Essential Items for a Stress-Free Cabin Stay on a Cruise

Introduction

When preparing for a cruise, your cabin setup is critical to ensuring a comfortable and organized stay. While everyone’s needs differ, there are a few key items that can make your cruise experience much more enjoyable. After several trips, we’ve identified four essentials that we always bring to our cabin. These items address common challenges, like limited space, inconvenient outlets, and the need for safety in unfamiliar surroundings. Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or planning your first voyage, these tips will help you get the most out of your cabin.

Gaffer Tape

1. Gaffer Tape: A Versatile and Safe Solution

You’ve probably heard of using duct tape for a variety of travel hacks, but on a cruise ship, Gaffer Tape is the superior choice. Unlike duct tape, Gaffer Tape sticks well but won’t leave behind any sticky residue or damage surfaces. This makes it perfect for temporary fixes in your cabin.

One of our primary uses for Gaffer Tape is to secure extension cords, especially for my CPAP machine. On our last cruise aboard the Jewel, the outlet was inconveniently located across the room from my side of the bed. By using Gaffer Tape, I was able to safely secure the cord along the wall and across the carpet, minimizing tripping hazards and ensuring a tidy space.

If you’re interested in getting some, here’s a link to the Gaffer Tape we used from Amazon.

2. Over-the-Door Shoe Holders: Maximizing Storage

Space is often limited in cruise cabins, and keeping small items organized can be challenging. This is where over-the-door shoe holders come in handy. These vinyl organizers are perfect for storing various small items that would otherwise clutter your cabin’s limited surfaces.

On our Alaskan cruise, we traveled with three people and multiple pairs of shoes, so we brought two shoe holders. One was hung over the bathroom door, and the other on the inside of the closet door. Each compartment was filled with items like sunscreen, toiletries, and, of course, shoes, helping us keep the cabin neat and organized.

3. LED Tea Lights: Navigating in the Dark

Cruise cabins can get pitch black at night, which can be disorienting when trying to find your way to the bathroom. To avoid turning on the main lights and disturbing others, we always pack a couple of small LED tea lights. These provide just enough light to navigate the room safely without being too bright.

These LED tea lights are small, inexpensive, and available on Amazon. They’re a simple addition that can make a big difference in your cabin experience.

4. Extension Cords and Multiport Chargers: Stay Powered Up

In modern travel, staying connected is crucial, and that often means keeping multiple devices charged. Unfortunately, cruise cabins rarely have enough outlets to accommodate all your gadgets, especially if you have medical equipment like a CPAP machine.

For our last trip, we packed two extension cords—one long three-outlet cord and a power strip with additional USB charging ports. We also brought a separate four-port USB charger. This setup ensured that all our devices, including phones, tablets, and cameras, were always fully charged.

One important note: make sure your extension cords and chargers do not have surge protection built-in, as these are considered a fire hazard and will be confiscated by ship security. The cord and charger we used met all the cruise line’s requirements, and we had no issues.One thing to remember is that nothing can have surge protection built-in.  Those devices are viewed as a fire hazard and will be removed from your luggage and returned at the end of the trip.

The link below takes you to the extension cord and charge we bought for the trip.  It meets all of the requirements.

Other Useful Items for Your Cabin

In addition to these four essentials, there are a few other items we find helpful:

• Personal Sweeteners: If you’re particular about what you put in your coffee or tea, consider bringing your preferred sweetener, such as stevia.

• Large Cups: The cups provided on board are often quite small. We bring our own larger cups—mine is a 32 oz coffee cup, and my wife uses a 24 oz cup for tea and flavored water. Just remember to use a clean ship-provided cup to fill your personal cup.

  

• Ziplock Bags: These are great for storing snacks from the buffet to enjoy later in your room. We often use them for dried fruit, pretzel rolls, and other late-night snacks.

• Reusable Straws: Many cruise ships no longer provide plastic straws, so if you prefer them, bring your own reusable ones. We recommend silicone straws for safety, as they’re less likely to cause injury if you fall.

Other Useful Items for Your Cabin

In addition to these four essentials, there are a few other items we find helpful:

• Personal Sweeteners: If you’re particular about what you put in your coffee or tea, consider bringing your preferred sweetener, such as stevia.

• Ziplock Bags: These are great for storing snacks from the buffet to enjoy later in your room. We often use them for dried fruit, pretzel rolls, and other late-night snacks.

Conclusion

When it comes to cruising, a little preparation can go a long way in ensuring a comfortable and stress-free cabin experience. From organizing your space with over-the-door shoe holders to ensuring your devices stay charged with the right extension cords, these simple additions can make your trip much more enjoyable. So, as you pack for your next cruise, consider adding these items to your list—you’ll be glad you did. Safe travels and happy cruising!