Best products from r/Cruise

• Hangers - I see people telling you not to, but when my wife and I went on a 7 day for our honeymoon the room steward was only able to find about 4-5 hangers for us. Ever since then we just swing by Walmart and get a 10 pack of those thin space-saver hangers for $3 or so.
  
  
• Tealight - just remember no open flame
  
  
• Power strip - yes, but make sure it is not a surge protector, they are not allowed. Or if you are lucky like us and use USB devices you can just get a multi-USB charger like this
  
  
• Wine - be sure to bring a corkscrew unless it is a screw-top
  
  Honestly, I think you are going to find a lot of that as unused and probably won't bring next time. Highlighters are great for the daily schedule, but most cruise lines have phone apps with the schedule now and you can like things to keep track of them. The dry-erase board is good for families to keep track of each other, but for just a couple that will spend most of their time together it is not needed. Water bottles & Yeti's are'n't really needed on the ship but may be good in port. Since the snacks are for your Disney trip afterward I would wait to go shopping when you disembark instead of taking them on the cruise with you.
  
  What I would add is minor over-the-counter remedies - Tylenol, Imodium, Pepto. These can come in handy and are expensive on the ship.

> worried that a cruise would be a week spent trapped with 3,000 people who've never lost sight of their tour bus.

This is pretty much exactly what a cruise is.

Cruising is like Disney World for adults. It's pretty much all hand-holding and mediated experiences. Cruising is life with all the rough edges sanded off. Most of the ports are indeed tourist traps. If you repeatedly dump a few thousand tourists into the same spot it will pretty much turn all but the most resilient locations into generic 'cruise ports'. Obviously, you can ditch the tours when you get to a port, head out of town and find your own fun. (We do it at almost every port.) But onboard and overall, your best bet is just to embrace the mindlessness and spend the week enjoying the lack of stress.

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Here's the part where I tell you why I keep getting on these damn boats:

For all the various shortcomings of cruising, there really is quite a bit to do on the ships and the staff does an excellent job of making sure you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Find whatever appeals to you most and concentrate on that. Relaxing with a good book and watching the sea go by isn't the worst way to spend a few days.

Personally, we split our vacations between the enrichment/adventure trips and mindless indulgence. Cruising is decidedly in the latter category. It's enjoyable, you just need to walk on with the right expectations. For all the marketing and folks who will insist otherwise, cruising is not really a 'something for everyone' vacation. They're more of a lowest-common-denominator (and I mean that in the most loving way possible) vacation. It's not deep. It's not healthy or enriching. However, it is fun. It is cheap. It is easy. It is utterly devoid of stress and judgment. Have a cocktail for breakfast. Spend six uninterrupted hours sitting in the shade with your kindle. Hop on Amazon, get the most ridiculous suit you can find and enjoy 'formal night'.

Anything you need is a 5-minute walk away ...and if that's too far they'll bring it to you.

Ok, here's what I did... and I recommend doing this right before you leave (the night before should be fine), because if you hold onto it a few days the alcohol will evaporate a noticeable amount.

Note: We were allowed two wine bottles (750ml each) per stateroom but... Fuck wine, Everclear is better.

Step 1: Buy a bottle of Woodbridge brand wine (dark wine bottles work best, i think) - http://www.epermarket.com/Resource/ProductPic/P46/WZ02040004L.jpg

The top should look like the bottle in the picture, no foil covering or anything.

Step 2: Acquire one of these - https://www.amazon.com/Vinara-Bottle-Opener-Remover-Pressure/dp/B00H22W5ZC?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Step 3: Acquire Krazy Glue

Step 4: Acquire bottle of Everclear, or equivalent. (unopened is best, so the volume matches)

Step 5: Remove the small "seal" at the top of the Woodbridge cork. It's easy as pie, I used a safety pin.

