Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page printable cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limited time). Here are the details: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner
Hi I'm from Australia and love watching your videos. Just booked our first family cruise ever and personally haven't been on a cruise in ten years. I just bought your cruise planner and even though we are going on a different cruiseline to what you have/travel on there it is totally relevant and so helpful. Thank you so much for creating it and all your informative videos. Happy and safe cruising!
@@michelleprice5000 that’s so exciting! Cruising really is the ultimate family vacation! I’m so glad the cruise planner is helpful as you plan. Thanks for your purchase:)
@@LifeWellCruised I would like info and your thoughts on virtual balconies. My daughter and I go on a cruise in October. All rooms with balconies were taken. My daughter got us a room with a virtual balcony.
Instead of packing cubes, I use Hefty jumbo Ziploc‘s. They are see-through, so you know it’s inside and you can also label them. They are also a lot less expensive.
I don’t bring a portable fan mainly because of the lack of outlets in the room. I have used however, those dollar store battery operated tea lights. My first cruise was for my parents’ anniversary and to help make the room light up more at night I turned those on. This is also useful without the romance part of the equation because there is VERY little to no light at night. If you need to go to the bathroom at night, you can get injured or stub a toe. So for safety reasons, I like to have a bit of light, maybe even along the floor so that everyone’s safe. Plus, it looks so cool.
Having experienced various types of emergencies at sea during my Naval career, I never go cruising (or stay at a hotel) without a small high intensity pocket flashlight at bedside. A total power failure, failure of emergency backup systems due to ship damage and the possibility of smoke filled passageways are formidable obstacles to finding a safe haven. Mobile phone flashlights are inadequate in comparison to a good rechargeable LED flashlight with an intense wide beam.
@@rosaliegutierrez1879 sorry for the late reply. I was traveling. Amazon is loaded with them. Any large outdoor sports specialty retailer would have a nice selection. Walmart probably has some too. Look for LED mini flashlights with a high lumen output.
Even though I get in “trouble” for the amount of daily cruise or travel videos I watch, it just makes the countdowns til the next trip more exciting and so I know how much I need to not spend elsewhere.
buy luggage sleeves, so you can find your luggage quicker when you get off the ship, as all bags look alike. This saved us a lot of time looking for our luggage on our last cruise
I like to bring my own hair towel (turban). I have long hair and it’s just so much easier to use than hotel/cruise ship regular towels. I sometimes like my own pillowcase, too. Makes my cabin feel more like home.
I love the paper planner at the end of the night. It's relaxing to wind down from the day but yet get excited for what will come tomorrow. Even though you might not make it there.
Paper planners all the way for me! I don’t like being on my phone during vacation unless I’m working remotely. Even if I was working remotely on the ship I’d want to be able to not be chained to my phone. I like to highlight the activities i want to do in yellow on my planner! I bring my sketchbook and tempura paint sticks with me and scotch tape and I leave notes for my cabin attendant and will draw a quick picture for them :) they seem to enjoy it!
I love reading the cruise planner for each day, it feels like I have an "insider look" at the next days goings-on, and I find it a great way to wind down before going to sleep each night.😊
My husband said he plans to bring a high strength LED Headlight. He always keeps one in the drawer next to his bed and in the car for potential night breakdowns 😊
We did Alaska in 2018. A bucket list trip!! I still remember my son turning to me and saying, "Dad, this is the most beautiful place I have ever been to in my life!" 🥰
I love the paper planners, because sometimes the cruise app doesn't work. A great and rarely used purpose for Ziploc bag but which I needed because I get migraines: Fill them with ice and then wrap it in a towel for a handy ice pack. I also bring Hear-Os, which are hi-fidelity earplugs for when a venue is noisy but you still want to hear the music and conversation.
packing cubes are such a life saver, I went on my first cruise last year and just put them all on the shelves and draws, hung up my dresses and everything was so organised. And I didnt have to go rumaging around to find anything because i knew exactly where it was. Cannot reconmend them enough!!
I love my portable fan, rechargeable battery pack, hanging organizer, lanyards, etc. One thing I also like is wine bottle stoppers for when you bring your own on.
I find a magnet hooks in the shower with wet clothes on a hanger works better than any cord. Once they are done dripping, I move them (with the magnet) to main cabin-in front of the vent. They dry quickly then. Small bills super important for shopping or snacks in port also. The plastic luggage tags are a must investment if you cruise more than a few times. Just buy the size that is for Carnival/Princess as it is larger and will fit all cruise company tags.
(Family of 5 in the Princess Ruby family cabin for 10 days) The over-the-door-organizer was AMAZING!!! Our bathroom was never cluttered, so the counter was never cluttered. All of my toiletries and beauty items were in there (hairspray, hair irons, sunscreen, deodorant, etc). and you can usually fit more than one item in each pouch. I HIGHLY recommend this. I scoffed at the PooPourri people at first, but it really works! I like it! Especially because we're a family of 5 sharing bathrooms. The non-surge protected power strip? ESSENTIAL for our family of 5! The small travel fan I bring with me everywhere, whether on a cruise or going to Vegas, or some random hotel room for an out of town wedding. Shoot, I even use it at home. Probably because I'm peri-menopausal - LOL I like it on my nightstand, rather than the ceiling though. Oddly enough, we didn't use the magnet hooks at all.
Bungee cords! On a trip to the Mediterranean, the seas were a bit rocky. Our bathroom room door kept opening and closing and banging around. The bungee cords (bought at the dollar store) took care of the problem! 👍
I usually suggest using gaffer's tape rather than duct tape as it doesn't leave behind the mess that duct tape does while retaining the strength that most people require. Duct is usually for permanent applications where gaffer's is removable and temporary.
