Perfect Cruise Gift Ideas for Cruise Lovers this Holiday Season

If you’re looking for unique gift ideas for the cruiser in your life, this list of more than 65 cruise items includes both fun and practical ideas. This cruise travel gift guide will help you find the perfect gift for your cruise loving friends and family.

While nothing beats being on an actual cruise, getting cruise essentials that they can use on their next cruise will be so appreciated!

This cruise gift list includes unique travel gifts that you’ll get excited over and be proud to give! Plus, they’re all available on Amazon so you can conveniently shop online.

Looking for more cruise gift inspiration?

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65 Best Cruise Gift Ideas for Cruise Travelers

In this cruise gift guide you’ll find popular cruise accessories, travel related items, fun cruise t-shirts, masks and other novelty items. If you have additional suggestions of great gifts for cruisers, please leave me a comment at the bottom of this post.

Amazon Prime

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We’ve found the fast shipping so practical even for everyday items, especially as we’ve often tried to avoid going out for just a couple of things.

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We’ve now exhausted Netflix, and have found awesome shows and movies on Prime!

If you aren’t a member yet, you can get an Amazon Prime free 30 day trial here, and still take advantage of the promos.

*Tip – If you don’t want to keep it, as there is a yearly fee, take note of the date you signed up and make sure to cancel before 30 days.

Back to the cruise travel item list, that are favorites any time of year, but especially as we get closer to the holiday season.

Free 30 day Trial Amazon Prime (amazon link)

Best Cruise Accessories for 2023

Some of the most practical and useful gifts are cruise accessories and helpful packing items. These popular essentials are well loved by cruise travelers everywhere!

However, for the cruise traveler who has everything, I’ve included some unique travel gift ideas as well!

1. Hanging Cabin Organizer

Cruisers swear by the hanging organizer for toiletries and other essentials on a cruise.

2. Magnetic Cabin Hooks

I personally recommend these magnetic cabin hooks. When we used them in our cabin on our last cruise, they freed up space in the closet (and on chairs). The small hooks are “heavy duty” so they can hold the weight of a backpack or sweatshirt, but also are a good place to store sunhats and hang bathing suits to dry.

Tip: Go with magnet hooks that are 75 lbs or more to have best results. Strong hooks can stick together, but sliding them apart (not pulling) will help.

3. Waterproof Dry Bag

This waterproof dry bag is perfect for active cruisers. This best-selling Amazon items comes in a several sizes and colors.

4. Cute Towel Clips

These fun towel clips are great to keep towels put on a breezy sea day or at the beach. They make a great little cruise gift or stocking stuffer for the holidays.

5. Towel Bands with Clips

These lightweight towel bands with chair clips are easy to pack for your cruise and are great to use both on the ship and on beach shore excursions!

Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner

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6. Portable Lock-box Safe

Cruisers often wonder where they can put valuables and identification when on excursions or hanging out on the beach. This portable lock box safe is perfect to keep a cell phone, money and other personal items.

7. Non-surge Protected Power Bar (cruise approved)

If you’re looking for a gift for someone going on a cruise, a non-surge protected power bar will be so useful! Cruise ship cabins are notorious for their lack of outlets, and regular power bars are not allowed to brought on board.

8. Cruise Card Holder

I’ve recently given this new cruise essential a try, and I am hooked! As an alternative to a cruise lanyard, this cruise card holder sticks right onto your phone case (so your key card is always in reach).

This handy item is a great gift for the cruiser who has it all!

Recommended: Cruise card holder phone pouch

9. Poo-Pourri Bathroom Spray

Poo-Pourri is well loved by cruisers and not talked about that often. However, it’s definitely one of the most popular cruise items being ordered on Amazon!

10. Cabin Alarm Clock

If you like to know the time during the night or don’t want to rely on your cell phone, consider a simple travel battery operated clock. A lot of cruisers swear this is one of their favorite cruise accessories.

11. Cabin Nightlight

This portable nightlight is so practical and makes a great gift for cruisers. This is especially handy for inside cabins, which will be pitch black when the lights are off.

Recommended: Battery operated nighlight

12. Small Travel Fan

Cruise cabins can get stuffy. This small fan is battery operated, but rechargeable, and gets great reviews on Amazon.

Recommended: Portable Travel Mini Fan

13. Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are fabulous for cruises. This set of packing cubes make a great gift for every member of the family! Consider getting at least 2 sets with different sizes, and color code to keep better organized.