Step 6: Use air pump to remove cork. (The air pump is used because it has a needle that goes straight down)

Do not remove cork unless you're ready to refill the bottle. If you remove the cork and let it sit outside the bottle for a few days it will expand slightly and become VERY difficult to put back in the bottle. Learn from my mistakes.

Step 7: Empty wine into another container.

Step 8: Carefully pour Everclear (or equivalent) into wine bottle. If it's anything like here in Georgia, they'll be the same volume (750ml).

Step 9: Push/hammer the cork back into the wine bottle. A dime works just right to help nudge it those few extra millimeters past the top of the cork (place dime on cork and use something thin and sturdy, like a nail, to transfer the force of the hammer to the dime).

(Also make sure the cork is facing in the same direction as it originally was. Again, learn from my mistakes!)

Step 10: Use Krazy glue to attach the "seal" back onto the top of the cork.

Step 11: Keep bottles upright as long as possible, as the alcohol will eat away at the cork material and it'll be floating around in the bottle... Thrice now, please learn from my mistakes!

Step 11: CONGRATULATIONS!! Your bottle should appear the same as it originally did on the shelf!

Side note: I packed a regular corkscrew so nobody got any funny ideas while going through security.

Even though the cork was facing the wrong direction, the alcohol had evaporated slightly (different levels in the two wine bottles I had), and there were bits of cork floating around in the bottle... We still made it through without a hitch.

As mentioned, on many ships there is a retractable line. If there isn't I also recommend getting some heavy duty small magnetic hooks on Amazon (at least 25lbs strength or so probably) and some paracord and use that. The hooks come in super handy for other things too...we hung our key card lanyards on them so they didn't get lost and we'd pass them on the way out reminding us to grab them.

Anyway, no matter where we hung our clothes, they never seemed to dry. So the last time I cruised I brought a small fan in my carry on LIKE THIS . Best decision ever! Worth the spot it took up in my duffel bag. Very light, doesn't weigh much.

I'd aim the fan to where the clothes were hanging overnight, it helped give some nice air circulation in the cabin and also helps drown out hallway noises. We brought a small extension cord to make it easier to aim it where we wanted (in our case into the bathroom) And that was handy as well for the extra outlets to charge phones too. Just a regular extension cord, make sure it does not have a surge protecter.

With the fan the clothes would get dry no prob! You can leave fan on when you leave your cabin as well, just make sure to have a peace of paper or card in the switch by door so your elec doesn't turn off while gone. Our room steward said this was no problem.

Thank you so much! Yes, us over prepers are sometimes made fun of by our friends but those same friends blindly trust us to have and know everything. ;D

We'll be two sharing each cabin (6 friends total) way down level 2. We keep joking they will ask us to row or something. I'm worried to suddenly develop claustrophobia what with all the 70000tons of metal over our heads and all but I decided to trust fate. If this is how I die this is how I die so hopefully I won't freak out if there is a norovirus outbreak and we are confined to the cabins...


I've seen the shoe organizer tip around but I always travel with a hanging Toiletry Bag. It works great on hotels, do you think it will be good enough for a cruise?

I'll pm you with some questions. ^ _ ^ Thank you!

Here's a handful of things a lot of new folks neglect:

Read reviews of the departure port (e.g., Ft. Lauderdale or Boston). Some ports are a pain to get to, get in and out of, and have little amenities (seats, bathrooms, parking, HVAC). If your cruise is slightly delayed due to customs or whatever, it can make the start of your trip miserable.

Cruise.com offers some of the best deals and bonuses out there.

As for viruses, wash your hands, be defensive regarding personal contact with strangers, door handles, elevator buttons, and use the hand sanitizer wherever available. Cruises are no better or worse than airlines or college dorms, in the sense that you get a diverse group of people together and people are bound to get sick, but a little prevention goes a long way.

Don't overpack. Take advantage of laundry deals onboard mid-week if you're worried about running out of clothes (often $20 for all you can fit in a paper laundry bag).

