Don’t get stuck paying big bucks for things you wish you brought along. Here are my top 16 Must Haves for going on a Caribbean cruise with kids.
Going on a cruise is different than staying in a hotel. If you stay in a hotel for a week and forget to pack something along, you can simply make a trip to Walmart and pick up whatever you need. However, when you are in the middle of the ocean, it is not so easy.
To have the best trip ever, here are my 16 Must Haves for going on a Caribbean cruise with kids:
1. Cell Phone Recharger and Cord
If you are anything like me, my cell phone is also my camera. Unfortunately, my cell phone battery lasts about one day before it requires a recharge. Bring your cell phone recharger AND cord so you are set each day. If you have multiple devices, take note of the plug types since not all rechargers are compatible.
- Cruise tip: Cruise ships have limited electrical plugs. Purchase a reliable recharger with multiple ports like this one. Don’t waste your time or money buying cheap rechargers or cords from the dollar store. They don’t work (yes, I’m speaking from experience here) and you can’t return them. Save yourself some money (and grief) and buy a recharger and plug with a guarantee that it will work. In this case, brand matters!!
2. Band-Aids
Even if you haven’t used a single band-aid in the past year, I highly recommend bringing some along. I went ice-skating while aboard the cruise ship and chafed the skin on my foot after 10 minutes of skating. It was painful. Thankfully, the Band-Aids that I packed along came to the rescue.
Even if you don’t plan on skating aboard your cruise ship, you might need a band-aid if you accidentally fall and scrape your knee. Or, you might need a band-aid if your kid develops a blister on the back of his heel. Or, you might need a band-aid if your kid gets a hang nail or a paper cut. There are all sorts of valid reasons why you NEED to pack band-aids along.
Band-Aids don’t take up much space in your luggage, so bring the box along (yes, an entire box). It is amazing how much joy a Band-Aid can bring when you or someone in your party needs one.
3. Tylenol (and other over-the-counter drugs)
Yes, bring your prescription meds, but don’t forget to also bring Tylenol, Imodium, and any other over-the-counter medicines that you may require as well. Some people swear by the motion sickness patch (which they wear behind their ear). When you are not feeling well, you will not feel like going on a hunting spree to find over-the-counter drugs. So, please pack your over-the-counter drugs along.
And don’t forget about your kids. Bring along chewable Children’s Tylenol pills for your kids just in case.
4. Water Bottle
Pack along an empty water bottle in your luggage. Dump any water in your water bottle before passing through security.
Most cruise ships say that you cannot fill-up your personal water bottle at water stations (for hygiene reasons); however, you CAN fill up a drinking cup with water and then pour the water from the drinking cup into your personal water bottle (#cruisehack).
When you have a port day, you will get thirsty. Buying bottled water onshore is often expensive and difficult to find. Come prepared by filling up your water bottle with water from the cruise ship. I prefer a wide mouth water bottle and a double-walled container that will actually keep water cold for the entire day.
- Cruise Tip: Dump excess water prior to boarding the cruise ship. You do not want border patrol to confiscate your water bottle because of the liquid inside.
Hydroflask Double-Walled Water Bottle
5. Cash (US dollars)
Most small vendors in the Caribbean sell t-shirts, bracelets, trinkets, and services (like hair-braiding) for CASH!!! They do not accept credit cards or debit.
If you chose to take a bus or hire a taxi, cash is king. Don’t bother converting your US dollars into local currency when travelling to various countries in the Caribbean. Taxis and “off-the-cruise” tour guides all accept good ole American dollars.
Cash also comes in handy for tipping baggage porters. Cash made my list for 16 Must Haves for going on a Caribbean Cruise with Kids because it’s easy to forget if you typically make most of your purchases with your credit cards or debit cards.
6. Closed Toe Shoes
Sneakers (or runners) is a requirement for going to the gym on the cruise. Even if you don’t plan on going to the gym while aboard the cruise ship, closed-toe shoes are a REQUIREMENT for some port excursions (like horse back-riding) and a few on-board activities such as Laser Tag.
If you plan on exploring the port cities by foot, a comfortable pair of closed-toe shoes will be one of the most useful things to pack on a cruise.
7. Sandals
Bring a pair of comfortable sandals that you don’t mind getting wet. Sneakers and sand simply do not mix. Even if you don’t plan on going to the beach, chances are you will go to the pool area or spa. Pack a pair of sandals that are comfortable and easy to slip-on.
The perfect pair of sandals for my imperfect feet are these ones. The sandals are made from yoga mats and they are the most comfortable pair of sandals that you will ever wear. I typically cannot wear sandals with any material between the toes. However, these ones are different. They are comfortable. The material between the toes is comfortable (yes, really!!). There is no “breaking-in” period and these sandals are comfortable right out of the box.
8. Waterproof Sunscreen
Sunscreen is something that is easy to forget to pack so I’ve included it on my list of 16 Must Haves for going on a Caribbean cruise with Kids. Although you might be able to buy sunscreen onboard, it comes as a premium price. Stock up on sunscreen at Costco and bring some along. Getting a sunburn hurts. Protect your skin instead.
