After 40+ cruises, I've made every packing mistake in the book — and watched fellow passengers make costly errors that could have been avoided. You're about to spend thousands on your cruise vacation, so don't let poor packing decisions drain your wallet even more. Here's what I've learned the hard way about what to pack and what to leave behind.
1. Your Own Water Bottles and Travel Mugs
This mistake hit me hard on my first Celebrity Eclipse cruise. Bottled water costs $3-4 each, and specialty coffees run $5-7 at the café. I spent $89 in five days just staying hydrated and caffeinated. Now I pack two reusable water bottles and a good travel mug — they're allowed on every cruise line.
Pro tip: Fill your water bottles at the buffet's beverage stations or ask your room steward for ice. Most ships have filtered water dispensers near the pools too.
2. A Power Strip (Without Surge Protection)
Cruise cabins typically have 1-2 outlets, and they're never where you need them. I watched a family on Norwegian Breakaway pay $25 at the gift shop for a basic charging station that would cost $8 at home. Pack a small power strip — just make sure it doesn't have surge protection, which is prohibited for safety reasons.
3. Your Own Snorkel Gear
Renting snorkel equipment at Caribbean ports costs $15-25 per person per day. On my last Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas cruise, I saw families paying $200+ for gear rentals in Cozumel. A decent mask and snorkel set costs $30-40 and pays for itself after two uses.
4. Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Most ports now require reef-safe sunscreen, and buying it at tourist shops costs $18-25 per bottle. I learned this lesson the hard way in Roatan when regular sunscreen was confiscated at the beach entrance. Stock up at home — it's $8-12 at Target or Walmart.
5. A Lanyard and Waterproof Phone Case
Your cruise card is your lifeline, and losing it means paying $25-50 for replacement plus the hassle of visiting guest services. I pack a retractable lanyard that clips to my swimwear. The waterproof phone case ($10-15 at home vs $30+ onboard) protects your phone during water activities and lets you take underwater photos.
6. Basic Medications and First Aid Supplies
The ship's medical center charges hospital prices: $15 for basic pain relievers, $25 for antacids, $40+ for prescription refills. Pack a small kit with essentials like ibuprofen, Dramamine, antacids, and any prescriptions. Don't forget motion sickness patches if you're prone to seasickness — they cost $45+ from the medical center.
7. Formal Night Alternatives You Already Own
Ship photographers push expensive photo packages, but you'll want your own formal night photos too. Instead of buying a $200 dress in the boutique (yes, I've seen this happen on MSC Divina), pack something semi-formal you already own. Dark slacks and a nice shirt work fine for men — you don't need a tuxedo.
Discover more packing strategies and share your own tips in our cruise packing community!
1. Too Many Shoes
I used to pack six pairs of shoes "just in case." Reality check: you'll wear flip-flops, one pair of walking shoes for ports, and dress shoes for formal night. That's it. Those extra sandals and sneakers just eat up precious luggage space that you'll need for souvenirs.
2. Excessive Formal Wear
Most 7-day cruises have 1-2 formal nights maximum. I've seen people pack three suits and five cocktail dresses, then struggle to close their suitcases. One nice outfit per formal night is plenty — you can repeat outfits or mix and match pieces.
3. Hair Styling Tools (Especially Hair Dryers)
Every cruise cabin has a hair dryer — it's usually mounted in the bathroom. Packing your own is dead weight. Even curling irons and straighteners often disappoint at sea due to voltage differences and humidity. Embrace the "cruise hair" or pack minimal styling products instead.
4. "What If" Clothes for Every Scenario
I used to pack for theoretical situations: "What if it's cold?" "What if we go hiking?" "What if there's a themed party?" Most of these scenarios never happen. Stick to versatile pieces that mix and match. The ship's laundry service (or self-service laundromats) can handle mid-cruise washing if needed.
5. Valuable Jewelry and Expensive Electronics
Cruise cabin safes are small and sometimes malfunction. I learned this on Celebrity Reflection when mine wouldn't open for two days. Pack minimal jewelry — costume pieces you won't miss if lost. Leave expensive watches, heirloom pieces, and pricey electronics at home. The anxiety isn't worth it.
Here's my game-changing approach: pack for 4-5 days regardless of cruise length, then use the ship's self-service laundry. It costs $4-6 per load (washer and dryer) versus checking additional bags at $50-100 each. I've done this on 14-day Norwegian Epic cruises and saved hundreds in baggage fees.
Most cruise lines have self-service laundromats on every deck with cabins. Bring detergent pods from home — they cost $8-12 for a pack versus $3 per single pod onboard. Do laundry during sea days when machines are less crowded.
Always Pack:
Leave Behind:
Smart packing saves money and stress, letting you focus on what matters — enjoying your cruise vacation. The key is being realistic about what you'll actually use versus what you think you might need.
Get personalized packing advice and see what experienced cruisers recommend in our cruise packing forum — we're here to help you pack like a pro!