Consider getting something like the Belkin 3-Outlet Surge Protector. Rooms on ships have limited outlets, and having power plugs and USB plugs is really useful if you have phones, cameras, ebooks, whatever.

Do the math on drink packages ahead of time (wine, alcohol, or soda), and remember that 15% gratuity is tacked on to all purchases. Sometimes the packages can be worth it, but you may find out you have to drink a lot to break even.

Consider trying traditional cruising first...set dining times, the same servers all week, getting dressed appropriately. Yeah, it may seem a little odd, but it's good to know if you do/don't like it before you pursue a non-traditional approach like Norwegian.

Be careful not to buy drinks in "souvenir" glasses...it's costs you several dollars more and you'll likely not actually want them (some people do, though).

Check out cruisecritic.com for bunches of info.

Don't be shy about exploring the ship and telling people you're a first-time cruiser. You'll get plenty of advice - some of which may actually be useful!

A warning: Once you go for a balcony room, you'll never go back to porthole / interior room again. That said, interior rooms are awesome for sleeping, since you'll never see the light of day.

Don't expect to spend a ton of time in your room, so don't worry about the room quality too much.

Room service (barring certain items) is still free/included and nearly 24-hours on most cruise lines. Order breakfast on a port-day will not get you off the ship faster...going to the buffet or dining room is almost always faster.

Don't be shy about dinner seating...sit with other people...you may meet some interesting folks...that said, don't be shy about asking to be moved if they're complete jerks.

Couple more to add to this list. If you bring a few powerful magnets, you can use them to stick all of the papers like the funtimes, ship mail, and menus to the wall to keep all surfaces free for your stuff. I use hooks like these so we can also hang hats or whatever on them.

I use an over the door shoe rack like this on the bathroom door. It also helps keep things organized and clutter-free.

For the sail and sign card, we use a simple velcro cable tie. String the sail/sign card to a keyring, put the keyring on the cable tie, and wear on the wrist. Card usually comes with a small hole punched in a corner.

If you have motion sickness, but don't have the patch, try getting some green apples from the lido deck to keep in your room. They sometimes help. Also, room service will deliver a dramamine and the charge is minimal. Talk to your steward if you feel motion sickness, they are great.

Don't forget you can carry on with you one unopened bottle of wine per person! You can purchase bottled water for a reasonable price.

Have a great time!

Just One is FABULOUS and takes two seconds to learn! You can easily take it out of the box and travel with it in a baggy!

Avalon/Werewolf social deduction type games are fun for big groups!

Age of War is a small push your luck die roll game (not the best for a big group but for a portion of the group)

Box of Rocks is a trivia type game where it is all humans versus a box of rocks

Set is good solitaire or with big groups but is going to cause lots of head scratching. It's good for those who like puzzles!

Red7 is a personal favorite but doesn't play to 10 people

Addendum to my earlier post:

If you decide to give the travel router a try, make sure you get the AC model like this one below. Other models only support 2.4GHz and while it might work, it's not worth dealing with signal issues on top of Internet connectivity as well. The good news is that the Enchantment's wireless has great coverage, about the only place we had any less than four bars of signal were in the elevators.
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Wireless-Travel-Router-TL-WR902AC/dp/B01N5RCZQH

Command hooks sounds like a very bad idea, but these are the hooks I used on my last cruise, very strong and there are magnets on the same listing that are stronger if you're unsure about these 25lb magnets.

Also, vertical strength (hanging from the ceiling) is gonna be stronger than horizontal (hanging from the wall). With the magnets I got, you only get 1/3 when hanging horizontal, so if your 12lb magnets are the same, you just reduced them to 4lbs, which does sound too light for your wet swimsuit.

Concerning the waterproof phone case, we used a case that was more of a waterproof pouch like this. It is clear on both sides so you can use the camera on it and still see what you're doing as well.

As for waterproof-ness, my phone was perfectly dry and I dove down to at least 10-15 feet to get some video. The only issue I have with it is the water will interact with the screen through the case (as it is touch sensitive.) If you take a video underwater, it may do some weird things like random zooming.

