Packing for a cruise can be more complicated than packing for other vacations, creating additional opportunities for packing mistakes. Rigid dress codes, variable weather and minimal storage space can turn daily packing into a torturous ritual. Get it wrong and you’ll pay the price – figuratively, by not getting full value from your cruise vacation and literally, because you’ll need to buy essentials during your trip. me.
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Here are seven cruise ship packing mistakes to avoid on your next vacation.
Pack your first day essentials in your checked luggage
Most travelers hand their larger bags to porters at the dock so they don’t have to lug their luggage up the aisle and around the ship until their cabin is ready. Since the crew won’t deliver your luggage to your room until later that day, you’ll spend a large amount of time with just your bag. bring bags.
One of the biggest mistakes train travelers make is forgetting to order all their medications, documents (including passport), charger and change of clothes in carry-on luggage. You’ll probably need these items to get on the plane or sometime during that first afternoon.
Cautionary tale: On the first day of a Caribbean cruise, you’ll always see a few passengers staring at the pool area while they sweat in their cruise clothes. Apparently they forgot to put their bathing suits, t-shirts and shorts in their carry-ons and are missing out on those first few hours of fun on the cruise ship.
Related: How to travel with only carry-on luggage
Ignore the dress code
Some shipping companies such as Norwegian Cruise Line, don’t really care what you wear to dinner. Others, such as Silversea Cruise, Cunard line And Crystal, there are still optional formal nights. Ignore the written dress code and you could find yourself kicked out of dinner for wearing shorts, jeans, flip-flops or even business casual without a jacket. Read the fine print before you start packing so you don’t leave important evening clothes at home.
Cautionary tale: On one of the first cruises I ever took, I skipped this step and ate many of my “formal night” dinners in my cabin to avoid the fashion police. Sure, having room service in bed and watching a movie is a treat on its own, but it would be nice to have the option to share the evening with other passengers.
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Related: Cruise packing list: The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
Don’t watch the weather forecast
Depending on when you travel, the weather can vary widely in some travel-friendly destinations, and global warming is also having a real impact on some areas. For example, in Alaska, the start and end of the season are often cooler than a mid-summer cruise – but not always.
And yes, it gets rainy and cold even in beautiful Caribbean destinations. If you don’t check the weather forecast before packing, you’ll waste time and money buying extra weather-appropriate clothes or hunting for umbrellas and ponchos.
Cautionary tale: Who knew that destinations in northern Scotland were reaching freezing temperatures in August? I didn’t and found myself wasting precious time at the docks looking for beanies, gloves, scarves and sweaters to combat the wet winter chill I hadn’t planned for. on a late summer boat trip.
Related: Things to do on a cruise when it’s rainy and cold
Pack all your belongings in a checked bag
Let’s face it: Luggage arrived late and was lost The last situation will happen to everyone who checks bags. But they are even more serious when you fly to a destination in the morning and your train departs later that day. One packing mistake for beginners is packing all of your clothes and toiletries in a checked bag, putting you at risk of losing everything if your luggage gets lost.
Instead, keep a few important outfits and toiletries in your carry-on. I also recommend packing some of your clothes in your companion’s suitcase – and vice versa – so that if just one of those suitcases arrives, you’ll both have something clean to wear .
Cautionary tale: On a Scandinavian cruise leaving Belfast, I arrived on time, but my bag did not. The airline tried to give it to me before the train departed but to no avail.
Related: Mistakes on a cruise will instantly ruin your vacation
Do not protect your fluids
If you are checking luggage, you are not limited travel size of liquid toiletries. You also have room to bring your favorite bottle of wine with you on your cruise vacation or bring home souvenir bottles or wines from destinations like California, France, Italy and New Zealand. However, just one leaking or broken bottle can dampen the mood. One of the worst packing mistakes you can make is not protecting your liquids with bubble wrap or a zip-top plastic bag.
Cautionary tale: I’ve heard stories of other passengers who have thrown large bottles into their luggage… only to spend their first night on board in the cruise ship’s laundry room washing mouthwash all over their pants. their shirt.
Related: Everything you need to know about safe wine travel
Pack too many pairs of shoes
Nothing eats up luggage space like shoes – especially sneakers and dress shoes. Don’t make the mistake of packing more sneakers, flats, heels, and sandals than you really need, or you’ll be forced to check one bag (or worse, check two). . You also don’t want to wear too many shoes at the expense of more important items – like layers of clothing – that you might need.
Try your best to design a travel week wardrobe with just a few pairs of shoes. My advice: Bring a pair of flip-flops and a pair of sandals for a sunny spot, instead of bringing multiple options.
Cautionary tale: I packed sneakers for a few trips and watched them sit in my cabin as the week went by because I never made it to the ship’s gym. That space in the suitcase could have accommodated some larger souvenirs that instead had to be shipped home.
Related: What are the best travel shoes?
Not packing properly at the end of your journey
Don’t think your packing problems end when you and your luggage board the cruise ship. There’s still plenty of room for error when packing to get home at the end of your vacation.
Just like you order your tech toys, in-flight reading material, and medications for the first day of your trip, you want to carefully pack your carry-on and checked luggage for the trip back home so you don’t have to do anything. shuffle in your bag at the airport. Don’t mix clean clothes with dirty clothes, or you’ll have to do extra laundry after your trip. Cushion fragile souvenirs with your softest shirt or sweater.
Most importantly, if you leave your luggage outside the cabin on the last night of your cruise for crew members to carry it off the ship for you, set aside clothes, travel shoes and toiletries for the morning. the next day. The biggest packing mistake new recruits make is forgetting to put on their clothes and getting off the train in their pajamas.
Cautionary tale: I once witnessed a fellow traveler tearing through their bag while in line to check in at the airport, desperately searching for souvenirs as well as underwear for their careless headphones. thrown into the bag they intended to check.
Related: Mistakes cruise passengers make on disembarkation day
Bottom line
Don’t leave packing until the last minute. Take the time to plan your wardrobe, make smart choices about what you need for your destination and planned activities, and put the right items in bags fit. A thoughtful approach will result in far fewer packing errors than hastily throwing your belongings into a suitcase in the middle of the night when your cruise departs the next day.
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