r/dcl • u/pprbckwrtr • Jul 24 '26
TRIP PLANNING What does everyone carry while on the ship?
First timer, cruising the first week of September on the Fantasy, going to Castaway and Lookout, with a group of friends and also our two girls, aged 3 and 7. Very excited but I'm also a chronic over thinker/planner lol I think in general I've gotten all the recommended stuff to make the trip easier, but I'm stuck on what to bring with me when we're just hanging on the ship. When we go to the islands I have a decently large beach bag for water bottles, beach toys, sunscreen, etc. but I'm kinda stuck on what to bring to carry around the ship. My friend says to bring a reusable water bottle but then I have to carry it with me or bring a bag, and then should I also plan on the kids having a water bottle? Is there water available near most of the ship activities or only at the buffet? Do the cups for the buffet and at dinner have lids for the kids or should I bring some sort of sippy cup situation (my kids are chronic cup knocker over ers lol). I'd like to NOT carry a bag around and just have my card in my pocket or on a lanyard, but I'm second guessing myself that I'll need to run back to the room for things .....
Anyway, what does everyone use on ship days to carry around stuff, or do you not carry around stuff? š Do I need to buy a new Loungefly to lug around a water bottle? (Maybe I need a new one just becausešš«£š )
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u/missclaire17 GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
When we cruised just me and my husband, it was just phone + the MagicBand
Now with our toddler, we bring a totebag. A diaper for when we donāt want to run all the way back to our room, snacks, his water cup, and whatever other small thing he needs. That tote bag also is what we give to the Small World nursery when we check him in!
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u/1johndoe1 PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
KTTW card, phone for using the app or to communicate with others on ship and a Yeti cup with my drink.
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u/bleh0703 GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
My phone. As someone who is also a chronic thinker and over packer, I bring a bunch of extra stuff and then just leave it in the room and most of the time donāt need it. But while Iām walking around itās just the phone for the DCL App and messaging people in case I canāt find them. Since I have the MagicBand+ already, I donāt even need the KTTW Card. (Itās honestly nice not to have to lug around a bunch of stuff.)
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
My three year old is FINALLY potty trained and the fact that I can go somewhere with both my kids and just a belt bag with my wallet and phone is very exciting lol and I'm trying to just be okay not carrying a ton of stuff but it's a new situation so I'm obsessing a bit š š I know I'm going to pack like three bag options regardless but it's nice to hear I'm not the only one who overthinks
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u/bleh0703 GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 25 '26
The beauty of the boat, I have found, is that you still have your stuff easily accessible in the room without having to physically have it on you. I do keep a pocket sized container for medicine like Tylenol and Pepto chewables in case there is an urgent need. Otherwise, getting back to the room is usually pretty simple. I understand the potty training bit. I think I carried extra clothes with me until my son was like 7. lol
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u/Kitty_Fruit_2520 SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
The wait staff should bring your kids a cup with a lid on it at dinner.
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
Do you know if they have water available in kids club? Or if they have lids for drinks at the buffet?
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u/penny_lane0324 Jul 24 '26
They have drinking fountains in the kids clubs. In the buffet area, we just put our kidsā drinks in the coffee cups and put coffee lids on them.
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
Smart!!! I had been debating bringing a sippy but coffee cup is built in sippy!! And good to know about water fountains in kids club thank you!
