Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page printable cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limited time). Here are the details: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner
Air tag hack. I keep an air tag in my luggage that stays in the hotel room. Then when I am out exploring a new city or ship I can stay oriented to where I am staying by checking its location
I bring a couple of the no pump vacuum bags for my dirty clothes for the trip back. It saves room in my luggage for any treasures I've bought on the cruise trip.
Thanks, Ilana for the great line up of products!! One space saving trick I started doing is instead of folding the foldable backpack up and trying to cram it in a corner of my suitcase, I leave it unfolded and smooth it out on the top layer of clothes or packing cubes in my bag.
I buy contact lens cases at Dollar Tree. I use the ones with white lids for my day moisturizer, the dark lids for my nighttime moisturizer, & a combination light & dark for my liquid foundation. Takes up very little space & holds enough for 10-14 days or more.
I do this too! Have many that hold lotion and makeup. One container lasts me a little over a week when I travel. Saves so much room in my makeup bag! Best hack I have found!
I would love for you to do a video on maybe how to pack for a 9+ day cruise. For those of us who are cruising 9 or more days, how can we possibly pack light? Especially if we travel overseas for our cruise with a pre and/or post cruise stay.
I change my mind a lot so I quit using the label maker for the small containers. Instead, I put a small piece of packing tape on it, mark it with a Sharpie, and put another small piece of tape over it so it won't wear off. :) Thank you for all your helpful hints!
I once bought two travel size umbrellas from the 99c store , took them to Alaska with me . I didn't think they would last but they survived the rain and wind and they were only 99c each!
I’m almost done shopping for our first cruise to Alaska. It’s a once in a lifetime experience we can hardly wait! I’ve purchased so many things you recommend. Thank you ❤
Hi Jill, on Amazon I ordered ski pants (not the plastic looking fabric) for a trip to the mountains. They looked like leggings but the fabric was thick, soft & comfortable. The ones I picked out had ankle zippers which I wasn’t wild about but they don’t really show. I have two pair & it’s one of my favorite products. Also I buy thermals for cold temperatures. The fabric is thin (not the waffle fabric & if I get hot, I go to the bathroom & take them off. They take up little room in your bag) & I layer them under shirts/ sweaters. They don’t look like thermals but they keep you warm, so I have two of them. They’re not cheap but they last a long time & I wear them all winter long. I hope this helps you & you have a wonderful time!
I’m your hubby’s sister from another mister: I ❤the cruise card holder. I have case with my holder on it & switch my cases out when I travel. I ❤this idea.
My top 5 travel hacks for any travel/cruises: Laundry sheets, 5-6 small strong magnet hooks, small travel router to (share wifi shhhhhhh!), variety pack of several sized zip lock bags, night lights for unfamiliar rooms AND THE BEST TIP: bring an empty duffle at the bottom of my suit case. Dirty clothes come home together while travel goodies are safely packed in suitcase on the way home. (may worth the extra baggage charge) Just saw someone's tip to bring vacuum bags for dirty clothes to pack down smaller on way home...smart!
When I get Ulta catalogs (and when I used to get magazines), I save perfume samples (the ones on paper) of fragrances I like. They take up almost zero space, and then when you've used one, you toss it.
If your using the samples to freshen your clothes in a drawer or a suitcase, use them by all means, but don't use them on your body when getting on an airplane, or in an elevator on a cruise ship. Totally offensive, and many people are allergic.
I buy the straws at Aldi 5 for 5.00 that are multi- colored. I think they’re silicone. If I leave them in my drink glass I haven’t lost a lot of money.
I save those too, as well as the ones that sheets/ pillowcases/ bras come in- any bag with a zipper or slide closure. They are also great for corralling things together like sunblock/ aloe Vera/ bug spray etc
Travel night light… always! My wife is a 2 visit minimum to the bathroom overnight and the standard lights in the hallway or bathroom are so intense. The nightlight we use is battery powered so it doesn’t use a valuable outlet.
I have left nightlights places, so I turn on the bathroom light and close the bathroom door, but not tight. Sometimes the rocking of the ship opens the door, but not as bad as the clothes hangers in the closet clinking together.
🎉 I use my green luggage straps, purchased from walmart & on Amazon, as towel holders for beach chairs. I try to only buy multi use items. Dollar tree has binder clips which are used in transit for documents and in the cabin with magnets to hold excursion tix or other event notifications and to clip hats.
The self seal vacuum bags are great when packing a bathing suit that is still slightly wet. Dryer sheets work great on the going home end of the trip placed in with the dirty clothes suitcase.
I love the towel bands. I upgraded ours. The same company (Cruise On) offers them with buckles. Those work better for us and will fit any type of lounge chair. We also think the magnetic night light with motion sensor is a must! It's great to put in the bathroom for middle-of-the-night trips. I'm also a big fan of the magnetic hooks. Thanks for all your great ideas!
Hi Ilana! Me and my family are going on our first Alaska cruise in August! Actually is our first cruise ever and is part of my gift for my 50th birthday ! I had been watching your videos since my husband booked. Taking notes, buying things, getting ready! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! ❤
I get a round tower bead holder from the craft area at Walmart. It has 6 little individual sections. I put foundation, a little powder, hair products that are not liquid, sometimes ponds like makeup remover, face moisturizer, etc in it. Sometimes, i even add a few from another one. It's compact and holds all I need of each for a week to 10 days. I also use one for my OTC meds now. SO handy.
