Christmas is coming up fast, holiday shopping is in overdrive and the malls' parking lots are jammed. But never fear! You can delight the avid cruisers or travel addicts in your life by shopping online for these nifty travel gifts so that you and yours will be ready for next year's travels right from the start of the new year.
Last Christmas we put together these 20 gift suggestions for cruise lovers — they're all still worth a look. And today we have 20 new suggestions. Here, then, is our annual Holiday Gift Guide: Top gift ideas to help you get ready for your 2018 cruise!
360 Camera
See all of your surroundings with the Ricoh Theta 360 degree camera. This unit allows you to capture 360-degree spherical panorama images and spherical video nearly a half hour in length, giving you a different way to see your surroundings on your next vacation. Get a tour of the port or the ship or enhance your selfies with the panoramic capabilities of this 14-megapixel camera. This camera pairs well with a brand new selfie stick (see below).
Detachable lanyard
While you are on the ship, the only thing you will need is your cruise card. You can have it readily accessible with these detachable lanyards. The detachable feature makes giving your card to the bartender or waiter for payment very easy. If you want one for when you are on shore, these lanyards include RFID sleeve protection and storage for additional IDs that are necessary when visiting ports of call.
GoPro Hero 5
Record your entire vacation in 4K video with the world’s most popular wearable camera. The new GoPro Hero 5 is waterproof, has a digital display and menu, and can be easily secured to clothing and other attachments. Santa already knows I want this brand new camera to capture zipline rides, waterslide rides, onboard dance parties and other cruise highlights. Don’t forget to throw in some extra memory cards as you'll have a lot of experiences to capture.
Belken SurgePlus Travel Charger
This small and compact device still tops our list of the best cruise gift ideas. Charge your phone, cameras and up to five devices with a mix of USB ports and traditional outlets. There are a few different variations of this device including some with rotating outlets. We never leave for a cruise, or any other vacation, without throwing this into our luggage.
Mizzen and Main shirts
Ladies, you should consider upgrading your man’s wardrobe for your next cruise vacation. Mizzen and Main shirts are made of wrinkle-resistant, moisture wicking material, which means they can handle the heat (and cold) and look great coming right out of your suitcase. From dress shirts to sports shirts, for casual to formal nights, these shirts are the essential item for any male cruiser. They're a little pricey, though: about $125 a pop.
Fitbit fitness tracker
Keep track of your steps, decks climbed and overall activity with the Fitbit Charge 2. This new tracker will also record your heart rate and fitness activity as well as calories burned during the day. Interchangeable bands also mean that you can customize the tracker to match your outfit. Even though you're on vacation to relax and indulge a bit, you don't need to go completely off course with your workouts and training regimens.
Grid-It Organizer
Another addition to our arsenal of gadgets is a cord organizer. With this time- and space-saving gadget, all of those phone, tablet and device cables and chargers can be stored neatly in one travel case. Our preferred choice is the Grid-It Organizer, which comes in a variety of sizes and colors. Now you can find the exact cord without all the hassle of digging through your bag, and you'll never leave an accessory behind as they all fit in one slim case.
Lindsay Phillips flip flops
For the female cruisers on your list, you can never go wrong with buying some shoes for the beach and boardwalk. The Lindsay Phillips flip flop collection is not just any shoe. These lightweight, comfortable sandals have mix and match straps (with additional straps sold separately). You can reduce the number of flip flops you pack and still have different shoes to accessorize every outfit with these versatile and stylish sandals.
Anti-theft beach bag
Never worry about leaving your bag unattended again. The CoolBag will keep your personals safe with a combination lock zipper and cable handles that can be secured to a big ol' noticeable lounge chair while you're taking a tip or strolling along the surf. Inside, there are plenty of pockets for your tablet computers, cell phones, and other beach items, along with a waterproof cooler at the bottom that can be accessed from outside of the bag.
Noise canceling headphones
10If the pool deck is getting too loud, or you want to escape to your own little paradise while on a mega-ship, these Bose Noise Canceling Headphones will do the trick. With the sound quality you would expect from Bose, these wireless headphones will block out all of the surrounding chatter to allow you to enjoy your favorite songs, audio books or movies streaming from your smart device.