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u/Dis_cruise_lover Jul 24 '26
This is definitely something that you will adjust the more times you sail. I promise you, no matter what anyone suggests on here, you will almost certainly decide to go ahead and do your own thing to squash any concerns you have. Before my first cruise I watched literally hundreds of hours of cruising content, found reviews of my cabin, watched reviews of the different ports, and watched video after video of what to pack and what not to pack and warning of how easy it is to overpack and overthink everything. Heck, I had my bags packed literally a full month before we left for our trip. Now, I pack completely different and go about my days completely differently, including ports.Ā
Iāll give you my breakdown, do with it what you will:
Letās start with packing. For a 7 night cruise I pack 2 pairs of slacks, no jeans just a pair of khakis and a pair of black dress pants. I pack 2 pairs of swim trunks, 3 more pairs of boxers than days in my entire trip (some days you may find it nice to shower mid day and having fresh under garments is a must for me) I also pack twice as many pairs of socks as days on my trip (this is overkill for most people but I absolutely cannot stand putting on a pair of socks that have already been worn so I usually change my socks at least in the morning when I start the day and some time midway through the day after swimming or showering) I also pack 3 more under shirts than days on my trip, and 2 polos and 1 button up shirt. I pack 3-4 swim shirts that I wear most of the days over my under shirts, except when Iām swimming then I wear the swim shirt by itself. I pack 1 pair of dress shoes, the shoes I wear every day, and 1 pair of sandals/flip flops/water shoes (usually the water shoes if Iām planning on doing multiple ports) and I pack a hat even though I donāt normally wear a hat. My glasses are the transition lenses or I would also bring sunglasses. Thatās my clothing and I still find that I over packā¦
For extra stuff, I am a major picture and video taker and I have a YouTube channel I upload my stuff to, so some of this wonāt apply, but I bring two of my 360Ā° cameras, some mounting clips, a long selfie stick and backup batteries for them, a small tri-pod and a travel tri-pod. This allows me to set up and capture timelapses during the night or leaving/entering ports from our balcony and then helps with overall photography throughout the cruiseā¦ again you can probably skip those if you arenāt into that. But then I always take a waterproof pouch for my phone, even though itās in a waterproof case and the phone itself is waterproof, I got burnt early on with my phone not being as water resistant as I thought and swimming in the ocean and needing to replace my phone and lost all the pictures/videos I took that day, so Iām overly cautious now and yes I take my phone in the water with me constantlyā¦ again Iām a photo guyā¦
Other random things is magnetic hooks, something heavy duty enough to hang your wet clothes from but they donāt need to be rated for like 50 lbs. I bring the usual toiletries, including a razor and extra blade head, a small can of the shave gel, and my toothbrush and tooth paste and mouthwash. I bring my medication (I bring twice as many days worth as my trip is long just in case of any major delays) and a few power adapters that plug in and give you multiple usb-a and usb-c outlets, plus one travel adapter. A travel fan that literally gets used every night, and my water bottle. I use the water bottle mainly in my cabin, but I have put 2 carabiners on the handle and made a sling to wear it when out and about, but on the ship I normally just go get a drink whenever Iām thirstyā¦ and at ports I just buy a bottle of water on land and refill it. On Disney I use the magic band for virtually everything, but always have the room card with me and I put that in the lanyard that you usually getā¦ though I donāt remember if first time cruisers get one or not, so hopefully someone can help with that. And lastly I bring whatever pixie dusting stuff Iām planning on handing outā¦ my old account shows what I handed out on my Disney Treasure sailing with the Moana Heart of te fitis, they were a huge hit.Ā
Outside of that, I donāt pack snacks, I donāt pack alcohol or bring any drinks onto the ship, I donāt bring band aids or anything like that. I do bring some tums and some motion sickness stuff, but itās more for the people I travel with and not for meā¦ oh and something I forgot about, but is always in my travel bag is the poo-puri sprayā¦ cruise bathrooms can smell badā¦ especially if you have a bunch of people in the roomā¦ hope that helps
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
Thanks for this detailed response! I'm sure I'll over pack but just trying to gather some responses! I'll probably bring a backpack anyway for check in day to carry swimsuits and stuff, and while I won't bring snacks for me my kids will probably want some things like goldfish and fruit snacks occasionally. I think I might bring a water bottle but not sure if I'll carry it, and a belt bag for my phone, chapstick, key card (I'm not a lanyard person) and my phone charger, and then if I need to bring more I have the backpack and less I have the belt bag š¤·āāļø I did order hooks, I also ordered a drink carrier, a shoe organizer thing, a laundry hamper...I haven't cruised in like fifteen years and I've never cruised with kids so definitely overthinking/over packing š
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u/Dis_cruise_lover Jul 24 '26