I use a lanyard to keep my phone safe around my neck (I am worried about accidentally loosing it overboard) and its always with me if that once in a lifetime photo-op pops up! I bought the tabs that you insert under your phone case that you can attach a lanyard to. (I also feel safe touring in crowded environments with my phone around my neck). This coming cruise I will add the little MagSafe card holders so I can carry the cruise card and phone on one lanyard. I never carry a purse on board - the lanyard system is all I need. Thank you for your very informative videos!
Something that we found that works the best for the magnetic hooks is when you use them on the ceiling. If your pack is a little heavy it will slide down the wall, but if you use it on the ceiling they hold great. The hooks are designed to hold the max when they hang down. If you use them on the walls the rating is much less so you would have to use more than 1. The metal straws are also great because the paper straws seem to change the flavor of you r drinks! All the other items that you showed are great and work really well and don't take up a lot of room either! Thank you!
Some micro things I always bring when traveling; one, the silicone backs for earrings. Nothing worse than losing a favorite earring while traveling! Two, very small ziplock bags. Good for purchased jewelry, small shells collected (legally) from a beach, etc. Also some alcohol wipes. If I find a pair of earrings at a thrift store, I can at least wipe the earpieces off before putting them on. Thanks so much for all your advice!
I always remove my eye makeup with good old fashioned baby oil - I think it does a better job than anything else. A few years ago I stopped bothering with any kind of container for traveling with baby oil because the container ALWAYS leaked. I started pre-soaking cotton rounds with baby oil and putting them in a small ziplock bag (snack size or sandwich size), and I would do two for each day I was traveling. This works, because there’s just not enough baby oil on the cotton rounds to leak out, it takes up no room at all, and at the end of the cruise or vacation, I just throw the bag away!
Thank you so much for cruise travel tips & items! They were helpful (especially the collapse packing cubes) when we took our gkids on their first cruise this past March! Makes you rethink packing more efficiently!
Another vote for the magnets on the ceiling. Our cruise was very long, so it was important to me to have a suitable place for everything. Hung a mandoline and two ukuleles from the ceiling.
Thank you for your all tips and advice that has made our lives easier whilst travelling to Europe and 14 days of cruising. Shared your site to many other travellers on board and who are new to cruising Thanks again
You also need a tiny flashlight 🔦 for emergencies, such as, if the power goes out. Hopefully, you won’t need it, but at least you’ll have it, just incase.
I recently purchased this from Amazon 18 Pack Travel pouches for toiletries, TSA approved travel size containers for liquids,travel shampoo and onditionerpouches,Leak proof 3oz Travel Squeeze Pouches. I haven’t used them yet but I will. They lay flat in your carryon bag. I can’t wait to try it
My essential item is a noise machine…has saved me many times…noisy hotel neighbours, noisy cabin neighbours. Very compact and light. Also, put dryer sheets in your suitcase to keep everything smelling fresh.
I recently went on my first Princess cruise and didn't realize how small our room was. I love the magnets, but didn't have room for them. Plus our closet was really big. I will use the magnets on our next Celebrity cruise. I have most of the items you recommend and love them!
Id skip the full size toothbrush and the covers. I got one from Target that is collapsable and unfolds to a fullsize one. When you fold it back down its its own cover. very handy!
Been using bar shampoo and conditioner for 2 years. I normally cut them in half and put them in the mini soap travel containers. I do the same with bar soap
I purchased a white noise cube you featured in a video and it's the best travel item I own. It's super small and a single charge lasts 12 hours. Cruise cabins can be incredibly still and silent. This little device drowns out hallway noise, adjoining room noise and more. You should continue to share the item! Thank you!!
We just finished a 6 month around the world cruise. And, boy did we have to pack efficiently. I can definitely recommend the solid shampoo and conditioner. It works great and saves a ton of space. The bathroom spray and packing cubes and anything mini is a must!
I have been binge-watching your videos to prepare for our upcoming Alaskan cruise. They have been amazingly helpful and packed with great tips! BTW, I haven't tried the Shout wipes, but I like the Tide wipes way better than the Tide pen.
Such great tips. I have that exact collapsible water bottle - use it every time I go on any trip. Didn't know about some of these products - thank you for sharing.
We brought so many of these things on our recent cruise to Alaska. That foldable backpack is terrific and I have been using those perfume bottles for years.
I brought the reusable straws for our recent Alaska cruise and I even had a crew member remind me not to through it out when I finished my can of pop. I guess they are getting use to seeing them on the ships . Thanks for the tip!
I love these cleaning tablets for my water/coffee bottle. I like it much better than bringing dish soap. Sometimes if I get a specialty coffee and don’t finish it the next day it’s so easy to clean with these tablets. I can also put my reusable straw in the bottle and clean it at the same time. Thanks for the videos. They are very helpful
I use the Kitsch products for home and travel. For travel I have been using the Ultra Sensitive Shampoo/Bodywash and Conditioner/Shaving Cream. I don't have to carry body wash or shaving cream because they are double duty products and they are scent and dye free so they don't impact my allergies or others either. I recently bought one of their sampler sets which are small cubes of product to try others and so I can have a variety when I travel. Love all of their products.