The 7 Things You'll Regret Not Bringing (And How Much They'll Cost You)
1. Your Own Water Bottles and Travel Mugs
This mistake hit me hard on my first Celebrity Eclipse cruise. Bottled water costs $3-4 each, and specialty coffees run $5-7 at the café. I spent $89 in five days just staying hydrated and caffeinated. Now I pack two reusable water bottles and a good travel mug — they're allowed on every cruise line.
Pro tip: Fill your water bottles at the buffet's beverage stations or ask your room steward for ice. Most ships have filtered water dispensers near the pools too.
2. A Power Strip (Without Surge Protection)
Cruise cabins typically have 1-2 outlets, and they're never where you need them. I watched a family on Norwegian Breakaway pay $25 at the gift shop for a basic charging station that would cost $8 at home. Pack a small power strip — just make sure it doesn't have surge protection, which is prohibited for safety reasons.
3. Your Own Snorkel Gear
Renting snorkel equipment at Caribbean ports costs $15-25 per person per day. On my last Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas cruise, I saw families paying $200+ for gear rentals in Cozumel. A decent mask and snorkel set costs $30-40 and pays for itself after two uses.
4. Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Most ports now require reef-safe sunscreen, and buying it at tourist shops costs $18-25 per bottle. I learned this lesson the hard way in Roatan when regular sunscreen was confiscated at the beach entrance. Stock up at home — it's $8-12 at Target or Walmart.
5. A Lanyard and Waterproof Phone Case
Your cruise card is your lifeline, and losing it means paying $25-50 for replacement plus the hassle of visiting guest services. I pack a retractable lanyard that clips to my swimwear. The waterproof phone case ($10-15 at home vs $30+ onboard) protects your phone during water activities and lets you take underwater photos.
6. Basic Medications and First Aid Supplies
The ship's medical center charges hospital prices: $15 for basic pain relievers, $25 for antacids, $40+ for prescription refills. Pack a small kit with essentials like ibuprofen, Dramamine, antacids, and any prescriptions. Don't forget motion sickness patches if you're prone to seasickness — they cost $45+ from the medical center.
7. Formal Night Alternatives You Already Own
Ship photographers push expensive photo packages, but you'll want your own formal night photos too. Instead of buying a $200 dress in the boutique (yes, I've seen this happen on MSC Divina), pack something semi-formal you already own. Dark slacks and a nice shirt work fine for men — you don't need a tuxedo.
Discover more packing strategies and share your own tips in our cruise packing community!
The 5 Things You'll Wish You Left Home (Trust Me on These)
1. Too Many Shoes
I used to pack six pairs of shoes "just in case." Reality check: you'll wear flip-flops, one pair of walking shoes for ports, and dress shoes for formal night. That's it. Those extra sandals and sneakers just eat up precious luggage space that you'll need for souvenirs.
2. Excessive Formal Wear
Most 7-day cruises have 1-2 formal nights maximum. I've seen people pack three suits and five cocktail dresses, then struggle to close their suitcases. One nice outfit per formal night is plenty — you can repeat outfits or mix and match pieces.
3. Hair Styling Tools (Especially Hair Dryers)
Every cruise cabin has a hair dryer — it's usually mounted in the bathroom. Packing your own is dead weight. Even curling irons and straighteners often disappoint at sea due to voltage differences and humidity. Embrace the "cruise hair" or pack minimal styling products instead.
4. "What If" Clothes for Every Scenario
I used to pack for theoretical situations: "What if it's cold?" "What if we go hiking?" "What if there's a themed party?" Most of these scenarios never happen. Stick to versatile pieces that mix and match. The ship's laundry service (or self-service laundromats) can handle mid-cruise washing if needed.
5. Valuable Jewelry and Expensive Electronics
Cruise cabin safes are small and sometimes malfunction. I learned this on Celebrity Reflection when mine wouldn't open for two days. Pack minimal jewelry — costume pieces you won't miss if lost. Leave expensive watches, heirloom pieces, and pricey electronics at home. The anxiety isn't worth it.
The Money-Saving Packing Strategy That Changed Everything
Here's my game-changing approach: pack for 4-5 days regardless of cruise length, then use the ship's self-service laundry. It costs $4-6 per load (washer and dryer) versus checking additional bags at $50-100 each. I've done this on 14-day Norwegian Epic cruises and saved hundreds in baggage fees.
Most cruise lines have self-service laundromats on every deck with cabins. Bring detergent pods from home — they cost $8-12 for a pack versus $3 per single pod onboard. Do laundry during sea days when machines are less crowded.
The Ultimate Money-Saving Packing Checklist
Always Pack:
- Two reusable water bottles
- Travel mug for coffee
- Power strip (no surge protection)
- Snorkel gear if visiting Caribbean/Hawaii
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Waterproof phone case
- Basic medications
- Lanyard for cruise card
- Laundry detergent pods
Leave Behind:
- Hair dryer
- More than 3 pairs of shoes
- Excessive formal wear
- "What if" clothing
- Valuable jewelry
Smart packing saves money and stress, letting you focus on what matters — enjoying your cruise vacation. The key is being realistic about what you'll actually use versus what you think you might need.
Get personalized packing advice and see what experienced cruisers recommend in our cruise packing forum — we're here to help you pack like a pro!
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