Cruisin’ on a Dime
Dollar Tree Cruise Essentials
Keep an open mind when cruisin the aisles of Dollar Tree. Look out for magnetic items, tech, medications, and beauty products that could be useful on your trip.
Planning a cruise can be an exciting adventure, but it doesn’t have to break the bank! For teachers looking to keep their budget in check while preparing for a fun getaway, Dollar Tree is a treasure trove of essential items that won’t hurt your wallet. From travel-sized toiletries to sun protection and fun beach accessories, this discounted haven offers a variety of products perfect for cruising without the hefty price tag. Let’s explore some must-have essentials that will make your trip enjoyable and budget-friendly!
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Need a list for packing CLICK HERE -
20 Must-Have Cruise Items
#1 Magnetic Hooks
Magnetic clips are awesome for creating more storage solutions in your cruise cabin. All the walls and the cabin door are metal, so stick a few magnetic hooks to hold your lanyards, hats or paperwork at eye level, keeping your vanity space clear. You can even put them in the shower to hang wet swimwear to dry. These can be found in the office supply aisle.
#2 Thank You Cards
The cruise staff work really hard to make sure you have the most memorable experience. So why not thank them for their passion and dedication. Some of them spend 6 months to a year on the ship away from family. So the smallest gesture of thanks, even a note, goes a long way. Leave a little message for your room attendant, or wait staff, or even that guest services member who went above and beyond.
#3 Door Decor
Dollar Tree offers a variety of great wall decor that can be hung on your cabin door. Find cruise themed decor during spring and summer months. And you could even decorate for a Halloween cruise or Christmas cruise. Be the most original door on your hall! Oh, and don’t forget your Teach At Sea magnet ;)
#4 Battery Powered Night Lights/Candles
It can get very dark in a cruise cabin, especially if you booked an interior cabin. Avoid that late night crash into a side table when trying to go to the bathroom by bringing a battery powered candle or nightlight. Make sure they are battery powered so they can be placed anywhere and do not take up precious outlets. The one pictured above is controlled by touch and dimmable. For a $1.25, that’s a FIND!
#5 Charging Cables
Because you may not know what kind of outlets you have in your cabin, it’s very economical to buy a variety of charging cables, USB-C & USB-A, to be prepared for any style of charging. Unless of course, if you are a technophile, like my husband, and you have fifty of these hiding in your luggage.
#6 Crossbody Bag
This was a NEW find. These crossbody bags are a great way to keep your valuables literally close to your chest. You could easily use one to safely carry cash, passports, etc. while in port, especially in Europe.
#7 Toiletries
From handwipes to deodorant, Dollar Tree offers a variety of care products in travel size. They may not be name brands, but they still do the job at an affordable price. Save $$$ by taking some time to browse the toiletry aisles. And of course you can store these items in my favorite toiletry bag (it hangs on the back of your bathroom door, saving space).
#8 Magnetic Dry Erase Boards
Back in the old days, before we had the TikToks and the Instagrams, we used these white boards to communicate between cabin mates. Let them know you went to the spa or the buffet. What is even better is they have a magnet on the back which means (you guessed it) it hangs on the wall! I have even seen some people hang these on their cabin door to promote interaction amongst other cruise passengers. You could encourage people to write thank you messages to the crew.
#9 Document Protector
Perfect for storing those important travel documents you need on hand such as: boarding passes, luggage tags, travel insurance, excursion info, etc. You can find these on office aisle. If you need a little more organization, you could purchase an accordion file instead. Either way, these are slim and will fit nicely in any carry-on.
#10 Rain Gear
Nothing is more depressing than rain on a cruise, EXCEPT, having to spend more $$$ on rain gear. If you are going to Alaska or the Caribbean, this is a MUST. Avoid spending an extra $15-30 in the port and pick up a few ponchos and a small retractable umbrella at the Dollar Tree. They will easily fit into your luggage and beach tote.