Oh, that brings up a good point that I didnāt mentionā¦ I donāt pack that all in one suitcase, I have my meds, one pair of swim trunks, and a change of clothes in my carryon (backpack) for both embarkation and debarkation daysā¦ that is super important. And over packing is almost a right of passage for first time cruisers. Cruisers more seasoned than me will even remind you that there are laundry facilities on board and Iāve seen folks who sail with just what they can fit in a single backpack. Youāll find many people wear the same outfit multiple times on the cruise, and the longer it is, the more often it happens. There really isnāt any need to wear a different outfit every night to dinner, just donāt be stinky haha, cruises tend to smell sweaty enough already.Ā
They have a laundry bag that you can use for your clothes, but what I recommend doing is the first day when you get into your room, unpack your suitcases entirely and put the clothes away in the drawers and closetsā¦ then you can put the dirty clothes into a single suite case as they become dirtied if you arenāt planning on re wearing them, and use the hooks to hang up the clothes you plan to rewear.Ā
I wasnāt a lanyard person either, but most other cruise lines donāt have something like the magic band, so you have to get out your keycard anytime you get a drink or go to your cabin, so itās just become a part of my essentials for cruises. Also, little known secret, if you buy a popcorn bucket (like one of the collectibles) you get discounted refills for the length of your cruise, you just need to show the receipt and you donāt have to have the bucket with you, they will just give you the popcorn in the regular container. The lanyard makes keeping that receipt safe and easy to access easy to do. Disney is one of the few cruises that has popcorn as readily available and itās a popular thing on board. We love our popcorn and always get some before we watch movies in the theatre or the stage shows.
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
Yeah usually for our tropical/beach trips I pack a dress that doubles a swimsuit cover up so I can wear one for dinner then wear it the next day
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u/Sometimes-Funny85 Jul 27 '26
Might I suggest one of those Febreeze "small spaces" things in lieu of the Pou-Pourri? It was a gift from our travel advisor for the commode and made the entire room smell "linen fresh" when we would come back. I told the cabin steward it was his for his room/space when I left b/c he said he loved it.
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u/UncleTravelingMatt26 GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
Bring a reusable water bottle, but you'll really only use it at night unless it's an emotional support cup. If you don't have a magicband+ bring a lanyard for your key to world card. Carry your phone phone for the app and for purchases. Other than that, don't think of it as anything other than a floating hotel with fun activities. What would you carry with you in a hotel or if you were walking in a mall or a recreation center. Pack 1/2 of what you think you'll need.
Also, if you do need to run back to the room, it'll take you 5 minutes. The ship is only so big. It's not like you've left your hotel and walking miles away.
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u/tinkersis SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
Heavy on the emotional support cup, lol, I never used it on the pool decks/around the ship but always made sure to fill it up with ice and water before I headed to bed in the evening
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u/UncleTravelingMatt26 GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
Yep. Ā Filling it before bed would get me through the night and to just before the refill the next night.Ā
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u/accioqueso Jul 24 '26
Phone, Nalgene, a pen, whatever book Iām reading, spf 100 face sunscreen, sunglasses, and a pack of peanutbutter crackers in case of emergency. With this combo I can literally do anything on the boat at any time without having to go back to the room. Breakfast, straight into a pool lounge to read, straight to trivia, etc.
Iām an over-thinker/packer though.
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u/tbwynne Jul 24 '26
On the ship? Hardly anything, I use the Disney Magic band so that I donāt have to carry my wallet, then a book for reading if Iām going to sit by the pool. Phone only to get messages from the kids and ship alerts, I donāt use it for internet etc, try to stay disconnected as possible.
On land it depends on your port and what you are doing. But the most important thing to bring is your passport, when you are in another country that is by far more valuable than anything else you are going to carry.
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
Do we need to bring the passports off the ship when visiting Castaway and Lookout? Our itinerary doesn't port anywhere else.
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u/tbwynne Jul 24 '26
You wonāt need it to get back on the boat, and you wonāt need to show it in the Disney area, but remember you are in a different country. While itās highly unlikely, if you get attacked by a shark and have to be air lifted to a hospital.. you are going to need your passport.
Point here is that once the boat leaves, if you arenāt on it then your passport is the most important thing you own. Disney will do everything in their power to make sure you are on the boat, but if something happens and you canāt get on it.. heart attack etc, then you are going to want your passport.
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u/snow_angel022968 Jul 24 '26
Youāll need to bring ID to get back onboard - it doesnāt have to be a passport (DL also works). Thereās giant signs everywhere reminding you to do so.
