How can a traveler pack formal wear for a cruise to prevent damage or wrinkling? To protect your formal wear from damage that many be inflicted on it during your journey, you may want to consider wrapping it in light plastic bags, such as the type that dry cleaners use.
"Packing for a cruise is many times the least favorite part of the whole trip for many travelers," said Emily Motycka, a travel agent with AAA Travel in Omaha, NE. And trying to pack your formal wear for "formal night" can be the hardest part of all!
Most sailings on most cruise lines feature at least one formal night, which is a night chosen by the cruise line when all guests are expected to wear their nicest attire. For men, this attire can range from a tuxedo to a dark suit to even a sport coat with tie on some sailings. Many times, women choose to bring along a fancy beaded or sequined evening gown. A cocktail dress, pantsuit, or business suit is also appropriate, and some sailings, cruisers might even see women attired in "Sunday best" type of dresses, said Ms. Motycka.
To protect your formal wear from damage that many be inflicted on it during your journey, you may want to consider wrapping it in light plastic bags, such as the type that dry cleaners use. Packing formal wear - or any fragile, breakable, or otherwise easily damaged possessions - in a hard-sided suitcase is also recommended. A hard-sided suitcase will at least prevent your formal clothes from being crushed.
But what about wrinkling? How can a traveler pack their formal attire and still keep it wrinkle free? "They really can't," said Ms. Motycka. Many cruisers swear by simply wrapping the clothing in dry cleaning bags, while others add that packing formal wear in a roomy garment bag - in the dry cleaning bags - will guarantee that suits and cocktail dresses arrive free from wrinkles. But none of these techniques work all the time. They may help cut down on the number of wrinkles, but the fact is - clothes packed in a suitcase usually wrinkle!
But there is hope for your formal wear. According to Ms. Motycka, "most cruise lines have a service that will press your garments." She added that this service usually carries a small fee. Additionally, "some cruise lines will have rooms with laundry facilities," and these laundry rooms may contain irons and ironing boards for guest use. However, Ms. Motycka added that most cruise ships do not provide ironing boards or irons because "irons are considered a fire hazard" and so they are not allowed on passenger decks.
Some travelers - not only cruisers, but land travelers, as well - have discovered a trick for loosening wrinkles: hang the wrinkled garment in the bathroom and then take a hot, steamy shower. The heat and moisture will help release the wrinkles. Shake the garment and smooth out any wrinkles after the shower.
One last option for dealing with wrinkles is to pack a small bottle of commercially-available wrinkle releaser (or make your own by mixing fabric softener with water in a spray bottle). You should, of course, test the wrinkle releaser on an inconspicuous part of your garments in advance of the cruise to make certain that the garment's fabric is compatible with the chemicals used in the wrinkle releaser.
Another option for cruisers - especially for women - is to choose formal wear that isn't as prone to wrinkles. Many polyester blends wrinkle far less than their linen or cotton counterparts. A nice pair of black polyester slacks paired with a dressy top or two can provide the basis for a wrinkle-free formal ensemble for formal night.
Finally, several companies exist today that offer clothes especially for frequent travelers. Some of these catalogs offer clothes guaranteed not to wrinkle that would be perfect for formal night on a cruise.
Whether you decide to pack wrinkle-free, or at least wrinkle-less, clothes or plan to just have the ship's crew handle your wrinkles for you, formal night can be the highlight of any cruise!
