After a few trips overseas, many of us probably have the packing basics down to a science. We pack lightly, select versatile items, and bring perhaps one week’s worth of clothing, which will be washed and re-worn (time and time again if on a long trip).
When we are packing for a style of travel we’ve never experienced, however, do the same basic packing rules apply? Or are there new rules to follow? Consider if you were going on one of the P&O cruises 2012! Would you pack differently than you do for a trip on land?
Recently on Twitter we were asked by @Yaimani: “What should my packing list look like 4 a cruise (Mexico, Honduras, Belize)? #help #travel #cruise”.
While a cruise is quite different to the RTW travel or destination-specific packing some of us are accustomed to, many of the same rules apply – of course with a few unique twists for life on the sea.
Above all, remember that you are packing for life on the ship, and depending on the cruise, for various ports of call. While there are various scenarios to prepare for, packing relatively lightly is still a necessity. Unless you live close to the departure city, you will need to fly and adhere to airline luggage and weight restrictions. In addition, your cabin on the ship may be relatively small, so large bags may prove to be a hindrance.
Life on the ship
During the day, many cruise-goers spend their time by a pool, occasionally slipping away to one of the many dining areas. Pack two swim suits (so one is always dry), a cover up (required when walking to and from the pool), and non-slip shoes for those wet surfaces. Slip into nice casual clothing for dine-in options or if you choose to enjoy shows, casinos, or other ship activities. Are you a gym junkie? If you need more than a swim in the pool and walks around the ship, pack a couple of sets of workout clothes for the ship’s workout facilities (how about a Lululemon Ta Ta Tamer).
Depending on your cruise line, evenings may call for nice casual clothing to formal wear. Review the expectations of your cruise line carefully to ensure you pack appropriately. If formal wear is required, consider bringing a cocktail dress with dress shoes (heels or flats) that can also be worn with more casual outfits such as sundresses, skirts, or skinny jeans.
Life on the land
You are probably looking forward to the ports of call as much as the activities on the ship. Be sure to pack appropriately for days on dry land. Consider the climates of the port cities, taking into account the time of year. What activities do you plan to enjoy? Snorkeling or diving requires the same swim suit you had on board, and if hiking is on the agenda, pack an outfit that works for hiking and gym workouts on the ship. If foodie experiences top your list, wear the same nice casual outfits that you wore for non-formal evening meals.
Mix and match
A key to packing for a cruise is to mix and match articles of clothing, re-wearing items on land that you selected for the sea. Choose only a few bottoms, whether they be skirts, pants/slacks, or capris. Then, select nice tops that you can pair with any of the bottoms for interchangeable looks. Your head-to-toe look will vary every day, and you can still address the variety of dress code situations found on a cruise experience!
Have you ever been on a cruise? Where did you go and how long was the experience? Tell us your must-pack items or things you wish you would have left at home.
This article has been written with support from ThomasCook.com.
We went on a 5 day cruse to San Diego, CA, Catelina Island and Ensenada Mexico. I packed WAY too much. We had such a tiny room that one side of the bed was against the wall leaving only a small walkway to the bed, which happened to be the only area for my luggage to be. If I had it to do again (hopefully I will get to in the next year) I would take 3 swim suits (they take forever to dry with the humidity) and coverups. A nice evening gown/cocktail dress, 3 pair of shoes (flip flops, dress shoes and a good pair of walking shoes), SUN SCREAN, dressier casual clothing and an all purpose sweater since it gets cool out at sea at night. Also a good back pack or cross body purse to hold all of your items at ports.
I hope to only pack on carry on when we take our next cruse.
Thanks for the feedback Jill! Good point about the cruise rooms being tiny and the need to pack light.
I went to Mexico on Caribbean Cruise Line and I would pack one of those jewelry things that go on the door. I don’t know what they are called, but they are plastic and have a lot of pockets! My family used this to put all of our combs, lotions, pony tails, etc. In it. It was really helpful!
Excellent tip! Thanks, Carissa. Hanging organisers are super helpful for staying organized when you travel… and for not forgetting things bc they are all in the one space
Last summer I went on my first cruise. It was a 10-day-trip across the Baltic Sea and we were able to visit Tallinn (Estonia), St.Petersburg (Russia), Helsinki (Finland), Kopenhagen (Denmark), Gdansk (Poland) and Stockholm (Sweden) before returning to Warnemünde (Germany).
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Of course, I packed way too much of the wrong things! Expecting I’d wear a different outfit to dinner every night, I stuffed my suitcase to the rim, but instead ended up choosing my favourites all over again. The bathing suits I brought were a complete waste of space. I did check out the weather before the trip and it was always nice and sunny (and it was August after all) but I hadn’t thought about how windy it would be. I so ached for those wind-repelling jackets I’ve been hiding in my closet for years (this would really have been their chance to shine) and my cosy, woolen hat when standing on deck taking in the view – especially at night.
I also should have packed way more gym wear. I’m not too much of a sporty person, but to loosen things up, me and my fellow-travellers did some city trips by bicycle or even by kayak (that was in Gdansk, so much fun!). And silly me thought that 2 gym shirts, one pair of shorts and a pair of leggins would be enough! (Note to myself: Kayaking can be quite wet and you should definitely think about a spare pair of pants – at least!)
I also must say: You can’t pack enough underwear! I ended up showering twice most of the days – in the morning and often after a exhausting trip to the city or taking a sauna aboard. 14 knickers turned out to be hardly enough… Fortunately though I had packed a small bottle of liquid detergent, so I could wash some underwear in our bathroom. (What came in really handy was the clothes line in the bathroom, which I think most rooms aboard a cruise ship feature and which would be great for drying bathing suits and towels as well.)
I did also pack some nice heels for the cruise… and ended up wearing them exactly once. I understand they’re nice for when you go to the bar in the evenings and they make your casual jeans and blouse look so much fancier. But the truth is: You won’t wear them after spending your day doing a walking tour through one of Europe’s metropoles. They also don’t do the best job balancing you and your plates to and fro the buffet. (I saw a woman twisting her ankle and dropping to the floor with a plate full of food – not so nice to watch.
So let’s say: That went well! Thanks to this website and some healing experience I’ll know what (not) to pack next time!
Due to airline regulations, we (my husband especially) take advantage of on-board laundry services. Often, the ship has specials on certain days where they discount the service. It helps, especially on longer cruises, to be able to have shorts or slacks freshly washed and pressed instead of having to drag so many from home. I have also let them dry clean my gowns and evening wear. The cleaning and pressing was as good as my local dry cleaners, and I arrived home and simply hung my gown/dress bags back in the closet. They were also the same price as my local cleaners, so it didn’t even cost me any extra.
Also Celebrity Cruises is just beginning home-to-ship luggage service, so that you never have to drag your luggage for a minute! And there are no overweight or over limit luggage fees when you fly. I am definitely going to look into that for our next cruise!