Who doesn’t love to sail on the calming waters and drift away into a spectacular sunset? Cruises are one of the best ways to travel and explore a place. You can enjoy the best of both worlds while being on a cruise with comfortable accommodation, delicious food, exceptional service and scenic views. A cruise vacation is perfect for all kinds of purposes. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway, an all-inclusive family trip or are on the lookout for some solace. If you are going on a cruise for the first time or you are not in the mood to bear the burden of unnecessary items in your luggage, then you have landed in the right place. We have curated a list of some packing tips and tricks that can save you a lot of time and are great for your cruise escapade. Let us get started.
Organization Is The Key
Before initiating or planning anything, you need to have a clear idea and, there is nothing better than creating a checklist for your cruise packing. While writing the checklist, you need to divide it into segments for a better understanding. If you have everything written in order, then the chances of forgetting things are decreased. It also avoids the last-minute rush of stuffing things in your travel bag. To make your life easier, it will be great if you spend it in a high-quality organizer.
Get Your Documents Sorted
No travel is possible without the essential documentation. On a cruise, you will be travelling to different ports and destinations in different countries. You need to bring along your passport which should not expire within 6 months. If you are travelling to other countries you also require a travel visa which you need to apply for before reaching the destination. Apart from these, it is advisable to carry photocopies of your identity proof, tickets and also some passport-sized photographs.
Mix and Match Your Clothes
When you are on a cruise you will be travelling to different ports and will be experiencing different weather conditions. Packing for clothes can be tricky because you are required to be aware of the weather conditions of the places you will be travelling to and accordingly you need careful planning.
When packing for a cruise in the summers
Summers require you to pack breathable and comfortable clothes like shirts, shorts and t-shirts. You can relax on the dock and enjoy the cool breeze while soaking some vitamin D. A hat and a good pair of sunglasses also come in handy when travelling in the summers. The clothes should be of cotton and linen material. Do not forget your swimwear and beachwear. A comfortable pair of footwear is also an essential item that you need to pack in your travel bag.
When packing for a cruise in winters
Cruise in winters is perfect for enjoying some cosy dinners and an extra dose of the sun. You need to pack heavy according to the weather and the temperature conditions. Pack jackets, warmers, heavy jeans and gloves to keep you warm in the chilling winters. Winter clothes can add bulk to your luggage so make sure to keep sturdy fabric jackets that can be mixed and matched with a pair of jeans and comfortable boots. You can encounter rainfall in some parts during your travel, so a raincoat or a water-resistant jacket will be a great add on to your winter packing.
Packing For Dinner and Special Occasions
Every cruise line takes care of every guest and makes sure to give them an unforgettable experience. During your stay, you receive an invitation to one or more formal events. They require you to dress in coats, ties and cocktail dresses. In case you are already packed full and do not want to increase your baggage. You can always visit your cruise website and check whether they are providing formal dresses on rent.
Choose An Adequate Luggage Bag
While packing, you need to make sure that the carry on bag is light, portable, durable and sturdy. There should be proper compartments in your bag that can help you organize your essential travel items. While choosing a travel bag, you should pick the one which has an efficient locking system. So, you can travel without any qualms about the security of your bag. You should always carry two bags, one that can go as your check-in luggage and another one that is an add on with all your essential items. The add-on luggage bag should have an extra pair of clothes, documents, electronic devices, money and cards. If you are travelling solo, then you can suffice with two bags. In case you are planning to travel with your friends and family, then co-packing is the perfect option. Co-packing reduces the risk of you ending up with nothing as your check-in luggage might take some to arrive.
Electronic Devices
In this day and age, your electronic devices are as essential as food and water. You need to take special care of them when you are travelling. Mobile phones are an utmost necessity. Wireless earbuds are also immensely important for enjoying music and watching your favourite web series or movie on the sun deck. Along with them, you need to carry a portable charger and power bank for prolonged battery life. Your camera is an evident part of your trip. You need to make sure to keep them charged all the time. So, you do not miss out on capturing some breathtaking shots. To safeguard phones and cameras, you need to keep them in waterproof covers at all times. With so many electronic devices, it is essential to carry a power strip along with you. This strip has multiple power outlets as well as USB ports to provide you glitch-free power supply. All these electronic devices are easy to carry and occupy less space. They should be stored in your add on luggage to avoid losing them in transit.
Medicines
When you are travelling on a cruise, you have to pack smart and be aware of every detail. If you are travelling by sea, then there are chances that you might acquire some symptoms of cold and seasickness. In such cases, you need to carry a medicine box along with you to provide instant relief. It is advisable to bring medications for fever, cold, nausea, vomiting and body aches. Along with medications, you can also bring along an adequate amount of sunscreen, insect repellant cream, soothing aloe vera gel and some antacids. Prescription medications are important, if you are on a cruise, especially if you have heart diseases or specific food allergies.
