We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A 3-in-1 foldable magnetic wireless charger so you don't have to decide between juicing up your AirPods, Apple Watch, or phone because your cabin only has one outlet to work with.
Check out a TikTok of the foldable charger in action.
Promising review: "If you’ve ever cruised you know that power outlets are scarce in cruise cabins. I own an Apple phone, watch, and AirPods. This compact and handy charger allowed me the ability to charge all three at the same time using one outlet. Genius! Will be buying more for friends and family." —jojob25
Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in seven colors).
2. A handheld fan if you sweat at just the thought of sitting outside without any shade. Not only will it cool you off, but it also doubles as a portable phone charger and flashlight when you're in a pinch.
Check out a TikTok of the portable fan in action.
Promising reviews: "I ordered several to take on a cruise and give as gifts. Waiting in line on a 92-degree August afternoon to board a huge cruise ship, I was glad I had charged my device ahead of time! Got lots of envious looks and referred folks to Amazon for these treasures." 😎 —SK @ the beach
"Not only are they great for cooling down, but if you all of a sudden find yourself with a dead battery on your phone, they become a mini charger. You just have to have a cord. And they have a flashlight! These were super handy on our cruise. Easy to store in my crossbody bag and we were all thankful for them during the heat of the day." —Blu Kerry
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (clip the coupon for 20% off this price!; available in four colors).
3. A wedge doorstop alarm with an *extremely* loud 120-decibel siren that'll sound should anyone try to force open your door. If you have trouble sleeping in unfamiliar rooms, this might just help.
No wiring is required, either, just pick up a 9V battery.
Promising review: "We bought two of these to secure our front and back doors and we love them. They are SUPER loud! I kept forgetting they were on the floor and would open the door in the morning, just to jump back. They'd definitely scare away any intruder. We'll be taking them when we travel too — perfect for hotel rooms and cruise ships." —Aurora C.
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
4. And a portable no-install door lock that'll give you even more peace of mind. The durable steel mechanism slips into any doorjamb to keep it nice and secure.
Just FYI: If you're keeping this in your carry-on, put it in an accessible place! TSA may want to inspect it, so that just makes things easier for everyone.
Promising review: "Love love this product — it helps me feel secure. I have one for traveling (hotels, cruise ships, and even overnight at relatives). I love how it's easy to use, quick, and it secures the doors. Yes, it's more expensive than the knock offs, but I think the metal is thicker than on the knock offs. FYI if someone wanted to get in they can with a lot of effort and lot of noise but it will definitely make me aware and give me time to call for help and to get something to defend myself." —S Blocker
Get it from Amazon for $17.95.
5. A waterproof cellphone case if you'll be stepping foot anywhere near a river/ocean/waterfall/infinity pool with a swim-up bar and you don't want your phone to fall victim to splashes and/or accidental submersion.
It fits any phone up to 100mm x 170mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). It's also a great fix for keeping out sand and dirt (and a great option for runners if you're caught in the rain but still want to be able to toggle through your music options).
See why BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly loves it here!
Promising review: "I took this on a cruise with me to Honduras, Mexico, and Belize, and it held up perfectly! I was so scared to put this in the water for the first time (after testing it, of course), but it proved to work very well! In fact, I ended up just using it as a carrying case for my room key and phone throughout the cruise! I took it with me snorkeling along the barrier reef in Belize, and I got so many wonderful pictures and videos underwater!" —GWinSD
Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in 14 colors).
6. A CarryAround foldable cup holder because you paid for a drink package and you're sure as heck going to make it worth it.
Check out a TikTok of the drink holder in action.
Promising review: "I bought this to use on a cruise. I had such an easy time carrying my drinks around. So many people asked where I purchased it from." —Jasmine
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in multipacks).
7. A crossbody phone case so you can keep all of your essentials — ID, phone, credit card, room key — nice and close, no bulky bag necessary.
Bandolier is a small business that makes gorg phone cases, purses, and bags.
Promising reviews: "I purchased this for a cruise I was planning and could not be more happy!!!! All you need when on a cruise, walking around, going to dinner or a show, is your phone and seapass card. It was soooooo easy to just grab and go. Wish I could give it 10 stars." —Lolly S.
Get it from Amazon or Bandolier for $98 (available in 10 colors).
8. A portable safe you can wrap around an umbrella, picnic table leg, or chair so you can stow away your phone, keys, wallet, and other small valuables without worrying about them being lost or stolen. Aside from cruises, reviewers use this guy at water parks, the beach, all-inclusive resorts, and even in Airbnbs.
PS: SafeGo is a small biz.