Hi Ileana, my husband and I have been watching your videos since we booked our first cruise, which we just completed. February 20, to 26,2023 we cruised on the Regal Princess to the western Caribbean and Bahamas. We loved the cruise, and have booked another cruise on the Rose Princess in November for 10 days to Panama. I purchased almost every item you suggested. We had an inside cabin. Some of the items I found most helpful were to motion sensor night light, the portable fan, the non-surge outlets, magnetic hooks and clips. I also found the packing cubes and toiletry hanger useful. We have really enjoyed your videos and watch every one. Thank you.
I took a motion sensor light on our last cruise and it was a game changer in the bathroom at night. I also agree with the highlighter, I’m a paper planner person and love to highlight what I want to do the next day. My packing cubes I have so many of them, but I do prefer the ones that compress. And on our last cruise I did take a fan but found I never used it.
Excellent list, it is close to what I take, except my #1 is a travel router. There is often only a small area of the cabin with good wi-fi and the travel router fixes that (and allows you to use an Apple TV or other device). Also, magnets are 4x stronger if you attach them to the ceiling instead of the wall.
Pro tip for the “other” key card to keep lights on: if you’re traveling in from somewhere else and using the pre-cruise overnight tip, hang onto your key card instead of leaving it in the room when you check out (if you can).
I never leave a hotel card behind.....remember it has your CC information in the magnetic strip. So this is another way to use the card when you take it with you!
I have yet to go on a cruise, but I've been watching your shows and they are very informative. I'm 69 years old and I plan on going in the next year or two. I hope I have the stamina. You sure look like you're having lots of fun!
My dad went on his first cruise at 75. I told him it was the best because if he didn't feel like doing something that day, he was fine to do so. Also, most shore excursions are rated for required stamina.
I love all of your cruise tips ! I think it is very important to bring a small but well stocked kit for any over the counter meds. Cruise ships no longer stock much in the line of cough drops, stomach meds, sun burn relief etc.Bonine,ibuprofen, work best when you can get them quickly. Pack your own..it will save you time and $$!
We discovered when my husband got sick that you can’t get any type of cold medication on the ships anymore unless you go to medical. We knew he didn’t have Covid but I only had a couple of decongestant tablets in my purse so we had to go down there.
Compression Cubes are super useful! I save lots more space than using packing Cubes. It's got two zippers, one to shut the top and the other to compress it into a small pillow size
Rooms can get stuffy, especially balcony rooms, if a neighbor has left open their balcony door. It can overwhelm the a/c system. Neighboring rooms feel the effects. That's another reason to close the door behind you, going outside or in. (As explained to me by a crew member) I am a pro-packer but I still love your suggestions and tips. You're informative and pleasant to watch. Thank you!
15:55 Or, an adjustable headlamp that you can pick up at most hardware stores is also useful. Also, something that isn't mentioned to this point: rechargeable batteries and a charging unit. You may have issues with these at an airport, but if you're using any devices that use standard batteries, you're gonna want the batteries and the charging unit.
Actually, they can help you at the airport. It the airline tries to tell you that they need to check-in your carry on bag, if there are lithium batteries or any devices with lithium batteries in the bag they cannot check it. It is illegal to have lithium batteries in checked bags.
Good information. Always bring small bills with me. My late wife informed me it comes in handy for tips. Yes, the wipes are essential. Give everything the wipe down when I first get to the stateroom and several times during the cruise. Like to use the wake up call from the customer service desk. Travel coffee mug is great. Never leave home without it.
As a first-time cruiser, I LOVE your cruise planning packet. I had no idea of how to get organized for a cruise. I already use packing lists but I appreciate the specific items for a cruise. The information I need for my booking reservations of cruise, flights, hotels etc has been so helpful!
Always bring two 5 inch battery operated fans. Put them in carry on bag. We love the printed papers for our cruise. We do the App but enjoy reading the papers even after we get back.
I love that you mentioned the fan. This is a must for me. I always bring small electrical fan. The 1st time I did this on Disney cruise it was confiscated at the beginning of our cruise. They actually removed it from my luggage before our luggage arrived in our stateroom. They left behind a receipt letting me know I could pick it up at debarkation. However, I was determined to get it back 😄 so I just went down to guest service, nicely asked for it back and after minimal hesitation on their part it was returned to me 😊. Any Disney Cruise we've been on since, has not happened again.
Packing cubes can be a double edged sword, you can stuff a lot more into your suitcase, sometimes way more than you need, and can barrel over the weight restrictions much more quickly. I tried packing cubes on my last cruise and frankly hated them for everything but my underwear.
Great video. Also add, Tide pods or single use packet of laundry detergent. Collapsible storage box from the Dollar store. I use two of them: one for our shoes, and another for snacks..
I love having a travel fan since I need fresh air blowing in me at night. Also still Like the paper planner and actually read it. Last cruise didn’t have them and I missed that. A few different size baggies nice to have for leftovers ( if we get something in port, for liquid bottles. For a place to to put wet bathing suit if we changed at the beach). Ps: your hair looks great
Thank you for all your tips. No matter how many cruises we take we always find something new. We always use Thank you cards for extra tips to Crew at the end and we like to personalize them. Decorations in cabin and doors always great! Can't wait for our next cruise soon... 🚢🚢🚢
Thanks so much for this! Last year on our cruise saw some cute upside down pineapples on the doors so I got some to take this year!!! I’m so exited !! 🍍
Just got back from our first cruise. We packed a lot of these items after watching your videos. Absolutely great! My husband really appreciated the fan & the cabin was so organized and felt roomier after we unpacked. Thanks for the great tips!