Fun stuff... I use the bar shampoo and conditioner. I cut a piece of each. I bring the soap mesh and the matador soap bag to help dry them after I pack them if they are still wet.
I was alone on the cruise but last year was the first time I didn't travel solo and shared a room with a friend. For the poo-situation and this will work very well on a cruise - lobby/public bathrooms are always open. With the exception of if it's the middle of the night, a trip to a public loo is really not that far away.
I found that using a contact lenses case and filling one side with foundation and the other side with moisturizer works for 2-3 weeks. It's super small and fits in the quart bag for TSA purposes.
Great suggestions! On top of bar shampoo/conditioner, I also use toothpaste and mouthwash tabs. My favorite are from Lush but there are now many companies that make them. I also use a label maker for my toiletries because I bought some matching containers for my skincare products, and I wanted to create my own labels. Another product I have is one of those folding pill containers that has 8 individual pockets for different medications. I also recommend non-aerosol dry shampoo powder to freshen up when I don’t have time for a full shower. In regards to the perfume atomizers, I’ve found that the bottom-fill ones leak a bit so I recently bought ones that have screw tops and can be refilled that way.
I always pack a small flashlight. It keeps me from waking my wife in the middle of the night and when placed flat on the floor to use the light to find any small item we dropped.
Before my last cruise in March I watched one of your videos of things that you take on cruises. My favorite thing I bought was the little pill container that had a magnetic closure with seven little compartments. I have a pill box for all of my prescription pills but this one was the right size to carry in my purse with my few OTC meds and I love it! I just used a sharpie to label each compartment so I'd know what was what. I also bought the lightweight purse/bag that you recommended to take to port with you. It is so light and not bulky at all like a heavy purse is. I usually always take my protective eyeglass case with me too, prescribed eyeglasses are too expensive, but I bought a cheap little portable eyeglass case that I can carry both my prescription glasses and cheap sunglasses in. And then my last item that I actually bought on my own was a small table top fan. It's just big enough and puts out enough air to make it comfortable in my room when I'm sleeping. Of course there's plenty more that I've bought just for my cruises but too much to talk about! HAPPY CRUISING FOLKS!! :)
For shampoo bars , on Amazon there is Matador soap bar case, actually looks like a pouch, it is waterproof and leakproof. You can put your wet bar in there and it will dry withour getting mushy. Thanks for all the great tips.
With iPhone if you have a MagSafe wallet thats an option instead of the cruise card holder and being a magnetic wallet can easily detach if you prefer to charge your iPhone with a magnetic charger. Not sure if other phone brands have similar options though.
The magnetic hooks are amazing! Be sure to buy ones that hold a hefty weight. Items that otherwise might have been on the floor or sofa were on the hooks. My son used one in the bathroom for his hanging toiletry bag. So nice! Plus, I now use them at home like on the side of my dryer to hang my grocery bags. We also took some magnetic clips and used those for the daily planners, excursions tickets and lanyards. Happy sailing!
Hi İlana! You’ve taught me well, as I have nearly every item you shared today! I can’t tell you how invaluable your videos are, I have learned so much. My next cruise is in January, and I’m so excited to use all the new travel hacks and items I’ve acquired at your recommendation. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do. Blessings!❤️
I found an off brand poo pourri at dollarama. It worked and was lemon scented, and well, just smelled like fresh lemon, not too scenty. Not sure if is considered mini, but the small container of nail polish remover pads vs liquid is a must.
Lots of great items and I’ll be doing some shopping my our cruise in November. The perfume containers I found hold only 2 or 3 days of perfume for me. Maybe I use too much but I keep bringing my bigger bottle.
I buy self adhesive labels around 2"x 4"that I use at home for labeling things You can cut them to fit on travel bottles. They are very inexpensive. You can get them in the school or office section.
Apple AirTag partially saved us on our last cruise a trans antic cruise with Disney from Florida to Spain. We made it to our transition hub in Dallas Fort Worth and we had about 15 minutes to run to the plane and get on. We made it on and when I looked at the tag, the baggage was around the plane. Landed in Fort Lauderdale check the app and I could see our luggage taxing on the runway in Dallas Fort Worth took a snapshot went to the luggage office and they confirmed that our luggage missed it and was gonna be on the next flight in an hour..
My luggage landed in Fort Lauderdale. I was able to follow it from the plane all the way to the airport and see it just on the other side of the wall going to be loaded onto the conveyor belt. Lol
I’ll say it again - the Cruise Planner is a must! The mini Poo Spray is another great find - oh and I just ordered the inexpensive lightweight backpack thanks, Ilana
HAL allows non surge extension cords and (I'm guessing since they didn't take it away) Carnival as well. The Carnival Legend cabins have ONE outlet other than the TV and Razor ones. It was over at the vanity and I needed electricity closer to the bed. So thankfully they allow or didn't know about it.
My travel backpack, recommended by you, is amazing! We've taken it on two cruises (Bahamas, Alaska), to Ireland, and to England! And I've taken the Wisps on a backpacking trip. Those things are great!
Always enjoy watching (and learning from) your videos, Ilana, thanks for all the great tips. I’ll be visiting Vancouver & cruising to Alaska in September! So excited to be going! Keep up the great work!