Something I rarely see suggested is bringing a fan for your room. Something like this. depending on your room some can get a little stuffy and having the fan to help circulate air around really helps.

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Amazon Smile Link: Belkin 3-Outlet Surge Protector


|Country|Link|Charity Links|
|:-----------|:------------|:------------|
|USA|smile.amazon.com|EFF|
|France|www.amazon.fr||
|Japan|www.amazon.co.jp||
|Canada|www.amazon.ca||




To help add charity links, please have a look at this thread.

This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting). The thread for feature requests can be found here.

https://www.amazon.com/Pacsafe-Travelsafe-Anti-Theft-Portable-Hawaiian/dp/B017BPN0YY/ref=pd_sbs_198_4/137-9936811-5866953?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017BPN0YY&pd_rd_r=d107dadf-80f0-11e9-b31d-a3211b75eab9&pd_rd_w=7oLJO&pd_rd_wg=0gkt8&pf_rd_p=588939de-d3f8-42f1-a3d8-d556eae5797d&pf_rd_r=ZFE5JN9P699XQF5ZD3FY&psc=1&refRID=ZFE5JN9P699XQF5ZD3FY

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I have one of these. Its great. Looks like a normal bag, but locks up and comes with a cable and lock to secure it to your beach chair, etc. It won't stop a determined attacker, but allows you to go swim for a bit without worrying about someone doing a snatch and grab with your stuff.

I always bring my phone off the ship to take pictures and stuff. I bought these which worked great around the water. The lanyard part of it was great for keeping it on my person.

Best dry bag I've ever had was by Dry Pak I've also had a waterproof camera case by Dicapac that worked great.

Usually I leave my phone in a bag on the beach, along with my other stuff. I realize that is a risk I'm taking. I carry my ID, ship card and money in the waterproof Dry Pac wallet. Camera I sometimes take with me and sometimes chance leaving it in the beach bag.

There are various types of waterproof wallets or cases that you can find. I've tried quite a few types and most leak. This is the only one I've ever had that doesn't leak and lasts a long time:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BJ7WHE
It is just the right size to hold a couple sea passes, a couple driver's licenses, a credit card and a bunch of US currency wrapped around them. Even keeps things dry when snorkeling and diving 10 feet or more under water.

With other cases: if bills do get slightly damp then vendors still take them and they'll dry out if you spread them out a bit in your cabin overnight.

I always take my phone and leave in a beach bag if necessary. I realize that we're taking a chance on anything we leave in a beach bag but I've never had an issue. They do make similar cases, even the same brand, that fit a phone so you can take it into the water but I've never tried those.

In Europe and places where water is not involved but pick pockets are more of a concern, I carry my passport and most of my money and second credit card in a money belt type hidden pocket worn under my clothing. I carry just a few dollars and one credit card in my wallet so I don't have to go into the hidden pocket very often.

> I plan on taking this with me on a cruise in a month, and am hoping it will be fine: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ATZJ5YS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tUWyCb702R174

This is the best one.

I just did an Alaska Cruise on RCI and 4 cabins got these and they worked perfectly. The little white seals for the tops were magical.

https://www.amazon.com/Shampoo-Conditioner-bottles-Cruise-Funnel/dp/B01J2OAAE0

Not at all a silly question! I asked the exact same thing almost a year ago and this subreddit gave me the suggestion to get one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Waterproof-JOTO-CellPhone-Motorola/dp/B00LBK7OSY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1482528338&sr=8-5&keywords=dry+bags+iphone. Worked great - and we were highly amused by another young couple on St. Thomas that got into a big argument, pointing and yelling at us, about why they hadn't thought to do this and the husband was now stuck in the water with one hand overhead at all times to hold up his phone.