Promising review: "I love this. I took it on a cruise and have taken it to other beaches. I don't have to worry about my insulin pump, ID, money, or anything else I put in it." —L. Cross
"This item I was unsure of but it was the best buy ever!! I took it with me on my first cruise and had peace of mind when leaving important stuff behind in my room when going on excursions! Money, IDs, meds... I was actually able to put the cable through the locking holes on my suitcase, locking them both together. It was easy to use and I'm so happy with the item. The available room safe made me uncomfortable because you would have to swipe one of your own credit cards through it to make it work... even though it was free to use. They said that the room key magnet just wasn't strong enough to work. I didn't like that idea, but no worries — I brought my own safe with me!!! If you aren't sure but it's in your cart... just buy it. You'll be happy you did!" —Tina Weiss
Get it from Amazon for $39.95+ (available in six colors).
9. A pack of LeakLocks Toiletry Skins you can slip on the top of your toiletries so you don't have to triple ziplock them and cross your fingers and toes hoping they don't explode all over everything else in your suitcase.
Rinseroo is a small business specializing in problem-solving cleaning, pet, and travel products.
Promising review: "I bought these for a cruise just in case. I always pack my own shampoo, conditioner, and other hair treatments as I don’t like the ones that are supplied for free. Two of my products leaked, but both stayed within the confines of the rubber skin. I have used them several times since. Think of it as a condom for your shampoo bottle. 😃 Easily cleaned by turning them inside out, rinsing them off, and letting them air dry." —SunnyMD
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $11.99 (available in two colors).
10. A sand-free mat for beach excursions because despite the fact that you're literally laying on ~billions~ of tiny crystals, you *will* lose your mind if any of said sand gets tracked back to your blanket.
Promising review: "Bought this blanket for our family cruise and it was a lifesaver!! We used it on the beach and at a park. Fits four adults comfortably! Very minimal sand stuck on the bottom (not completely sandproof). Water repels so easy. The stakes are plastic and honestly useless, but we just put our bags at the corners and it worked perfectly. Honestly, my favorite part was that it was easy to fold and reinsert into the bag and it takes up little space!! Definitely glad we got it!! Would definitely recommend this product!" —BxBusyMom
Get it from Amazon for $16.14 (available in two colors).
11. A portable SlumberPod if your anxious kiddo has trouble sleeping anywhere that isn't their own bed. The canopy is quick to assemble, features four ventilation flaps (and a fan pocket), and provides much-needed privacy and darkness so you can convince them to take their daily nap!
SlumberPod is a mother/daughter–run small business that appeared on Shark Tank.
Promising review: "I took this SlumberPod on a Disney cruise and it was the best purchase I have ever made. My 6-month-old baby slept all night long!! The SlumberPod collapses into a small bag and is easy to travel with. It also can be set up easily within minutes. It is kinda like putting up a tent. The only downside is that the zipper is a little loud to zip shut, but we had a white noise machine going so my baby didn't hear it. All I have to say is that if you're on the fence, you should definitely purchase it. Your valuable travel sleep will thank you." —Darren
Get it from Amazon for $179.99+ (available in three styles).
12. An acupressure wristband if you're looking for an all-natural way to alleviate nausea, motion sickness, or morning sickness because feeling like you have to hurl 24/7 — especially while on vacation — is a major downer.
It's also been known to work for postoperative and chemotherapy-induced nausea. It applies pressure on your wrist to help ~restore balance~. Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Promising review: "I get motion sick so bad that a choppy pool will get me queasy. I literally fear boats because of all my bad experiences, so you can imagine how nervous I was going on a cruise. I had it all: 15 days of prescription patches, gum, ginger chews, pills, drops for behind my ears and these bands. Oddly enough, the ONLY thing I used was these bands and never once got queasy, even when the cruise got rocky a few times. Now I am the most pessimistic person you will meet, so I have my doubts and I don't plan on rushing out on a white water rapid trip any time soon, but something different happened on that cruise unlike any other cruise I've been on and the bands were the only thing I used." —Goose
Get it from Amazon for $8.51+ (available in packs of one or two and in six colors).
13. A pack of towel bands so you can take a dip in the pool or enjoy your beach excursion without worrying about your towel blowing away or someone moving it so they can steal your chair...
Promising review: "Absolutely love these bands. Whether on a cruise ship or relaxing on a beach, they keep your towel in place regardless of the wind. I also like that they are lightweight and small so easy to travel/fly with and no worries about them breaking. I now make them a go-to gift idea for family and friends!" —Always Needing Retail Therapy!
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in four colors).