50 Best Cruise Accessories and gifts — Please PIN to save to your favorite Pinterest boards

14. Hanging Toiletry Bag

This hanging toiletry bag and organizer makes it so easy to unpack the necessities on a cruise! Cruise ship bathrooms are small, and this is a must-have item to bring on a cruise.

15. Cruise Crew Thank-you Cards

Even if you’ve never used thank you cards before, this may be the time to say a very big thank you to your favorite crew members!

Recommended: Cruise staff thank you cards

16. Cruise Gift Cards

This cruise gift card is perfect to surprise your loved one with the gift of a cruise!! It says “Oh ship” on the front and “You’re going on a cruise!” on the inside.

17. Cruise Lanyards

Cruise hands free with a cruise lanyard to hold your cruise card. Great for excursion days and on the cruise ship!

Recommended:Cruise lanyards

18. Seabands

Seabands are very practical to prevent motion sickness during cruises and boat excursions. These are great stocking stuffers or even as part of a cruise themed gift bag or basket.

19. Snorkel Mask Gear

Cruise lovers are often beach and ocean lovers. If you’re looking for a great gift this year, consider a good quality snorkel set. It’s perfect for beach days or cruise excursions.

20. Apple Airtags

If I could only give or get one gift this year, it would be a set of Apple AirTags!

21. Folding Travel Mirror LED

A best seller, this folding travel mirror makes a great gift for women who travel and cruise.

22. Stainless Steel Straws

In an attempt to use less plastic, many cruise lines have eliminated plastic straws on board. Stainless steel drinking straws make a fun and useful holiday gift for cruisers.

23. Brita Filtered Water Bottles

These Brita 32 oz refillable water bottles with filters are great to have both on the cruise and on port days. A great gift for cruisers, these bottles are so useful for at home and work as well.

24. Cruise Luggage Tags

These plastic cruise luggage tags are reusable and save time on each and every cruise. They’re available for every cruise line (in wide or long sizes).

25. Waterproof Phone Cases on Lanyard

These waterproof phone cases are amazing to keep your phone and other items dry while at the beach or on excursions. You can even take photos under the water when snorkeling.

26. Nautical Carry-on Bag

This nautical travel tote bag is great to use as a carry on bag for cruises and flights. Roomy, sturdy and stylish, this carry on bag is an Amazon best seller!

27. Printable Cruise Planner

The Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner is a printable cruise travel planner that makes a great gift! The printable cruise planner includes several different cruise packing lists, checklists, planning forms for hotels, shore excursions and more!

A great idea is to print the pages out as needed and create a cruise travel binder as a holiday gift this year. Tip – print out a few extra shore excursion planning forms for multiple ports of call.

Ultimate Cruise Planner display of pages

28. Swimsuit Cover Up

This crochet style swimsuit cover up is available in while, black and other flattering colors. So pretty!

29. Cruise Binoculars

Binoculars are a must have on Alaska itineraries, but can come in handy even on Caribbean or Bermuda cruises (think of the dolphin and whale sightings). These compact binoculars are perfect for sightseeing on cruises and so reasonably priced.

30. Carry-on Convertible Garment Duffel Bag

This garment bag/duffel bag is a new favorite for cruise travelers. It’s perfect to pack formal outfits (or anything you don’t want to wrinkle), along with other carry-on essentials.

Recommended: Convertible Garment Duffel Bag (check reviews & different colors)

31. Compression Packing Cubes

If you’re packing carry-on only, compression cubes can be a life saver! These are an awesome deal & come in a few colors!

32. Level8 Hardside Luggage

Level8 Hardside luggage makes a perfect gift for cruise lovers! I have the “textured luggage” in a 21″ carry on size and 24″ checked bag and love them!

Level 8 luggage ready for a cruise — Level 8 Textured luggage (21″ & 24″)

33. Jewelry Organizer Travel Bag

This foldable jewelry travel bag is perfect to organize your jewelry for a cruise.

34. Travel Shoe Bags

This set of 4 travel shoe bags are great for the organized cruiser. They fit women’s and men’s shoes and are made of waterproof nylon material.

35. Reef Safe Sunscreen

Reef safe sunscreen is required in several cruise ports. It can make a great gift on it’s own, or when included in a cruise gift basket.

Recommended: Reef safe sunscreen (spf 50)

36. Aloe Vera Gel

This quality organic vera gel is a best-seller for cruise travelers! It absorbs quickly without a sticky residue, and a must-have on anyone’s Caribbean cruise packing list.

