Royal Caribbean passengers urge cruisers to pack key travel kit
There's an abundance of advice online about what to pack for your first cruise, and while some of these lists can be helpful, others can lead you to pack more than you really need.
Some first-time cruisers overpack because they listened to social media influencers who recommended certain cruise 'essentials' for the sole purpose of earning a commission from Amazon.
Other people overpack simply because that's how they travel.Many frequent cruisers advise against overpacking, however, because packing light for a cruise makes the overall experience better — from simplifying the embarkation and disembarkation process to leaving more room in your small cruise ship cabin.
But while packing light for a cruise is generally recommended, there are certain travel essentials that could be worth overpacking.
A recent discussion in the Royal Caribbean community on Reddit revealed that many experienced cruisers have learned that it pays to overpack when it comes to a key type of travel kit.
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Royal Caribbean cruisers say pack a well-stocked cruise medicine kit
When one first-time cruiser reached out to the Royal Caribbean community for advice on often overlooked things to bring on a cruise, passengers delivered. Hundreds of experienced cruisers shared one or two things they didn't realize they should have packed until they needed it on board.
The essentials most Royal Caribbean passengers wished they had packed? Over-the-counter medicines.
'Any OTC meds you could possibly need. We bring ibuprofen, DayQuil, NyQuil, Pepto, Imodium, and Prilosec. Do I need them? Not often but it's great to have them when I do. My friends laugh but when they need something, they know who to ask,' Top_Turnip4781 wrote.The cruiser went on to explain that they started packing their well-stocked cruise medicine kit after being forced to pay a premium when they needed cold medicines during a cruise.
'We started this after my husband got a cold on a ship,' Top_Turnip4781 explained. 'He's a big baby when he's sick so he needed cough medicine, cold medicine and cough drops. We were docked in St. Maarten. It was $47!'
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Over-the-counter medicine is expensive on a cruise ship
On most cruise ships, the onboard gift shop stocks a limited selection of toiletries and over-the-counter medicines, and each item is sold at a significant markup. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have a vending machine on board that dispenses health essentials.
'You will spend less on all of it at Walmart than for one item on the ship,' spidernole pointed out in the thread about over-the-counter medicines.
Some cruise line's onboard shops carry more medicines than others. If you need something that's not available in the gift shop or health vending machine, like medications for most stomach issues, you'll have to go to the ship's medical center, which charges even higher prices.'Last place you want to find yourself is ship medical for some OTC meds. Highway robbery prices,' JazzBassMan agreed.
One passenger reported that they recently spent $250 at a Royal Caribbean cruise ship medical center for Phillips' milk of magnesia for cruise constipation relief.
So, even if you're the type of cruiser who aims to pack as light as possible, you may find that overpacking is wise when it comes to putting together a cruise medicine kit.
In addition to stocking your cruise medicine bag with pain relievers and first aid items, digestive aids, allergy medications, and seasickness remedies, don't forget to include sunscreen and aloe.(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
, or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
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