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A former crew member reveals the most important packing essentials.
Liquid I.V.
Credit:Travel + Leisure
Packets
Cruises are vacations, a time to enjoy yourself and indulge.
To avoid losing a precious day of your cruise, bring along Liquid I.V.
powder, an electrolyte mix that delivers hydration to the bloodstream faster than just water alone.
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Each bag comes with 16, travel-friendly powder packets and you have your choice between 15 flavors.
A Portable First Aid Kit
Visits to the ships medical center can be pricey.
Avoid this unexpected expense by bringing your own first aid kit.
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Start by packing your essential prescription medications.
Then, add bandages and antibiotic ointment for small surface wounds.
Bring pain relief medication and cold medicine, just in case.
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Dont forget antacids and over-the-counter medicine to ease digestion.
Sunscreen and aloe vera gel are must-haves so you dont spend your whole cruise hiding from the sun.
Bug repellent and after-bite lotion will also ease your sleep if youve run into sand fleas at the beach.
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If you have any allergies, verify you have an EpiPen or your chosen allergy medication.
Exploring new locales is one of the best parts of cruising.
Great for island cruise itineraries, this phone bag is watertight and retains touchscreen operations through its polyvinyl shell.
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It comes with a detachable lanyard should you want to take it into the waves and capture underwater adventures.
Beach-bound cruisers will also find it useful for keeping their phone sand- and salt-free too.
This event usually occurs on a sea day at the beginning of your itinerary.
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Formal nights are fun and evoke the old-world, slow-travel glamor of cruising.
Even the officers dress up and don their formal ship whites.
A Sand-free Beach Towel
Most cruise guests bring the ships pool towels shoreside for lounging.
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If you want a tidier beach trip, bring along a sand-free beach blanket like this Turkish beach towel.
What’s more, it dries quickly to prevent your bag and its contents from getting soggy.
For travelers who like to shop or collect souvenirs, this is a huge perk.
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On itineraries with excellent shopping, cruising can be a great way to source neat gifts.
Onboard shopping is also a fun way to pick up items to remember your trip.
Amazon reviewers also love theGonex Foldable Travel Duffle Bagand theVomgomfom Travel Duffle Bagfor the same reason.
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If youre cruising around Europe, youll quickly learn that single-use plastic bags are often banned.
More than 13,000 five-star reviewers swear by these seasick patches that use a holistic herbal blend to fight nausea.
The onboard medical center offers Dramamine to seasick guests, which will make you sleepy and groggy.
REI
If you want to stay alert while fighting the nausea, these non-drowsy patches are the way to go.
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