The appeal of cruising is that you don't have to worry about a thing. Your bed's turned down, your meals are paid for, and everything you could possibly want is at your fingertips... unless something goes wrong.

Remember when the Carnival Triumph lost power after an engine fire on a 2010 cruise? Its passengers were left without air conditioning or working toilets for days. During a cruise ship emergency, passengers can't expect to receive anything more than basic amenities. Protect yourself and pack smart with this cruise ship emergency prep list.

Flashlights and glow sticks:

Passengers aboard cruise ships that lost power report being frightened and disoriented in lightless cabins and hallways. Pack at least one flashlight with extra batteries, so you won't be left in the dark. Glow sticks - available for cheap at dollar stores - are a simple and safe way to light your cabin and identify traveling companions.

Emergency whistles:

While we hope you never find yourself bobbing in the North Atlantic like Kate Winslet in "Titanic," a whistle can be lifesaving in any cruise ship emergency. They can help you attract rescuers' attention or locate traveling companions in a chaotic situation.

Emergency cell phone charger:

In a cruise ship emergency, your communication options will be limited. Extend the battery life of your cell phone with an emergency charger, . Do your research, however, because not all emergency chargers work with iPhones and other smartphones.

Over-the-counter medications:

The medications you take for granted in your home medicine cabinet can be invaluable should you experience a medical emergency on a cruise ship. These should include: anti-diarrheal medicine, pain relievers, cold and flu medicine. Also pack extra prescription medications in case your cruise ship becomes stranded or delayed.

Survival food and water:

While full MREs (meals ready to eat) may be overkill, extra food is a must-have in a cruise ship emergency. Bring small, calorie-dense snacks such as nuts, trail mix and energy bars. Bottled water is free aboard most cruise ships, so grab some extras at the beginning of your voyage and stash them in your stateroom.

Waste disposal bags:

During a cruise ship emergency like that experienced by the Splendor, the toilets stopped working, and some passengers reported sewage flooding the hallways. Bringing your own sanitary waste bags, can make a terrible cruise experience just a little bit better.

Travel insurance:

A solid cruise insurance plan will cover you in case of trip interruptions or delays, a medical emergency on a cruise ship or other unforeseen catastrophes.

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Let’s fast-forward to those fleeting few minutes before you walk out the door for your next big trip. Maybe you’re running late, multi-tasking, and scatter-brained. Or perhaps you’re as cool as a cucumber, having already packed and prepared everything you need the night before.

Either way, it’s always a good idea in this critical pre-trip moment to run through a travel checklist — checking off all the essentials in your head, or even better, on a piece of paper. Because you may have picked up the wrong medicine — and your destination’s pharmacies may not offer the same drug. Or perhaps you grabbed the electric converter that works in China, but you’re heading to Chile. Stuff happens, and a travel checklist can save a promising getaway from becoming a red-lined itinerary and flight change fee.

This is a good time to bring up travel insurance. You might be aware that a travel insurance plan from Allianz Global Assistance can provide benefits ranging from trip cancellation to lost or damaged baggage protection. But did you know that these plans may also provide a concierge benefit, meaning that if you’re past the point of return, and realize you forgot an essential item form your travel checklist, we can help you chase it down at your destination via 24/7 telephone assistance?

Gather up your Documents

We live in a digital age, but there are still some very important paperwork, IDs, and other tangible items we need to slip in our wallet, purse or bag before leaving on our next trip. These include the following…

• License: Remember, beginning on May 7, 2025, every traveler 18 or over will need a REAL ID (or another ID that’s accepted) to fly on a commercial plane. And why wait until the last minute when you can make it happen today?1
• Passport & Visas: Travelling internationally? Be sure your passport is up to snuff and any necessary travel visas are accounted for. (Questions? Check out our comprehensive guide to U.S. passports and travel visas.)
• Photocopies of license, passport, and visas: OK, this is the first travel checklist item that may not be common sense. A copy (or even photo snapped with your smartphone) of a missing passport may go further than you think in a pinch.
• Physical tickets: Not all tickets are created virtually. You might have a physical ticket to that playoff game, movie premiere, or art gala. And it won’t do you any good sitting atop your dresser, hundreds of miles away.
• Travel insurance print-out: Wait, what? Yes, savvy travelers pack travel insurance. 
• Others:
  • Public transit passes or cards for your destination
  • Loyalty cards for stores, restaurants, or attractions
  • Physicians notes for prescription drugs (see more details below)

