Our Cruise Essentials

Apple AirTag (2nd Generation), 4 Pack

We tuck AirTags inside our luggage to help check its location after airport check-in or handing it to a cruise-terminal porter.

AirTag Holder Keychains, 4 Pack

We pair these holders with our AirTags and tuck them securely inside our luggage. The holders keep the AirTags together with the rest of our luggage-tracking setup.

Ugreen Nexode 100W Power Bank, 20,000mAh

We use this to keep our phones and other mobile devices charged at Ocean Cay or by the pool. It lets us recharge away from the stateroom instead of returning just to find an outlet.

Ugreen Nexode 200W Charging Station, 8 Ports

Our previous charging station

Our earlier compact charging station kept our laptops and USB-powered devices charged without taking up much desk space.

Anker Prime 250W Charging Station, 6 Ports

Traveling with a portable monitor prompted us to upgrade to this higher-capacity charging station, while keeping a compact footprint.

Murpiso 3-In-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charging Station

Among our favorites: we bring two, connected to our USB charging station, for our phones, watches and AirPods. They fold into compact carrying cases.

Lithium Battery Storage Pouches, 2 Pack

We use these to organize our lithium-ion batteries and battery-powered devices when flying to our embarkation ports. The separate pouches help keep this part of our travel kit together.

Torvol Lipo Safe Compact Battery Storage Bag

My wife uses this bag to organize her batteries and devices. It fits comfortably inside her personal-item bag.

Travel Inspira Digital Luggage Scale

We keep one in our carry-on and weigh our checked bags before heading to the airport. It is an easy way to check bag weight before we leave, rather than discovering a problem at check-in.

Forge Cable Luggage Locks, 4 Pack

We use these on all our luggage. The slim cable fits through most of our luggage zipper eyelets.

Clear Quart-Size Toiletry Bags, 4 Pack

We have found these durable and well made for keeping our liquid toiletries organized. The clear sides make it easier to see what is inside without unpacking everything.

Reusable Wine & Bottle Protectors, 8 Sets

Our bottled beverages arrived without leaks or breakage on our previous trip. We bought more for bringing wine and olive oil home from Italy and Greece.

Tripped Large Compression Packing Cubes, 7-Piece Set

We use these lightweight compression cubes to organize our clothes. Once onboard, we move the cubes straight into our stateroom drawers and closet.

Mrsdry Silicone Toiletry Bottle Covers, 8 Pack

We use these as an extra precaution to help contain leaks from liquid toiletries.

MSC Cruise Luggage Tag Holders, 4 Pack

We own four sets, and they have held up extremely well through numerous sailings. They keep our printed cruise tags together with the luggage throughout embarkation.

Venty Portable Fan

My wife loves this compact yet powerful fan on her stateroom nightstand. Its travel case fits into her personal-item bag.

Lovimag Magnetic Hooks

My wife hangs her beach bag and toiletry organizers from these to free up stateroom space.

Tulinstiraga 6-Shelf Hanging Closet Organizer

It folds flat for packing and hangs from our closet rod, adding shelves for my T-shirts and shorts.

Taili Suction-Cup Shower Caddies, 2 Pack

These add room for our full-size shampoo, conditioner and body wash. They have held securely on the shower walls we have used.

Leverloc Suction-Cup Shower Soap Holder

We bring our own bar soap. This keeps both bars within reach instead of balancing them on the shower faucet.

Doter Travel Soap Case With Lid

These nest inside our shower caddies when packed, taking up almost no extra luggage space.

Nishel Hanging Toiletry Organizer

My wife swears by this organizer: it holds all her bath and body products and stays compact even when full.

Poo-Pourri Beach Bum Toilet Spray, 2 Oz

A compact before-you-go toilet spray in the Beach Bum scent. The small bottle takes up little room in a stateroom bathroom or toiletry bag.

Q-tips Travel Pack, 30 Count

A 30-count travel pack of cotton swabs that fits easily into a toiletry bag. The case keeps the swabs together instead of loose in your bathroom kit.

Listerine Cool Mint Zero Alcohol, 3.2 Oz, 2 Pack

Two travel-size bottles of alcohol-free Cool Mint mouthwash. This smaller format is convenient when you want mouthwash without packing a full-size bottle.

Listerine Total Care Alcohol-Free, Mild Mint, 500 mL

Alcohol-free mouthwash in a Mild Mint flavor for our bathroom kit. This is the larger bottle option when a travel-size supply does not fit your needs.

Listerine PocketPaks Cool Mint, 3 Pack

Pocket-size breath strips in three compact dispensers. The dispensers fit into a pocket or small day bag without adding another liquid bottle.

