You’ve found your dream cruise and booked your tickets, now it’s time to prepare. The most important part of preparing for your cruise is packing, and if you’ve never cruised before, you might not know exactly how to go about it. What you pack and how you pack it can significantly affect your enjoyment of your cruise. Here are some tips and tricks to help you prepare as efficiently as possible for your trip.
- Consider your carry-ons. If you’re flying to your departure point, be sure to pack with the possibility of a delay or lost luggage in mind. Make sure that any medications, some essential toiletries, a change of clothes, and a bathing suit are all among what you put in your carry-on bag. That way, if there is some delay, you won’t be stuck without something important, and you won’t have to hang around waiting for your bags, either – you can change clothes and jump right into the fun.
- Know your dress codes. Check with your specific cruise line; some are more formal than others. You should know ahead of time whether dressy events are going to be black-tie formal or more elegantly casual. Some lines offer tux rentals, so you may be able to save some space in your suitcase by utilizing that option. If formal wear is not your style, know that most cruise lines do buffet style dinners or room service as an alternative to formal gatherings. The most important thing is to find out the specifics of your cruise beforehand so that you can pack accordingly. Finding that you haven’t packed the appropriate clothing once on the ship is an awkward situation that can be easily avoided.
- On-board laundry. If you’re looking to pack light, find out what your cruise offers for laundry services. The options vary; some cruises offer either free or for-a-fee laundromats on board, while others might offer laundry service for a fee. This can get pricey, so weigh the costs of doing laundry against the inconvenience of dealing with extra luggage. If you plan to do your on laundry on board, don’t forget to pack detergent.
- Save some room. Don’t forget that you will most likely pick up gifts and souvenirs along the way. Remember, whatever you buy on your cruise, you’re going to have to find a way to bring home. If you arrived on the ship with every bag stuffed to the brim, you won’t have any room to spare when the trip is over. Either leave some space, or consider packing an empty duffel bag to fill up while on your cruise.
- Keep your documents handy. Don’t put your important paperwork in your checked luggage; keep it where you can get to it easily. Your passport, your boarding pass, and any visas or required immunization certificates are all examples of documents that should be kept close at hand at all times.
Remember that the way you pack can impact your overall cruising experience. Check over your itinerary, port-of-call plans and activities offered to give you a good idea of how many of which types of outfits to bring along. Happy cruising!
Yup, you should never put your important documents with your other luggage. It will be quite a task getting it out at boarding time.