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
I just bought it! I love lists and this is my first cruise. I’ve been binging your videos, but I don’t always remember everything, so I’m looking forward to using this!!! Thanks a million!
In our family we have one person who is really good about using the poo-pouri correctly and one who forgets! So the person who uses it correctly will actually spray the poo-pouri in the bowl after they are finished so that it is prepped for the next person!
On NCL the drinking glass covers are shaped kinda like shallow cupcake cups. I turn one over, place on nightstand to keep my jewelry together while I sleep. I use another on the vanity for my hair accessories.
Lots of good tips here! We try to only take carryons for any trip. The big secret is mix-and-match. For cruises, I take a long black jersey tank dress and lacy tops, necklaces and wraps to make it look different. As long as I don't spill, it works for most nights on the cruise.
Ilana, I just wanted to say how much I love your videos. I've been on two shy of fifty cruises over thirty five years, and I'll be cracking the 50 cruise mark next year, the fates willing. I've been on all kinds of cruise ships and sailed the world on small, medium and large cruise ships and my favorites have changed as I've experienced new things. Nevertheless, I know that I still have things to learn which is why I like videos such as yours. For example, It has been only on the last few cruises that I've been using "packing cubes" though some of the cubes are technically not geometrically "cubes." And I have only recently (last two or three cruises) discovered magnetic hooks and clips, all of which I have found to be invaluable. My packing routine includes two basic items, a hard sided traditional suitcase and a soft sided garment bag. The garment bag contains all of the button down shirts, colloquially known as "Charley Sheen Bowling Shirts" I will need for dinners. I usually carry exactly the number of shirts equivalent to one-half the number of days cruising. That way, I get to wear each shirt twice and I haven't ever received a comment that someone has seen any of the shirts before. I carry the garment bag because I have never figured out how to keep dress shirts unwrinkled any other way. If the cleaner of my shirts would fold them instead of putting them on a hanger, I wouldn't need the garment bag but, alas, she doesn't. Most everything else goes into packing cubes into the hard sided suitcase, excepting what I take in my carry on backpack. And I have used a fold up bathroom necessities case for at least the last couple years. And, for the first time, I will be taking another bag as a "personal item." The reason being that my backpack has been getting too heavy with all the things I take in it. I'll be splitting the things I'll need before my suitcase and garment bag arrives in my cabin that I used to take solely in my backpack. Even though I've always heard the flight attendants talk about a "personal item" and a "carry on," I've always thought they were talking about a "purse" as the personal item. I've just now realized that I could take a "personal item" which is not a purse! Anyway, keep up the good work. Joseph (Joe) W. Robinson 🙂
Love your videos Ilana! .Just finished a NCL Alaska cruise. The most beneficial products I purchased were the packing cubes, metal hooks to hang items, luggage tags , jewelry bag, electronic cord organizer bag and the lanyards. I found the metal clips didn't hold things on the walls without using several especially for the daily itinerary . The cruise ship NCL Jewel had plenty of USB charging outlets since the ship was just refurbished and came out of dry dock in the spring, therefore we did not use our non surge protector charger. I also did not use the small fan I bought as well. Our cabin had plenty of ventilation. The over the door organizer would have been handy but I used packing cubes so had lots of space on the shelves for other items. The packing cubes came with a little laundry bag and my husband and I each had our own to use. I bought a pair of binoculars and wished I hadn't. My husband brought his expensive set and even though they were heavy around the neck for me, they were defiantly far superior. Put that money you spend on a cheap set into a good set of binoculars (just saying.)
I have a set of compression bags that I use for travel. There are 3 different sizes and they allow me to fit more clothing in my luggage than a typical packing cube. Once at my destination, I use the largest one as a laundry bag and stow it in my luggage. This helps keep my room tidy and makes unpacking at home a breeze.
My wife and I just returned from an Alaskan cruise on Holland America Zuiderdam. I would like share what cruise essentials worked, and didn't work, as we bought all recommended. The best one was the travel alarm. For many cruises, we struggled to find the iPhone, and check the time, as there no clocks in the cabin. We bought one which stays lite (red), all the time. In the middle of the night, we just looked up and could see the time. The next best thing is the Poo Pourri. Believe me, it works. The lanyard and metal reinforced luggage tags did their job. We had an inside room, so there was no real room for the portable laundry hamper, so we couldn’t use that very well. The biggest disappointment was the walls were not metal, so we couldn’t use the wall hooks, metal clips, or the motion sensor light, which we bought and took on the cruise. Perhaps a list of ships with no metal walls should be started to avoid purchasing and bringing them. Maybe other rooms had metal wall, but ours did not. There was however a motion sensor light below the desk and fridge which activated when you walked to the bathroom in the dark, so that was nice. There were USB plugs beside each bed, as well as 1 on the desk. We used our surge protected plus to increase our plugs from 2 to 4, so that worked well. I hope this gives some of you ideas what to check for before buying and bringing every cruise essential as we did,.
