Cruise Toiletries That You Must Pack

Packing the toiletries is a crucial aspect of planning for your cruise, particularly for those who prefer the familiarity of their own products over those provided on the ship.

For me, packing toiletries is akin to the simple routine of brushing my teeth—an essential practice that ensures a sense of cleanliness, no matter where I am. So, if you share the same sentiment, you’re at the right place, mate.

For a cruise vacation, packing toiletries requires full attention, especially when traveling with family, to keep everyone’s toiletries organized.

So, in this article, I’ve mentioned every single item that you should include in your voyage toiletries. Also, in the end, I’ll share expert tips to help you organize your essentials to avoid any inconvenience during your cruise.

So let’s get started.

Is It Necessary To Pack Cruise Toiletries? 

I know you must be wondering why I should pack cruise toiletries even when the cruise ship is offering them.

So remember, the number of toiletries you get on a cruise ship is limited on the basis of cabin type. Also, they won’t offer you makeup, personal hygiene and other hair care toiletries.

That’s why it’s important for cruise guests to pack necessary cruise toiletries to stay independent of what the cruise ship is offering you. 

You can further check my latest cruise packing list.

Do Cruise Lines Offer High-Quality Toiletries?

The basic toiletries on a vessel might not be of the high quality you prefer and use in your home. 

It’s because there are hundreds of cabins, and to provide high-quality items for every cabin might not be cost-effective for cruise Lines.

However, the quality of toiletries can vary depending on the cruise lines. In general, most of the cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and Disney, offer decent-quality toiletries.

But the thing is that they can’t be compared with the brands you use at your home.

Additionally, the quality of essentials also differs among various cabin categories on the same ship. 

Luxury or premium cruise suites may provide high-end toiletries as compared to those in the staterooms. 

In short, they do offer decent quality toiletries, but those can’t compete with the ones that you use at home. So it’s better to pack your own essentials.

What Toiletries Should You Pack On The Cruise?

Hopefully, now you should be clear about why I preferred packing personal toiletries on a cruise instead of depending on the ones offered by the cruise.

Now, in this section, I’ll be discussing those essentials that I personally pack on my cruise. These include all my makeup, haircare, skincare, personal hygiene, and care items.

Also, I’ve recommended high-quality and efficient toiletry bags for each category. It keeps my toiletry well organised and makes it easy to find the items I need on time.

So, I suggest going through all these items to decide what you should pack for your cruise.

1- Personal Hygiene Items

What’s more important than packing personal hygiene items on a cruise? So take a look at my personal hygiene checklist and adjust your packing depending on your needs:

• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Mouthwash
• Dental floss
• Razors
• Shaving cream
• Hair removal cream
• Contact lens case and solution
• Feminine hygiene products
• Potpourri (bathroom spray)

2- Makeup And Skincare

Here comes the most important part for girls like me. Adjust your packing depending on your preferences.

However, I highly advise you to pack moisturize as the sun and ocean air can be drying.

• Facial cleanser 
• Makeup remover 
• Moisturizer (day and night) 
• Sunblock 
• Eye Cream 
• Lip protection 
• Perfume or body spray 
• Makeup 
• Nail polish 
• Nail polish remover

3- Hair Products

It’s very important to pack hair care essentials as ocean water can damage your hair. I was a victim of this situation on my first cruise, experiencing hair loss and dandruff issues. 

So, it’s crucial to pack your hair products to avoid any such concerns.

• Shampoo and conditioner (if you bring your own)
• Hair brush or comb
• Hair elastics & scrunchies
• Hair clips
• Leave-in conditioner
• Anti-frizz hair serum
• Hair accessories (elastics & hair clips)
• Hair gels and mousse
• Hair spray
• Dry shampoo

4- Health And Medication

Your medication and other first aid-type items are also some of the most important things to remember when packing for your cruise.

• Prescription medication
• Over-the-counter medication
• Bandaids (variety of sizes)
• Emergency dental repair kit
• Cruise travel first aid kit
• Hand sanitizer (travel size)
• Disinfectant wipes
• Seasickness medications (Dramamine)
• Sunscreen
• Lip balm with SPF
• After sun care (with aloe vera)
• Antibiotic ointment
• Vitamins
• Visine
• Birth control
• Swimmer’s ear drops – Especially useful for kids!
• Anti-histamine cream – For bites and stings
• Eye Drops
• Allergy medicine

5- Personal Care Items

While traveling, there is nothing worse than a sudden incident that requires small tools like scissors or tweezers. 

During my cruise in 2018, I faced a situation when my trousers tore and needed to be sewn. 

Fortunately, I had a travel sewing kit that saved my day. That’s why I also suggest keeping these personal care items with you during a cruise.

• Tweezers
• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Small scissors
• Travel sewing kit

6- Hair Tools

• Curling iron or curling wand
• Hair Straightener

7- Laundry Items

For a long cruise, having a few laundry essentials is really helpful.

• Travel-size laundry detergent packets 
• Stain Remover 
• Stick Wrinkle release spray 
• Pop-up mesh laundry hamper

Best Cruise Toiletries Kit For Men

Cruising with a husband requires extra attention, as men may not be as meticulous about organizing. 

That’s why I ordered a convenience kit for men to help keep my husband organized and have all his essentials in one place. Convenience kit for men

These were all about the things you should pack. Now, moving towards the section, what things to avoid on a cruise?

Toiletries To Avoid On A Cruise

1- Hair Dryer

All the ship cabins are equipped with hair dryers. They may be in a closetor vanity drawer and sometimes wall-mounted in the bathroom.

I’ve been on one ship that had both a wimpy wall-mounted dryer and a more powerful one stashed in a drawer.

So, it’s not necessary to bring your own dryer. Instead, save space, use the one present in your cabin, and enjoy.

2- Soaps And Shampoos

Almost all cruise ships are equipped with soap, shampoo, lotion, conditioner, and shower caps, in the high-tier suites, like Grand suites, the amenities increase.

So, if you are comfortable using the cruise ship provided items, feel free to leave your own items at home.

But if you are sensitive regarding all these things, it’s advisable to bring your preferred essentials.

3- Beach Towels

There’s no need to add extra beach towels in your packing as on most cruise ships, you will find them stashed by the pool.

Sometimes, they are handed out as you head off the ship.

Zoe’s Expert Tips To Pack Toiletry Items For A Cruise

Having the right accessories accessible at the right is important. So that’s why I’ve listed some tips to efficiently pack your cruise toiletries.

Bonus Tips For Packing Cruise Toiletries

Here’s a bonus tip that’ll help you a lot even after returning from the cruise.

Don’t use your regular toiletries for the cruise. Buy an extra set of what you need and leave all your travel toiletries packed in your toiletry bag.

Is There Any Restriction Over Cruise Toiletries?

Cruise lines don’t have any restrictions on toiletries; you can even bring full-size items if you like. 

However, some items, such as candles, irons, and steamers, are prohibited on cruise ships, but toiletries are allowed.

Additionally, make sure to avoid overpacking as much as possible because cabins are small. This makes it easier for you to manage with fewer bags.

FAQs

Final Words

Hopefully, now you should be all clear about what to pack for the cruise in terms of toiletries.

Just make sure to tailor your packing list based on your personal preference and needs, as mine can get a bit larger. So, filter it based on your needs.

Stay safe and make unforgettable moments and cherished memories with loved ones.