Ultimate Cruise Packing Tips for First-Timers
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Pictures of What to Wear on a CruiseNeed packing inspiration? See what our members like to wear onboard and ashore, in different types of environments. In especially scenic destinations, such as Alaska or Scandinavia, you might want to bring binoculars and/or a DSLR camera (rather than relying on your phone for photos). Don't forget accessories like extra batteries, chargers and memory cards. Many cruise cabin walls and doors are magnetic (Did I just blow your mind?), so I like to pack magnets both as fun decor and for organizational purposes. Magnetic clips and hooks can help keep paperwork and hats off the in-room desk and couch, while a magnetic whiteboard can be useful for leaving notes for your travel companions.
Travel Corkscrew
Lately, for my iPad, laptop, camera and accessories, I use my Delsey small computer spinner suitcase, too. I’ve dragged both pieces of luggage with me on a two dozen transatlantic crossings, 40+ river cruises and hundreds of Caribbean and other cruises. There are no batteries, it’s lightweight and an app helps customize the treatment.
Dry Bag
Check out our round-up of the best site to book a cruise to find the best deals and easiest processes. If you tend to use a full array of makeup every day, try to bring only the bare necessities. When I unpack in my stateroom, the cube is unzipped and placed into drawers or on shelves.
Use tissue paper between clothing items
You could drag them off the ship yourself, but I do not recommend it. When packing for a cruise or any travel for that matter, a sleep mask is always a priority. The adjustable Drowsy sleep mask is made of 100% mulberry silk, completely blocks light and the wide design even helps muffle sound for the best night’s sleep ever. Cruise ships have a lot of amazing amenities, but their hair dryers aren’t one of them. They are usually basic models with one setting where you hold down the “on” button for the duration of a blow dry.
Having a change of clothes and a few day-to-day necessities in your carry-on can also be a lifesaver in the case of lost or delayed luggage. If you find yourself with no idea where your bags are or waiting to have them shipped to your next port of call, you’ll be glad to have a few extra items on hand to hold you over. It’s also great for that stretch of time between boarding the ship and your luggage showing up in your cabin. The first job of your cruise packing list is to determine just where on the formal-casual scale you want or have to be in, or if you want to prepare for both ends of the scale. Luckily, business casual attire (pantsuits, maxi dresses, khaki pants, and button-up shirts tend to fair just fine these days). And for those cruise lines that do have more formal nights, there are typically still buffet options for meals if you want to avoid fancier dress.
While you need to prepare for lots of different situations — everything from hanging out by the pool to formal night — we actually think it can be easier to pack for a cruise than other trips. That’s because the rules for packing are more relaxed than if you are flying for a vacation. Ziploc bags are absolute must-have, they keep your personal items dry when exposed to water. They also carry snacks and store wet clothes to keep them from mixing with dry clothes. We all to stay with our electronic devices during the cruise so don’t forget to pack the items to back them up like chargers, adapters and memory cards.
13 Things to Pack for a Cruise, According to Crew - Travel + Leisure
13 Things to Pack for a Cruise, According to Crew.
Posted: Fri, 22 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Clothing Women Should Pack for a Cruise
The ability to go from roaming around the ship to meandering around a port to heading straight to dinner all in the same pair — and you can do that with the OluKai Laeahi Slip-On. The wet-grip rubber sole will handle any conditions you encounter, but the coolest part is the two-in-one drop heel design that gives it both shoe and slide functionality. The mesh is water-resistant and breathable for even the most hot and humid weather, yet nobody in the ship’s restaurant will question if you’ve met the dress code. Meet the Ace Marks Travel Derby, which does exactly that.
I plan on wearing them with everything from shorts and a tee shirt to flowy maxi dresses. If you haven’t discovered the joy of packing an extension cord yet, trust me it’ll feel like an unexpected luxury on your next trip. My brother and I will be sharing a room on our upcoming trip, so an extension cord is especially vital to lessen sibling bickering (yes, even as grown adults). And of course, my brother would want me to tell you this was his idea originally.
You can wear the lanyard around your neck during water sports or toss it in your bag for safekeeping at the beach. You’ll be able to use your phone’s touchscreen and face recognition features through the pouch as well. On many cruises, you can go from ship to beach to shopping in one day. It’s lightweight yet provides enough coverage for the beach, and you can wear it as a casual dress for lunch in port. It morphs from a cross-body, to an over-the-shoulder, to a handbag, to a backpack, as you go from one cruise activity to the next, all day long. Check out the barnacle print, navy anchor, and sea glass designs that are sure to be the talk of the ship.
Flip flops aren’t allowed in the main dining rooms and speciality restaurants in the evenings. Cover-ups offer added protection on sun-kissed days, as well as an easy transition in attire from swimming to grabbing a bite to eat poolside or in the Oceanview Café at lunchtime. Consult the weather forecasts closely in the days leading up to your trip, and think in terms of layers and mix-and-match ensembles to make sure your suitcase doesn’t burst at the seams. Much of your decision on what to pack for formal night should be based on the cruise line you choose. Many passengers on luxury lines like Silversea, Regent and Cunard tend to dress up on formal nights. When boarding a cruise, you’re expected to put big suitcases outside your stateroom the night before disembarkation.
Throw in the fact that they can easily transition from day to night, come in 25 colors, and are available in wide sizing, and you’ll be all set in the shoe department. If there’s one dress that can take you from day to night effortlessly, it’s this Freezer Maxi Dress from Columbia. By day, pair it with some sandals for ship and port activities. It’s designed to keep you cool despite heat and humidity thanks to its moisture-wicking fabric, plus it contains a UV-blocking layer to protect your skin from sun exposure.
However, I do recommend bringing a laundry bag or pop-up hamper to keep dirty clothes separate and off the cabin floor. Chair clips are useful if you plan to dry your clothes on the balcony and don't want them to blow away. As we mentioned, tuxedos are out of place on almost every mainstream cruise ship these days and you likely won't even see a full suit. The cruise ship will provide you with towels that you can use on the lido deck as well as in cruise ports.
Just make sure the one you get comes in a small bottle so you can pack it with you even if you have to fly to your cruise port. We like that the one shown here only costs around $7 for a bottle. One of our pastimes on the ship is to watch people struggle with laying their towel on their beach chair. With the ship constantly in motion, there is almost always a breeze on deck. So while you’re trying to relax, the corners of the towel are whipping up and down.
Having cruise lanyards for your cruise key card is a convenient way for cruisers to be a bit more hands free on a cruise. Hard sided luggage with spinner wheels will also make it so much easier to travel before and after your cruise. Your cruise cabin will not be as spacious as the average hotel room, but a little creativity can help overcome cruise cabin shortfalls. Magnetic hooks corral caps, visors, belts, backpacks, jackets and charging cords.
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