Pack List for
a Cruise--and other Travel Tips
By Joan Dann
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.
About
the Author
Joan Dann can be
reached via her website at www.Dann-Online.com and email her at
dann@dann-online.com
She is President of Great Explorations ! Travel and a Cruise
Expert. She is also Co-Owner of Dann Mens Clothing
(www.Dann-Online.com ) with husband Dennis and has spent many years
in the Men's and Womens Clothing Industries as well as the Luggage
and Leathergoods Industry.
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