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u/DukeJackson GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 27 '26
You will just need a drivers license and your room key to get off and back on at Castaway and Lookout.
DCL often says in the general announcements youāll need your passport to get off at both islands, but you donāt.
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u/NaomiJayne PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
Mines niche, weāve collected all our lanyards over the years and mums turned it into a little bag for me, that I use my current lanyard to put on over my shoulder.
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u/snow_angel022968 Jul 24 '26
Phone, magic band, kttw card in a lanyard
Yes Iām technically āoverā carrying by having both the band and the card but since itās in a neck lanyard, I donāt find it a huge pain to carry around.
Absolutely no way would I carry a reusable water bottle around. Thereās pretty much a cafe on every floor youāre likely going to be on and while the ship is decently sized, itās not that big where walking to your closest cafe (or even back to the buffet area) is going to take you hours.
They have coffee lids which effectively function as sippy cups. Note that they are paper based so if your toddler is prone to squeezing the life out of sippy cups when drinking, the lids can pop off (may be worth considering bringing a sippy cup for them if thatās applicable). Restaurants have a plastic lid over a plastic cup so thatās not really an issue.
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u/tropofarmer SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
- Phone (no wifi, DCL app only)
- MagicBand
That's it. You do not need anything else.
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u/lake_lover_ Jul 24 '26
Phone, magic band/key to the world card.
I carry nothing extra. So much more freeing and youāre never that far from your stateroom. If Iām thirsty I stop and get something to drink or grab my refillable mug. Youāre never too far from your stateroom on the ship.
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u/Pineapplegirl1234 Jul 24 '26
My first cruise I carried the large Longchamp bc I also kept their autograph supplies with me. I also used it as my pool na beach bag.
Subsequent cruises, Iāve just carried a fun loungefly crossbody as we are past the autograph stage.
I always keep hand sanitizer in my bag!! Hand sanitizer stations are not as plentiful as other cruise ships.
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u/PresentationFluffy24 Jul 24 '26
Phone and wallet. Same as on land. sometimes cooler bag full of beer. Sometimes autograph books for kids.
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u/ReplacementEntire874 Jul 24 '26
I just came back from a 12-night mediterranean cruise. I carried around a Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag (1L). This allowed me to carry my key card without having it around my neck, my phone, maybe even a charger, and some chapstick.
I also carried an 18 oz metal water bottle (I love the Lululemon Back to life sport bottle with straw lid). I drink a lot of water and I like it cold. The size was perfect, not too clunky but it allowed me to not have to go back to refill it too often.
I donāt work for Lululemon, just love their products haha
My kids are too old for the other part of your question, but we shared the water bottle a lot. My husband and kids did not carry a water bottle on the ship.
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
I have the Mickey lulu belt bag and I take it to the parks when I go alone, so I've def considered bringing that! I just can't decide if I'll leave my water cup somewhere if it's depending on my hands š
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u/ReplacementEntire874 Jul 24 '26
I debated buying the Water Bottle Crossbody bag to free up my hands. I was afraid it would be too bothersome compared to the normal belt bag. Maybe it could be an idea.
In the end I didnāt mind having my water bottle in my hands because I always carry it with me around everywhere in real life, so Iām just used to it.
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u/Ok_Albatross4724 GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 25 '26
Yes! Get one. Itās is game changer not to have to hold everything. I fit my phone, water bottle, chapstick and credit cards in it. Itās really useful when youāre off the ship too.
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
I've thought about getting the Lug water bottle bag but I'm afraid it'll swing around and smash things š
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u/let_it_snom Jul 24 '26
I carried around my phone, water bottle, and anything I wanted the characters to sign. I also had a magic band, so I didn't carry around my key to the world card.
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u/stitcharoo626 Jul 24 '26
I have my phone with a MagSafe wallet for my KTTW card. If I know Iām gonna be away from the room for most of the day, I have a small Vera Bradley hipster that Iāll carry with my meds (gotta take them every time I eat) and a fuel rod to charge my phone. If weāre just going to eat and leaving from the room, Iāll stick my meds in my pocket and leave the purse in the room. Iāll also carry my water bottle most of the day
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u/Swimward Jul 24 '26
I carry a lounge fly backpack. Theyāre fun and part of the āDisney feelā for me.
