Cruise Savvy TipsPacking: Clothing
1. If you plan on working out, don't forget some gym clothes. 2. Pack different clothes for the different climates you forwee experiencing. 3. Life aboard a cruise ship is laid-back and casual. Dress for comfort. 4. Footwear should include walking/running shoes and sandals. 5. When cruising outside warm weather destinations, never underestimate the importance of a sweater, raincoat or parka, and hat. 6. During "casual"dining, t-shirt, jeans and shorts are not allowed in the dining rooms. 7. During "informal" dining, women typically wear dresses or pantsuites, while men usually wear light weight jackets or sports coats. 8. During "formal" dining, women should be prepared to wear cocktail dress or gowns, while men should consider wearing business business suites or tuxedos(thought not required). 9. Some cruises offers pre-order formal wear, thus eliminating the need to pack it. 10. If you are traveling to warm seather destinations, do not forget sunscreen and sunglasses. 11. Most ships have self-sevice laundry facilities. Consider bringing a small amount of detergent. 12. Most ships have powerful air conditioning. A sweater or sweat-shirt may come handy. Packing: Luggage 1. Do not pack your passports, visas, driver licenses, medications, cruise documents and airline tickets yin luggage. Keep them in a purse, jacket or backpack. 2. Pack enough prescription medication for the entire voyage. 3. Pack a list of your medications, including the name of the drug, dosage, time taken and your doctor's contact information, in case if you lost your medication. 4. Please pack these items in your carry-on: cash, credit cards, jewelry, business documents, travel and healthy insurance information, laptop, cell phone, camera and any valuables. 5. Bring credit cards and travelers checks instead of large amount of cash. 6. Pack a water bottle so you can bring water from ship to shore. Or, purchase one at ports of call. 7. Put a card with your name and address inside your luggage, as well as on the outside. 8. Put the cruise line luggage tas on before your depart home. Pre-departure 1. Check what sort of identification you need when traveling to your destinations. 2. Notify the cruise ship of any special dietary restrictions or request at least 30 days prior to departure. 3. Leave copies of your passport, airline tickets, travelers' check and credit card with your family member or a friend. 4. Contact your credit card bank inform of credit card use during travel. 5. Discuss your travel plans with a doctor, some countries may require certain immunizations. If you have an ongoing medical condition, ask your doctor to write up your frief medical history, which you can take with you and provide in the event of a problem. If you tend to get motion sickness, ask your doctor for recommendations. 6. Complete your pre-cruise registration at least 2 weeks before departure, it is mandatory. 7. Complete your airline check-in online 24 hours prior to departure. 8. Check your travel documents, cruise tickets, airline tickets and verify the information. 9. Arrange transfer transportation to and from the ship. 10. If you plan to bring any electronics(battery charger, etc.), you may need an adaptor. 11. Gift relatives and friends the ship's phone number and your travel plan, in case of an emergency. 12. If you booked an air/sea package through cruise line and you missed the ship because of late/canceled flight, the cruise line will get you to the next port. Remember to get the contact number in case of the situation. 13. Arrive the embarkation area at least two hours prior to sailing. 14. Ask for a receipt when you hand over your passport. 15. Bring some dollar bills as they often come handy. |
Photo from Rennett Stowe
