Why do I need a travel alarm when I have a smart phone?

✅ 1. Time Zone Confusion

• Phones can automatically adjust to local time when connecting to a network, which may not always match your intended schedule (like ship time on a cruise).
• With a travel alarm, you can manually set the time to stay consistent with your planned schedule — no surprises.

✅ 2. Consistency on Cruises or Remote Locations

• Cruises are notorious for time changes as they cross time zones or follow "ship time," which may differ from local time.
• A travel alarm set to ship time ensures you're never late for tours, excursions, or ship departures — avoiding costly mishaps.

✅ 3. No Risk of "Airplane Mode" Issues

• If you put your phone in airplane mode during flights or on a cruise, alarms may not work as expected.

💡 Bonus Tip: Look for a small, lightweight, battery-operated travel alarm with a clear display and a loud alarm tone. Some even have dual-time features, perfect for cruises or multi-country trips.

This one is the one I personally use

But here are some other highly rated options for portable travel alarms

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https://amzn.to/3Fm5Jxr

Packing cubes are super helpful for staying organized when traveling! 

They help you:

✅ Stay Organized – You can group similar items together (like shirts in one cube, pants in another) so it's easy to find what you need without digging through your entire suitcase.

✅ Save Space – Packing cubes compress your clothes, allowing you to fit more into your luggage. Some cubes even have compression zippers to make everything even more compact.

✅ Prevent Wrinkles – By keeping your clothes neatly packed, you reduce the chance of wrinkles since they aren’t shifting around as much.

✅ Easier Unpacking – When you arrive, you can just pull out the cubes instead of unpacking everything. You could even place the cubes directly in drawers at your destination.

✅ Separate Clean and Dirty Clothes – Some people use one cube for clean clothes and another for dirty clothes, making it easy to keep them separate.

They’re basically like little portable drawers for your suitcase — total game changer! 😎

I own these Packing Cubes https://amzn.to/4iHHAjc

But here are a few other offerings

https://amzn.to/41WrSv3

https://amzn.to/4iCXFXu

Most cruise cabins are made of steel which means you can snag these great magnets and use them to hang items on the wall to keep your cabin clutter free!  

Protip: You'll want a stronger bond (110lb) for jackets/purses/backpacks

Magnetic Hooks

I've found this little guy makes things easier. I put this in the back corner of my closet and it's out of my hair and I can lob things in vs finding the bag and having to open it each time.

When you are at the pool or beach, its annoying when your towels fly off. These little clips/bands ensure the towel stays put and you don't spend your vacation repositioning the towel or chasing it down the beach.

Towel bands https://amzn.to/3QYznLE or https://amzn.to/43zWio7  I personally prefer these since they are easier to pack vs clips which are a little bit bulkier.

Towel Clips

If you prefer the clips to the bands...I like these lower profile guys. https://amzn.to/4kIlSNV

If you want fun clips, that reflect your personality, then I recommend one of these 

https://amzn.to/4bIa75Y

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https://amzn.to/4kIiTVD

Confirmed true, there are NEVER enough outlets in a room...especially if you are traveling with anyone else! 

Note: Cruise rooms usually have 2 outlets in total.

For sailing, you can bring power strips but be sure they are NON SURGE protected. If they do have surge protection, they will be confiscated. 

This is what I personally use because I only use one outlet and gain 3. Note: If you are a CPAP user...this will allow you to have your power across the room next to your bed.

A budget option is this strip. It will add an outlet (there is a decent chance it will block both outlets) and includes usb charging for your phones or misc electronics.

Unless you are traveling on Princess (who sports medallion technology)...you will have a traditional key card to access your room. I personally, will loose said key in 19 seconds if I don't use these. These are great and allow you to keep track of your key with ease. Onboard these are often spendy...

Fun fact: I was apparently ahead of my time. I used to bring my own hole punch and lanyards back in the day...but these are much easier! 🙂

I drag this organizer on every trip where I am stationary for any amount of time. I typicaly hang it over the bathroom door. It is a great way to have all your essentials ready at a quick snag. I put my makeup, deodorant, sunscreen, shampoo, soap, Qtips, etc for fast access!

Water shoes are incredibly useful, especially if you're planning any activities around water. Here’s why they’re a game changer:

✅ Protect Your Feet – Whether you’re walking on rocky beaches, sharp shells, or hot sand, water shoes protect your feet from cuts, scrapes, and burns. They’re also great for rivers, lakes, or rocky shorelines where you might step on sharp rocks or hidden objects.

✅ Prevent Slipping – Water shoes have non-slip soles, so when you’re walking on wet surfaces (like pool decks, boats, or slippery rocks), you’ll have way better traction. No embarrassing falls! 😅

✅ Quick-Drying & Breathable – Unlike regular shoes, water shoes are designed to dry quickly, preventing that gross soggy-shoe feeling. They’re also lightweight and breathable, making them comfortable even after getting wet.

✅ Multi-Purpose – You can wear them not just in water, but also for light hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, or exploring tide pools. Some are stylish enough to wear around town afterward!

✅ Keep Sand Out – Some water shoes have mesh uppers that help keep sand and small rocks from getting inside, unlike flip-flops where you’re constantly kicking sand out.

If you're headed somewhere with water activities, they’re definitely worth bringing! 🌊👟

I have a few different pairs that I like:

https://amzn.to/4hl7k3P

https://amzn.to/3DzymXu

If you are trying to minimize expense, these are not required...but luggage tag holders are incredibly useful for cruises. 

✅ 1. Protects Your Luggage Tags from Damage

• Cruise lines usually provide paper luggage tags that can easily rip, tear, or get smudged if exposed to rain or rough handling.

✅ 2. Prevents Luggage from Getting Lost

• A luggage tag holder keeps the tag securely attached to your bag, ensuring it gets to your stateroom without issues.

✅ 3. Weatherproof and Waterproof

• Most cruise luggage tags are paper, which can get ruined if exposed to rain, humidity, or splashes of water.
• Luggage tag holders are usually waterproof, keeping your tags intact even if they get wet.

✅ 4. Easy Attachment

• Most cruise luggage tag holders come with sturdy metal loops or zip ties that keep the tag securely attached to your luggage handle.
• This is more secure than stapling or taping the tags (which can easily come off).

🚢 Pro Tip:

• When purchasing a luggage tag holder, make sure to check the size that matches your cruise line's tags (standard or large).
• Also, opt for ones with stainless steel loops instead of plastic, as they are more durable.

Carnival Cruise Line/Seabourn

Royal Caribbean

Norwegian Cruise Line

Princess

Celebrity

Others