*NEW* 2025 Cruise Carry-on Must-Haves, Tips & Hacks | Pack with me! 🛳️✈️🧳

Here are the essentials to pack in your cruise carry-on bag for embarkation day. In this comprehensive video, I share carry on packing tips & hacks you need for the first day of your cruise. This is how I'm packing & organizing my carry-on bag for every cruise.

I've partnered with Nomad Lane & they have sponsored this video.

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ITEMS IN VIDEO:

MORE CRUISE ESSENTIALS

Luggage tag holders:

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FTC LEGAL DISCLOSURE - Some links found in the description box of my videos are affiliate links, meaning that I will make a commission on purchases you make through my links, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I personally like and trust.
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Please note that I am unable to give personal cruise and travel advice. If you leave a comment I try my best to answer.

ABOUT ME
Hi! I'm Ilana! I live in Montreal, Canada with my husband Frank. We can often be found dreaming about and planning future cruises, ideally to hot and sunny destinations! I believe in having fun, being kind and that you are never too old, or too young, to live the life of your dreams!

Please note that I do not sell cruises on Life Well Cruised. This and all other videos are for entertainment purposes only. I share my own opinions, personal experiences and information with other cruise travellers, which I hope can be helpful. Please contact your travel agent or the cruise line directly for advice and any information specific to your booking.

Some B-Roll used in this video: Courtesy of RCCL
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Music Credit: Surf Time by Lux-InspiraMusicMusic

[ElyseDeschambault]

We now have a few staple items we bring on trips, whether on land or at sea: a small USB fan, a USB nightlight, a few chip clips (a versatile item!), a power bar, a spork and a small plastic bowl for snacks, and a wet bag to keep wet/damp items separate from the rest. I also made waterproof seat covers (about 15 in by 15 in) to put on a bench or chair if it has rained, to keep our tushies dry!

[mrlogboy]

Definition of a travel nerd…..
Someone who likes to plan for the trip as much as the trip itself lol
For most trips if I know months ahead of time, the suitcase is out and I’m starting to pack stuff months ahead of time stuff. I will only use on that trip. As well as jumping on the Internet and doing all the research thanks for your helpful tips.

[QueenSuperJ]

Here’s something that I learned from your videos, by combining your amazing tips and tricks! I have my suitcase and my carryon, properly packed of course. Inside my carryon I pack my foldable beach bag. When we arrive at the port to check our bags I pull out the beach bag, drop my money, identification, medicine, swimsuit, flip flops 🩴, and phone. I check my suitcase and my carryon and now I have a light, easy to handle bag filled with just what I need for now. AirTags in my suitcase and carryon let me know my bags made it on board

[rosshageman]

A poster below mentioned taking pictures of medicines. Great idea. Also make a copy of your passport. Make two copies of your boarding pass and other documents.

[tinybubbles]

Water enhancer in a few flavors. Crystal lite powder or the other liquid. Sealed.

[QueenSuperJ]

Pro tip…Take a picture of the label of your prescription medications, with a picture of the corresponding tablet or capsule (where applicable). Take pictures of inhalers, creams, ointments, nasal spray, and eye drops as well. Keep those photos in your phone. It’s useful for many different reasons.

[cliftonselent]

Experience is the best teacher. I way over stuffed my suitcases the first cruise. I've dropped about 25-30% of my stuff over the years.

[RBXChas]

Even if you don't wear glasses, bring a glasses repair kit! My sunglasses lost a screw somewhere, and I did not have a repair kit. I'm just glad it was my sunglasses and not my kids' eyeglasses. Anyway, I ended up spending $60 on a pair of sunglasses that would probably have been $20 or less on land, and I don't even like them that much. If you don't do this, bring spare sunglasses (or eyeglasses)!

[janeshiota]

A pen! And a Sharpie. Always have a tiny sewing kit and safety pins; small bit of packing tape in carry on. I love your cruise organizer paperwork. Using right now for next cruise in July. Keeps all those payments and reservations recorded this far ahead.

[suselim]

Glad you mentioned a travel umbrella. Instead of a regular travel umbrella I purchased a travel sun umbrella for my Caribbean cruises. This way I am covered rain or shine. Using the sun umbrella makes it cooler on a hot day and I am not adding to my sun exposure.

[betsydoc]

nothing wrong with being an over-packer, as long as you have the room. You get alot in that carryon bag! I don’t want to be stuck saying I wish I had something I that I left at home.

[Cheryl]

I purchased the bento bag, but my problem was the weight of it. Elevators were full on embarkation day and we do carry on only. So I had my Level8 bag in one hand, and the bento in the other and went up several flights of stairs until we reached our room. I had to rest at each level. I have since purchased the nomad lane tote bag and it is so much lighter and so much more manageable than the Bento. And bonus that the tote bag handles actually fit on the wide handles of the Level8 Voyageur carry on. Love your videos! The planning is half the fun of cruising.

[cancerfish]

I'm getting all of my things ready and this video was good timing. I'll definitely be bringing an outfit for the first evening in my embarkation carry on. I didn't think of that and it's smart.

[SonjaStefan]

I like to bring a mini sewing kit for "wardrobe malfuntions" and a spare set of shoelaces and sneakerlaces, JUST IN CASE!😉

[nc]

Carabiner hooks are great to clip items onto a bag. Cheap packs at Walmart.

[TrHiker]

I found Febreeze fabric to go, and love it, especially for cruises that allow smoking in the casino. It is the same size as the Downey release.

[lorettacali]

The dollar tree had really cute little bags. I also keep them in our cars to hold insurance and registration. Another one for napkins. I take the unused ones from our table at restaurants

[katheryndaniels]

You are not good for my pocketbook!!! Luv how that carryon bag looks.

[saraconklinfrozenpennies]

This is the coolest bag! I can’t believe how much it holds!

[theresebentzoni]

I have enjoyed your videos so much and even though I am an avid cruiser I learned something from you every time I watch you! Leaving on the icon on 2 November and I always overpack always so this is good stuff! Thank you for all of your effort to make our vacations more pleasurable🎉