Essential Travel Items: Top Gadgets and Must‑Have Accessories

Dual-use phone cases, camera enhancers and a high-tech way to locate anything you pack: These are just a few of the must-have travel gadgets you’ll want on your next vacation to any of the destinations Royal Caribbean visits.

When you’re cruising the Caribbean, preparing for a day in port or anticipating an adventure-filled shore excursion, these top picks of innovative accessories will make for smoother sailing. Read on for the full list of essential cruise items — and don’t forget to bring along “low-tech” faves like trusty earplugs, a sleep mask and travel-size hand sanitizer.

Key Takeaways: Cruise Travel Essentials

● Essential travel items for families: Secure belongings with attachable Bluetooth trackers, keep devices charged with portable chargers and help children sleep using a comforting nightlight.

● Carry-on essentials: Protect your valuables using a waterproof dry bag and stay hydrated with a reusable, insulated water bottle.

● Travel organization essentials: A versatile rain jacket keeps you dry and can double up as a hidden pouch for valuables when you’re not wearing it.

● Travel document essentials: Organize important identification inside a zippered passport wallet and protect credit cards with an RFID-blocking sleeve.

● Explore cruises and start planning your gadgets for the ultimate cruise weekend getaway. 

Essential Travel Items for Families

1. Portable Charger

Compact and lightweight, a portable charger is the perfect accessory to take with you on shore excursions, regardless of whether you’re heading off on a weekend getaway in the Caribbean or a longer cruise near the Mediterranean, as they eliminate the worry of a drained battery for the whole family. Their USB cable typically comes with a Type-C adapter for a range of devices, and modern devices carry enough power to charge multiple phones more than once.

If you’re flying into the cruise port, check with your airline about which portable chargers you can carry on the flight. Some use batteries that aren’t allowed on planes. 

2. A Home Security System

Plenty of all-in-one home security systems come complete with motion-sensor cameras, allowing you to monitor your home via mobile app while you’re away. These apps require at-home setup beforehand, and they provide alerts as well as instantaneous arming and disarming to give you peace of mind on your vacation. 

You can often back up your cellular system, which means you can always receive notifications even without Wi-Fi.

3. Bluetooth Tracker Device

A slim, shiny attachable Bluetooth tracker helps you find any misplaced items with a paired smartphone. A simple tap on your device allows you to track the location or emit a sound if it’s nearby. These devices sometimes have a community of users so that good Samaritans can report lost items to their owners.

4. Nightlight and White Noise Machine

A small nightlight can help young children move through an unfamiliar stateroom and provide a sense of comfort when it gets dark. White noise machines (or even just an app that you can play through your phone) mask any sounds coming from the corridors or ship noises that may disrupt sleep. A compact, battery-powered version takes up minimal space in your carry-on.

5. Pharmacy Kit and Toiletries

Be prepared for small bumps and scratches with a compact, portable pharmacy kit. Include items like plasters, antiseptics, nail scissors, motion sickness medications and OTC pain killers. For shore excursions, hand sanitizer and spare tissues are indispensable. 

6. Royal App

When traveling with the family, the Royal App makes it easier to keep in touch with teens on board the ship. You can also browse restaurant menus, book dinner reservations and see what events and activities are coming up on the ship, making cruise planning super simple.

7. Digital Family Folder

Before you leave home, create a shared folder that everyone in the family can access with scanned copies of: 

● Passports.

● Insurance documents.

● Booking confirmations.

● Emergency contacts.

Make sure the group has offline access for areas where connectivity is limited. For kids, it helps to save this document somewhere they can easily navigate to on their gadgets — especially emergency contacts. 

8. Reusable Water Bottle

Reusable bottles save money and reduce waste. Ships have water stations in common areas, making it easy to refill while on board and before you head off on excursions. Look for an insulated version that keeps drinks cold through a full day on shore in the heat.

9. Wireless Earbuds

Wireless earbuds are all the rage, and it’s easy to see why. They require minimal charging time in their compact charging case for hours of listening, and you can conveniently change tracks or make a call with them.

10. Dry Bag and Water-Proof Phone Case

A dry bag protects your valuables on water-based excursions, beach days and tender transfers. When you want to take pictures, a waterproof phone case ensures you can capture those special memories around the water without risk. 

Notes on waterproofing: If you have a waterproof phone (importantly, not a water-resistant phone), you can usually bring it underwater to shallow depths for a short time and take photos without damaging the device. However, if you’ve ever had the screen replaced, chances are, it’ll no longer be water-tight.