Pack Your Smartphone 

No, we don’t mean bring your smartphone. Instead, we want you to consider your phone to be a digital suitcase that’s ready to be packed with all the apps you need for your big trip. Here are types of apps to consider putting on your travel checklist:

• Airline app: For flight status updates, managing flights, choosing seats, tracking bags, and to serve as your digital ticket.
• Hotel / accommodation app: Depending on where you’re staying, you might be able to pick your room, order room service, and even use your phone as your key.

Take (Self) Care

In accordance with TSA guidelines, be sure that liquids, aerosols, gels, and creams bound for your carry-on are 3.4 oz or less — and sealed in a 1-qt. plastic bag. That said, here are some essentials to consider for your travel checklist:2

• Trusty water bottle
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, etc.
• Eyecare, from glasses to contacts and solution
• Everything you need to make you feel fresh. Yes, everything, from deodorant to foot spray and shaving supplies.
• Medicine for “surprise” ailments encountered by land, air, and sea — from Tums to Tylenol and Dramamine.
• Protection from the Great Outdoors: Think sunglasses, sunscreen, and bug repellent.
• Prescription medicine: Make sure they’re legal in your destination country. Also, bring enough for your itinerary, and a little extra in the event you’re delayed. 
• First-Aid kit: Plan for the worse, expect the best. 

Accessorize Appropriately

Sometimes it’s those little extras that truly make or break a trip. Here are some accessories to include on your travel checklist:

• Travel money belt and / or travel wallet: Consider one with
  RFID-blocking technology to prevent crooks from accessing your credit and debit cards.
• Charger and power bank: To keep your phone powered up for the long haul.
• SIM Card: Because your phone “as is” might work abroad. Or it might just be a paperweight.
• Converter equipment: Traveling abroad? There are more than 15 types of outlet plugs that could be waiting in your hotel room. 
• Poncho: For storms and waterparks.
• Wet wipes: Needed for bad messes (read: sitting on a messy park bench) and good messes (read: enjoying Mongolian BBQ).
• Wireless and noise canceling, preferably.

This travel checklist list is by no means exhaustive, but it’s a starting point you can customize and make your own. 

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For a memorable honeymoon, all you need is love. And sunscreen. And a few other things…

Here’s the complete honeymoon packing list for couples, covering everything from absolute essentials to fun romantic extras.

Do I need travel insurance for my honeymoon?

If you’re planning a honeymoon in the U.S. with few or no pre-paid costs — staying at a relative’s nearby lake house, for instance — then you can probably skip travel insurance. For any other kind of trip, however, it’s a must. Why?

Travel insurance protects your travel investment.

Travel insurance protects your health.

Travel insurance protects your honeymoon experience. 

Honeymoon Packing List: What to pack for a romantic honeymoon

Whether your honeymoon is a three-night cruise or a two-week trek, it’ll be a trip you’ll always remember. So make it special! Sure, you can pay to have the resort dump some rose petals on your bed — or, you can plan ahead and pack a few things to make your honeymoon extra special. Ideas include:

• Tealight candles (real or battery-operated)
• Massage oils/essential oils
• Corkscrew
• Lingerie
• A honeymoon playlist with special songs and a portable Bluetooth speaker
• A heartfelt love note for your new spouse — or even several little notes to leave for them to find during your honeymoon
• Small gifts for each other
• A journal to write down your memories

Honeymoon Packing List: What to put in your carry-on

Remember, your checked luggage doesn’t always show up when planned (that’s why travel insurance is so important). Pack all your honeymoon essentials in your carry-on.