The fan is a must! Everyone should have their own! It helps keep you cool at night and it helps circulate the air! The motion sensor light is the best and I'd have to say it's a must also! If you have an interior cabin it's dark in the cabin and if you have a balcony it also helps by being able to see! We left ours in the bathroom and it makes a great night light if you leave it on all the time! Dorr decorations are something that's fun and you can also use them to decorate you cabin also! The heavy duty magnets are also a must! There are so many things that you can use them for! Magnetic clips are worth is it also to hold your paperwork! The luggage scale is a must! This keeps you informed before you et to the airport to find out that you're over weight! Flashlights are a must! You never know if and when you are going to need one! Just a small one that produces a lot of light is the best! The over the door shoe holder works great! We learned that they don't work over the door but if you take the heavy duty magnets you can place it next to the wall and use the magnets on the ceiling and it holds it perfectly!
Thank you for all of the helpful information. I've been binge watching your videos for our first cruise next week. So much information, I hope I remember everything.
Your videos are a great tool for newbies. We are presently on NCL encore. We listened to your channel a lot before we left for our trip. It pays to strategize each day. Even though we watched your info a lot it still has took us about three days on the boat before figuring out how not to feel a bit pushed and prodded. Everything from elevator strategy to booking events. Thanks for everything you do, your information is a must for cruising not so frequently.
Hi Ilana: We are going on our first cruise since 1998 and I have to say, I just love your videos. They are both informative and fun to watch. I love all of your tips and my wife is just mesmerized by how much info you supply that is really helping us. Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing more videos from you and sharing with you our experiences as well. We live near Tampa Florida and would love to go on a cruise where we have the opportunity to meet you and your family. You seem to enjoy life and cruising which is very inspiring. Stay well..
Great tips 👍🏽 No matter where I go, whether I’m going by plane or a land vacation, I have made sure to bring my travel pillow and my throw blanket. I’ve had an incident where I was at someone else’s house and their pillows were like extra fluffy and I had a bad kink in my neck. It was so bad I went to the Urgent care and got like a muscle relaxer shot. I just can’t sleep with big, fluffy pillows. It hurts my neck. So I make it a point to bring like a memory foam travel pillow and my own throw blanket. So more than likely on my next cruise, I’ll definitely bring those, along with other essentials like sun glasses, sun tan lotion, baby powder, and most the items mentioned (that I learned from a lot of your videos). 😁
I did that card trick for the electricity in a hotel in Portugal. It really came in handy. I was there for 5 out of 6 weeks. Two of those weeks I even spent the weekend there.
Hi Ilana, I’m from the UK and I love your channel and all the helpful tips and suggestions. I’m definitely going to get some of these cruise essentials and can’t wait to try them out.
I agree with the Poo-Pourri. Our motto is "Spray Ahead" (like Pay Ahead). Give it a spray after you finish the job. The next person may forget! Great video of information.
My favourite type of video I love the. I wouldn’t leave home without the first 3 and the luggage tags. I love the paper planners and always keep them clean to take home. I take a clear A4 plastic popper wallet to keep them nice. I take a kindle and I pad with pre down loaded shows.
Ah, excellent video - there are so many good things for first timers to consider, but also for more experienced cruisers to think about. I'm in the process of finishing packing to spend the rest of 2023 living on cruise ships, and you've given me some great things to think about - thanks for this video!
We bring a battery thermometer w/remote - hang the remote on the balcony wall with a magnetic hook. Just take it in on days they are cleaning/washing the balcony. I always have duck and electrician's tape in suitcase for repairs - zip ties too.
I always take a small USB fan. Even if the air conditioning is working, the fan helps to circulate the air better, especially when we are sleeping. We also do enjoy getting a paper copy of the daily newsletter, and my husband is the “king of highlighters!” Magnet hooks have been a game changer for us. Although most bathrooms do have a laundry line to dry your clothes, I find that the bathroom actually gets very little air circulation, and it takes forever for anything to dry in there. So, I hang anything that needs to dry, in the cabin itself, on the magnetic hooks. Thanks, as always, for a great video Ilana! 😊
I bring two digital alarm clocks that fold up like a compact. I place one in the bathroom and one next to my bedside. The digital alarm clocks that I have also tell me the date and the day of the week. A Simple Touch will bring up the light so I can read it during the night, and it is large print.
Another great video, Ilana! Thanks! I've only been on 3 cruises but I find I do use a lot of your suggestions. And yes, being vision challenged, I like the paper planner. I can stick in my pocket or purse. The over the door shoe hanger is truly one of the most genius hacks EVER!!!!! If I were to do a longer term resort stay, I would definitely bring one!
I also put a 3"x5" index card in the front zipper area on our suitcases with our cabin info in case the tags get pulled off. Then going home, I change them out with our home address.
We leave in April for a TA-our 20 the cruise, but the first since Covid. I have been watching your videos, checking our packing favorites and thanks to you I have added some great items that will make our two weeks feel more like home. Thank you! I appreciate the links, too.
I bring a small portable fan on every trip, cruise or not. Beyond the possible stuffiness in the cabin, it provides some "white noise" to help drown out outside sounds. We also take many of the items that you mentioned. I do need some towel clips though. Thanks for this informative video!
Travel games are a must for us as well. We have made so many friends playing new games with them. Its fun to sit at a table, listen to music and play games.
I am a very light sleeper, easily awakened and use a fan to drown out the sound of AC kicking on and off. I have also found a fan to be quite useful to drown out corridor noise in hotels. If we are taking a cruise where we drive to the port, we take a box fan still packed in the box. Never been an issue with bringing it aboard. We leave it with our room steward upon departure and they have always seemed overjoyed to have one given to them. It was once suggested to me to have an Amazon order of a fan delivered to the hotel (if allowed by hotel) if flying into port. I may have to inquire on that for our planned Alaska 2024 trip.
