I interned with a cruise line while in college. I kept on board ship and currently in my boat a very small waterproof bag with a set of rain pants and a hooded jacket (rain, wind, and sun protection), a boonie style hat, good wrap around sunglasses, a weeks worth of prescription meds, water packets or water bottle(s), SPF 45 water use sun screen, space blanket now replaced with AMK 2 person heat sheet(s), a book or 2 (keep the mind occupied and emergency TP), camping TP, plastic whistle, small LED light, a small modified military fishing kit with extra 50 pound line, FAK, a SAK and a few energy bars. .I'm not sure if a SAK is allowed on cruise ships at this time.

The AMK PSP and SOL kits weren't available when I had the cruise ship bag, but they are part of my boat bag.

I think every life vest should have a whistle.

I think the knife / multitool ban depends on the cruise line, but I wouldn't try to sneak one on. You can pick up at least a butter knife once you're onboard if you absolutely can't live without it, but I wouldn't.

I think a flashlight (or one per person) is an excellent thing to carry. It's pretty useful just in day to day situations.

I'd consider carrying hand sanitizer and wipes. Some cruise lines like Disney bombard you with these but I think others just ask people to wash their hands. Ships get some nasty outbreaks and that might be your biggest realistic threat.

If the cruise line allows it, I like to pack a suitcase of bottled water. Or booze.

If your party splits up, it helps to establish some place to keep a little notepad to pass messages. Or you could try using the phone / voicemail system to do that. It's amazing how crippled we feel without cell phones. You could try some FRS / GMRS radios but if you don't use them right they're useless. A couple postit notes on a cabin door work fine.

When I took a cruise to Alaska earlier this year I carried a Doug Ritter PSK, an AMK Ultralight 5, and my Swiss Army knife on and of the cruise ship each day. Their metal detector never went off.

I did not carry any of these items, however, on the flight to or from Alaska.

Not so much on topic, but I've never had a problem in Mexico- TJ, Ensenada, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, most of the west coast tourist spots. Not even when I was there on my senior vacation, drunk for 7 straight days. One night I found myself stumbling through a neighborhood, off the main drag, back towards the hotel. A pair of cops stopped me: Who am I? Why am I here? etc... usual cop stuff. When I started to reply in Spanish things seemed a bit more at ease. The point is, 1) I apparently speak Spanish really well when I'm drunk, and 2) knowing the local language can help a great deal. I guess it forms a connection so it's harder to roll you for money.

On the other hand, I could have been so wasted that they knew I had no money left!!

Having spent 18 wonderful month in Panama long ago, where they seem to speak Spanish a lot, I used to be pretty good at it. Unfortunately, 'bout all I remember is uno cervaza por favor...

Getting drunk in a place like Mexico doesn't seem like a smart thing to do.

A friend of my brother's goes to Mexico, and she has money sewn into most of her clothes. She said she's never had a problem, but she knows many who have, but most of them are the people who insist on partying no matter what the place or conditions.

Sue

Just got back from a Holland America Cariberian cruise. I had my Leatherman Wave and a Mora knife with ferostick whisle and 10ft paracord attached, a FSK couple of flashlights and two GPRS radios. No problem now if I had tried to bring on a bottle of scotch then I am sure there would have been trouble, LOL.

cheers