Second, it’s a good idea (and sometimes required) to take your passport to shore when you head away on excursions. I always keep my passport sealed in a zip-lock bag inside my travel wallet. That way, even if there’s a splash or unexpected rain, the document remains intact and travel-ready. 

11. Universal Adapter

Compatible in many countries, a worldwide adapter and USB charger are the only plug-ins you will need for your portable electronic devices. They can charge multiple devices at a time, and often come with a travel bag and charging cable.

Note that on cruise ships, surge-protected adapters and multiplugs are prohibited. It’s best to opt for a non-surge-protected one. 

12. Slim External Hard Drive

The photo and video opportunities at the picturesque destinations you’ll explore are unlimited, but memory space isn’t always. Rest assured, a lightweight hard drive is slim enough to easily fit in your luggage, and with terabytes of storage, you can feel free to snap tons of photos and film as many HD videos as you want.

13. Versatile Rain Jacket

Storms can be unpredictable, but a compact wind- and rain-resistant jacket will make sure you’re always ready at a moment’s notice. These are among the most essential clothing items to pack for your cruise, and often fold into a kangaroo pocket, making them easy to put in your day pack (or even stow your phone and money). 

14. Neck Pillow, Eye Mask and Reusable Ear Plugs

A good neck pillow is especially useful if you have a long flight ahead of your arrival at the cruise port. When paired with reusable earplugs and a travel mask, sleep becomes that much more accessible. 

I use my earplugs during early mornings and late nights at airports to reduce noise while waiting in lines, but they also come in handy on the ship if your stateroom companions want to sleep later than you. Especially when cruising through northern destinations like Alaska, an eye mask helps block out light from the longer sunshine hours during summer. 

15. Phone Case Wallet

Pack light for your adventures on land by storing your SeaPass card, cash and credit card inside your phone case. Many brands make cases for Androids and iPhones that are practical, protective and stylish, allowing you to always keep your cruising must-haves at hand.

16. Passport Wallet

A slim passport wallet keeps your passport, boarding pass, international driver’s license, a couple of cards and even some spare cash together in one place. This level of organization makes boarding day and port check-ins much smoother. Opt for one with a zip closure so nothing falls out during transit.

17. RFID-Blocking Wallet or Sleeve

RFID-blocking wallets prevent contactless card data from being scanned electronically in crowded ports and terminals. A sleeve version fits over your existing wallet and costs very little. In many areas, these won’t be necessary, but it’s a straightforward layer of protection worth having.

The right gear depends on the trip. Here are a few things worth thinking through before you buy:

● Consider your excursions: If your excursions are primarily on land, a dry bag is nice to have. When you're snorkeling, kayaking or taking tender transfers, it becomes more essential.

● Think about who's travelling with you: Families with young children may need extra gadgets, whereas solo travellers or couples can often travel lighter.

● Check the climate: An insulated water bottle to keep your drink cool matters more in areas like the sunny Caribbean than in northern Europe.

● Don't duplicate what the ship provides: Most cruise ships include hairdryers, USB charging points and quality toiletries. Check your stateroom specs — especially if this is your first cruise — before packing gadgets the ship already has.

● Prioritize multi-use items: The most convenient travel gadgets do more than one job. Opt for the items that solve multiple problems with minimal bulk and weight.

● Check airline restrictions before you pack: Portable chargers and power banks often contain lithium batteries, which are subject to carry-on restrictions. Check your airline's policy before committing.

What Is the Most Useful Item for Traveling?

A portable power bank is the most useful item for traveling. Nowadays, when almost everything is done on smartphones, including check-in, communications and taking photos, keeping devices charged helps ensure a smooth travel experience.

What Should I Pack in My Carry‑On?

Pack anything you'll need to get into the fun as soon as you board the ship. This usually includes a bathing suit, sun protection, any medications you may need, a portable charger, water bottle and, of course, your travel documents. 

What Are the Best Travel Items for Families?

When you’re traveling with multiple pieces of luggage, a Bluetooth tracker on bags and important items helps you find them more easily. The Royal App is another savior for planning and communications on board the ship — especially for teens. 

When young children stay in unfamiliar staterooms, a white noise machine and a small nightlight help them feel more settled. 

What Travel Essentials Do People Forget?

Most people remember the big items and forget the small ones. A power bank, compact rain jacket and waterproof phone case are the most common items left behind.