It’s 24 days before you whip out that camera and take a 1000 pictures of your spectacular cruise!
It is the age of electronics. The chance of you being unplugged for the entire cruise is pretty slim. After all, our phones are our cameras, wake up calls, communication, sound systems and safety blankets.
Of course, there are a few other necessities some of us can’t live without… iPads, tablets, curling irons, flat irons, blow dryers and more. And let’s not forget that poolside time with your iPad or kindle! So day 24 is all about PLUG INS!
You definitely need time to work on this list. With electronics you want to do your research and you want to look for the best product, best reviews, best pricing and best warranties you can get.
What electrical voltage does my cruise line use? Most cruise lines have the capability to use North American Standard 110 volts AC and often also have standard European 220/230 volts AC sockets and outlets. That means that you should be fine plugging in most things you need charged. Often in the bathrooms they allow plugs for “shavers only”. Beware not to plug in higher voltage things like hair dryers here. If you wonder what your cruise line uses, it is a quick google search to find out.
World Travel plug adapter kit to cover you almost anywhere you are.
Not a voltage converter, it is compatible with ONLY dual voltage products.
Lightweight at 5 ounces.
Ultra compact size for your luggage
Has 2 USB ports and 2 USA Plugs
Built in surge protection too!!
Here is a hint for when you are aboard. The cruise lines can put the plugs in the most bizarre places in your stateroom. On some ships it’s like Where’s Waldo! And there are not many. Often we are juggling to see who gets the plug first or who’s device needs it the most. And that is always debatable!
NOTE! You cannot bring power strips on a ship because of fire hazard. One alternative is a Portable USB Hub. Much of what we are charging has the capability to charge via a USB. This has become our biggest lifesaver.
If you have multiple devices, have a look at these chargers that can accommodate pretty much everything you may need.
Anker 60W 6 Port USB Wall Charger, PowerPort 6 for iPhone Xs/XS Max/XR/X/8/7/6/Plus, iPad Pro/Air 2/Mini/iPod, Galaxy S9/S8/S7/S6/Edge/Plus, Note 8/7, LG, Nexus, HTC and More
Hercules Tuff White Multiple USB Charger Station 2-in-1 – Short Cables Included for lphone, lpad, Tablets – 50W 10A – Rare White Color Charging StationAnker Elite USB Charger, Dual Port 24W Wall Charger, PowerPort 2 with PowerIQ and Foldable Plug, for iPhone Xs/XS Max/XR/X/8/7/6/Plus, iPad Pro/Air 2/Mini 3/Mini 4, Samsung S4/S5, and More
So, what to bring and what to leave behind? Time to start your electronics list!
Cameras for your Cruise
No question if you are a photo buff you need to have your camera all ready to go. We love seeing photographers running around the ship and ports with the real thing. We have gotten kind of lazy using our phones for everything. But the pictures Captain Bert takes with his real camera blow away the iPhone pics Shauna takes.
Captain Bert here. I love to take photos of our cruises, perhaps one of my favorite things to do. And I can say without a doubt that getting a good quality camera with a long zoom lens will let you take those great shots. I like to use Panasonic Lumix cameras. The image quality and price are beyond compare. Sure I like to use a DSLR but the hassles of taking it on excursions is just not worth it to me.
PANASONIC LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera, 18.1 Megapixel Video Camera, 60X Zoom DC VARIO 20-1200mm Lens, F2.8-5.9 Aperture, POWER O.I.S. Stabilization, Touch Enabled 3-Inch LCD, Wi-Fi, DC-FZ80K (Black)
Here is my present favorite camera, Panasonic Lumix FZ80. It has a 60X zoom, image stabilization and near instant autofocus for taking those shots that you cherish when you get back home.
On our cruise to Cuba, I hung out on our balcony waiting for Customs to clear the ship. Thanks to the long zoom and auto focus functions, I was able to shoot numerous photos of the 50’s cars driving by on the Malecon. Even though I was beyond excited to get off the ship into Havana, I was in heaven, thanks to the Lumix!!
Really think about getting a lightweight long zoom camera like this FZ80, it gives you the opportunity to shoot so much more on your cruise.
And if you have purchased a new camera for the cruise, take some time to practice with it! Get out that new owners manual and actually read it. Play with your camera for the few weeks to come. Especially practice “Quick, grab the camera for the sunset shots”! Or, “WHALE!”. Nothing more frustrating than missing the perfect shot!
Read more tips here on shooting sunrise and sunsets while on your cruise.
I like to keep things well organized so I put all of my cords and cards and in a travel gadget bag.
It is lightweight and has plenty of room to keep things all in one place.
You can even put your phone or an iPad Mini in this one.
Why waste any of our precious Cruise time, searching for cords and connectors and yes we have done that in the past and this is our solution!
Being organized on your cruise gives you the ability to enjoy your time on board and on shore even more.
Camera Accessories for your cruise
- Extra Batteries
- Good travel case
- Charging Cords
- SD Cards
- Film if you use a throwback camera that needs film
- Flashes
Phone Camera for your Cruise
If your phone is your camera then make sure you have all of your cords ready and you have space on your memory! This is huge! Download as much as you can onto your computer so that your phone has space. You can also get some fun photography phone apps to play with. Some will enhance your images, some edit and some just make them crazy fun! Below are some links for apps you may like.
