There’s definitely lots to love about booking a cruise holiday. For starters, you can feel free to sit back and let someone else steer the ship – literally. Being able to enjoy all the unique sights and attractions at every port along your route can also provide plenty of enrichment and adventure interspersed with time for relaxation on board. In this regard, cruises are great for visiting isolated destinations like Cyprus and the Greek Islands or even the Whitsundays.
But cruise holidays definitely aren’t for every type of traveller either, so it’s well worth weighing up all the pros and cons of cruising to determine whether this vacationing style is the right fit for you. Part of weighing the good and the bad is simply knowing what to expect from packing and prepping for your cruise getaway.
That’s precisely what we’ll be exploring today, by listing out all of our must-do steps when preparing to embark on a multi-day cruise.
Finalise bookings, visas, and insurance details
First and foremost, if you’re planning an international cruise, you’ll want to make sure your visa requirements are finalised across all anticipated travel destinations. The last thing you want is to be turned away at the port and refused entry at any stops along your route just because of an administrative error.
The same goes for accommodation, restaurant, and activity bookings at port stops. We recommend bringing along printed ticket copies or even downloading PDF ticket details onto your phone so you can access these records if needed.
And speaking of record-keeping, you’ll naturally also want to finalise your travel insurance and print off a copy of your policy to keep on hand. Did you know that you can find tailored travel insurance for cruises that’s specifically designed to accommodate an international itinerary? These policies can get pretty detailed however, so keeping a paper record of your cover on hand can be a great way of making absolutely sure you know who to call and what to do in the event that you do need to make a claim with your insurance provider.
Outline all your carry-on essentials
The first thing you’ll notice when boarding a cruise ship for the first time is that your luggage will be taken directly to your room, allowing you to explore the ship freely! The only downside to this very convenient boarding procedure is that you do have to make sure you’ve got everything you need for the entire day in your Day 1 carry-on. This means packing your swimsuit, some outer layers for when it gets chilly on deck in the evening, and some personal items like sunscreens, toiletries, and a water bottle.
Granted, outlining your carry-on essentials to start out every day is a great habit to form from the get-go, however, as you’ll want to try and limit the amount of times you return to your room during the day across the course of your cruise experience. That is, unless you get a kick out of making the trek back to the cabins! It’s good to get your steps up, after all.
Pack a cleverly curated wardrobe
There is plenty to see and do on a cruise ship, from dancing the night away at a swanky club on-board, to playing a little shuffleboard or even taking arts and crafts classes. Then, you also have to consider the types of activities you can expect to do at port. Even if you don’t expect to make use of your hiking shoes on board, undertaking hiking trails to get to lookout points across port destinations will help you make the most of your cruise experience.
Given the sheer variety of activities that await on a cruise holiday, it stands to reason that you’ll want to make sure your suitcase is packed for all occasions alongside being packed for the season. And on the topic of the weather, if you’ve chosen travel destinations that are particularly chilly like Antarctica or the Arctic Circle (i.e. to see the Northern Lights on a Northern Lights cruise, for instance), then you’ll definitely want to prioritise space for cold weather essentials, like your thermals, cosy socks, and outerwear.
Don’t forget your electronics!
Cruise ships do have little convenience stores on board where you can buy essential supplies if needed – but the prices can get a little dear, as you may imagine. So it pays to make sure you have all the items you need on hand, and that includes accessories like phone chargers and other electronics.
Similarly, you don’t want to leave electronic devices unattended on deck. Devices like phones and laptops can go missing or even accrue damage due to accidents like drops or spilled drinks. Alongside being a safety issue (as losing your electronics may leave you uncontactable by friends and loved ones back home), replacing electronics during a holiday can also be downright costly. It’s best to keep your holiday budget intact for souvenirs and cocktails, not for replacing costly belongings.
Check (and double-check) toiletries and medication
Finally, just as you’ll want to avoid buying replacement phone chargers and other electronics on board or at port, it’s also imperative that you pack your essential toiletries and medication carefully well before you board. You don’t want to find yourself at sea without your prescription medication stored in your toiletries kit.
A great tip here is to use organisational travel items like pill boxes and packing squares to securely pack and store your toiletries and keep track of medications. Not only will these practical packing tips help you find your daily essentials easily, but it’ll also help ensure you don’t misplace essential items like prescription bottles by lugging them around unnecessarily.
Cruise in comfort with these practical packing and planning tips
If you’ve never taken a cruise before, it can be tricky to know what to expect from the experience. So go into it with an open mind, and try to make the most of your time on board. With the tips we’ve outlined above, you can make sure that your cruise planning is at least thorough, and that you won’t find yourself feeling overwhelmed or even disappointed on board.
And remember – always head to the deck for sunsets and sunrises if you can. There’s just something so majestic about the sun touching the ocean at the horizon line. And on a cruise ship, you can enjoy that magical moment two times a day without fail.
