Cruisers love to talk about upgrades.

The fancy suite. The drink package. The specialty restaurants. The spa package.

But some of the best cruise purchases don't happen on the ship at all.

In fact, a few of the things that can make your cruise noticeably easier cost less than lunch for two.

Most cruise annoyances aren't major problems. They're just little frustrations that pop up throughout the week. A dark cabin when you're trying to find the bathroom at 3am. A wet phone at the beach. A suitcase that turns into a giant pile of tangled clothes by Day 3.

None of these things will ruin your vacation. But they can make it less enjoyable than it needs to be.

Over the years, certain inexpensive items have earned a permanent spot on many cruisers' packing lists. Not because they're exciting, but because they quietly solve problems before they happen.

Here are a few of the best cruise purchases you can make for under $25.

Cruise cabins aren't exactly known for having endless storage space.

What surprises many first-time cruisers is that most cabin walls and ceilings are metal.

That's where magnetic hooks come in.

You can use them to hang hats, lanyards, lightweight bags, jackets, swimsuits, and even excursion gear. Instead of everything ending up on the bed, desk, or floor, you suddenly have extra storage space where there wasn't any before.

It sounds simple, but once you use them, you'll understand why experienced cruisers recommend them so often.

I purchased these for our Virgin Voyages cruise and have been using them at home on our fridge ever since. They are extremely strong and can easily hold heavy items.

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Cruise cabins get very dark at night.

Really dark.

That's great when you're trying to sleep. It's less great when you wake up at 2am and need to find the bathroom without stubbing your toe on the corner of the bed.

A small motion-sensor night light solves that problem immediately.

Instead of turning on bright cabin lights and waking up your travel companion, you get just enough light to safely find your way around.

It's one of those items that doesn't seem important until the first night you use it.

Most people bring their phones everywhere on a cruise.

Pool deck. Beach. Excursions. Tender boats.

Unfortunately, water and phones have never had a particularly good relationship.

A waterproof phone pouch lets you keep your phone protected while still using the touchscreen and camera. They're especially useful during beach days, snorkeling trips, or rainy excursions when you don't want to constantly worry about where your phone is.

Even if you never drop it in the water, the peace of mind alone is worth a few dollars.

I used to think packing cubes were one of those travel products people bought because travel influencers told them to.

Then I tried them.

Instead of digging through your suitcase every morning looking for one specific shirt, everything stays organized throughout the entire trip.

T-shirts in one cube. Evening clothes in another. Swimwear somewhere else.

The best part is that your suitcase often stays organized right until the end of the cruise.

That's a small victory that becomes surprisingly satisfying by Day 7.

Your phone works harder on vacation than it does at home.

Photos. Videos. Maps. Cruise line apps. Port information. Messaging family members.

It's easy to find yourself running low on battery halfway through an excursion.

A small portable power bank can keep your phone going throughout the day without having to hunt for an outlet.

Many decent options now cost under $25 and can easily fit into a backpack or beach bag. I purchased one of these ones and awhile later ordered a second one because they work so well!

Before your luggage ever reaches your cabin, it goes through a lot of handling.

Paper luggage tags provided by cruise lines work perfectly fine, but they can sometimes get bent, torn, or wet during the process.

Reusable luggage tag holders help protect those tags and make them easier to attach securely.

They're inexpensive, reusable, and can last for multiple cruises.

Even if you only take a few daily medications or supplements, a small organizer can make life much easier onboard.

Instead of bringing multiple bottles, everything stays in one compact place.

It's also handy for carrying things like motion sickness tablets, pain relievers, allergy medication, or antacids that you may want easy access to during the trip.

None of these items are particularly exciting.

Nobody is going to post a photo of their magnetic hooks on social media.

But that's kind of the point.

The best cruise purchases aren't always the flashy ones. They're often the inexpensive items that quietly make your trip smoother, more organized, and a little less stressful.

When people talk about having a great cruise, they're usually thinking about the destinations, the food, the entertainment, and the memories they made.

The little things in this list won't create those memories.

What they can do is remove a few annoyances along the way so you can spend more time enjoying the parts you'll actually remember.

They can make your week a little easier, a little more comfortable, and a lot less frustrating.

Until next week,

Tara