Taking a cruise this year? Here's what to bring—from a sapphire-level cruiser who’s spent 150 days at sea

They include magnetic hooks, bathroom spray, a nightlight, and more.

What You Need to Know

• First-time cruisers and overpackers will appreciate this $9 set of heavy-duty magnetic hooks that turn stateroom walls into usable storage space.
• Cruise cabins can be small, and smells can travel. That makes Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Pocket Toilet Spray a must if you’re traveling with friends.
• Steam irons are fire hazards you won’t find in cruise ship staterooms. This wrinkle-releasing spray can make clothes look freshly pressed with no heat or effort.
• A mini-nightlight like this can save you from stubbed toes at night and keep you from rousing your whole cabin for every bathroom trip.

My husband and I were among the first to hop back onto cruise ships after the COVID-19 pandemic. And now, with more than 300 sea days between us, we’ve made up for lost time, this year reaching Sapphire status on Norwegian Cruise Line, which has become our favorite.

We cruise so often—and take the same things on every trip—we now have a dedicated bin in our hall closet for all our cruise ship must-brings. They include things to make our staterooms more efficient (like magnetic wall hooks), ship life more enjoyable (like thank-you notes), and port-day adventuring easier (like my trusty belt bag).

What else is inside our “ship life” bin that you should pack on every cruise? Read on for 14 of the things you never want to set sail without.

Top Cruise Packing Essentials

• Diymag Heavy-Duty Magnetic Hooks, Set of 20, $9 (was $16)
• Mukfirm Heavy-Duty Magnetic Clips, Set of 12, $20
• Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Pocket Toilet Spray, Set of 3, $13 (was $18)
• Downy Wrinkle Releaser Spray Travel Size, Set of 12, $16 (was $18)
• Hetp Portable Power Bank Charger, Set of 2, $30 (was $36)
• Gartner Studios Thank-You Cards, Set of 50, $9
• Auiiah Rechargeable Electric Hand Warmers, Set of 2, $26 (was $40)
• Outdoor Ventures Lightweight Puffer Jacket With Hood, $56
• Maz-Tek Plug-in LED Nightlight, Set of 2, $13 (was $16)
• Towel Crabber Towel Bands, Set of 6, $12

Diymag Heavy-Duty Magnetic Hooks, Set of 20

Fun fact: Most cruise ship staterooms have metal walls. That makes a set of magnetic hooks indispensable for doubling the storage space in cramped cabins. Add these in bathrooms for toiletry bags and jewelry, in closets for belts and bags, and on stateroom walls for bathrobes, damp swimwear, workout clothes, and more.

Mukfirm Heavy-Duty Magnetic Clips, Set of 12

Between daily schedules, excursion brochures, invitations to on-ship events, and notes that accompany gifts from crew members, staterooms can collect a lot of paper. Magnetic clips like these get this clutter off flat surfaces and onto walls, where it’s easily seen and found. I rely on these every cruise to keep both my stateroom and my schedule under control.

Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Pocket Toilet Spray, Set of 3

Cruise ship staterooms are often very close quarters, and what happens in the bathroom can sometimes waft into the rest of the cabin. Odor-trapping lavatory sprays like Poo-Pourri will go a long way toward keeping the peace with cabinmates in your home away from home.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser Spray Travel Size, Set of 12

Most folks don’t realize that fire (not capsizing) is the No. 1 danger at sea, and for that reason, you won’t find a steam iron or any other fire hazards in staterooms. To keep cruise fits looking fresh and breezy, not crumpled and stiff, I prioritize wrinkle-resistant travel clothing. For everything else, I bring this Downy wrinkle-releasing spray and watch creases fall out without heat or effort.

Hetp Portable Power Bank Charger, Set of 2

Beyond your stateroom, power outlets can be tough to come by. A portable power bank can take the anxiety out of dead phones on lazy afternoons spent poolside, long days in port, and off-grid adventures. I always travel with this pair, so I can keep one charging while I’m using the other, or share with a friend in need of a juice-up. I love how compact these are and that you can still use your phone while it's charging.

Gartner Studios Thank-You Cards, Set of 50

Never underestimate the power of a simple thank-you note, both on land and at sea. I bring gobs and use them liberally, thanking room stewards, restaurant staff, guest services teams, and any crew member or fellow passenger who makes my life brighter along the way. It’s a small gesture that can make a big difference in your on-board experience.

Auiiah Rechargeable Electric Hand Warmers, Set of 2

This set of hand warmers has saved my skin on my travels this past year, which have taken me to Alaska, the Azores, Norway, Iceland, and ports in between. And even if you’re traveling to a warm weather locale like Mexico or the Caribbean, days and nights on the open sea can still get surprisingly cold. You’ll be glad you have these USB-charging hand warmers to tuck into gloves, pockets, and jackets.

Eucerin Sun Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

Dermatologists make no bones about this fact: Sunscreen is a must, rain or shine, summer or winter, land or sea. Even in the Arctic, glare from snow and ice can do a number on skin, especially when cold temperatures and wind burn have it already stressed. And if you’re sailing the Mediterranean or Caribbean, SPF can be outrageously expensive on board or in ports, so bringing your favorite sunscreen from home is a pro budget move.

Maz-Tek Plug-in LED Nightlight, Set of 2

Cruise ship cabins can get dark at night, and I mean pitch black, especially in interior cabins, but also in balcony rooms on the open sea. I’ve learned to travel with a small plug-in nightlight to reduce stubbed toes in the middle of the night and turning on “the big light” when others are sleeping.

Away Carry-On 22-Inch Suitcase

A small, lightweight suitcase is a must for cruise ship travel. The luggage you bring will have to stash either in the closet or under your bed, and with storage space already limited, you’ll kick yourself later if you waste that real estate on an Instagrammable but impractical steamer trunk. This hardshell Away luggage is the suitcase I reach for most, as it’s sturdy, stylish, carry-on size, and those spinner wheels glide like butter from curb to car to cabin and back.

Outdoor Ventures Lightweight Puffer Jacket With Hood

Even if your destination is summery warm, getting there often requires passing through cooler climates and chilly international waters. I take this flat-packing down-alternative jacket most anywhere I sail, and not only to Alaska and Northern Europe. Even if you’re spending your days in sunscreen, bikinis, and Bermuda shorts, you’ll need a cozy layer come nightfall.

Towel Crabber Towel Bands, Set of 6

Things get windy at sea. If a week in a lounge chair is on your agenda, you’ll be glad you have these rubbery towel bands. They not only keep you from chasing down towels that have taken flight, but they also make it easy to stake your claim on your chair when you step away for a cocktail, bio break, or impromptu whale watching.

Pander Two Way Zipper Fanny Pack

I never travel without this simple, stylish $12 belt bag. At port security checkpoints, I just empty my pockets into this crossbody bag and breeze right through, and for ship days and shore excursions, it’s perfect for keycards, sanitizer, ear pods, snacks, and all the odds and ends you pick up. The two-way zipper and water-resistant fabric are especially handy for adventuring, and at this price, I’ve bought several to match with various outfits.

Landneoo 14-Grid Pill Organizer Box with Labels

If you deal with things like migraines, menstrual cramps, or fever blisters, you know you need certain pills on you at all times, which is why I never cruise without my portable pharmacy. I keep this travel pill case stocked with every medication I might possibly need, be it Dramamine, pain relievers, antihistamines, Imodium, sumatriptan, or lorazepam. It keeps pills labeled and separated behind individual plastic doors, and the whole thing takes up no more luggage space than a paperback novel.

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