Thank you, Ilana, for all the great videos! It had been 15 years since my husband and I last cruised and we were looking for tips & tricks. We just returned from Bermuda and the motion sensor night light was awesome!! We used it in a hotel a few weeks before our cruise, and I will be traveling with this light on every trip (land and sea) from now on. I like to sleep in a very dark room, but that can make getting up in the middle of the night challenging. This light was perfect. Luggage tags were also a win, and the magnetic hooks were great for hanging clothes and light jackets. A small backpack as well as a beach or tote bag is worth bringing. Our cabin had two outlets and that was enough for our 2 phones, so we didn't really need the power bar, but if you are traveling with other devices, it would be necessary. I brought a digital watch with an alarm (instead of the clock) and was very happy to have it. Our phones and a GPS watch kept randomly changing time (I guess we were going in and out of range to different towers) and it was good to have a 'dumb' device to know what the time really was and to be sure the alarm would be accurate. From another 'tip' video of yours I brought a few blank thank-you cards and was happy to have these for some of the staff at the end of our cruise. Thanks again!!
We always take $2 dollar bills with us for tips. The crew love them. We are from Texas and we also take 2 shirts from Texas and give them to 2 crew members at the end of the cruise.
We cruised for the first time this March on a free offer from a local casino and had an interior stateroom. I can’t tell you how much that motion sensor nightlight came in handy whether getting back to the room any time of day or getting up to use the restroom at night- it was perfect 💜
I got the hanging toiletry bag on your recommendation from a previous video - it’s absolutely brilliant! Stores a whole heap of stuff, keeps it all neat and tidy and is just the best. My last hotel had zero storage space in the bathroom - even the smallest cruise cabin has some storage - and the only thing I had was a hook for clothes or towels. My bag got hung up there and was perfect. I’d highly recommend.
Thank you Ilana! I started watching your videos for tips to prepare for my first cruise a few months ago. Great tips!! Personally my favorite item is the motion activated light. It is now a must have for any travel. Side note, I wish I had the travel clock since I was always needing that quick time check to meet friends on the ship. Also, I was the envy of those same friends with the luggage tags. I would recommend having a fine tip Sharpie to write your info on the disembarkation tags. Everyone in my party said the ink never dried. Loved my first cruise and really appreciate this channel for all the great info. Thanks again!!
Thank you for the list. I did purchase some of the items. Magnets, mesh over the door organizer, motion sensor night light, no surge power bar, luggage tags and a tote bag. Thank you so much !👍
I take thin wire hangers from Dollar General, usually a dozen. They don't take up much room and can be left behind. I love to be able to hang up clothes and ships never have enough hangers. I have done this for 22 years and love it,
I scored that nautical bag on Amazon yesterday for under $10 - it will come to me repackaged but I don’t care! I was so excited! Thanks for sharing all your ideas!
I have used a wrist band that has a zipper pocket.The key cards fit perfectly. I can put my credit card/ cash and key cards in it for excursions . They come in several colors too!
One inexpensive tip for stains and such is to bring a small refillable 3oz bottle of Dawn Dish Detergent. For some reason it seems to get out the most tough messes and for less than Tide or Spray and Wash.
The adhesive pocket for your cell phone was introduced to us on our 2018 Mediterranean cruise on Celebrity Cruises. They had them in our room upon arrival. I've used those ever since as i keep my phone handy to use the app to connect with friends and check activities. Don't even have to remove it from the pocket to unlock the door if your door is proximity.
Not sure if I shared this one before but you know the little cardboard cover they use on the glassware? I turn two over and use one on the nightstand for jewelry while I sleep. The other I use in the vanity area to hold hair items - clips, pins, ponytail holders, etc.
Love all your suggestions! Here are a few things I have discovered that I would like to share. Specific to Norwegian Cruises, bring a small roll of packing tape. The laundry bags they give you are so thin they rip way too easily. Before I start to load hem up them up I run some lengths of tape around and up and down, this makes them way easier to fill. It's also handy to have packing tape should you have a malfunctioning suit case zip. On any cruise line I always bring a lockable metal cable to lock up some items that don't fit into the safe. Another item is an over the the shower rail hook that has a clip on the bottom, great for hanging wet bathing suits in the shower. Hope you find these helpful!
Thank you , thank you , thank you! I’m sure I’m just old but thank you so much for explaining in detail how to find the links for items. Lol I could not figure it out on my phone . ❤
Thank you for the Amazon info on the black dress. I have this (and the sleeveless) on my Amazon list along with the rain jacket and waterproof fanny pack. Hoping some will be on the Amazon sale in Oct.
