10 Genius Amazon Hacks for Packing for a Cruise

My days of working as a cruise ship entertainer are behind me, but my tips and hacks for making the most of your time on board and in port still stand. The truth is, if you’re a first-time cruiser, packing for a cruise can be incredibly difficult. Lucky for you, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve that will help you save time and money on your next voyage. And, I've tapped my fellow cruise experts for their must-try packing tips to to level up your experience.  

Even if you’ve logged some time at sea, these expert-approved hacks might still surprise you. They cover everything from cruise ship safety to small ship cruising and family cruising, and offer insights on how to elevate your stateroom setup, stay safe onboard and ashore, and make sure you don’t forget a single moment. Along with these cruise packing hacks, you'll find the genius Amazon gadgets that accompany them and will most likely become staples in your suitcase. 

Amazon Kindle Scribe

Polar cruise expert and founder and director of Rainforest Cruises, Jeremy Clubb, recommends packing an e-reader with note-taking capabilities. Many ships have libraries, but not all of them. If they do, they are small, and destination-inspired novels are the first to go. So, if you have dreams of getting lost in a good beach read, you’ll want to bring it with you. This is where an e-reader really shines: headed to Antarctica on an adventure cruise? Load your e-reader with tales of Ernest Shackleton's expedition story or the Emperor penguins' fascinating lifecycle. 

“You can effectively bring an entire bookshelf of engaging reading material in a single, slim gadget,” Clubb added. “It's ideal for keeping yourself entertained and educated on itineraries with several sea days or long crossings, like those navigating the Drake Passage.” 

An e-reader is more than just a portable library; it can also be your journal. Use it to detail your cruise experience or take notes as you attend onboard lectures. “Research has proven that physically writing things down by hand significantly strengthens our neural connections and recall abilities,” Clubb explained, thereby enhancing our memories of our trips.

STQ Women's Boat Shoes

According to Michael A. Winkleman, Partner & Attorney at Lipcon, Marguiles, & Winkleman, P.A., the vast majority of cruise ship injuries involve slips and falls. “These can be avoided by wearing appropriate shoes,” he shared. “And, by using an extra bit of precaution while walking around the ship, especially by the pools and buffets.”

Boat shoes are called that for a reason; they’re made to perform onboard. Crafted with rubber soles designed with traction and typically using white or natural rubber that won’t scuff white boat decks, boat shoes are great for slippery surfaces, gangways, and ports. You might see the deck officers walking around in their formal ship whites and rubber-soled white leather loafers, which can double as a nice dress shoe, but any grooved rubber-soled shoe will do. As always, slippery floors are even more dangerous after a few drinks, so take extra caution when walking the ship after happy hour.

Tecknet Personal Safety Alarm

“Being on a cruise ship is just like being in a floating New York City with many of the same risks and dangers,” Winkleman warned. “Sadly, among the most prevalent crimes we frequently see at sea are rapes and sexual assaults.”

When I travel around NYC, I carry safety devices that help me feel safe as a solo female traveler, like a personal alarm and pepper spray on a keychain. According to Winkleman, carrying the same personal defenses can serve you well on board. If you allow your children to roam the ship unaccompanied by adults, consider educating them on the dangers and the safe and responsible use of devices like these. But in Winkleman’s words: “You wouldn’t let your kids wander NYC alone, so don’t do it on a cruise.” 

Mikede Magnetic Hooks

While living in a ship’s tiny crew cabins, I became a pro at small space-saving solutions. One of the number one hacks to keeping clutter off the minimal floor space was to use heavy-duty magnetic hooks to hang bags and items from the ship’s metal walls. Avid cruisers Heidi and Don Bucolo of Eat Sleep Cruise agree, saying they bring magnetic hooks on their trips to reduce stateroom mess: “Think beach bags, hats, jackets, or anything else you might ordinarily throw on the sofa.” 

