Get lost in the blue: Here's your ultimate cruise ship packing list
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Endless sea and sky, the taste of salt air—there are few sensations as delicious. Whether to Crete or the Galapagos, the Aleutian islands or Jamaica, cruises are reliable adventures that make for good solo travel or family expeditions.
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Most cruises aren't just weekend getaways—when you set to packing before you set out to sail, it's important to remember all the details, like swim trunks and sunscreen, as well as less fun-oriented items, like a travel case for your medicines. Scroll on for the items you'll want to drop in your bag, both for leisure and day-to-day life aboard a ship.
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1. Amazon Essentials Men's Swim Trunks
Whatever your destination, chances are the water calls. Whether in the sea, or the deck pool, pack for a swim. There's nowhere like Amazon when you're looking for affordabel swim trunks. The Amazon Essentials 100% polyester swim trunks dry quick, plus they come in lots of different patterns and colors.
2. Amazon Essentials Women's Classic Bikini
Whether tanning on the top deck or taking a dip at the beach in Honolulu, the Amazon Essentials Women's Classic Bikini is made for it. Made of nylon and elastane, the Essential's bikini line has sizes to fit lots of body shapes.
3. Bagsmart Toiletry Bag
When packing for a cruise, staying organized is all important. A good toiletry bag helps, and Bagsmart's Toiletry Bag is beyond just good. Bagsmart is a hangable toiletry bag with a fold-out interior full of zipper pocket organizational sleeves. With room for everything from toothbrush to medicines, it will help you get ready for travel time after time. Made of polyester and plastic, it's also water resistant and bathroom ready.
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4. Pacsafe Coversafe V75 Anti-Theft RFID Blocking Passport Holder
It used to be that money belts were considered a necessity when traveling. These days, a money belt doesn't have to be a belt. Personally, I've moved on to a Pacsafe Passport Holder. The Pacsafe Coversafe V75 is a discreet zipper pocket for your passport and cash backup that hides beneath your clothing. Secret, sleek and comfortable enough to wear all day, it gives you that extra layer of protection so you can keep your documents on your person at all time, yet out of your pockets.
5. Kindle (2022 release)
What to do with a whole week of lounging on the top deck on the high seas? Read. We all love beach reads. Kindle forever makes it simple to take a whole library along. The Kindle (2022 release) is super lightweight and retains the e-reader's signature paper-like, glare-free display. With great battery life and a library that can hold multiple books, it's the way to read on the go.
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6. Rainleaf Microfiber Towel
You might not be roughing it, but the cardinal packing list item from the Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy still holds true for cruises. Bring a towel. If you're heading out portside for day trips to the beach, rambles to waterfalls or any sort of event where waters (or hostels) are involved, a good travel towel like the Rainleaf Microfiber Towel could prove indispensable.
7. Teva Women's Original Casual Sport Sandal
Between scorchingly sunny pool decks, trips to the beach in Peru and jungle explorations on island stopovers, you'll want a comfortable sandal that can also get wet. For all of the above, Teva is a classic. Super comfy, quick drying and built for days in and out of the water, Teva sandals are a travel staple. They come in lots of different colors and patterns that will match different aesthetics.
8. Babyganics SPF 50 Baby Sunscreen Lotion
If there's one thing there's a lot of on cruises on the open sea, it's the sun. If you don't feel keen on exposing your skin to sunburns—yet also feel a little distrustful of traditional mineral sunscreen, we've got an organic option for you. The Babyganics SPF 50 Baby Sunscreen Lotion took our number one slot for best organic sunscreen.
9. Ray-Ban RB3025 Classic Aviator Sunglasses
Speaking of sun...cerulean water and glittering sandy beaches might look beautiful, but they're certainly not easy on the eyes—at least from an eye-health point of view. Not without polarized sunglasses that is. Ray-Ban RB3025 Classic Aviator Sunglasses are our top pick for the best sunglasses. Fashionable, seaworthy and like armor for your corneas, they're great travel shades, and perfect for a cruise.
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10. Travelpro Platinum Elite Softside Expandable Luggage
Booked that first cruise and unsure how to pack? Plucked from our guide to the best luggage, the Travelpro Platinum Elite Softside Expandable Luggage has enough space for your average cruise, and is rugged enough to get you through the airports and onto the dock. Equipped with wheels and an extendable handle, as well as a lock and a rather ornate interior organizer set up, the Travelpro does, well, a lot.
11. Eagle Creek Pack-It
Packing gets easier with organizational tools. This Eagle Creek Pack-It cube set is a cousin to our favorite packing cubes from the same brand. With two nylon cubes and a clothing folder for dresses and blouses, they'll help you get organized before you leave, and stay organized throughout your trip.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.