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Going on a cruise and wanting to find the best cruise accessories that also won’t break the bank? Look no further! This post will contain the top 20 tested cruise accessories you need for your next cruise.
If you’re a first time cruiser, figuring out everything you should bring with you on a cruise can be overwhelming.
What do you actually need? What is worth it? What’s not?
This post will have your top of the charts cruise accessories/cruise must haves/cruise packing essentials.
This post is all about cruise accessories.
Cruise Accessories
1. Cruise Card Holder
If you’re looking for an easy way to always have your cruise card on you, a cruise card holder that attaches to your phone is a great option!
I personally love having wallet attachments on the back on my phone as someone who keeps their phone on them on a cruise to be able to take photos and videos at any time.
You need your cruise card to get into your room, for purchases, to get on and off the ship, and more. Having it close at hand on your phone is a convenient way to keep track of it.
2. Lanyard
If you aren’t the type that likes to keep their phone on them when on a cruise but also are concerned about losing their cruise card, look no further than a cruise lanyard!
This option is the most popular. You will see tons of people walking around the ship with one of these to keep track of their cruise card.
They come in endless different options, colors, patterns and more. Buy a cruise lanyard and never worry about losing your card again.
3. Mini Fan
A lot of cruisers report that their rooms are hotter than they like, especially when they’re trying to sleep.
A mini fan that can be plugged into one of the outlets in your room is a great option if you’re looking to get a little more airflow in your room.
These are cheap, effective, and easy to pack.
4. Belt Bag
One of the most popular types of bags currently is a belt bag.
This bag is just large enough to keep your important items such as a phone, sunglasses, chapstick and sunscreen.
A belt bag is a great choice for embarkation day. After you drop off your larger luggage at the front of the terminal, you can use this bag to keep just a couple items with you until you are able to get into your room.
It’s also a helpful option for a shore excursion that won’t weigh you down.
5. Collapsible Water Bottle
If you haven’t been on a cruise before, one thing that is really convenient to have around is a reusable water bottle.
This water bottle has a bonus feature: it can collapse and fit into any bag much easier.
All cruise ships will have filtered water for free around the ship. Having a reusable bottle will allow you to fill up your bottle to carry around the ship or even take off the ship into port.
Otherwise if you wanted a bottle of water on the ship you would either have to pay for them individually, buy a water package to have some delivered to your room or have bought the drink package that includes them.
Bringing your own bottle will save you lots of money.
6. Towel Clips
Towel clips are an awesome product for a windy day on the pool deck or even at the beach for a shore excursion.
It’s so annoying to come back to your chair and see your towel blown into the sand by the wind.
Using towel clips will hold it in place so that you don’t have to deal with either losing your towel, it being sandy or just simply not staying flat how you want it.
These come in several colors. Some also will have themes like animal shapes, etc.
7. Travel Perfume Bottle
If you’re traveling to your cruise via airplane you might not be able to bring your favorite perfume if it’s over the airline’s liquid oz limit.
Maybe you just want to consolidate your tolietries? Using a travel sized perfume bottle is the perfect option!
You can fill this bottle with any perfume you like, saving you money instead of having to buy the more expensive travel sized option of your specific perfume.
8. Cruise Approved Power Strip
If you haven’t been on a cruise before you may not know most of the older ships do not have tons of outlets in their staterooms.
One major complaint is not having an outlet by the bed to be able to plug your phone into, leaving you to walk across the room in the morning when the alarm goes off to turn it off.
Or maybe you have tons of electronics to charge all at once and not enough outlets to do so.
A fan favorite cruise accessory is a power strip.
It is important to get one that is cruise ship approved. A lot of people bring the wrong kind and are unable to use it.
Buy the one listed above or read this article for a few options that won’t get taken away when boarding:
CRUISE EXTENSION CORD: APPROVED OPTIONS THAT WON’T GET TAKEN AWAY
9. Toiletries Travel Set
The last thing you want in your small cruise stateroom is more clutter and larger luggage because you have to bring the full size of all of your tolietries.
Buying a travel tolietries set like this will save you tons of space not only in your luggage but also in the small bathroom you’ll have on a cruise.