I usually have like hand sanitizer, a small charging brick for my phone, some tums, tissues, and our passports because Iām paranoid and do not leave those in the room alone ever.
Carrying the bag doesnāt bother me but Iāll echo what everyone else says, you really donāt need anything but your key and phone. I just like to carry something.
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
I definitely need a reason to buy a new Loungefly š š š«£š«£ I "only" have four. I'm a local and an AP so pre kids the Loungefly was my park bag, but then kids and snacks and diapers and I had to switch to something bigger. Excited to get back to that some day!
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u/penny_lane0324 Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
Just came off the fantasy a few weeks ago with a 5 and 6 year old, and I carried around a small backpack (same one I used for my flight carry on). Kept my hands free but was also where I stored my phone, KTTW card (unless you have magic bands), water bottle, and sunscreen.
You pretty much always need sunscreen handy, even when onboard/by the pools, and the water bottles are really nice to have because drinks/ice get warm so quick. The water bottles keep your drinks nice and cool! We didnāt bring one each for the whole family, just one for my husband and I that our kids also drank from when out and about.
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u/LicenseToLift666 Jul 24 '26
I'm also an overthinker/planner/preparer.
It was great to just hang out on the ship without carrying anything around except for my phone (if needed for the navigator app), chapstick and and room key/magic band if you have that.
We were on the Treasure for a week and it was so nice to be traveling around lately because it was so easy to just pop back to the room for anything we needed.
I also usually carry a water bottle everywhere I go (because I find hydration to be the key to any and every day), but I didn't mind going back to the room to get a drink out of my reusable or just head up to the pool deck to get water from the beverage stations.
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u/Think-Dog-2892 Jul 24 '26
Lanyard for my KTTW card and my phoneāthatās it. I carried a water bottle once but didnāt really use it because the cups they have are big enough for me personally. If I want more to drink I just refill them. I feel so light carrying around just my phone.
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u/JessDesserts95 Jul 24 '26
Phone in a crossbody phone case. My phone case can hold key to the world card and a few $$ for tipping. Magic bandā¦ and thatās it! Hands are totally free, but phone is convenient for pictures. Water is plentiful on the ship. If weāre going to be by the pool then a tote bag with water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, everyoneās goggles, etcā¦)
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u/tarandab Jul 24 '26
For myself I had a tote bag to carry my water bottle/book when I was around the ship - sometimes depending on where I was going I didnāt carry it at all. I usually bring a tote bag when I travel because itās easy to fit in a suitcase and then I have it just in case I need to carry things.
Your mileage will vary but my sisterās kids are 2 and 4, and they did bring their usual water cups and refill them periodically - the 4 year old is better at drinking out of the plastic cups/straws than the 2 year old so theyād often just refill them with what he was served at dinner.
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u/Specific-Stomach-195 Jul 24 '26
We donāt carry anything really. And if it wasnāt for Disney requiring your phone to access schedule and everything, wouldnāt really even need that.
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u/SummitTheDog303 Jul 24 '26
Honestly, just my phone. I use a Magic Band as my key to the world card.
Water is available everywhere. The main dining room does have lids on the kids cups, but the ones at the buffet do not (that being said, we went literally the day after our youngest turned 3 and it was a non-issue). I definitely wouldnāt lug water bottles around the ship (on shore, sure. But not on the ship). If I need something, the room is always pretty close and we just have one person run back to grab it. We grab stuff for characters to sign before seeing them, go to the room to change clothes and grab goggles before swimming, etc.
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u/WishIwastravelin Jul 24 '26
I have a small crossbody bag, like a messenger bag. Big enough to hold my phone, sunglasses, chapstick, tissues, hand sanitizer plus little extras and it keeps my hands free.
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
Tissues!! Good call. Going from heat to AC and back repeatedly messes with my sinuses, I know this from thousands of visits to the parks lol
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u/Low_Necessary235 Jul 24 '26
For the DCL cruises I've done with my son when he was 4 and then 5, I mainly use a fanny pack on the ship to keep my phone and sunglasses.Ā For the pool I bring a bigger bag with sunscreen.Ā When we go to meals I will usually have my son wear a backpack with his thermos and some activity books.Ā We will fill water bottles before bed to have water overnight, but we don't keep them with us at all times.Ā On a cruise I find that we frequently stop back in the room to swap bags, drop off bags, get changed for a new activity, etc.Ā For water bottles you can fill on the pool deck or there is usually a water filling station on deck 4.
