Your Cruise Essentials: Cruise Cabin Prep Kit

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Are you ready to cruise?  You probably have learned that unless you have booked a suite, cruise cabins are quite small but that is easily managed.  This is my go-to Cruise Cabin Prep kit for preparing our cruise cabins for a fabulous week at sea.  I’ve fine-tuned this over the years and I’m sure it will continue to evolve.  I consider these items to be essential to kick off a fabulous week of vacation onboard a cruise ship.

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First, The cabin is always clean but I feel better taking it a step further. I like to grab my clean essentials and do a quick once-over and set up in the cabin.

Antibacterial wipes – MY MUST HAVE!   Take a moment to wipe down the toilet seat, handle, faucet, light switches, TV remote, phone, and doorknobs. I use medical-grade Sono Disinfecting Wipes for cabins and planes and the regular Wet Ones for everyday use.

Now, let’s get everything set up.

Cruise Cabin Organization and “Fixers”

Magnetic Clips/Hooks – The cruise cabin walls are metal so magnets can be handy organizational tools.  You can hang up your cruise schedule, lanyard, hat, notes, etc. I first heard about these “Super Strong Magnetic Hooks” from Sheri at CruiseTipsTv.com and she wasn’t kidding.  They are intense.  Thanks for the tip Sheri!

Update for 2023:  These magnets are strong and even more compact/easier to pack!

Pop-Up Hamper – This is so easy to pack and helps keep the small room nice and tidy.  This idea originated because my husband always wanted to have a bag to put dirty clothes in.  The laundry bags provided are so tiny we started packing  a pop up hamper years ago and it’s been great.

They are so inexpensive and easy to use.  I use the side pocket to house the Shout Wipes, the Woolite and Downey wrinkle release as well.

Don’t forget to also store those suitcases under the bed. Here is a similar Pop-Up Hamper on Amazon but usually available at Dollar Tree.

Related:  The Pop Up Hamper is one of my most purchased recommended items.  Check out my other recommended travel favorites page.

Fabreeze – This little spray bottle is a life-saver! We use this to spray into our hamper midweek. My husband and I try to work out each morning so sweaty clothes need some Fabreeze love. If you travel with teenagers, you can thank me later.

“Fixers”– Travel sizes of Woolite, Downey Wrinkle Release (although I am not convinced it really takes out wrinkles) and Shout Wipe packets.

Clothes Pins –  It’s easy to hang up more swimsuits on the retractable shower line with a few clothespins.

Value your RoommatesPoo-Pourri – because, well, you know. 😉 It’s so much nicer than aerosol sprays that are too strong.

Managing Chargers and Communication

USB/c Charging Hub – This may be your teenager’s favorite item on the list. This 6 USB-USBc port is perfect for charging a variety of items all at once. If you need additional outlets, this is a great option.

Pens, highlighter & Notepads – I love having these on hand to leave notes for family or for our room steward. You can also highlight your cruise schedule for the not to be missed events.

cards and cash cruise cabin prep kit

Thank You Cards – I enjoy writing a little note to our room steward and our waiters/waitresses to include with their extra tip.  They provide excellent service and I think it’s the right thing to do.

Dollar bills – I put 10-20 single dollar bills in the desk drawer for easy access to tip room service, etc. We order coffee each morning from room service so I like to tip a couple of dollars each time.

Mini Flashlight – When our daughter was young she liked to keep this mini flashlight on the nightstand by her bed.  It was perfect for a late-night trip to the bathroom without disturbing her brother. Now, years later, it still finds it’s way into the pouch. I’m a “safety-first” girl so it’s a good thing to have if needed. Battery-operated tea lights also make a great nightlight.

Fixers cruise cabin prep kit

Cloth Mask – Although masks are currently not required, I tuck in a washable mask.  If the pandemic taught us anything it’s that anything is possible.

Finally, I tuck my medicine pouch in the cabinet so that our family has easy access to pain reliever, allergy medication, tummy relief and all of our essentials.

