Or the stupidest thing, your choice. BUT, you absolutely couldn't replace it onboard (you know ships stores are just this side of useless, and ridiculously expensive anyway) and had to do without. Doesn't matter what system you use whilst packing to avoid it, it happens to all of us sooner or later. Some ports have American chains in them (like CVS for example), or real dept stores (besides the usual junque stuff), IF you can get to them. C'mon, truth now. Few years ago, I forgot my sox...don't ask how, I still don't know...felt weird at first...especially dinners...but then, I realized nobody was checking, and who cared, and I got used to it...meds on the other hand, well.....
Contributor Level:
First Mate
WHATS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU EVER FORGOT TO PACK?
7 Answers
As a certified and admitted chronic over packer, I have not run into this problem yet. But I am curious to see what others have forgotten. 
Contributor Level:
Staff Captain
I am notorious for doing a check and double check but somehow a few cruises ago i had put aside with the suitcase and everything to go, 2 nice pair of pants for wearing to dinner. Well somehow these did not end up in the suitcase .. no idea how or why as they were right there but they did not. Fortunately I was wearing a pair of acceptable chinos but I had to wear them to dinner every night. One nice thing about free style dining is that you sit beside different people every night so no one noticed and I was able to avoid any embarrassment .. other than in my own mind.
Contributor Level:
First Mate
Never did forget any important items like a passport, driver's license, credit cards,money and meds. I always make a list and the essential items I just listed are always in my carry on. We always arrive in port 3 to 4 days prior to our cruise so if we notice somethimg missing we can pick it up there and then. As I age maybe I will forget. Lol.
Contributor Level:
First Mate
This happens to me every year:
2017: forgot my casual dinner shoes, but remembered my formal shoes! Had to wear the formal shoes all week for dinner!
2018: Mom forgot to bring her charger for her camera! Luckily, I remembered to bring all my chargers and let her use one of mine.
2019: Mom remembered the charger but brought the wrong camera! Had to buy a new one on the ship, the same model I just upgraded to.
2000: Forgot to bring more than one CD to play on my CD player. This happened to be the year that my flight was delayed for 12 hours (and this was just the beginning of the worst vacation of my life!) so I had to listen to the SAME CD for all 12 hours plus the rest of the trip!
Contributor Level:
Captain
I have yet to forget to to bring something on the cruise. However, I have forgotten/lost a pair of tuxedo pants that did not return from the cruise.
2015 - Forgot my Uniform Shoes for Formal night. Had to buy a pair before we left Ft Lauderdale
2018 - Forgot my belt, and had no uniform belt, as there was no formal night! had to buy one onboard
Contributor Level:
Deck Hand
One time I forgot to pack toothpaste. I was on that cruise as a solo traveler, so I didn't have anyone I wouldn't have felt embarrassed asking to give me some. Fortunately, the little store on board has toothpaste to sell. On my cruise to France and Italy (from Barcelona), I forgot to bring the charger for my digital camera (back in the days before cell phones with good cameras). It was a Nikon point-and-shoot camera, so I figured I could buy a camera charger in the photograph studio area, where they also sold digital cameras. No luck, it was a weirdly configured charger. -- Anyway, I was just careful about only taking pictures when it counted in order to preserve the battery. So I came home with some pretty good pictures. --- Thankfully I have not forgotten too many things for my cruises. I'm a better packer now, and start at least a few days early.