Hey there Ilana!!! I purchased the back pack for our upcoming cruise for my wife and loved it sooo much that i bought one for myself! Very compact but expands to a decent size!! We’ll be on a cruise ship for about 40days….. any tips for packing?? Keep up the great work!!
I enjoy your travel tips. I can honestly say that we've been traveling and cruising for years and I'm more organized now that ever before. I have every little item and gadget LOL. Love them. Always like listening and watching you tube videos for more ideas for cruising/traveling. You are a pleasure to watch. Thanks for the tips and mostly for your lovely smile. God bless and keep on cruising!
I have not flown since 2017. Wow has things changed. Reading up on flights, the do's and don'ts. The 3 11 bag, nine items, 3.4 oz. I bought a new tote bag, 4 PCS Nautical Wogarl Bag. Just love it with the zippered bottom. It will be for 5 day trip.
Travel minis are my kryptonite! Lol! While I have purchased most of these items for past cruises, based on your advice, I am interested in trying solid shampoo and conditioner. We would love to try carry-on only for our next Alaska cruise. Thanks so much for the great tips, so helpful for cruisers, new and experienced alike!
I do have a tiny portable label maker. That is awesome. Smart Mini Label Maker!! It is wonderful to have all our OTC meds labeled. No more guessing what that pill is!! I am surprised you did not mention the pill carrying case, with the magnetic close. The best thing we ever purchased 😂
Love the magnetic hooks!! Those along with a shoe organizer was a life-saver! Your videos are EXTREMELY informative and SO helpful...thank you so much. I purchased so many items for a 10-day Norwegian Cruise to Italy & Greece in April. I actually purchased too many helpful travel items and couldn't bring everything. 😂 I may have to get those mini toothbrushes...I ended up just purchasing a regular sized one to keep in my purse. Not sure if you've ever cruised to Italy, but one thing I purchased that REALLY came in handy was soap sheets. We went to more than one location that didn't have hand soap. 😳 Unfortunately, the same locations didn't have toilet tissue either. We ended up having to use napkins. 🤦🏽♀️ The mini poo-pourri came in handy as well on the cruise. I used the mini one in my purse for the plane and for the cruise they have a slightly larger size that worked well in our cabin.
Air tags have become a must for me. Recently, in Vancouver, a person's luggage was taken by another person. Not sure if the person was able to have her bag retrieved or not as her bag had left the airport.
Contact the cruise line’s customer service. The last cruise I was on with my husband, Royal Caribbean provided an extension cord and a gallon of distilled water for his CPAP free of charge. Unsure about the laptop, but we were able to charge our iPads and cell phones with no problems.
You do a great job with your cruise/travel tips. And, you are so gracious with engaging your audience for their ideas and tips as well. As always, thank you for sharing.
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Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page printable cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limited time). Here are the details: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner
Air tag hack. I keep an air tag in my luggage that stays in the hotel room. Then when I am out exploring a new city or ship I can stay oriented to where I am staying by checking its location
Thank you!! 🎉😮 What a brilliant idea!
What a great idea!
Ooh. I wouldn't have thought of that!
An air tag holder will also hold the Princess medallions !!
I bring a couple of the no pump vacuum bags for my dirty clothes for the trip back. It saves room in my luggage for any treasures I've bought on the cruise trip.
Thanks, Ilana for the great line up of products!! One space saving trick I started doing is instead of folding the foldable backpack up and trying to cram it in a corner of my suitcase, I leave it unfolded and smooth it out on the top layer of clothes or packing cubes in my bag.
That’s actually a smart idea 💡
I was thinking that when it was being shown.
Good Evening Ilana. The past two months I have been watching your videos. Excellent Content and great Personality. Thank you Ilana 🙏🇬🇧
I buy contact lens cases at Dollar Tree. I use the ones with white lids for my day moisturizer, the dark lids for my nighttime moisturizer, & a combination light & dark for my liquid foundation. Takes up very little space & holds enough for 10-14 days or more.
I’m going to have to try this
I use contact lens cases too! I gave up on using travel size containers - Takes up too much space.
What a great idea! Thanks
I do this too! Have many that hold lotion and makeup. One container lasts me a little over a week when I travel. Saves so much room in my makeup bag! Best hack I have found!
I would love for you to do a video on maybe how to pack for a 9+ day cruise. For those of us who are cruising 9 or more days, how can we possibly pack light? Especially if we travel overseas for our cruise with a pre and/or post cruise stay.
I change my mind a lot so I quit using the label maker for the small containers. Instead, I put a small piece of packing tape on it, mark it with a Sharpie, and put another small piece of tape over it so it won't wear off. :) Thank you for all your helpful hints!
I once bought two travel size umbrellas from the 99c store , took them to Alaska with me . I didn't think they would last but they survived the rain and wind and they were only 99c each!
I’m almost done shopping for our first cruise to Alaska. It’s a once in a lifetime experience we can hardly wait! I’ve purchased so many things you recommend. Thank you ❤
@Jill Have a great trip! 🎶
Hi Jill, on Amazon I ordered ski pants (not the plastic looking fabric) for a trip to the mountains. They looked like leggings but the fabric was thick, soft & comfortable. The ones I picked out had ankle zippers which I wasn’t wild about but they don’t really show. I have two pair & it’s one of my favorite products. Also I buy thermals for cold temperatures. The fabric is thin (not the waffle fabric & if I get hot, I go to the bathroom & take them off. They take up little room in your bag) & I layer them under shirts/ sweaters. They don’t look like thermals but they keep you warm, so I have two of them. They’re not cheap but they last a long time & I wear them all winter long. I hope this helps you & you have a wonderful time!
