Packing for Your Cruise

Make a packing list, gather all the items on the list before starting to pack, then check off the items as they are packed.

Resist the urge to pack items that you probably won’t need or use.

To help keep garments wrinkle-free, leave them on their hangers, cover them with dry-cleaning bags, and fold over once before placing them in the suitcase. Most cruises of less than 7 days usually have 1 formal night. On 7 days or longer there are usually 2 or more formal nights. With "Freestyle Cruising" you can still dress up for dinner and remember they usually have photo nights where most still dress up for their photos which are taken before or after dinner. While some like to dress up in formal gowns and tuxedos for ships' formal night, most people dress in business attire (suit for men, cocktail gowns or silk dresses for women).

Shop for sample/travel containers of your favorite toiletries, and remember if you are flying to the port the total is limited to what will fit in a 1 quart size baggie. Flying restrictions - 3-1-1 for carry-on = 3 ounce bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3 oz. container size is a security measure.

Zip lock style top storage bags, a packer’s best friend. Undergarments and knits take only a third of the suitcase space they normally occupy when they’re compressed in these bags and the excess air is removed.

Travel alarm Clock, all the rooms have wake up calls, but very few have a clock.

If you really want to pack light and the ship has self-service laundry facilities you can pack lighter and wash clothes midway through the cruise or use the laundry service, but remember this is your vacation so you really don't want to be doing laundry yourself, but it is an option.

See the different "Casual" definitions in the post below - Casual Dress Defined.

One important packing tip - share space, cross-pack your luggage with your travel companion. Chances are if a suitcase is missing, it’ll turn up eventually. In the meantime, you’ll both have fresh clothing.

Save some room in your suitcase for items you pick up shopping while cruising. A canvas bag with handles can be folded and packed and used later if you bought too much to fit into the suitcase for the trip home.

Make sure you have a great time cruising, no matter what you pack!