When it comes to packing for a cruise, it’s worth being thorough. While cruises often have several shops where you can buy everything from toiletries to clothes and make-up, there can be a high mark-up on certain items. Forgetting to pack personal necessities and toiletries such as razors, toothpaste, and sunscreen may not seem like a concern, but stocking up on these items on board can quickly add up. While you can replenish these items in ports, this can be difficult if you’re not due to disembark for a few days and you need a particular item right away.
To ensure this doesn’t happen, a cruise passenger has shared the one item she always packs to ensure she doesn’t spend loads of money onboard. Celia Speck posted on an MSC Caribbean Cruise Facebook group, suggesting passengers should pack a “bitza” bag.
She explained: “What’s a ‘Bitza bag’? It’s a ‘make up/wash’ bag full of ‘bits of’ essentials/things I might need/wished I had taken on previous holidays and I might forget to pack.
“Everything stays in it from holiday to holiday, and things get replaced ready for the next holiday if they’re used.
“It contains things like small scissors, tweezers, bottle opener, blue tack, magnetic hooks, pocket fan, sewing kit, elastic bands, hair bands, nail file, spare toothbrushes/dental floss, spare razor, ear plugs, spare padlock and key, nail files…and that’s just to name a few!”
Ms Speck also said she takes a first aid bag which includes plasters, blister plasters, surgical pads and tape, antiseptic cream, travel sickness tablets, pain killers, indigestion tablets, Bonjela, sore throat tablets, cold/flu remedies, Alka-Seltzer, vitamin C tablets, anti-diarrhoea tablets, insect bite spray, antihistamines and prescribed medication.
While she admits that you don’t need to take all of these items with you on a cruise, she said it’s worth packing them if you’ve already got them at home.
She added: “Just think of things you’ve already got knocking about the house that would cost a fortune onboard.”
She also warned cruise passengers travelling from the UK to remember to pack their medication because it can be more expensive in other countries like America.
Travel experts at The Points Guy also suggest not buying toiletries onboard your cruise but instead consider buying travel sizes to keep in your holiday toiletries bag.
Once the travel-sized items have run out, simply refill them ready for your next holiday.