37. Travel Luggage Scale

The ultimate practical gift for any traveler, this electronic hanging travel luggage scale will be well used for years. It makes a great stocking stuffer too!

Recommended: Travel Luggage Scale (battery included)

38. Money Belt Passport Holder

A money belt/passport holder is a great cruise travel gift for a man or woman.

39. Kindle Paperwhite

Cruisers love their Kindle! For anyone thinking about packing lighter, the Kindle Paperwhite is a well loved space-saver and makes an amazing gift for any cruise traveler.

40. Water Shoes

Going on a Caribbean or Bahamas Cruise? Water shoes are a great gift for everyone in the family! There are different colors, patterns and sizes.

41. Microfiber Beach Towel

For cruisers who prefer to bring a lighter towel to the beach and excursions, a large microfiber towel is perfect. It also keeps sand away and dries quickly, which is why this towel is becoming a cruise favorite for 2023.

Recommended: Large Microfiber Towel (quick dry)

42. Family Passport & Document Holder

This RFID passport wallet holder is one of my favorite new items I’m packing for my cruise. It has space for several passports and zippered pockets for documents other items.

43. Passport Holder with Vaccination Card Protector Slot

It’s never been more important to have passports, vaccination cards and other documents together as you board your cruise. This passport case (set of 2) is a combo passport holder and vaccination card protector slot.

Cruise Cabin Decorations & Fun Cruise Items

Simple cabin door decorations are used by many cruisers to help their stateroom door stand out among the long cruise ship hall. Do verify that the cruise line allows decorations on cabin doors.

44. Cruise Porthole Sticker Decal

is easy to apply and peels off, and can be great for any hard core cruiser to use both on the ship and off. Hmmm…home office or guest room maybe?

Recommended: Cruise ship porthole sticker/decal

45. Cruise Cabin Door Decoration Set

This set of cruise cabin decorations is very popular and gets great reviews from cruisers.

46. Drink Package Magnet Decoration (personalized)

Cruise cabin doors are usually metal, so magnet decorations are perfect! Great for drink package fans!!

47. Disney Cruise Line Fish Extender

If you’re heading on a Disney Cruise, best come prepared with a Disney Fish Extender for your cruise cabin door. The 3 pockets will fit all Disney Fish Extender gifts for kids & adults throughout the fish exchange.

48. Cruise Ducks

Cruise Ducks are a trend that keeps on going! This done for you cruising ducks set on Amazon includes everything you need to hide ducks on your next cruise.

Recommended: Cruise ducks set (180 pieces)

Cruise Novelty Items – cruise t-shirts, coffee mugs, masks and more

Perfect gifts for avid cruisers who want to continue the cruise lifestyle both on and off a cruise ship!

49. Cruise lover’s everyday coffee mug

If you love cruising, you know how accurate this is! It’s a perfect mug to help count down the days until the next cruise.

Recommended: Cruise lover’s coffee mug

50. Sip and Cruise Mug

Love this Sip & Cruise Mug!

Recommended: Cruise coffee mug

51. Cruise “drink package” novelty t-shirts

There are a wide variety of funny cruise t-shirts that can be found.

Tip: Check on Amazon for your favorite styles.

52. Cruise Caps

Matching cruise caps are the cutest thing! I can imagine how fun they would be to have on board.

53. Sailor Hats

Sailor hats can be found in different sizes, from adult to child size. Cruise addicts across the seven seas will swoon!

Recommended: Sailor Hats

Holiday Gift Guide for Cruisers PIN — Please PIN to save to your favorite Pinterest board

Cruise Themed Gifts and Jewelry

54. Cruise-ship tie clip

Do you have a man if our life who would love to wear this cruise tie clip? This would be perfect for cruise formal night.

Recommended: Cruise ship tie clip

55. Men’s Anchor Bracelet

Perfect for the man in your life that enjoys sailing, cruising or simply enjoys the sea. This handsome rope knot bracelet is adjustable to fit to any man’s wrist size. I love that the anchor is quality stainless steel, which won’t rust or tarnish.

Practical Tech Cruise Gifts

If the cruise lover in your life is into nature, photography or tech, these tech travel gadgets will be appreciated on future cruise vacations.

56. In Flight Airplane Phone Holder

This in flight phone holder makes a great gift or stocking stuffer for anyone who travels!

57. Selfie Stick and Tripod (with Bluetooth wireless remote)

Before my family went on our last cruise, I bought this selfie stick tripod and I love it! The fact is, it’s just easier to take better photos and videos with the long reaching arm, even if you don’t take selfies. It has a bluetooth remote (you don’t need wifi).

