In a previous post, I recommend creating electronics inventory. This is important to provide a basis to determine what should be in your Electronics Support Kit. I have laid out all the items I generally include in my kit. The list below identifies some of the items in my kit. The first four items are discussed in my Power at Sea article.

Electronics Support Kit

  1. Five port plug-in USB wall charger so that I charge five devices simultaneously. Note that by international power adapter also has two USB ports.
  2. Two port portable charger that I carry with me everywhere. I use this to run my fans, charge my devices in the field, and have even shared it with others so they can charge their phones.
  3. Universal battery charger that can charge rechargeable batteries in the batteries for both of my cameras. This clever device has adjustable contacts for the camera batteries which are not standard.
  4. International power adapter when I’m traveling to foreign countries.
  5. Spare rechargeable batteries, both AA and AAA. I prefer Eneloop batteries which have a long charge retention. As I have fewer devices requiring standard size batteries, I carry only as many as I need.
  6. Extra CR 2032 batteries which are used in many my devices.
  7. Four lightning cables for my iPhones and iPads. Two of these are packed with my portable charger.
  8. Two micro-USB cables that are required to charge the portable charger in my Kindle’s. One of these is always kept with my portable charger.
  9. Charger cable for my pocket Nikon camera. This cable is not a standard cable. While not necessary since I can charge the Nikon batteries in the universal charger, it is helpful to have when I want to charge two batteries at one time.
  10. One-to-many USB cable. Even though I don’t really need this cable, I have found it come in useful in helping others.
  11. Several 1-amp USB plug adapters that I will use when I have extra plugs or they loan out to others when they need to charge their devices. These tend not to get return, but, since I have so many of them, if not a real problem.

I pack all these devices in an inexpensive cable case I purchased. Previously, I was using a grooming kit I had laying around. The key is to have a small case for all these items so you can find them. Loose cables in your bags and in your room always seem to get lost. Think of this as a packing cube for your electronics.

While i am traveling, whether flying or on an excursion, I carry a small pack of items that includes my portable charger (#2), two lighting cables (#7), two micro-USB cables (#8), and one plug adapter (#11). These are packed in my personal item that is always with me (in my case this is usually a bright red shoulder bag that is easy to find) so that they are easily accessible during my travel.

Some tips to remember:

  • Examine your electronics inventory and determine what you need to carry.
  • Package all your cables, adapters, and chargers in once case to make it easy to pack and find when you arrive.
  • Be aware that cruise ships have limited number of outlets, so plan for the number of devices you will be charging or plugging in at any given time.
  • It does not hurt to take extra cables, as they always seem to be in the wrong place when you need them.
  • When not in use, pack all your cables, charges, and adapters in the bag and put them in one of the drawers or your luggage so they are out of your way.