Packing For A Cruise
If you’re anything like me, you’ll look for any reason to convince yourself that you’re getting away on vacation. Any time there is a holiday coming up, I usually start making lists and packing a week or more in ahead.
One of the advantages of taking a cruise rather than flying is that you are free to bring as much luggage as you need for the duration of your trip, regardless of whether you plan to fly or not. When traveling by airplane, space restrictions are unavoidable unless you are ready to pay quite considerable fees for additional baggage allowances. Because of this, I’m always on the lookout for any techniques that will help me save more room in my carry-on bag.
It can be difficult to know what to bring on a cruise because different cruise lines have different policies, not to mention the fact that the weather might be unpredictable. Here are some of the most important things I’ve learned about what to pack and where to put it.
The guideline of “two and a half bags.”
For cruises of seven nights or more, I make it a point to adhere to the two-bag, or more accurately, the two-and-a-half-bag guideline that I’ve established for myself. One of my bags is a suit case, another is a rucksack, and the third is typically a little fabric jute or similar bag that I keep just for things like travel documents that I require rapid access to (I find this particularly useful when flying). The last thing I want is to be hampered in my attempts to board and disembark the ship by a number of heavy luggage, and I also don’t want to have an easy time locating specific items.
Hand luggage
When it comes to preparing for a cruise, the most important thing to remember is that carry-on luggage is your greatest friend.
When you first board the cruise ship, there will be a period of several hours during which your primary luggage will be transported to your stateroom and will be out of reach. For this reason, it is essential to ensure that everything you require for the first few days of your vacation is conveniently accessible within your hand luggage. Why should you spend a day of your vacation waiting for your possessions when you could be relaxing?
Among the things you should carry with you are:
• Your cruise and all official documentation, including a valid photo identification and fully filled out cruise paperwork. Oh, and make sure you don’t leave essentials behind like your wallet and the money used in the country you’re visiting.
• Check that you have all of the necessary medicines and over-the-counter medications with you. It is highly recommended that you bring a selection of personal care items with you at all times.
• It goes without saying that you should always have an extra set of clothes with you, regardless of where you’re going. Consider bringing your swimming gear with you if you’re going somewhere with warmer weather. In the event that you feel like going for a swim.
• In the same vein, make every effort to bring along an extra set of clothing with you at all times. You could, for instance, wear this to go on the ship and then change into something that is more comfortable to wear for the day. Your luggage ought to arrive before supper, but there is a possibility that it will not. On the first night of the trip, most cruise lines have a more flexible regulation about clothes, but it is still a good idea to have something with you just in case. In addition, in the unlikely event that your luggage is misplaced, you will at least have something to tide you over in the interim.
• Do not forget to bring anything that your children might require. Again, in the event that your luggage are stolen, you will want to make sure you have everything you really need on hand.
• Don’t forget to bring your phone, camera, and any other necessary technological items. Be prepared to start documenting and sharing every exciting event of your vacation as soon as you step on board, so make sure your camera is charged and ready to go before you embark. Have a look at our packing recommendations for cameras before you go on vacation. If you have any additional valuables with you, like a piece of jewelry, you should probably think about carrying them with you at all times.
Main luggage
The amount of luggage that you bring on a cruise is nearly entirely up to personal preference. Others, on the other hand, will bring a number of cases with them in order to be prepared for any circumstance that may arise. I know some people who are able to pack very little cases with all of the necessary that will see them through a week.
For my part, I make an effort to maintain a position that is roughly in the middle of this camp (while still adhering to the 2 1/2 rule). I want to be able to choose between the fundamentals, but also have some leeway depending on how I’m feeling on any given day. There are a lot of recommendations available that will tell you what men and women should bring on a cruise, but in my experience, it completely depends on personal preference and the way you like to dress.