We take some wire coat hangers to dry air shirts (so they dont shrink ina dryer) and an extra clothes line and pegs. For the laundry we take laundry washing sheets and a stick of stain remover (no mess). You can alos tear of a small piece for handwashing. Roll your hand washing in a clean towel and stand on it to extract water, it significantly speeds drying time. Also a small pair of binoculars for viewing wildlife from your cabin (and exursions). For "dressy" socks, wool socks dry much quicker than cotton.
Hi… a lot of these you share over and over.. are the best for not just cruising but for all traveling… I love the toiletry bag … it’s wonders… and all of these I try to get.. thank you.. 😊
Thanks again! Always helpful hints! I used many of them on my first cruise in January & they were great. I think my top 2 were the hamper & magnet hooks.
Love all your cruising tips! Thanks to your recommendations I brought many of the essentials you list on our last cruise and my husband was blown away with how much we used them, especially the magnetic hooks and ziploc bags. Thank you for your channel! Will be downloading your planner before our 10 day Greek Isle cruise!
A travel alarm clock is a must! I highly recommend a clock with RED numbers. You can see the time much easier in the dark. Also, some cruise lines don’t offer magnifying makeup mirrors. So, I do bring a portable one with me and place it on the desk in the room.
Thank you Ilanna, you are the best. Interesting, most of the must haves you showed, my wife has brought on most of our cruises. Apparently, she was watching your videos.
Hello!!!! Thanks for the video!! It was great. You are not the only one who loves the paper cruise itinerary. It is how I plan my day with my highlighter. I know it's on the phone... but it's something about having the paper itinerary in my hands!!!!! Plus, I never thought of hanging the towel clips on the bottom of the shower to keep it in place. Great idea!!!!
I watched this video before and after my cruise, just to check what was really helpful for me and if I have any regrets. This was our first Cruise, we sailed on MSC Seaview in Mediterranean. Big thanks for recommending magnet hooks! I was pessimistic before, until I hung first item on it and then they were all over my cabin and few on balcony :). #2 charger cube-super convenient! #3 door hanging organizer, we've got the one you recommended, thank you ! I regretted that didn't take laundry busket with us. I bought it but thought that not going to use and left home :/. Everything else, I don't see we would need it, but I only speak for our family of 3.
I love your videos and your dress is great! I've only been on two cruises so far, but the magnetic hooks are the best! And I also love the printed itineraries and use highlighters :)
Just finished a cruise with Royal Caribbean out of New Jersey and my non surge power bar was taken from me at the check in !!!! Was still in original box !!! It was one that you recommended , was given back after the cruise
I always use the Patter on Princess. I read it and keeping with me. We only cruise Princess, but I'm sure I would want paper daily activities on any cruise line.
I'm not going on a cruise for my vacation next year, but I've watched many of your videos and got quite a few ideas to put to good use on my trip. Thank you. 😊🇨🇦
We took most of these things. They don’t take much room in the luggage either. I have to tell you about the motion sensor light. We put it towards the end of the bed on the top shelf. It was too close to our bed, so that when we shifted in our bed, the light would come on. We laughed every time the light came on. You’d think that we would have moved it, but we were laughing at it so much that we just left it.
Various sizes of binder clips work great & are multi-purpose. They take up less room than the large plastic towel clips, can be hung from a magnet hook (no need for separate clip magnets), can be used as clothespins, shower curtain weights, etc.
Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page printable cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limited time). Here are the details: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner
Hi I'm from Australia and love watching your videos. Just booked our first family cruise ever and personally haven't been on a cruise in ten years. I just bought your cruise planner and even though we are going on a different cruiseline to what you have/travel on there it is totally relevant and so helpful. Thank you so much for creating it and all your informative videos. Happy and safe cruising!
@@michelleprice5000 that’s so exciting! Cruising really is the ultimate family vacation! I’m so glad the cruise planner is helpful as you plan. Thanks for your purchase:)
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@@LifeWellCruised
I would like info and your thoughts on virtual balconies. My daughter and I go on a cruise in October. All rooms with balconies were taken. My daughter got us a room with a virtual balcony.
@@LifeWellCruised
Your thoughts on virtual balconies.
NEVER KNEW the key card trick! You ALWAYS teach this OLD CRUISER something, 🤣, THANK YOU
Instead of packing cubes, I use Hefty jumbo Ziploc‘s. They are see-through, so you know it’s inside and you can also label them. They are also a lot less expensive.
I don’t bring a portable fan mainly because of the lack of outlets in the room. I have used however, those dollar store battery operated tea lights. My first cruise was for my parents’ anniversary and to help make the room light up more at night I turned those on. This is also useful without the romance part of the equation because there is VERY little to no light at night. If you need to go to the bathroom at night, you can get injured or stub a toe. So for safety reasons, I like to have a bit of light, maybe even along the floor so that everyone’s safe. Plus, it looks so cool.
Having experienced various types of emergencies at sea during my Naval career, I never go cruising (or stay at a hotel) without a small high intensity pocket flashlight at bedside. A total power failure, failure of emergency backup systems due to ship damage and the possibility of smoke filled passageways are formidable obstacles to finding a safe haven. Mobile phone flashlights are inadequate in comparison to a good rechargeable LED flashlight with an intense wide beam.
Where does one get one of these flashlights??
Retired Firefighter and I totally agree
@@rosaliegutierrez1879 sorry for the late reply. I was traveling. Amazon is loaded with them. Any large outdoor sports specialty retailer would have a nice selection. Walmart probably has some too. Look for LED mini flashlights with a high lumen output.
Where can you buy ?