I did buy the motion sensor night light that you recommended. Many many times my husband and I go to bed at different times. I can place a bet on the fact that my husband will always turn on the wrong light when he comes into the cabin and wakes me up. Thank you thank you thank you for this recommendation. I will be using it in a few weeks, and I will let you know how it goes
Has anyone ever used the Camelbak back pack for excurstions. It takes the stuff you need in 2 compartments and has a water blladder. No need for a water bottle. I used mine and it was the best idea.
We loved our magnet hooks for lightweight stuff like hats, lanyards, and small bags. Poopurrie was a 'life saver' when it was used 😉. The one item I wouldn't bring again is the Downey Wrinkle Release; it plain just didn't work no matter how much I sprayed it stretched. We did pay for the unlimited laundry and just sent out a bag daily so out clothes were always clean and pressed. The added benefit was that we could pack lighter.
Big fan of towel bands. We bought the adjustable ones (vs. the big rubber bands) off of Amazon. I even bought an extra set because they're great for around the house...much better than bungee cords in certain cases.
First, you have been so helpful in preparing for our very first cruise ( To AK :) ) and I will definitely be getting your ultimate cruise planner... Could you possibly do a Cruise essential specifically for men's items? That would be so awesome.. Thank you in advance, You ROCK!!!!
Ah, I didn’t actually know those motion sensor nightlights were a thing - they’re AMAZING for not lighting up the entire room when you go to the bathroom. What a great idea!
Love the luggage takes. They are great. We use them on all of our cruises. We now. Have almost all of the items you have suggested and they are great. They over the door organizer is the best.
Thank you for all your helpful tips! I watched many of your videos and there were awesome! I would like to share a few things too that can be useful to travelers. I travel alot myself and I bring these with me all the time!
I used my lanyard for shore excursions to keep my important things close. My sail and sign card on front facing, my CA DL on the back side, and my credit card inbetween, totally out of sight.. Once off the ship, under clothes, and then tucked into shirt pocket our of sight and simple as can be.
I just went on my 1st cruise last week and the magnet hooks are definitely a must but thought that the magnet clips were too excessive. we thought that we can leave it on the table or night stand, No we definitely need a least 2 clips for the day schedule, excursions tickets and disembarkation tags so it doesn't get lost in our mess. we ended up using one of the magnet hooks to stick it on the wall.
Could you do one for what to bring/pack for an Alaska cruise? If you haven't already done one of those... I am going the first of October and it's also my very first cruise 😊
Fully agree on the charger. I have one and it saved me when my phone was at less than 5%. Mine also came with a USB light. I also have a back up phone because I have two of them.
Hello, I just got back from a 7 day cruise and used all of your tips! I loved it and so did my husband! I took pictures but I seem not to be able to post the pictures to your site!
Hi, so glad these videos & tips helped! Please feel free to message me (life well cruised) on Facebook or send me an email lifewellcruised@gmail.com :)
@@LifeWellCruised Ilana, if they haven't change the dress quality (and I hope they haven't) the material for the solid colors is different than the patterned ones. I didn't like the fabric of the printed one I got. Mind you, I bought my Berydress dresses about 4 or 5 years ago. Thanks for such a great channel!
Something I love, especially if you are going to be doing a lot of walking, is Dr. Fredericks Original Better Blister Bandages. They are amazing second skin type bandages.
We just return from celebrity reflection, a 10 day cruise I took a foldable waterproof camping bucket and use that to wash multiple pieces of clothing at a time. It worked a lot better than washing one item in the sink.
Thank you. I have a collapsible camping bucket also with a removable stopper in the bottom. I never thought of bringing that with me. Yes, I have washed out a lot of clothes in that tiny little sink on Long cruises. Thank you again
@@suewolf3279 You're welcome. I bought one on amazon that folded up. It worked well for what it was, it wasn't super sturdy, but it was better than the sink. I bought a 20L version for about 14 bucks.
Hi I am in Celebrity Equinox. The card holder works on the back of phone. This past summer my key kept demagnitizing on Celebrity Infinity. The ship was just brought back to service, I believe it was a ship issue not putting the card 9n holder on back of phone. Love this feature and Celebrity gave me the item years ago.
Thanks for your cruise tips. I took your advice and got several different grades of magnet hooks and they were very useful. My wife likes to read early in the morning so I got some heavy duty hook magnets and ung a dark shower curtain l liner at the ceiling to separate the bed area from the sitting area. It eorked! Thanks.
My wife is going to love the motion sensor light! Great idea. We are going to try an MSC cruise in a couple of weeks, what the heck. I did find the cabin includes two European plugs. I've taken adapters in the past but you really have to be careful about what you plug into the other side. Some things are made to accept 220v like computers, fans or hair dryers are no bueno. I found a couple European plugs that present two USB plugs each to free up the US plugs. I do wish I had something like your cruise planner when I first started cruising! While I have developed an extensive list over years of varied travel, this would have saved me a lot of problems when I started cruising.