Related:  Staying Healthy on A Cruise

That’s it!  I downsize this a bit when my husband and I cruise alone but this is typically what we need to keep our family of four in good shape for a 7-day cruise. It’s so handy having this cruise cabin prep kit ready for each trip.  I restock anything that’s necessary when we unpack and it’s ready for that next cruise.

All of these items fit nicely into this small plastic zipper pouch with I include in my embarkation day bag.   Read my What’s In My Embarkation Day Bag for all of the details.

Another important tip is to make sure to download the app for your cruise line before your cruise.  Most cruise lines have an app now and it makes scheduling activities quick and easy!

Free Cruise Cabin Prep Kit Printable

Get your planning going with this Cruise Cabin Prep Kit Printable available to all subscribers.  Haven’t subscribed yet? You may do so here.  The password will be sent to you via email.

What are your must-haves for cabin organization?  Comment below and share what helps you have a great cruise experience.

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90 thoughts on “Your Cruise Essentials: Cruise Cabin Prep Kit”

  1. Something I wish I would have taken was a thermometer, nothing worse than not knowing how high a fever is getting. Not feeling like heading to the bottom of the ship to check.

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  6. Hi there! Just wondering once you’ve filled your hamper with dirty clothes, what do you do with them at the end of the week to transport back home. – garbage bag? Thank you!

    1. Why would you need a garbage bag? If you’re traveling with someone, combine any leftover clean clothes into one suitcase, the dirty ones into another. Bada-bing, bada-boom, DONE!

    1. Small battery powered sensor light/strip provides light when you need to get up during the night. Senses motion and shuts off automatically.

  7. I did this on our last cruise. My husband thought it was amazing how prepared I was. I may add over the door organizer as I was constant searching my toiletries tote for things.

  8. I added an over the door shoe organizer and use the magnets to hold it on a wall. Since not a lot of drawer space, it houses swimsuits, tanks, socks, etc….

    1. Those are so handy! Normally for just the two of us, we have plenty of storage space. But, we are on Empress right now and space is VERY limited. I wish I would have added the organizer for this trip. Thanks for reading Nanette!

    1. Kristina,
      I totally agree and have added that to my kit as well. It’s SO much better than those perfumy aerosol sprays. You know…for our husbands 😉 Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I’d love for you to join our community on Facebook, too. – Jillian

      1. Angela Karitis

        I’m so flushing excited to see that Poo~Pourri is an essential in your cruise prep kit! I love to take the 2oz “Ship Happens” scent. All natural, safe to flush, and so necessary in tight quarters. Happy spritzing and happy cruising, folks!

        1. Angela, you crack me up! I need you in the Finding Jillian Cruise Crew on Facebook! Is there really a “ship happens” scent? Perfect!
          HC ~ Jillian

  9. Love all of your ideas. I have a power plug like yours (upper left hand) with two plugs and two USB. We bought it and used it on our last cruise and it worked great. I pulled it out last week to pack for our upcoming cruise and I notice that on the back of it it says it is a SURGE PROTECTOR. Since that is a no no on a cruise ship, it won’t be going with us this time. Have you had any trouble getting with that one?

    1. Jan, thank you so much for reading my blog. I hadn’t had any issues getting it taken in the past. However, I have switched to only bringing the 5 USB hub. Other than my laptop, we really didn’t need the 2 outlets but we typically needed more USB ports. So, the USB hub works out better for cameras, cell phones, etc.

      Where are you sailing on your upcoming cruise?!!

        1. Great ship and a fantastic itinerary! Have a wonderful sailing! I’d love for you to share your trip favorites on the facebook page when you return!

  10. Add a cheap over-the-door shoe holder to hang on the outside of bathroom door for toiletries, sunscreen, etc. frees up counter space!

    1. Jane the over-the-door shoe organizer is a huge hit with so many cruisers. When we travel with friends or family and our teens are in a room of 4, it comes in handy for sure! Thank you for reading my blog post.

