Cruise Tips & Tricks
- Esha Shah
- Mar 20
- 3 min read
Cruises I have been on:
Royal Carribean Oasys of the Seas
Jamaica/Haiti
Royal Carribean Anthem of the Seas (x3)
Bermuda/St. Marten/Antigua
Celebrity Reflection
Key West/Bahamas
I may be a little biased but I love Royal Carribean cruises. I think that they are worth the price for all the activities, food, drinks, and entertainment provided. The Celebrity Reflection cruise that I went on did not have as many entertainment options other than swimming and relaxing, and the food was pretty good. I will say that I LOVE the unlimited fruit, pasta, soda, and fresh juice you can get on cruises. I highly recommend getting the drink package, it is definitely worth the money because you can get a reusable drink cup and fill it with fountain drinks to take up to your room. I also think it was worth it for the unlimited alcoholic drinks you can get. My dad did get the WIFI package because he had some work calls to take and another phone could be added so they added my sisters for one cruise and then mine for the next cruise. You don't NEED the package because you can still text Iphone to Iphone, you just cannot call.
I know it is on the pricey side, but I think that if you are able to, you should book a room with a balcony so you can admire the ocean and views right from your room.
I know my way around Royal Carribean Anthem of the Seas, and if you go on that cruise ship, you absolutely NEED to get Sorrentos pizza. I don't know what they put in it, but it hit every time. I think I had pizza as a snack everytime I got hungry (which was like twice a day oops).
What to pack:
If it's a 7 day cruise, I would recommend bringing 5-6 bathing suits, and if it's a 4 day cruise, I would recommend bringing 3 bathing suits. You will spend most of your time swimming in the pool on the deck or getting in the hot tub late at night.
I recommend bringing sunscreen with you unless you want to pay for overpriced sunscreen on board at one of the shops. I hate bugs, so I will bring bug spray everywhere I go. On the ship, you don't need bug spray because you are in the ocean with a breeze so there are no bugs YAY, but if you are on an island, there are many many bugs so you may need some.
Towels are provided on the ship so no need to bring those!
I brought some day outfits and a bunch of dinner outfits. The day outfits are good for when you are getting off the ship and spending the day at the island you are visiting. I would bring a dinner outfit for every night you have on your cruise because I always ended up showering after spending a lot of time in the pool and then getting into nice clothes, taking pictures, and eating at different restaurants on board. (For every day of the cruise, the restaurants will have certain dress codes like formal, casual, wear all white, etc.) I do bring singles to tip bartenders or restaurant staff :)
Shampoo and conditioner is provided, however, it makes my hair feel stiff so I always bring my own especially since your hair will be dipped in chlorine every day.
Someone from your travel crew should bring a first aid kit with bandages, medicine, and motion sickness bands. I think that motion sickness bands and medicine do help if you are one of those people that can't stand when the ship is rocking back and forth. Painkillers are also good to have on hand just in case someone needs it.
Heres a little packing list:
Travel paperwork
Passport + ID
Bathing Suits + coverups
Sunscreen + bugspray
Skincare
Makeup + remover
Pajamas
Day outfits (casual)
Night outfits (formal)
Accessories
Sneakers + Flip Flops + dress shoes
Shampoo + conditioner
Hair styling tools
Body wash/soap
Toothpaste + toothbrush
Other dental kit items
Shaving items
Wipes
First aid items
Other Medicines
Cash for tipping
Have you ever been on a cruise? If you have, what is your favorite part? If you have not, what would you look forward to?
I feel like this blog was really informative for someone who is looking into going on a cruise for the first time! I really liked the feedback on the different packages the cruises had to offer, along your advice on how many bathing suits to bring on a cruise trip! I feel like figuring out what to pack is one of the hardest parts about prepping for a vacation, and you made it way easier!
I've actually never been on a cruise, but I have always wanted to go! You make it sound so fun. I will definitely take your recommendation to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise if I ever end up on one. Those photos are also beautiful! They make me want to be on the ocean, like, right now. I also really appreciated the little packing list you attached at the bottom! I tend to forget small things, so this would be super helpful for me not to forget necessities.
-Arielle Levy
This blog post was very interesting, especially as someone who has never been on a cruise I've always wondered what one would be like! All of your recommendations and packing tips were helpful and if I ever decided to go on one I would definitely take your advice!!
Beautiful images! I have never been on a cruise and am a bit scared to go, honestly, because of sea sickness. It does sound fun though, especially going to islands! --Dr. Dorn
I went on a cruise my senior year of high school and had a great time!! This was a great blog that gives a good representation of what to expect on a cruise! My family actually just booked an Alaskan cruise for this summer and I think it will be a very different experience since it will coldddddd. I would love to hear if you have any packing adjustments or tips for cold weather cruises!