@@shelzp7272 thanks
@@genitagray6126 thank you for your recommendation
We took our first ever cruise to Alaska in early May of this year on Princess's Grand Princess. Great trip. Let me know if you have Qs
I’m your hubby’s sister from another mister: I ❤the cruise card holder. I have case with my holder on it & switch my cases out when I travel. I ❤this idea.
My top 5 travel hacks for any travel/cruises: Laundry sheets, 5-6 small strong magnet hooks, small travel router to (share wifi shhhhhhh!), variety pack of several sized zip lock bags, night lights for unfamiliar rooms AND THE BEST TIP: bring an empty duffle at the bottom of my suit case. Dirty clothes come home together while travel goodies are safely packed in suitcase on the way home. (may worth the extra baggage charge) Just saw someone's tip to bring vacuum bags for dirty clothes to pack down smaller on way home...smart!
When I get Ulta catalogs (and when I used to get magazines), I save perfume samples (the ones on paper) of fragrances I like. They take up almost zero space, and then when you've used one, you toss it.
If your using the samples to freshen your clothes in a drawer or a suitcase, use them by all means, but don't use them on your body when getting on an airplane, or in an elevator on a cruise ship. Totally offensive, and many people are allergic.
Love love love the portable straw because I hate hate hate the paper straws. 😂 I clip it to a belt loop or on my purse.
Haha they are my pet peeve
Those candy straws are nasty too 🤮
I buy the straws at Aldi 5 for 5.00 that are multi- colored. I think they’re silicone. If I leave them in my drink glass I haven’t lost a lot of money.
great ideas. for the accessory bags, I save the zip bags that Amazon sometimes uses when they ship clothing.
I save those too, as well as the ones that sheets/ pillowcases/ bras come in- any bag with a zipper or slide closure.
They are also great for corralling things together like sunblock/ aloe Vera/ bug spray etc
That's a great idea!
Travel night light… always! My wife is a 2 visit minimum to the bathroom overnight and the standard lights in the hallway or bathroom are so intense. The nightlight we use is battery powered so it doesn’t use a valuable outlet.
I have left nightlights places, so I turn on the bathroom light and close the bathroom door, but not tight. Sometimes the rocking of the ship opens the door, but not as bad as the clothes hangers in the closet clinking together.
Our dream come true. First to view and comment on one of your videos!! It's the little things!! ❤
Haha glad you’re here 👏👏
🎉 I use my green luggage straps, purchased from walmart & on Amazon, as towel holders for beach chairs. I try to only buy multi use items. Dollar tree has binder clips which are used in transit for documents and in the cabin with magnets to hold excursion tix or other event notifications and to clip hats.
The self seal vacuum bags are great when packing a bathing suit that is still slightly wet. Dryer sheets work great on the going home end of the trip placed in with the dirty clothes suitcase.
I love the towel bands. I upgraded ours. The same company (Cruise On) offers them with buckles. Those work better for us and will fit any type of lounge chair. We also think the magnetic night light with motion sensor is a must! It's great to put in the bathroom for middle-of-the-night trips. I'm also a big fan of the magnetic hooks.
Thanks for all your great ideas!
Hi Ilana! Me and my family are going on our first Alaska cruise in August! Actually is our first cruise ever and is part of my gift for my 50th birthday ! I had been watching your videos since my husband booked. Taking notes, buying things, getting ready! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! ❤
I get a round tower bead holder from the craft area at Walmart. It has 6 little individual sections. I put foundation, a little powder, hair products that are not liquid, sometimes ponds like makeup remover, face moisturizer, etc in it. Sometimes, i even add a few from another one. It's compact and holds all I need of each for a week to 10 days. I also use one for my OTC meds now. SO handy.
I use a lanyard to keep my phone safe around my neck (I am worried about accidentally loosing it overboard) and its always with me if that once in a lifetime photo-op pops up! I bought the tabs that you insert under your phone case that you can attach a lanyard to. (I also feel safe touring in crowded environments with my phone around my neck). This coming cruise I will add the little MagSafe card holders so I can carry the cruise card and phone on one lanyard. I never carry a purse on board - the lanyard system is all I need. Thank you for your very informative videos!
Something that we found that works the best for the magnetic hooks is when you use them on the ceiling. If your pack is a little heavy it will slide down the wall, but if you use it on the ceiling they hold great. The hooks are designed to hold the max when they hang down. If you use them on the walls the rating is much less so you would have to use more than 1. The metal straws are also great because the paper straws seem to change the flavor of you r drinks! All the other items that you showed are great and work really well and don't take up a lot of room either! Thank you!
Some micro things I always bring when traveling; one, the silicone backs for earrings. Nothing worse than losing a favorite earring while traveling! Two, very small ziplock bags. Good for purchased jewelry, small shells collected (legally) from a beach, etc. Also some alcohol wipes. If I find a pair of earrings at a thrift store, I can at least wipe the earpieces off before putting them on. Thanks so much for all your advice!
