Do I really need this? .... Well, I'm going to take it just in case.
As much as you want to pack everything you can, trust me, just about everything you would want to pack will be provided on the cruise ship and for that reason some things are prohibited. If you are on a 3–5-day cruise you are required to limit your luggage to one bag, If the cruise is longer than 6 days, you are required to limit your luggage to two bags. Each checked bag and/or carry-on bag should weigh no more than 50 lbs. If you decide to not utilize a carry-on bag you will be responsible for carrying the needed documents and medication with you onboard while your bag/s are being checked and taken to your cabin.
The main things you will need are:
1.Variety of Clothing: Depending on where you go and when you go, you will need some nice relaxing summer/casual clothing and bathing suits. However, you may also want to bring a light jacket just in case you get cold whether on the cruise or off on an excursion, preferably, a hooded jacket in case it rains. While speaking of rain, I would also recommend a small umbrella, however it is only allowed to be used at ports, not on the cruise ship. You may also want to bring sneakers for different activities both on the cruise ship and at the ports, but I would also recommend flip flops/shower shoes for use in the shower. If you are doing a 2–5-day cruise you'll have one evening to dress all nice and fancy for an elegant dinner, if you are going on a cruise longer than 6 days you'll have two elegant dinners, they are optional, however if you would like the experience, dress accordingly (black-tie event {evening gowns and suits}). And again, all of this is based on when and where you go, so do research prior to the trip, some locations may require scarves and gloves due to lower weather temperatures, others may require full body cover-ups in regard to respecting that locations religion.
*** Recommend bringing a red/blue shirt or outfit for the Mega Deck Party on the carnival cruise lines.
***The entire time you are on the cruise ship it is casual attire; however, the casual dinners prohibit bathing suits, basketball shorts, hats, flip-flops etc. Only khakis, slacks, dress pants, blouses, polo shirts, and dresses are allowed. The formal dinners require suits, slacks, dress shirts, evening gowns, etc.
***Irons are prohibited because Carnival cruise lines will provide an iron and iron board to you on the cruise ship.
2.Portable Charger & Headphones: There is normally one US port and/or one USB port in most cabins (rooms), so it is recommended to bring a portable charger. I did bring a portable charger on all of my cruises; it was very useful because if somebody else was using that one port in the room I was able to use my portable charger to let it get a full battery and then leave it to charge while we were away doing activities. It is also very useful if you fully charge your phones and want to keep the portable charger on you during port days for just in case purposes that will help as well. If you plan on listening to music or watching videos, please bring headphones, listening out loud or using a Bluetooth speaker are both prohibited so headphones are very useful.
3.Your Toiletries: I would recommend bringing your own shampoo and conditioner, if needed. However, Carnival cruise lines do provide complimentary shampoo and conditioner. It is also recommended to bring your own washcloth, soap, deodorant, sunscreen, insect repellant, etc. Things such as flat irons or blow dryers are allowed, but if any of these electrical grooming devices appears to be hazardous, they will be taken and returned to you after you have returned from the trip.
4.A Bag: You may want to bring a bag of some sort with you on the cruise ship because you will want something to carry your belongings in, especially on days you are at a port and/or doing excursions. Having a fanny pack, bookbag or tote will allow you to have something where you can not only place your belongings but also if you decide to do any shopping, you'll have somewhere you can place those items. That way, instead of having to carry every single item in your hands and having to keep up with it all, you have it all in one place.
5.Camera: I would also recommend bringing a camera, more specifically a water-proof camera. This will allow you to take some really nice pictures if you decide to do an excursion such as scuba-diving, snorkeling, or just simply swimming on a beach. If you just want to use your phone to take pictures, a helpful tip is at the end of each day or during a break in the day, if you are able to, email yourself the pictures. Also, if you are on a group trip, my friends and I would take pictures of different things and during breaks, we all shared the pictures amongst each other so we wouldn't forget when we returned and were able to each have those memories.
All of these things definitely came in handy for each of my trips, however if you don't think you'll need something or forget something, they do have stores onboard that has everything you can think of and then some; you are okay, I promise!
***This post is all opinions.
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