It’s time for the final part of my blog series on the best gadgets that you can take with you to help you enjoy a cruise holiday, or to simply add a quirky edge to how you spend your time. I’ve saved some of my favourites for this last blog but I’ve kept back one that might look a bit boring but is actually really useful, so I’ll start there before I get on with the more funky items.
Toothpaste tablets
These are a really handy little option if you don’t want to take toothpaste with you. In a small tub which costs in the region of £3, you get 60 tablets. Chew one every time you want to brush and you get the same effects as toothpaste, so all you need to do is brush to get that hygienic feeling. You might be wondering what the benefits are over standard toothpaste, but there are three straight off the bat – a smaller tub takes up less room, if your luggage is damaged you won’t end up with exploded toothpaste everywhere, and the packaging is recyclable, unlike standard toothpaste tubes. Winner.
Underwater camera
Underwater cameras are always something fun to take with you on holiday, as you can get some great shots in unusual situations, preserving memories that you otherwise would only be able to relive in your mind. You can get a cheap underwater camera for £50, but if you’re serious about your photography you’ll be looking at closer to the £300 mark, but if you go diving on an excursion then you’ll be able to enjoy fantastic shooting.
Underwater camera mask
If you want an underwater camera but would rather focus on using your arms to swim, this is one option. It lets you capture video as well as pictures with a 5 megapixel camera built into the mask, suitable as a replacement for snorkelling. Don’t expect the world’s most jaw-dropping image quality but at the same time we aren’t talking about what you’d expect from a child’s digital camera that cost £9.99 – it’s something decent that, when used in the right condition, will produce photos that are perfectly fine.
Camcorder sunglasses
It’s almost as if I’ve planned these segues isn’t it? Anyway camcorder sunglasses aren’t designed for use underwater, but they are a cool way to capture those video memories of your cruise when you’re on the ship or on dry land. Reviews are a bit mixed for some of the products on the market at the minute but we’re on the cusp of some good quality breakthroughs, certainly helped by the innovative Google Glass. Soon you won’t be able to move without being filmed by someone’s normal-looking sunglasses…kinda creepy, really.
Movie-screen sunglasses
When I was doing my research into these gadgets I found these, and they’ve gone straight to the top of some of my colleagues’ Christmas lists. And I don’t blame them, though I don’t envy what their eyes will be like in a few months. Basically, these are sunglasses that you plug into a movie-playing device, including your Apple and Android phones and tablets, and your movie or TV show is broadcast right in front of your eyes. So if you don’t fancy that in-flight movie, or the films on your cruise ship are ones you’ve seen before, you can just put your sunglasses on and straight away you’re watching your favourite episodes of Breaking Bad, or those films that you’ve wanted to catch up on. And they aren’t as expensive as you’d think – they go for between £50 and £100.
So that’s my top 15 gadgets, spread over three blog posts, but have I missed any? Let me know in the comments if I have.
By Ian Lewis
Google
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