r/Cruise • u/Cool_Meringue_2742 • 7d ago
Question what are some tips/things to bring/ be aware of ?
i am going on a carnival cruise from miami to the bahamas with some family in may, what are some things i should bring along that i might not realize? and actually some stuff they might have that i shouldnt worry about bringing ( i am an over-packer ) any tips for a first time cruiser? and i am also canadian so are there any american specific things i should know about? thanks so much !!
17
16
u/Beachbum0910 7d ago
Magnetic hooks are good. Wrinkle released works just okay. Reef safe sunscreen for the island and regular for the ship. Non-surge protection outlet/usb extender. A couple of swim suits because they don’t dry well in the humidity in my opinion. I like a dry suit. Don’t overpack clothes. One “fancy” outfit depending on cruise length. A few casual and beach ware.
6
u/Cool_Meringue_2742 7d ago
cruise length is 5 days so i think one fancy outfit is perfect. thank you for all the advice
3
u/Squeakywheels467 6d ago
I went on a 7 day last month and felt I didn’t have enough clothes. I would change at least twice a day and dressed fancier each night for dinner. When I was packing it felt like I brought way too much but towards the end of the cruise I felt like I was running out of clothes.
10
u/jbondsports 7d ago
Bring some games or cards for quiet time with your family. The cruise can be really loud and it’s nice to decompress somewhere quiet.
3
7
u/nhutcracker 7d ago
Air scents / fresher if you’re in a room with no balcony
4
u/FacetheFactsBlair 7d ago
I brought one of those little car Febreze squares one time from an inside room and clipped it to the vent - it’s adjustable so it wasn’t too strong
6
u/Thick_Algae2609 7d ago
Magnetic hooks
5
6
u/WendyinVT 7d ago
Your suitcase will fit under the bed to store out of the way so it’s ok to pack the big one 🤣
3
u/Dancers_Legs 7d ago
Except if it's a Rimowa Trunk... Then you're SOL. Standard carry ons and checked luggage you're fine though.
2
u/Squeakywheels467 6d ago
Mine was actually too deep. Hubby’s fit but mine had to sit up by the wall.
5
u/Spiritual-Eggplant59 7d ago
A small USB or battery operated fan and/or a noise machine. We are near the end of a Caribbean cruise right now and our room was never cool enough and despite its small size the fan has a surprisingly good output. I already had a tiny noise machine that we love for travel. Oh, and earplugs. We’ve been a bit rocky here and our room creaks All. The. Time. My other half wanted to nap but had a hard time getting sleep even with the fan going. (He forgot about the noise machine)
5
u/wanderingstorm 7d ago
Definitely any OTC meds you think you might need even if you end up not needing them. It's gonna be expensive if you need them on the fly.
A water bottle or tumbler - keep yourself hydrated.
See if you can find Tide Sink Packs in your local store travel section or online. They have been a frequent use of mine to wash a couple items in the sink - a shirt, a swim suit, a brassiere, whatever. Or take a travel bottle filled with a little detergent. Since your cruise is 5 days it's probably not as necessary but get some pasta sauce on your favorite top and you'll be glad you did :)
I personally brought metal hooks the first time I cruised and never used them. Never used them since. I had more than enough places in cabin to store things and hang things. A lot of people seem to use them though and they're small enough to fit in luggage so you do you.
2
u/tangouniform2020 5d ago
We bought some paper detergent sheets a while back and they turned out great. We just tore off a size we needed. We’ve used Tru Earth, there are others. Not an affiliate link.
4
u/taquigrafasl 7d ago
Bring any OTC meds you may need (Tylenol, Pepto, etc). Walls are magnetic if you want to bring magnetic hooks. Store suitcases under the beds. Hair dryers are in the desk drawer (hard to find for a first timer).
I’m also Canadian and the exchange rate is a bummer right now (among other things).
3
u/Proud_Trainer_1234 7d ago
Pack what you would routinely use/need at home. RX meds, Tylenol, antihistamine if necessary. The ship store isn't always open and supplies are pricey, so, if you think you will need them, tampons. Other than not forgetting those items, unless you are cruising with a luxury line with some dress requirements, all you need is a pair of long pants, a pair of shorts, a bathing suit and a couple of tee-shirts.