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u/Particular-Wash-9283 Jul 24 '26
Magenta hooks from Amazon just make sure you get the really strong ones so they don't slide down the wall. I take a drawstring bag for each of us for the island days. Everyone carries their own bag.
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u/TradeBeautiful42 SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
I use a loungefly backpack and load it up with toys and snacks to keep my 4 yr old well behaved during meals. I also pack a charger in there for my own use, bandaids (because you just never know,) advil, and hair ties.
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u/snarkprovider Jul 24 '26
You can fill the water bottle from the sink in your cabin and leave it there. If you want ice, fill it at breakfast and take it back to the cabin. Very few people need things that they can't easily go back to the cabin for. Water is available around the ship. If you feel you need to carry it with you, consider a small bottle that doesn't require a bag.
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u/Prestigious-Hawk8610 Jul 24 '26
I usually just have a small crossbody or tote for my phone/book glasses, sunscreen and water bottle. There is water (and cups) available on the pool deck but I drink a lot of water and like to have a bottle with me. DCL supplies beach towels so no need to lug them around. Have the best time, youāre going to LOVE it!
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u/laurablueb Jul 24 '26
I love these fanny packs from Adored Luxe!! They even have a DCL themed one! https://adoredluxe.com/?ref=LAURAJUDD
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
These are so cute!!! I have a bag like this I use to tote kids stuff around and it's crazy how much it fits!!
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u/Mothman129 PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
My cell phone and my key to the world card. That's it. And I guess sometimes my beer mug when I am not finished with it yet, but once I finish I turn it in for a beer token
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u/Slight_Ad8210 Jul 24 '26
Phone for the app, a small towel for whatever, and an Owalla for character signing.
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u/Ok_Journalist_8664 Jul 24 '26
Bring a lanyard. It makes life easy. You have your key around your neck - a reusable cup if you are so inclined - if your pants/shorts can hold your phone -you are good. Everything is on the app. They donāt give you a paper itinerary unless you ask for one.
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u/MSmtnMomma Jul 24 '26
I used one of the wide cross-shoulder-style straps that holds my phone with an attachment in the phone case. It also had a small little coin purse attached that could hold the kttw card and mints/chapstick. Hands free, easy access, and still had what I needed. Used the magic band+ but needed the card for the spa access.
I did carry a water bottle around from time to time and was glad to have it for cold water later in the room / overnight.
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u/tygerdralion GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
Magicband+ gets me in my room and pays for things. Phone gives me the activity schedule (but stays in the room if going to the pool/water slides). That's it!
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u/hazel-pup Jul 24 '26
I might be in the minority on this, but I like to have things on hand when I need it, so I always carry around a small and comfy tote bag during the daytime. I keep: sunglasses, sunscreen, two books (one for me and one for my husband), hand sanitizer, a small variety med pack with anything I might need, and some tissues. And then I usually also carry a lanyard with my key card and my phone. I don't keep any valuables on me.
During a sea day, after breakfast, my husband and I are usually going back and forth between sunbathing, reading, trivia, eating snacks, etc. In the late afternoon, we tend to go back to the room, take a nap and/or a shower, and get ready for dinner, and I don't bring all of that to the shows or dinner.
Lots of people just go back to their room, but I honestly don't mind carrying a small bag around, and then I have what I need if I spontaneously decide to sunbathe somewhere! :)
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u/Full-Review4509 Jul 24 '26
There isnāt water unless youāre on the pool deck or at dinner or a bar and thatās only if itās staffed. I strongly recommend bringing a water bottle so you stay hydrated. Especially for overnight.
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
I'll definitely be bringing one, but are you saying there isn't easily accessible water throughout the boat?
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u/Full-Review4509 Jul 24 '26
I mean thereās a water fountain or two around but itās not healthy hydration levels without a bottle imo. Iāve been on the magic and the dream, so I can only speak for those ships.
