Cruise Essentials I Actually Pack and Recommend for Families

Sep 28

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If you search Amazon for “cruise essentials,” you will find approximately one million things people insist you absolutely need.

You don’t.

Cruise cabins are already small, and the last thing I want to do is fill a suitcase with gadgets that we never actually use.

But there are a handful of things that really do make cruising easier—especially when you are sharing a small cabin with kids or teens.

These are the types of items I recommend to my cruise clients and the things I personally think are worth making room for.

You can find everything together on my Amazon Cruise List.

Cruise Cabin Organization

This is probably where a few inexpensive items make the biggest difference.

Cruise cabins are much smaller than most hotel rooms, so anything that gets stuff off the floor and counters is helpful.

Magnetic Hooks

These are one of my favorite cruise cabin items.

Most cruise cabin walls are metal, which means magnetic hooks give you instant extra hanging space.

We use them for:

Lanyards
Hats
Small bags
Jackets
Swimsuit cover-ups
Lightweight backpacks

Instead of having everyone's things piled on the desk or tossed on a chair, you can give everything a place.

Just make sure the hooks you bring are strong enough to actually hold something.

Hanging Shelves and Organizers

If you have several people sharing one cabin, extra vertical storage can be really helpful.

I have both hanging travel shelves and an over-the-door organizer on my cruise list.

They are great for things like:

Clothes
Shoes
Sunscreen
Toiletries
Accessories
Kids' smaller items

I especially like anything that can be packed flat and then hung up once you arrive.

Packing Cubes

I'm already a packing-cube person, but they make even more sense on a cruise.

You can unpack the cubes directly into drawers or shelves and keep everyone's things separated.

I also have hanging compression-style organizers on my list if you prefer packing an entire outfit section together and hanging it when you arrive.

Collapsible Laundry Hamper

This is one of those little things that makes a surprisingly big difference.

Without one, dirty clothes somehow end up everywhere.

A collapsible mesh hamper takes up almost no room in a suitcase and gives everyone one spot for dirty clothes during the trip.

The Little Cabin Things I Always Like Having

These aren't exciting, but they make the room much more comfortable.

Night Light or Battery Tea Lights

Cruise cabins can get very dark at night.

Inside cabins especially can be pitch black.

I usually pack a few little battery-operated tea lights and put them in places like the bathroom or near the floor.

They give you just enough light to get around without turning on the overhead lights and waking everyone up.

I also have small plug-in night lights on my Amazon list if you prefer those.

Small Fan

It helps with airflow, and if you normally sleep with a fan at home, it can make the room feel more comfortable.

The rechargeable portable fans on my list are small enough that they aren't taking up half your suitcase.

Mini Sound Machine

A small sound machine can be great for families.

Cruise cabins are usually pretty quiet, but you may still hear hallway activity, doors closing, or people coming back to their rooms later at night.

It's especially helpful if you have younger kids—or if you are simply used to sleeping with white noise.

Laundry Without Doing Actual Laundry

You probably don't want to spend your cruise doing laundry.

But swimsuits, undergarments, and a few small clothing items sometimes need a quick wash.

I like bringing travel-size sink laundry detergent for that.

Wash the item in the sink, hang it to dry, and you are done.

I also have laundry detergent sheets on my list, which are great if your ship has a self-service laundry room or you're combining your cruise with a longer land trip.

This can also help you pack a little lighter.

Lanyards

Whether you need a lanyard can depend somewhat on the cruise line, but they can be very convenient for keeping cruise cards easy to grab.

They're especially nice for older kids and teens who are moving around the ship independently.

Nobody wants to spend ten minutes searching the cabin because someone can't find their cruise card.

Luggage Tags

Cruise luggage tags are different from your regular suitcase tags.

Before embarkation, the cruise line provides tags that tell the crew where your luggage needs to go.

Plastic cruise luggage-tag holders keep those paper tags protected and attached securely to your bags.

They aren't glamorous, but they are inexpensive and reusable.

I also like having brightly colored regular luggage tags because they make suitcases easier to spot.

Waterproof Phone Pouch

This is one of my favorites for both the ship and port days.

A waterproof phone pouch is useful for:

Pool days
Beach excursions
Snorkeling trips
Water parks
Kayaking
Private island days

You can keep your phone, cruise card, and sometimes a little cash with you instead of leaving everything unattended on the beach.

I also have a waterproof waist pack/dry bag option on my list for anyone who wants a little more room.

A Good Port-Day Bag

You don't need to carry your entire cabin with you when you get off the ship.

But you do need somewhere for:

Sunscreen
Water
Phones
Sunglasses
Towels
Cruise cards
Snacks
A change of clothes for younger kids

Depending on the excursion, I like either a lightweight beach bag, small backpack, or waterproof dry bag.

