My First Cruise: What I Took and What I Should Have Left Behind

My First Cruise Experience

Today’s post, “My first cruise: What I Took and What I Should Have Left Behind,” comes courtesy of my sister. She wrote a post for me a while back, and since she recently took her first cruise, I talked her into another! Believe it or not, it’s been over 30 years since I went on a cruise, so I was really interested to hear what she thought about the whole thing. Spoiler alert: she loved it! Take it away, sister.

My First Cruise

Every year for the past ten years, I’ve traveled to a fun location with my “Hog-eye” girls. We’ve known each other since kindergarten, and when we turned 50, we decided to go on a trip together. Since then, we’ve gone to fun places like New York, Savannah, Nashville, the Dominican Republic, and more! This year, the “cruisers” in the bunch convinced the rest of us to try one. I’m so glad they did, but it took a lot of planning (and shopping) on my part. Here are the details:

• Cruise line: Royal Caribbean
• Ship: Ovation of The Seas
• Destination: 5 Day Cruise to Cabo San Lucas

Cruise Packing Essentials for First-Time Travelers

Samsonite Luggage – Spot It Fast at Baggage Claim

My luggage was old and beat up, so I decided it was time for an upgrade. I wanted an outer pocket so that I could reach my laptop during the flight. This Samsonite Luggage fit the bill nicely. It’s affordable and has all the bells and whistles that I needed. Tania gave me a great tip. She said to tie a bath pouf around the handle. It worked like a charm. EVERYONE spotted my luggage the second it came through the airport.

Compression Cubes – Neat But Not Magical

This was my first time using Compression Cubes. I must have watched a hundred TikTok videos that showed clothing being stuffed into a cube and miraculously shrinking by three inches. That wasn’t my experience. They MIGHT have made a tiny difference in space, but it was very, very little. Still, I did like them for keeping my things organized. I knew exactly where to find my bathing suits, jewelry, shorts, etc. I put the cubes into drawers and for once in my life, the room stayed neat and clean!

Hanging Travel Toiletry Bag – Small Spaces, Big Help

This was a great buy. The bathrooms don’t have large vanities, and with two women sharing, we used every available spot. The Travel Toiletry was super easy to hang and keep all of my toiletries organized.

Lanyard for Your Cruise Card – Don’t Cruise Without It

I had no idea I’d need a lanyard, but thankfully, the rest of my crew did. If you haven’t cruised before, you definitely want one of these to carry around your key card. Not only does the card open your door, but it’s also how you pay for drinks, shopping, etc. If you lose it, anyone who picks it up could spend freely. I tucked it under my clothing for pictures.

Shampoo Bar – A Smart Space-Saving Hack

This is one of my favorite hacks. Since I was traveling for a 5 day cruise, the weight of my luggage was a real concern. One of my friends brought TWELVE pairs of shoes, lol. I wasn’t that bad but I still wanted to keep things light when I could. Instead of a shampoo bottle, I bought this Shampoo Bar and conditioner bar. Then I cut them in half and put half of each into the small box. They worked like a charm! Super small and light.

Magnetic Hooks – Must-Have for Cruise Cabins

Every single cruiser I listened to said to bring Magnetic Hooks, and they were right. There aren’t many places to hang things, but since the staterooms are metal, these babies worked great. I put a couple by the door for my lanyard and straw hat. My roomie brought a couple that were heavy duty and those worked better for heavier things, like a hanger with the night’s outfit.

Cruise Fan – Stay Cool at Night

I get really hot at night, so I was worried about traveling without a fan. While we had mild weather and great AC, I was still happy to have this Cruise Fan along. It’s magnetic, so I just attached it to the ceiling and let it run for background noise. It has several speeds and you can set it to run for up to 6 hours. The cord was too short to reach the plug, so I’m not sure if it would run continuously if plugged in, but I would think so. If you take it, be sure and pack an extra long USB cord.

Downy Wrinkle Release – Your Iron-Free Friend

Steamers and irons aren’t allowed on a cruise ship, so if wrinkles bother you, grab Downy wrinkle release. I’d never used it before, but it worked fine on my t-shirts and skorts.

Non-Drowsy Dramamine – My Secret to Avoiding Seasickness

I get carsick going through a drive-thru, so I was really worried I’d have an issue at sea. Not at all! I took one Non Drowsy Dramamine capsule every morning, and I didn’t have any problems. There was even a day when the ship put out “barf” bags on each floor, something that our experienced cruisers had never seen before, yet I didn’t get queasy or sick once.

USB Hub – Solve the Power Outlet Shortage

Plugs are RARE. There were two AC plugs by my bed, and two on the desk area, and that was about it. With phones and fans and hair straighteners, etc., we were way short. I’d purchased a cruise approved power strip, but learned right before leaving that Royal Caribbean no longer allowed them. Sigh. The USB Hub helped a bit by letting me save the AC for the hair dryer.

Poo-Pourri – A Tiny Room Essential

Poo-Pourri was something a lot of experienced cruisers suggested. The bathroom/staterooms are tiny, so it’s a good idea if you want to be a good roommate. Small and affordable, and you’ll be thankful if you need it!

What I Wore on My First Cruise

The Cabo Short Set – Cute, Cool, and Comfortable

My sister gave me a TON of clothes for the trip, but I did have to buy a few things. This Short Set was perfect for the day at Cabo. All of the Hog-Eye gurls wanted the link. It was comfy and cool, and the pockets came in handy.

SPF Sun Hat – Stylish Sun Protection

A Sun Hat was a MUST, and this one also includes SPF. Packing it was simple. I put it in the middle and stuffed the fan above in the center. Then I simply put my cubes around it so that it wouldn’t crease or fold. It came home looking just as good as it did when I left!

My First Two-Piece in Years – Turning 60 Boldly

I haven’t worn a two-piece in years, but I decided, “what the heck!” I’m turning 60 this year, and life is too short to worry about what other people think. It was time to let my belly see the sun! The Two Piece Bathing Suit was comfortable and covered me appropriately. No one jumped off the ship after seeing me in it, so WINNING.

What I Could Have Left Behind

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE these shoes. I was determined to take them to wear on our Fine Dining night, but truthfully, my black shoes would have worked fine, and it would have been one less thing to take up space. Plus, they were brand new and not broken in. Not the kind of thing you want to wear when walking up six flights of stairs because you’re trying to work off some of the calories you’ve been consuming.

First Cruise Tips I Learned the Hard Way

• Don’t bring new shoes unless you’ve broken them in.
• Skip the power strip and bring USB hubs instead.
• One nice outfit is plenty, cruise style is more relaxed than expected.

That’s it, my cruise recap! Let Tania know in the comments if you found this helpful. Maybe she’ll send me on another cruise so I can write a follow-up post!

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