Royal Caribbean offers VOOM, the fastest Wi-Fi at sea, on every ship.
Credit: istock.com
Dual-use phone cases, camera enhancers and a high-tech way to locate anything you pack: These are just a few of the must-have travel gadgets you’ll want on your next vacation to any of the 260 destinations Royal Caribbean visits. Whether cruising the Caribbean, preparing for a day in port or anticipating an adventure-filled shore excursion, our top pick of innovative accessories will make for smoother sailing. Read on for the full list — and don’t forget to bring along “low-tech” faves like trusty earplugs, a sleep mask and travel-size hand sanitizer.
1. Easy Home Monitoring
Before you set sail, you can pack your peace of mind with Nest — an all-in-one home security system complete with motion sensors and No Rush arming and disarming. Nest allows you to monitor your home via mobile app, and you can back up your cellular system, which means you can always receive notifications even without Wi-Fi.
(Nest Secure Starter Pack, $399)
2. Wireless Earbuds
Wireless earbuds are all the rage, and it’s easy to see why. The AirPods need only 15 minutes of charging time in their compact charging case for three hours of listening, and you can simply tap twice to tell Siri to change tracks or make a call.
(AirPods, $159)
3. Plug-In Worldwide
Compatible in more than 150 countries, this worldwide adapter and USB charger is the only plug-in you will need for all your portable electronic devices. It can charge five devices at a time, and comes with a travel bag and charging cable.
(Epicka Universal USB Travel Power Adapter, $19.99)
4. Portable Charger
Less than an inch thick, the Mi Power Bank is the perfect accessory to take with you on shore excursions — whether you’re on an island in the Atlantic or off near the Mediterranean — and eliminate worry of a drained battery. Its USB cable comes with a Type-C adapter for a range of devices, and it has enough power to charge many phones multiple times.
(Xiaomi Mi Slim Power Bank Pro, $29)
5. Phone Case Wallet
Pack light for your adventures on land by storing your SeaPass card, cash and credit card inside your phone case. The convenient Damda Clip Series makes cases for Androids and iPhones that are practical, protective and stylish, allowing you to keep your essentials handy at all times.
(Damda Clip, starting at $12.99)
6. Slim External Hard Drive
The photo and video opportunities at the picturesque destinations you’ll explore are unlimited, but memory space isn’t. Rest assured, the Seagate hard drive is slim enough to easily fit in your luggage; and with terabytes of storage, you can feel free to snap tons of photos and film as many HD videos as you want.
(Seagate Backup Portable External Hard Drive, starting at $59.99)
7. Versatile Rain Jacket
Storms can be unpredictable, but The North Face’s wind- and rain-resistant “Fanorak” jacket will make sure you’re always ready at a moment’s notice. This stylish anorak folds into its own kangaroo pocket to become a fanny pack — useful for stowing your phone and money. And don’t worry, fanny packs (and anoraks) are back in style.
(North Face Fanorak, $79)
8. Find Lost Items
Don’t let a lost piece of luggage, purse or camera ruin your vacation. A slim, shiny attachable square that acts as a tracking tag, the aptly named Tile helps you find your misplaced item with a paired smartphone. A simple tap on your device allows you to track the location or emit a sound if it’s nearby. The Tile even has a community of users so that good Samaritans can report lost items to their owners.
(The Tile, starting at $20)
9. A Better Neck Pillow
Not all travel pillows are created equally — in fact some don’t look like “pillows” at all. The Trtl Travel Pillow seems more like a scarf since it wraps around your neck, and the hidden support inside the fleece means your head can lean gently to one side while you snooze on a flight, comfortably supported. It also won’t take up much packing space, or worse yet, deflate on you mid-nap.
(Trtl Neck Pillow, $29.99)
This gear will let you easily ensure you don’t lose track of your things along the way, prepare yourself for rain or shine, capture every moment without skipping a beat and stay comfortable. So now that you know what gear to pack, the question is: Where to?
Head here to see where Royal Caribbean can take you.
