subject: What To Pack For Your Cruise [print this page] Do you need some help packing for a cruise? Packing for a normal vacation is easy but when you are packing for a cruise there are some ground rules that you will need to keep in mind.
Firstly, it's not a good idea to pack lightly and think you will be able to buy the rest of the things you may need as and when you need them on board. You will find some of the things you need on board but they will most likely be very overpriced and and may not match your requirements one hundred percent.
Depending on whether the cruise is formal or casual or a mix of both depends on what types of clothes you need to pack so it is important to check before hand. If your cruise is formal it is good to remember that this generally means "semi-formal". In which case you can leave your tuxedo and ball gown at home and bring a nice cocktail dress and suit instead. If you dress as if you were going to a nice church wedding you will do well. If you don't feel like dressing up but are on a formal cruise then you have several options; you can order room service, eat at different times or inquire about casual meals.
Packing wrinkle resistant, lightweight clothes that you can wear a few times during the cruise is a good idea. A black shirt can be worn with different tops and jackets for different looks and both a dark pair of jeans and a light men's blazer can be dressed both up and down.
Many cruises have self-service laundry facilities on them so it is a good idea to plan to do your laundry at least once whilst on your cruise. This is an easy way to avoid over-packing on longer cruises. Another way to cut down on the amount of clothes you have to pack is by planning to wear any souvenir clothing the you plan on buying whilst on your cruise which will save space and remove the need to "make Room" for anything purchases. It is also a good idea to buy travel-size toiletries.
It is important to pack according to the destinations of your cruise ship and what season it is. On a tropical cruise, no matter what time of year it is, you will always need to pack light cotton clothing. If you are not sure what you should pack you can ask your cruise agent what they would recommend or you can do a little research into the area and find out what type of weather it gets at that time of year.
Worrying about your valuable items getting lost or stolen can put a downer on your vacation so leave many of your most valuable items at home. A great option is to leave them at home and pack cheaper versions of them to bring with you. Keeping your money, cell phones, medicine, camera, any important documents you need to bring as well as you identification in your carry-on is a good way to keep it safe.
It is important that you check with your cruise agent to find out if there are any restrictions on what you need to pack, for instance many cruise lines will not let you bring alcohol on board.