@@millerfamadventuresandsports Oct 13-23. They've kind of gotten a bad rap in the past though that seems improved. Ship looks nice. First sailing from Canaveral after a transatlantic voyage, hope that mess anything up! We like to try everyone at least once and they matched our NCL Latittudes.
If you have wrinkled clothes, moisten and use cabin hair dryer....dont use on silk, rhinestone. Glitter or other delicate items. Also helps get hand wash items dry. You know the mini clothes line usually in shower. Experienced cruiser, i still enjoy your videos. Always looking for new tips. We don't take formal, just dressy. Leave room in suitcase for souvenirs
Love ❤ love your videos. On Disney I sometimes hang the over the door thing on the closet rod. My cruise partner and I don’t take a lot of hanging clothes so we always have plenty of space.
Good tips , didn’t think of the command tabs. I’m a nervous traveler in general and would be terrified by using the card holder on the back of the phone . I would be scared it would demagnetize my card and then be SOL , especially if I’m driving to port or driving to airport in another state . It definitely looks cool but no ma’am I don’t want be stuck.
We only do carry-on and fly to our ports, so there are so many things I can't/won't buy/bring. I do love the ideas shared here, but just have to edit out so much given the small amount of space.
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
I have it and am using it now as I get ready to cruise on HA for a Malt Shop Memories Cruise. Yes, I am old!
@@jomicash1 wow!! I love this! Sounds like a ton of fun. Enjoy and thanks for your purchase:)
I just bought it! I love lists and this is my first cruise. I’ve been binging your videos, but I don’t always remember everything, so I’m looking forward to using this!!! Thanks a million!
@@laurieanderson2186 I’m so glad you like it! Thanks for your purchase 😊
I have just recently bought it, great way to keep track of multi cruise bookings. Thanks, keep the great info coming.
In our family we have one person who is really good about using the poo-pouri correctly and one who forgets! So the person who uses it correctly will actually spray the poo-pouri in the bowl after they are finished so that it is prepped for the next person!
Haha 😂
Ahah! Great idea!
Thank you for that 💡idea!!! (Picture me hitting my forehead with the heel of my hand!)🤣
Good tip!
Yes - I say I’m getting it ready for the next contestant!😅
On NCL the drinking glass covers are shaped kinda like shallow cupcake cups. I turn one over, place on nightstand to keep my jewelry together while I sleep. I use another on the vanity for my hair accessories.
Lots of good tips here! We try to only take carryons for any trip. The big secret is mix-and-match. For cruises, I take a long black jersey tank dress and lacy tops, necklaces and wraps to make it look different. As long as I don't spill, it works for most nights on the cruise.
That’s very smart! A new packing tips video coming soon & mixing and matching will be in it :)
Smart thinking 😀
Ilana, I just wanted to say how much I love your videos. I've been on two shy of fifty cruises over thirty five years, and I'll be cracking the 50 cruise mark next year, the fates willing. I've been on all kinds of cruise ships and sailed the world on small, medium and large cruise ships and my favorites have changed as I've experienced new things. Nevertheless, I know that I still have things to learn which is why I like videos such as yours. For example, It has been only on the last few cruises that I've been using "packing cubes" though some of the cubes are technically not geometrically "cubes." And I have only recently (last two or three cruises) discovered magnetic hooks and clips, all of which I have found to be invaluable. My packing routine includes two basic items, a hard sided traditional suitcase and a soft sided garment bag. The garment bag contains all of the button down shirts, colloquially known as "Charley Sheen Bowling Shirts" I will need for dinners. I usually carry exactly the number of shirts equivalent to one-half the number of days cruising. That way, I get to wear each shirt twice and I haven't ever received a comment that someone has seen any of the shirts before. I carry the garment bag because I have never figured out how to keep dress shirts unwrinkled any other way. If the cleaner of my shirts would fold them instead of putting them on a hanger, I wouldn't need the garment bag but, alas, she doesn't. Most everything else goes into packing cubes into the hard sided suitcase, excepting what I take in my carry on backpack. And I have used a fold up bathroom necessities case for at least the last couple years. And, for the first time, I will be taking another bag as a "personal item." The reason being that my backpack has been getting too heavy with all the things I take in it. I'll be splitting the things I'll need before my suitcase and garment bag arrives in my cabin that I used to take solely in my backpack. Even though I've always heard the flight attendants talk about a "personal item" and a "carry on," I've always thought they were talking about a "purse" as the personal item. I've just now realized that I could take a "personal item" which is not a purse! Anyway, keep up the good work.
Joseph (Joe) W. Robinson 🙂
Zip lock bags. Useful for so many things. Love the magnets!!!!
