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Packing You’ve received your final cruise documentation from the cruise line and taken a few minutes to savour your thoughts about your upcoming cruise, you’re thoughts now turn to packing. Packing for a cruise is one of the worst parts about a cruise, the second worst part is unpacking when you get home. What will I take, what suite cases will it all fit into. The best advise is to review your cruise itinerary and review what you are going to require as far as evening wear, how many formal nights will there be or will all the evenings be casual or a combination thereof. Review the final documentation that the cruise line sent you and you will find information pertaining to what is required ie: how many formal nights. By day it will be fairly casual. One piece of advice is to create a packing list. This will ensure that you have packed everything you want to take with you and will avoid forgetting some things and then having to purchase them onboard or at your first port of call, which maybe two or three days away depending on how many sea days you have following your departure. If you do forget something such as toothpaste, sunscreen, or dress, the ships shops stock an extensive range of goods from cosmetics to evening wear, jewellery, crystal and fine china at tax free prices. Across many cruise lines and cruise ships there is now a trend towards a casual and relaxed atmosphere with a big emphasis on choice. Multiple restaurants enable passengers to dine at any time and with whom they wish. Please note that some cruise lines may charge a small supplement for dining in an alternative restaurant while other will not. Some ships even have formal nights’ in specific restaurants and/or bars for passengers who like to dress and dine in style. A number cruise lines still maintain a traditional ships atmosphere, where you can expect two formal nights in a 7 to 10 day cruise. The formal nights tend to be the Captain’s Welcome Aboard and Captain’s Farwell cocktail parties and gala dinners. Black tie is the usual form, tuxedo or smart suit for the men and cocktail dress or ball gowns for the ladies. Please see Shipboard Attire section for more information on selection of clothes. For ladies it better to pack a flexible wardrobe with lots of accessories so you can mix and match. Remember to pack a wrap even on warm cruises, as you will find that the air conditioning onboard can become chilly. Also remember to take a comfortable pair of shoes that are broken in for walking on deck or ashore. The more you pack, the more luggage you will have to take and deal with throughout your cruise and especially at airline check in and subsequent security checks. Although many cruise lines do not have any restriction on the amount of luggage you can take onboard, however the airlines do. Excess baggage charges, not only for number of bags but also for excess weight, can be expensive. Remember to stay within your baggage allowance. Some Cruise lines are now offering Personal Valet Luggage Service. For more information on this service please click on the button below.
Tips Divide your medication up and let your spouse or travelling partner carry some in their carry on luggage. Do not pack any medication in luggage that is going to be checked with the airlines. Always take your medication in your carry on luggage. Do not be concerned about impressing people or having enough elegant clothes. This is your vacation and the whole point about cruising is to make yourself at home, to be relaxed and most of all enjoy yourself. On most cruise ships the last night of your cruise will be casual. If your are travelling with a spouse or companion divide your clothes and other items up into each others suitcase, just in case one of the suitcases goes astray enroute to your ship. That way each of you will have something to wear.
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