14. A packable floppy hat that way, your scalp doesn't suffer any third-degree burns while you're hanging out on the top deck. The wide brim will also keep your schnoz in the safe zone because, if you're anything like me, your nose *will* burn after just 0.01 seconds of sun exposure.
Promising review: "Brought this on a recent cruise. It traveled really well! Rolled and stored easily in my carry-on and beach bag. Fit was great, adjustable strap kept it secure even on windy days on deck. Nice sun protection for my face." —Amazon Customer
"This hat was SUCH A GREAT PURCHASE!!!! I’m not one to wear hats, but I saw this on a BuzzFeed list and I just knew I needed it for my cruise! We were in CocoCay for a full day. It was so nice having it with me! The funniest part about this is that it started to rain (the pretty kind with the sun still out) and it was THE PERFECT hat for not getting rain on my face. It felt like it converted into a hat umbrella. Not to mention how convenient it was to pack this hat in my suitcase. Oh yeah, last thing! The hat dried back to its original shape. I just made sure the cap wasn’t pushed in or anything. Anyways, 100/10 recommend this hat for the pool, cruises, beach… haha even when it’s raining!!!!" —Andrew M.
Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in women's sizes M–XL and in eight colors).
15. Some Spot My UV SPF-detecting stickers which give you a heads up when it's time to reapply sunscreen if that's something you are ~famously~ bad at doing.
The waterproof patches last 12 hours or through six applications of sunscreen — whichever comes first. When purple, it's time to reapply and when clear, you're good to go!
Promising review: "Didn't know how often I needed to apply sunscreen until I wore one of the patches, but I'll tell you, they work! I went on a cruise and didn't burn once! They turn purple when you need to re-apply." —C. Leggett
Get them from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in packs of 16 and 48).
16. A tube of anti-blister balm because look, those sandals you're wearing are super cute but the jury is still out on whether or not they'll rub so bad your feet end up looking like raw meat.
Promising review: "I LOVE THIS!! We always vacation in the summertime and every time I walk in sandals my feet always blister. Just got back from a six-day cruise and no blisters! Side note: this works better for your inner thighs than the body one by this brand." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
17. A set of magnetic hooks if you've got a whole lot of stuff but not a whole lot of cabin storage. With these, you can hang your bags, swimsuits, sun hats, and what have you right on the walls.
Promising review: "We stuck these all over our cruise cabin and hung our clothes and towels up to dry. We also bought a clothesline, but this was way more effective. One of the best purchases we made for cruising." —Erica H.
Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in eight colors and packs of 10, 20, 100, 150, 200, and 500).
18. Some wine bottle travel sleeves if local spirits are your absolute favorite souvenir to pick up but you don't really want to stain your entire suitcase a dark shade of Cabernet.
Promising review: "I bought these for a cruise because I knew we’d want to bring back some wine from Greece and/or Italy. We got the four-pack. All of the wine made the trip back from Italy safely and you know how gentle they are with luggage. We like that they are reusable." —TrueTeach
Get them from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sets of four and eight).
19. A combination beach bag/cooler so you can pack your own drinks and snacks and not have to worry about dropping serious dollars on a single Coke or water bottle from the bar.
Promising review: "Bought this for a cruise to haul my 12-pack of soda and two bottles of wine I'm allowed on board. Then once unloaded, it becomes my swimsuit and dry clothes bag with all my personal items stored in the 'cooler' compartment. Then for excursions, I unzip the cooler and just take the bag, which has a nice private zippered pocket for my travel docs, credit card, cruise card, anything flat. This beautiful bag seems to be perfect and well made." —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in three colors).
20. Some quick-dry water shoes that'll protect your toes from hot sand, sharp rocks, and whatever other terrain you're dealing with. And when you're done, they fold down to basically nothing so you can slip them in your pack without playing tote bag Tetris.
Promising review: "I bought these for a Caribbean cruise. They are perfect!!!!! Once we put them on at the beach, we ended up just wearing them back to the ship. Fairly easy to get your foot into which is a huge plus if you have ever used water shoes. They dry quick and have a thin rubber sole that is perfect for any beach, jet ski, canoe or kayak activities! I plan on ordering more for my family." —tontosmom
Get them from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in women's sizes 4/5–13.5, men's sizes 3/4–12, and in 40 colors/designs).
21. Some Tide sink packets so you can do a load of laundry right in your cabin bathroom rather than paying $10 to have two shirts and a swimsuit laundered onboard.
Each pack comes with three packets. And, because they *are* liquid, they'll easily slide into the side of your toiletries bag. I've packed these on international trips to much success!