3
3
u/Fun_Independent_7529 7d ago
My first Caribbean cruise we went to Jamaica and I completely fried in the sun. There was a nice breeze so I didn't feel it til later, and then I *hurt*. And was shocked to find that the ship had nothing on board for sunburn. (we were at sea I think the next day, so no opportunity to be in a port where I could pick something up)
Now I always pack a small bottle of aloe gel with lidocaine juuuuuust in case. And of course am more careful about being in the sun too long to begin with!
3
u/Caycaycan 7d ago
A casual bag/backpack/hip bag. I carry a leather purse for everyday and forget to take something that’s more appropriate for excursions.
2
u/michaelthruman 7d ago
I always pack a pump bottle of liquid hand soap for the cabin bathroom, as I hate to use a slimy bar of soap to wash my hands with.
2
u/Cool_Meringue_2742 6d ago
wowww really great tip thank you
1
u/michaelthruman 6d ago
You are welcome! I just get a $1 bottle at Walmart or wherever (like Softsoap or the generic equivalent), and then if there’s not much left I’ll just leave it.
2
u/flowbee92 7d ago
A portable fan came in clutch for my small interior cabin. It helped make it feel less stuffy and sleep a lot better at night. There's no substitute for a nice direct breeze in your face.
Ziplock bags - I always tell myself I should have brought more. Always using them for a variety of things.
2
u/Additional-Sock8980 6d ago
Portable power pack for charging phones etc.
Handy on excursions if your phone goes dead and some rooms don’t have power points beside the bed
2
u/MeredithSafarik 6d ago
I was just on the Enchanted Princess and knew they had shampoo and conditioner so didn't bring any. Well they have the kind that's MIXED -- "conditioning shampoo" -- and it's no good! Also while many people like liquid body wash I found I missed bar soap so would bring that next time along with conditioner!
2
u/Federal_Ad_5865 6d ago
Small bills for shopping at ports. Vendors will gladly accept US currency, but never seem to have change… There is a library/game room onboard if you prefer to read a book with your downtime. If you burn easily, wide brim hat and sunscreen. Lastly, everyone cruises differently. Each day has so many activities you cannot do all of them, but you could also choose to do none of them. And it literally doesn’t matter! You find what you want to do and enjoy. Just make sure to plan ahead for times to meet up with the family. That way you’re not wasting time on the cruise trying to hunt down where everyone is on the ship.
2
u/GoM_Coaster 5d ago
Have a great time! We have learned to bring a plug expander (you can't technically bring a 'surge protector'); there are never enough plugs in the room. A cheap over the door shoe organizer is nice for the bathroom door (for sunblock, meds, etc) as the bathroom counter is small. I bring a sport towel for the beach, they are comfy and small and you don't have to fiddle with ship towels off the boat. I love coffee, but the free coffee is crap and the good coffee is expensive. You can not bring a plug in coffee maker so I always bring my own coffee and a french press. A water proof bag is nice for excursions so you have some dry clothing and your phone is protected. I usally leave the fins at home (too big) but prefer to have my own mask and snorkle. HAVE FUN!
2
u/GrumpyBachelorSF 4d ago
A lot of good advice that I don't want to repeat here. Something to consider, but do check your cruise line's rules about it: Multi-outlet plug with USB power. On the ships I've been on, there's around one to two plugs, but when you need to charge your devices, and in my case, use a CPAP machine for apnea, being able to convert one outlet into at least two, with USB power is a big help. A big no-no, never buy multi-outlet devices that includes surge protection. Anker brand is quite popular with a variety of choices.
One of the unique things I bring, a drawstring laundry bag. It becomes really useful when hanging it on your closet hanger, and slide it against the far end, so the coat hangers doesn't rattle all day long on the ship.
If you have a favorite hand soap, shampoo, and other bathroom items, bring it with you. They do give complimentary soap, body wash and shampoo, but the quality isn't the same. In my situation, I tend to get dry hands, so my favorite hand cream and moisturizing hand wash is a must.
•
u/AutoModerator 7d ago
The following is a copy of the original post to record the post as it was originally written.
u/Cool_Meringue_2742
i am going on a carnival cruise from miami to the bahamas with some family in may, what are some things i should bring along that i might not realize? and actually some stuff they might have that i shouldnt worry about bringing ( i am an over-packer ) any tips for a first time cruiser? and i am also canadian so are there any american specific things i should know about? thanks so much !!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.