When you reach your cruise terminal, you normally hand your suitcases straight over to the porters outside.
Those suitcases are screened, sorted and delivered to cabins separately, so you may not see them again until later that afternoon or evening.
The important rule to remember is that anything you have with you that is essential, time-sensitive, prescribed or difficult to replace should stay with you in your hand luggage.
This does not mean every single tablet or medicine must be carried in hand luggage.
Spare, inexpensive and easily replaceable items, such as off-the-shelf packets of paracetamol or seasickness tablets, could easily be packed in your suitcase.
An important question to ask yourself is “Would I be in trouble if I could not access this until tonight, tomorrow or potentially later?” If yes, keep it in your hand luggage.
Your Suitcase May Not Reach Your Cabin for Hours
Checked cruise luggage is usually taken from passengers before they board, often outside the terminal, and they are taken away to have security checks carried out before going onto the ship.
Your case may arrive soon after the cabin becomes available – but sometimes not until closer to dinner.
This is normal and does not necessarily mean the suitcase has been lost. On a ship that can hold thousands and thousands of passengers, it makes sense that cases will take a while to get to the correct cabin.
You should not rely on your suitcase arriving before your next dose of medication is due.
Medication needed during embarkation day should remain in the bag you carry onboard. Then it won’t matter how long the cases take to arrive.
I remember on one occasion I took a family trip on Anthem of the Seas to Norway. Everyone’s luggage arrived promptly – apart from my Mum’s. Her case didn’t arrive until long after we had left Southampton.
She was very worried that it had been left behind – mostly because she had no clean clothes to put on! (She doesn’t have to take regular medication, but if she did, this would have been an issue.)
I tend to keep painkillers and travel sickness medication in my handbag at all times, whether I am cruising or not. In that way, I am never “caught short”
2. Which Medication Should Always Stay With You?
There are certain things I would always recommend keeping with you. These include:
- Prescription medication that you need to take regularly.
- Medication that needs to be taken at a specific time.
- Inhalers.
- EpiPens or other emergency medication.
- Insulin and diabetes supplies.
- Heart, epilepsy or blood-pressure medication.
- Prescription pain medication.
- Medication for an ongoing medical condition (antibiotics, etc.).
- Anything that might be difficult to replace in another country.
Make sure you have enough medication to cover the journey to the cruise, embarkation day and any unexpected delays.
People need to pack a range of different medications. The most important question is whether being without your medication could cause a medical problem or seriously affect your trip.
3. What Can Usually Go in the Suitcase?
Extra paracetamol, ibuprofen, or similar everyday medicines may be fine in checked luggage, as long as you don’t rely on them urgently. I would class these as “just in case” medications.
Easily replaceable toiletries can also be packed in your case. Cruise ships do have shops that have a small supply of toiletry items, such as shampoo or deodorant, in case you forget to pack some.
Expect them to be far more expensive than they would be if you bought them in a shop on land.
You might want to keep a small amount of medication or toiletries in hand luggage and then put additional supplies in the suitcase.
Seasickness tablets could go in the suitcase if they are only used as a backup, but any dose needed before sailing should stay in your hand luggage.
In my experience, items are perfectly safe in my suitcase; it is just that some items (like painkillers) I always like to have access to.
Remember that some medicines can still be affected by extreme temperatures, so you should check storage instructions before putting anything in your suitcase.
4. Luggage Can Occasionally Be Delayed or Misplaced
Bags can be delivered to the wrong deck or cabin, I suspect that is what happened to my Mum’s case on Anthem of the Seas.
Sometimes a luggage label could become detached, and they won’t know which cabin to deliver the bag to. In that situation, you would have to go to Reception, and you will probably have to identify your bag for them.
Security may hold a bag if something inside needs checking, or if you have something in your bag that is against the rules.
Find out what the top confiscated items from cruise ship bags are here:
These Are The 5 Items Most Regularly Confiscated by Cruise Lines
Suitcases can also be delayed during flights or transfers before the cruise.
Most luggage is eventually found, but essential medication should not be put in your suitcase if it depends on everything going according to plan.
5. You May Need Medication Before The Cabins Open
You often board the ship several hours before cabins are ready.