Promising review: "Perfect for carry on (best way to travel) and can have the comfort of clean clothes as often as you like. Went on a two-week cruise with only a carry on and it was PERFECT. I washed a few garments every night and ALWAYS had clean clothes. I would spray with Downy Wrinkle Releaser and was ready to go." —LBerroa
Get nine packs from Amazon for $6.56.
22. Some Burt's Bees sunburn soother — a must for anyone prone to burns (even if it's only 60 degrees and cloudy out). The aloe- and coconut oil-infused formula soothes and moisturizes to calm inflamed skin so it *doesn't* feel like your epidermis is being ripped off every time you change your top.
Promising review: "I was so super skeptical about this product. I am not a frequent user of this brand either. I read some good reviews so I went ahead and bought it ahead of a family cruise. I am so glad I did. I burnt my own shoulders and forehead on day one. When I made it back to my room, I could feel the pain setting in. I immediately applied this. Within a few hours, I could feel relief. I did apply it several times over the course of my vacation. I would recommend this product to anyone, and I will keep it in stock. Better than aloe gel." —Laura
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
23. A compact eight-compartment pill organizer with room for all of your vitamins and prescriptions. This sure beats a ziplock bag full of loose pills!
Promising review: "I purchased this to take with me on a five-day cruise. It was perfect. It held all of my vitamins and supplements, our seasickness pills, my husband's allergy pills, my son's lactase pills, and some ibuprofen, just in case. It was easy to load and easy to access the different pills when needed. It looks adorable and fits easily into my backpack. It also comes in three different colors. My guess is that over time, the plastic insert that divides the pills may break, so you will have two more ready to go. I highly recommend, and really enjoyed using." —Amy B
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $9.97.
24. An Alleyoop all-in-one razor — a TSA-approved gadget with a refillable spray bottle, shea butter moisturizing bar, and two triple-blade razor cartridges. The design is genius, but even better, the moisturizing bar won't melt, so if you're traveling somewhere hot, it'll fare just fine.
Promising review: "I recently went on a cruise and didn’t want to pack all my shower shaving needs, this was absolutely perfect for on-the-go use when I needed a quick touch up! Very compact, too." —Emma Manda
Get it from Amazon for $15 (available in two colors).
25. A set of TSA-approved locks you'll appreciate when you have to leave your bags out in the hall for collection on disembarkation day.
Promising reviews: "I really like these locks. They are rugged, easy to set the combination, and easy to open and close. My luggage had to be left in the hallway for baggage pickup at the end of my cruise, and these gave me some peace of mind. FYI, I was told not to use them to lock my suitcases when dropping off my luggage at the cruise ship. Suitcases are inspected and inspectors don't have TSA keys." —Sharon B.
Get it from Amazon for $8.95+ (available individually or in sets of two or four and in different colors).
26. An Apple AirTag so you know where your bag is at all times — especially if you have tight connections to make or are on a trip that involves planes, trains, and automobiles (aka Ubers, Lyfts, and taxis) before you even get to your ship.
After all of the flight cancellations, tarmac delays, and general travel disruptions of the last few years, I finally decided to invest in an AirTag for my checked luggage. In my 15 years of international travel, I've only ever had a bag lost once (due to a missed connecting flight), but I figured it was time to stop tempting fate. I'm generally a carry-on-only traveler, but even those have been getting gate-checked more frequently and as my recent trip involved SIX flights, I felt better having this slipped inside. Using the "Find My" app I can see exactly where my bag was last located so when I land, I'll know if it made the flight with me.
Promising review: "I put an AirTag in my suitcase before flying to Long Beach, CA to get on a cruise ship to Mexico. My bag did not arrive, and the AirTag allowed me to immediately see that it was still at my departure airport. My cruise was due to leave late that day, and although the baggage claim rep assured me that my suitcase would arrive before the last flight of the day, I would have been in a panic by that time if I did not have an AirTag informing me that the bag was indeed on the last flight of the day. I was able to track and recover it from baggage claim with just enough time to board the ship. The AirTag performed exactly as needed!" —Nevada Guy
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
27. A Tushbaby carrier sure to come in handy whenever you're out and about somewhere without a stroller. The as-seen-on-Shark Tank product gives your kiddo four comfy ways to sit and can be used from newborn up to 3- years-old (or 44 pounds).
Promising review: "We bought this for a cruise and used it every day. We loved it so much, we now only use this instead of our other more expensive chest carrier." —Tyson Bowers
Get it from Amazon for $67.99+ (available in five colors/designs).
28. And a waterproof Uno Splash deck you can take to the pool and beach so you never miss an opportunity to absolutely OWN in a game against your 5-year-old who doesn't understand sportsmanship quite yet lol.
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.