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What’s a travel product you couldn’t cruise without?


Matt

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A “catch all” bag.  It serves multiple purposes.  I put my purse into it for ports (another layer between pickpockets/bag snatch). I can throw purchases into it while in port.  If I buy a lot I can take my purse out (ugh) and continue to fill the bag.  It can act as a beach bag if needed, also can use it to carry onboard purchases off the ship or the extraneous items that don’t make it into the 10pm luggage.  All of my luggage has one in the outside zipper compartment-it’s come in handy if I’m told my luggage is overweight or there’s no room in the overhead bin for a flight I just pull out the bag and move anything of value over. 

if traveling with friends who don’t buy internet-post it notes for notes on the door (let’s see if the free messaging actually happens!). I also use it to put a note to the attendant “don’t turn on this light” for the second bedlamp when traveling solo. It is especially handy if that second light is “stuck around the hard to get to side of the bed”.

a sharpie marker and blank paper for notes for myself or attendant.  I should just laminate my own note for final morning “safe, tip, toiletries”.  I am very organized to check every drawer etc but I’m more comfortable to have my note. 
 

my list of upcoming cruises and my paper calendar so I can book my next cruise while onboard. 
 

If going to beaches, my own inflatable pool float so I can spend time floating, not just standing in the water.

medicines
 

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Magnetic hooks--for my cap, lanyard, backpack, semi-dry swimsuit, things that normally pile up on the desk.


a really big mug or thermos. Love to fill up with hot tea and take back to the room throughout the day and at bedtime. 
 

a tote bag. If I'm leaving the room for a while--whether to go into port or just hang around the ship in various places-a tote bag lets me carry just a few things without occupying both hands all day. If I'm in port and buy small stuff, it goes in the bag.

 

extra contact lenses and an extra pair of reading glasses. Very important!

 

Gym clothes! Bonus: sweatpants and stretchy shorts feel great after a few days of eating too many desserts.

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We bring a couple of the Honeywell turbo fans. I have modified the base with strong magnets so they can be mounted to the ceilings. This allows them to be mounted out of the way and act like ceiling fans. Another item we travel with is sleep noise machine that produces white noise or fan noise. We sleep with them at home also and it drowns out any background noise and sleep perfectly anywhere. 

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I love the magnetic hooks.  My fave is the chair clips for your towels…it gets windy on the sky deck.  I think Boca clips are the best.  I also bring luggage tag holders, bath and body works room spray for the bathroom (no fan), usb plugs and a million paperback books (extra weight on the flight down that I read and leave on the ship for someone else!).  Jane

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packing cubes:  We have a large family and everyone has cubes in their own color.  It keeps everything in suitcases so nicely.  You know right away which cubes belong to which person by seeing the color.  A family of 7 can easily travel with so many less bags by using the cubes.  We unpack so quickly.  I use them for all vacations, land or sea and love them.

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7 hours ago, Mike n Ky said:

recommendation on the mattress pad?

We use this brand and ask our stateroom attendant for and extra blanket to put between the air matress and the sheet to cut any noise from the plastic matresses. It packs pretty small and is worth the space in our suitcase for a good nights sleep. 
 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J972O8Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Though unpopular, we won't travel without Covid masks.  They are essential, especially when we fly.

2nd the permanent tag holders and a canvas bag as "catch all" or "carryon".  Used the Royal canvas bag on our last cruise - remember when they were provided as a stateroom gift?

My wife now insists on her own pillow - ship pillows are too big.

Love other ideas folks have posted, but we haven't tried them.

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My cruise emergency kit! It's a money saver and if I have it I probably won't need it. Bandaid and wound treatment, Benadryl,Vicks, Neosporin, pain relief such as Advil, ginger gummies and sea sick patches. Night & Dayquill just for good measure. 

The electrical outlet converter plug an all in one hub from European to US including USB charging.