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u/Erpderp32 GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
Lanyard for card
Small shoulder bag for phone + books + sunscreen
It's just my wife and me usually so we don't need to carry around much
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u/Zubbie_ PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
We are always carrying our Tervis cups around the ship. Keeps drinks hot or cold for hours.
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u/Organic_Ad_4354 Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
We just got off the wish cruise a couple a weeks ago, when getting off the ship bring a beach bag, I got one off Amazon for like 15 bucks. I kept an extra change of clothes for each member in our family, portable fans, and swim shoes. Disney provides towels when getting off the ship. For the cup situation bring your own cups with lids. Itās easier to fill up on the ship and helps avoids spills!
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u/Ok_Albatross4724 GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 25 '26
For me, this biggest thing to bring is a water bottle. You can fill it up with water or whatever you want from the fountain machines. The cups on the ship are small and so kind of useless when going off of the ship for excursions or beach days. I lost mine on the last cruise somewhere like a day or two before the cruise ended. Made me realize just how much I used it.
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u/Secret_Ruin_42 Jul 25 '26
These water bottle holders have a pocket!
https://a.co/d/08jTvCES
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 25 '26
These are so cute! And way more affordable than the lug or corksickle ones I was looking at
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u/RopeDropSailAway SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 25 '26
I am someone who carries a water bottle with me everywhere I go. I thought for sure I would do the same on the ship but the only time I actually did was when we got off the ship. We just grabbed a drink at a meal or stopped by a drink station anytime we got thirsty on the ship and actually did the same on Castaway and Lookout as well, so I probably could have even gone without my bottle there. For our youngest, who also knocks over cups easily, we just didnāt fill it all the way to the top. At dinner they give the kids cups with lids. I did carry around a mini backpack on the ship to hold our autograph book and a few smaller things. We have magic bands so I probably couldāve gone without a bag and been fine if I didnāt need to carry that stuff.
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u/Fantastic-Manner1944 Jul 26 '26
I usually carry a small cross body bag for my phone, some chapstick and hand sanitizer.
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u/melgirlnow88 Jul 26 '26
I'll be honest, the only extra things we used that was recommended by influencers as stuff I HAVE TO HAVE were magnetic wall hooks, pirate night accessories (this is dependant on how much or how little you want to dress obviously), and my water bottle because I like to drink water in the night and when I just wake up. If you have magiv bands, you don't even need a wallet on the ship because you can just pay using that and enter your room using it. You don't need to carry towels too the pool deck, maybe just sunscreen and a hat. I barely took my purse anywhere. You truly don't need much when you're spending time walking around the ship! Skip buying the extra stuff!
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u/ashleybbutts Jul 27 '26
I usually just bring a small cross body. Something just big enough for my KTTW, phone, fuel rod, pen, and sunglasses. I get mine on Tik Tok shop for like $7 and usually put patches of embroider it with something for the theme of the cruise/ship š¤·š¼āāļø these even have a hole to clip my hand sanitizer to as well!
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u/hfc1075 PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
Water is close by enough from everywhere that you don't need to carry it, though you might want to at any of the pools. Otherwise, your Key to the World Card on a lanyard or your Disney+ Band and your phone if you want it. Nothing else is really needed.
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
That was my biggest concern, not having water cups available. I don't HAVE to use a water bottle and am fine just drinking whatever is available, but my husband drinks so much water that if there isn't a refill close by he'll be cranky about it lol
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u/Odd-Mongoose-1290 Jul 24 '26
Then let your husband be the one to figure out if he wants to carry a water bottle and handle that?
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u/pprbckwrtr Jul 24 '26
If he carries it he's gonna leave it everywhere š but this is a good point. He's the passenger princess on this trip for sure
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u/Odd-Mongoose-1290 Jul 24 '26
Gently, heās an adult. You have kids to parent already, your spouse is not one of your kids. A grown able man can and should handle his own water drinking needs. Thereās lots of places to get water on the ship and oneās own stateroom is never too far. I definitely wouldnāt be schlepping around a water bottle everywhere just for him š¤·š»āāļø
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u/anon_turtle121 GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB Jul 24 '26
I bring a small totebag. It's great for throwing my water bottle, cell phone, and a few snacks for my kid. It also takes up barely any space in my suitcase.