  11. Regarding Terry’s comment about wishing to reply to others’ posts, there isn’t anything to click to reply to any of the posts. So, I thought I’d start a new one because I have a suggestion for taking home dirty clothes–Travel Space Bags! You want the kind that you can just roll up, not the kind you need a vacuum for, so if you just choose one that says Travel you should be good. This saves space and keeps the dirty clothes away from your other things. I love your tip about the pop up hamper because I never travel without one! I also liked taking those canvas boxes that can fold up flat when not in use. I put my toiletries in them and keep them in the closet since the bathroom doesn’t have any counter space, and then I just take the box to the bathroom when I need it.

    Thank you for the great tips!

    1. Thanks, Christine! Once a comment is posted, there is a reply option below their comment on the right. Please let me know if you do not see it. Canvas boxes…I like it. I haven’t thought of that before. Thanks so much for sharing.

      1. I got some from Dollar Tree in 2015 and they are still great. I put loose papers in it and my husband empties his pockets at night in it. Really helps corral items and saves table space.

  12. Question: I have some STRONG magnets. I was thinking of putting up a metallic sun decor item on my cabin door. It is just pretty. has anyone come back to their room to find door decor no longer there?

    1. Hi Joann,
      I haven’t had anyone remove decor from my door. I haven’t had too many decorations on my door but I do usually have my Finding Jillian Blog magnet on my door. I would say that you should never decorate with any expensive items or anything overly important to you…just in case. But, I otherwise I would go for it! Sounds beautiful.

  13. I appreciate all the tips and tricks I’ve come across. I have a question regarding the retractable shower line. Where can a person find one?

    1. Hi JoAnne, thanks so much for reading this post. I hope it was helpful. In all of my cruises, the retractable clothesline was located inside the shower. You pull the line from one side and there is a spot that it hooks into on the other side of the small shower. You may drape your wet items over the line or bring a few clothespins from home to attach wet items. It’s a small line but works well. Please let me know if you have any other questions! I’m happy to help.

  14. So glad I am not the only one who brings ALL these things and more on a cruise! It’s a lot to pack, but I am glad I had it all on my last cruise this past month. Also, regular magnets to hang paper documents (like itinerary or Carnival’s “fun times” list of activities.

    1. We both like to be prepared, Martha! Have you checked out my customizable schedule? It’s available to subscribers on my Travel Printables page. I hope you’ll check it out.

    1. Great April! Make sure they are the strong kind. The super lightweight paper ones don’t hold well. Have a great sailing!

  15. I always get 2 dollar bills from the bank to tip with, people go nuts over them. Book your excursions on your own soooo much cheaper, I go to trip advisor to look for excursions and have excellent experiences. Also an extension cord is always nice to have.

  16. We cruised earlier this spring on Rhapsody. I found that magnets didn’t work on the walls. I brought a suction hook I fond on Amazon. I stuck it to the window, and made sure it didn’t block my view. I hug my damp swimsuit on it and it dryed much faster than hanging in the bathroom. I also brought a clear plastic shoe storage bag that hangs over the door. Every thing went in it, sunglasses, hats, scarves, etc. It worked great. I never spent precious time looking for my stuff.

    1. Thanks for sharing Sandy! That’s good to know about Rhapsody. The shoe organizer is perfect for all of those little items! I hope you had a great bacation Were you on a Cuban sailing?

  17. Usually book an inside cabin so I can sleep past daybreak, however, that means it’s dark when lights are off, hello ! So I have found some plug in night lights that are easy to pack & I bring 1 for the room & 1 for the bathroom. Voila! I find my way without stubbing my toes & making a ruckus. Also do not have to fumble to find a flashlight.

    1. Great idea! You’re right. Those bathroom step ups are rough in the middle of the night. Have a great day and thanks for joining in!