I totally agree! I didn’t include them in this video, but I always bring 2 sizes (so handy)
Love your videos Ilana! .Just finished a NCL Alaska cruise. The most beneficial products I purchased were the packing cubes, metal hooks to hang items, luggage tags , jewelry bag, electronic cord organizer bag and the lanyards. I found the metal clips didn't hold things on the walls without using several especially for the daily itinerary . The cruise ship NCL Jewel had plenty of USB charging outlets since the ship was just refurbished and came out of dry dock in the spring, therefore we did not use our non surge protector charger. I also did not use the small fan I bought as well. Our cabin had plenty of ventilation. The over the door organizer would have been handy but I used packing cubes so had lots of space on the shelves for other items. The packing cubes came with a little laundry bag and my husband and I each had our own to use. I bought a pair of binoculars and wished I hadn't. My husband brought his expensive set and even though they were heavy around the neck for me, they were defiantly far superior. Put that money you spend on a cheap set into a good set of binoculars (just saying.)
I have a set of compression bags that I use for travel. There are 3 different sizes and they allow me to fit more clothing in my luggage than a typical packing cube. Once at my destination, I use the largest one as a laundry bag and stow it in my luggage. This helps keep my room tidy and makes unpacking at home a breeze.
My wife and I just returned from an Alaskan cruise on Holland America Zuiderdam. I would like share what cruise essentials worked, and didn't work, as we bought all recommended. The best one was the travel alarm. For many cruises, we struggled to find the iPhone, and check the time, as there no clocks in the cabin. We bought one which stays lite (red), all the time. In the middle of the night, we just looked up and could see the time. The next best thing is the Poo Pourri. Believe me, it works. The lanyard and metal reinforced luggage tags did their job. We had an inside room, so there was no real room for the portable laundry hamper, so we couldn’t use that very well. The biggest disappointment was the walls were not metal, so we couldn’t use the wall hooks, metal clips, or the motion sensor light, which we bought and took on the cruise. Perhaps a list of ships with no metal walls should be started to avoid purchasing and bringing them. Maybe other rooms had metal wall, but ours did not. There was however a motion sensor light below the desk and fridge which activated when you walked to the bathroom in the dark, so that was nice. There were USB plugs beside each bed, as well as 1 on the desk. We used our surge protected plus to increase our plugs from 2 to 4, so that worked well. I hope this gives some of you ideas what to check for before buying and bringing every cruise essential as we did,.
Thank you, Ilana, for all the great videos! It had been 15 years since my husband and I last cruised and we were looking for tips & tricks. We just returned from Bermuda and the motion sensor night light was awesome!! We used it in a hotel a few weeks before our cruise, and I will be traveling with this light on every trip (land and sea) from now on. I like to sleep in a very dark room, but that can make getting up in the middle of the night challenging. This light was perfect. Luggage tags were also a win, and the magnetic hooks were great for hanging clothes and light jackets. A small backpack as well as a beach or tote bag is worth bringing. Our cabin had two outlets and that was enough for our 2 phones, so we didn't really need the power bar, but if you are traveling with other devices, it would be necessary. I brought a digital watch with an alarm (instead of the clock) and was very happy to have it. Our phones and a GPS watch kept randomly changing time (I guess we were going in and out of range to different towers) and it was good to have a 'dumb' device to know what the time really was and to be sure the alarm would be accurate. From another 'tip' video of yours I brought a few blank thank-you cards and was happy to have these for some of the staff at the end of our cruise. Thanks again!!
I’m so glad the videos have been helpful! I LOVE your “dumb” watch idea 👏😂
The very best tip I got before our first cruise, from this good lady, was to get those magnetic hooks! Best advice ever!
We always take $2 dollar bills with us for tips. The crew love them. We are from Texas and we also take 2 shirts from Texas and give them to 2 crew members at the end of the cruise.
We cruised for the first time this March on a free offer from a local casino and had an interior stateroom. I can’t tell you how much that motion sensor nightlight came in handy whether getting back to the room any time of day or getting up to use the restroom at night- it was perfect 💜
You’re right it’s amazing for interior cabins
Thanks for the great suggestions
I just bought a light for our interior room thank heavens.
I used the Bonine on my last cruise along with the sea bands. Both were perfect
I got the hanging toiletry bag on your recommendation from a previous video - it’s absolutely brilliant! Stores a whole heap of stuff, keeps it all neat and tidy and is just the best. My last hotel had zero storage space in the bathroom - even the smallest cruise cabin has some storage - and the only thing I had was a hook for clothes or towels. My bag got hung up there and was perfect. I’d highly recommend.
Thank you Ilana! I started watching your videos for tips to prepare for my first cruise a few months ago. Great tips!! Personally my favorite item is the motion activated light. It is now a must have for any travel. Side note, I wish I had the travel clock since I was always needing that quick time check to meet friends on the ship. Also, I was the envy of those same friends with the luggage tags. I would recommend having a fine tip Sharpie to write your info on the disembarkation tags. Everyone in my party said the ink never dried. Loved my first cruise and really appreciate this channel for all the great info. Thanks again!!
