I can tell you that one of my favorite modes of travel is cruising.  I love the Once and Done unpacking prophecy, and that the kids are close-by but having fun with all the other kids because the Camps and Clubs on Cruise Ships are bar none!

Early mornings include coffee and a seat on the balcony to enjoy all of our amenities. Honestly, I can’t relax unless of course, I have packed the things I need to make my life comfortable while I am away.

Get ready to be organized, and just grab and go, so you just keep on having fun! No doubt these tips will make your cruise even more enjoyable. You are getting the ultimate in packing organization skills ina crash course.

You will be able to run into your cabin, shower, and grab what you need faster.  Keep things simple and organized so you can have fun. Use these 3 Tips to Effectively Pack For A Cruise so that you will have what you need at your fingertips, labeled, and leak-proof, while being very organized.

3 Tips To Effectively Pack For A Cruise

Preparing for Cruising

Whether this is your first cruise or your 5th, there are still tips to help you in this article. I learn more every time I cruise. 

Cruising is a blast, but I believe in managed preparedness because if I have to go track items down, that should have been within arms reach, I can’t get myself together. While everyone works differently on vacation, I like to have my things with me.

Trust me, I am human, even with the best lists in the world, I forget things, but this is not about forgetting things, this is about organizing things that you have with you so that life on-board the Cruising is even more lavish!

My husband still thinks I am nuts but he just goes with it. When we first get into our cabin, I don’t run out for that drink, rather I get the luggage unpacked and I think about nothing else after everything is out of the luggage.

However, he always credits me, when he is poolside and hears others complaining about what they forgot or how much the item is onboard. 

The great thing about this is when everyone else is looking for this, running out to buy this or that in the Cruising stores we are going for those drinks and getting our seat in the shows, lol!

Want to know more? Read on, and I know this will help you pack and unpack much more effectively for any cruise travel. As a world traveler, I will own this moment and credit myself with knowing how to pack and what to pack.

It’s easy, keep your eyeballs moving down the page. Also, comment at the end and tell me what YOU Do to pack effectively so I can add it on to this with credit to you! 

1/3 Tips To Effectively Pack For A Cruise- The Packing List  

Many cruises go out of the country, and sometimes you can find what you need on the ship, and sometimes you can find what you need while on land, but I don’t like the ‘sometimes’ prophecy so I pack it up, within reason.

Don’t underestimate the power of a written checklist. It is not only calming to a person who worries about everything it is powerful. In fact, this list makes your fun begin and continue even when others are seeking out stuff they forgot! 

Challenge yourself with creating ONE list. Keep it on your phone and you will never have to write it again. Modify it each time you travel with things you never used or always used or needed more of! That is what I do. 

Make a list for each person in your family. On the list, make sure to include medications that they regularly take and basic grooming supplies that are used every day.  

In addition, if they have one sickness that recurs frequently, but they only take meds for this on and off, make sure they have what they would use if this happens. For instance, if someone has food allergies, make sure they have all they need in case of an Anaphylactic situation, from Zofran to Epi-Pens. 

Do you suffer from Migraines? Make sure to be your own mobile pharmacy because chances of finding a solution to your headache that will work are slim! 

The Reason For Organized CruisingPacking  

Why do I find it so necessary to pack so very organized when cruising or traveling? On this trip, we will be out of the country, and no within our normal reach of a pharmacy.

I travel with a child with severe allergies and it is a must that I know where everything is at any point in time. Never would I take a chance with his life at risk. Additionally, I also prefer to unpack with ease, and not have to seek out items I might have forgotten

Lesson Learned 

When we traveled to Italy not so long ago, we found it impossible to find a medicine I much needed and the translation of the word for the product did not work, thus, lesson learned. Preparedness ahead of the crisis can make things so much easier. 

2/3 Tips To Effectively Pack For A Cruise – Zipped Plastic Bags With Labels – 

The key to surviving organization is a product we all purchase but may not use for packing.  Do you know those clear zippered plastic bags you purchase by the boxful?

Yep, zippered plastic bags are super useful and perfect for backpacks and purses when traveling. Avoid spills and stuff falling throughout your bags, with one simple ZIP! I load up on zippered bags at our warehouse clubs we belong to 2. 

Why bother tossing stuff into bags if you are not going to label them? If you have 12 zipped bags with you, and each one is loaded with stuff how will you know what is where? You won’t. Grab yourself a Sharpie, and mark those zipped bags so that it is organized.

Our bags were marked by the person as well as by their content.  Yes, this does take a little time but you will sail through this step.  

