Cruise Packing 101

I found an article on http://www.cruisecritic.com/ that lists the top 10 items a new-to-cruising traveler should pack. I'm not in agreement with some of the list, and I don't think it has to do with the fact that I've cruised before. Some of the items are just wacky. So here is the list and my brilliant commentary as well:

1. Alarm Clock. This surprised me. I have never taken one. Watches and cell phones will do that for you...if you must get up. The captain's announcements at about 8:00 will also get you up. And you can order a wake up call via the phone in your room, just like in a hotel. By the way, unless you have an international calling plan, you won't want to use your cell phone once we leave the U.S.. You will probably get a signal in all the countries we go to, but it will be expensive if you check those texts you're missing.

2. Sunscreen. Good one. It's much cheaper to buy it at home and take it with you than to purchase it in another country--if you can even find it--or to buy it on board the ship.

3. First aid kit. What? I laughed at this one. Maybe bring a few band aids and sunburn cream, but really, if the emergency is any bigger than that, the ship will take care of you. And they do sell a lot of what you might need in a first aid kit at the ship store, though you will pay mightily for it. Do bring your prescription medications (in their original containers) and sea (motion) sickness pills, and take them preventatively.

4. Extra storage. This suggested things like an over-the-door shoe bag because you can put lots of little things in it from shoes to jewelry to hairspray. We have, even with 2 adults and 2 kids, always figured out a way to make the storage thing work without the extras. I will say that our best idea is always to put dirty laundry in one of the empty suitcases so we aren't tripping over it. It also frees up drawer space as you wear stuff.

5. Beverages. Please! Really? If you buy alcohol in port, the ship will hold it until the end of the cruise. You could bring it on to begin with, but really? And you can buy a soda pass (about $6/day) at the beginning of the cruise to get you all the soda you can drink while sailing. Water, coffee, and tea are always complimentary.

6. Extra bags (suitcases). In other words, if you are going to go crazy buying souvenirs, bring an extra bag or save room in your suitcase to pack the extras--duffel bags often fit nicely in another bag on your way to your destination. But remember, you'll have to pay to stow those extra bags on your flight home.

7. Laundry alternatives. This comes straight from the web site, and I thought some of it was genius! Don't bring irons or steamers; they are a big NO-NO. "If you don't want to pay high on board prices for laundry or pay the airlines to check multiple bags full of your cruise wear, use these member tips for laundry alternatives. Says dksailaway, 'Downey wrinkle spray! Best invention ever! Leave the ironing for home...you are on vacation!!' Vk1801 suggests "shout stain remover to pre-treat clothes. A week or two without washing is a long time for stains to set in. I have 'saved' many of my kids outfits with this.' Other useful products include travel-size packets of detergent for hand-washing in your cabin's sink and Febreeze spray to get out smoke and other smells so you can wear an outfit one more time."

8. Electronic aids. This list included power strips and extra SD cards for your camera. While I'm not sure the power strip is necessary, the SD cards are a good idea. One person even suggested using a different SD card for each day. That way, if you lose your camera, you haven't lost all your photos. SD cards are relatively cheap, so I think this was a smokin' hot idea!

9. Ear plugs. We have always had pretty quiet rooms on Royal Caribbean. However, if you don't want to be awakened by the captain at 8 AM or if your roommate snores, you might find these handy. One more thing, you can turn the announcements speaker down or off in your cabin so you don't have to hear the captain.

10. Patience and a sense of humor. We've hit the bulls eye here people! Traveling with a large group will slow you down. A cabin steward who doesn't speak much English, a trainee in the dining room, an old lady taking her sweet time walking down the center of the hall to her room can all try your patience. Patience and a sense of humor are a very good thing ANYTIME!

If you have other ideas for things we need to have when we travel, let me know, and I'll put together a list and post it here!