That’s a really good tip for the disembarkation tags! So glad you enjoyed your cruise 👏
The hooks are the BEST idea for me. They are always in my cruise bag. Thanks for the ideas.
You give a lot of tips as a first time cruiser this is a great help, thank you so much,
That’s awesome! Great to hear this is helpful as you plan :)
Thank you for the list. I did purchase some of the items. Magnets, mesh over the door organizer, motion sensor night light, no surge power bar, luggage tags and a tote bag. Thank you so much !👍
I really like the Nivea In Shower Body Lotion. It moisturizes,smells great and keeps the bathroom rotation moving right along 😊
Great to know! I’ll have to try it
I take thin wire hangers from Dollar General, usually a dozen. They don't take up much room and can be left behind. I love to be able to hang up clothes and ships never have enough hangers. I have done this for 22 years and love it,
I scored that nautical bag on Amazon yesterday for under $10 - it will come to me repackaged but I don’t care! I was so excited! Thanks for sharing all your ideas!
What size bag is best?
I have used a wrist band that has a zipper pocket.The key cards fit perfectly. I can put my credit card/ cash and key cards in it for excursions . They come in several colors too!
That sounds great! I have to look for it
One inexpensive tip for stains and such is to bring a small refillable 3oz bottle of Dawn Dish Detergent. For some reason it seems to get out the most tough messes and for less than Tide or Spray and Wash.
I use Tide to Go and that has worked well for me.
The adhesive pocket for your cell phone was introduced to us on our 2018 Mediterranean cruise on Celebrity Cruises. They had them in our room upon arrival. I've used those ever since as i keep my phone handy to use the app to connect with friends and check activities. Don't even have to remove it from the pocket to unlock the door if your door is proximity.
I love how you are to-the-point. Great video!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you
Great tips! I am looking forward to your carry on only packing video!!:)
Love your tips, Ilana! Thanks for sharing your content! 💜
Thanks so much Jennifer!!
Not sure if I shared this one before but you know the little cardboard cover they use on the glassware? I turn two over and use one on the nightstand for jewelry while I sleep. The other I use in the vanity area to hold hair items - clips, pins, ponytail holders, etc.
Love all your suggestions! Here are a few things I have discovered that I would like to share. Specific to Norwegian Cruises, bring a small roll of packing tape. The laundry bags they give you are so thin they rip way too easily. Before I start to load hem up them up I run some lengths of tape around and up and down, this makes them way easier to fill. It's also handy to have packing tape should you have a malfunctioning suit case zip. On any cruise line I always bring a lockable metal cable to lock up some items that don't fit into the safe. Another item is an over the the shower rail hook that has a clip on the bottom, great for hanging wet bathing suits in the shower. Hope you find these helpful!
Thank you , thank you , thank you! I’m sure I’m just old but thank you so much for explaining in detail how to find the links for items. Lol I could not figure it out on my phone . ❤
Thank you for the Amazon info on the black dress. I have this (and the sleeveless) on my Amazon list along with the rain jacket and waterproof fanny pack. Hoping some will be on the Amazon sale in Oct.
I hope they will be :)
I did buy the motion sensor night light that you recommended. Many many times my husband and I go to bed at different times. I can place a bet on the fact that my husband will always turn on the wrong light when he comes into the cabin and wakes me up. Thank you thank you thank you for this recommendation. I will be using it in a few weeks, and I will let you know how it goes
Yes please let me know :)
Oh, sorry about your travel problems. It does make you appreciate the good days in transit even more! Safe travels! 🍺
Thanks so much! You've become my go to person for cruise advice! Keep on posting ♡ Just used your links & placed an order ♡
Awe thanks so much!
Has anyone ever used the Camelbak back pack for excurstions. It takes the stuff you need in 2 compartments and has a water blladder. No need for a water bottle. I used mine and it was the best idea.
Love your videos. Congrats, would love to see a live video when u get your plaque. Thanks for all of the tips.
We loved our magnet hooks for lightweight stuff like hats, lanyards, and small bags. Poopurrie was a 'life saver' when it was used 😉. The one item I wouldn't bring again is the Downey Wrinkle Release; it plain just didn't work no matter how much I sprayed it stretched.
We did pay for the unlimited laundry and just sent out a bag daily so out clothes were always clean and pressed. The added benefit was that we could pack lighter.
Lol, great comments
My favorite beach bag is my trusty Ikea bag! Folds down to nothing, is waterproof, and can be rinsed off.
Big fan of towel bands. We bought the adjustable ones (vs. the big rubber bands) off of Amazon. I even bought an extra set because they're great for around the house...much better than bungee cords in certain cases.
Thanks for letting me know!
First, you have been so helpful in preparing for our very first cruise ( To AK :) ) and I will definitely be getting your ultimate cruise planner... Could you possibly do a Cruise essential specifically for men's items? That would be so awesome.. Thank you in advance, You ROCK!!!!