- Cruise Tip: Be sure to check the rules before you fly. On most airlines, you CANNOT bring aerosol cans in your carry-on luggage. Check the rules for your airline to avoid disappointment..
9. Formal Clothes
When sailing on a cruise, it is customary to have at least one “formal” night. Typically, the “formal” night will be on a “cruise day”. Ladies will often wear an evening or cocktail gown. Some guys will wear a suit, others will wear a dress shirt, and you might even see some guys in a tuxedo. Don’t be surprised. Come prepared with formal attire in your luggage. Plus, it’s fun to dress up and get a family photo to capture the moment!
- Cruise Tip: Whenever I go cruising, I always wear a dress to dinner. When I look good, I feel good. The dining room is fancy and eloquent and I like to dress accordingly.
10. Lip Chap (Chapstick)
The cruise ship may be windy, especially on the upper decks. When you are on a cruise ship, the wind and weather might suck all the moisture out of your lips. Come prepared with lip chap!!
I am particular about my lip chap because I find that some brands make my lips even more chapped. I highly recommend this lip chap, which is made with 100% natural ingredients and well worth packing along.
This is by far the BEST lip chap out there. Stick with the original version for best results.
11. Bathing Suit with a Zippered Pocket
Bring a swim suit with a zippered pocket so that you can safely store your Driver’s License and Sea Pass while you go for a swim in the ocean or at the pool.
It is easier to find guy’s swim trunks with a zippered pocket. Here is one affordable option:
You can also find swim trunks with zippers at Sport Check or Swimco.
12. Waterproof Cell Phone Pouch
Many cell phones claim that they can withstand water for up to 30 minutes up to a depth of six meters. I don’t know what happens if you go swimming for 31 minutes in the ocean or the pool.
Call me old school. I would rather be safe than sorry. Bring along a waterproof pouch for your cell phone as an added layer of protection if you plan to take your phone into the water. If you didn’t buy a swim suit with a zippered pocket, you can also put your Driver’s License and Sea Pass in the cell phone pouch.
Not all cell phone pouches are created equally. Look for a cell phone pouch that will not break if you tug on it.
This cell phone pouch is waterproof and floatable (but expensive for Canadians).
Here is a more affordable waterproof cell phone pouch option for Canadians. This one does not float.
13. Foldable Backpack
Having a backpack is useful for port days.
This compact backpack is lightweight yet robust. It folds into 5×7″ pouch and unfolds into a full-size backpack. It is amazing!! This backpack is perfect for carrying a beach towel, sunscreen, water, and more!!! A beach bag takes up lots of real estate space in the luggage, but this foldable backpack is extremely compact.
If you have kids, a backpack is also useful for carrying souvenirs, snacks, and whatever else you may bring along for the day.
This foldable backpack cleverly opens from the size of a small pouch to a full-size backpack, making it ideal for port days.
14. Zip-Loc Bags
Zip-Loc Bags come in handy for all sorts of reasons. This is one of the cheapest and most important Must Haves for going on a Caribbean cruise with kids.
When you go to the beach, Zip-Loc bags come in handy for protecting your stuff (like your cell phone) from the sand. They also come in handy for storing beaded bracelets and whatever other trinkets your kids convince you to buy.
Pack along a few cookies from the buffet in a Zip-Loc bag. You are not allowed to take any fruit off the cruise ship. However, nobody ever said anything about the cookies (shhhhh…keep this one a secret so the cruise lines don’t make a new rule)!!! When your kids (or you) get hungry while at port, you’ll have a quick snack on hand to prevent a hangry situation.
Large Zip-Loc Bags are also perfect for storing soiled underwear and socks. You want to keep dirty underwear and socks separate from the rest of your luggage and a large Zip-Loc bag does the trick.
Pack all gels, lotions, and liquids in a Zip-Loc bag. If something leaks, it doesn’t make a mess all over your luggage.
15. Pashmina (i.e. Shawl)
If you are going on a cruise to a sunny destination, it will be hot outside but air-conditioned inside and sometimes the air-conditioning is on full blast and it is cold!!
Bring along a pashmina or shawl to take away the chill! This is especially true when you watch the evening entertainment in the theatre. Just pack it and thank me later.
Here’s an affordable pashmina.
16. Lanyard
The last item on my Top 16 Must Haves for going on a Caribbean Cruise with Kids is a lanyard. You need to carry your Sea Pass card with you wherever you go since it acts as your room key, identification card, and charge card.
Some cruise lines give free lanyards to children under age 12 when they register for the Children’s Program on the first day. However, promotions by cruise line vary so don’t bank on it.
Lanyards are relatively inexpensive and provide an easy way to carry your Sea Pass so that you don’t need to carry your purse wherever you go. I prefer a lanyard with a badge holder so that you don’t need to track down a hole puncher. There are lots of lanyard options available. This one comes in a pack of two for less than the cost of one lanyard on the ship:
Well, that concludes my list of 16 Must Haves for going on a Caribbean Cruise with kids.
To get the most out of your cruise, be sure to check out my article on 8 Things to Do Immediately After Boarding the Cruise Ship.
Until next time….
Happy Cruising!!
–Shelley