Travel Essentials: What Hat to Bring(and what not to bring) On a Cruise
Travel Influencer: Trish Schickling
So you just booked your first cruise vacation? You may be left wondering: what do I need to bring with me? When my husband and I went on our first cruise we booked ourselves, we had no idea of what to expect. We packed what we thought we would need for a tropical vacation but still forgot some pretty important things. As time went on and we took more cruises, we learned that many travelers use travel advisors to book their cruise vacations. One of the key reasons for using the travel advisor is that they manage the guests’ expectations.
Most cruise lines that I book clients with do not have a limit on the amount of luggage you can bring on board, but they do ask that you limit your luggage to a ‘reasonable’ amount.
Toiletries. You should bring what you use daily. Whether it’s your favorite shampoo and body wash or your daily skin care regimen, pack these items in their original packaging or in small travel size amounts depending on how long your cruise is. What’s wonderful about a cruise when you’re a Floridian, is that you usually don’t have to fly to get to the port of departure. That means you don’t have to abide by any TSA requirements. Be careful and cautious of packing glass items in the luggage you plan to check. Some things to include are nail clippers, sunscreen, lip balm, toothbrush, toothpaste, daily prescription medications, your often used over-thecounter medications like antacids, Tylenol, etc. Most ships only carry over the counter medications for adults. If you’re traveling with children, be sure to have some children’s over-the-counter medications with you.
Shoes. It can be very easy to overpack shoes. I try to keep shoes to as little as possible by bringing options that coordinate with multiple outfits and are versatile. When determining what shoes to bring, choose at least 1 pair of dress shoes, 1 pair of athletic shoes, 1 pair of sandals, 1 pair of flip-flops to start. If my sandals are easy to slip on and off, I usually forgo the flip-flops. The number of pairs of shoes I bring will depend on the length of the cruise. For a quick 3-4 day trip to the Bahamas, I will stick to what I previously mentioned. For a longer 5-7 day itinerary, I may bring some additional dress shoes and an extra pair of sandals.
Dinner Clothes. Typically, you don’t get dressed up for dinner but you may find yourself wanting to dress a bit nicer for your evening meals while on a cruise. Often, you will have the opportunity to take some fun photos around dinner time with various backgrounds. You won’t need extravagant evening wear but you’ll want some nicer options than your daily poolside attire. Many cruise line’s main dining rooms do not allow guests to wear shorts, bathing attire, or flip flops during dinner service. Many cruise lines do have at least one elegant night during the itinerary where guests are encouraged to dress up in their best evening attire, but it is not required.
Bathing Suits. Whether you’re enjoying the relaxing on-board pools, the thrilling water slides or lounging on a serene beach, you’ll need swimsuits and most likely more than one. For a shorter 3-5 day cruise, you could manage with 2 bathing suits. If you’re on a longer 5-7+ day itinerary, it would be a good idea to pack a couple more. Putting a wet bathing suit on is no fun and having at least two while traveling can ensure that you have a dry one when you need it.
Daily Outfits. Having a few outfits or cover-up options to wear while enjoying the ship or port is a necessity on a cruise. Men can easily pair a fun T-shirt with their swim shorts. Women can find many different fun cover-up options that can also be used as outfits. Choose 2-4 different cover-ups to bring with you along with shoes that can get wet and easily slip on and off. Plan for excursions like rainforest hikes or lounging on a beach.
Accessories. We all have various accessories that we use and wear on a daily basis. But what should you bring and what should you leave at home? Bring either a tote bag or backpack to carry our family essentials on board or in the port. Bring something that is large enough to carry some beach towels, your sunscreen, and a change of clothes. It may take a few hours for all of your luggage to arrive to your stateroom so you will want to have a few essentials in a small bag that you carry on the ship with you. I recommend a backpack or tote. In this bag, pack a few essentials such as bathing suits, sunscreen, medications, and your important documents like passports, cruise boarding documents and wallets.