@@patrickwallace9726 same here
Even though I get in “trouble” for the amount of daily cruise or travel videos I watch, it just makes the countdowns til the next trip more exciting and so I know how much I need to not spend elsewhere.
Lol love that!!
Same!
Yep.
Same here! Our next cruise is in 11 months and I'm binge watching cruise videos lol
buy luggage sleeves, so you can find your luggage quicker when you get off the ship, as all bags look alike. This saved us a lot of time looking for our luggage on our last cruise
A small sewing kit. It has come in handy many times. Love your blogs. :)
I like to bring my own hair towel (turban). I have long hair and it’s just so much easier to use than hotel/cruise ship regular towels. I sometimes like my own pillowcase, too. Makes my cabin feel more like home.
I like that idea!
I plan on taking a silk pillow cover. Thanks for the turban tip. I will do that too.
I love the paper planner at the end of the night. It's relaxing to wind down from the day but yet get excited for what will come tomorrow. Even though you might not make it there.
We take a zero balance gift card to leave above the insert for the lights.
Paper planners all the way for me! I don’t like being on my phone during vacation unless I’m working remotely. Even if I was working remotely on the ship I’d want to be able to not be chained to my phone. I like to highlight the activities i want to do in yellow on my planner!
I bring my sketchbook and tempura paint sticks with me and scotch tape and I leave notes for my cabin attendant and will draw a quick picture for them :) they seem to enjoy it!
I love reading the cruise planner for each day, it feels like I have an "insider look" at the next days goings-on, and I find it a great way to wind down before going to sleep each night.😊
My husband said he plans to bring a high strength LED Headlight. He always keeps one in the drawer next to his bed and in the car for potential night breakdowns 😊
Still 5 months away for our Alaska cruise but you make it sooooo fun to think about the "this-and-that's." You're awesome and fun to watch! ❤
Thanks for watching! I find getting ready in this way also helps me to anticipate my cruise :)
Us too...5 months...Alaska. Can't wait.
We're going to Alaska in 5 months too! Love to plan ahead!
We are 4 months out from our Alaska cruise.
We did Alaska in 2018. A bucket list trip!! I still remember my son turning to me and saying, "Dad, this is the most beautiful place I have ever been to in my life!" 🥰
I love the paper planners, because sometimes the cruise app doesn't work. A great and rarely used purpose for Ziploc bag but which I needed because I get migraines: Fill them with ice and then wrap it in a towel for a handy ice pack. I also bring Hear-Os, which are hi-fidelity earplugs for when a venue is noisy but you still want to hear the music and conversation.
I’m always plugging my ears to hear the music. I need to get some of those, Thank you!
Good ideas!
packing cubes are such a life saver, I went on my first cruise last year and just put them all on the shelves and draws, hung up my dresses and everything was so organised. And I didnt have to go rumaging around to find anything because i knew exactly where it was. Cannot reconmend them enough!!
I love my portable fan, rechargeable battery pack, hanging organizer, lanyards, etc. One thing I also like is wine bottle stoppers for when you bring your own on.
Thanks for sharing!
I'd say the plactic luggage tags are the most important because if your bags get lost, nothing else will matter. :)
👏👏
I find a magnet hooks in the shower with wet clothes on a hanger works better than any cord. Once they are done dripping, I move them (with the magnet) to main cabin-in front of the vent. They dry quickly then. Small bills super important for shopping or snacks in port also. The plastic luggage tags are a must investment if you cruise more than a few times. Just buy the size that is for Carnival/Princess as it is larger and will fit all cruise company tags.
Good idea!!
I love the paper planners. I bring a highlighter to highlight the events I don't want to miss.
Love your videos.
Love your channel!!
Individual eye glass wipes & nail polish remover pads.nail file. Laundry soap sheets & fabric softener sheets.. clear plastic packing tape. Clothes pins.. my faves
(Family of 5 in the Princess Ruby family cabin for 10 days) The over-the-door-organizer was AMAZING!!! Our bathroom was never cluttered, so the counter was never cluttered. All of my toiletries and beauty items were in there (hairspray, hair irons, sunscreen, deodorant, etc). and you can usually fit more than one item in each pouch. I HIGHLY recommend this.
I scoffed at the PooPourri people at first, but it really works! I like it! Especially because we're a family of 5 sharing bathrooms.
The non-surge protected power strip? ESSENTIAL for our family of 5!
The small travel fan I bring with me everywhere, whether on a cruise or going to Vegas, or some random hotel room for an out of town wedding. Shoot, I even use it at home. Probably because I'm peri-menopausal - LOL I like it on my nightstand, rather than the ceiling though.
Oddly enough, we didn't use the magnet hooks at all.
Thanks so much for sharing! It’s a whole different ballgame when you put 5 in a cabin 👏
Bungee cords! On a trip to the Mediterranean, the seas were a bit rocky. Our bathroom room door kept opening and closing and banging around. The bungee cords (bought at the dollar store) took care of the problem! 👍
I usually suggest using gaffer's tape rather than duct tape as it doesn't leave behind the mess that duct tape does while retaining the strength that most people require. Duct is usually for permanent applications where gaffer's is removable and temporary.
Is that sold in special stores?
Hi Ileana, my husband and I have been watching your videos since we booked our first cruise, which we just completed. February 20, to 26,2023 we cruised on the Regal Princess to the western Caribbean and Bahamas. We loved the cruise, and have booked another cruise on the Rose Princess in November for 10 days to Panama. I purchased almost every item you suggested. We had an inside cabin. Some of the items I found most helpful were to motion sensor night light, the portable fan, the non-surge outlets, magnetic hooks and clips. I also found the packing cubes and toiletry hanger useful. We have really enjoyed your videos and watch every one. Thank you.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience!