    2. I use glow sticks from the dollar tree as night lights in both bathroom & stateroom. It offers enough light to get you oriented in a dark room and not too much light for roommates that prefer no lights. They come 4 to 5 in a pack for $1. Crack open just b4 lights out and you are set. They don’t add extra weight and don’t take up precious packing space. Take extras per night for rooms larger than a standard stateroom size and strategically placed them to avoid bumping into furniture and hang one on a magnet just outside the bathroom door & light switch for sleepy trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

      1. I also read or saw on a YT video that someone recommended those little battery operated votive candles as night lights in the bathroom… I thought that was a pretty brilliant idea too 🙂

  18. Since your #1 is wet Wipes and sanitizing; we are thinking about avoid others germs. I ALWAYS bring my own pillowcases for everyone. I gives me just a little more defense against the critters (real or imaginary) that might be in the pillow, from the hundreds of other people who’ve used it. I leave a note for the room steward that the pillow is theirs, but the pillowcase is mine and please don’t change the pillowcase back to one of theirs. I make sure to bring pillowcases that have large, loud print material so it is easily recognizable as my property. (Not a light blue sold color, but a princess pillowcase or big flowers, or superhero themed.) The “loud” pillowcase also helps me to remember to pack it when leaving the ship. If you need a loud pillowcase, I’ve found that the local thrift shop often has these, and you only have to buy one or two pillowcases, not the whole bed set.

  19. we are also going on the allure in 2019….will be the biggest ship we have ever been on…….any tips?

    1. Yes! Shannon, I was worried that I wouldn’t like the mega-ship because I love that connection with the sea. But, we loved it! The ship really has so much to offer and all of the offerings really help spread out the crowd. We kept our connection to the sea by spending mornings on our balcony and afternoons in the Solarium. Central Park was a favorite and the entertainment is out of this world! Also, if budget allows, try a specialty restaurant or two. If you book ahead in the cruise planner they offer packages with great savings. Check out my post on the cruise planner, too. If you have any specific questions you can comment or email me at any time. (We booked again for March 2019) – Jillian

  20. I put an unzipped suitcase under the bed. Each evening, I pull it out, lay the day’s dirty clothes in it, and shove it back under the bed. If that bag gets full, I start a new one. By the end of the cruise, there’s not much left to pack!

    1. Hi Terry, you should be able to comment on any post. If you let me know where you are having trouble, I will look into it. Comments are sent to me to approve before their posted. I’m not screening them, it’s a setting on my site theme. Thanks for reading my blog.

  21. Thank you all for the great ideas. As a newbie cruiser I’ve gleamed some great info. Being kind and generous to those that work so hard to serve others is really important to me. How much to tip everyone from airport sidewalk cabbies to everyone on the ship to the cruise hotels we will be staying in after our cruise is overwhelming right now trying to figure the money for this. Any advice? I also just joined findingjillian so haven’t checked on this site yet. Also what kind of camera do you like best for an Alaskan cruise? I have several nice cameras but hesitate to lug them around. Thanks again.

    1. Hi Terry! Thank you so much for subscribing. For assistance with your luggage, the general rule is $1 per bag. However, this is personal preference. If we have 4 bags, I usually give them a $5 bill. I start collecting $1, $5 a couple weeks out so that I have a good supply. I also tip our room steward a bit on the first day and leave a little note that I am excited for a great week and to get to know them. That’s also a time when you can ask for your ice bucket to be filled each day or for a few extra hangers. It lets them know that you are making a small request but immediately showing appreciation for their hard work. They work so hard! Try not to be overwhelmed you are going to have a blast. Regarding Alaska, bring the best camera you have that you are able to manage. I wouldn’t worry about bringing multiple. Just whatever you are comfortable carrying. There are so many amazing photo opportunities you will want to have it close to you at all times. Oh, and binoculars are a must! If you have any other questions, feel free to email me, reply to a post or use the contact us link. I am so happy to try and help.