#11 Pill Container
These are great for storing and organizing your medications for travel. You can even purchase stickers to re-label each compartment. Keep this in your check-on luggage though as some medications can trigger drug-sniffing dogs in airport and cruise terminals.
#12 Medications
Make sure to bring medications for every occasion. From motion sickness to nausea to the flu, illness can occur on any trip. So, avoid overpaying for medications on the ship or in the port by bringing several pills for every need and get them for cheap at the Dollar Tree!
#13 First Aid Supplies
Along with medications, you should come prepared for small injuries as well. Dollar Tree sells this really cute travel pack of bandages that come in a slim plastic container, perfect for travel. Make sure to also grab antibiotic cream and blister protectors. All of these are also sold for a premium on the ship and in ports.
#14 Wrinkle Spray Away
This is a GREAT find! Because most ships do not have laundry facilities and offer laundry services for an expensive extra fee, this wrinkle spray is very useful. Simply spray your clothes and pull out the wrinkles. PLUS, it leaves a pleasing scent on your clothing as if it was just washed. Small enough to fit in your toiletries bag, this is an item we bring on every cruise.
#15 Pop up Hamper & Zipper Bags
What do Zip-Loc bags have in common with a hamper? Well, we use these items to separate our used clothing and keep our cruise cabin tidy. Wet/stinky items can be put in a zipper bag and all other used clothing can be tossed in the hamper which we put in the closet. We have used our hamper for over six years and it still folds neatly into a small 6” circle that fits in our luggage.
#16 Stain Remover Pencil or Wipes
Whether you get the pen or wipes (which were also at Dollar Tree), these are handy to put in your carry-on for those random spills and accidents. Treat your stains ASAP to make sure they have the best chance of being removed in the wash.
#17 Air Freshener
Although room stewards can work magic, they typically only clean once a day. On that note, the small, confined bathrooms in your cabin can tend to capture some of the less desirable smells. A great solution is placing room air freshener in the bathroom the entirety of the cruise. Again, we don’t leave home without one. Just make sure it’s a fragrance everyone will enjoy.
#18 Candy & Snacks
Treat yo’self! Pick up your favorite snacks for the airflight or cruise cabin to avoid steep costs in the terminal or with room service. Sucking on hard candies can be great for a change in cabin pressure when flying and ginger candies can help alleviate motion sickness. So make sure to packs some of these in your carry-on.
#19 Closet Hooks
Peter found these new contraptions the last time we were in the Dollar Tree. Most cabins have a closet with hanging rods. These clips could be great for saving space with dresses, belts, ties and any other clothing items that could be hung on a hook.
#20 Sunglasses
Now, they may not be name brand, but they do the same job and come at a great price. I always take several cheap pairs of sunglasses in case I misplace them or they get blown or knocked off my head. There’s a great variety of styles to choose from and you can buy so many, cause they are $1.50.
3 for $5
#1 Battery Pack
This cheap battery pack may give you an extra few hours of charge on excursions or on a flight. Make sure you have the right connection to your phone or device.
#2 Beach Tote Bag
It may not be $1.25, but this tote bag is still a steal for $5! I bring one on every trip, because it lies flat in your luggage and takes up barely any space (in fact I put my flip lops and water shoes in it because they lay flat as well). During the trip I take it into every port, throwing in towels, sun lotion, etc. And PRO TIP: On the journey home, I use it as a personal carry on to hold all the extra souvenirs I purchased! Of course if you have the $$$ to splurge and if you love our content, you could always splurge and purchase the Teach at Sea Beach Tote . . . You know you love the brand logo.
#3 Earbuds
I can’t believe it; but you can buy earbuds in the Dollar Tree. I don’t know how reliable or comfortable they are, but if they work, well then, $5 is a steal. These are handy when running laps on the cruise ship track (Bwhahaha!) or watching a movie on your personal device on the plane flight home.
As you get ready for your next adventure on the waves, remember these 20 must-have items we found at Dollar Tree! They can truly make your cruise more comfortable and enjoyable. For more tips & tricks and great discussions about cruising join our Facebook group.