I took a motion sensor light on our last cruise and it was a game changer in the bathroom at night. I also agree with the highlighter, I’m a paper planner person and love to highlight what I want to do the next day. My packing cubes I have so many of them, but I do prefer the ones that compress. And on our last cruise I did take a fan but found I never used it.
Excellent list, it is close to what I take, except my #1 is a travel router. There is often only a small area of the cabin with good wi-fi and the travel router fixes that (and allows you to use an Apple TV or other device). Also, magnets are 4x stronger if you attach them to the ceiling instead of the wall.
Pro tip for the “other” key card to keep lights on: if you’re traveling in from somewhere else and using the pre-cruise overnight tip, hang onto your key card instead of leaving it in the room when you check out (if you can).
👏👏
Even a business card will keep the lights on. We always used a card we got from our cabin steward.
Thank you great ideas !!!!
@@elouise5593 You can also use an old gift card that has no money left on it.
I never leave a hotel card behind.....remember it has your CC information in the magnetic strip. So this is another way to use the card when you take it with you!
I have yet to go on a cruise, but I've been watching your shows and they are very informative. I'm 69 years old and I plan on going in the next year or two. I hope I have the stamina. You sure look like you're having lots of fun!
How nice!!
What's the rush? 🙄
My dad went on his first cruise at 75. I told him it was the best because if he didn't feel like doing something that day, he was fine to do so. Also, most shore excursions are rated for required stamina.
The mesh hamper is a STAPLE for my family. Helps everything stay just a bit tidier
I love all of your cruise tips ! I think it is very important to bring a small but well stocked kit for any over the counter meds. Cruise ships no longer stock much in the line of cough drops, stomach meds, sun burn relief etc.Bonine,ibuprofen, work best when you can get them quickly. Pack your own..it will save you time and $$!
We discovered when my husband got sick that you can’t get any type of cold medication on the ships anymore unless you go to medical. We knew he didn’t have Covid but I only had a couple of decongestant tablets in my purse so we had to go down there.
Omygoodness...the noise of the cruise ship IS my white noise. I even found a CZcams channel that plays it for bedtime 😴🤤
Compression Cubes are super useful! I save lots more space than using packing Cubes. It's got two zippers, one to shut the top and the other to compress it into a small pillow size
Rooms can get stuffy, especially balcony rooms, if a neighbor has left open their balcony door. It can overwhelm the a/c system. Neighboring rooms feel the effects. That's another reason to close the door behind you, going outside or in. (As explained to me by a crew member)
I am a pro-packer but I still love your suggestions and tips. You're informative and pleasant to watch. Thank you!
How interesting! Thanks for sharing:)
We're 6 months away from our first cruise - a Norwegian Fjord cruise with Celebrity. This is so helpful, thank you!
So exciting!!
15:55 Or, an adjustable headlamp that you can pick up at most hardware stores is also useful.
Also, something that isn't mentioned to this point: rechargeable batteries and a charging unit. You may have issues with these at an airport, but if you're using any devices that use standard batteries, you're gonna want the batteries and the charging unit.
Good point
Actually, they can help you at the airport. It the airline tries to tell you that they need to check-in your carry on bag, if there are lithium batteries or any devices with lithium batteries in the bag they cannot check it. It is illegal to have lithium batteries in checked bags.
Good information. Always bring small bills with me. My late wife informed me it comes in handy for tips. Yes, the wipes are essential. Give everything the wipe down when I first get to the stateroom and several times during the cruise. Like to use the wake up call from the customer service desk. Travel coffee mug is great. Never leave home without it.
As a first-time cruiser, I LOVE your cruise planning packet. I had no idea of how to get organized for a cruise. I already use packing lists but I appreciate the specific items for a cruise. The information I need for my booking reservations of cruise, flights, hotels etc has been so helpful!
I got my wife, a hanging toiletry bag for Christmas and we have used it on the cruise and other travels. It is perfect! Thank you!
Always bring two 5 inch battery operated fans. Put them in carry on bag. We love the printed papers for our cruise. We do the App but enjoy reading the papers even after we get back.
I love that you mentioned the fan. This is a must for me. I always bring small electrical fan. The 1st time I did this on Disney cruise it was confiscated at the beginning of our cruise. They actually removed it from my luggage before our luggage arrived in our stateroom. They left behind a receipt letting me know I could pick it up at debarkation. However, I was determined to get it back 😄 so I just went down to guest service, nicely asked for it back and after minimal hesitation on their part it was returned to me 😊. Any Disney Cruise we've been on since, has not happened again.
We're 3.5 months away from our cruise, so I'm watching your videos to make lists, put things in my amazon cart, and dream of the Caribbean!
45 days till our next cruise. Cannot wait. Thank you for putting these wonderful essentials out there.
Packing cubes can be a double edged sword, you can stuff a lot more into your suitcase, sometimes way more than you need, and can barrel over the weight restrictions much more quickly. I tried packing cubes on my last cruise and frankly hated them for everything but my underwear.
Great video. Also add, Tide pods or single use packet of laundry detergent. Collapsible storage box from the Dollar store. I use two of them: one for our shoes, and another for snacks..
We bring the large hooks, over the door storage hanger, pop up laundry bag and a small USB fan. All are amazing ❤
I love having a travel fan since I need fresh air blowing in me at night. Also still
Like the paper planner and actually read it. Last cruise didn’t have them and I missed that. A few different size baggies nice to have for leftovers ( if we get something in port, for liquid bottles. For a place to to put wet bathing suit if we changed at the beach).
Ps: your hair looks great
Thanks for sharing! Lol, thanks for the compliment too :)
I like NCL’s under the bed lighting for going to the bathroom at night.