Selfie stick
11The days of asking your fellow cruisers to take a photo of you are fading fast. The new generation of selfie sticks gives you the opportunity to get that mandatory ship selfie without the hassle of stopping other travelers. For this year, we are checking out the Fugetek FT selfie stick. With multiple adapters for smart phones, cameras and GoPros, this stick extends up to four feet and has a Bluetooth remote to make snapping those photos even easier.
Cruise luggage tag holders
12Don’t waste time folding and stapling your cruise tags to your luggage. These holders make adding your cruise tags to your suitcases easy, simple and painless. These tag holders are perfect for Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line. We recommend these luggage tag holders for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises passengers. Either way, these are the perfect little gift.
Lightweight luggage
13Make sure you favorite traveler can fit all of their devices, gear, and clothes neatly packed for their next trip with some new luggage. If you are looking for a rugged, lightweight carry-on bag that can fit a week’s worth of clothes and accessories, the Timbuk2 Copilot (medium) is a great choice (retail price: about $165). The durable construction and design will impress your cruise mate and he or she will can board the plane and ship in style.
Passport holders
14If your special one's passport gets a workout, it deserves to be kept in a beautiful case, and Smythson's collection of passport holders features some of the sleekest around (be warned they're a big pricey, though, at $215 and up). You can choose from a wide range of colors and textures — including hot pink!
Tablet device
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You could pack some paperback books, crossword puzzles, a computer, a camera and other devices to enjoy on your vacation. Or you could put all of those items at your fingertips with a small tablet device. You can’t go wrong with Apple's iPad Air 2, the lightest, most powerful of the iPad tablets available. Or, if you are like me, you might opt for an Amazon Fire HD 8 Kindle, which is even more compact and offers an easy-to-use operating system linked to your Amazon account for reading all those novels & no more lugging that copy of "War and Peace" around, right?
Packable luggage scale
16If you are married to an over-packer like I am, then you need a durable travel luggage scale. Never pay luggage overage charges again. Accurate and easy to use, you can quickly determine the weight of your bag with this device. Avoid frantically emptying your suitcase at the ticket counter of the airport to get it under the allowable weight limits.
Insulated wine carrier
17If the cruise line permits you to bring two bottles of wine on board, this nifty wine bottle carrier will ensure that your beverages arrive safely. This trendy carrier is insulated to protect your wine bottles from breaking during transit. These holders are easy to carry and stow away, and the neoprene material will mold itself to fit most 750ml bottles of wine, regardless of the shape.
Skincare product set
18Our colleagues at Conde Nast Traveler write: "As all good travelers know, no dopp kit (body hygiene kit) should be without at least one Aesop skincare product — and this gift set has it all: 'Aromatique' hand wash and balm, rose body cleanser, and a rejuvenating body balm to resurrect your skin after a long flight."
Bon Voyage package
19Send your favorite cruisers off in style with a special onboard delivery. If you know the details of their next trip, you can contact the cruise line to order a special something for when they arrive on board. Packages often include bottles of champagne, balloons, flowers and treats like chocolate-covered strawberries. Here are some options for Royal Caribbean cruises, for example. It's the perfect way for them to celebrate their sail-away.
A cruise!!!
20We saved the best for last! Yes, if you've saved up for that special someone, why not surprise them with the gift of a cruise in the new year? On Christmas morning, you can surprise him or her with a card announcing the idea of a new trip to plan — or perhaps you can even book a specific itinerary. Check out some of the new cruise deals on Cruiseable, or use our Bliss Filters to begin your cruise planning. As always, the Business Department is available at 1-877-322-3773 to take your calls and quote you the best price around.
Your turn
What's on your gift list this holiday season? Have we missed one of your favorite cruise gift ideas? Share your thoughts in the comments to help make everyone’s Christmas shopping easier this year.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and happy holidays, everyone! May all your cruise dreams come true in the new year!
Editor's note: When we write about products or services at Cruiseable, we never accept payment from sponsors or suppliers. See Cruiseable's Ethics & disclosure policy. All brands retain the copyright to their images.
