Cruise author highlights six practical items for days ashore

Cruise author Matt Hochberg says a handheld fan can offer quick relief while traveling ashore. Based on his experience in Europe, he found the device useful on tour buses, public buses and ferries.

For time in the water, Hochberg recommends compact inflatable floats that take up little luggage space and do not need a machine for inflation. He says they can support several uses, including sitting, lying down or holding on while swimming.

Hochberg also advises taking a small backpack or day bag ashore. He says it can hold towels, electronics, spare clothing, sunscreen and other essentials without requiring a larger bag.

To keep devices running, he suggests carrying a portable power bank with enough capacity for two to four charges, particularly when more than one traveler expects to use it.

A refillable insulated bottle is another item on his list. Hochberg says his bottle kept ice and water cold for most of the day, while access to fountains allowed him to refill it when needed. He also recommends applying sunscreen during excursions to help prevent sunburn for the remainder of the cruise.