Cruising Goddess

Drinks often fall into the “hidden fees” category of cruising and I’m not just talking about the alcoholic variety. While tap water and iced tea are free onboard, soda, juices, and bottled water are expensive. Juices (not the fresh squeezed kind) are free during breakfast only and Disney Cruises offers free soda but otherwise, you can expect to pay $2-3 per glass of soda and juice, including a mandatory gratuity. Also, certain cruise lines may not serve your favorite brands. For example, NCL only serves Pepsi products.

You can save money and stick to your favorite brands by bringing your own non-alcoholic drinks onboard. To check them in with the rest of your luggage before boarding the ship, I recommend putting them into sealed extra large Ziplock bags, in case they spill or explore, and then into a tote bag or suitcase with your cruise luggage tag on it. Some porters will not accept a case of water/soda with a luggage tag slapped on it. If you don’t have an extra tote bag or suitcase to put drinks into, you should hand-carry the drinks onboard. I have not heard of any cruise line that does not allow you to bring non-alcoholic drinks onboard. In addition to carrying them on at embarkation, you can also buy more drinks at ports of call but could be very inconvenient, depending on the port and your shore plans.

If you like to have a little fun in your drink…as in alcohol, alcoholic drinks are always extra and start around $3.50 per drink. Some cruise lines do not allow passengers to bring alcohol onboard so check the cruise line’s alcohol policy ahead of time or you may have your fun confiscated and end up in the “naughty room”, the room where you claim your contraband luggage and get a stern lecture.

Check out Cruising 101: Cruise Planning Tips, Tools, & Resources for more of my cruise tips!

What are the must have items for a cruise? Whether you are a first time or repeat cruiser, there is always room for improvement when it comes to packing for your cruise. Outside of the usual things I pack for any vacation, here are some things I pack specifically for cruises:

• $1 bills: Tips for porters ($2 per bag), room service ($2-5 depending how much food ordered), and self-service laundry (change available in the laundry room or from front desk). I try to bring at least $20 worth.
• $50-75 cash in $5, $10, & $20: Cash tips on top of cruise line gratutity for excellent crew members. We usually wind up giving extra tips to our room attendent, waiter, and any exceptional reception staff who help us out. U.S. dollars are fine on any American cruise line, meaning you don’t need to tip in Euros on a European cruise.
• Address labels: for your disembarkation luggage tags
• Battery-operated alarm clock: most cabins do not have a clock
• Meclizine (Bonine/Dramamine: Less Drowsy Formula): prevent sea sickness
• Power Strip: cabins have very few plugs to recharge your electronic gadgets
• Small flashlight or night light: it’s pitch black at sea
• Hair elastics: outside decks are very windy for women with long hair
• Highlighter: to highlight interesting activities on the daily schedule
• ID Lanyards: onboard the ship, cruises are cashless so leave your wallet and purse in your cabin safe and wear your cruise card around your neck. You can also get a retractable ID holder.
• Insulated lunch bag & Ziplock bags: if you plan on packing lunch for a busy port day
• Laundry soap & dryer sheets: if your ship has self-service laundry
• Magnets: Cabin doors are made of metal so I put our cruise itinerary and weather forecast on the back of the door
• Magnetic hooks: Hang your ID lanyards on the back of the door
• Post-it notes & pen: for writing little notes to your room attendant. I stick them in the middle of the bathroom or desk mirror so he/she will see it.
• Sea Bands: prevent sea sickness without drugs
• Waterproof watch: you’ll be hard pressed to find a clock anywhere in the public spaces on the ship, including the pool areas
• Small scissors or pocket knife: to cut off airline & embarkation luggage tags. Your airline tag should be be removed before arriving at the port. Your embarkation tags should be cut off before leaving out your luggage for disembarkation.
• Clear Packing Tape (Tear By Hand): for attaching and securing embarkation luggage tags
• First Aid & Medicine Kit
• Downy Wrinkle Releaser: Cabins don’t have irons and cruise lines do not allow you to bring your own because they are a fire hazard. Some cruise lines have irons in the self-service laundry but when they are there, there are very few and you are restricted to using the iron in the laundry room.
• Drinks: Save money & enjoy your favorite brands by bringing your own drinks
• Extra Tote Bag: Pack an Empty Tote Bag, especially shopaholics!

Check out Cruising 101: Cruise Planning Tips, Tools, & Resources for more of my cruise tips!