Cabin corridors may be closed while cabins are being cleaned.
Even if the suitcase has reached the ship, you probably won’t be able to access it until your room is ready – and there is no guarantee that when your room is ready, your case will be there waiting for you.
Keep your medication in your hand luggage, then you won’t have to worry about when your suitcase arrives. You can go off and enjoy all the ship has to offer until it does.
This is particularly important for passengers who have travelled for several hours before getting on the ship.
6. Keep Essential Medication Accessible Throughout the Journey
The same rule applies during flights, train journeys, hotel stays and transfers.
Essential medication shouldn’t be put in your airline checked luggage either.
Keep it somewhere secure but easy to reach. Don’t store it in a bag that may later be handed to a porter or coach driver. It is much better to keep it in a bag you will keep with you.
7. Keep Prescription Medication Properly Labelled
Keep prescription medication in its original labelled packaging if practical.
You might want to keep a copy of the prescription or a medication list. (You might be able to keep a copy on your phone.)
A doctor’s letter may be helpful or required for certain medicines, injections or medical equipment.
Avoid putting important medication into unlabelled pill containers when travelling internationally unless you have supporting information ( like a copy of the prescription) to help you prove what it is.
It is sensible to check the requirements of the countries on the itinerary and any countries travelled through – particularly if you are taking stronger or more unusual medications.
8. Check Rules for Controlled or Restricted Medication
Some medicines commonly prescribed in the UK or the USA may be controlled or restricted elsewhere.
A valid prescription does not automatically mean a medication can be carried into every country without additional documentation.
Rules may depend on the medicine, quantity and length of the trip.
If in doubt, check official government or embassy guidance well before travelling.
9. Bring More Than the Exact Amount Needed
Cruises, flights and journeys home can be delayed or cancelled.
Itinerary changes or illness may extend the amount of time you spend away from home.
You might consider travelling with a reasonable additional supply (where your prescriber allows you to.)
The extra essential medication should also remain in hand luggage rather than being separated into the suitcase.
If you are carrying a large quantity of medication, it is best to check whether additional documentation is required.
10. What About Medication That Needs Refrigeration?
Don’t assume a cruise cabin minibar is cold enough or suitable for medication. Some cruise lines, such as Costa and Marella, don’t have minibars at all in their standard cabins.
Contact the cruise line before travelling to ask what facilities are available.
You can ask whether a medical-grade refrigerator, approved cooler or storage at the medical centre can be arranged.
Find out how and when the medication can be accessed if it needs to be stored outside of your cabin.
Keep any medication with you during boarding rather than handing it over in checked luggage.
Check and follow the manufacturer’s or pharmacist’s instructions about safe storage temperatures for your particular medication.
11. What Should Go in Your Boarding-Day Medication Bag?
I would suggest you carry:
- All essential prescription medication.
- Medication needed during the journey and first day.
- Any emergency medication.
- A reasonable additional supply.
- Prescriptions or a medication list.
- Any necessary medical letters.
- Approved cooling equipment.
- A few basic remedies you may want before your suitcase arrives.
- I never go anywhere without painkillers in my bag, and if I am cruising, I make sure I have seasickness tablets in there too.
You don’t need to carry your entire home medicine cabinet. You simply need to keep anything important to hand.
12. Can the Ship Replace Lost Medication?
If you lose your medication, the medical centre may be able to help, but you shouldn’t depend on it.
The ship cannot possibly stock every medicine, brand, and dosage.
Replacement medication will probably require a consultation with the onboard doctor, and this will doubtless involve additional cost.
Some medicines may only be obtainable in port.
Prescriptions issued at home may not be accepted in every country.
Easily replaceable items such as paracetamol are far easier to replace than specialist or prescribed medications.
Before You Go
Assistance from the medical centre on a cruise can be expensive. Have a look at some real-life examples of costs here:
How Much Does Medical Care Cost on a Cruise? Real Examples (X-Rays, Consultations & More)
The costs involved in medical treatment mean that good cruise insurance is essential – but the policies cruise lines offer aren’t necessarily the best. Find out more about that here:
Should You Buy Your Travel Insurance Through The Cruise Line or Directly from an Insurance Company?
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