If you’re flying to your cruise as well this will keep all of your liquids within TSA limits.
This set has several options able to accommodate your skincare and haircare routine.
10. Roll Up Hat
I bought this roll up visor for my most recent cruise and absolutely loved it.
I am someone who burns in the sun after 15 minutes without sunscreen and 45 minutes to an hour with it so sun protection is really important.
For my cruise I was trying to find a way to stay protected from the sun while also looking cuter. I found this hat on Amazon and fell in love with it.
It’s convenient because it rolls up in your beach bag not taking up a lot of space and also opens up on the back using Velcro so you can size it to your needs.
Related Content:
Top 20 Cruise Questions And Answers First Time Cruisers Always Want To Know
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11. Waterproof Phone Case
This waterproof phone case is a best selling product.
When going on a cruise you might want to take your phone with you to be able to take photos and videos of your trip.
The problem with this is on the ship you might get in the pool or on a shore excursion you could be out at the beach.
While phones are a lot better these days with water resistance, airing on the safe side with a case is recommended.
This case comes in several colors and is a great option to bring on your next shore excursion.
12. Portable Charger
When you’re on vacation a lot of people do not want their phone to die while out and about.
Not only can it be your form of communication but also it is your camera now days when on an adventure.
A portable charger that is small is the perfect choice to keep all of your devices charged in a pinch.
This charger is highly rated and a great price.
13. Magnetic Hooks
Magnetic hooks are hugely popular among the cruise community.
Why are they helpful? You can use magnetic hooks in your stateroom right on your walls!
Many use them to hang up your lanyard, hats, swimsuits, towels and more.
They’re a great way to be able to dry more wet clothes from the pool deck at once and keep your stateroom more organized and clean.
I have linked these specific hooks because you’re going to want something that can hold 100 lbs. The smaller ones you may have seen before that hold 25 lbs really do not work well on the walls when actually trying to hold things up.
14. Luggage Tags
Luggage tags are a product that are not 100% needed but I believe are a good item for cruisers to buy.
The luggage tag holders help protect the paper tags you print off and attach to you bag. I highly suggest using these because it could be raining the day you board, getting the paper tags wet.
The paper tags are also easily ripped off. If you use protectors like these for your specific cruise line it will keep them safe and unable to tear off.
15. Beach Bag
A great cruise accessory to have with you if you’re going on a tropical cruise is a beach bag.
This beach bag is lightweight and comes in several colors with a couple different styles as well.
It’s a great option under $20 to load up everything you’ll need for a shore excursion and be on your way!
16. First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is hugely underrated but a greatly needed item to take with you on a cruise!
You never know when you may need antibiotic cream, a band aid, etc.
Yes, you can always go to the doctor on the ship but you will be charged for these services. Having small items you could need in a first aid kit in your room really can come in handy!
17. Travel Jewelry Box
Looking for a way to keep your jewelry organized on vacation?
I would suggest this small travel sized box! I have this box in white and love it for cruises.
It works great to hold a few of your favorite items you want to show off on vacation but is so small it hardly takes up any room in your suitcase.
18. Collapsible Laundry Bin
If you’re looking for a way to keep your stateroom cleaner and more organized from your dirty clothes, try one of these collapsible laundry baskets!
These fold down to take up minimal room in your suitcase.
You could stick it in the closet of your stateroom or a corner to keep all of your dirty clothes seperate.
19. Stain Remover
More than likely you or someone you are cruising with will accidently get some food or other type of stain on their clothes over the course of the vacation.
Bringing a stain remover with you for a cruise is a smart way to make sure your clothes don’t get ruined if a small mistake happens.
You can pay for laundry services on a cruise but for a small fix these stain remover pins do a great job!
20. Motion Sickness Medication
Motion sickness medicine is something every first time cruiser should bring with them!
Even if you have never experienced motion sickness before, this could change on a cruise with rough seas.
There are several different types of motion sickness medicine.
I personally bring all of these with me on a cruise. My two favorites are dramamine and seabands but something different can work for different people.
Hopefully this top 20 under $20 post was helpful and gave you some ideas of cruise accessories you’ll want to get before your vacation!
This post was all about cruise accessories.