T-shirts paired with shorts or jeans and chinos are appropriate forms of clothing to wear on board the ship during the day. You can find the cruise ship‘s suggested dress requirements for each evening printed in the ship’s newspaper, which is available on board. The level of formality of these might range from casual to smart casual to formal (though vary line to line). These go into effect in the common areas and restaurants as of six o’clock in the evening. On a cruise lasting 7 nights, you can anticipate two nights in a formal setting, a couple of nights in a more relaxed setting (often after a busy day in port), and the other nights in a smart casual setting. When planning your outfits for the duration of the cruise, make sure to take the dress policies of the cruise line into consideration.
For myself, I enjoy dressing up occasionally while still making sure I am as relaxed as possible. As a result, I will bring a variety of t-shirts, shorts, trousers (both chinos and denim), shirts, a blazer, and of course shoes that go with each outfit. When taken together, these things will make it possible for me to freely choose what I want to wear each day without any anxiety. In my opinion, the trade-off of a little heavier case is acceptable given the benefits. I might also bring a more formal outfit with me, but that totally depends on the line.
Even though it shouldn’t be, some people find formal night to be extremely nerve-wracking. This can indicate what some people refer to as “elegant casual” or “evening chic,” which is a presentation style that gives you more leeway in how you want to present yourself, while for other lines, this can mean a full tuxedo, suit, or formal evening dress. It all depends on the line. Again, you should educate yourself on this topic as well as the potential number of formal evenings that will be on board and then make your plans appropriately. Formal nights are something that you don’t do very often, so they’re a great opportunity to dress up and have a good time. In the event that you haven’t brought a tuxedo with you and the occasion calls for one, most ships offer tuxedos available for rent.
Here are some of my most important suggestions for preparing your suitcase:
• Let’s start at the beginning: where do you plan to go? The majority of what you bring, as well as the amount, will be determined not only by the location but also by the weather.
T-shirts, vests, and other articles of clothing should be rolled up. It may sound strange, but layering your rolled-up items actually results in less wasted space, and the fact that they are wrapped up helps to keep them from being creased.
• And while we’re on the subject, wrinkles are a major pain point for travelers. My pet peeve is when people wear crumpled shirts. I just can’t stand it. However, there are a few different routes that one can take. You have the option of doing your own laundry in self-service laundry rooms that some cruise companies provide, or you can hire the cruise line to do your laundry for you for a fee. If you are a frequent flyer or a visitor in a suite, certain airlines will provide this service at no cost or at a heavily discounted rate for you. One last tip is to iron all of your clothes, even things like shirts, before you leave the house. Wrapping your clothes in cellophane that was previously used for dry cleaning (or purchasing a roll of it from an online retailer like Amazon for a low price) performs an excellent job of reducing the amount of creasing that occurs on the garments. This comes in very handy when going on shorter cruises.
• Fight the urge to cram everything you own into your suitcase. If you’re anything like me, you’ll come back from your vacation with a collection of trinkets and knickknacks, so be sure you have enough room. Edit everything down once you have decided what you are taking with you; for example, do you really need all of those t-shirts?
• Shoes have always been and will continue to be a cumbersome item to bring along when traveling. Take advantage of this situation by filling the empty space with little items such as chargers, toiletries, socks, ties, and undergarments.
• If you are going on a trip with other people, you might want to try packing half of each other’s items in the suitcases of the other people. In this way, even if one of them goes lost, you will still have something else.
• Toiletries that are prone to leaking are another cause for concern. For my own personal usage, I double-bag all of my toiletries using any available carrier bags, which I then reuse. Particularly while traveling by air, certain liquids will always leak; thus, if you have additional concerns, you can unscrew the lid of the container, lay cling firm over the neck of the container, and then reinstall the lid. The last thing you need is for the shampoo to get all over the place.
• As a final suggestion, think about buying some packing cubes. You’ll be able to pack your suitcase more efficiently with the help of these convenient organizers. On Amazon, you’ll find a wide selection to choose from.