What’s In Your Bag?

Clear, perfect and in a few sizes, let me present zipper bags that will make your life so much easier. Organization for a cruise (or any vacation really) is easier when I use this little collection of bags for sorting. 

Brand name or non-brand (note however, I used brand), it does not matter, but it does matter that you use them. I heart zippered bags for organizing and saving me from the heartache of  leaking items. 

Rather, I take zippered style bags with me. However my organization goes way beyond what you might find normal, but it saves me a lot of time. Let me compare my packing for a moment to Jack Nicholson’s character packing skills in As Good As It Gets.

This method of packing in zipped plastic bags makes it possible to keep things organized, and together and then you can just pull out the labeled bag! Grab your favorite PERMANENT Marker, all the items you made on your list and let’s get packed to travel!

Weed Out What You WILL Not Need 

Gather what you need, pack lightly and remember cruise ships have things in the bathrooms as well such as Conditioner, shampoo, bath wash, etc, so leave all that liquid at home! 

Pack a toothbrush, floss, toothpaste, mouthwash, in addition to bandages, lotion, sunscreen, facial cream, acetaminophen, Cruising, cotton swabs, and powder.

Since I have a child with life-threatening allergies, I pack a bag of his special meds (so does he!). 

Organize

Here’s how I break this down: my kids focus on packing their clothes. I pack all the medicines and place each person’s in their own bag (they forget this stuff all the time). I toss their zipped bags of items into their luggage and away we go! 

Mouth Bag: Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss, Rinse

Where MJ Travels Bag:  whatever allergy items he must have

Where Niko Travels Med Bag:  His daily meds and ER medicine including Epi-Pens

KallieVeeXO: her Medications 

Shower Bag: aftershave, straightener spray, hairspray, comb, etc.

Pool and Beach: Sunscreen, Face Stick, Aloe, etc.

ZIP

Each bag is created for specific items, like medicine, suncare, and so on and labeled as such. When we get to our rooms, each person places their marked bags where they can easily access them and we are good to go.

No sifting through a bag for each person, because it is already sorted and waiting to be used.  Everyone places their stuff where it needs to go in minutes! 

And the most cherished news of all, if I brought it, I don’t have to ‘buy’ it! Since it is labeled, I don’t have to search for it!  Saving all that time gives me the time to secure a few margaritas! 

3/3 Tips To Effectively Pack For A Cruise –  Over-The-Door Organizer

Our luggage is the key piece of our organized packing. Why? Inside our bags, I have already prepared hanging storage for the bathroom area. Further, I use each suitcase in a different way.

In his suitcase, is anything that needs to be hung.  Conversely, mine has all the stuff that requires drawers.  Simple right? Yes, it is! 

The Over The Door Organizer For The Bathroom 

No matter what time of year you cruise, you are certain to have at least one night of what we term ‘rocking and rolling’ in the room. Stuff slides when the cruise ship is sailing a tad faster while you sleep to get to the next destination. 

We keep NOTHING out on the counters or even in the trays above our sinks. Instead, we use the over the door organizer for our stuff, like deodorant, toothpaste, brushes, cream, hairclips, etc. 

Alternatively, you can place the over the door organizer in your closet too. The downside to this is that you have to step out of the bathroom to grab the things you use in the bathroom.

However, if you are more a private person, then stick it in the closet and place it over the bathroom door when you shower. 

Organization Is A Blessing On A Cruise 

I can’t stress enough how much you will love having an over-the-door organizer with you and hanging on your bathroom door.  Everything will be within hands reach, and you can simply see through the pouches and grab for it.

Grab those organized bags that you brought along and place your oral hygiene stuff in the pockets.  Additionally, rather than packing cosmetic bags, I just use the pockets for foundation, mascara, eyeliner, facial creams, and wipes. 

With everything sorted, you are ready to grab and go! We always leave it hanging even when we leave the room. When it is time to pack up and go home, we roll our over the door organizer up and pack it in the luggage. Fast, easy, done! 

I find that living on the cruise ship is such a great way to vacation and my ability to organize, and unpack once and once only, while keeping everything organized and in its place makes it even better.

Why spend time hunting for items you need or could have packed and simply forgot when you could be on the LIDO deck enjoying the sunset, the breeze, and some drinks, or first in line at a show.  Lavishly live cruise ship travel out loud and use these 3 Tips to effectively pack for your cruise and get ready to set sail! ~Dana XO 

Disclosure ~ If a purchase is made using one of the affiliate links on this website we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!