If you've ever stepped off a cruise ship into sweltering heat with sunscreen melting off your shoulders and a phone battery at 12%, you know how quickly a great excursion can get uncomfortable. Royal Caribbean Blog founder Matt Hochberg has taken enough tours — across the Caribbean, Europe, and Alaska — to narrow down six inexpensive items that consistently make a difference.
At the top of his list is a handheld fan, which he initially doubted but now considers essential. Tour buses can be stuffy before the AC kicks in, and a small fan provides immediate relief — useful on city buses and ferry rides too. For beach stops, he recommends packing compact inflatable floats that don't require a pump and give adults a comfortable way to actually enjoy the water rather than just standing around in it.
A small, water-resistant backpack beats a beach bag every time, according to Hochberg. Two options that come up repeatedly among his readers are a Waterfly waterproof bag and a Columbia nylon backpack — both durable enough to handle sand and splashes over multiple trips. He also makes a strong case for a portable power bank capable of two to four full phone charges, since direct sunlight and heavy navigation use drain batteries far faster than a typical day at home.
Rounding out the list: a quality insulated refillable water bottle — which keeps water cold far longer than a plastic bottle and saves money in destinations where cold drinks are hard to find — and reef-safe sunscreen. His current pick for the latter is La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin SPF 60, which he likes for its non-greasy, dry-touch finish.
None of these items are expensive, and most are reusable across future cruises, which makes them practical investments rather than one-trip splurges. This roundup originally appeared on Royal Caribbean Blog.
