Cruising is one of our most favorite ways to vacation. We have had a blast on cruises for a few years now. Each cruise we go on our list of things we pack for the next time grows. One of the best ways to ensure an unforgettable family trip is to ensure you include these when packing for your family cruise.
Door Magnets to decorate stateroom door
To start the list off this item is just for fun. It is a lot of fun finding great magnets to decorate your door. If you are traveling over a holiday it is easy to find magnets for your door. If there is a special occasion during your sailing you could have something on your door for this as well. We like to put a white board on our stateroom door as well, it is fun to write new message each day for fellow passengers.
Over the door organizers with Heavy Duty Hooks
These are a life saver for my family. I pack my kids clothes in these. I buy one that has about 10 slots in it. I roll up their outfit for each day and insert it into a slot. When it is full I simply fold it into the suitcase for travel. This won’t work for teens but it has worked wonders for our 5, 6 and 9 year old.
We use an organizer just for brushes, detangler, sunscreen, lotions and other toiletries. The rooms are fairly small and these just hang right on the wall because the walls are metal. It keeps items from collecting on the floors of the cabin.
We use the extra hooks to hang hats and lanyards. It makes it so easy to just throw your lanyard onto the hook so you won’t lost your card.
Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash
I didn’t realize this on our first cruise that it wouldn’t be the same as a hotel on land. The perks of the little mini shampoo and conditioner just don’t exist. There is a shampoo/body wash in one that we have had on both Disney and Royal Caribbean. For my hair and my 4 girls hair this just wasn’t enough.
Be sure to pack some with you or pop out to the store to grab some before setting sail. They do sell them on the ship but it is pretty expensive for these types of items.
Detangler
Ok so as I mentioned we have 4 girls. All with long thick hair. Our girls spend more time swimming than anything else on a cruise whether it is in the pool or ocean. Even with washing their hair throughout the week it isn’t enough. Every afternoon and night I spray detangler into their hair and brush it out. This just helps limit the tugs and tears later if it doesn’t get done.
Sunscreen on Family Cruise
It happened to me once that I brought one bottle of sunscreen. I have no idea what I was thinking because there is no way one bottle would last 6 people for a week down in the Caribbean. I ended up having to buy some at one of the ports and it was way more than I would have ever spent at home, so big regret on my part.
I now make sure to have multiple bottles of sunscreen when packing for a family cruise. My kids have different preferences between the cream, spray and stick so I am sure to have lots of different options. I try and watch for the sales at home and then stock up for when we take our next trip.
Aloe Vera comes hand in hand with the sunscreen because chances are someone will get sunburnt so it is good to have.
A Variety of Shoes for Family Cruise
If you are packing for a family cruise you are probably thinking flip flops is all you will need. And though you probably could survive the week with them you may want more. We live in Ontario where all our beaches are fresh water, the sand at the ocean is just different. My kids appreciate water shoes.
If you like quiet in the mornings walking a few laps of the walking track is really enjoyable. You will want to make sure that you have your sneakers for this to prevent blisters. The same goes for exploring at the ports.
A lot of the onboard activities such as laser tag and rock climbing require shoes and socks so don’t be like me and disappoint your kids by not bringing them. Crocs do not count as shoes at sea!
Clothes Pins for Chairs
So one of the downside to being on a ship in the middle of the ocean is there is always a breeze. Sometimes it isn’t too noticeable, others its very gusty. When you are by the pool this can cause the towels to continually be blowing. Using clothes pins or cute pool chair clips are really helpful to prevent things from blowing away.
Plastic Bags
These can be ziplock bags or just grocery bags but I find it so helpful to have them. I always keep a bag that seals with me in the event that anyone gets sick. But also it comes in handy if you have to pack anything that is wet. Or if your kids end up coming back to the ship with sand or sea shells, it will help with the packing to ensure they have somewhere to go.
A travel Pharmacy
With a family of 6 it doesn’t matter how long we go away someone always ends up getting sick. We now make sure we travel with everything we could possibly need from Advil and Tylenol to polysporin, bandaids, ear/eye drops and tums. You may get lucky and not need anything but it is better to have it all.
I put everything in a closed zipper makeup case that hangs. It just comes in so handy to hang in the room. It is out of reach of little hands but then also accessible for those times when you actually need it.
When you are packing for your family to embark on a cruise be sure to include all of these things. For more tips on family travel go to http://togetherwecantravel.com.
