard. Not really heavy stuff - like the back part of a tablet of note paper? Because sometimes there are creaks and squeaks and I would stick it (sometimes folded) into places that were noisy. Seemed like sometimes the ceiling where it met the wall you could see a little opening and when I 'plugged' it, it was better. And I'm talking about a folded piece of 3 inch cardboard. I will borrow scissors from 5Texans!

I am also, maybe, bringing binoculars this trip!

 

[nancipants]

By the same token, a lot of people are mentioning sound/white noise machines and I would never bother packing one because I have an app on my phone with 50 different sounds on it that I use for white noise when I need it. To each their own!

The phone speaker is never loud enough for me! My husband snores. Plus my son goes to bed earlier than us and I don't want to have to use a phone for white noise in case someone else watches him or we go onto the veranda.

 

[princesscinderella]

I have a small pair of nail scissors from when my kids were babies and they are amazing and cut everything so well and are tiny. They have a permanent place in my toiletries bag. I got a motion activated nightlight and we stick it in the bathroom so that way no need to fiddle with the light switch’s outside the bathroom and pick the wrong one and turn the cabin lights on instead. It’s a soft glow so it’s not harsh on the eyes like a phone flashlight.

 

[magsnwonderland]

Here's some examples:

• Write our names on things (this is the biggest). Ex: bought stainless cups onboard that we used on deck and wrote our names on the bottom. Write kids' names on toys, beach stuff, hats, etc. (This is also handy at Disney resorts with the refillable mugs.)
• Write info on luggage tags when I forgot to pack the ones DCL sends.
• Write last number of stateroom on keycard (I don't put the whole number, but just putting that one helps me remember which room is mine since we usually have 3 rooms in our group and I can't remember which is mine when using it to pay for drinks and stuff; at regular hotels, I note on the key cards which is my room and which is kids' room).
• Write postcards (sometimes they have a slick coating that a regular pen doesn't work on).
• Write notes to each other that stand out (my husband will notice something written in a black marker; he'll completely miss if I leave a note written in ball point pen. This might be unique to me.)
• Bought luggage tags in the shop and used the sharpie to write our info on them.

I just keep one packed in my toiletries bag so I always have it. I can't remember a trip where I haven't used it for something.

We will bring a sharpie b/c we started a family tradition to get autographs on a photo mat that we then use to frame a trip photo.

 

[Micca]

An anvil. Well...you said weird

 

[Alicefan]

On my TATL cruise I brought some cardboard. Not really heavy stuff - like the back part of a tablet of note paper? Because sometimes there are creaks and squeaks and I would stick it (sometimes folded) into places that were noisy. Seemed like sometimes the ceiling where it met the wall you could see a little opening and when I 'plugged' it, it was better. And I'm talking about a folded piece of 3 inch cardboard. I will borrow scissors from 5Texans!

I am also, maybe, bringing binoculars this trip!

Yes! I always wish I would've brought binoculars every time I cruise.

 

[disdel]

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!

There are phone apps for "white noise", eliminating your need for a separate item.

 

[Lizgistix]

A stainless steel tumbler is such a great suggestion! So much better for drinks than the cups you get at the soda station. Can also use it in the morning with coffee...or in the evening with Truly (ahem).
I also bring my own Dramamine...just in case.

 

[mousefan73]

A stainless steel tumbler is such a great suggestion! So much better for drinks than the cups you get at the soda station. Can also use it in the morning with coffee...or in the evening with Truly (ahem). I also bring my own Dramamine...just in case.

Another tip is to pack a soap-filled sponge to clean your tumblers. you can google hacks, let a sponge soak and dry in dishsoap. some cup up to have single use pieces.. I have no issue keeping the sponge whole as the soap lasts a long time.

 

[MinnieNMini]

Adding this: Last cruise, I brought along my Stanley tumbler for the soda station. The cups provided are super tiny and I like to have a drink with me during the day (without having to run up to the top deck every time).

Pro tip: I put a piece of masking tape on the outside with my name and stateroom # just in case I left it somewhere (I didn't do that, but that is very much something I would do - so I was prepared just in case).

I got the 40 oz one as a gift, so that's what I brought because I already had it. But they have similar stuff at Walmart for way less.

https://www.stanley1913.com/products/adventure-quencher-travel-tumbler-40-oz

That's so smart to put your stateroom number on it in case you missplace it.. which I know I have done many a times!

 

[MinnieNMini]

A stainless steel tumbler is such a great suggestion! So much better for drinks than the cups you get at the soda station. Can also use it in the morning with coffee...or in the evening with Truly (ahem).
I also bring my own Dramamine...just in case.

Do they allow Truly's? Was wondering if that would pass for my 6-pack of beer instead.

 

[Lizgistix]

Do they allow Truly's? Was wondering if that would pass for my 6-pack of beer instead.

It's available to purchase ahead of time in the wine/beer category, so maybe?