Even veteran cruisers forget to pack things from time to time. Sometimes it’s just a nuisance that can be remedied at the onboard gift shop and sometimes it’s a bigger deal that sidelines certain vacation plans.
Carnival cruise fans recently chimed in to reply to a question about what items they seem to always forget when packing for a cruise.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, asked a question on his popular Facebook page: “I once got on board, started unpacking and realized that I had forgotten to pack my———? Oops. Fill in the blank, please.”
The responses poured in, offering a candid—and realistic–look at the packing oversights of both seasoned and first-time cruisers.
So, what are the most common items left behind? Here’s a rundown of the top 10 items Carnival cruisers confessed to forgetting in the comments of the social media post:
1. Toothbrushes
Even though we all know the importance of oral hygiene even while on vacation, this item popped up repeatedly in the comments. Kari simply stated, “Hubby forgot toothbrush. Had to buy onboard.” Susan echoed this, “Toothbrush,” as did many others.
One cruiser even had a mini-panic, “Toothbrush. Could not get one anywhere on the ship. Then I found it in my suitcase by my powder.”
It seems this everyday essential is easily overlooked in the pre-trip rush. And it’s one of the most annoying items to forget because you can’t really “borrow” your cruise partner’s, right? And paying well over retail price for another one is just annoying.
2. Deodorant
Another commonly forgotten toiletry item was deodorant, something you don’t want to forget when in a close-quarters environment of a cruise ship for 7 days.
Some commenters stated they had forgotten to pack deodorant and weren’t too happy with the high onboard prices to keep those unwelcome aromas at bay.
Leah had a particularly frustrating experience, “Deodorant, and it cost me $15 bucks on the ship and they only carried one man’s brand.” Lesson learned: double-check that stick.
3. Chargers
In the world we live in, forgetting a phone charger can feel like you’re on borrowed time until you lose all connection to your digital world. I’m old enough to remember when it was actually a refreshing thing to not have a signal out at sea.
Chris shared his work issues with forgetting his charger, “Charger for my computer. I needed to get some work done on the sea days and I left my charger for my laptop. Needless to say, not much got done.”
Another also felt the pain of onboard prices, “Forgot my phone charger one time. Way overpaid for one in the Fun Shop, won’t do that again.”
After forgetting my own chargers on a few cruises, I now just keep a charger in each bag that stays there even when I unpack. Is it overkill? Yes. But I won’t have to pay $30 for a $5 charger out of necessity.
4. Socks
Socks, often an afterthought in the packing process, proved to be a common thing to forget. You might expect to be in flipflops the entire cruise anyway, but packing a few pairs at least is a good idea.
One commenter said they had to improvise, “Socks. Had to wear my husband’s for a week lol. Good thing I mostly wear flip flops on a cruise.” Kelly’s husband had a similar experience, forgetting socks on one trip and having to wash his single dress pair every night.
Some cruisers packed socks but didn’t pack enough, leading to that regular regimen of washing them in the sink and letting them dry on the clothesline in the shower. I’ve been there before myself.
5. Swimsuits
Considering the tropical destinations many Carnival cruises visit, forgetting a swimsuit seems like an obvious miss. But it was a commonly mentioned item, nonetheless.
Julia humorously shared her husband’s forgetfulness, leading to an “overpriced carnival trunks” purchase.
Sure, you can buy a swimsuit while on a cruise, but the who wants to go shopping for something when you can be using it on a lovely beach day?
6. Underwear
This is a truly essential item that some cruisers realized was missing at the most inopportune time. One cruiser’s confession of forgetting “Underwear……. All of it!” takes the cake.
How this can be a commonly forgotten item is beyond me, as it’s one of the first things I would think to pack. But hey, in the rush of excitement for packing for a cruise, it’s easy to overlook even the most obvious.
7. Shoes
Footwear caused a surprising number of packing problems. Jenny mentioned “Dress shoes” as a forgotten item. Jessica’s Alaskan cruise started with only flip-flops due to forgotten sneakers. Gary almost left a bag containing both gym and dress shoes behind, learning a valuable lesson. Linda’s husband wore sneakers with his dress clothes due to forgotten dress shoes.
So, it’s not just shoes in general but types of shoes that are easy to forget. Knowing what excursions you will be going on or even activities on the ship you want to enjoy will help to know what shoes you should pack. For instance, most cruise ship sports courts require closed-toe shoes and flip flops will not be allowed.
8. Toiletries
Beyond deodorant and toothbrushes, other toiletries frequently didn’t make the suitcase. Paula’s entire toiletry bag was missed once. Dona immediately thought of “Aloe!” after needing it on a recent cruise. Laurie also forgot her “makeup, deodorant, brush, lotions.” Pat gave a comprehensive list: “Toiletries… No toothpaste, no toothbrushes, no shaver, no hair brush.”
Cruisers often pack their toiletries in a separate bag, which is smart. But if that bag gets left behind, there will be a lot of onboard shop purchases to make up for it.
9. Hair Items
Hair-related items also seemed prone to being left behind. Linda’s first cruise taught her the importance of “hairspray.” Bailley couldn’t even find a comb in the ship’s shops after forgetting hers. Alana also forgot her “Brush!” and faced a similar onboard shortage. Maureen regretted leaving her “hair straighter” behind, leading to an expensive port purchase.
All that seawater and air can wreak havoc on hair, so make sure you bring whatever you need to look fabulous for those formal pictures.
10. Pajamas
Comfortable sleepwear was another item that slipped many cruisers’ minds. Shannon left her pajamas in a hotel bag. Judy simply stated “Pajamas…” as her forgotten item, and Carol echoed, “Jammies.. always jammies.” Liz had to resort to buying an oversized t-shirt after forgetting hers.
Other Stuff
Beyond the toothbrushes and socks, plenty of people chimed in with their own face-palm omissions. Things like essential medications – the kind you really don’t want to leave behind – popped up more than once. Then there were the “nice-to-haves” that suddenly become “must-haves” once you’re onboard, or even your fancy clothes for elegant night.
We saw cruisers in the comments realizing they left behind things like comfortable walking shoes for exploring ports, books or e-readers for those relaxing sea days, or even something as simple as reusable straw.
Others mentioned forgetting things specific to their needs, like denture adhesive or even contact lens cases. And for anyone heading to the beach or pool, forgetting a good pair of sunglasses or crucial sunscreen can turn a relaxing day into a long night trying to get comfortable in bed.
Moral of the story: check that packing list twice and be ready to just go with the flow if you still forget something.
Read more: 10 tips for packing light on your cruise