Smart!!
I always remove my eye makeup with good old fashioned baby oil - I think it does a better job than anything else. A few years ago I stopped bothering with any kind of container for traveling with baby oil because the container ALWAYS leaked. I started pre-soaking cotton rounds with baby oil and putting them in a small ziplock bag (snack size or sandwich size), and I would do two for each day I was traveling. This works, because there’s just not enough baby oil on the cotton rounds to leak out, it takes up no room at all, and at the end of the cruise or vacation, I just throw the bag away!
My optometrist advised me against that because the oil isn’t good for your eyes ☹️
Thank you so much for cruise travel tips & items! They were helpful (especially the collapse packing cubes) when we took our gkids on their first cruise this past March! Makes you rethink packing more efficiently!
Another vote for the magnets on the ceiling. Our cruise was very long, so it was important to me to have a suitable place for everything. Hung a mandoline and two ukuleles from the ceiling.
Thank you for your all tips and advice that has made our lives easier whilst travelling to Europe and 14 days of cruising.
Shared your site to many other travellers on board and who are new to cruising
Thanks again
You also need a tiny flashlight 🔦 for emergencies, such as, if the power goes out. Hopefully, you won’t need it, but at least you’ll have it, just incase.
Great products and tips. I label my travel dishes using painter’s tape. I just write on them. They stay on for a long time and peel right off.
Great tip!
Label maker - It’s a must! The Brother P-Touch labels stay on, even in the dishwasher…For years! !!
I recently purchased this from Amazon 18 Pack Travel pouches for toiletries, TSA approved travel size containers for liquids,travel shampoo and onditionerpouches,Leak proof 3oz Travel Squeeze Pouches. I haven’t used them yet but I will. They lay flat in your carryon bag. I can’t wait to try it
ziplock bags. I used to use towel clips but my TA gave me towel bands and I love them instead.
So true about ziplock bags!!!
My essential item is a noise machine…has saved me many times…noisy hotel neighbours, noisy cabin neighbours. Very compact and light. Also, put dryer sheets in your suitcase to keep everything smelling fresh.
So smart!
I use the free Better Sleep app on my phone or iPad for white noise
@@MJinFlorida Thank you. That is good to know. I will check it out.
That hat clip is awesome - I don’t leave home without it!
Did you get it on amazon?
I recently went on my first Princess cruise and didn't realize how small our room was. I love the magnets, but didn't have room for them. Plus our closet was really big. I will use the magnets on our next Celebrity cruise. I have most of the items you recommend and love them!
I just switched to Kitsch solid shampoo and conditioner at home! Game changer! Great products and extra convenient for travel.
Thanks!❤
I like to use scented fabric softener sheets in luggage to keep everything “fresh”…
We do that for going home and put a sheet in with dirty clothes so at least when I unpack it’s tolerable 😅.
@@SWFL04Ditto!
@@SWFL04 exactly! 😀
Id skip the full size toothbrush and the covers. I got one from Target that is collapsable and unfolds to a fullsize one. When you fold it back down its its own cover. very handy!
Been using bar shampoo and conditioner for 2 years. I normally cut them in half and put them in the mini soap travel containers. I do the same with bar soap
I purchased a white noise cube you featured in a video and it's the best travel item I own. It's super small and a single charge lasts 12 hours. Cruise cabins can be incredibly still and silent. This little device drowns out hallway noise, adjoining room noise and more. You should continue to share the item! Thank you!!
We just finished a 6 month around the world cruise. And, boy did we have to pack efficiently. I can definitely recommend the solid shampoo and conditioner. It works great and saves a ton of space. The bathroom spray and packing cubes and anything mini is a must!
Great video. Thanks!
I have been binge-watching your videos to prepare for our upcoming Alaskan cruise. They have been amazingly helpful and packed with great tips! BTW, I haven't tried the Shout wipes, but I like the Tide wipes way better than the Tide pen.
Such great tips. I have that exact collapsible water bottle - use it every time I go on any trip. Didn't know about some of these products - thank you for sharing.
I've been using Basin solid shampoo & conditioner for years! I usually just cut off a piece of each & put them in a medium GoTubb.
We brought so many of these things on our recent cruise to Alaska. That foldable backpack is terrific and I have been using those perfume bottles for years.
I brought the reusable straws for our recent Alaska cruise and I even had a crew member remind me not to through it out when I finished my can of pop. I guess they are getting use to seeing them on the ships . Thanks for the tip!
I love these cleaning tablets for my water/coffee bottle. I like it much better than bringing dish soap. Sometimes if I get a specialty coffee and don’t finish it the next day it’s so easy to clean with these tablets. I can also put my reusable straw in the bottle and clean it at the same time. Thanks for the videos. They are very helpful
Would you be willing to share what brand you use? Thank you in advance.
You recommended getting magnetic hooks for your stateroom. It was a game changer! Thanks for the tip.
I use the Kitsch products for home and travel. For travel I have been using the Ultra Sensitive Shampoo/Bodywash and Conditioner/Shaving Cream. I don't have to carry body wash or shaving cream because they are double duty products and they are scent and dye free so they don't impact my allergies or others either. I recently bought one of their sampler sets which are small cubes of product to try others and so I can have a variety when I travel. Love all of their products.
