When I turned 30 last year, it felt like my travel “firsts” were few and far between, and I needed to find new ways to venture outside of my comfort zone. So when Royal Caribbean invited me aboard the Ovation of the Seas ship to be one of the first to experience the new round-trip, three-day voyage from Los Angeles to Ensenada, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go on my first cruise.
As a travel editor, I pride myself on my product recommendations, so you can imagine how mind-boggling it was not to have all the answers when it came to packing for my first cruise. What do people wear? What will I need for my stateroom? Will I get seasick? I put together a pretty solid packing list after asking my cruise-loving colleagues, but I still found myself guilty of a few rookie mistakes at sea.
Keep scrolling to find out what you actually need for your next cruise, like a convenient travel wallet, arch-supporting flip-flops, and a mini crossbody bag to tote around the ship.
Top Cruise Essentials to Pack
Mistake: Underestimating seasickness
Spoiler alert: I got seasick. Luckily, a friend on the ship had Dramamine. Even if you’re someone who doesn’t get seasick, I recommend packing a small pill case with a few remedies—like ginger capsules or motion-sickness tablets—just in case.
This Amazon-loved organizer is compact and easy to stash in your belt bag, backpack, purse, or pocket to keep your essentials close by, which isn’t a bad idea since you’re always hopping from one activity to the next on cruises; this way, you don’t have to go back to your room to grab your go-to remedies when seasickness starts to hit.
Mistake: Being unorganized at embarkation
At the airport, I always have my personal item bag packed perfectly so I can breeze through the TSA checkpoint. However, I wasn’t on my A-game on embarkation day, and I was frantically trying to find my passport, cruise documents, and other important items while in line to board the ship. For next time, I’m eyeing this nifty travel wallet from Calpak (an Oprah-approved travel brand) that has plenty of organizational pockets and a secure zipper closure to keep everything safe.
Mistake: Only packing a phone charger
I decided to go carry-on-only and forgot handy gadgets like a portable charger. My phone battery drained quickly from snapping photos and videos of the three pools, from the new North Star viewing deck to take in the 360-degree views of the ship and the ocean, at a sushi-making class at the Izumi restaurant, and during the ship’s many live shows and themed events. Plus, outlet space was limited in the stateroom when it came time to charge all of my devices at the end of the day, so I recommend bringing a portable charger like this magnetic one on excursion days when you want to explore.
Mistake: Relying on cruise toiletries
My stateroom bathroom was stocked with shampoo and conditioner, but they didn’t leave my thick hair (or skin) feeling as hydrated afterwards. Next time, I’ll make sure to bring my favorite shower essentials (like my Fable & Mane shampoo and conditioner), body lotion (my go-to for travel is the Epicuren After Bath lotion), and styling products like the Roz Air Thickening Spray in travel-friendly toiletry bottles.
Mistake: Bringing too many shoes
My cruise itinerary was stacked, which made me think I’d need multiple pairs of shoes to stand up to all the different activities. But, to my surprise, I found myself reaching for my arch-supporting Archies flip-flops over the dressy sandals I packed because they were so much more comfortable, easier to slide into, and the neutral taupe color matched every outfit just fine. Pro tip: just be mindful of your cruise’s dress codes for certain events; flip-flops might not always fly.
Mistake: Packing impractical cruise outfits
Despite being conscious of my carry-on space, I still filled my suitcase with travel clothes I didn’t end up wearing. Instead of planning elaborate outfits for my next cruise, I’ll lean into easy-to-wear basics that can be mixed and matched. I’ve been eyeing this Amazon matching set for my spring and summer travels, and it’s a perfect carry-on staple with its effortlessly chic tank and wide-leg pants. It can be easily dressed up for dinner with nice shoes, as well as comfortably dressed down with sandals or sneakers for the pool or exploring the ship.
Mistake: Forgetting a pool tote bag
I underestimated just how many things I need to relax by the pool: my phone, my stateroom key, headphones, a hat, sunscreen, a book, and so on. And since I didn’t bring a tote for the pool deck, I had to carry all these items in my hands and pockets every time I wanted to soak up the sun. To pack more efficiently for my next cruise, I’ll opt for something like this packable tote. But if I’m flying to the port, I’ll grab something like Bagsmart’s travel tote that’s spacious enough to work as a personal item bag on travel days and a pool tote once onboard.
Mistake: Not bringing an anti-theft crossbody purse
In the same vein, I also wish I had packed something small to tote around the ship to hold my stateroom key, phone, and camera while we bopped from activity to activity. A mini crossbody like this one from Sherpani would’ve been perfect, and it has RFID-blocking protection and an anti-theft design, so you can bring it on excursion days without worrying about pickpockets.
Mistake: Skipping a swim cover-up
A stylish swim cover-up may not seem like an essential when you’re packing, but it absolutely is. I quickly realized that, on cruises, you’re constantly moving around, and you need to be able to slip into something comfortable that covers your bathing suit when moving from the pool deck to other levels of the ship. I did come prepared with my waterproof Summersalt swim shorts (they look just like regular shorts when you put them over a bathing suit), but I wish I had brought something oversized and cute like this Old Navy button-up shirt (especially when I needed a break from the sun).
Other options I’ve been eyeing are this colorful Amazon matching shorts set and this flowy Prana dress, which you can throw on over your bathing suit to grab a bite to eat or even dress up for dinner or a show.
Mistake: Not packing a reusable water bottle
My complimentary beverage package covered all the drinks we could’ve wanted on the cruise, from morning mimosas to poolside refreshments and late-night cocktails. However, you can only grab drinks at the bar and food courts, so I found myself juggling plastic water bottles throughout the day to make sure I’d have something to hydrate with when I got back to my stateroom. If your carry-on can fit one, a reusable water bottle will be a game-changer on your next cruise as well as handy on excursion and travel days, too.
Mistake: Trusting the stateroom’s A.C.
I’m a hot sleeper, and my stateroom thermostat only went down to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. For most people, that’s cool enough, but it wasn’t for me, and I had a hard time falling asleep each night. If you’re also a hot sleeper, I recommend packing a portable fan or cooling, bamboo pajamas (if you have limited space in your suitcase) so you can get some relief while you’re falling asleep. Also, something like Jisulife’s handheld fan is smart to pack if you run hot while out and about, whether it’s on the pool deck, on an excursion, or on your flight home.
Mistake: Not considering the right headphones
I love my over-ear headphones, but they don’t work for every situation. A nighttime issue I ran into on the cruise was not having white noise in the stateroom to help me fall asleep (and my go-to headphones are too clunky and uncomfortable to sleep in). If you’re someone who has trouble falling asleep in quiet rooms, make sure you have a portable white noise machine at the ready or in-earbuds that you can sleep with so you can drift off to your favorite music or sleep aid.
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