Note that while cruises pose special issues that prompts
this summary, other vacation traveling can also be a challenge, and you can
extrapolate from here what might be needed for non-cruises.
1. Carry-on bag: carefully consider what
you need when without access to your checked baggage.
Extra
clothes for the plane and the first hours onboard a ship
Meds and
toiletries for the same - incl. toothbrush and paste, tissues, eye drops, nasal spray
Valuables
including cameras, electronics and jewelry
Chewing gum for takeoffs and landings
Booties for when you take off your shoes on the plane
Chewing gum for takeoffs and landings
Booties for when you take off your shoes on the plane
Passport
and other paperwork you might need while traveling and during embarkation
Keep a copy
of your passport, credit cards, proof of insurance, etc. in a different place
than the original.
2. Checked baggage: don't over-pack!
Lay out all the clothes you want to take; then eliminate half. You simply
don't need to impress anyone with different outfits for each day.
Color match tops, pants and shoes, and limit yourself to 1 color theme.
Use packing 'cubes' that can compress clothes to save space.
Wrap wrinkle-prone clothes in plastic bags and/or fold in tissue paper.
Cover shoes with shower caps to keep all else clean. And stuff them with
other items to save space.
Separate and secure jewelry items if not left in carry-on.
Split each person's clothes in different bags in case 1 bag is lost.
Leave room for items purchased on the trip.
3. Toiletries:
if you are unsure of the quality of soap, shampoo, lotions, etc. onboard, then
you may want to take your own. Keep all such items in a separate kit that you
can leave unpacked between trips. Use travel-sized bottles to keep this
manageable. And to protect against spills, put plastic under bottle caps or
place in bags.
4. Wine:
you can generally take a small amount of wine on cruise ships; check each
line's policy. And you might want to bring some home. Put
bottles in protective sleeves in checked bags.
5. Duct
Tape: for what you ask?
Wrap some around an old credit card or small
block. Use to (among other things):
Wrap around hand to remove Lint from
clothes.
Seal curtains together to hide light at
night.
Fix damaged luggage, or mark it with an
"X" for easy identification.
Repair broken straps on sandals.
Mend torn hems on clothes (with piece under
the fold).
Attach a towel to your deck chair to secure
it at the top.
6. Take other items you are likely to need but are
expensive on the road; e.g. meds, batteries, camera memory cards, sunscreen,
plastic bags (for water protection), ear plugs, etc.
However, leave everything else behind that
you can do without.
Note that since you generally pay for
checked bags, try to limit yourself to 1 each.
7. Laundry
service onboard (where available) can help reduce what you pack.
You can also take a small amount of detergent
et al to wash small items periodically.
Take clothes pins to hang washed items on shower line.
Take clothes pins to hang washed items on shower line.
8. Follow dress
codes.
Note that
while cruise lines generally (not all) "require" relatively formal
wear 2 or more nights (depending on cruise length), that can mean as little as
a pant suit or dress for women; and a jacket, dress shirt and slacks for men.
If you do not wish to pack those extra items, then you can choose among
alternative dining locations on those nights that remain more casual.
Note that a man may be able to borrow a jacket in the dining room.
9. Dress for your destination and time of year. Focus on weather, degree of
formality, port activities, etc. Plan for layered clothing to handle significant
variation in weather.
E.g. you
may need to change from a short to a long-sleeved shirt to a vest to a rain
jacket; or shorts to long pants to waterproof pants. Of course, it is difficult
to minimize clothes in such situations.