Fun stuff... I use the bar shampoo and conditioner. I cut a piece of each. I bring the soap mesh and the matador soap bag to help dry them after I pack them if they are still wet.
Vera Bradley umbrella is a lot smaller. Also, I always bring a small poncho in case of bad weather.
Good idea. For me, this was just a super solid one - it’s definitely not the smallest
I was alone on the cruise but last year was the first time I didn't travel solo and shared a room with a friend. For the poo-situation and this will work very well on a cruise - lobby/public bathrooms are always open. With the exception of if it's the middle of the night, a trip to a public loo is really not that far away.
I found that using a contact lenses case and filling one side with foundation and the other side with moisturizer works for 2-3 weeks. It's super small and fits in the quart bag for TSA purposes.
Brilliant 👏
Great suggestions! On top of bar shampoo/conditioner, I also use toothpaste and mouthwash tabs. My favorite are from Lush but there are now many companies that make them. I also use a label maker for my toiletries because I bought some matching containers for my skincare products, and I wanted to create my own labels. Another product I have is one of those folding pill containers that has 8 individual pockets for different medications. I also recommend non-aerosol dry shampoo powder to freshen up when I don’t have time for a full shower. In regards to the perfume atomizers, I’ve found that the bottom-fill ones leak a bit so I recently bought ones that have screw tops and can be refilled that way.
I always pack a small flashlight. It keeps me from waking my wife in the middle of the night and when placed flat on the floor to use the light to find any small item we dropped.
Dollar Tree has a great one that’s flat. Super easy to pack in the carry-on and magnetic so we put it right on the cabin wall
@@KerryjotxI bought a bunch of those flat flashlights at Dollar Tree. I keep one in the console in my car and one in my wallet.
@@KerryjotxI wish you could share a picture!
Before my last cruise in March I watched one of your videos of things that you take on cruises. My favorite thing I bought was the little pill container that had a magnetic closure with seven little compartments. I have a pill box for all of my prescription pills but this one was the right size to carry in my purse with my few OTC meds and I love it! I just used a sharpie to label each compartment so I'd know what was what. I also bought the lightweight purse/bag that you recommended to take to port with you. It is so light and not bulky at all like a heavy purse is. I usually always take my protective eyeglass case with me too, prescribed eyeglasses are too expensive, but I bought a cheap little portable eyeglass case that I can carry both my prescription glasses and cheap sunglasses in. And then my last item that I actually bought on my own was a small table top fan. It's just big enough and puts out enough air to make it comfortable in my room when I'm sleeping. Of course there's plenty more that I've bought just for my cruises but too much to talk about! HAPPY CRUISING FOLKS!! :)
Thanks for sharing!! Lots of people bring a small fan so I think that’s super smart
For shampoo bars , on Amazon there is Matador soap bar case, actually looks like a pouch, it is waterproof and leakproof. You can put your wet bar in there and it will dry withour getting mushy. Thanks for all the great tips.
I came here to say the same. Love the Matador pouch!
With iPhone if you have a MagSafe wallet thats an option instead of the cruise card holder and being a magnetic wallet can easily detach if you prefer to charge your iPhone with a magnetic charger. Not sure if other phone brands have similar options though.
Really helpful, thank you.
Very helpful information.
The Nomad Lane Bento Bag is a traveler's best friend!
Ok this is incredibly helpful! I haven't been on a cruise in yeeeeaarrrss! Thank you for these tips!
Ihave bought a few items that you have suggested in your videos. Going to try the magnets from the ceiling trick. 0:15
The magnetic hooks are amazing! Be sure to buy ones that hold a hefty weight. Items that otherwise might have been on the floor or sofa were on the hooks. My son used one in the bathroom for his hanging toiletry bag. So nice! Plus, I now use them at home like on the side of my dryer to hang my grocery bags. We also took some magnetic clips and used those for the daily planners, excursions tickets and lanyards. Happy sailing!
Hi İlana! You’ve taught me well, as I have nearly every item you shared today! I can’t tell you how invaluable your videos are, I have learned so much. My next cruise is in January, and I’m so excited to use all the new travel hacks and items I’ve acquired at your recommendation. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do. Blessings!❤️
Going on my 1st cruise, and all your tips help!
I replaced poo peri with a little car air freshener. It actually works! 😂
I took car air freshener on my last cruise, too. I don’t like anything aerosolized.
I found an off brand poo pourri at dollarama. It worked and was lemon scented, and well, just smelled like fresh lemon, not too scenty.
Not sure if is considered mini, but the small container of nail polish remover pads vs liquid is a must.
I’m going to have to try & find that
Lots of great items and I’ll be doing some shopping my our cruise in November. The perfume containers I found hold only 2 or 3 days of perfume for me. Maybe I use too much but I keep bringing my bigger bottle.
I buy self adhesive labels around 2"x 4"that I use at home for labeling things You can cut them to fit on travel bottles. They are very inexpensive. You can get them in the school or office section.
Mini toothbrushes I’ve been using them for a decade and love them
Apple AirTag partially saved us on our last cruise a trans antic cruise with Disney from Florida to Spain. We made it to our transition hub in Dallas Fort Worth and we had about 15 minutes to run to the plane and get on. We made it on and when I looked at the tag, the baggage was around the plane. Landed in Fort Lauderdale check the app and I could see our luggage taxing on the runway in Dallas Fort Worth took a snapshot went to the luggage office and they confirmed that our luggage missed it and was gonna be on the next flight in an hour..
