Remembering to pack clothing is pretty easy, but there are several items that I pack which are not so obvious:
Extra Hangers: Storage is a premium, I hang everything I can. And if packing space allows, I pack my clothing on the hangers. This makes unpacking a breeze. Wire hangers take up less space than thick plastic hangers.
Magnets: The stateroom walls are metal. This makes a great place for Hanging notes, shore excursion tickets, itinerary, etc., where they can be easily found.
Flashlight. The light switch for the bathroom is outside the bathroom door. I hate to startle my hubby by flipping on the light in the middle of the night. A flashlight by the bedside makes those late-night trips to the potty more pleasant for everyone.
Luggage scale: Make sure all those souvenirs do not exceed your weight limit for the return flight.
Lanyard: Why? The room key is needed while onboard for charges and for re-entering the stateroom. I don’t want the risk of my key falling out of my pocket. And much of my cruise clothing does not have a pocket. The type with the plastic sleeve is handy for inserting your room key. But another option is to ask the passenger services desk to punch a hole in your card. Then the card can be attached easily without a pouch.
Large clips.- (Clothespins, chip clips, binder clips, etc.) for multipurpose needs from securing beach towels to beach chairs to hanging laundry on the shower clothesline. I usually pack two clips per person.
Powerstrip? – Outlets are not always close to the bed, and if you have a c-pap machine, you may need this. But, you may not get to keep it because it could be confiscated. Extension cords must be deemed electrically safe. If it is confiscated, you will be able to reclaim it after the cruise. Better yet, just ask your cabin steward for an extension cord approved by cruise line maintenance.
Alarm Clock (uggh!!!!) and watch. I refuse to carry around a purse or my phone on the ship. This is my time to truly relax and detach from gadgets. Since I have become dependent on my phone to also double as my watch, I need a watch on the cruise ship so I won’t miss a thing. Also, keep in mind that Ship’s time is what is important. Check the daily program to see if there is a time change scheduled and adjust your clocks accordingly.
Med Kit. Of course, prescription medications are a necessity, but I pack a small assortment of over-the-counter meds: antihistamine, tylenol, antacid, antihistamines, antibiotic ointment, bandaids, first aid wipes, eye drops, etc. Anything I might need. Those items are more expensive in the gift shop. I remove them from the original packaging to save space and write the directions on the new smaller containers or on a piece of paper.
I always pack pocket tissues to take into ports. This serves as toilet tissue if there is none in the public restrooms. And since I am a bit of a germ snob, I pack a travel pack of Chlorox wipes. I wipe down the airplane tray, the seat belt buckle, the tv monitor if they have the kind with a touch screen, and when I board the ship, I wipe down the front and balcony door handles, lamp switches, hair dryer – those areas that I think other passengers have been touching but would probably not be cleaned regularly by housekeeping.