Thank you for all your tips. No matter how many cruises we take we always find something new. We always use Thank you cards for extra tips to Crew at the end and we like to personalize them. Decorations in cabin and doors always great! Can't wait for our next cruise soon... 🚢🚢🚢
Thanks so much for this! Last year on our cruise saw some cute upside down pineapples on the doors so I got some to take this year!!! I’m so exited !! 🍍
Thank you for all the great advice. I would also recommend a travel first aid kit. 10 days in counting until our cruise.
Just got back from our first cruise. We packed a lot of these items after watching your videos. Absolutely great! My husband really appreciated the fan & the cabin was so organized and felt roomier after we unpacked. Thanks for the great tips!
The fan is a must! Everyone should have their own! It helps keep you cool at night and it helps circulate the air! The motion sensor light is the best and I'd have to say it's a must also! If you have an interior cabin it's dark in the cabin and if you have a balcony it also helps by being able to see! We left ours in the bathroom and it makes a great night light if you leave it on all the time! Dorr decorations are something that's fun and you can also use them to decorate you cabin also! The heavy duty magnets are also a must! There are so many things that you can use them for! Magnetic clips are worth is it also to hold your paperwork! The luggage scale is a must! This keeps you informed before you et to the airport to find out that you're over weight! Flashlights are a must! You never know if and when you are going to need one! Just a small one that produces a lot of light is the best! The over the door shoe holder works great! We learned that they don't work over the door but if you take the heavy duty magnets you can place it next to the wall and use the magnets on the ceiling and it holds it perfectly!
Thank you for all of the helpful information. I've been binge watching your videos for our first cruise next week. So much information, I hope I remember everything.
Glad it was helpful! It’s so fun to plan a first cruise!!
Your videos are a great tool for newbies. We are presently on NCL encore. We listened to your channel a lot before we left for our trip. It pays to strategize each day. Even though we watched your info a lot it still has took us about three days on the boat before figuring out how not to feel a bit pushed and prodded. Everything from elevator strategy to booking events. Thanks for everything you do, your information is a must for cruising not so frequently.
I hope you’re feeling settled in now. Enjoy!!
Did you get paper schedules from the cruise line? I heard Norwegian stopped this year.
Hi Ilana: We are going on our first cruise since 1998 and I have to say, I just love your videos. They are both informative and fun to watch. I love all of your tips and my wife is just mesmerized by how much info you supply that is really helping us. Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing more videos from you and sharing with you our experiences as well. We live near Tampa Florida and would love to go on a cruise where we have the opportunity to meet you and your family. You seem to enjoy life and cruising which is very inspiring. Stay well..
Great tips 👍🏽 No matter where I go, whether I’m going by plane or a land vacation, I have made sure to bring my travel pillow and my throw blanket. I’ve had an incident where I was at someone else’s house and their pillows were like extra fluffy and I had a bad kink in my neck. It was so bad I went to the Urgent care and got like a muscle relaxer shot. I just can’t sleep with big, fluffy pillows. It hurts my neck. So I make it a point to bring like a memory foam travel pillow and my own throw blanket.
So more than likely on my next cruise, I’ll definitely bring those, along with other essentials like sun glasses, sun tan lotion, baby powder, and most the items mentioned (that I learned from a lot of your videos). 😁
Print extra luggage tags on put them on carryon bags, purses, totes, etc.
I did that card trick for the electricity in a hotel in Portugal. It really came in handy. I was there for 5 out of 6 weeks. Two of those weeks I even spent the weekend there.
Hi Ilana, I’m from the UK and I love your channel and all the helpful tips and suggestions. I’m definitely going to get some of these cruise essentials and can’t wait to try them out.
I agree with the Poo-Pourri. Our motto is "Spray Ahead" (like Pay Ahead). Give it a spray after you finish the job. The next person may forget! Great video of information.
My favourite type of video I love the. I wouldn’t leave home without the first 3 and the luggage tags. I love the paper planners and always keep them clean to take home. I take a clear A4 plastic popper wallet to keep them nice. I take a kindle and I pad with pre down loaded shows.
Good idea
Ah, excellent video - there are so many good things for first timers to consider, but also for more experienced cruisers to think about. I'm in the process of finishing packing to spend the rest of 2023 living on cruise ships, and you've given me some great things to think about - thanks for this video!
Paper planner - YES
We bring a battery thermometer w/remote - hang the remote on the balcony wall with a magnetic hook. Just take it in on days they are cleaning/washing the balcony. I always have duck and electrician's tape in suitcase for repairs - zip ties too.
I always take a small USB fan. Even if the air conditioning is working, the fan helps to circulate the air better, especially when we are sleeping.
We also do enjoy getting a paper copy of the daily newsletter, and my husband is the “king of highlighters!”
Magnet hooks have been a game changer for us. Although most bathrooms do have a laundry line to dry your clothes, I find that the bathroom actually gets very little air circulation, and it takes forever for anything to dry in there. So, I hang anything that needs to dry, in the cabin itself, on the magnetic hooks.
Thanks, as always, for a great video Ilana! 😊
Thanks for sharing! :)
I bring two digital alarm clocks that fold up like a compact. I place one in the bathroom and one next to my bedside. The digital alarm clocks that I have also tell me the date and the day of the week. A Simple Touch will bring up the light so I can read it during the night, and it is large print.
Where did you get?
Another great video, Ilana! Thanks! I've only been on 3 cruises but I find I do use a lot of your suggestions. And yes, being vision challenged, I like the paper planner. I can stick in my pocket or purse.
The over the door shoe hanger is truly one of the most genius hacks EVER!!!!! If I were to do a longer term resort stay, I would definitely bring one!
Thanks for watching!