Absolutely! I could do a mens packing guide perhaps
@@LifeWellCruised That would be soo cool!! Thank you for all your content!!
@@LifeWellCruisedmale solo cruiser. Would buy that guide for sure!
I ordered the nautical striped bag from your Amazon link as a surprise for my wife’s birthday. It arrived in a clear bag!! 😮
Good to know!
You always have great tips. Thanks!
Ah, I didn’t actually know those motion sensor nightlights were a thing - they’re AMAZING for not lighting up the entire room when you go to the bathroom. What a great idea!
Love the luggage takes. They are great. We use them on all of our cruises. We now. Have almost all of the items you have suggested and they are great. They over the door organizer is the best.
Glad to hear your feedback about the luggage tags & other items :)
Thank you for all your helpful tips! I watched many of your videos and there were awesome! I would like to share a few things too that can be useful to travelers. I travel alot myself and I bring these with me all the time!
Thanks for trying out the Command hooks as an alternative to the magnets when on older Carnival ships
My pleasure! They come off easily too, which was my concern as well
I live my towel bands. Invested in those over the clips. Thanks for all your suggestions. Bought a lot of these for my first cruise this past April.
Great to know!!
You are so right about the cruise bag. I got mine years ago on the QE2. It has great stripes and the QE2 logo on the front. Just love it.
Great to hear!
Love my motion sensor light, I pulled it out of my travel bag for if we lost power with hurricane Ian.
What a smart idea!! I hope you have your power back
I used my lanyard for shore excursions to keep my important things close. My sail and sign card on front facing, my CA DL on the back side, and my credit card inbetween, totally out of sight.. Once off the ship, under clothes, and then tucked into shirt pocket our of sight and simple as can be.
or, tucked into your bra for a safe stow.
Great idea!
I just went on my 1st cruise last week and the magnet hooks are definitely a must but thought that the magnet clips were too excessive. we thought that we can leave it on the table or night stand, No we definitely need a least 2 clips for the day schedule, excursions tickets and disembarkation tags so it doesn't get lost in our mess. we ended up using one of the magnet hooks to stick it on the wall.
Glad to hear your comments & I hope you had a wonderful cruise!
Could you do one for what to bring/pack for an Alaska cruise? If you haven't already done one of those... I am going the first of October and it's also my very first cruise 😊
Just subscribed Thank You for all the information. GREAT Channel.
Thanks for watching and subscribing:)
Fully agree on the charger. I have one and it saved me when my phone was at less than 5%. Mine also came with a USB light. I also have a back up phone because I have two of them.
I love your videos, very educational 😊
So glad you enjoyed this :)
Hello, I just got back from a 7 day cruise and used all of your tips! I loved it and so did my husband! I took pictures but I seem not to be able to post the pictures to your site!
Hi, so glad these videos & tips helped! Please feel free to message me (life well cruised) on Facebook or send me an email lifewellcruised@gmail.com :)
Great video, Ilana!! I have 2 Berydress wrap dresses and I love them!! Very flattering and I'm not tiny like you. Highly recommend those.
Thanks for the feedback about this dress brand! I’ll buy more 😂
@@LifeWellCruised Ilana, if they haven't change the dress quality (and I hope they haven't) the material for the solid colors is different than the patterned ones. I didn't like the fabric of the printed one I got. Mind you, I bought my Berydress dresses about 4 or 5 years ago. Thanks for such a great channel!
I have that pink toiletry bag. It is the best!!!
We put travel stickers on button magnets . This is something fun for the cabin walls. Michaels has them.
Well Miss Cruising Encyclopedia, your stuff is always good, but this is clearly best of breed. Thanks for the fine and helpful job.
Lol, so glad you enjoyed the video!
Could you please make an updated Video on decorating your cabin door ? 😊
I’d love to in the future! My video about this was made a few weeks ago - not sure if you had a chance to see it :)
I love your videos!!! Thank you so much for making them. And I had no idea you’re Canadian!!! Me too 🇨🇦😊
Awe thanks! So glad you enjoy them & great to meet a fellow Canadian
Something I love, especially if you are going to be doing a lot of walking, is Dr. Fredericks Original Better Blister Bandages. They are amazing second skin type bandages.
We just return from celebrity reflection, a 10 day cruise I took a foldable waterproof camping bucket and use that to wash multiple pieces of clothing at a time. It worked a lot better than washing one item in the sink.
Great idea!
Thank you. I have a collapsible camping bucket also with a removable stopper in the bottom. I never thought of bringing that with me. Yes, I have washed out a lot of clothes in that tiny little sink on Long cruises. Thank you again
@@suewolf3279 You're welcome. I bought one on amazon that folded up. It worked well for what it was, it wasn't super sturdy, but it was better than the sink. I bought a 20L version for about 14 bucks.
Love your videos Ilana !!!!
