Packing for a Cruise
What you bring on a cruise depends a great deal of the kind of ship it is, casual or elegant and your plans for fine dining. If you are sailing a ship with all the elegant evenings, this takes special forethought on your part. Even though they say that its two formal evenings, three informal and two casual. You are sitting in such elegant surroundings and eating a wonderful 5 course meal that you may want to look your best!
Packing for a Cruise
1) Womens Cruise Wear
When I pack for cruises my husband asks me if I had left anything in my closet. Well, I wear absolutely everything I pack.
If you are planning on 'fine dining', Think through your previous 7 wonderful evenings of dinners and cocktails beforehand. Think Black. Black or cream flowy pants or skirts topped with several different jackets, dressy dinner jackets, big satiny tops. If you pack separates you will have so much more milage.
- Bring several evenings handbags. A nice selection ofjewelry, several different pair of dressy shoes, several bright colored Pashmina-type shawls. Bring different little accessories to mix and match. These little things that do not take up much room but will make all the difference.
- Remember, half the beauty of cruising is that you have these elegant evenings. Basically, if you think you want it, bring it. On a recent cruise, I brought 4 jackets with me of different colors and fabrics and really did not feel it was enough. In addition to dinner, we had lunch in the nice dining room three times, breakfast there twice and High Tea one afternoon.
All worked over basic bottoms?.
For casual clothes, you will want fun things. Some wrap skirts, bathing suit and coverup, flip-flops and fitness workout clothes.
2) Kids
Remember no shorts or jeans in the nice dining rooms! I have found that kids really love these nice evenings. Where else can they have 5 courses of anything they want? Shrimp cocktails and lobster always a hit.
Is Teenage boy still hungry?
What else would he like, Another lobster tail? And remember to take lots of pictures. This can be great family time.
3) Men
This is Quite Easy! Tuxedo is optional but very nice for the formal evenings. However on Certain ships it is not optional. You may consider bringing two tuxedo shirts. Navy or basic blazer and dress pants, dress shirts, neckties, dress shoes, khaki pants, knit shirts, basic shorts, workout clothes, casual shoes, sneakers, bathing suit. and Hawaiian type shirt for fun.
Discuss with your agent.
So much depends on the kind of cruise ship you are sailing and your personal dining plans. Overall-plan on dressing for 'Country club elegance'.
You can check two bags with the airlines and carryon one more. My carry on was a garment bag and a very full large purse.
