Who doesn’t love a good cruise vacation?

Yes, there are some vacationers who truly dislike the idea of being out on the open sea for fear of motion sickness or Titanic 2.0. Over the years, cruises have gotten a bad rap despite their convenience and affordability compared to other forms of travel.

The beauty of taking a cruise is that most of your needs are already included onboard. Depending on your cruise line of choice, you can enjoy everything from complimentary non-alcoholic drinks to standard wifi (we see you, Virgin Voyages). Items that you may forget at home or aren’t allowed to bring aboard are typically available for purchase in one of the ship’s many duty-free shops.

However, there are some items that aren’t included that you might want to pack for your next cruise vacation. Here are six cruise essentials to prepare for your next sailing on the high seas experience.

Iisla & Bird Oversized Beach Box Shirt

Go from poolside to lunch on the sun deck in this Iisla & Bird beach box shirt. This shirt is casual yet stylish attire. It is a must for any cruise vacation, and this oversized top is perfect to slip on over swimwear. You can also pair it with your favorite summertime shorts to disembark for excursions.

Either way, you will appreciate the free-flow, solid color design, which easily coordinates with fun prints and patterns.

Hidrate Spark Smart Water Bottle — For All Your Cruise Vacation Needs, & Beyond

When the spirits are flowing, it’s easy to forget to stay hydrated, which makes a smart water bottle essential to bring on a cruise vacation. 

The best part about a smart water bottle is that you can track your water intake on a free iOS or Android app. You also can stay on track with the LED smart sensor glow feature to remind you when it’s time to drink. The HidrateSpark bottle includes a fast-charging cable.

The connected app also tracks your bottle location, so it never goes missing.

Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer

Speaking of hydration, protect your skin against the sun with Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizing sunscreen by Fenty Skin. Rihanna may keep us guessing on the status of new music, but Fenty drops land on time, every time. 

Made for all skin types, this invisible SPF 30 moisturizer locks in hydration, fades the look of dark spots, smooths the look of pores, and defends against pollution. With reusable packaging and ingredients, like Kalahari melon, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and aloe, there is nothing else that needs to be said.

Beach Tote Bag — For Your Beach Cruise Vacation Packing

Beach Tote Bag
Amazon
$48.99
Beach Tote Bag

If you are the “prepared friend” of the group, you need this beach tote bag. You can easily store and carry your portable essentials in this canvas beach vibes bag. Made of 100 percent cotton canvas, Lamyba’s beach tote is waterproof, sand-proof, and large enough to hold beach towels, clothes, sunscreen, books, and other accessories.

Choose from eight fun, beach-related designs and keep everything you need for the pool, beach or any other cruise adventure you may get into in one place.

Portable Beach Chair

The idea of bringing a beach chair on a cruise may seem unnecessary, but hear us out.

Imagine your ship has docked at sunrise, but because you stayed up a bit late, you decide to sleep in. You finally wake up, head for a late breakfast, and back to your cabin to prepare for your beach day. That sounds perfect. But, there’s one problem. By the time you and your crew get to the beach, all the chairs with umbrellas are already full. That means your only choice is to lounge in direct sunlight and be on watch duty for any shaded seating to become available.

Instead of entering the sport of prime seating selections, bring your own VIP setup. A portable folding beach chair is the answer to taking your time on vacation and securing your beach day experience. Keep your adult beverages cool in the seat’s attached cooler bag and store valuables in the chair top’s zippered holder. Relax in the shade with the included umbrella and pack up when you’re ready using the all-in-one carry bag.

Waterproof Phone Pouch — A Cruise Vacation Essential

If watersports are in your plans, capture unforgettable moments and protect your phone using a waterproof phone pouch. The Stash7 Waterpocket is fully submersible and safe to take on any water-filled adventure. Perfect for the beach or other adventure activities, the phone pouch fits most phones and features a shock cord to clip, loop, or tie your phone to your backpack or swimsuit. Take phone calls and have full access to most phone functions through the clear-touch sensitive screen.  

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Related: The Ultimate Caribbean Cruise Packing List