Guest Author - Lisa Shea

We all need toiletries - the shampoo, deodorant, brush, and other items that make us able to face the world. Here are tips on packing those for your cruise.

Bring Travel Sized Items
Remember that space is at a HUGE premium on a cruise ship. Your space is small. Pack only what you really need. Get a small size for your shampoo, conditioner, anti-persperant, etc. If your favorite shampoo and conditioner don't come in travel size, buy the little squeeze bottles for 50 cents and fill them up. You'll really appreciate having the extra space for clothes.

Bring a Hanging Toiletry Bag
Many toiletry bags come with a hook, so you can hang them from the towel rack or on the door-back hook. That way you can get to all of your items easily without having to spread them all out over the sink. If you are sharing your room, it also makes it easy to toss your bag back into your luggage when you're done each time.

Leave the Hair Dryer Behind
Most cruise lines have a hair dryer in the room for you already. Hair dryers are heavy and big! Don't bother to bring your own along. In fact, why not practice a hair style that is as minimum-fuss as possible, so you have more time for simply relaxing! If you're female, get your hair braided the first day - and forget about it after that.

Pack Dramamine and Aspirin
Just in case, it's a good idea to bring items for seasickness and headaches. You never quite know what the weather has in store for you on a ship. If you have prescription medicine, it's a good idea to bring along a xerox of the prescriptions, just in case. If you end up on an island and lose some - or if an official questions what you have on you - it's good to have that proof ready.

Sun Tan Lotion!
Remember that you get burnt by UV rays - which go right through clouds. Even if it's cloudy out, you can easily be burnt. Always lotion yourself up if you're going outside, and get the water-proof variety if you're going to be in the pool or ocean.

Ear Plugs
The rooms on cruise ships are very small - and are not necessarily well insulated from their neighbors. It's always a good idea to have ear plugs, just in case. Hopefully you won't need them, but if you do, they'll be there.