Umetass Refillable Toiletry Bottles, 13.5 Oz, 4 Pack

Four refillable squeeze bottles for organizing shampoo, conditioner and other toiletries. These larger bottles suit a longer trip; they are not small carry-on liquid containers.

Windex Glass Cleaner Wipes, 38 Count

Pre-moistened glass cleaning wipes in a portable pack. They offer a ready-to-use wipe instead of packing a separate glass-cleaning spray.

Bagsmart Jewelry Travel Case, Beige

My wife keeps her jewelry organized in this case, then hangs it from a magnetic hook in our bathroom for easy access.

Bagsmart Hanging Jewelry Organizer

Another version of my wife's jewelry organizer. The hanging design gives jewelry its own organized place without spreading it across the stateroom counter.

Compact Eyeglass Repair Kit

Our latest addition—an unexpected request on a sailing showed us why it is useful to have a small repair kit.

Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Wipes, 200 Count

200 individually wrapped pre-moistened wipes for convenient cleaning of eyeglasses, sunglasses, cameras, and other lenses. Individual wrappers make it easy to take a few along in a glasses case or day bag.

Peeps Lens Cleaner, Injected Black

A compact reusable lens-cleaning tool for glasses and sunglasses. It is a reusable alternative to disposable lens wipes and fits into a small accessory pouch.

Polecasa Heavy-Duty Mesh Laundry Bag, 24 × 36 Inches

We use the ship's laundry service regularly. This keeps our worn clothes together until we send them out.

Scotch Mini Lint Rollers

Compact lint rollers for quick clothing touch-ups before heading out. The small roller is easy to keep with clothing-care supplies for a quick touch-up before dinner.

Tide To Go Pens, 5 Pack

Portable stain-remover pens that tuck easily into a day bag. The pen format is easier to carry for small spills than a full bottle of laundry product.

Tide Travel Sink Packets, 3 Count

Individual detergent packets for washing small items in the stateroom sink. The individual packets avoid bringing a full detergent bottle for an occasional hand wash.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser, 3 Oz, 2 Pack

Travel-size fabric spray for freshening clothes and smoothing wrinkles. The small bottles pack easily with clothing-care items; follow the fabric and product directions.

Xkdous Assorted Safety Pins, 150 Pack

Assorted safety pins for quick clothing fixes and unexpected packing needs. A few pins take up almost no room in a small repair kit, without needing to bring the entire pack.

Portable Clothesline With 12 Clips

We bring this for drying damp clothing during beach days at Ocean Cay or on excursions.

Ballast Beach Pillow, Palace Blue

We have four for pool and Ocean Cay days. I secure them to our loungers with a short bungee cord on windy days.

Workpro 24-Inch Bungee Cords, 4 Pack

We pair these with our Ballast pillows. They wrap around the loungers we have used to keep the pillows in place.

Towel Bands, Blue & Teal, 4 Pack

We prefer these to clips: they pack flat and stretch around our loungers to help keep towels in place.

Pelican Marine Phone Pouches, 4 Pack

We bring these for Ocean Cay and beach excursions to help protect our phones and small valuables from water and sand.

Seven Minerals Aloe Vera Gel, 12 Oz

Our favorite aloe gel for after-sun care. It is one of the products we keep with our beach supplies rather than our everyday toiletries.

Sun Bum SPF 15 Tanning Oil, 8.5 Oz

An SPF 15 tanning oil in an 8.5 oz bottle for our beach and pool bag. This is a tanning oil, rather than one of the higher-SPF lotions elsewhere in our list.

Sun Bum SPF 50 Body Lotion, 8 Oz

SPF 50 sunscreen body lotion in an 8 oz bottle. The lotion format is a straightforward option for the beach bag, alongside the separate lip and scalp products.

Sun Bum SPF 30 Body Lotion, 8 Oz

SPF 30 sunscreen body lotion in an 8 oz bottle. This is the SPF 30 version of the body lotion, listed separately from the SPF 50 option.

Safe Sea SPF 50 Protective Lotion

We bring this for our Ocean Cay visits, especially between March and August.

Sun Bum SPF 30 Lip Balm, 6 Pack

A six-pack of SPF 30 lip balms, easy to keep in our beach and day bags.

Sun Bum SPF 30 Scalp & Hair Mist, 2 Oz

An SPF 30 scalp and hair mist in a compact 2 oz spray bottle. The spray format is separate from the body lotions, making it easy to identify in the beach kit.

Cocosolis Choco Body & Tanning Oil, 6.76 Oz

A Choco-scented body and tanning oil in a 6.76 oz bottle. This is the larger Choco option in the collection, separate from the smaller Mango bottle.

Cocosolis Mango Body & Tanning Oil, 3.72 Oz

A mango-scented body and tanning oil in a 3.72 oz bottle. The smaller bottle is an alternative to the larger Choco version for those who prefer the Mango scent.