  22. Thanks for the tips. I just got off a cruise and these ideas were great. One thing I did was I made a poster and put it in our biggest suitcase to hang on our door. It said “Say hello and tell us where you are from!” I put a command strip on a clothespin, used a hair tie and hooked 2 different color pens on it and put it on the door. It was fun to see all the names and comments when we got back to our room and it helped tremendously finding the cabin! 😀

  23. These nice tips for the rookies is GREAT! I am looking forward to this trip & having a wonderful time , with friends & family. I will take heed to all the little things. I will go to the Dollar Tree & get just what I need with list in hand from various info , of the cruise staff.
    Thank you, My cruise date is 07/09/18 to – 07/14/18 western Carribean on Carnival Fantasy !

    Barbara Quinn/quinnbarbara@bellsouth.net

    1. That’s great Barbara! Have a great time and let me know how it goes. The Dollar Tree is a great place to start. I often forget that you can get highlighters, mini flashlights and more right there.

  24. I really love the list and you are so right, it has taken several cruises to perfect! I don’t use a flashlight, rather I use the battery operated tea candles. I leave one in the bathroom and give my daughter another to keep in her bed, under her pillow or close by. I guess I like that it is a “moveable night light”. My daughter really likes them.

    1. Love that idea! I’m on the Allure right now and one of my favorite things about our stateroom is the nightlight bar in the bathroom. Haha. It’s the little things in life. Have a great day and thanks for reading my blog.

  25. I put a photo of somewhere on the cruise or a map of the cruise with my Cruise Critic name and city we are from together and print it out on magnetic paper. Looks good on the fridge as well as bringing back good memories when the cruise is finished. Magnetic paper is available at Staples.

    1. That is a great idea CJ. I printed out my FindingJillian.com logo and put it on a magnetic sheet for this cruise! I put it on our cabin door. It’s a non-intrusive way of sharing my blog and also helps us find our room in the sea of doors. Have a great day! Thanks for subscribing and sharing your great tip.

    2. Could you shoot a pic of what you are talking about? I have a printing company and I can get my art guy to print it, I just don’t know WHAT to have him print. What is a Cruise Critic name?

  26. Jillian, what do you do with the laundry basket full of close when it’s time to leave? Do you carry the laundry basket off the ship or what? Thanks.

    1. Hi Sophia! Thank you for reading my post. I keep the pop up hamper in our stateroom closet all week. At the end of the week, we load all of the dirty clothes into one (or two) of the suitcases. Then the hamper folds back up into a little disk and is stored for next time! We store our suitcases under our bed all week. So, the hamper allows us to stay organized and keep dirty clothes out of the way, without having to pull the suitcase out each day to shove dirty clothes in them. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Have a day!

        1. Hi Kellie, I have used both soft-sided and hard size standard suitcases and both types have fit nicely under the bed. It doesn’t have to be carry-on size. Have a great day!

  27. I heard this tip elsewhere, and it was invaluable on my last cruise: bring a magnet to put on your cabin door. The doors are magnetic just like the walls, and it makes it sooooo much easier to find your room in those long hallways!

    1. Thanks for adding your tip, Julia. That’s a great one! I just created a FindingJillian.com magnet that I will be taking with us to use on our door next week! Thank you so much for reading my blog.

  28. Rsemarie Greenwald

    Magnetic hooks invaluable. I just returned home from an Australia/New Zealand cruise. I hung my sun hat; my camera bag; ship’s daily activities newsletter, as well as other papers on the cabin walls. Kept the clutter down.

    Question: in what section of Walmart can the magnetic Ozark Trail flashlight be found?

    1. Hi! Wow…Australia/New Zealand cruise would be a dream! I’m so glad the hooks were a hit! I found the trail flashlight in the outdoor/camping area of Wal-Mart. There are also several styles available on their website. Thanks so much for reading my blog.

  29. Great list. Very similar to what I bring to set up my cabin for a week of living. FYI, at Walmart you can get a small Ozark Trail flashlight that looks similar to a pen with a clip but the clip is a magnet. I keep one of these stuck up on the wall on each side of the bed and one just outside the bathroom door in case of emergency. In rough waters I don’t have to worry about them rolling off the nightstand.

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