The daily news letter should always be in paper form..easier to track what’s going on and what you want to do😊😊
I also put a 3"x5" index card in the front zipper area on our suitcases with our cabin info in case the tags get pulled off. Then going home, I change them out with our home address.
Smart!
We leave in April for a TA-our 20 the cruise, but the first since Covid. I have been watching your videos, checking our packing favorites and thanks to you I have added some great items that will make our two weeks feel more like home. Thank you! I appreciate the links, too.
That’s awesome! Where a fantastic cruise btw 👏
I bring a small portable fan on every trip, cruise or not. Beyond the possible stuffiness in the cabin, it provides some "white noise" to help drown out outside sounds. We also take many of the items that you mentioned. I do need some towel clips though. Thanks for this informative video!
Awesome! Double purpose
Travel games are a must for us as well. We have made so many friends playing new games with them. Its fun to sit at a table, listen to music and play games.
❤ your hair ☺️
I am a very light sleeper, easily awakened and use a fan to drown out the sound of AC kicking on and off. I have also found a fan to be quite useful to drown out corridor noise in hotels. If we are taking a cruise where we drive to the port, we take a box fan still packed in the box. Never been an issue with bringing it aboard. We leave it with our room steward upon departure and they have always seemed overjoyed to have one given to them. It was once suggested to me to have an Amazon order of a fan delivered to the hotel (if allowed by hotel) if flying into port. I may have to inquire on that for our planned Alaska 2024 trip.
We absolutely love the paper planner!!!!
Some really cool suggestions! Leaving on a 10 night cruise the end of March! So excited! I love the paper planners!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing
Packing cubes are the best, just started using them a couple years ago, life changing!
Thanks for this video Ilana. I got the magnetic hooks and the non-surge power bar for our next cruise.
We take some wire coat hangers to dry air shirts (so they dont shrink ina dryer) and an extra clothes line and pegs. For the laundry we take laundry washing sheets and a stick of stain remover (no mess). You can alos tear of a small piece for handwashing. Roll your hand washing in a clean towel and stand on it to extract water, it significantly speeds drying time. Also a small pair of binoculars for viewing wildlife from your cabin (and exursions). For "dressy" socks, wool socks dry much quicker than cotton.
Hi… a lot of these you share over and over.. are the best for not just cruising but for all traveling… I love the toiletry bag … it’s wonders… and all of these I try to get.. thank you.. 😊
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks again! Always helpful hints! I used many of them on my first cruise in January & they were great. I think my top 2 were the hamper & magnet hooks.
Great to hear!
A fan is a must! I have a USB charging one. Yes to all these items😊
Love all your cruising tips! Thanks to your recommendations I brought many of the essentials you list on our last cruise and my husband was blown away with how much we used them, especially the magnetic hooks and ziploc bags. Thank you for your channel! Will be downloading your planner before our 10 day Greek Isle cruise!
What an amazing cruise coming up!! Thanks for your purchase:)
A travel alarm clock is a must! I highly recommend a clock with RED numbers. You can see the time much easier in the dark. Also, some cruise lines don’t offer magnifying makeup mirrors. So, I do bring a portable one with me and place it on the desk in the room.
Thank you Ilanna, you are the best. Interesting, most of the must haves you showed, my wife has brought on most of our cruises. Apparently, she was watching your videos.
Hello!!!! Thanks for the video!! It was great. You are not the only one who loves the paper cruise itinerary. It is how I plan my day with my highlighter. I know it's on the phone... but it's something about having the paper itinerary in my hands!!!!! Plus, I never thought of hanging the towel clips on the bottom of the shower to keep it in place. Great idea!!!!
Thank you for the refresher. One item we bring is an extra battery for our luggage scale.
I watched this video before and after my cruise, just to check what was really helpful for me and if I have any regrets. This was our first Cruise, we sailed on MSC Seaview in Mediterranean. Big thanks for recommending magnet hooks! I was pessimistic before, until I hung first item on it and then they were all over my cabin and few on balcony :). #2 charger cube-super convenient! #3 door hanging organizer, we've got the one you recommended, thank you ! I regretted that didn't take laundry busket with us. I bought it but thought that not going to use and left home :/. Everything else, I don't see we would need it, but I only speak for our family of 3.
16 March for a 4-night sailing and 7 December for a 5-night sailing. Excited much. Haven't been on a cruise since the pandemic!
I love your videos and your dress is great! I've only been on two cruises so far, but the magnetic hooks are the best! And I also love the printed itineraries and use highlighters :)
I love reading the paper planner, and I highlight it just like you.
Just finished a cruise with Royal Caribbean out of New Jersey and my non surge power bar was taken from me at the check in !!!! Was still in original box !!! It was one that you recommended , was given back after the cruise
🙋♀️ I like the paper planners too! I bring my highlighters along as well
I always use the Patter on Princess. I read it and keeping with me. We only cruise Princess, but I'm sure I would want paper daily activities on any cruise line.
I'm not going on a cruise for my vacation next year, but I've watched many of your videos and got quite a few ideas to put to good use on my trip. Thank you. 😊🇨🇦
We took most of these things. They don’t take much room in the luggage either. I have to tell you about the motion sensor light. We put it towards the end of the bed on the top shelf. It was too close to our bed, so that when we shifted in our bed, the light would come on. We laughed every time the light came on. You’d think that we would have moved it, but we were laughing at it so much that we just left it.
Various sizes of binder clips work great & are multi-purpose. They take up less room than the large plastic towel clips, can be hung from a magnet hook (no need for separate clip magnets), can be used as clothespins, shower curtain weights, etc.
Good idea!
On packing cubes.:
I do unpack in rooms, but I fold and return the dirty laundry to them.
Should I decide to wash/send out, it’s all right there!