If you’re setting sail aboard a luxurious cruise this year, it can be difficult to know exactly what cruise wear to pack. Whether you’re setting off on your first cruise, or you’re an experienced sea-goer, packing the perfect suitcase is extremely important. Saying that, without effective planning, you’re unlikely to bring everything you’re going to need.
Of course, you can’t see the future – there’s no guarantee that you’ll wear every pieces of cruise wear that you bring with you. However, it’s always better to have a wide variety of clothes, even if you spend most of your getaway in the same few outfits. If you’re looking to plan out the perfect suitcase, there are several important things you need to consider.
Cruise Wear: What to Bring, and What to Leave Behind?
Nobody wants to bring more than they’re going to need. Not only can it be uncomfortable or inconvenient to have brought onboard, over-packed suitcases can reduce the size of your cruise’s cabin. If you overpack for the available storage space, you could spend your getaway gingerly stepping over your half-open suitcase or moving unworn clothes off your bed every night. It might seem like a minor irritation, but a cruise is supposed to be relaxing, exhilarating and enjoyable – even the smallest of problems can quickly get irritating and inconvenient.
With that in mind, it can also be a serious problem to under pack. If you don’t have the right kind of outfit, it could leave you feeling uncomfortable or underdressed. In some cases, forgetting to pack something essential can cause a great deal of stress and irritation which can ruin your holiday.
If you’re looking to get the most out of your cruise, there are many things you need to consider. Failing to take even one of these factors into consideration can leave you woefully underprepared.
Pack a Tote Bag with Your Cruise Essentials:
Before you start to start packing your suitcase, it can be a good idea to work on your essentials. By packing a small carry-on, you’ll be able to start exploring the ship immediately. Using a light-weight bag, such as a simple tote bag, you can fit everything you’re going to need to start enjoying yourself. (Even after you’re onboard and settled in, the tote bag can act as a handy bag for any shore excursions you make).
You should pack your tote with everything you’re going to need for the first day of the cruise. This can include:
- Your Passport.
- Your Cabin Number and Boarding Pass.
- A Swimsuit.
- Light Reading Material, like a Magazine or a Cheap Book.
- Some Light Makeup.
- Your Phone and MP3 Player.
If you decide to pack your purse in with your suitcase, it can also be a great way of keeping some money close to you in your carry-on. It might not be a good idea to pack too many valuables, however. Although these essentials are much easier to access than in your suitcase, there are also more opportunities to misplace, or have something fall out of your tote bag.
What to Bring on a Cruise?
Now you’ve got all your emergency essentials packed in your carry-on, you can start to fill up your main suitcase. In addition to your cruise wear, you also need to make sure you’ve got everything else you’re going to need. Don’t forget to create a checklist to double check you’ve got everything. Some of the things you’re going to need, aside from cruise wear, includes:
- Medication and Paracetamol.
- Make-Up Sets.
- Chargers and Portable Charging Packs.
- Camera and Binoculars.
- Aloe Vera Balm.
- Wrinkle Release Spray for Clothes.
Pack for Your Destination!
Before you start to pack for your holiday, you need to know exactly where you’re off to! Knowing where you’re going to be, and when, can let you Google the weather. If you’re only going for a week or two, the information will be pretty reliable. However, longer cruises can make looking for exact weather conditions impossible. However, you’ll be able to guess most of the conditions.
If you’re going for a relaxing summer cruise along the Southern Coasts of Europe, for example, it’s a pretty safe bet there won’t be too much rain. The worst you’ll need to deal with will be a little humidity.
However, if you’re taking a cruise northward, maybe to try and catch a glimpse of the breath-taking Norther Lights, you should always pack for the colder weather. The cruise itself should be warm enough, but anytime you’re above deck, or whenever you step ashore, the freezing air can be quite a shock.
So, wherever you’re off to, make sure you pack for your destination’s weather!
Pack for Comfort!
Most cruises, during the day or during days/evenings ashore, are typically come-as-you-please. This means that jeans and a t-shirt, shorts, a comfortable summer dress or even an airy skirt can be perfect for most of the day. If you’re heading somewhere warm, you’ll probably want to spend most of the day by the pool, in which case swimwear is often enough. So long as you’ve got a towel, or a comfortably sarong, you’ll be able to spend most of the day in your swimwear.
Depending on where you’re landing, you’ll want to pack for the environment. If you’re landing at a small port in Greece, close to great walking trails along the coast, you’re going to need more comfortable walking clothes than if you’re landing at, say, Oslo. Whether you’re landing at a city or a relatively isolated port town, make sure you’re packing for your activities.
Don’t Neglect Your Formal Wear
While come-as-you-please is fine during the day, most cruises have formal requirements of an evening. Not only does it give you an excuse to get dressed up, it can also help to create a stunning environment that you’ll rarely get to experience.
On a cruise, you should always pack something elegant, by a stunning designer. Joseph Ribkoff is one of the premier designers in the world when it comes to blending elegance and comfort for cruise wear. This Canadian designer can create stunning and elegant dresses, ladies’ suits and other formal designer wear.
You should make sure to pack a few different cocktail dresses, elegant tops and jackets to complement your curves. You should always choose designs which are fairly different. The last thing you want is to be seen wearing the same designer dress a few nights in a row. In addition to a classic little black dress, don’t be afraid to push the boat out a little. There are ways to blend colourful dresses with elegance, so long as you wear formal clothing from a breath-taking designer.
The Right Mix of Shoes, Sandals and Pumps!
Getting the right footwear can be difficult. In addition to a nice pair of shoes for everyday wear, you’ll also need to pack something comfortable by the poolside. Sandals or flip-flops are always essential. Don’t forget to pack a few different formal shoes to match your formal outfits. It might not be quite as noticeable as wearing the same outfit for a few days in a row but being caught in the same formal shoes night after night can be embarrassing.
Pack the Perfect Suitcase and Enjoy Your Cruise!
So long as you follow this advice, and fill your carry-on with your essentials, you’ll be fully prepared to enjoy your luxurious getaway. Most cruises will have several onboard shops, so you’ll be able to buy pretty much anything you forget. However, be aware that these shops will often charge a great deal more than the RRP. As such, packing cleverly, using a checklist system, can help to save you money, reduce stress and ensure that you truly get the most out of your cruise holiday.