LWC, thanks for the tips. I have those magnets in my cart on amazon.... i will have them for my Nov cruise!
Thank you! Very helpful!
Hi I am in Celebrity Equinox. The card holder works on the back of phone. This past summer my key kept demagnitizing on Celebrity Infinity. The ship was just brought back to service, I believe it was a ship issue not putting the card 9n holder on back of phone. Love this feature and Celebrity gave me the item years ago.
Night light for the bathroom! Ultimate pro tip!
🙌👏
Thanks for the tips, our night light is a illuminating small alarm clock, double duty.
I love the towel bands idea!
Night light is amazing. I love ours.
👏👏
I received so many compliments on embarkation and debarkation day last month re: my Nautical Bag.
Yay!! I’m so glad to hear
Thanks for your cruise tips. I took your advice and got several different grades of magnet hooks and they were very useful. My wife likes to read early in the morning so I got some heavy duty hook magnets and ung a dark shower curtain l liner at the ceiling to separate the bed area from the sitting area. It eorked!
Thanks.
Love to see the carry on only video !!
I love my nautical bag too! It holds soooo much!
Love this!! Thank you for updated list! The portable charger will be delivered today!
So glad the video was helpful:)
@@LifeWellCruised yesss. Love these lists. Love the charger as well!
My wife is going to love the motion sensor light! Great idea. We are going to try an MSC cruise in a couple of weeks, what the heck. I did find the cabin includes two European plugs. I've taken adapters in the past but you really have to be careful about what you plug into the other side. Some things are made to accept 220v like computers, fans or hair dryers are no bueno. I found a couple European plugs that present two USB plugs each to free up the US plugs. I do wish I had something like your cruise planner when I first started cruising! While I have developed an extensive list over years of varied travel, this would have saved me a lot of problems when I started cruising.
That’s interesting - definitely something to be careful about! Thanks for sharing and have a fabulous cruise
When are you going? We will be on the MSC Meraviglia on Dec 1-4.
@@millerfamadventuresandsports Oct 13-23. They've kind of gotten a bad rap in the past though that seems improved. Ship looks nice. First sailing from Canaveral after a transatlantic voyage, hope that mess anything up! We like to try everyone at least once and they matched our NCL Latittudes.
If you have wrinkled clothes, moisten and use cabin hair dryer....dont use on silk, rhinestone. Glitter or other delicate items. Also helps get hand wash items dry. You know the mini clothes line usually in shower.
Experienced cruiser, i still enjoy your videos. Always looking for new tips.
We don't take formal, just dressy.
Leave room in suitcase for souvenirs
Love ❤ love your videos.
On Disney I sometimes hang the over the door thing on the closet rod. My cruise partner and I don’t take a lot of hanging clothes so we always have plenty of space.
That’s a smart idea! Thanks for sharing and for your nice comments 😊
Good tips , didn’t think of the command tabs. I’m a nervous traveler in general and would be terrified by using the card holder on the back of the phone . I would be scared it would demagnetize my card and then be SOL , especially if I’m driving to port or driving to airport in another state . It definitely looks cool but no ma’am I don’t want be stuck.
Yes I could understand. It’s for the cruise card/key card. I’m with you and would not put my credit in just in case :)
Oh ok . My bad then yes !
I think if you get a waterproof phone case, getnone with a removable lanyard. You can use the lanyard from your cruise ID pouch.
From Target store, eleven inch folding boxes, I use 5 every cruise. They utilize valuable luggage space, so I place them in my Carry On bag.
You should recommend the phone charger that has the various cables already built in. More compact with less cords to keep up with.
Can you fly with these magnet things? 🤔
We only do carry-on and fly to our ports, so there are so many things I can't/won't buy/bring. I do love the ideas shared here, but just have to edit out so much given the small amount of space.
Omg. Enough with that over-the-door. Organizer. LOL. I’ve been binging your videos. (Love them by the way! Great job). 🤗
I love your videos! So glad I found you!!!
Sidebar- what is the name of the Gucci bag you had in the photo with the raincoat?
I use a packing cubes for my toiletries, electronic chargers, prescriptions and shoes.
We started bringing aluminum foil sheets to wrap up food so it fits in the refrigerator!
I also bring zip lock bags. 😊
I have two of those striped bags, great!!!
I have that same toiletry bag, but I didn’t think about hanging them on. The magnetic hooks that I brought.
❤ty so much help you have given to me
Great items! More clothes ideas if you have them😊
Great to know you’d like to see more clothing. I’ll share more in future videos
Look into Nanobags for a portable tote bag! Tiny, tiny, tiny.
I love my passport wallet thing like that (I have the Amazon basics version). It makes me feel so profesional. Haha.
Lol, I gave my 26 year old son one (a smaller version) and he said the same. Beats the ziplock bag 😂
I have the hanging toiletry bag. Love it.
I have both the hanging travel bag that you have and love it!
Great tips