So the days are fast approaching to getting on the cruise ship and airline luggage requirements are limited, restrictive and costly. An efficient packer for the cruise is a must! The packing tip and hint for cruising is “TO PACK LIGHT”, but this is easier said than done. Especially for us woman folks, we do love to dress pretty and our brains just don’t turn off the “What if I need this” and “Can’t live without that?” Hopefully, in this posted blog you can get tips on getting organized so you can be successful with your minimal luggage and yet still be appropriately and comfortably dressed from casual to formal. So let’s get started.
Tip No. 1 Begin with a calendar and know how many days you will have to prepare for your attire. This is very important as you should plan to ONLY bring the appropriate outfit for the days you need. For our Carnival Cruise we basically have Friday (Dinner: Cruise Casual), Saturday (Dinner: Cruise Elegant) and Sunday (Dinner: Cruise Casual), this should help you decided the number of outfits you will need for the cruise. The rest of the time plan on your before and after outfits of Casual Comfortable and it should be a piece of cake. The successful tip of packing light is to coordinate your outfit daily and color coordinate for interchangeable options.
Tip No. 2 As a guest of Carnival Cruise know what amenities the cruise has to offer. On our ship the Paradise you will need a hair dryer alarm clock, small binocular (optional) or possibly an umbrella. Remember, being on our ship is kinda like staying at a cheaper motel. So check the Carnival Cruise FAQ for your specific needs. Remember also, this is just for the weekend!
Tip No. 3 As some of you loyal blog readers know, there is a Carnival Cruise dress policy read it so you know what the cruise line expects. Carnival is far more lenient than other cruise lines, but you still want to be respectful and fit in. You don’t want to be on the gang plank for the worst dress, do you?
Tip No. 4 Mix and Match as well as color coordinate your outfits! My personal favorites for traveling are the colors, Black and Red for most of my outfits. If you spill your margarita it doesn’t show and I mix and match garment pieces using scarves, jewelry, belts and wraps to accentuate my outfits to look different as well as reflecting a more casual to dressy look. Items such as these are small and can easily be packed with minimal space. Layering pieces also allows for options in look and also keeps you warm. Men should also color coordinate and mix and match. For men’s formal wear, Roger likes the convenience of formalwear rental though on this cruise he is opting NOT to order a Tux, but he will bring a jacket.
Tip No. 5 This particular cruise ship stateroom is not as luxurious in size as a nice hotel room, unless you are in a larger suite. So space can be limiting especially when you share it with two or more individuals. So take this helpful hint that I have used. Take a foldable Closet/Pantry Pocket organizer for the back of your bath/room door and a collapsible closet shoe organizer for your closet. These two items will be a wonderful space addition. You can keep items in the bathroom at an easy reach and offer alternatives to minimal counter space. The closet shoe organizer I mentioned, can hold items such as your scarf, evening purse, ties, and cummerbund as well as organize your evening wear for that night.
Tip No. 6 Here’s a must…make a list of your items you will be packing in your suit case. Two things about this one task…this will help you get organized as to what you have to wear and need for your trip. And it will also double as a back-up in case you lose your luggage and need it for insurance purposes. Be sure you keep a list on-hand in your carry-on as well as a list in your suitcase.
Tip No. 7 Unlike being at home with your closet full of clothes to choose from. Your cruise closet will be limited to your suitcase. So here are two major helpful travel clothes tips…1. Avoid white or light clothes. You can count on them staining with some sort of red sauce during the trip. 2. Avoid wrinkle clothes. There are clothes made with fabric like crinkle gauze, cotton jersey, Tencel® /Lyocell, spandex blends or cottons that have been treated to avoid creases and all wear well during travel.
Tip No. 8 Okay, now you have a list of all your items. The horror of September 11th has changed the way we travel. So go over each item you have and be sure you check your Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations to be sure you don’t have those illegal item which not only include weapons or can be weapons like knitting needles and/or liquids . There are exceptions as always and so planning and preparation is necessary. So check the guidelines. They will be checking you as you board the cruise ship as well.
Tip No. 9 Our technological world these days has me doing research on what to do about all our electronic toys we just seem to need to take with us. Whether you have a cell phone, IPOD, Blackberry, Laptop or some other gizmo or gadget, the cruiser needs to be prepared. I would bring a power strip if you need to plug your toys in. There is one electrical outlet in each stateroom located in the area of the desk/vanity. The outlet is equipped with a 3-prong 110 volt and a 220 volt plug. The outlet in the bathroom can only be used for electric razors.
Tip No. 10 Resources these days seems endless with our access to the internet. I’ve highlighted some of my favorites for packing ideas. Linda Hoffman, Cruise Diva happens to be one I use often. But I have also added some other links to help you with ideas for coming up with what works for you. So allow me to introduce you to my list of favorite websites and I hope you will find them as helpful as it has been for me over the years … Bon Voyage here to getting ready to come on board!
Cruise Diva: Cruise Travel Planning & Packing Tips
Cruise Diva: Cruise Travel: Planning & Packing & Lists
About.com – Packing list for cruise accessories
Photo Provided by Flickr. malias
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