BEST HINT!!! If you can get a long 6-foot cord for your phone versus the regular 3 feet cords, it will change your life as you travel. From airports to those stateroom inopportune outlets, you will be thankful to have a longer cord. When Shauna wants to sit on the bed in the cabin and look at or edit her pictures, that long 6-foot cord is the only thing that makes it possible. We also like to use a Portable Power Bank which lets us run our phones when we are nowhere near a charging station. What a timesaver!!
Once you use a portable power bank, you will wonder how you ever got along with it. That and a longer charging cord will make life on your cruise that much easier. Here are some fine choices:
Anker PowerCore 10000 Portable Charger, One of The Smallest and Lightest 10000mAh External Battery, Ultra-Compact High-Speed-Charging-Technology Power Bank for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and More (Blue)iPhone Charger, Anker Powerline Lightning Cable (3ft), Apple MFi Certified High-Speed Charging Cord Durable for iPhone Xs/XS Max/XR/X / 8/8 Plus / 7/7 Plus, and More (Blue)[Upgraded] Poweradd Slim 2 Most Compact 5000mAh External Battery 2.1A Ouput Portable Charger with Smart Charge for iPhones, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, HTC and More – Blue
Phone for everything else – You will find that all the reasons you use your phone at home will still be the same once onboard. It will be your alarm clock, your flashlight, your mood maker!
We love to bring Bluetooth travel speakers and use our phone to play all of our favorite music.
Oh, yeah…. we have a favorite cruising playlist for sure! And THAT is something fun to make!
Having speakers with you can change your whole cruise experience.
You just have to make sure that you properly turn off your phone’s wifi or put it in airplane mode so you don’t get zapped for charges while out to sea or in another country.
PHONE LIST
Phone
Good cell phone case, maybe even waterproof
Charging Cord
Travel Speakers
Headset
Phone stands are great for travel
Download photos to have space on the phone for new ones
Create your Music Playlists, travel, evening, beach, cabin hangout, etc
Laptops, iPads, Tablets and Kindle/Readers
Some people cannot leave home without their laptop. We have been known to carry one just to edit videos while aboard to upload at every port. Others, can’t leave home without their tablets or readers. We have found nothing more fun than to have our iPad on a cruise. From picture taking to reading, web surfing to emails they keep us connected. Nowadays there are many ships that have wifi capability right in your cabin! So having your own device to access it while aboard versus going to the internet cafes makes a fun difference.
COMPUTER/TABLET LIST
- Computer
- Computer charging cord
- Headset
- Carrying case
- iPad or Kindle
- Tablet charging cord
- Tablet cover
- Carrying case
Razors, Hair, and Steamers – The Good and the Bad
Now let’s get to Shauna’s stress list. Steamers and electric HAIR accessories! Good news is that many cruise lines now have hair dryers in all of the staterooms. They are usually in one of the drawers already plugged in. You can check with your cruise line to find out if they supply them for you. But what about curling irons, flat irons and more? Hair out to sea can be a challenge for even the best stylists! So don’t forget your go-to appliances.
Travel Flat Iron 2-in-1 Mini Hair Straightener Curling Iron Dual Voltage 374 Degree Temperature Nano Titanium – Insulated Carry Bag Include
I need to have a curling iron on a cruise, that humidity just wreaks havoc with my hairstyle.
I found this one and not only is it lightweight, but it has a nice carrying case.
And it is dual voltage, 110 – 240 volts, so with a plug adapter, it works well in those countries that have a higher voltage.
Both a curling iron and a straightener so depending on my mood, I can style my hair the way I want.
Downy Wrinkle Releaser, Travel Size Light Fresh Scent 3 fl oz – 3 Pack
Now here’s the bad news.
Clothes steamers and irons are not allowed onboard. Again, they are looking at the fire dangers of each.
Don’t even think about trying to sneak them on board as Cruise Security will hold your luggage and you will have to go claim it. Not the way to start out your cruise. Believe me, before we knew about this, Captain Bert had to stand in line and remove my steamer and give it up.
So, our solution is this Downy Wrinkle Releaser and being only 3 oz in size, it is also TSA compliant. Problem solved!!
HAIR APPLIANCE LIST
- Curling Iron
- Flat Iron
- Hot Curlers
- Men’s electric razor
Now you can see why we say we fight over the outlets while onboard! We have consolidated the list below for you. And we have some of our favorite products that we love and suggest for your cruising pleasure!
Electrical Lists
PLUGIN
- Portable USB Hub
CAMERA
- Camera
- Extra Batteries
- Good travel case
- Charging Cords
- S/D Cards
PHONE LIST
- Phone
- Good cell phone case, maybe even waterproof
- Charging Cord
- Travel Speakers
- Headset
- Phone stands are great for travel
- Music
COMPUTER/TABLET LIST
- Computer
- Computer charging cord
- Headset
- Carrying case
- iPad or Kindle
- Tablet charging cord
- Tablet cover
- Tablet carrying case
HAIR APPLIANCE LIST
- Curling Iron
- Flat Iron
- Hot Curlers
- Men’s Razor
Next up: Day 23 – Let’s make sure you plan out your pre-cruise appointments.