Packing for a Cruise Vacation: Some Useful Tips

The time has come finally to embark on that exotic cruise vacation anticipated by you and your family for so long. To make your cruise vacation all the more enjoyable you’ve got to get your packing right. Well if you are a happy-go-lucky kind of a carefree traveler who believes in last minute packing then this article will be of no use to you.

But for those of you who are much more organized and believe in pre-planning your vacations including the packing, then the following tips will help you out with the packing hassles prior to a cruise vacation.

You must pack all the essential medicines and a first-aid box in such a way so that they are handy in times of emergency. You would not want to tear apart your luggage to find a particular painkiller. Keep this bag of medicines and first-aid along with you in your handbag.

You can pack some magazines, comics or novels that often prove to be useful while waiting at the airport.

At the cruise terminal you will need your cruise tickets, transfer vouchers (from the airport to the ship) ready in hand. So pack them in your handbags and not in the suitcases or other luggage.

Cruise vacations are a bit different from normal vacations. After you board the ship it might take several hours before your entire luggage gets delivered to your cabin. So what do you do if you move on from a colder weather when you left home to a warmer atmosphere in the cruise ship? Keep some lighter clothes handy inside some soft luggage that will be with you throughout. You can’t afford to wait till the arrival of your complete luggage.

If you are a fitness enthusiast then probably you would not wish to miss out on your daily exercise and workout routine even on your cruise vacation. So don’t forget to pack your fitness clothing and shoes, etc. Using waterproof zipper top bags for your cruise packing helps to keep your clothes and other belongings dry. Helpful if it starts pouring while your luggage is being moved into the ship from the airport.

Always pack suitcases containing both ‘his’ and ‘hers’ garments and accessories together in each suitcase. If you are traveling with your kids then pack some of their clothes along with yours too. In most cruise vacations there occur at times terrible mix-ups where your entire luggage doesn’t arrive together. In such situations, a single suitcase containing some clothes and accessories for everyone provides temporary relief till the other bags arrive.

Sunbathing is an enjoyable activity on board all cruise ships that are provided with lines of deck chairs on the decks and around the swimming pools. So take care to pack in your sunscreen lotions, sun hats, and dark glasses.

Pack loose and comfortable clothing for day wear on the ship. Nighttime on the cruise liners are often exciting enough to keep you up till the wee hours of the morning. Las Vegas-style shows, Broadway-style skits, karaoke, piano bars, discos, and dancing, casinos and jackpots will all add to your cruise ship experience. Keep these activities in mind while packing your clothes for a cruise vacation.

Casual clothing should predominate your packing list, rather than heavy formals, as the ambience on a cruise ship is normally light and informal. However don’t forget to pack a few formal gowns, dresses and pantsuits for ‘her’ and diner jackets/tuxedos, ties and bows for ‘him’ if you're planning to participate in a formal party on board.

For those wonderful shore excursions that are real fun while cruising you must pack your cameras without fail to capture pleasant memories forever. Pack suitable equipments and accessories to enjoy the beach activities such as snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, para sailing and many other types of water activities. Make sure you plan for these on your packing list.

A hundred different persons on the same cruise ship might possess the exact types of suitcases and luggage as yours. What do you do to prevent an identity/ownership crisis? So as not to make a mess of it all, the best method is to attach unique identification tags in the form of colorful tapes, labels, straps or scribbling an identification mark/ name of your choice on the face of your luggage.

Another essential requirement while packing for your cruise vacation is keeping handy a few meters of duct tape. After you have packed up all your suitcases and luggage, wrap them up with duct tape. This keeps your luggage absolutely ‘shut’ even if there is a zipper malfunction or broken hinges that are so regrettably common.

So start packing folks, and don't forget your toothbrush. Bon Voyage.

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