Cruise Essentials 2026: What’s Worth Packing (and What’s Not)

Packing the Essentials

Cruising wasn’t something I ever thought I’d enjoy. The idea of being cooped up with thousands of people and herded on and off a ship to visit crowded destinations didn’t appeal in the slightest. But after some gentle persuasion from my husband, I finally gave it a go… and to my surprise, I absolutely loved it.

Cruising can be an expensive hobby, but if you choose the right cruise line, time of year, and itinerary, it can actually offer fantastic value for money, with meals, entertainment, and plenty of activities included in the price. Of course, you do need to watch out for add-ons such as Wi-Fi, gratuities, and drinks packages, but there are still some good deals to be had by shopping around.

As part of my holiday research and planning, I have watched a lot of videos on “must-pack” cruise essentials. Some of them seem an unnecessary waste of luggage space, but others are genuinely useful. In this post, I’m going to share my suggestions on what’s worth packing and what’s best left at home.

It’s important to note that this is not an exhaustive list. Everyone has their own travel essentials specific to their travel needs. However, these are the items that I think have made a big difference to us on our family cruises and ones that I have seen widely recommended by other travellers.

Tried and Tested: Family Cruise Essentials

Dr. Beckmann Magic Leaves Detergent Sheets

These are my number one must-pack item, not just for cruises, but for anytime I’m travelling for more than a few days anywhere.

Some cruise lines have onboard laundrettes with washers and dryers that you can use. This is fantastic for longer itineraries, or if you want to pack fewer clothes and freshen things up mid-holiday. Many cruise lines don’t have self-service facilities, and although you can send clothes (for a fee) to be washed at the ship’s laundry. Personally, I prefer being able to handwash a few items myself.

The Dr. Beckmann sheets are a great buy, and I’ve already discussed these in my Tried and Tested Laundry Favourites post. They smell lovely, take up minimal packing space, and because they’re dissolvable sheets, there’s no risk of leakage. I also love that they double as a suitcase fragrance; everything packed next to them smells fresh when you unpack.

Each sheet is perforated for two washes, but when handwashing, I just tear off what I need. They’re a lifesaver if your ship doesn’t have self-service laundry (which most don’t). These are my ultimate favourite travel wash options, and I’ve tried most of the travel detergents available on the market. Just a note that I have linked to the Biological sheets, but they also come in a Non-Bio option.

Frugal Verdict: 9/10 — compact, effective, with a beautiful fresh fragrance

Fabric Crinkle-Release Spray

Not essential, but handy for freshening up clothes and smoothing out creases in more formal outfits. I’ve never been in a cruise cabin that has an iron, and I wouldn’t want to pack a travel steamer or iron anyway, as these items are often prohibited.

Some people swear by hanging clothes in the bathroom to let creases release in the steam, but I’ve never botheres with this. Often cruise bathrooms can be very compact with minimal hanging space and I am not sure the little retractable clothes lines they often have would take the weight of much.

Crinkle-release sprays are widely available. You can decant a small amount from a larger bottle into a travel spray to save space, or pick up a mini bottle when they’re on offer in places like Home Bargains or Savers.

Frugal Verdict: 7/10 — helps a little with creases, but mainly I take this because I like the smell and it makes clothes feel fresher after a spritzing.

Magnetic Hooks

This was a new one for me, but I’m a convert! Cruise cabin walls are magnetic, so a few lightweight magnetic hooks can make a real difference.

I used mine for hanging coats, hats, and lanyards. They take up hardly any space and make the cabin feel much more organised. They are also surprisingly strong. I’ve had no issues hanging lighter coats on them, although for something heavier like a big towel, they may slip down the wall due to the weight.

Although I bought a pack of 6, I find just taking three hooks sufficient. They are relatively inexpensive, and I bought mine on Amazon at £4.99 for a pack of 6. I’ve been very happy with the quality for the price.

Frugal Verdict: 9/10 — tiny item, big impact.

Decorative Door Magnets

Some people really go to town decorating their cabin door. On our last cruise, I decided to try this as it was a festive sailing and I wanted to get into the Christmas spirit.

I bought a few Christmas-themed cruise magnets from Temu, and the boys loved decorating the door when we arrived. Some people also used magnetic hooks (like the ones mentioned above) to hang decorations such as tinsel trees or festive wreaths.

Frugal Verdict: 7/10 — not essential, but great fun, especially for special occasions or festive cruises.

Packing Cubes

These divide opinions — including mine. I’m not convinced they actually save space, but they do make organising clothes easier. I mainly use them for underwear, nightwear, and swimwear.

