So the days are fast approaching to getting on the cruise ship and airline luggage requirements are still strict and costly. An efficient packer for the cruise is a must. The packing tip and hint for cruising IS to PACK LIGHT, but this is easier said than done. What if I need this and can’t live without that? Hopefully, in this posted blog you can get organized so you can be successful with your minimal luggage and yet still be appropriately and comfortably dressed from casual to formal. So let’s get started.
Tip No. 1 Begin with a calendar and know how many days you will have to prepare for your attire. Create a matrix form of our cruise days with an extension of pre and post cruise days if you are going to extend your cruise. This is very important as you should plan to bring only the appropriate outfit for the days you need. For our
Carnival Mexican Riviera cruise, click on the blue highlight "Carnival" to help you with information on dress and attire appropriate to our cruise and don’t forget to add the pre & post cruise outfit as well. Remember…you can always wear your outfit more than ONCE. There are
washers &
laundry service available on the cruise ship for a mid-trip wash, if you need it. The success of this tip is to coordinate your outfit daily so you know what you specifically have to take. And less is often more than enough.
Tip No. 2 Like a nice hotel, it would be helpful to know what the cruise/ship offers so you don’t have to bring it. Knowing this will help you eliminate a number of items that you may have thought about bringing with you, but perhaps don’t need too! Here is the Carnival’s
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) link. Check out items under “Top 10 FAQ-What amenities do they offer?” and “In Cabin Features” as an example, hair dryers are included on the ship. You’ll save space and weight in your luggage knowing this tidbit will allow you to bring back a sombrero you may have an eye on!
Tip No. 3 As some of you loyal blog readers know cruising can be very intimidating, especially if you are a first-time cruiser. Don't be! Carnival’s dress policy for cruise guests, are less restrictive than other cruises. This is particularly so in warmer region cruises such as the Caribbean and our Mexican Riviera cruise. Many of you know my husband Roger, the answer is YES. He is wearing his “I Buy Japanese Sword” T-Shirt, but that will only be during the day. There will be TWO (2) FORMAL NIGHTS for our cruise. On formal nights, Rog’ likes to opt for the
cruise tuxedo rentalservice so he doesn’t have to bring a dark jacket and tie. On the more smart casual nights, he brings his Hawaiian shirt for the dining room. And if you hate formal wear you can always eat in the casual Lido Buffet or order room service. The specialty restaurant on board requires a stricter dress code including a jacket for men. But, the food is yummy-o and worth the dress-up!
Tip No. 4 My personal travel wear colors are generally mixing black with red for the most part. I mix and match garment pieces and I also use scarves, jewelry, belts and wraps to accentuate my outfits to look different as well as reflecting options from casual to dressy. Items such as these are small and can easily be packed with minimal space and can create an instant formal outfit with minimal pieces and bulk. Layering pieces also allows for options in style as well as keeping you warm in the cooler evenings, if you're warmer climate thin blooded Hawaiians or those inclement in weather time period. Men should also color coordinate and mix and match. It makes packing option easy for the travel luggage requirement of today's airline policy.
Tip No. 5 In case you're wondering, cruise ship staterooms are not as luxurious in size as a nice hotel room, unless you are in a larger suite. So space can be limiting especially when you share it with two or more individuals. So take this helpful hint that I have personally used on previous cruises. Take a foldable Closet/
Pantry Pocket organizer for the back of your bath/room door and a collapsible
closet shoe organizer. These two items will be a helpful addition. You can keep items in the bathroom at an easy reach and offer alternatives to minimal counter space, especially in the bathroom. Additionally, the closet shoe organizer makes fine shelves that can hold items such as your scarf, evening purse, ties, cumber bund as well as organize your evening wear for that night or simply give you and your cabin mate more storage space.
Tip No. 6 Here’s a must…make a list of your items you will be packing in your suit case. Two things about this one task…this will help you get organized as to what you have to wear and need for your trip. As well as provide a documented list of items in case you lose your luggage for insurance purposes. Be sure you keep that list on-hand in your carry-on with your travel insurance documents as well as a list in your suitcase.
Tip No. 7 Unlike being at home with your closet full of clothes to choose from. Your cruise closet will be limited to your suitcase. So here are two major helpful travel clothes tips from me…1. Avoid white or light clothes. You can count on them staining with some sort of Colorado red or salsa verde green sauce during the trip. 2. Avoid wrinkle clothes. There are clothes made with fabric like crinkle gauze, cotton jersey, Tencel®/Lyocell, spandex blends or cottons that have been treated to avoid creases and all wear well during travel.
Tip No. 8 Okay now you have a list of all your packed items. The horror of September 11th has changed the way we travel. So go over each item you have and be sure you check your
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations to be sure you don’t have those illegal item which not only include weapons or can be linked to weapons like knitting needles and/or liquids . There are exceptions as always and so planning and preparation is necessary. So check the guidelines.
Tip No. 9 Our technological world these days has me doing research on what to do about all our electronic toys we just seem to need to take with us. Whether it’s your cell phone, IPOD, Blackberry, Laptop or some other gizmo and gadget, cruiser needs to do their home work if these are important for you to use during your cruise. On our last cruise in 2006 on this ship the Carnival Spirit had 110V which is the American electrical outlet usage. So you should easily be able to charge your electrical needs. If you need specific questions I recommend you check out the Cruise Critic Message Board for your specific questions or contact our travel agent Alex so she can get your answer. Because of the limited available electrical outlets many experience cruisers bring a power squid, strip or even a plain extension cord to make it easier. I am guessing that there is a 230 volt for those international guests. Bringing an adapter would expand your outlet usage.
Tip No. 10 Finally,resources these days seems endless with our access to the internet. I’ve highlighted some of my favorites for packing ideas. Linda Hoffman, Cruise Diva happens to be one I use often. But I have also added some other links to help you with ideas for coming up with what works for you. So allow me to introduce you to these websites
Cruise Diva: Packing & ListsReidsguides ,
Rick Steve’s Packing List,
About.com below and I hope you will find them as helpful as it has been for me over the years …
Bon Voyage Wishes from Diana!
Photo provided by Flickr Shereen M
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