• Passport/driver’s license
• Credit cards: Did you call your bank to say you’ll be traveling overseas?
• Cash: If you’re honeymooning on a cruise or at a resort destination, bring lots of small bills for tips.
• Copies of all crucial travel documents: passports, visas, immunization records, cruise documents, travel reservations, etc. You can take pictures of these items with your phone, but we like having hard copies as well.
• All documents required to meet COVID-19 travel rules: Many popular honeymoon destinations now require health authorization forms, vaccination cards, specialized travel insurance, and more
• Travel insurance documents: 
• Emergency contact information: On a card in your wallet, or in some other format that’s easy for people to find, write down how to contact your family, as well as useful numbers like your credit-card provider and the nearest American embassy (dial +1 202-501-4444 from anywhere overseas).
• Prescription medications and a copy of the prescription
• At least one change of clothes
• Basic toiletries (face wash, toothbrush/toothpaste, deodorant)
• Cell phone and charger
• Books and magazines
• Wedding thank-you notes: The airport boarding area is a great place to get these done.

Honeymoon Packing List: What clothes to pack for your honeymoon

Wherever you’re headed, aim to pack clothes and shoes that are both comfortable and chic. This means travel shoes that can dress up or down, and dresses that can be worn on the plane or to a five-star restaurant. If you want to travel light, limit yourself to four or five tops and two to three bottoms (pants/shorts/skirts), then pack individual packets of laundry detergent so you can wash your dirty clothes.

• For him:
  • Button-down shirts
  • Tie
  • Blazer or sport coat
  • One pair of dressy pants
  • Dressy (but still comfortable) shoes
  • T-shirts
  • Casual shorts/pants
  • 1-2 bathing suits
  • Pajamas/sleepwear
  • Socks
  • Underwear
  • At least one sweatshirt, sweater or light jacket
  • Rain jacket
  • Cold-weather outerwear, if needed
  • One pair flip-flops or sandals
  • One pair walking shoes
  • Sunglasses
  • Prescription or reading glasses
  • Hat
• For her:
  • At least one dressy outfit for dining with matching sweater/shawl
  • At least one nice top
  • Nice pants or capris
  • One pair of heels or dressy flats
  • Clutch or small handbag
  • A few pieces of inexpensive jewelry: You may want to leave your engagement ring at home, if it will attract thieves’ attention
• Casual T-shirts/tops
• Casual shorts/pants/skirts/dresses
• 1-2 bathing suits
• Cover-up
• Pajamas/sleepwear
• Socks
• Bras and underwear
• At least one sweatshirt, sweater or light jacket
• Rain jacket
• Cold-weather outerwear, if needed
• One pair flip-flops or sandals
• One pair walking shoes
• Sunglasses
• Prescription or reading glasses
• Hat

Honeymoon Packing List: Gear, Safety and Toiletries

No one wants a honeymoon marred by sickness or sunburn, but these things happen. Prepare for every eventuality by packing first-aid and safety gear.

• Backpack or beach bag for excursions
• Power outlet adapter, if you're traveling abroad
• Sunblock and sunburn treatment
• SPF 15 lip balm
• Insect repellent
• Face and body lotion
• Deodorant
• Perfume
• Earplugs
• Comb and brush
• Hair products
• Shower cap
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Contact lenses and solution
• Makeup
• Sanitary pads or tampons
• Floss
• Razor
• Nail file and clippers
• Tweezers
• Small first aid kit with Band-Aids and antibiotic ointment
• Baby wipes for quick cleanup
• Travel packs of tissues
• Pain reliever
• Cold medication
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Anti-nausea medication
• Sleep aid
• Hand sanitizer
• Travel clothesline
• Small flashlight
• Pocketknife or multi-tool (remember to stash this in your checked luggage)

Our last tip for your honeymoon packing checklist? Leave your work, financial and relationship stresses at home. You only get to enjoy one honeymoon together, so don’t let conflict spoil your vacation. Enjoy every moment!

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