Keep Your Money Safe
Whenever you are travelling to unchartered territories, you have to be very cautious of your surroundings. On a cruise, you are in a laid back mode and want to just relax. You need to be very careful with your money. Numerous options are that can help you keep your money safe without any hassle. One of the safest options is a Travel Safe, which is a portable safe that keeps all your belongings locked up and away from the reach of any unwanted people. The safe comes with a reliable locking system where you can keep your passports, cards, cash and phone. Another great travel-friendly option is an RFID travel wallet and organizer. The organizer is waterproof and keeps all your important documents safe and sound.
Toiletries
On a cruise, you visit many new places and are in touch with exposed surfaces. Keeping yourself sanitized is of utmost importance in all conditions. Carry a toiletry bag with all essential items like sanitizing sprays, toilet paper rolls, disinfectant sprays and extra pair of towels. You can store these items in an easy to carry toiletry bag. You can fold this bag in your luggage and keep everything super organized.
Travel Insurance For A Cruise
Taking insurance for a cruise journey is essential as you travel to multiple places during your trip. The insurance saves you a lot of unexpected costs. It covers the cost when you have to evacuate cruise in an emergency case. In case you miss out on one of the places that you are supposed to visit. You can get a customized travel insurance plan, depending on your cruise line and the time of your vacation. The cruise covers your medical expenses if you get injured or become immensely ill on your journey. Emergency Medical Evacuation is also taken care of in this insurance. On a cruise, you have to change several ports and cross many countries. In such a scenario, you might lose your luggage. The insurance covers such losses as well. Other things covered in your travel insurance are identity theft, financial default, hurricanes and other natural calamities. You can contact any reliable operator for a good cruise travel insurance pack.
A Good Pair Of Sunglasses and Sunscreen
A cruise trip is never complete if you haven’t spent days relaxing on the sun deck and soaking up the sun. To make everything perfect, you need a good pair of sunglasses and good quality sunscreen. You do not want to get all tanned and sunburnt during your cruise vacation.
Carry Your Cash
Credit and Debit cards are accepted everywhere and thus, people have stopped using cash. But cash is helpful when you are visiting various ports for shopping where cards might not work. Carrying cash is a much safer option than credit cards during your travel.
Food Items
You can enjoy delicious and tempting food during your cruise travel. But to satiate your midnight cravings, you need to bring some of your favourite snacks. When you travel for a longer duration, you tend to get bored with the food served on the ship. The only solace to keep your mood uplifted is by carrying your snacks. You might also need some energy drinks for your travel to keep you hydrated and also to save some extra costs. Cruise ships allow only pre-packed and unopened food for better storage. Home-cooked and opened food packages are prohibited in the cruise line. The restriction on food is due to the prevent cross-contamination and any spoilage of food items. Different cruise lines have various food restrictions. It is advisable to check them online while you are booking tickets to avoid any confusion.
Now let us talk about the items that are not allowed on the cruise ship.
1) Alcohol and Beer: Cruise ships are very forgiving in their rules and restrictions. You are usually allowed to carry wine and champagne along with you. Do not carry drinks like beer, alcohol and other intoxicating spirits on the ship.
2) Harmful Weapons: Weapons are not allowed on any cruise in every form of transportation. Do not carry any sharp objects like guns, tasers, pepper sprays along with you.
3) Faulty Electronic Devices: Do not carry products and devices that can start a fire. You should not take items like hairdryers, curlers and lighters in your journey. However, you can bring along heating blankets, scented candles and heaters.
4) Wheeled Items: Safety on a cruise is of utmost importance and you should not carry toys that are harmful or unwanted like drones, cars with a camera, hover boards, roller skates, bicycles, radios, laser pointers and scooters. However, you can bring along wheeled items necessary for personal use, like wheelchairs, strollers, baby cams.
5) Pool Floats and Inflatables
No cruise travel is complete without spending a day relaxing on the pool. Tourists should not bring along any swimming floats, tubes, beach balls, surfboards and kayaks. All these items are difficult to carry on board. These are rejected by the authorities to keep the security of the cruise ship intact.
A cruise vacation offers you an exciting opportunity to explore new ports, rugged coastlines and breathtaking views. You can plan cruise vacations easily and enjoy all the facilities and amenities similar to a high-end luxurious hotel. We hope that these packing tips help you plan an exciting and comfortable cruise vacation.
Keyword: Packing for a cruise
Meta Data: Cruises are perfect for travelling and enjoying scenic views of beautiful cities. Here are a few practical tips and tricks to tell you to ace packing for a cruise.
References:
1) Cruzely; “Complete Guide to Cruising From the Port of Galveston”; accessed on 26th July 2021; https://www.cruzely.com/39-useful-things-to-pack-for-your-cruise-including-17-youd-never-think-of/
2) Cruisecritic; “The Ultimate Guide to Packing for a Cruise; accessed on 26th July 2021; https://www.cruisecritic.com.au/articles.cfm?ID=1436
3) SmarterTravel; “The Ultimate Cruise Packing List: What to Pack for a Cruise” accessed on 26th July 2021; https://www.smartertravel.com/cruise-packing-list-what-to-pack-for-a-cruise/