Each family member has their own cube, which makes unpacking much simpler. I use the Mia Tui packing cubes that came as part of one of their travel bundles. As with most Mia Tui products, they’re well made and durable. Mia Tui also runs regular promotions and bundle deals, so it’s worth keeping an eye out.

Frugal Verdict: 6/10 — great for organisation, but absolutely not essential in my opinion.

Towel Pegs (or Towel Bands)

I bought some clips on holiday once and they were great at the time, but they took up a lot of space. As you really need two per person, that’s eight clips for our family — and I can think of better uses for that luggage space.

Towel pegs are useful for stopping your swimming towel from blowing away and for spotting your seat among hundreds of others. However, they’re quite bulky to pack.

I’ve recently spotted Towel Bands, which look like a lighter, more compact alternative. They fold up small and weigh much less. They do seem a bit pricey though, so I’m not convinced I need them at this price to be honest, I may consider them for future trips or hunt around for a cheaper option.

Frugal Verdict: 5/10 — useful, but replaceable with a less bulky option.
I think towel bands would score closer to an 8/10.

Tea Bags or Instant Cappuccinos

Cruise ships are never short on food or drink, but I’ve found that cabin tea and coffee setups can be a bit stingy with milk portions.

Although I’m an avid tea drinker, the variability around milk availability and storage (not all cabins have fridges) means I usually drink instant coffee with creamer on holiday. Kenco makes a good cappuccino sachet, available in sweetened or unsweetened versions depending on your preference.

They’re light to pack, and one sachet can easily stretch to two small cabin mugs.

Frugal Verdict: 8/10 — simple comfort, minimal effort.

Anti-Sickness Medication

Even if you don’t usually get seasick, it’s worth being prepared. Seasickness can catch you off guard, especially in rougher waters or on smaller ships.

I always take motion sickness tablets just in case. They’re available behind the counter at most pharmacies, so do ask. You can buy anti-sickness medication onboard, but it’s usually much more expensive.

For a full round-up of what I pack in my travel first aid kit, you can read my separate post Travel First Aid Essentials.

Frugal Verdict: 8/10 — better to have it and not need it than the other way around.

Ducks

Ducks are very divisive. Some families absolutely love hiding and hunting ducks and go to great lengths with them. Many come with a little printed tag showing the date of the cruise and sometimes the name of the family who placed it or where they have travelled from.

Other cruisers feel it’s unnecessary clutter, and some cruise lines actively discourage the activity — so it’s worth checking before you go.

We had a lot of fun hunting ducks (adults and children alike), and it’s a surprisingly enjoyable way to pass the time on a sea day. We are definiely in the camp of packing ducks and packs of these can be bought cheaply off places like Temu. I do not go overboard with these as in general i’m not a fan of plastic rubbish for the environment. We do like to ‘recycle’ our ducks by taking those ones that we have found and leaving them on our next cruise for other people to find.

Optional: Other Cruise Essentials You Might Consider Adding

A few extra tips I’ve learned along the way that make cruise life smoother — and still frugal-friendly:

• Pack a mini “first day” bag: Checked luggage can take several hours to reach your cabin, so keep essentials in your hand luggage — medication, flip-flops, swimwear, a change of clothes, and sunscreen. That way, you can hit the pool early if you want to.
• Theme nights: Check in advance whether your cruise has theme nights. Dressing up is optional, but even a simple accessory can make it more fun.
• Join your cruise Facebook group: Search for a group for your sailing as soon as you book. They’re full of tips, Q&As, and pre-cruise excitement. As a caution, sometimes the less favourable things are posted, such as sickness outbreaks or mechanical issues. This can be really off-putting, but forewarned is forearmed, I suppose.
• Reusable water bottle: Handy in hot destinations for taking water ashore without paying inflated prices. On our last cruise, we managed fine by rinsing and reusing the water bottles provided on the plane, but we wished we had bought a couple of more durable bottles from home (they were really expensive to buy at the ports).
• Hand soap: I always pack a small bottle of Carex hand soap. It’s a simple comfort and feels more hygienic than the generic cabin soap. I double-bag it to avoid any suitcase leaks.
• Lanyard with card holder (for cabin key cards)

Final Verdict: What’s Really Worth Packing for a Budget Cruise?

Cruising can be as frugal or as fancy as you make it. With a bit of preparation, you can enjoy all the perks of life at sea without overspending — or overpacking.

My top essentials — Dr. Beckmann wash sheets, magnetic hooks, and a few creature comforts like cappuccinos — are small but mighty space-savers that genuinely improve the experience. Others, like packing cubes or towel pegs, are nice to have but not vital.

Ultimately, the best cruise essentials are the ones that make your trip easier, lighter, and more enjoyable.