Apart from the obvious, underwear, formal wear and pool wear, what else should you bring on your cruise? Here are a few things I don't leave the house without before I cruise but its not an exhaustive list by any means. Please comment if there's something you can't cruise without! Check out my blog on Stateroom essentials too!
Luggage Tags
If you are a frequent cruiser luggage tags are for you! Cruise lines get you to print out paper luggage tags and then have you become a black belt in origami to fold them and staple them to your bags! They can get ripped off and lost (and thus your luggage). The solution is plastic Luggage tags which in which to insert the tag and attach to your bag! They are relatively inexpensive and reusable, just the ticket for return cruisers! They are available for all cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, NCL, Princess and Carnival.
Packing Cubes
With formal wear, evening wear, beach wear, day wear and pool wear there is a lot to pack for a short amount of time. You can take more bags and pay airline fees or use packing cubes. The ones I use compress for even more space! I use one in my Carry on for carry on essentials, go look at my Embarkation day blog for more details.
Laundry Bag
Another good way of saving room in your bags is to only bring half of what you'll wear and then do laundry. Obviously not very many people want to do laundry on vacation but either way you'll need a laundry bag to put your dirty laundry until washday or you leave.
Chargers
Don't forget to pack phone chargers, tablet chargers, camera battery chargers, gaming device charger and any other electronic device charger you need! In the modern high tech day and age is impossible to live without whole mass of power chargers which in return need a mass of power outlets or USB ports. Unfortunately most staterooms do not come with an abundance of outlets or USB ports so its always good to bring along a power strip. Cruise lines do not allow power strips with a surge protector so make sure it is cruise ship approved.
Cash
We live in a cashless world and I for one, rarely carry cash. There is also no need for cash on a cruise ship as everything is billed to your stateroom. But you'll need cash, especially small bills, firstly for the porters outside the cruise terminal who take your bags. The porters aren't paid by the cruise line so depend on tips, just $2 per bag is sufficient but it may be prudent to throw in an extra buck or two if they are particularly heavy. Some market stalls and shops on the islands will only take cash and if you take taxis or go to a bar cash is never refused.
Water Shoes
Not everyone likes to go into the sea with bare feet and some excursion activities specifically state water shoes or feet covering are needed so don't forget to pack them! I use my Water Shoes all the time!
Towel clips
It gets windy on the deck by the pool and towels can blow away! Towel clips also serve as a marker so others no the loungers are taken, in case you have to run away for a few minute, instead of leaving a tablet or room key.
Wet Bags
No one wants to put a wet bathing suites in their backpack or wear a wet suite back to the ship so this where the handy dandy wet bags come in! Obviously a cheaper alternative is a pack of ziplock bags but the wet bags are both reusable and washable as well as stylish.