Five Tips for Packing for Your Cruise

So you’re excited and ready to get going, but first you need to pack.  Here are five tips for packing for your cruise.

1. Some luggage is designed for a trip to your grandma’s house.  Some luggage is designed for real travel.  When you’re going away for a while and won’t have access to everything that you have at home, it’s very important to pack right.  As some people travel all the time, either for work or play, a whole industry has sprung up around making travel more convenient.  One of those conveniences is good luggage.  Make sure the wheels roll smoothly; the handle is long enough that you’re not bending slightly backwards or pulling it off the ground, make sure it’s ready to take a hit or two and keep on going.  There are several styles designed for packing clothing that should be hanging.  Look carefully into these for keeping your evening wear in its best shape.  If you like to buy souvenirs all along the way, another helpful item can be stackable suitcases.  Pack all your gear in the smaller one, and then put it inside the larger suitcase.  When you’re coming home with loads of gifts and memorabilia, you’ll have somewhere to put it all.
2. Pack plenty of convenience items. Remember, just about anything you need is available aboard the ship, but you’ll also pay some premium prices for it.  Packing the little convenience items can save you time, trouble, and money.  This includes “fix-it” type items like a Swiss army knife or leatherman w/screwdriver head (be sure to pack in your luggage), duct tape, rubber bands, twine, sunglasses, spare prescription glasses or contacts, business cards, paper and pen, books to read, medications and vitamins, chargers for everything electronic, extension cord and power strip, flashlight and/or nightlight, earplugs, small first aid kit, sunscreen, handiwipes in little packets to be slipped in your pocket or purse for on-shore excursions, umbrella, sewing kit, clothes pins or clips, safety pins, hat, trash bags, and other such items.
3. Pack your clothing in bags from the dry cleaners. This can help greatly towards keeping your clothing wrinkle free, especially if you pack them in the special luggage listed in the first paragraph.  Additionally, pack clothing that is versatile, easily cleanable, and durable.  You may want to look great on your cruise, but your storage space is small so make sure that you make the best of the clothing that you can bring.  And don’t forget that the ship can be big and on-shore excursions can be long, so bring comfortable shoes!
4. All travel documents, paperwork, and wallet items. This one hits a fine line between bringing enough, and leaving home any non-essentials in case of theft.  You will of course need any airline tickets and cruise documentation, passport or proof of citizenship as required by the cruise depending on what countries you’ll be visiting.  If you take any medications you should take a list of what you’re taking, when, and how much along with your insurance information and a short medical history.  Take enough credit cards to cover you, but the minimum number that will do the trick.  Consider which ones are the most widely accepted and leave the others in a safe at home.  Be sure to notify the card companies that you’ll be using them out of country so they don’t put a hold on your card assuming that it’s been stolen.  Keep a copy of the 800 number and the last 4 digits of your card account number somewhere separate and safe so that if your card is stolen you can call right away.  Leave copies of any medical, bank, airline, cruise, credit, etc. information with someone trustworthy back home so if it’s needed, you can call them for help.  And of course, don’t forget maps, itinerary, places to see lists, and so-on.
5. Last but not least, pack with a plan for fun. Don’t forget camera and plenty of film or memory, a laptop to download to, a journal to make notes of highlights of the trip, and anything that signifies fun and vacation to you.