Woman on cruise ship deck

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Sometimes you just need to get away from it all, and by "all," we mean the never-ending time suck of our overly chaotic to-do lists. Work, errands, appointments, and obligations of every variety can sometimes feel overwhelming, but there’s one place where all that seems to disappear: a cruise. It’s basically like living in a slow-motion Instagram Reel — everything’s luxurious, including the all-you-can-eat buffets festooned with food art. So much so that it might convince you that cruise ships offer the absolute best buffet options. Plus, the open ocean makes each day feel like a blissful eternity, timestamped by poolside naps and cocktails.

It’s no wonder that Statista reported that even during the industry’s recovery from pandemic-related decline, over two million North Americans cruised their cares away in 2021. But if you want to maximize the blissed-out cruise vibes, a little pre-cruise packing strategy can go a long way, according to U.S. News and World Report. Among the obvious checklist items for your cruise, there’s one pro tip in particular that will ensure smooth sailing.