Tip 1: Pack your carry-on bags wisely.
Pack a change of clothes and important
meds or toiletries in the bags you will take on the plane and personally
transport onboard. This is important for
two reasons: First, if your luggage gets lost by the airline on the way to your
cruise, at least you'll have some essentials with you. It can take a while for
your luggage to be found and then shipped to the next port of call. Second, in case your suitcases are delayed in
being delivered to your cabin, you'll have a bathing suit or dinner attire on
hand and enjoy all the onboard activities right away, rather than waiting for
your bags to show up.
Tip 2: Bring my own toiletries or not? Basic toiletries will be onboard, such as soap and shampoo and are very limited on some cruise lines. Talk to your travel agent to see if they know what is included. In some cabins toiletries offered can be quite scarce, so you may want to make room in your luggage for your favorite brands. Same goes for hair dryers. Most staterooms come with weak dryers so if you're picky, pack your own.
Tip 2: Bring my own toiletries or not? Basic toiletries will be onboard, such as soap and shampoo and are very limited on some cruise lines. Talk to your travel agent to see if they know what is included. In some cabins toiletries offered can be quite scarce, so you may want to make room in your luggage for your favorite brands. Same goes for hair dryers. Most staterooms come with weak dryers so if you're picky, pack your own.
Tip 3: Know the dress codes. Some cruise lines are very formal and others are very casual. Know what to expect and be prepared. Find out if there are certain nights that are formal only. The more you know the better prepared you will be when it comes to packing your luggage.
Tip 4: Dress for your destination. Simply put, some places are more formal than others. Expect to pack more resort-casual wear if traveling to Europe (all regions) or Bermuda (duffer alert: golf courses in Bermuda have strict dress codes). In contrast, other cruise itineraries are more casual than the norm -- in that category we include Hawaii, the Mexican Riviera, the Caribbean and French Polynesia. And don't forget to think about your in-port activities; flip flops are fine for a beach day, but you'll want more comfortable shoes for long days of sightseeing or active excursions like hiking or biking.
Tip 5: Save a bit of room in your suitcase. You may want to purchase some souvenirs on your vacation and you will therefore need some room to put them for your travels home. Consider packing an extra duffle that can fold up into your suitcase on the way to the cruise and later be filled and checked for the trip home.
Tip 6: Mix and match. If you can make your clothes do double duty, you won't be hit with excess bag fees or find yourself fighting with your spouse about who gets the last hanger in the cabin's small closet. Stick with simple color themes so you can re-wear bottoms with different shirts. Change up the look of one formal outfit with different accessories (jewelry, ties, scarves), rather than bring two suits or cocktail dresses. Remember, you will never see most of these people again (with thousands onboard, you might not see the same person again before the cruise ends!), and most won't remember if you wear the same outfit twice.
Tip 7: Keep all important documents with you. Always make sure you pack your necessary IDs and cruise documents into a carryon and never pack them in your checked luggage. You'll want your passport or other photo ID and cruise ship boarding pass on hand, so even if your suitcase misses the boat, you can get onboard. Make sure you have the correct type of identification, as wannabe cruisers have been turned away from the pier for having just a copy of their birth certificate (and not the required original) or a passport with a name that doesn't match the one on the ship's manifest (often in the case of a honeymoon cruise).