My luggage landed in Fort Lauderdale. I was able to follow it from the plane all the way to the airport and see it just on the other side of the wall going to be loaded onto the conveyor belt. Lol
My daughter and I use the bar shampoo and conditioner...We LOVE THEM! We use them everyday. Great product. Less Chemicals in them as well.
I’ll say it again - the Cruise Planner is a must! The mini Poo Spray is another great find - oh and I just ordered the inexpensive lightweight backpack thanks, Ilana
So glad you like the cruise planner! Thanks for your purchase & support 😊
HAL allows non surge extension cords and (I'm guessing since they didn't take it away) Carnival as well. The Carnival Legend cabins have ONE outlet other than the TV and Razor ones. It was over at the vanity and I needed electricity closer to the bed. So thankfully they allow or didn't know about it.
My travel backpack, recommended by you, is amazing! We've taken it on two cruises (Bahamas, Alaska), to Ireland, and to England! And I've taken the Wisps on a backpacking trip. Those things are great!
So glad to hear & thanks for sharing your experience with wisps
Always good ideas
Always enjoy watching (and learning from) your videos, Ilana, thanks for all the great tips. I’ll be visiting Vancouver & cruising to Alaska in September! So excited to be going! Keep up the great work!
Hey there Ilana!!! I purchased the back pack for our upcoming cruise for my wife and loved it sooo much that i bought one for myself! Very compact but expands to a decent size!!
We’ll be on a cruise ship for about 40days….. any tips for packing??
Keep up the great work!!
I enjoy your travel tips. I can honestly say that we've been traveling and cruising for years and I'm more organized now that ever before. I have every little item and gadget LOL. Love them. Always like listening and watching you tube videos for more ideas for cruising/traveling. You are a pleasure to watch. Thanks for the tips and mostly for your lovely smile. God bless and keep on cruising!
Awe you’re so sweet!! Thanks for watching
I like to use the shampoo and conditioner bars, but I actually just bought a sample pack and the cubes are really small and would be great for travel
I have not flown since 2017. Wow has things changed. Reading up on flights, the do's and don'ts. The 3 11 bag, nine items, 3.4 oz. I bought a new tote bag, 4 PCS Nautical Wogarl Bag. Just love it with the zippered bottom. It will be for 5 day trip.
Picked up one of the back pack's for our next cruise to Halifax in sept. Let's see how it holds up !!
Get the USB charging vacuum for the vacuum bags. It's super tiny and really works well
Wow!! Thanks
Thank you 🙏🏻 😊
Travel minis are my kryptonite! Lol! While I have purchased most of these items for past cruises, based on your advice, I am interested in trying solid shampoo and conditioner. We would love to try carry-on only for our next Alaska cruise. Thanks so much for the great tips, so helpful for cruisers, new and experienced alike!
I do have a tiny portable label maker. That is awesome. Smart Mini Label Maker!! It is wonderful to have all our OTC meds labeled. No more guessing what that pill is!! I am surprised you did not mention the pill carrying case, with the magnetic close. The best thing we ever purchased 😂
That is awesome! Thanks for sharing
question: do any or all of the cruise lines have recessed plugs in the cabins? that would determine what type of power cube i buy.
I throw in a few plastic clothes pins. Always use them at some point and they weigh nothing.
Smart!
Love the magnetic hooks!! Those along with a shoe organizer was a life-saver! Your videos are EXTREMELY informative and SO helpful...thank you so much. I purchased so many items for a 10-day Norwegian Cruise to Italy & Greece in April. I actually purchased too many helpful travel items and couldn't bring everything. 😂 I may have to get those mini toothbrushes...I ended up just purchasing a regular sized one to keep in my purse. Not sure if you've ever cruised to Italy, but one thing I purchased that REALLY came in handy was soap sheets. We went to more than one location that didn't have hand soap. 😳 Unfortunately, the same locations didn't have toilet tissue either. We ended up having to use napkins. 🤦🏽♀️ The mini poo-pourri came in handy as well on the cruise. I used the mini one in my purse for the plane and for the cruise they have a slightly larger size that worked well in our cabin.
Soap sheets are great, I only bought them once but should again
Air tags have become a must for me. Recently, in Vancouver, a person's luggage was taken by another person. Not sure if the person was able to have her bag retrieved or not as her bag had left the airport.
I Worry about This w/ My New Rimowa 🥹
Do you use the laundry sheets in the sink in the ship bathroom or in the washing machine if the ship has one? Do you a whole or half sheet?
So what do you do for your C-PAP equipment that requires a surge protector? (Or for your laptop?)
Contact the cruise line’s customer service. The last cruise I was on with my husband, Royal Caribbean provided an extension cord and a gallon of distilled water for his CPAP free of charge. Unsure about the laptop, but we were able to charge our iPads and cell phones with no problems.
Will you do a prime day list ?
I love my label maker!!!
Good video
I have the same solid shampoo and conditioner love them.
You do a great job with your cruise/travel tips. And, you are so gracious with engaging your audience for their ideas and tips as well. As always, thank you for sharing.
I agree with you 100%. I love her! I wish I was her friend 😊