I'm a travel planner who's been on over 26 cruises. Here are 10 things I always pack and 2 I never bring

A small portable fan can be a lifesaver at night.

A small portable fan can be a lifesaver at night., It's helpful to bring a lanyard for your room key., It's helpful to have some cash with you., On the other hand, I never pack my own towels., Leave the blow dryer at home.

Cruise-ship rooms are typically air-conditioned, but they can get a little warm when everyone's in there sleeping.

So, I always bring a small portable fan to set up on my side table. It helps keep me cool at night and brings some white noise into the room.

Make sure it's battery-operated, as there are usually limited outlets in a cabin.

Pro tip: Your local camping-goods store is a great place to find these fans.

Outlet adapters with USB ports come in handy when everyone's trying to charge their phone.

A small portable fan can be a lifesaver at night., It's helpful to bring a lanyard for your room key., It's helpful to have some cash with you., On the other hand, I never pack my own towels., Leave the blow dryer at home.

Cruise cabins typically have limited outlets and USB ports, which may not be enough to charge all of your family's electronics.

Most cruise lines don't allow travelers to bring power strips on board because they can pose a safety hazard. However, I like to bring a single outlet adapter with USB ports so I can charge everything we need without overloading the cabin's electrical system.

It's helpful to bring a lanyard for your room key.

A small portable fan can be a lifesaver at night., It's helpful to bring a lanyard for your room key., It's helpful to have some cash with you., On the other hand, I never pack my own towels., Leave the blow dryer at home.

You have to take your room key out quite a bit on a cruise, and I've found the easiest way to carry it is on a lanyard. 

You can keep it around your neck or in your bag for easy access. If you forgot to bring a lanyard, you can always buy one on board.

You probably won't have access to an iron, so wrinkle-release spray is helpful.

A small portable fan can be a lifesaver at night., It's helpful to bring a lanyard for your room key., It's helpful to have some cash with you., On the other hand, I never pack my own towels., Leave the blow dryer at home.

Cruise-ship rooms don't typically have irons, and travelers aren't allowed to bring them on board.

You can usually pay to have your clothes ironed on board, but I find wrinkle-release spray is a cheaper, easier solution.

I simply spray my clothes with this as I unpack my suitcase, and the wrinkles disappear. 

It's helpful to have some cash with you.

A small portable fan can be a lifesaver at night., It's helpful to bring a lanyard for your room key., It's helpful to have some cash with you., On the other hand, I never pack my own towels., Leave the blow dryer at home.

I bring small bills with me on every cruise so I can tip anyone who I feel went above and beyond during my trip. It can also come in handy at ports — a lot of local markets and eateries can be cash-only.

Rooms usually have safes, so you don't have to worry about carrying a lot of money with you all day.

On the other hand, I never pack my own towels.

A small portable fan can be a lifesaver at night., It's helpful to bring a lanyard for your room key., It's helpful to have some cash with you., On the other hand, I never pack my own towels., Leave the blow dryer at home.

You don't need to bring beach towels on a cruise as they're typically provided on the pool deck.

Generally, you can get fresh towels at any time and even take them off the ship when you visit islands — just don't forget to return them.

Leave the blow dryer at home.

A small portable fan can be a lifesaver at night., It's helpful to bring a lanyard for your room key., It's helpful to have some cash with you., On the other hand, I never pack my own towels., Leave the blow dryer at home.

Like at a hotel, the hair dryers provided in each room are pretty basic, but they'll get the job done.

If you want a full blowout, treat yourself in the onboard spa — after all, you're on vacation. 

This story was originally published on June 11, 2023, and most recently updated on May 19, 2026.

Post Related