Pack List for a Cruise--and other Travel Tips
What you bring on a cruise depends a great deal of the kind of
ship it is.........casual or elegant.........and your plans for
"fine dining".
If you are sailing a ship with all the elegant evenings, this
takes special forethought on your part. Even though they say
that its two formal evenings, three informal and two
casual........you are sitting in such elegant surroundings and
eating a wonderful 5 course meal...........you may want to look
your best ! Consider that this will be like a fabulous dinner
party every evening ! When I pack for cruises my husband asks me
if I had left anything in my
closet.............well.............I wear absolutely everything
I pack.
Here are some of my thoughts...........some ships provide robes,
beach towels (both on deck and if you are going ashore to the
beach) and hair dryers...all depending on your level of
accomodation. Check on this for your particular
accomodations............and if they are provided then leave
these items at home.....that's half a suitcase right there !
Ladies----If you are planning on "fine dining"-----Think thru 7
wonderful evenings of dinners and cocktails beforehand. Think
Black !! Black or cream flowy pants or skirts topped with
several different jackets, dressy dinner jackets, big satiny
tops..........if you pack separates you will have so much more
milage. Bring several evenings handbags......a nice selection of
jewelry........several different pair of dressy
shoes..........several bright colored Pashmina-type shawls are
PERFECT.....lots of color over your basics.......different
little accessories to mix and match. These little things that do
not take up much room but will make all the difference.
Remember...........half the beauty of cruising is that you have
these elegant evenings. Basically..........if you think you want
it.........bring it. O a recent cruise, I brought 4 jackets with
me of different colors and fabrics..........and really did not
feel it was enough. In addition to dinner, we had lunch in the
nice dining room three times, breakfast there twice and High Tea
one afternoon. All worked over basic bottoms. For casual
clothes, you will want fun things............some wrap
skirts..........bathing suit and coverup,
flip-flops...........fitness workout clothes...............
Kids------Remember no shorts or jeans in the nice dining rooms !
I have found that kids really love these nice evenings. Where
else can they have 5 courses of anything they want ?? Shrimp
cocktails and lobster always a hit. Teenage boy still hungry ??
What else would he like ? Another lobster tail ? (Take lots of
pictures-this can be great family time !)
Men---Quite Easy ! (Of course !) Tuxedo -optional...........but
very nice for the formal evenings. (Certain ships it is not
optional) You may consider bringing two tuxedo shirts. Navy or
basic blazer and dress pants...dress shirts...neckties....dress
shoes.....khaki pants....knit shirts.....basic shorts....workout
clothes...casual shoes..sneakers...bathing suit. Hawaiian type
shirt for fun ! Discuss with your agent. So much depends on the
kind of cruise ship you are sailing ..and your personal dining
plans. Overall-plan on dressing for "Country club elegance".
You can check two bags with the airlines and carryon one
more..........my carryon was a garment bag and a very full large
purse. Bring some sort of granola bars with you on the
plane.....airport and runway delays are all too common and food
is no longer served onboard as it once was.
Other Good Basic tips.....
**Pack a pad of Post-It notes to leave messages for your cabin
steward (you get to know him !), family, and shipboard friends.
**Have plenty of one-dollar bills handy for tipping airport
skycaps and porters at the pier. **Don't pack photo film in
checked luggage as new airport screening equipment could ruin
it. Put it in your carry-on instead. Even if you don't think
you'll need them, bring along extra camera batteries and change
them before you think the old ones are "dead." Don't forget film
!
**Put a rubber band around wallets in your back pocket will
inhibit pickpockets. Some "ports of call" have large pick-pocket
communities....unfortunately.
**Toss a few empty plastic bags into your suitcase. You may need
them later to pack dirty or damp clothes.
Tap water on your ship is perfectly safe to drink; purchasing
bottled water is only necessary if you prefer the taste.
**Tuck fabric softener sheets between garments as you pack to
keep clothing fresh during travels.
**Bring your own travel alarm clock; most staterooms do not have
them.
**If you live in a colder climate are traveling to a warm
weather cruise...When you put your summer wardrobe away for the
winter, set aside the casual outfits, sandals, swimwear, and
sleepwear you want to wear on your cruise and store them in the
suitcase you plan to use. You'll be at least half packed and
won't be hunting down an outfit or a pair of shoes later. You
will also free up some drawer and/or closet space at the same
time. Hang your evening clothes in a separate area of your
closet and pack them when you're ready to leave for your trip
**Pre-address stick-on labels for postcards to the folks back
home & you won't have to carry along a bulky address book.
**Make two copies of your passport, driver's license, and credit
cards before leaving home-in addition to your Cruise Documents,
and Trip Travel Insurance. Leave one set of copies in a safe
place on your ship. If the ship's purser holds your passport
(which is often the case, to expedite clearing the ship in
foreign ports), carry the passport copy ashore with you. Leave
the other copies with a friend or family member at home.
**Binoculars ---lightweight, small ones..........particularly
for Alaska, Hawaii, Europe !
**Print cards with your name, address, phone number, & email
address to share with new friends. Having your cards handy sure
beats hunting for pens & scribbling on scraps of paper to swap
addresses. Fun, inexpensive, colorful cards can be ordered
online from a company called www.vistaprint.com. (Allow plenty
of time to order and receive these !)
** Leave any paperback novels you've finished for the crew
library. You'll have more room in your suitcase and crewmembers
will have fresh reading material--they will really appreciate
this !
**Don't forget to pack and USE your sunscreen. Why take the
chance of a nasty sunburn ruining a great cruise vacation?
Protect your skin from injury and aging. Throw in something for
Sunburn too. People have a way of overdoing on vacation.
**Check the balance of your on-board account before the end of
your cruise. Straighten out any discrepancies immediately and
avoid a long line at the Purser's Desk that last morning after
your final bill arrives (try to do the final the last
night...try to beat the rush !)
**You are all dressed for dinner and you look fabulous !! Have a
family portrait taken to preserve the memory. There's no
obligation to purchase any photos you don't care for.
**and my all time favorite..........depending on what type of
trip, ship, elegance level etc etc...........bring t-shirts you
might want to work out in.......sleep in..........tour in..that
you will wear and leave behind as they are dirty.......this will
give you room in your suitcase for purchases while traveling.