Table of Contents
An experienced cruise worker has revealed the seven essential gadgets you need in your bag for a smooth, relaxing trip.
Lucy Southerton, 28, has nine years of experience working on board cruise ships around the world.
Lucy, from Birmingham, regularly shares her knowledge of how to have the best time at sea on her YouTube channel. Sailing as a crew.
Forgetting the essentials while you are in the middle of the ocean can be a real nightmare.
However, Lucy has shared her top seven things passengers should have before setting sail.
Experienced cruise worker Lucy Southerton (pictured) has revealed the seven essential gadgets you need in your bag for a relaxing, hassle-free trip.
The cruise worker has nine years of experience working aboard ships that sail around the world.
In a recent video, he revealed the SEVEN essential gadgets before setting foot on a cruise.
1. Portable charger
A dead phone in a foreign country is the worst nightmare for most travelers; Hence the cruise ship worker insists on the importance of having a portable charger on hand (file image)
At the top of the seasoned cruise worker’s list of essentials was a portable charger.
Lucy urged both crew members and passengers to remember the handy device and explained that forgetting the power bank can be a nightmare both on and off the ship.
There is nothing worse than being in a foreign country and being without a phone and unable to navigate, which is why the cruise worker insisted on its importance.
“I always recommend bringing a portable charger because there’s nothing worse than arriving in the middle of the day and your phone has ten percent battery left,” he said.
Then you say, “We still have four more hours at the port and now I don’t have a phone.”
He added: “Actually, it’s even worse if you’re using your phone for Google Maps and then it turns off.”
According to Lucy, this can cause additional problems if you want to use an internet cafe while at the dock instead of purchasing a Wi-Fi package.
However, this becomes impossible if your phone discharges before you even arrive.
2. Travel Size First Aid Kit
It’s always a good idea to make sure you have bandages and plasters; However, making sure you have Imodium, pain relievers, and motion sickness pills may even save you some money.
Lucy explained that although there are shops on the ships that sell the medicines you may need, the prices go up astronomically.
She revealed: “You guys are a captive audience, so the price will go up because you know you can’t get it from anywhere else.”
“So while you can get a pack of motion sickness pills for $3 at home, on board you’ll have to pay $10 for the same pack of motion sickness pills.”
Like her first essential item, the cruise ship employee also advised her crewmates to bring a first aid kit on board to avoid the medication center.
He added: “Especially if you’re on vacation.” You don’t want to waste time waiting at the medical center unless you really need it.’
3. Waterproof Phone Case
While it can be fun to watch tummy time competitions from the side of the pool, Lucy recommends keeping your phone safe in a waterproof case (stock image)
Protecting your phone from theft or damage is a must regardless of whether you are on vacation or not.
However, when you are next to swimming pools with children playing and beaches, the potential damage to your phone is more immediate.
To protect your expensive device, Lucy recommends carrying a waterproof case so your phone doesn’t break after a day lying by the pool or on a boat trip.
Retelling her friend’s story, Lucy shared: ‘I had a friend who was on holiday and she was lying by the pool because she liked to watch and see everything that was happening.
“They were doing a tummy tuck competition and she wasn’t really thinking about [her phone].’
But after half an hour of fun in the pool, the friend finally realized that her phone was directly in the splash zone, but by then it was too late.
4. Noise canceling headphones
The cruise worker revealed that noise-canceling headphones are a must for those who want to disconnect (file image)
Although you may have purchased a ticket for a cruise getaway with the goal of relaxing for a couple of weeks, other people on board may have different plans.
According to the cruise ship worker, although most cruise ships are large enough to escape the noise of the pool, others are not.
On smaller trips, you can walk to the quiet area at the end of the line and still be able to hear the hustle and bustle of the pool area.
So if you want to be prepared for “unavoidable” noise, Lucy recommends a “good” pair of noise-cancelling headphones.
She explained: “It just means that you can go online and pretend that you are alone and that you are in a serene environment.”
The cruise worker also explained that headphones could be a good solution for parents who have to watch their children by the noisy pool or for bookworms who want to tune out the dull noise of the neighboring cabin.
5. Light backpack
While many people will prefer to have a bag while venturing out of port, Lucy explained that a backpack will not only leave your hands free but allow you to be more prepared (stock image).
Some may be more accustomed to carrying a small bag with them while venturing into new cities.
But Lucy firmly believes that a small, lightweight backpack will prepare you for any situation, especially parents.
Sometimes a bag may not be big enough to hold everything you might need while you’re off the boat.
Therefore, to be as prepared as possible, the cruise worker recommends carrying a backpack, so you will also have your hands free.
“You’ll want to bring sunscreen, a bottle of water, and be prepared for any eventuality,” he explained.
“You’ll want your hands free to explore the ports.”
6. Universal adapter
Lucy called it one of the “best purchases” she had ever made and was especially fond of her universal adapter.
It can be a nightmare when you arrive somewhere and realize you don’t have the right outlet to charge all your essential travel devices.
Likewise, on a cruise it can be unpredictable what plugs you may have, so a universal adapter will not only save you space in your suitcase, but also save you a lot of hassle, according to Lucy.
“Instead of carrying European or American adapters, you can take just one adapter and you will be prepared for all eventualities,” he said.
‘I’ve done it before. You pack thinking you know what the outlets are, they’re not there and some cruise ships don’t have USB ports.
“So I would definitely recommend a universal adapter.”
7. Applications
According to Lucy, downloading apps before the cruise is a must, and she says the onboard Wi-Fi is often not strong enough to install software.
On Lucy’s list was to make sure she had installed the right apps during her trip.
Although an app is not a physical device, it is an essential piece of technology that could make your vacation much easier, according to the cruise worker.
According to Lucy, you should make sure you download all the apps you think you may need before joining to avoid any potential problems.
The cruise ship worker of nine years explained that even if you purchase a WiFi package for your stay on the ship, downloading any document software will be a hassle.
“So any apps you want to download for your cruise, whether it’s the cruise line app, Google Maps or Google Translate, any apps you might need for navigation during the cruise or time in port, make sure you download them before get on the cruise ship.’
He added: “You don’t want to be running around the port trying to find WiFi to download the app, trust me, I’ve been there, but it’s not fun.”