Planning a cruise vacation but not sure what to take with you? If you’re setting sail to exotic ports of call, you’ll want to be sure you have everything you need, but not so much that your suitcase is splitting at the seams. Here are some tips on what to take and how to pack for a cruise.
The first thing you should do is check with the cruise line to see how many formal nights there are. Typically cruises have a variety of casual, semi-formal and formal nights planned. For the casual and semi-formal nights, you can dress just as you would going out to a nice restaurant at home – sports shirts and slacks or a jacket and tie for men, and sundresses, pants outfits or slightly fancier dresses for women. For the formal evenings, women will need a cocktail dress, while men may opt for either a tuxedo (optional and becoming less frequent, but still a good choice if you want to really go in style) or a darker suit and tie. If you’re not sure what your cruise line’s guidelines are, read the packet of information that is usually included with your tickets or check out the line’s web page for your specific ship’s recommendations.
It’s important to choose your clothes carefully so you have many options for mixing and matching to create a variety of different outfits. Equally as important is taking clothes that are good for layering, especially on a warm-weather cruise. The days may be sunny but it can cool down quickly at night, not to mention the intense air-conditioning you may encounter on board or in some of the shops while the ship is in port. Remember to toss in a sweater, light jacket, or even just a long-sleeve shirt in addition to your shorts and tops. You should also include at least two pairs of long pants, so that if it clouds over or turns chilly you can simply swap your shorts for pants and leave the rest of your outfit intact.
Try to pack only those clothes that you know are comfortable. Don’t include things you haven’t had a chance to wear yet or that are too formal for everyday use– you’ll be spending most of your time sightseeing or relaxing, so you want casual, comfortable clothes that are easy to move around in. Also look for clothing that is wrinkle-resistant or at least won’t require frequent ironing. Basically, anything too stiff, fussy or dry clean only should be left at home.
It probably goes without saying, but don’t forget to pack your swimsuit. In fact, you should actually plan on bringing two – one to wear in the ship’s pool, hot tub or just lounging in the sun. The other is for any shore excursions you participate in, such as snorkeling, kayaking or visiting the local beaches. With two suits, the one for the ship won’t get covered with sand or salt water, and if you come back from a snorkeling trip and want to sit in the sun, you won’t have to put on a soggy suit. You should also pack a few t-shirts (and for women, water-friendly shorts as well) to wear over your bathing suit. This will help prevent against sunburns while swimming or snorkeling and you can also wear one as a cover-up when going to and from the pool deck.
You should also give careful consideration to your shoes. One good pair of dress shoes should do the trick for your semi-formal and formal outfits. For daytime wear, plan on a pair of comfortable sandals– rubber soles are best for walking on the cruise ship decks with a minimal amount of slipping. Athletic shoes are also a great choice to include in case you decide to get some exercise, and you can also use them if you plan on walking a great deal while in port. Hopefully, you should be able to get by with three, possibly four, pairs of shoes for the entire trip. If you find yourself with more than that, see if there is one pair you can put back. Shoes are one of the heaviest items in your suitcase and typically the one thing you bring more of than you need.
Finally, try to set aside a few pieces of clothing to put in your carry-on rather than in your suitcase. There are several reasons for this – first, in the unlikely event that your suitcase is lost or delayed en route, this will ensure that you have a change of clothes with you. Also, luggage is often not delivered to your cabin until after the first night’s dinner, so it helps to be prepared with an extra set of clothes in your carry-on. Your carry-on should also include any toiletries, medicines, or other items you simply can’t live without, as well as your camera and sunglasses. Don’t worry about sunscreen, toothpaste, or other basic things that can easily be picked up in the ship’s stores – keep the short list to those things that are unique to you or would be difficult to replace.
If you follow these suggestions, you should hopefully have everything you need for your cruise. As you select each item, ask yourself if it is something that meets the criteria of mix-and-matching, layering and comfort. If so, in it goes – if not, reconsider and save yourself the extra weight in your suitcase. Packing to go on a trip is one of the most exciting parts of getting ready for a vacation – enjoy and Bon Voyage!