Thank you. Do you think one of these will come in handy? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D58DRVC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=A1L7F5DL4H71TK&psc=1

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We are going to be on Carnival and wine is allowed. You're right about snacks, haha. We are going to Disney for a week after the cruise and that's when we need the snacks! No makeup for me as I don't wear it but thanks for the suggestion!

>Thank you. Do you think one of these will come in handy?
>
>https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D58DRVC/ref=ox\_sc\_act\_title\_5?smid=A1L7F5DL4H71TK&psc=1

Yes!! Great to hang over the door to store sunglasses, sunscreen, etc. Keeps everything organized and off the limited tabletop space

Oder relief: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CQ5M7SO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1We had a bathroom one one cruise that had issue (vents on the floor in the main room)

Good walking shoes.

I bring my phone with me (on airplane mode, but I use it for pictures and the Hub app on Carnival), and I use this: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XXGYQT2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I only keep my ship card, and a few buck cash in it, along with my phone. The wrist strap is sturdy, and it makes it easy when going into ports!

The best recommendation I ever got (and have used for over 15 cruises) is to bring an over the door shoe hanger. It can be hung over the bathroom door, facing the stateroom. We use it for storing all of our small stuff...playing cards, chargers, batteries, cameras, toiletries, sunglasses, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/24-Pockets-SimpleHouseware-Crystal-Organizer/dp/B01D58DRVC/ref=sr_1_3?crid=33GLB0089WB9L&keywords=over+the+door+shoe+organizer&qid=1563671734&s=gateway&sprefix=Over+%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-3

I keep seeing people put their Phones in these. They arent recommended for more than I think 40 feet underwater, so you should be good. The biggest thing is making sure it stays secure and you don't lose it while on the wave runner.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I1430WQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_jrNxDbNFE2V0Z


This was just the brand I saw with the highest rating and a high number of reviews. I think the dimensions work but I would double check.

Some sort of waterproof wallet, portable hand sanitizer, portable battery pack (for charging phones/cameras), selfie stick or cell phone tripod, luggage tags

Two most useful items to have, travel power strip and roll up water bottle

https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-SurgePlus-Protector-Charger-rotating/dp/B00ATZJ5YS/

https://www.amazon.com/WINGONEER-folding-bottle-outdoor-mountaineering/dp/B07428NHMM/

Magnets to put on the walls/door. Gets papers off valuable counter space. I already have these and plan to buy these for my next cruise.

We got this to bring on the ship... for booze of course. Others said they had good luck with these, but now I wonder if there will be an issue. They come with a "seal" for each bottle.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01J2OAAE0

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We're going out on HAL, not RC, so not sure

String backpack with the following:

• phone (fully charged)
  
  
  
  
  
• waterproof phone case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I1430WQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_p9J1Ab1FDGZNY
  
  
  
  
• cash (~$50 depending what we're doing)
  
  
  
• credit card
  
  
  
• sunscreen if needed for excursion
  
  
  
• water shoes if needed for excursion
  
  
  
• sunglasses
  
  
  
  
• ship's towel
  
  
  
• ibuprofen
  
  
  
• bottled water (1 small bottle per person)
  
  
  
• cruise card to get back on the ship
  
  
  
  
  You can usually buy just about anything at the port; however, some items are extremely marked up (i.e. deodorant, medicine, etc.)
  

Any recommendations on a cordless power strip without surge protection? I took this with me two years ago and no one said anything (couldn't use it anyway, cause it has a blank prong for a second outlet): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MU49AAO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kTWyCbSPHYREM

I plan on taking this with me on a cruise in a month, and am hoping it will be fine: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ATZJ5YS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tUWyCb702R174

Since I like to snorkel I bought a waterproof bag to keep cell phone, ship's card, some cash, passport, and a credit card in when going ashore. This way I could always keep my stuff on me even when I'm in the water. It's so nice to have everything you need hanging around your neck and not have to worry about losing it or it going missing when you're not paying attention. I bought this one and it has served me very well but there are lots out there to choose from.