58. Portable Phone Charger

While a power bar is important to have in your cruise cabin, a portable charger or power bank is so practical when traveling to and from the ship, and on excursions. We used this brand on our last cruise to charge two phones at a time! It was awesome and long lasting!

I’ve updated this link to the latest model, to be compatible with most new phones, but please check for your own.

**Don’t forget to PIN to your favorite Pinterest board to save for later 🙂**

Cruise Items for the Cruise Lover’s home

59. Fun Cruise Sign

“What happens on the ship… stays on the ship.” (sign). What a fun reminder of a great cruise vacation!

Recommended: Fun cruise sign

60. Create Cute Cruise Towel Animals at Home

This fun cruise novelty item will actually teach you how to create 8 different towel animals, just like on the cruise ships.

61. Cruise Shower Curtain

Bring a little cruise home, the selection of cruise and beach theme shower curtains is amazing on this site! Do remember to measure which length you need. I love the variety and it’s so cute for a guest bathroom!

Recommendation: Cruise theme shower curtain

Cruise Books

Books about cruising are great gifts for anyone planning a cruise, or who enjoys reading both fiction and non fiction cruise books at home or at sea.

62. Cruise Confidential

This popular cruise book is a bit of a behind the scenes look at cruise life (and all that really happens), as told by a former crew member.

63. Joy of Cruising by Paul C. Thornton

Sign up for an Amazon Kindle Membership to have access to thousands of audio books and ebooks.

I love the idea, especially if you love to read on a cruise, but are trying to pack light and avoid bring lots of heavy books. You can find more information here: Amazon Kindle Membership

64. Cruising Interrupted: the Follow Up to Joy of Cruising

I’m proud to be among some of the great interviews in the book, Cruising Interrupted. What a time for the cruise industry! Author Paul C. Thornton did a great job with this interesting book any cruise lover will be happy to receive!

Recommended: Cruising Interrupted

65. Mediterranean Cruise Ports Travel Guide

One of my favorite travel resources is Rick Steves. If you are cruising to the Mediterranean this guide is geared specifically for cruisers who only have 8-10 hours in each cruise port and want to make the most of it.

Recommended: Rick Steves Mediterranean Cruise Ports

66. Fodor’s Alaska Guide

Cruising to Alaska? A guide book with information all in one place can be so handy! If cruising to another destination, check on other Fodor’s Travel Guides.

Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner

Regular price: $27 Now just $17!

Cruise Theme Christmas Items & Gifts

67. Cruise Christmas Cards

If you have cruisers in your life, wouldn’t they love to receive a Cruise themed Christmas card? Totally fun for all holiday cruisers too!

Recommended: Cruise Christmas Cards

68. Christmas Cruiseship Ornament

This old world cruise ship Christmas tree ornament is so nostalgic! It’s glass blown and just beautiful.

69. Model Cruise Ship

This is awesome for Royal Caribbean fans and cruise enthusiasts!

70. Ginger Candies

Ginger candies are so handy on a cruise as they help with motion sickness, and something cruisers may forget to pack and bring along.

Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner

Regular price: $27 Now just $17!

Bonus Cruise Gift Idea

Consider creating a cruise gift bag or basket out of some of the items on this list! It will be useful and anyone going on a cruise will love it!

YouTube Video 20 Best Holiday Gifts for Cruise Lovers

In this YouTube video, you’ll see some of the most popular cruise essentials as well as some new, unique travel items for cruisers.

Recap: 65+ Best Cruise Gift Ideas for Cruise Lovers

We’ve gone through 65 unique cruise items that make great gifts for frequent cruisers, as well as new cruisers.

From practical cruise accessories items, cruise travel gadgets to fun cruise novelty products – these items are awesome for anyone who loves to cruise. You may even want to share this cruise gift guide with others who are shopping for you (hint hint).

Sign up for Amazon Prime

If you don’t already have it, it’s a good idea to sign up for Amazon Prime for the benefits. Amazon Prime gives you access to free 1, 2 or even same day delivery, streaming movies and shows, and unlimited storage of photos.

Here a link to sign up for an Amazon Prime Free 30 Day Trial.

Other Amazon services you may like:

Audible Plus Free Trial all you can listen membership with access to thousands of books, podcasts & more
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Personal Shopper by Primer Try Before You Buy styling service & personal recommendations

More Gift Guides & Lists:

What items have you used or bought as a gift that you can recommend? Is there something you really love? Let me know in the comments below.

Happy cruising!

Ilana

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