Disinfectant wipes (my whole life I did this) to do a cursory cabin wipe, someone was just in here so a quick cabin wipe is routine. ( I do this in hotels as well) 

A good attitude, something may not be as I imagined, pack patience for days.....I want to enjoy every single second of my sailing. I've learned early on knowing how to pivot my attitude is priceless and a must have for any vacation. 

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43 minutes ago, Neesa said:

My cruise emergency kit! It's a money saver and if I have it I probably won't need it. Bandaid and wound treatment, Benadryl,Vicks, Neosporin, pain relief such as Advil, ginger gummies and sea sick patches. Night & Dayquill just for good measure. 

That's also in our default packing list. The mobile OTC pharmacy always comes in handy for random stuff.

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Some of our favorites:

  • USB charging hub (they have newer models w/ USB-C ports too, but we use adapters for now if needed!):   Amazon Link
  • Portable luggage scale:   Amazon Link
  • Cruise luggage tag holders:   Amazon Link
  • Small bag (sling bag/backpack/tote bag) for carrying things around the ship or while in port.
  • Packing cubes (my wife loves them!)
  • Ziplock bags
  • Magnetic hooks
  • Towel clips
  • Basic first aid supplies (bandaids, neosporin, etc.), OTC meds (advil and tylenol), Sunscreen, aloe, antacids, etc.

My wife would probably agree with the Poo-Pourri !  😆

I just ordered the magnetic motion-sensor lights Sharla just recommended!   Amazon Link

Will make those late night bathroom trips easier! Thank you @Sharla!

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Motion sickness pills.  I’m prone to motion sickness.  I’ve added ginger chews to that list ….they were extremely helpful on 2 “rocking” ships.

apple cider vinegar if traveling with my daughter who is equally fair skinned but doesn’t cover up like me (cover like I’m allergic to sun!😂)  it works wonderful on sunburn to release the heat and 99% of the time you won’t peel if you apply the vinegar on the first day (dampen washcloth and “sop it on”. )  the vinegar also came in handy when I had Covid onboard and a horribly sore throat.  I used a capful to gargle (it was awful) but my sore throat instantly went away.  I’d never heard of this before  just tried it out of desperation.  
 

 

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Here are few things:

  1. I'm ginger. Sunblock, lots of sunblock. Always unopened bottles. Travel size for shore side. Seriously, see me :).
  2. DSLR & a few lenses. I'm a Canon guy but might be looking for a lighter setup for travel - Sony Mirrorless maybe? A7?
  3. "Dollar, dollar bill y'all." Seriously, lots of singles. I try to keep a $1/$2 dollar per drink tip flowing. (Also $5s for tips as well - porters, etc).
  4. Passport.
  5. Travel insurance. Might not cover everything or sometimes not worth it to file a claim but I mainly care about the medical anyway.
  6. Patience & Kindness. 
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5 hours ago, Neesa said:

My cruise emergency kit! It's a money saver and if I have it I probably won't need it. Bandaid and wound treatment, Benadryl,Vicks, Neosporin, pain relief such as Advil, ginger gummies and sea sick patches. Night & Dayquill just for good measure. 

 

5 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

That's also in our default packing list. The mobile OTC pharmacy always comes in handy for random stuff.

Add me to this list, too.  I have a special clear zipper bag just for the OTC pharmacy as well.  It's also where I keep the Burt's Bees aloe cream.  It's such an automatic that I didn't even think of it as a "travel product," but it certainly is!

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A new one I’ve brought onboard is a Goalzero crushlight to replace years of tea lights. Putting it on the lowest setting overnight in or near the bathroom is a perfect nightlight to find my way in the dark. Bonus: it recharges via solar! 
 

The magnetic pen cup I found on Etsy has also become a must have. With it there is no excuse not to jot down how much cash I leave with before dinner and the remainder the casino let me have the next morning.FEF002DC-97C1-4E40-81EE-53482AA4CFC3.thumb.jpeg.0bb3876b62cf212caba0e21806982378.jpeg

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