If you're headed to a Caribbean beach or a cruise line's private island, a bag that can handle sand and water is much more useful than your regular purse.

An AirTag for Luggage

I like putting an AirTag in checked luggage anytime we fly.

That isn't specific to cruising, but it gives you another way to keep track of your suitcase—especially if you're flying to the cruise port.

I still recommend flying in at least the day before your cruise whenever possible, but knowing where your luggage is can give you a little extra peace of mind.

For Caribbean and Warm-Weather Cruises

This part of my Amazon list is definitely more itinerary-specific.

You don't need beach gear for every cruise.

But if you're heading to the Caribbean, Mexico, or a private island, these are the things I would think about.

Sunscreen

Bring more than you think you will use.

Seriously.

Between port days, pool days, and private island days, a family can go through sunscreen quickly.

I keep both SPF 30 and SPF 50 options on my list.

Rash Guards

Rash guards are one of the easiest ways to get additional sun coverage without reapplying sunscreen to every inch of skin all day.

I have options on my list for men, women, and kids.

Hats and Sunglasses

A good sun hat is one of those things I almost always want on a warm-weather cruise.

I included both adult and kids' options, along with sunglasses.

Water Shoes or Sandals

Whether you need water shoes depends on your ports and excursions.

For rocky beaches, snorkeling, or water activities, they can absolutely be worth bringing.

For a simple sandy beach day, a comfortable pair of sandals may be all you need.

Beach Towels

One thing you probably don't need to pack for most cruises is a stack of giant beach towels.

Cruise lines generally provide towels for the pool and often for port days.

But I do keep lightweight Turkish towels on my list because some travelers love having their own. They take up far less space than traditional beach towels and dry quickly.

Snorkeling and Water Gear

If your family loves snorkeling, you may prefer having your own equipment.

I have snorkel masks, short swim fins, and goggles on my list.

This is definitely personal preference.

If you're only snorkeling once during the entire trip, renting equipment may make more sense.

If you know your family will use it over and over, bringing your own gear can be really nice because you already know it fits.

Something to Do During Downtime

Cruises have plenty to do, but not every minute needs an organized activity.

I like having a couple of easy things everyone can grab.

On my list you'll find:

Waterproof playing cards
UNO
UNO Teams
UNO No Mercy

These are great for sea days, sitting by the pool, waiting for dinner, or relaxing in the cabin.

And yes, sometimes sitting around playing cards ends up being one of the best parts of a family vacation.

A Few Things I Wouldn't Buy Just Because TikTok Says You Need Them

There are a lot of cruise “must-have” lists online.

I would ask yourself one question before buying something:

Will my family actually use this?

You probably don't need an entire suitcase of cruise accessories.

I would prioritize:

Cabin organization
Comfortable sleep
A few laundry items
A good port-day bag
Sun protection
Anything your family already knows they use

Then add the itinerary-specific things from there.

If you're cruising Alaska, your list is going to look very different from someone sailing the Caribbean.

My Cruise Essentials List

I keep all of these items together so you don't have to hunt through Amazon for them individually.

You can browse my complete Amazon Cruise Essentials List here.

You'll find:

Magnetic cabin hooks
Hanging organizers
Packing cubes
Lanyards
Cruise luggage tag holders
Portable fans
Night lights
Battery tea lights
Mini sound machines
Collapsible laundry hampers
Sink laundry detergent
Laundry sheets
Waterproof phone pouches
Dry bags
Travel toiletry containers
AirTags
Beach bags
Sun protection
Swim gear
Games
And a few other travel favorites

You absolutely do not need every item on the list.

Think of it more like a place to find the things that make sense for your cruise.

Keep the Rest of Your Cruise Organized Too

The Amazon stuff is the easy part.

Once you book a cruise, you also have reservation numbers, flights, hotels, excursions, dining, budgets, and packing details to keep track of.

That is why I created the Wander With Ease Travel Planner.

It gives you one place to organize all of those details instead of having confirmations spread between emails, screenshots, and notes on your phone.

And if you're still deciding which cruise to book, start with How to Choose the Right Cruise for Your Family and How to Choose the Best Cruise Cabin for Your Family.

What I Really Think You Need

If I had to narrow this entire list down to the things I think are most useful for a family cruise, I would start with:

Magnetic hooks, packing cubes or a hanging organizer, lanyards, a collapsible laundry hamper, sink detergent, a night light or battery tea lights, a small fan, a mini sound machine, a waterproof phone pouch, and a good port-day bag.

Then build from there based on your destination and your family.

The goal isn't to pack every cruise gadget Amazon sells.

It's to bring a few things that make your cabin easier to live in and let you spend less time dealing with stuff once you're on vacation.

Jaime Green