But your refrigerator magnets from home won’t cut it. For lighter objects, a magnetic hook with a 25-pound weight capacity should work, but to be safe, the Bucolos suggest opting for versions that can hold at least 40 pounds (this Mikede set holds up to 80 pounds). I'd use those lightweight magnets to hang daily programs, shore excursion tickets, and other papers you don’t want to fly around the room if the waves pick up. Remember to keep strong magnets away from your electronics.

Cruise On Large Mesh Over-the-door Hanger

If you’re traveling with your family and all sharing one stateroom, the Bucolos have another hack for reducing clutter: a hanging shoe organizer. “If you think outside the box a bit, an over-the-door shoe organizer can be used for much more than just shoes,” they said. But, this travel essential can do more than just keep track of everyone's shoes. The Bucolos also suggest using it to store things like sunscreen, perfume, deodorant, sunglasses, medications, or even small electronics. They added, “All your toiletries will be neatly stored in one place without cluttering up the bathroom or desk counter space.”

Juzari Mini Magnetic Dry Erase Board

Another hack for family cruisers, a magnetic dry-erase board is a great way to keep everyone informed of each others’ whereabouts (something that's especially helpful when everyone heads off in their own direction on a sea day). Since cell phones won’t work while you’re far from shore, you must resort to analog communication. “[A dry-erase board] is an easy way to leave messages for each other,” said the Bucolos. Stick the magnetic board to the back of your door and ensure each family member updates the dry-erase board with their whereabouts and a rendezvous point and time — like: “Kids' Club from 12 to 4 p.m.” or “At Lido Pool, back at 5 p.m.” 

Giryuhd Foldable Rechargeable Light

Sharing staterooms with a group, or even just a partner, can be challenging. Trust me, I had a roommate in a cabin not much larger than the bunk beds we slept on. Getting up in the middle of the night, I felt like a thief performing a museum heist. It can be easy to disturb your stateroom mates, particularly if the room’s only lighting illuminates the entire room. “The last thing you want to do is trip and fall while attempting to get to the bathroom during the night,” the Buccolos said. Instead, they suggest a small rechargeable light or battery-operated tea lights to provide some late-night illumination that won’t wake the others. 

Pro tip: Rechargeable tea lights are game-changers for creating a pleasant atmosphere if you're enjoying a bath during your cruise. Flamed candles are strictly prohibited on cruises as they pose an incredible danger to all those onboard, so these flameless kinds are the next best thing.

Bagsmart Hanging Compression Packing Cubes Set

“This cruise cabin hack starts before you board the ship,” said the Bucolos, referring to packing cubes. The cruise expert couple uses them to make packing and unpacking faster and easier. “Once you are on the ship, you can simply unzip and place [the contents] on a shelf in the closet or a dresser drawer.” Packing cubes can also help make the most of your luggage space by compressing and compacting your items. The extra room in your luggage will come in handy if you’ll be shopping on your trip (so you won't need to stuff your suitcase shut when it's time to go home). This set comes with a small hanging shoe organizer — a packing hack from above.

Anker 321 MagGo Magnetic Battery 

As a cruise ship crew member, I always wanted to spend the maximum time ashore exploring ports of call. This means I was disembarking early in the morning and not returning to the ship until 10 hours later, or more if it was a late sail-away. I couldn’t trust my phone battery to last that long, especially using power-hungry apps like map navigation. So, a portable wireless charger is a must whenever you leave the ship. You do not want to be without a form of communication should you need to call the ship (if you’re running late for all-aboard — but try not to do that) or call for help.

BeeGreen Reusable Shopping Bag

Cruises are great opportunities for retail therapy. Not only is onboard shopping fun, but the souvenirs and local art you find ashore are irresistible. But your room can quickly fill with plastic and paper bags from daily purchases. More than just clutter, single-use bags are bad for the environment (and the very ocean you’re sailing on), so bring one or several of these foldable reusable bags. 

They take up nearly no space, are incredibly lightweight, and are more durable than single-use plastic. In some European countries, plastic bags are banned or cost a premium on top of your purchase, so you’ll save money if you carry your own bag around. I even use these as a beach bag since they’re nylon and dry quickly. Slip these onto your room-key lanyard so you’re never without it.

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